2011 NFL Mock Draft: If Football Was The Only Sport On The Planet
No basketball, no baseball, no hockey, no soccer, and no ultimate fighter: only football.
What would be a nightmare for some would be a dream for others.
Sure, there would only be one sport, but all of the most elite athletes on the planet would be competing against each other instead of watered down leagues on separate playing surfaces.
If all other sports were forgotten today, leaving only football, here is how the most interesting NFL draft ever would go down:
The twenty teams not in the playoffs will get to select athletes from the other major sports.
With The 1st Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Carolina Panthers Select...
1 of 22LeBron James, Wide Receiver
James was a first team all-state receiver, as a sophomore. At 6'8" and boasting a 44" vertical, LeBron would be unstoppable in jump ball situations. Rumored to weigh over 270 pounds, he would be just as hard for cornerbacks to bring down.
Comparison: Bigger Brandon Marshall
James may have some problems catching the football like Marshall occasionally, but he will be able to use his size in deep ball situations and be a fiend after the catch.
With The 2nd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Detroit Lions Select...
2 of 22
Asafa Powell, Cornerback
Powell is the third fastest man in the world to Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay. He once held the world record. What puts him ahead of other Olympic sprinters is that he's 210 pounds.
Comparison: Darrell Green
Green and Powell are some of the fastest humans to ever step on the planet.
With The 3rd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Cincinnati Bengals Select...
3 of 22
Dwight Howard, Defensive End
Howard is the second biggest athletic freak in the NBA, behind only LeBron James. At 6'11", 265 pounds, he has a whopping 39.5 inch vertical.
His 7'5" wingspan would give offensive tackles nightmares. Despite those incredibly long arms, his max bench press is 345 pounds.
Comparison: Lengthier, less athletic Julius Peppers
Both are freaks of nature, but Peppers is bigger and faster than Howard.
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With The 4th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Buffalo Bills Select...
4 of 22
Joe Mauer, Quarterback
During his senior season, Mauer was the number one rated football recruit in the entire country. He was even ahead of Matt Leinart.
He could have started for Florida State right away, but he chose baseball instead.
Comparison: Tom Brady
Mauer and Brady possess solid height to play the position and are athletic enough to avoid pressure in the pocket.
With The 5th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Arizona Cardinals Select...
5 of 22Allen Iverson, Quarterback
Who cares if he's 35? With his athletic ability, he could pull a Brett Favre and play into his 40s. He led his team to a state championship (hey, he can win in football).
If it weren't for his age, he could play free safety instead. He still holds the Virginia state record with seven interceptions in one game.
Comparison: Michael Vick
No quarterback in the NFL has rivaled Vick's speed, but Iverson could.
With The 6th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Denver Broncos Select...
6 of 22
Brock Lesnar, Defensive End
Desperate for defensive line help, the Broncos go to Brock Lesnar. He may have been cut from the Minnesota Vikings years ago, but time in the UFC has gotten him in football shape.
Comparison: Smaller Brett Keisel
Keisel is pretty athletic for a 3-4 defensive end, similar to what Lesnar would bring to the table.
With The 7th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The San Francisco 49ers Select...
7 of 22
Rajon Rondo, Quarterback
Every Boston Celtics basketball game, when an announcer mentions Rondo's leadership, they always bring up his time playing quarterback.
Rondo's unparalleled vision would be an asset on the football field.
Comparison: Skinnier Michael Vick
Another Vick clone, but one of the fastest players in the NBA deserves the comparison athletically.
With The 8th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Dallas Cowboys Select...
8 of 22
Christiano Ronaldo, Cornerback
One of the fastest soccer players in the world would fill a need at cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys.
Jerry Jones loves his big names.
Comparison: Antonio Cromartie
Both are gifted athletes, and like Cromartie, Ronaldo may not want to help out too much in run support.
With The 9th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Tennessee Titans Select...
9 of 22
Alexander Ovechkin, Strong Safety
Ovechkin is the LeBron James of the NHL. He's an athletic freak at 6'3" 233 pounds. He could replace the inconsistent Chris Hope at strong safety.
Comparison: Adrian Wilson
I doubt Ovechkin has Wilson's vertical, but who does? They're very similar in size.
With The 10th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Washington Redskins Select...
10 of 22Nate Robinson, Halfback
Robinson may be considered very short on the basketball court, but he's the perfect size for a running back.
He played college football for the Washington Huskies. Vertical leap equals explosiveness. The three time slam dunk champ can has a 43.5 in vertical.
Comparison: Leon Washington
Robinson would be a lethal third down, change of pace back along with being able to return kicks like Washington.
With The 11th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Houston Texans Select...
