John Boyle’s mock draft

Reason: A true No. 1 receiver, Green is too good for the Bengals to pass up. If Gabbert is still available, however, the Bengals may go that way if they believe Carson Palmer indeed won’t play for Cincinnati.

5. Arizona Cardinals

Von Miller | OLB | Texas A&M | 6’3″, 246 lbs. | Senior

Reason: If Gabbert is still on the board, the Cardinals may feel pressured to pick him, but if not they’ll happily take the best pass rusher in the draft.

6. Cleveland Browns

Patrick Peterson | CB | LSU | 6’0″, 219 lbs. | Junior

Reason: Browns president Mike Holmgren may be temped to add an offensive weapon, but instead Cleveland will take Peterson, arguably the best player in the draft, and pair him with CB Joe Haden, last year’s first-round pick to build a formidable secondary.

7. San Francisco 49ers

Prince Amukamara | CB | Nebraska | 6’0″, 206 lbs. | Senior

Reason: The 49ers have other pressing needs, but they could stand to get better at cornerback too, and elite cornerbacks like Amukamara are too rare to pass up.

8. Tennessee Titans

Nick Fairley | DT | Auburn | 6’4″, 291 lbs. | Junior

Reason: One of the most dominant linemen in college football in 2010, Fairley has tons of ability, but also comes with questions about his work ethic and tendency to rack up after-the-whistle penalties. Despite those concerns, Fairley is just too good to fall out of the top 10.

9. Dallas Cowboys

Tyron Smith | OT | USC | 6’5″, 307 lbs. | Junior

Reason: Smith has the most upside of any offensive linemen, but may not be as pro-ready as some having started just two seasons at USC. Even so, the Cowboys need help on the line and will take the player they think can become a star.

10. Washington Redskins

Julio Jones | WR | Alabama | 6’3″, 220 lbs. | Junior

Reason: It has long been rumored that Washington Mike Shanahan is enamored with Jake Locker, but if Jones is somehow still available at No. 10, he is simply too good–not to mention less of a gamble–to pass up.

11. Houston Texans

Robert Quinn | DE | North Carolina | 6’4″, 265 lbs. | Junior

Reason: Quinn, once viewed as a potential No. 1 pick, is no sure thing having missed an entire season after being declared ineligible by the NCAA, but he is simply too talented for Houston not to take if he’s still on the board at No. 11.

12. Minnesota Vikings

Jake Locker | QB | Washington | 6’2″, 231 lbs. | Senior

Reason: Locker is one of the most divisive players in the draft, but some team will love his combination of character, work ethic and potential, and many believe that team will be the Vikings.

13. Detroit Lions

Anthony Castonzo | OT | Boston College | 6’7″, 311 lbs. | Senior

Reason: Rather than simply go after the best player available, the Lions look to upgrade their offensive line with the most pro-ready tackle in the draft. Priority No. 1 for the Lions has to be keeping QB Matthew Safford healthy, and a stud tackle will certainly help.

14. St. Louis Rams

Corey Liuget | DT | Illinois | 6’2″, 298 lbs. | Junior

Reason: The Rams would love to grab one of the top two receivers to provide a legit threat for QB Sam Bradford, but unless they trade up, they’re more than likely out of luck. Instead the Rams will get a versatile and talented tackle who will help upgrade an already solid young defense.

15. Miami Dolphins

Mike Pouncey | G | Florida | 6’5″, 303 lbs. | Senior

Reason: The Dolphins are believed to be interested in QB Andy Dalton, but unless they can trade down, that would be a reach at this point in the draft. Instead Miami will take the draft’s best interior lineman who also happens to fit a need.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars

Cameron Jordan | DE | California | 6’4″, 287 lbs. | Senior

Reason: The Jags need help at end, and they’ll be thrilled if Jordan is still around at 16. Even if Jordan isn’t available here, Jacksonville will have other options at DE if that’s the direction it wants to go.

17. New England Patriots

Da’Quan Bowers | DE | Clemson | 6’3″, 280 lbs. | Junior

Reason: The Patriots, who hold two first-round picks, may look to shop one of them, but Bowers would be an intriguing pick if New England wants to upgrade its pass rush. Bowers has the talent to go much higher, but comes with health concerns thanks to a knee injury.

18. San Diego Chargers

J.J. Watt | DE | Wisconsin | 6’5″, 290 lbs. | Junior

Reason: The Chargers badly need to upgrade their defense, and in Watt they get an end that can be a big-time playmaker.

19. New York Giants

Gabe Carimi | OT | Wisconsin | 6’7″, 314 lbs. | Senior

Reason: The Giants need to upgrade an aging offensive line, and Carimi is the best option still available. Most likely a right tackle, but if Carimi does develop into a left tackle, he’d be a steal at this point in the draft.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ryan Kerrigan | DE | Purdue | 6’4″, 267 lbs. | Senior

Reason: The Bucs need to upgrade their pass rush, and Kerrigan is the best end still available at this point in the draft. Kerrigan would give Tampa another solid young piece in its D-line along with last year’s No. 3 pick, DT Gerald McCoy.

21. Kansas City Chiefs

Aldon Smith | DE/OLB | Missouri | 6’4″, 263 lbs. | RS Sophomore

Reason: The Chiefs have other needs, namely on the offensive line, but they could use a pass-rusher for their 3-4 defense, and there are less options in this draft at that position than there are in other areas.

22. Indianapolis Colts

Nate Solder | OT | Colorado | 6’8″, 314 lbs. | Senior

Reason: The Colts really need help at tackle–when you’ve got Peyton Manning, you’d better take care of him–and Solder is the best one left.

23. Philadelphia Eagles

Danny Watkins | G | Baylor | 6’3″, 310 lbs. | Senior

Reason: CB Jimmy Smith is another consideration here, but instead the Eagles will look to upgrade its line after watching Michael Vick take a beating in the second half of last season.

24. New Orleans Saints

Adrian Clayborn | DE | Iowa | 6’3″, 281 lbs. | Senior

Reason: The Saints could be tempted by Alabama RB Mark Ingram, but the defensive line is a bigger area of need. Seahawks fans will remember Matt Hasselbeck’s huge game against the Saints in the playoffs, and one reason for it was New Orleans’ inability to generate a pass rush.

25. Seattle Seahawks

Jimmy Smith | CB | Colorado | 6’2″, 211 lbs. | Senior

Reason: GM John Schneider has made no secret of the fact that he’d like to trade down, but if a talent like Smith, a big, fast, physical corner, is still on the board, look for the Seahawks to use this pick. Smith has top-15 talent, but character concerns could cause him to fall to Seattle.

26. Baltimore Ravens

Akeem Ayers | OLB | UCLA | 6’2″, 254 lbs. | Junior

Reason: An already formidable defense would love to add a pass rusher, and Ayers looks to be a good fit for Baltimore. If Jimmy Smith last this long, expect Baltimore to pounce.

27. Atlanta Falcons

Cameron Heyward | DE | Ohio State | 6’5″, 294 lbs. | Senior

Reason: Atlanta desperately needs a bookend for John Abraham, who had 13 sacks last season. And while he isn’t a dominant pass rusher, Heyward will help take some pressure of the aging Abraham.

28. New England Patriots

Mark Ingram | RB | Alabama | 5’9″, 215 lbs. | Junior

Reason: If the Patriots used their pick at No. 17, they’ll try to trade this one, and a quarterback-hungry team may be happy to move into this spot. If they can’t, however, they’ll grab Ingram, the best player available and a former Heisman Trophy winner.

29. Chicago Bears

Derek Sherrod | OT | Mississippi State | 6’5″, 321 lbs. | Senior

Reason: QB Jay Cutler was a human pi–ata last season, getting sacked 52 times in 15 games, and while some of that had to do with Mike Martz’s offense, the Bears also could use an upgrade in their pass protection.

30. New York Jets

Phil Taylor | DT | Baylor | 6’3″, 334 lbs. | Senior

Reason: The Jets need a replacement for nose tackle Kris Jenkins, and Taylor fits the mold of a big run stopper in the middle.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers

Aaron Williams | CB | Texas | 6’0″, 204 lbs. | Junior

Reason: As good as S Troy Polamalu is, Pittsburgh’s secondary needs help at corner, and Williams is the best option available.

32. Green Bay Packers

Muhammad Wilkerson | DT | Temple | 6’4″, 315 lbs | Junior

Reason: The defending Super Bowl champs don’t need to reach for any position here, so they’ll sit back and take the best player available. Green Bay could certainly look to trade down as well if a run on quarterbacks starts at the end of the first round.