2011 NFL Draft: 10 Bold Predictions
There are always many stories to follow leading up to draft day as uncertainty and speculation reign supreme. It's easy to mistake reality from rumor, but I will let you know what to expect on draft day.
I will give you 10 predictions for this upcoming 2011 NFL Draft.
Let me know your comments and opinions regardless of if they are positive or negative.
The Top Prospects Will Walk Across the Stage
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The Players Association threw out a cold ultimatum to the top rookies who are anxiously preparing to walk across the stage at Radio City Music Hall. A report was issued on Tuesday that the NFLPA is telling the top prospects to boycott the draft.
This announcement has struck a nerve with players and fans alike and the general reception of the ultimatum has been chilly to say the least.
UCLA safety Raheem Moore summed up his feelings on the ultimatum in an interview with the Los Angeles Times: "I'm headed for the draft. It's the only thing I really care about. To be honest, I don't know what the NFLPA is doing. They have to let us young guys get ready for our dreams."
I think and hope that many of the top prospects will follow Moore’s lead and live out their dream of walking across the stage and being inducted into the National Football League.
Da’quan Bowers Will Be the No. 1 Pick in the Draft
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Carolina ranked 23rd in the league last season in stopping the run, giving up 123.8 rushing yards per game. I realize that the Panthers have a long list of needs that they need to fill, but I think that they will use their first pick to bolster their defensive line.
Da’quan can play in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 defensive scheme and has raw talent that is simply awe-inspiring. There are questions about whether the Clemson product is truly worth a first-round selection after having one breakout season with the Tigers, but I don’t think that fear will ultimately stop the Panthers from selecting this kid.
Carolina struggled without Julius Peppers anchoring the defensive line last season and I think Bowers is another potential elite talent up front defensively.
Ryan Mallett Will Be Left Waiting To Be Selected
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Ryan Mallett threw for 3,869 passing yards and 32 touchdowns last season at Arkansas. Despite those impressive statistics, there are questions abound about Mallett’s draft potential.
Scouts have questions about Ryan’s mobility in the pocket and his composure after Mallett admitted to getting too emotional during past games.
Obviously, Ryan’s big arm is the aspect of the quarterback’s skill set that has scouts enamored, but holes are starting to emerge in the prospect’s draft report.
Right now, Mallett is being projected as a second-round pick, but depending on how the next month goes, you could see Ryan slip down to the early third round.
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Mark Ingram Will Be the First Running Back Selected
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I expect Ingram to be the first running back taken off the board, despite the fact that Mark has injury history.
Mark has everything you love in an NFL running back: good power, deceptive speed and a winning pedigree.
Obviously, it’s easier to have a history of winning at Alabama under Nick Saban then it is at other programs, but you have to love the way Ingram battled through his injuries and ultimately came back to help the Tide in 2011.
Mark is projected to be a top 20 pick and has running backs such as Mikel Leshoure and Daniel Thomas chasing him for the top spot, but ultimately, Ingram will be the first running back selected.
New England Will Use Their Six Picks To Improve Their Defense
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The Patriots have six picks throughout the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. New England will use those picks to stockpile some youth for a defense that had some rough patches last season.
The Patriots struggled specifically defending the pass where they ranked 30th in the NFL last season, giving up 258.5 passing yards per game.
Nobody is better at picking out talent than the Patriots' brain trust and the powers that be in Foxboro will have fun playing with their various high draft picks.
The Cincinnati Bengals Will Draft Cam Newton
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Carson Palmer has made it crystal clear that he has no interest in playing for the Bengals anymore and that he would rather retire than suffer through another season at Paul Brown Stadium.
There has been talk that former Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour could become the next signal caller for Cincinnati, but there is a growing buzz surrounding Cam and the Bengals.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper even went as far as to project Newton going to Cincinnati at the No. 4 spot.
This may not be an ideal pairing, but there is a growing sense that the Bengals could invest their future in Cam.
Colin Kaepernick Will Be the Biggest Riser on Draft Day
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Kaepernick’s senior-bowl performance drew rave reviews from scouts and NFL personnel alike. Colin’s mobility is also garnering praise from NFL brass. Kaepernick rushed for 1,206 yards and scored 20 touchdowns with his legs last season as a senior for Nevada.
Colin’s draft buzz had meager beginnings, but as I stated above the dual-threat quarterback is making his move up boards. Kaepernick was projected as a fourth-round pick, but now some outlets are saying that he could move as high as the second round.
Wide Receiver Will Be the Deepest Position in the Draft
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There are so many quality wide receivers to be had that it’s borderline ridiculous.
Some big names that immediately come to mind are Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Jonathon Baldwin and Torrey Smith. These are obviously the headliners of the group and all of the aforementioned wideouts will be off the board sooner than later.
The most impressive aspect of this group is that there isn’t that great a drop-off in talent later in the wide receiver pool. Randall Cobb, Jerrel Jernigan and Greg Little are just some of the impressive pass-catchers who project to be available in the middle rounds.
The depth at this position is what carries it over the top as the deepest position group for 2011.
Randall Cobb and Jerrel Jernigan Will Make Some NFL Teams Very Happy
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Cobb and Jernigan get a more in-depth look because they both have the capability to make an immediate impact for whoever drafts them.
Both players mix their solid hands with an elusiveness that allows them to contribute on special teams as well as offense. A lack of size will keep both players out of the first round and there are durability concerns for the prospects, but besides that, these are two players whose skills immediately translate to the league.
Look for Randall and Jerrel to make impacts with their respective clubs as rookies and give some franchise high value for what will likely be a second-round selection.
Mel Kiper and Todd McShay Will Belittle Franchises for Their Selections
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This is a fairly obvious prediction, but it’s always one of the more entertaining side stories of the draft.
Historically, Mel in particular hasn’t been shy about critiquing the direction general managers choose to go with their selections. Todd has become sort of a protégé to Kiper and is fairly candid in his own right.
Be warned NFL executives: If your picks lack logic or wisdom, you should be ready for this pair of ESPN draft gurus to call you out on it.
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