11 of 22
Geogres St. Pierre, Cornerback
St. Pierre is known as arguably the best pound for pound UFC fighter. He uses his speed as a weapon in the octagon.
Comparison: Poor man's Vontae Davis
St. Pierre isn't as fast or big as Davis, but he would bring the same physical presence at the corner position.
With The 12th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Minnesota Vikings Select...
12 of 22
Adam Dunn, Quarterback
Dunn threw for almost 5,000 yards and 44 touchdowns in his high school career. He was the number three ranked quarterback in Texas, one of the top high school football states in the country.
Dunn was ranked behind Major Applewhite and Chris Simms.
Comparison: Joe Flacco
Like Flacco, Dunn is massive and very slow.
With The 13th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Cleveland Browns Select...
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Carl Crawford, Wide Receiver
Crawford was actually offered a scholarship to play quarterback in Nebraska's option offense. He would have had to beat out Eric Crouch to play, but who knows what would have happened.
Crawford is one of the fastest players in baseball and catching balls in the outfield has to translate somehow to football skills.
Comparison: Antwaan Randle El
Like Randle El, Crawford would be a very athletic quarterback converted to play receiver.
With The 14th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The San Diego Chargers Select...
14 of 22
Kobe Bryant, Wide Receiver
Bryant once said he could solve the Eagles' problems in the red zone, saying he'd be the next Randy Moss. Would you doubt him standing at 6'7"?
He's the toughest and most intense player in the NBA and out of all the athletes at the shooting guard position in the league, he had the football mindset to make the transition.
Comparison: Plaxico Burress
Late in his career, Kobe has turned to post play and backing down defenders to score points. Like Burress, he would be able to post people up in the end zone and use superior height to come down with the football.
With The 15th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New England Patriots Select...
15 of 22
Michael Bourn, Cornerback
Bourn is arguably the fastest player in the MLB. He would fill a need for the Patriots at cornerback and add explosiveness to their defense.
Comparison: DeAngelo Hall
Hall is a little on the small side as Bourn would be in the NFL, but they both possess incredible speed.
With The 16th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Seattle Seahawks Select...
16 of 22
Seth Smith, Quarterback
The multi-sport star was a quarterback for the Mississippi football team. He could have been great, but Eli Manning happened to be there at the same time.
He never took an in-game snap as he turned his attention to baseball.
Comparison: Smaller Donovan McNabb
Both are all-around athletes that are similar in height.
With The 17th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Indianapolis Colts Select...
17 of 22Glen Davis, Offensive Tackle
Big Baby is very quick for a man his size. At 6'9", 290, he would make a great left tackle. The only problem would be quarterbacks being able to see over him.
Comparison: Smaller, taller Trent Williams
Davis has the same athletic ability Williams brings to an offensive line.
With The 18th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Miami Dolphins Select...
18 of 22Greg Inglis, Halfback
Inglis is a rugby legend. His agent actually said if he wanted to play in the NFL, there are a number of teams that would sign him immediately.
Inglis is 6'5", 250 pounds.
Comparison: Brandon Jacobs (When he was good)
Inglis would probably be a little less powerful, but faster Brandon Jacobs.
With The 19th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select...
19 of 22
Ron Artest, Defensive End
Artest told the media this season that after his contract runs out with the Lakers, he would try out for an NFL roster. At 6'7", 260 pounds, he definitely has the size.
Always one of the most physical players in the NBA, Artest has very quick hands that would increase his chance of being able to make a successful transition to defensive end.
Comparison: Smaller Calais Campbell
Artest has Campbell's height, but is 40 pounds lighter.
With The 20th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New York Giants Select...
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Kimbo Slice, Inside Linebacker
Slice was a star middle linebacker in high school. Back in 1997, he tried out for the Miami Dolphins. After some UFC training, he's probably more athletic than ever, despite being 36 years old.
Comparison: E.J. Henderson
Like Henderson, Slice would be a run stopping, hard hitting middle backer.
Would Be Selected Soon After: Jeff Samardzija
21 of 22Samardzija had 160 catches, over 2,200 yards, and 27 touchdowns in his finals two years at Notre Dame. Many experts rated him a first round prospect.
Comparison: T.J. Houshmanzadeh
Each receiver has great size and abilities to create after the catch.
Would Be Selected Soon After: Usain Bolt
22 of 22
The fastest man in the world would be untouchable with some football training. He reportedly ran a 3.9 forty during his world record breaking sprint. The speed difference between Bolt and Chris Johnson is about the same as between Johnson and Brian Urlacher.
Comparison: A taller Bob Hayes
The two are world class sprinters, but Bolt is 6'5" compared to the 5'11" Hayes.
David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist and Writing Intern at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him at One Yard Short.com or on Twitter
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