Just as I’m breathing a sigh of relief from giving out grades for each pick and team in the 2010 NFL Draft, I’m starting to look at prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft.
Jake Locker leads the group and is followed by the best offensive tackle in the nation, Gabe Carimi, who stepped right in at Wisconsin after Joe Thomas left.
This draft is going to be very quarterback rich. There could be as many as 22 QBs when all is said and done that have a great chance of being drafted. Then again, Jevan Snead was supposed to be a first rounder before his Junior year and see what happened there?
It’s going to be fun to watch the North Carolina defense play this fall. They have 5 or 6 guys who will get drafted. Butch Davis has turned that program around very nicely in a relatively short amount of time.
Before we get to the rankings, I do have a warning: These are very preliminary rankings. They’re going to change a lot within the next 11 and 3/4ths months.
I’m no longer a rookie mocker. I think I did pretty well doing mocks (except for the 2 round mock draft hate-a-thon…my feelings were hurt pretty badly. I almost pulled a Vince Young. I mean, I went some place without telling anyone. What else did you think?) and predicting the right value for players (Value Board). I hope I don’t have a sophomore slump…
*Only Seniors are listed*
1. JAKE LOCKER QB WASHINGTON – Will improve greatly in another year under Steve Sarkisian
2. GABE CARIMI OT WISCONSIN – Looks like best OT in country
3. ADRIAN CLAYBORN DE IOWA – High motor and effort player
4. CAMERON HEYWARD DT OHIO STATE – Expecting another huge year for defensive linemen
5. PRINCE AMUKAMARA CB NEBRASKA – The Black Shirts are back!
6. BRUCE CARTER OLB NORTH CAROLINA – Wow, this NC defense is gonna be tough
7. GREG ROMEUS DE PITTSBURGH – Will be a 4 year starter which will help stock even higher
8. VON MILLER OLB TEXAS A&M – Excellent pass rusher. Will go to 3-4 OLB
9. RAS-I DOWLING CB VIRGINIA – Big corner at 6’2″ 200+ lbs
10. MARVIN AUSTIN DT NORTH CAROLINA – Known to take some plays off, could be top overall
Bubble Bursters:
11. ALLEN BAILEY DE MIAMI (FL)
12. CHRISTIAN PONDER QB FLORIDA STATE
13. JEREMY BEAL DE OKLAHOMA
14. GREG JONES MLB MICHIGAN STATE
15. ANTHONY CASTONZO OT BOSTON COLLEGE
16. QUAN STURDIVANT MLB NORTH CAROLINA
17. DEANDRE MCDANIEL SS CLEMSON
18. CLINT BOLING OT GEORGIA
19. DEUNTA WILLIAMS FS NORTH CAROLINA
20. TERRANCE TOLIVER WR LSU
21. EVAN ROYSTER RB PENN STATE
22. PAT DEVLIN QB DELAWARE
23. AUSTIN PETTIS WR BOISE STATE
24. DEMARCO MURRAY RB OKLAHOMA
25. NATE SOLDER OT COLORADO
26. SAM ACHO DE TEXAS
27. STEPHEN PAEA DT OREGON STATE
28. MIKE POUNCEY C FLORIDA
29. WESLYE SAUNDERS TE SOUTH CAROLINA
30. RODNEY HUDSON OG FLORIDA STATE
