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Welcome one and all to the first annual TSHQ Dueling Mock Drafts.  I am your host, Seth Cox and will be joined today by our newest writer, James Caughlin.

Today we take the journey through the first round of the draft, and give you our picks, along with some of my thoughts on what each team will be doing.

Also, James has identified some teams to be on the lookout for when it comes to making moves in this draft.

Without further ado, here is our 1^st annual mock draft.

Seth and James-Cam Newton

Seth’s thoughts: Listen, I am not here to debate the possible greatness of Cam Newton, or the possibility that he is a colossal flop, I am here to say, that Marcell would be the safer pick, and help the franchise more right now, while not throwing away a second round pick that never got a real chance in Jimmy Clausen. 

Seth and James- Marcell Dareus

Seth’s thoughts: If Dareus  is there, there is no reason the Broncos shouldn’t take him, he will give new coach John Fox an incredible run stopper in the middle that the Broncos desperately need.

The only other option I like is Patrick Peterson.

Seth and James- Von Miller

Seth’s thoughts: Why will they take Miller?  Because as a Cards fan they have not had the top player on their board fall to them since the Pitt West took over.  Well that and they have been drafting lower than normal.  Anyways this isn’t a need for Buffalo, but he is the best defensive player on the board and I don’t see them passing up this opportunity.

Seth and James- A.J.Green

Seth’s thoughts: Not sure if drafting Green would help out with the Carson Palmer situation, but if you really want to give Palmer more incentive to come back, this could help.

Seth and James- Blaine Gabbert

Seth’s thoughts: I pray nightly that the Cards don’t draft a QB in the top 5 in this draft, and if for some reason that prayer goes unanswered, then I pray that the one they pick turns out to be a franchise passer.

Yet, I would much prefer they take Peterson, who some have ranked the highest in the draft.  A Peterson/DRC corner combo could be one of the very best in the league, and allow Greg Toler to move to his more natural nickel position.  This could be one of the best secondary’s in all the NFL, and we saw what that can do for a team, hell the Packers just won the Super Bowl with a dominant secondary.

When a QB is not a sure thing, I don’t like the idea of drafting one.  PLEASE AZ, PLEASE, don’t draft a QB.

Seth- Robert Quinn
James- Julio Jones

Seth’s thoughts: Listen, I get the Julio Jones love, and I may be wrong about this, but Quinn is special.

He has a natural ability to get to the QB, even better than Von Miller, but there are so many questions about his health.  I know the Browns need offensive weapons for Colt McCoy and the west coast offense, but Quinn is going to do something great.

Seth and James- Patrick Peterson

Seth’s thoughts: I hope for my own selfish sake that the 9ers don’t make this pick, but if they do it will be the steal of the draft.  Possibly the best player in the draft falling all the way down to #7?

Peterson is an immediate upgrade to an only ok seconday, and would allow the 49ers to roll out one of the best defensive units in the NFL.

Now only if they can get that QB position figured out.

Seth and James- Nick Fairley

Seth’s thoughts: Remember 2 months ago when everyone thought Fairley was going #1 overall? Hmm, that seems like an eternity ago.

Anyways, Fairley is exactly what they need to become a good defense again, an attacking, penetrating defensive lineman that can be a disruptive force on the inside.

Seth and James- Tyron Smith

Seth’s thoughts: Listen, I am not a fan of Tony Romo being a franchise QB, but one thing is for sure, his offensive line sucks.

Smith is a freak for an offensive lineman, and a little raw.  Luckily for the Cowboys, Colombo is still a viable option for at least 7-10 games.

 Seth- Julio Jones
James- Jake Locker

Seth’s thoughts: The Redskins really lack a big play offensive talent, and Jones has that in spades.

He is as close to a sure thing as there is in this draft and the Skins need to continue to hit on their draft picks, since they are awful in free agency.

Seth- Prince Amukamara
James- Robert Quinn

Seth’s thoughts: The Texans secondary is truly awful, and were lit up for touchdown after touchdown last year.

Maybe that is why they can never make the playoffs.   

What on earth is wrong with this team?  Oh yeah, the defense is atrocious.

 Seth- Jake Locker
James- Cameron Jordan

Seth’s thoughts: Locker was the #1 pick last year, at least a top 5, and now some people believe he has second round talent only. 

Here is the thing, the Vikings have an incredible amount of offensive weapons, and some guy named Adrian Peterson to hand the ball off to.  So drafting and developing a QB is vitally important if they are to get back to being a dominant NFC team.

 Seth- Cameron Jordan
James- Prince Amukamara

Seth- Aldon Smith
James- Da’Quan Bowers

Seth’s thoughts: Wow, we both have them taking pass rushers, and while Bowers is the superior talent, he has too many injury concerns for me to give him a spot this high.

Smith doesn’t have as high of a ceiling, but he is someone that Coach Spags can turn into a fearless pass rusher, something he did quite often in NY.

Seth- Andy Dalton
James- J.J.Watt

Seth’s thoughts:  Lots of speculation here from me, but I have read and heard to many things from people that Bill Parcells is a huge fan.

