BTSC 2011 Community Mock Draft Pick No. 28 -- New England Patriots Select Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida

I'm going to go ahead and make the New England Patriots' second of two first round picks here. Many thanks to NYSteelersFan4 for the first Pats pick back at No. 17. Next up: the Chicago Bears, represented by veteran BTSC'er and annual community mock draft participant, betelguese. - Michael B. -

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Sorry Steeler Nation. I know we'd love to see the Pouncey twins reunited in Pittsburgh for their professional football careers, and perhaps we're all subconciously not picking Mike in our community draft in order to will him to the Steelers late in the first round. But let's be real -- it's extremely unlikely that Mike Pouncey will still be on the board when the Steelers select at No. 31 in this April's Draft. Not with the way he tore it up at Florida's Pro Day recently. In all likelihood, the young man will be off the board no later than when the Philadelphia Eagles select at No. 23. 

Anyway, even though the Pats snagged Gabe Carimi at No. 17 in our mock draft, I would still take Pouncey here were I in charge of the Patriots' war room on draft day. He's the best player still on the board in my opinion. Not only that though, right guard just so happens to be a big need for the Patriots . Dan Connolly has been serviceable for New England since joining the Patriots from Jacksonville in 2008. A former practice squad guy out of Southeast Missouri State, Connolly played well enough during his first two seasons with the Pats to earn himself an extension through the 2011 season. But make no mistake about it, the Pats would love to upgrade in a big way by letting Pouncey compete for Connolly's job as early as this coming season. If Pouncey needs a year before being a part of a championship caliber team like the Pats, so be it. There's no money invested in Connolly beyond the '11 season and Pouncey could theoretically slide into the starting role in '12.

Had Gabe Carimi not been selected by the Pats earlier in our mock, I would have snagged Nate Solder of Colorado with this pick. I think our community draft is quite interesting and full of sound picks. But one dude who's guaranteed to not be on the board in the late 20s is Solder, a towering 6'8 tackle who's great in pass protection in what's become an increasingly pass-first NFL. But with Carimi already selected by the Pats, it doesn't make much sense to nab a second tackle. So Pouncey it is. Boy would I hate to see the Pats get the youngster, but you better believe that if he falls this far, Bill Belichick and the Pats front office would definitely resist the temptation to trade out of the pick in order to get Maurkice Pouncey's twin brother.

BTSC 2011 Community Mock Draft Selections:

1. Carolina Panthers -- Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
2. Denver Broncos -- Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
3. Buffalo Bills -- Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M
4. Cincinnati Bengals -- Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
5. Arizona Cardinals -- Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
6. Cleveland Browns -- 'The Snow Cone Machine' A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
7. San Francisco 49ers -- Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
8. Tennessee Titans -- Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
9. Dallas Cowboys -- Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
10. Washington Redskins -- Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina
11. Houston Texans -- Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri
12. Minnesota Vikings -- Tyron Smith, OT, USC
13. Detroit Lions -- JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin
14. St. Louis Rams -- Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
15. Miami Dolphons -- Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
16. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Brooks Reed , DE, Arizona
17. New England Patriots -- Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
18. San Diego Chargers -- Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue
19. New York Giants -- Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
21. Kansas City Chiefs -- Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
22. Indianapolis Colts -- Cameron Jordan, DL, California
23. Philadelphia Eagles -- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
24. New Orleans Saints -- Justin Houston, DE/OLB, Georgia
25. Seattle Seahawks -- Jake Locker, QB, Washington
26. Baltimore Ravens -- Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
27. Atlanta Falcons -- Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa