2011 NFL Draft Preview: Cam Newton Goes No. 1 and 10 Huge Storylines in Round 1
There are only two weeks left in the NFL regular season. That means in two weeks, 20 NFL teams will turn their focuses to the off season. The biggest event of the off season: no Rex Ryan, it's not free agency, it's the draft.
Major headlines in last year's first round included Sam Bradford and Ndamukong Suh going 1-2, the Seahawks coming away with the Okung-Thomas duo, Dez Bryant driving south to Dallas, and Tim Tebow flying west to Denver.
The 2011 NFL Draft has the potential for a number of huge storylines created by the combination of a certain team selecting a certain player.
Here are 10 huge storylines that could become reality this upcoming April.
10. With The 1st Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Carolina Panthers Select...
1 of 10
Cam Newton, Quarterback, Auburn
Storyline:
The Heisman Trophy winner carried Auburn on his back to an undefeated season and a national title. Then, he gets picked first overall by a team hoping that he'll carry them to the top as well.
How it could happen:
If Auburn does win the national championship, then Newton's hype will sky rocket even more. If he blows up at the Combine like many expect, Carolina's new coach could see Newton as a "savior" like player.
9. With The 2nd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Denver Broncos Select...
2 of 10
Nick Fairley, Defensive End, Auburn
Storyline:
Auburn wins the national championship and their best players go 1-2 in the draft. That'll definitely help the recruiting.
How it could happen:
The Broncos desperately need defensive line help.
Fairley is the best 3-4 defensive line prospect in the nation, but he would have to leapfrog a few other higher rated prospects to be chosen at number two. If the Broncos see him as a Ndamukong Suh type talent, they'll take him.
8. With The 3rd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Cincinnati Bengals Select...
3 of 10
Robert Quinn, Defensive End, North Carolina
Storyline:
Quinn, a top five talent, lied to investigators about travel accommodations and jewelry. The NCAA suspended him permanently.
The Bengals don't put any stock into a player's character or background as you can see by the amount of guys on their roster that have a rap sheet.
How it could happen:
This pick actually makes a ton of sense.
The Bengals need a defensive end and Quinn was arguably the top prospect in the entire draft class before his suspension. That suspension is the only thing that will drop him on draft day, and the Bengals couldn't care less about it.
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7. With The 5th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Detroit Lions Select...
4 of 10
A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, Georgia
Storyline:
No they didn't, not again. The Lions always select the player at the top of their draft board.
Matt Stafford would be the happiest man on the planet (if they select an offensive tackle in the second as well, of course). He would have the two best receiving prospects in the past decade to throw to.
How it could happen:
If the Lions have Green as the best player available on their big board, they'll take him. They obviously have bigger needs, but that hasn't stopped them before.
6. With The 13th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Seattle Seahawks Select...
5 of 10
Jake Locker, Quarterback, Washington
Storyline:
The Washington born boy who turned down USC to stay close to home gets drafted by Seattle to keep him a Washingtonian for life.
The Seahawks have many talented young players. All they need is that franchise quarterback.
Who better than the hometown hero?
How it could happen:
There are a lot of teams that need a quarterback before Seattle in the draft. Locker will probably end up fourth on the majority of draft boards behind Andrew Luck, Ryan Mallett, and Newton.
Dropping to 13 isn't too farfetched.
5. With The 20th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Green Bay Packers Select...
6 of 10
Gabe Carimi, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin
Storyline:
The Packers offensive line needs an upgrade. Aaron Rogers is an elite quarterback and the Packers must protect him.
Selecting the Wisconsin born-mammoth Carimi would be more than ideal. Carimi and last year's first round pick Bryan Bulaga would form one of the league's best tackle duos for years to come.
How it could happen:
Carimi will most likely be picked in the 20's to late first-round.
If the Packers miss the playoffs, they will be in great position to select him. If they make the playoffs, he could still drop to them anyway, but obviously the chances go down.
4. With The 21st Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The St. Louis Rams Select...
7 of 10
Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State
Storyline:
The Bedlam series: one of college football's biggest rivalries. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have been in a battle for state supremacy for over a century.
Who do the Rams select on draft day to aid their young? Who better for a former Oklahoma quarterback other than a stud from Oklahoma State? The two players on opposite ends of the rivalry would form one of the best quarterback to wide receiver combos in the league for the next decade.
How it could happen:
The Rams must take a receiver in round one to help out Sam Bradford.
There are five first round talents at the position in this year's draft. As of now, Blackmon is the third ranked prospect and should be available when the Rams are on the clock.
3. With The 22nd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Indianapolis Colts Select...
8 of 10
Derek Sherrod, Offensive Tackle, Mississippi State
Storyline:
In Peyton Manning's worst season in a very long time, his protection has been severely lacking. It's a necessity for the face of the NFL to have a good offense line in front of him.
The Colts will select the best offensive tackle available, and Sherrod is the best in the entire draft.
How it could happen:
Sherrod may be the highest rated tackle in this draft class, but the position isn't very top heavy this year. The Colts may or may not make the playoffs this season, and them doing so will affect their chances to get Sherrod.
2. With The 25th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New Orleans Saints Select...
9 of 10
Mark Herzlich, Outside Linebacker, Boston College
Storyline:
The Saints gave Drew Brees a second chance after what could have been career ending surgery. Brees then led the Saints to a Super Bowl victory with the healing of a broken city as his number one motivation.
For that same team to add a warrior who conquered the most devastating disease of the 21st century just feels right.
How it could happen:
Honestly, Herzlich to the Saints is more likely to happen in the third or fourth round, but who knows? He was once considered a borderline first round prospect.
Using the same determination he used to recover from cancer, he could train himself back into an elite linebacker prospect worthy of a first-round look.
1. With The 30th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Pittsburgh Steelers Select...
10 of 10
Mike Pouncey, Guard, Florida
Storyline:
The Steelers biggest need is at the offensive guard position. Who happens to be the best guard prospect in the country other than Mike Pouncey: the brother of Maurkice, the center they selected in the first-round last April.
The brothers could go from playing side by side in Florida to Pittsburgh.
How it could happen:
Pouncey will have to fall past a few teams who could really use an upgrade at the guard position in the Bears and Eagles. Those two teams may choose to upgrade their tackles instead which would result in Pouncey falling to the Steelers to join his brother in the Steel City.
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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