NFL Draft 2011: Power Ranking the 20 Best Playmakers

Playmakers will be plentiful in the upcoming NFL Draft.

It's part of the reason why Auburn's Nick Fairley and Patrick Peterson of LSU will be drafted so highly. When he's not shutting down one side of the field, Peterson also created problems on kickoff returns.

Cam Newton also won the Heisman Trophy because of his playmaking ability.

Playmakers continue to become more and more valuable and will be on display this weekend at the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers, James Starks and Clay Matthews helped Green Bay reach the big game, while Pittsburgh was led by Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward and James Harrison.

It will take time to determine who will emerge as the legit playmakers from this draft, but there are 20 who stand out. Does anyone rank above Cam Newton? Are there any surprises? What about the defensive players? Most of these are names you know, and I've tried to include video as well.

Here are the 20 best playmakers.

20. QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

He leaves as one of Arkansas' greatest players and definitely one of its best quarterbacks.

Mallett wasn't a runner, but his playmaking ability came with his strong arm. He finished the year completing 266-of-411 passes (64.7 percent), with 12 interceptions for 3,869 yards and 32 touchdowns

19. S Rahim Moore, UCLA

He's considered the top safety in this draft.

At 6'1'', 196 lbs, Moore was one of the Bruins' top tacklers this year with 77 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception and four pass breakups.

18. QB Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech

He's not listed among the top quarterbacks, but Taylor's been a playmaker for the Hokies since he was a true freshman.

Chances are he'll be a second-day pick, but he could easily become a Brad Smith type player for some team.

17. RB Noel Devine, West Virginia

I first knew about Devine back when he was in high school.

At the time, his name was big in north Texas, because of rumors he would be adopted by Deion Sanders. That didn't happen, and Devine went on to play at West Virginia, finishing as the school's career leader in all-purpose yards (5,761) and third in school history in career rushing with 4,315 yards.

When he does get a chance to show off his playmaking skills, Devine is a freak.

I saw him at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and for most of the game he did nothing. But then at the end, he lined up as a one of the punt returners. He ended up catching the ball and returned it 83 yards, juking and flying right past defenders. 

16. RB Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State

He became one of the Big 12's best running backs during his career, and last year was a key part of the most explosive offense in college football.

15. QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri

Gabbert completed just over 63 percent of his passes this year for 3,186 yards and 16 touchdowns. Mel Kiper currently has him ranked eighth overall in his latest draft prediction.

14. QB Colin Kaepernick, Nevada

If you watched the Boise State game this year, then you saw Kaepernick's playmaking on display.

He finished the year completing 235 of 359 passes, with eight interceptions, for 3,022 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also had 173 carries for 1,206 yards (7.0 avg.) and 20 touchdowns.

13. WR Leonard Hankerson, Miami

In 2010, he had a career-high 1,156 yards receiving and team highs in receptions (72) and touchdown catches (13).

His 13 touchdown receptions broke Michael Irvin's previous record of 11 in 1986. Hankerson also finishes as Miami's third best receiver in career touchdown catches with 22, trailing Michael Irvin (26) and Lamar Thomas (23).

If you're up with those names, you're a playmaker. Simple as that.

12. RB Mark Ingram, Alabama

The former Heisman Trophy winner is a great mix of power and speed and can run upfield between tackles and cut to the edges as well.

He reminds me of some of the old New York Giants running backs I grew up watching but has a few similarities I think with Eddie George as well.

11. RB DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma

Anyone who moves Murray down because of the Senior Bowl is foolish. 

He finishes as Oklahoma's career leader in all-purpose yards (6,498) and holds records for career touchdowns (64) and career receiving yards (1,512) by a running back.

10. WR Jeremy Kerley, TCU

Want a playmaker you could use all over the field? Kerley fits the description perfectly.

He finished the year with 56 catches for 575 yards (10.3 avg.) and 10 touchdowns. He also had 18 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

TCU used him on special teams too. Kerley had 30 punt returns for 388 yards (12.9) and averaged 27.7 yards per return on kickoffs.

9. DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

If you lead the nation with 26 tackles for loss, I think that says plenty about the type of playmaker you are, don't you?

In 12 games, he had 70 tackles (50 solo), with 26 tackles for loss (111 yards), 12.5 sacks for 73 yards, one pass breakup and one pass defense.

8. WR Julio Jones, Alabama

One of the most incredible matchups I've watched in recent years came in 2009 when Jones went head-to-head with Patrick Peterson. It was extremely even and Jones couldn't break free until Peterson left the game with an ankle injury.

Jones closed out his college career with 78 catches for 1,133 yards (14.5 average) and seven touchdowns. He had 221 yards against Tennessee and 199 in the Iron Bowl against Auburn

7. LB Von Miller, Texas A&M

Looks like Miller definitely helped himself even more with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl.

In 13 games, he had 68 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss (101 yards), 10.5 sacks (81 yards), an interception, six pass breakups, seven pass deflections, six quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.

6. DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama

He is just what any team would want in an aggressive, physical tackle.

In 11 games, he had 34 tackles, 11 tackles for loss (41 yards), 4.5 sacks (26 yards), four pass breakups, four pass deflections and 10 quarterback hurries.

5. DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson

There are just certain players, like Bowers, you watch in college and think, "Yea, they'll be incredible on Sundays."

He broke the school record of 12.5 sacks set by the late Gaines Adams in 2006. Bowers finished the year second on the team in tackles (63) and with team highs in tackles for loss (24), sacks (15.5) and quarterback pressures (17).

4. DT Nick Fairley, Auburn

Even when opposing teams tried to double team him, it still didn't work out so well.

Fairley, a Lombardi Award winner and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, finished the year with 60 total tackles (36 solo), a school-record 24 tackles for loss (106 yards), 11.5 sacks for 74 yards and 21 quarterback hurries.

3. WR A.J. Green, Georgia

Watch the video. You'll understand.

Green finished the year with 57 catches for 848 yards (14.9 average) and nine touchdowns.

2. CB Patrick Peterson, LSU

In 13 games, he had 42 total tackles, four interceptions (for 134 yards), six pass breakups and 10 pass deflections. He also had one quarterback hurry and one blocked kick.

It's one thing when you're talented, but when you're talented and confident in your ability like Peterson, you'll be even more dangerous at the next level.

1. QB Cam Newton, Auburn

Didn't you think we'd never see anyone like Tim Tebow again? Then came Newton. 

In one year with the Tigers, he won the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Heisman Trophy and was named the Associated Press National Player of the Year.

He also led Auburn to the BCS National Championship, rushing for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns while passing for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns.