2011 NFL Draft: Comparing Mel Kiper's Top 25 Prospects to Current NFL Stars
2011 NFL Draft is coming up and when each player comes off the board, you know that they're going to be compared to a player that is currently playing in the NFL.
It happens every year and it gives you a decent feel for what type of player they are, even if each guy doesn't fit the exact mold of that comparison. With that in mind, we've gone through Mel Kiper's Top 25 prospects and done a comparison for each one.
If you have any thoughts or comments, make sure to leave them below along with your own comparisons.
No. 25: Ben Ijalana — Michael Roos
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Ben Ijalana isn't a guy who has had his name all over ESPN during the college football season.
The name is going to sound unfamiliar to a lot of people, but once you watch him play, you can see how he ended up as one of the top prospects in the nation. Ijalana is a big, strong guy who can move people around almost at will. He's sneaky good, a lot like Michael Roos was when he was drafted by the Tennessee Titans.
Ijalana has the size and the strength to be one of the top lineman in the draft. We should see him off the board by the late-first to early second round.
No. 24: Jake Locker — Donovan McNabb
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Jake Locker is a guy who at this time last year, was one of the top prospects in the nation.
Since then, he's fallen down the draft board and found himself here. He's a guy who has a lot of physical tools but has struggled with his accuracy and relies too much on his legs to make plays when his initial read isn't there. Donovan McNabb was a lot like that when he first came to the NFL.
Locker has a lot of work to do, but the foundation is there.
No. 23: Cameron Heyward — Richard Seymour
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Cameron Heyward is a guy who would be a monster as a 3-4 defensive end and that puts him into some elite comparisons.
The one that has been floated around the most is Richard Seymour, a guy who became a total monster in New England and was eventually traded to Oakland, where he kept up the production. If Heyward could live up to that, he'd be a star in this league.
He'll have to put in some work, but he has the talent to get there.
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No. 22: Mike Pouncey — Maurkice Pouncey
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Mike Pouncey is a beast of a lineman and the comparison to him is an easy one.
Of course it's his brother, Maurkice, who was a revelation in Pittsburgh this year. We saw how much the Steelers missed him in the Super Bowl and his brother looks to be on track to make a similar impact out of Florida.
Expect him to contribute right away, just like his brother.
No. 21: Anthony Castonzo — Charles Brown
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Anthony Castonzo is another big time lineman who could find himself coming off the board in the first round.
He's drawn comparisons to Winston Justice, which isn't a bad comparison, but the best one is Charles Brown of the New Orleans Saints. Castonzo has a lot of tools that will translate to the next level and he's going to be a guy who can make an immediate impact on a line.
It should be interesting to see where he goes compared to the other lineman in this draft.
No. 20: Ryan Mallett — Derek Anderson
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You can see why people think Ryan Mallett could take a nosedive in the draft.
Mallett has great size and a huge arm, but he struggles at times with his mechanics and his accuracy, making some teams a bit wary of taking him with a big time draft pick. Throw in some off-field concerns and you've got the recipe for disaster.
Things aren't looking up for Mallett, that's for sure.
No. 19: Gabe Carimi — Jeremy Trueblood
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Gabe Carimi was part of Wisconsin's massive offensive line and could be the top offensive lineman taken in the draft.
He's a big, strong guy who can do it all and Jeremy Trueblood is a guy that a lot of people are linking him to as a guy that he can turn into. Carimi certainly has all the skills needed after coming out of Wisconsin, a place that produces a ton of huge lineman.
Carimi has a bright future in the NFL, that's for sure.
No. 18: Nate Solder — Joe Thomas
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Nate Solder is possibly the best offensive lineman in the draft and he reminds me a lot of Joe Thomas.
Now Thomas had gotten much further along in his maturation when he entered the draft, but all of the tools are there for Solder to become an elite lineman in this league. He's big and strong and should be anchoring lines for years.
Some teams is going to get a great player in Solder.
No. 17: Mark Ingram — Rashard Mendenhall
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No one is really talking about the former Heisman Trophy winner, but they will at the next level.
Think of him like Rashard Mendenhall, who has turned himself into the feature back in Pittsburgh. Mendenhall wasn't highly praised when he came to the NFL, but had the skills to be a difference maker for a great team.
Ingram has all the tools, he just needs the opportunity.
No. 16: Drake Nevis — Sedrick Ellis
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While there will be natural comparisons to Glenn Dorsey, his fellow LSU-alum, I don't see it as a perfect fit.
Drake Nevis is a guy who can be a difference maker on the defensive line and make game-changing plays each and every week. Sedrick Ellis fills that role for the New Orleans Saints and I see a similar path for him at the next level.
All Nevis will have to do is bulk up a bit.
