2011 NFL Draft: Which High-Profile Prospects are Sliding Down Draft Boards?
Now that we have that silly business of playing the games over with there is nothing to distract or separate us from the NFL Draft.
It has been a long season. Plenty of names that started the year off at the top of the boards are no longer there. Some of those have leveled off and some continue to fall.
Players have one last shot to enhance their stock at the combine, but for the most part, they have settled into place.
This list goes out to those who are settling in positions lower than they started, and what they have to do to try and salvage their status at the combine.
No. 10: Ras-I Dowling, DB, Virginia
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Why His Stock is Dropping: Dowling suffered through an injury plagued season. He was only able to play in three games and he missed the last seven. A knee injury did not heal as it was expected. This is a big red flag for a corner.
What Scouts Want to See at the Combine: They are going to want to see that Dowling has all of his explosion. Dowling's 40 time and shuttle drill are going to make or break his combine.
Where Will He Land: If Dowling can get his 40 under 4.5, he will go in the top half of the second round. NFL teams can never have enough corner depth. Dowling's size and skill will not leave him on the board past the fourth round no matter what he does at the combine.
No. 9: Jurrell Casey, DT, Southern California
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Why His Stock is Dropping: Casey was widely considered one of the top defensive linemen in the country to start 2010. Then reports of attitude problems and clashes with his coach, Lane Kiffin, saw Casey's role reduced. He also faced a constant barrage of double teams. These all contributed to Casey's lack of production.
What Scouts Want to See at the Combine: Casey's interviews are going to be key. Teams are going to want to see that he is coachable and not afraid to put in the work needed to be a NFL starter.
Where Will He Land: Unless something drastic happens at the combine, Casey will go early to mid second round. This draft is deep in DTs, and his future home will be largely dependent on who does and doesn't spend their first pick on a DT.
No. 8: Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
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Why His Stock is Dropping: Foles had an up and down 2010. He finished the regular season strong, but then, in Arizona's bowl game, he put on full display all of the things that had scouts worried.
What Scouts Want to See at the Combine: Many of the questions on Foles come from him making bad reads and throwing off of his back foot too often. It will be hard for him to erase these doubts at the combine. He is going to need to focus on his mechanics.
Where Will He Land: Foles is returning to Arizona for his Senior season, and given his sliding draft stock probably an excellent choice.
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No. 7: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
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Why His Stock is Dropping: Scouts were underwhelmed by Sherrod at the week he spent at the Senior Bowl. Against elite defensive lineman, his lack of bulk and strength were put on display.
What Scouts Want to See at the Combine: Sherrod needs to show he has the strength to be a franchise tackle. He is a little light at 300 pounds. Teams will want to feel confident that he will be able to feel that his frame will be able to handle some need weight.
Where Will He Land: This is not a top heavy year for offensive tackles. With a good combine, Sherrod could still be the first tackle taken. As it is now, he is looking at a late first round selection and, possibly, the Chicago Bears.
No. 6: Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
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Why His Stock is Dropping: Williams suffered through a sophomore slump in 2010. He had a hard time holding onto the ball. His durability also came into question. He missed four games with injuries, and after getting 20 carries in the first to games, he failed to get more than 15 in any one game.
What Scouts Want to See at the Combine: Williams has a great combination of size and speed. Scouts are going to want to see that he is fully recovered from the abuse of the season.
Where Will He Land: Williams has the skills to be a first round selection, but his durability concerns are going to leave him on the board until the late second or early third round.
No. 5: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
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Why His Stock is Dropping: At the start of 2010, Carimi was considered by some to be the best left tackle prospect of the 2011 draft. Since then he has shown scouts that he lacks the agility and quickness to be a left tackle and is now considered a guard or right tackle.
What Scouts Want to See at the Combine: Carimi needs to show he has the feet to play tackle in the NFL. While no one is doubting he can contribute in the NFL, it is now just a question of where.
Where Will He Land: Carimi is going to come off the board in the late first or early second round. There are plenty of teams that need offensive line help in the late first round. Carimi may be headed to Pittsburgh.
No. 4: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
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Why His Stock is Dropping: Clayborn was one of, if not the top defensive end entering the 2010 season. Then he saw his tackles drop and his sacks fell from 11 to four. He also just put his character into concern as he pleaded guilty to assaulting a cab driver.
What Scouts Want to See at the Combine: Scouts will be watching for Clayborn's explosiveness. He needs to prove that he can get to the QB in the NFL. He also will need to put to rest any character issues in the interview process.
Where Will He Land: It is a deep draft for defensive linemen, but Clayborn's strength and size will likely not leave him on the board past the first round. With a less than stellar combine showing, he will slip into the early parts of the second round.
No. 3: Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
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Why His Stock is Dropping: Bailey is a prospect that is caught in between positions. His best bet is probably as an end in a 3-4, but he lacks a little strength to be considered elite.
What Scouts Want to See at the Combine: Bailey is going to need to prove that he has the strength to compete on the interior of a defensive line, or the explosiveness to hold down the outside.
Where Will He Land: Bailey is likely staring at a mid to late second round selection.
No. 2: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
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Why His Stock is Dropping: Mallett's draft stock has been projected all over the map. He currently is in the down swing of those projections. Mallett put his inconsistency and questionable decision making on display in his bowl game performance against Ohio State.
What Scouts Want to See at the Combine: Interviews are going to be big for Mallett. He has all the tools, but he has had his character and desire come into question.
Where Will He Land: Mallett is going to go in the second round. His size and arm strength make him far too compelling a prospect to slide past the second round.
No. 1: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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Why His Stock is Dropping: Locker had an up and down 2010 campaign and capped it off with a rough performance in the Senior Bowl. He had couple of fumbles and another couple of errant throws. He also struggled to quickly read defenses during the week of practices for the Senior Bowl.
What Scouts Want to See at the Combine: Locker has to prove that he has the accuracy to be an NFL QB. He has all the other tools, but if he can't hit receivers without a rush at the combine his stock is going to continue to fall.
Where Will He Land: Locker is still a likely first round selection. He has a tremendous attitude and physical attributes. He is a project, but this will not be as big a concern for teams drafting later in the first round.
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