Best- and Worst-Case Scenario for Every Team's Top 2011 Draft Pick

There’s light at the end of the lockout tunnel, albeit a dim one, but there is still some light. Usually, teams are preparing for training camps and players are dreading the two-a-days associated with them. But rookies, the ones who have decided not to hold out, are usually a little excited about training camp.

How will Cam Newton develop, and will he gel with the Panthers offense? Can Jake Locker take over the Vince Young-less Tennessee Titans, and will Julio Jones prove to be worth all of what the Falcons gave up for him?

From Cam Newton to Derek Sherrod, here are the best and worst case scenarios for each and every team’s top rookie.

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Timing is everything. Newton led the Auburn Tigers a national title last season and did so in dramatic fashion at times. He’s big, strong, tall and one of the most athletic athletes to come out of the SEC since Tim Tebow.

Best Case: Newton will lead the Panthers to the playoffs a few times but never taking them any higher than the conference championship. Newton’s skills as a passer will be his biggest liability. How he reads an NFL defense and moves through his progressions as a quarterback will decide how he develops as a passer. But even if he matures enough to rely on his arm more than his leg, I still never see him moving past a conference championship game.

Worst Case: The absolute worst case for Newton is that he will become a bust. I think that Newton is too strong willed and talented to ever leave the NFL like a Ryan Leaf of JaMarcus Russell. But I also believe that he may have to many liabilities as a passer to become what the Panthers want him to be. If he does bust, then expect him to last about three full seasons in North Carolina.

Von Miller, Denver Broncos

If the Broncos drafted Miller as a pass rusher, then they may be in luck. Miller rushes the passer very well, and he has enough speed to dart around some offensive tackles off the edge.

Best Case: Miller becomes a defensive juggernaut. He has the skills and ability to do so, and depending on how the Broncos use him, Miller just may turn into a sack machine. He’s a great tackler with great vision who follows the ball well and can deliver a knock out blow. Miller has the skill set to become a Pro Bowl caliber player and should develop into a pretty good linebacker.

Worst Case: Miller has a very high ceiling on his skill and ability, and the very worst knock on him is that his lower body isn’t strong enough and he has trouble with man coverage. Miller’s worst case is that he only makes one Pro Bowl and never develops into the type of player who affects an offensive gameplan every Sunday.

Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills

Dareus started low and ended high on many draft boards.

Many fans remember him from when Alabama played Texas in the national title game a couple of seasons ago when Dareus knocked Longhorn quarterback Colt McCoy out of the game and picked off Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert and returned the interception for a touchdown.

Best Case: Dareus becomes an interior monster and develops into one of the most gifted and talented defenders in the entire league. The Bills want to improve their rush defense, and they drafted Dareus to beef up their internal presence. Dareus is also pretty good at rushing the passer, which should turn into a nightmare for both runner and passer. A perennial Pro Bowler Dareus may become, but the Bills still need a few more pieces to become a dangerous defensive outfit.

Worst Case: Dareus rose so high and so quickly that many scouts turned him into an android with no flaws. I remember seeing the same type of scouting reports on Glen Dorsey when he came out of LSU. Dareus had no set position in college and will have to adapt to being stationed on the interior in the NFL. He may turn out to be a bust who makes a sneeze in the league and never learns how to manage his NFL career.

A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

Green made his fair share of acrobatic catches while he was in college, but can he translate that athleticism into a strong NFL career?

Best Case: Green has a nice set of hands, great speed and has the necessary height to become a great NFL receiver. But he’s in Cincinnati, and while Chad Johnson was able to will his talent into a pretty good NFL career, lightning may not strike twice in the Queen City. The Bengals have issues at quarterback, and depending on who takes on the role as field general for Cincy will determine how high Green is able to fly. He may have a few 1,000 yard seasons, but I don’t see Green turning into a Pro Bowl type of receiver unless the Bengals are able to add some type of stability to their organization.

Worse Case: Green’s talent will more than likely win out at the end of the day, but if he’s stuck in Cincy for the long haul, then we may see Peter Warrick type of production from the UGA product. If Carson’s little brother ends up throwing him the ball, then he either won’t be in Cincy long or…well, he just won’t be in Cincy long.

Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals need help everywhere, and some thought that Arizona would draft a quarterback, but instead, they grabbed the talented Patrick Peterson.