Add to the fact that Parcells still beats himself up for not drafting Matt Ryan a few years ago, and Parcells gets what he thinks will be a franchise passer here.

Seth- Ryan Kerrigan
James- Mike Pouncey

Seth’s thoughts: They like experienced, proven college players and that is exactly what Kerrigan is.  He also fills a gigantic need for the Jags, as they only had three sacks in their last 5 games last year. 

This is the type of pick that just makes to much sense to me.

Seth- Mike Pouncey
James- Aldon Smith

Seth’s thoughts:  A lot of questions for the Pats when it comes to their defensive and offensive line, but something tells me that the hoodie will not pass on Pouncey.

He is a fantastic swingman, able to play either guard spots, or the center position, and will be someone that can be locked into that position for the next 8-10 years.

Seth- J.J. Watt
James- Ryan Kerrigan

Seth’s thoughts: Remember when the Chargers drafted Larry English thinking he could replace Shawn Merriman’s sack production.

Remember when everyone laughed at that notion?

Yeah, they need a pass rusher, we both have them taking one, Watt just is the one I have available, and the one that has a little more ability to play in coverage.

Seth and James- Anthony Castonzo

Seth’s thoughts: A brawling offensive tackle?  On the Giants? NO Way.  One of those picks that everyone has happening, which means it won’t.

Seth- Da’Quan Bowers
James- Brandon Harris

Seth’s thoughts: Bowers is a lot like a former Bucs DE talent wise.  And if he can stay healthy, dropping all the way down to 20 for the Bucs could really be the steal of the draft.

Seth and James- Gabe Carimi

Seth’s thoughts: Some people have Solder higher, some people have Sherrod higher, I myself like Carimi for a Scott Piolo lead team.

He fits that Patriots mold of player, and as the Chiefs continue to grow, they will do so following the Patriots formula.

 Seth- Derek Sherrod
James- Nate Solder

Seth’s thoughts: A mammoth left tackle, or an even bigger left tackle.  If the Colts don’t draft an offensive lineman, I will be shocked.

Seth and James- Jimmy Smith

Seth’s thoughts:  Andy Reid giving someone with questionable character a chance?  Never.  Smith fills a huge need for the Eagles, and if it wasn’t for a lot of questions about him as a person, he would probably be in the top 15 or so picks.

Seth- Mark Ingram
James- Corey Liuget

Seth’s thoughts: There have been some rumblings that Sean Payton likes Mark Ingram, and by like, thinks that he could be a great asset to an already potent offensive machine.

Seth- Corey Ligeut
James- Ryan Mallett

Seth’s thoughts: Out of all the teams, I have the worst feel for what the Seahawks are going to do.  They want a QB, but now there is talk that they will make a play for Carson Palmer.

So would they still draft a QB if they are really going to pursue a QB via trade or free agency?

They need help along the defensive line as they lose Brandon Mebane.  Ligeut has gone as high as 14 in some mocks, but I think he fits in real nice here.

Seth- Cam Heyward
James- Akeem Ayers

Seth’s thoughts: Again, we both have them taking a defensive end, I just have them taking a big one that can play as a 3-4 end, and not have to transition to a 3-4 OLB.

Seth- Justin Hosuton
James- Danny Watkins

Seth’s thoughts: The Falcons have been looking for a pass rush defensive end for the last couple of seasons, and Houston could learn from a good, but aging one in John Abraham.

Houston is a physical specimen, that won’t fall out of the first round, with the emphasis that is put on getting to the QB.

Seth- Brooks Reed
James- Mark Ingram

Seth’s thoughts: Reed is a non-stop, play with reckless abandon type player.  He also is highly intelligent, and that is something very important to hoodie.

Seth- Nate Solder
James- Adrian Clayborn

Seth’s thoughts: I could see the Bears taking another pass rusher, but they need help along that offensive line, and Solder is a very good talent and the Bears have a supremely porous offensive line.

If they are going to protect Jay Cutler’s vulva from getting chaffed again, they will need a better offensive line.

Seth- Phil Taylor
James- Jabaal Sheard

Seth’s thoughts: The Jets don’t mind taking a flyer on a player with some injury concerns, especially when that player fits into the scheme better than any other player in this draft.

Taylor has all the tools to be a very good nose tackle in the league, and playing on a Jets defense that is tailored too his strengths can only help him succeed.

Seth- Brandon Harris
James- Phil Taylor

Seth’s thoughts: The Steelers want the other Pouncey as well, but he will be long drafted by this time, so most likely they will go with more of a need selection.

Harris is a little bit of a project, but has what the Steelers like in a player and can be hidden on a great defense at times.

Seth- Akeem Ayers
James- Brooks Reed

Seth’s thoughts: Again, we both agree on the idea that it will be a pass rusher to go opposite Clay Matthews, but I don’t think Brooks Reed will fall this far.

Ayers give them a player that can move between two or three positions, as well as learn to rush the passer in the aggressive, pressure defense the Packers operate in.

Thanks for joining us here at TSHQ for our first ever dueling mock draft.

James and I will be back after the three day extravaganza now known as the NFL draft ends, with some of our thoughts.

Would love to hear any comments or thoughts about what you think, or would like your team to do.