Best Case: We’ll learn if Peterson’s reputation as a “shut down” corner was greatly exaggerated as he matures in the NFL. He has great footwork and has wonderful fluid motion in his hips. He’s fast, running a 4.34 in the 40 yard dash, and has strong hands as well. He’ll turn into a Pro Bowl cornerback and have a stretch of years in the league where he’s considered to be on the best at his position.

Worst Case: Peterson’s speed serves him well as a returner and not a cornerback. He’s fast but has issues with recovery. Peterson may be his best in the nickel and never develop into the type of defensive player the Cardinals want. Special teams and second team would be one of the worst possible scenarios for Peterson and Arizona.

Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

Jones has a mighty lofty set of expectations on his shoulders as the Falcons blockbuster type draft day trade for him.

Best Case: Atlanta is hoping that he’s the missing offensive piece to their possible Super Bowl team. Jones has the necessary height and speed to become a great offensive force. He’s big and deceptively fast and he’s able to burn cornerbacks deep because of it. The best case for Jones will be that he develops a routine of 1,000 yard seasons and helps lead the Falcons to a Super Bowl.

Worst Case: Jones never lives up to draft day expectations and turns into Michael Jenkins. He struggles with consistency and can drop passes out of the blue, and that may become his trademark in the NFL. The worst case for Jones is that he becomes a slot receiver and puts up sub 1,000 receiving yard seasons, and the Falcons never win a Super Bowl with him on the team.

Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers

The Niners were on the board early again and chose the athletic Smith to bolster their defensive front.

Best Case: Smith will come off the edge and try to give each and every quarterback he faces hell. He has great speed and nice agility, and the Niners are hoping that he’s a sack machine. I believe that at best Smith will gather about eight or nine sacks per season and become a disruption but never a disruptive force on the line.

Worst Case: Smith is a top 10 type of bust and puts up pedestrian numbers as a defensive end. I like Smith, but I believe he’s operating with a low ceiling in the NFL and will hit it pretty early in his career. If he manages about four or five sacks in his rookie season, then it won’t get much better after that.

Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans

Locker will be charged with replacing Vince Young and taking Tennessee to the Super Bowl, something Young was never able to do.

Best Case: I like Locker’s attitude and I enjoy his athleticism, but I don’t think he’ll live up to what Young was able to do during his tenure as a Titan. Vince could be erratic, and to his detriment, could be very dogmatic in his ways as a quarterback, but Locker is a prisoner to his own abilities. I think his will as a player will allow him to flourish, but only as far as the talent around him will allow. I see a playoff appearance or two and Locker routinely making bad decisions through his NFL career just as he did in college.

Worst Case: Locker is a bust and is thrown out of Tennessee as fast as Young. He could the as consistent or unreliable as Kerry Collins, and the Titans are in desperate need of a steady hand. Locker won’t win any titles in Tennessee and may never make the playoffs.

Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys offensive played as bad as Carl Lewis’ rendition of the national anthem last season. Need any more reasons as to why Jerry Jones drafted an offensive lineman?

Best Case: Depending on where the Cowboys decide to put Smith, either on the left or the right side, will depend on how far he’s able to climb. I think that Smith can develop into a solid player for the Cowboys as a right tackle but never anything more than a one or two time Pro Bowler. That scenario will work out great for Dallas, because as of right now, they are working with a set of aging injury riddled Buicks.

Worst Case: Smith turns out to be Alex Barron and relies on holding players who beat him and allows his feet to get in the way of his progress. I don’t think Smith will be that bad, but he’s so green and young that it’s hard to tell what the Cowboys will actually get out of Smith. If he’s a bust, then Jerry can kiss his Super Bowl goodbye.

Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars

Gabbert is charged with saving the Jaguars franchise and eventually leading them to the game their stadium once hosted, the Super Bowl.

Best Case: Gabbert has prototypical arm strength and is great at reading defenses. He has great confidence in his arm and is fast enough to evade when he’s outside the pocket. I think Gabbert has the ability to grow into a pretty good NFL quarterback. In Jacksonville, he’ll have his chance to show his ability, but the Jags have to put the necessary talent around him if he’s to grow into what they want him to become. I think Gabbert will eventually lead the Jags deep into the playoffs and make a few Pro Bowls if he’s able to add needed discipline to his game.

Worse Case: Believe it or not, Gabbert can sometimes have too much confidence in that rocket of an arm of his. He can sometimes turn into a gunslinger, and he’ll need to quell that need when he becomes starter in the ‘Ville. I think Gabbert will be an OK NFL quarterback, and the worst case for him is that he never develops into a consistent passer or leader and has sporadic instances of success in Duval, never leading the Jags to a Super Bowl.

J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

The Texans are still searching for improvement on the defensive side of the ball, and maybe they’ve found a missing piece with Watt.

Best Case: Before draft day, I believe I viewed at least five different mocks where J.J. went to five different teams. At any rate Watt will need to bring the noise in Houston, as the team drafted him to be sort of the Robin to Mario Williams’ Batman. He has a high motor, an overused term in the NFL, but that should serve him well as a Texan. He has great football I.Q. and should turn in a consistent amount of quarterback tackles during his NFL tenure. I see at least nine or 10 sack average seasons for him in Houston.

Worst Case: Watt’s motor burns out quickly and he’s regulated to a back-up role and eventually released. J.J. will need to prove himself in his first few seasons, and I believe he will. But the worst case for the former Wisconsin star is that he’ll only average about three or four sacks per season and struggle with strength and fighting off those humongous NFL offensive linemen.

Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings

Ponder is tasked with taking a still very talented Vikings team to the Super Bowl in the small shadow of Brett Favre.

Best Case: The Vikings were in need of a quarterback, but this was a reach. I know the pick on quarterbacks was light in this draft, but Ponder was probably a second or third round type of prospect. Ponder will struggle reading NFL defenses and never develop into the Super Bowl caliber quarterback the Vikings need. The best case for Ponder is that he leads the Vikings to the playoffs on the legs of Adrian Peterson, but never goes any further than the round of Wild Cards.

Worst Case: Ponder is a huge disappointment and throws more interceptions than touchdowns as a Viking. He’s fast and is great at getting rid of the ball, but he needs to improve his decision making and struggles with progressions. The worst case here is that Ponder does just that, Ponders his way around Minnesota because he could never get this Vikings team off the ground.

Nick Fairley, Detroit Lions

Fairly looks to add a nasty defensive element to an already feisty and growing Lions defense.

Best Case: Fairley gels with Ndamukong Suh and they develop into one of the worst defensive tandems in recent memory, which is a good thing for Detroit. Fairley is great at shooting the gap and has the necessary strength and speed to become a successful defensive lineman. I can see him grabbing at least seven or eight sacks per season and offensives actually gameplanning against Fairley and Suh.

Worst Case: Fairley's character issues derail a promising NFL career, and he’s constantly suspended or being chided for off the field behavior. I don’t think he’ll sink that low, but the possibility of him becoming an off the field issue for the Lions is real and present.

Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams

Another team looking to bolster their defensive profile, the Rams chose former North Carolina standout Robert Quinn with the 14th pick.

Best Case: Quinn will be a pass rush specialist for the Rams until he’s able to get his weight and strength up to effectively to disrupt the run. He’s fast and quick, and with his speed rush, should gather a nice handful of sacks as a rookie. But if Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo has plans to turn the Rams defensive line into what he had with the Giants in 2007, then Quinn should do just fine. I think he’ll turn into a Mathias Kiwanuka type of player for his career, which is pretty solid.

Worst Case: Quinn is a bust and ends up on the bench averaging about two sacks per season. He’s just a fast pass rusher at the moment, and if he fails to add any additional moves to his repertoire, then riding the pine is in his near future.

Mike Pouncey, Miami Dolphins

If Mike turns out to be anything like his brother Maurkice, then the Dolphins may have a Super Bowl in their future.

Best Case: I repeat: If Mike plays half as well as his brother Maurkice, then the Dolphins got an early steal. He’ll need to get in the weight room, but his addition adds needed depth and talent to the Dolphins offensive line. Pouncey has Pro Bowl potential, and under head coach Tony Sparano, he should blossom into a pretty solid offensive lineman.

Worst Case: His college abilities as an offensive lineman fail to translate to the NFL, and he never lives up to his potential. He’ll become the type of player that NFL talking heads talk about as a player who will add depth to a team’s offensive line and nothing else.

Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins

The Redskins need a quarterback, a running back and help in other areas, but they chose a pass rusher to upgrade their defense.

Best Case: The Redskins remind the Texans in this regard: Mario Williams is a Pro Bowl defensive end, and the Texans are still searching for an effective pass rusher to pair with him. Same here.

Brian Orakpo has developed into a dangerous pass rusher, and now the Redskins want another treacherous rusher to play his opposite. If Kerrigan is able to catch on to the Redskins defensive scheme quickly, then he may well become what the ‘Skins are looking for. But I believe the ceiling is basement high for Kerrigan, and he’ll develop into a player who averages about six or seven sacks per season.

Worse Case: Kerrigan gets lost in the dirty lights of D.C. and fades into the night. It's always a bad sign when a fan asks, “what ever happened to so and so?” Well, that may be in Kerrigan’s future if he doesn’t add more rush moves and improve his footwork.

Nate Solder, New England Patriots

Always looking toward the future, the Pats chose Solder to add depth and as a possible anchor to their line in the future.

Best Case: Solder is 6’8” and 319 pounds. If he’s unable to adequately leverage that size into pancaking a couple of defensive tackles and ends into the ground, then maybe the NFL just isn’t for him. Learning under the seedy Belichick is nothing short of great for a rookie, and if he follows the Patriots' successful playbook, then he’ll play the majority of his career as a Patriot, a Pro Bowler and a maybe wear a couple of rings.

Worst Case: It doesn’t take long for Bill to rid his team of dead weight, so if Solder fails to work out and his talent never materializes in N.E., then he’ll end up on another team as quickly as the Pats are able to video tape another team’s plays. Too old? Ahhhh, get a sense of humor. Still, I think Solder is solid, and if he doesn’t work out, then there are enough teams in the NFL willing to give a third and fourth chance.

Corey Liuget, San Diego Chargers

The Charges ranked number one in total defense in 2010, and S.D. general manager A.J. Smith would like to keep it that way. Probably why he chose a talented kid like Corey Liuget.

Best Case: Corey has so much potential that its scary. He’s deceptively fast and has great strength to play the interior well in the NFL. I think he’ll turn out to be one of the best players to come out of the 2011 draft and we’ll talk about him for years to come and how important he is to the Chargers defense.

Worst Case: Corey’s height and weight turn out to be major problems in the league, and he never fits well in San Diego. He gets lost in the middle, switches to the end and gets lost even more. He becomes a nomad who never finds a permanent home and he’s used by teams as a stop gap when injuries arise.

Prince Amukamara, New York Giants

The Giants are a team known for defense and the Prince adds legend to that profile.

Best Case: I love the Prince and thought he would have fit well in Dallas, but the Giants picked him up once the Cowboys passed. I think he may turn out to be better than Patrick Peterson because he’s such a smart player. A few Pro Bowls and maybe one of the greatest cornerbacks the NFC has seen in the past 10 years is probably a future title for Prince in the very near future.

Worst Case: Prince is smart, but he can sometimes take an un-necessary risk to the detriment of his own team. That risk may envelop his game, handcuff it and send him out of New York. That season from hell that Cowboys player Mike Jenkins had last year? That very well could be Prince if his decision making fails to improve.

Adrian Clayborn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa surprised a lot of people and teams last season, and their defense was key to that success. Adding Clayborn is an attempt to improve an already strong unit of defenders.

Best Case: Clayborn is faster than what people think and should surprise a few offensive tackles coming off of the edge. He’ll have his chance to become a statistical leader on defense and should become a stalwart on the defensive front. Not a Warren Sapp type of personality or presence, but Clayborn should have a powerful impact for the Bucs.

Worst Case: He’s a huge bust and never adapts to the Bucs defensive scheme. The Bucs have enough off field issues with a particular player as is, and Clayborn is volatile enough to become another head for the club. If he does, then a wasted pick will forever be his label.

Phil Taylor, Cleveland Browns

The Browns have a new defensive coordinator in Dick Jauron and Taylor will attempt his best Shaun Rogers act for Jauron.

Best Case: He’s big, he’s strong, and he’s…big. At 334 pounds Taylor ran a strong 5.14 in the 40 and sometimes has a nasty bull rush. If he does turn into Shaun Rogers, then the Browns got exactly what they were looking for, and Taylor’s reputation as a run stopper and quarterback smotherer will forever follow him.

Worst Case: Taylor turns out to be an overweight defensive tackle whose joints break down because of the extra weight. His size may carry him for awhile, but if it gets out of control, then his career will end as quickly as it started.

Anthony Castonzo, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts struggled last season upfront, and adding Castonzo’s size and stability was needed if the Colts plan to make another run at the Super Bowl.

Best Case: He has to be better than Tony Ugoh, and if he can’t do that, then the Colts wasted their time. He stands at 6’7” and has great footwork for a player who has so much size. He’s a prototypical tackle, and if he develops great chemistry with the rest of the line and Peyton Manning, then the Colts have found themselves an anchor for the guy for Peyton and the guy charged with taking over for him.

Worst Case: He’s Tony Ugoh, and his size and potential turn out to be a dull fire cracker on July 4. Peyton will ride him pretty hard, as well as the rest of the men upfront, but if he fails to listen, then his time in Indy will be short and off to the bench he’ll go.

Danny Watkins, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles wanted depth on the offensive line and that’s what they received with Danny Watkins.

Best Case: Reminds me of Tyron Smith because of how raw he is and how much development he may need. He’ll have to keep his head on a swivel playing in front of Michael Vick, but he should respond well. I think he’ll turn out as a solid lineman but nothing spectacular. Should stay with Philly for awhile if the team produces a few 1,000 yard rushers and a Super Bowl. He may make a Pro Bowl if he’s the starter.

Worse Case: He never develops and always carries around the tag of “raw.” He has trouble with the blitz, and playing in the NFC East, he’ll need to turn that weakness into an unbelievable strength. If not, then Watkins will leave Philly as quietly as he arrived, and fans will ask the dreaded, “whatever happened to so and so?" question about him.

Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints

The Saints like to chase the quarterback on defense, and adding Jordan only improves their chances of tackling him.

Best Case: Ran a sold 4.78 in the 40 and should have moderate success as a speed rusher. I think he’s another player where the ceiling is low on his potential, but he should turn in solid efforts. Jordan is probably a five or six sack per year type of player due to the aggressive nature of the Saints defense.

Worst Case: Jordan is a hard worker, and it’s tough for me to believe that he’ll be a complete bust. In his worst season, he may not record a single sack, and numbers don’t lie, so that may lead to his undoing in the N.O. Either way, I think Jordan will have a decent NFL career.

James Carpenter, Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks surprised a few people by going with Carpenter so early, but they needed help on the line, and head coach Pete Carroll thought that Carpenter’s skill set fit his offensive scheme.

Best Case: Carpenter will probably end up starting eventually, and he’s talented enough to make a few Pro Bowls. Carpenter is no Walter Jones, and he won’t try to be, which is probably a good thing for Seattle. But, he’ll play within his talent level and should have a solid career in Seattle.

Worst Case: I think given the fluid situation in Seattle that Carpenter will stay awhile in Washington State. He’ll have his chance to prove himself, but he even if he fails to materialize into a dependable player, the ‘Hawks may still keep him for depth.

Jonathan Baldwin, Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs had other issues, but the team felt that Baldwin gave them a pretty good shot at improving their firepower through the air.

Best Case: Pittsburgh can produce a good receiver or two, and the Chiefs are hoping that Baldwin comes from the pedigree of the good ones. He’ll play alongside Dwayne Bowe, and he’ll have a great coach in Todd Hailey, who coached a potential Hall of Fame player in Larry Fitzgerald. I think he may take awhile to develop, but he should turn out a couple of 1,000 yard seasons, but nothing that brings tears to your eyes when you see him play.

Worse Case: Baldwin never catches on and is regulated to slow play where he only produces four or five hundred yard seasons with a touchdown here or there. His route running will need to improve, but even if it does, I don’t think he’ll have that great of an NFL career. 

Jimmy Smith, Baltimore Ravens

Ravens general manager Ozzie Smith seems to have the magic touch when it comes to picking talented players. He’s hoping that his touch didn’t disappear with Jimmy Smith.

Best Case: Smith will match-up well with some of the NFL’s tallest receivers, as he stands at 6’2” and weighs 211 pounds. The Ravens need help in the defensive backfield, and Smith has the talent and skill set to improve the secondary immediately. Learning under Ed Reed and Ray Lewis should do wonders for Smith, and he should have a pretty good NFL career with a few Pro Bowls in his future.

Worst Case: Smith fails to catch on to the Ravens defense and leans on his speed and height to cover receivers. If that happens, then his run in Baltimore will be short and bitter. The Ravens want to win a Super Bowl immediately, and Smith’s job is add to that possibility, not take away from it. He may turn out to be a cornerback who picks off the occasional pass by luck and not skill. If that happens, then Mr. Smith’s time near Washington was wasted.

Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints

Ingram’s arrival in the N.O. made running back Reggie Bush feel unwanted; just check his tweets from draft night.

Best Case: Ingram’s speed is misleading, and he’ll burn a few linebackers and corners thinking that he’s slow. Ingram should turn out to be a solid, durable running back who regularly churns out 1,000 yard seasons and makes his fair share of Pro Bowls.

Worst Case: Ingram’s play puts Bush’s ego at ease. Ingram is often compared to Emmitt Smith, but he’ll need to a Texas sized work ethic and offensive line to equal Mr. Smith’s production. The Saints have enough running backs to produce when needed, but Ingram should at least rustle up seven or eight hundred yard seasons.

Gabe Carimi, Chicago Bears

The Bears will have another season with Mike Martz, and if Jay Cutler wants to stay alive this season, then he’ll need a much improved offensive line.

Best Case: Carimi becomes Cutler’s bodyguard and protector on the field. Cutler was pasted many a time last season, and if Chicago has any shot at winning a Super Bowl, they’ll need much better play upfront. Carimi was college football's best lineman in 2010; just check his trophy case. He’s another big lineman who has a mean streak that will serve him well in the midway. I think he’ll do well in Chicago, as his main job will be to keep Cutler upright instead of eating grass.

Worst Case: The boogie train continues on Jay Cutler, and he’s sacked just as much in 2011 as he was in 2010. If that happens, the team will key in on Carimi and blitz his side of the field due to his inexperience and ineffectiveness. He’ll need to improve his balance and vision, but if the sack party continues to happen in Cutler’s backyard, then Carimi’s time in Chicago will be short.

Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets

This is the Jets attempt to add depth to their interior, as they can’t depend on Kris Jenkins to stay healthy.

Best Case: Wilkerson becomes as dominant as Kris Jenkins was in the past and adapts well to Rex Ryan’s aggressive scheme. He looks mean and will need to translate that nastiness to many an offensive lineman in the AFC East. I’m not sure what type of career he’ll have in the end, but I’m willing to bet that Ryan will move him around enough to find the perfect place for his skill set.

Worst Case: Wilkerson should do well as a Jet and in the NFL, as he’s too talented not to. I know that’s kind of like saying that he’s never going to fail, but he landed with the right team. If he does slip and fail, then he’ll do it trying his hardest and at least making a sporadic impact during his time in N.Y.

Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers didn’t pass on Heyward, and I don’t blame them. I think he has the potential to be the steal of the first round.

Best Case: The Steelers really needed help in the secondary, but they opted to go with Lil Ironhead to improve their defensive line. He’ll leverage his talent and skills well as a Steeler, and with Dick LeBeau leading that defense, he’ll find ways to properly use Heyward. I think he’ll have a sold career with good but not great numbers. He’ll play well enough to make a difference but never make a Pro Bwol.

Worst Case: Heyward is a bust, and his talent never materializes in Pittsburgh. He can’t adapt to the exotic defensive scheme and quickly falls to the bench.

Derek Sherrod, Green Bay Packers

The Super Bowl champs aren’t usually looked upon as a team with many weaknesses, but general manager Ted Thompson felt strong enough to take an offensive linemen.

Best Case: Sherrod adds strength and depth to the Packers line and becomes a strong protecting force for Aaron Rodgers. The Packers will have a bullseye on their backs in 2011, and it will be important for Sherrod to bring his A game every Sunday. He’ll more than likely serve as a back-up for the first part of his career, but when called upon, he’ll play well enough to warrant consideration as a starter.

Worst Case: When the time comes for Sherrod to have his number called, he’s not ready. He becomes a practice squad player who eventually fades in the coldness of the Green Bay night.