No. 15: J.J. Watt — Aaron Smith
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J.J. Watt is a guy who can do a bit of everything.
Watt will need to build up some strength when he gets to the NFL, but you can move him around the line and he can make plays for you. If he bulks up, there's no reason he can't fit a role like the one Aaron Smith plays in Pittsburgh.
That would make him a dominant force in the NFL.
No. 14: Cam Newton — Josh Freeman
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A lot of people would like to point at Cam Newton and see Vince Young.
However, that's not the case, with Newton's skill set, I think he's more of a Josh Freeman-type than anything else. Newton's a physical freak who is going to need some grooming at the next level to get him to a point where he can start.
There are a lot of question marks around Newton.
No. 13: Adrian Clayborn — Glenn Dorsey
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Don't draft Adrian Clayborn unless you're ready for a project.
Clayborn is a very raw prospect and you're going to need to coach him up to get him to become a player at the next level. Glenn Dorsey has had that issue at the next level and he had the same issues when he came into the draft.
That's what happens when you have to change position at the next level.
No. 12: Akeem Ayers — Lawerence Timmons
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Akeem Ayers has some issues but also a ton of talent.
Ayers struggles when he doesn't have a free release and has some holes in his game. Lawrence Timmons is a guy who had similar issues when he came to the NFL and if Ayers can work on his game, he's going to be a beast at the next level.
It should be interesting to watch his development in the NFL.
No. 11: Julio Jones — Braylon Edwards
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Julio Jones has great physical skills, there's only a few problems.
He's not a great route runner and he has lapses in concentration that lead to dropped passes that should be easy grabs. Sound familiar? Does Braylon Edwards ring a bell? Hopefully Jones can make better decisions than Edwards has in his career.
Jones is a risky pick but he could pay off big time.
No. 10: Ryan Kerrigan — Aaron Kampman
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Ryan Kerrigan is a guy who doesn't have the greatest physical tools we've ever seen, but he's a smart player.
That kind of style reminds me of Aaron Kampman, the former draft pick of the Green Bay Packers who has produced at a high level in the past. Kerrigan's a hard worker, so don't let this comparison scare you off if your team is interested in him.
Kerrigan has a high ceiling with that work ethic.
No. 9: Von Miller — Clay Matthews
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Von Miller is a guy who had flown under the radar until the Senior Bowl.
Miller was a total beast and numerous scouts were comparing him to Clay Matthews, one of the defensive stars on the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. That's high praise for Miller who looks like he's going to be a stud linebacker.
He's been shooting up the draft board, and with praise like that, it's not hard to see why.
No. 8: Blaine Gabbert — Joe Flacco
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Blaine Gabbert is a big question mark at the next level.
He's got some issues with his mechanics but he has a great arm and a good bit of mobility to go along with it. Joe Flacco had a lot of these concerns around him when he came out of Delaware but I'm not sure Gabbert will see the same success.
It's buyer beware if you're going to pick Gabbert.
No. 7: Robert Quinn — DeMarcus Ware
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Robert Quinn has a unique skill set as a pass rusher and there's few players like him.
One who is, however, is DeMarcus Ware. Quinn and Ware can both play at the end position or stand up and be a threat as an outside linebacker. If those two get a clean release, they're going to cause havoc for opposing quarterbacks.
Quinn will be one of the steals in this draft.
No. 6: Prince Amukamara — Nnamdi Asomugha
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Prince Amukamara is going to battle with Patrick Peterson for the title of the best cornerback in the draft.
Amukamara has the ability to be a shut down corner and he projects to be a Nnamdi Asomugha type of players. It's high praise to be compared to him There's few things that Amukamara can't do and he should be a stud at the next level.
I can't wait to watch him play.
No. 5: Marcell Darius — Ty Warren
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Marcell Dareus looks like a guy destined to be a big part of a 3-4 defense.
Dareus is going to be a nose tackle and a guy he could end up is like Ty Warren of the New England Patriots. Hopefully the former Alabama player finds a way to get past taking plays off and some character concerns to become a solid pro.
Taking Dareus is a bit of a risk, to say the least.
No. 4: Patrick Peterson — Charles Woodson
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Patrick Peterson is arguably the best cornerback in the draft and he's got great physical skills.
A guy that compares pretty well to Peterson is Charles Woodson. Peterson is a guy that can be a shut down corner and has great hands and can be a dangerous man in the return game. Not only that, but he's almost always in the right place at the right time.
There's a pretty high ceiling for Peterson.
No. 3: A.J. Green — Calvin Johnson
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A.J. Green is a physical freak. It's that simple.
The person that comes to mind when I watch Green play is Calvin Johnson. Both guys can go up and get the ball and have great hands. If Green can live up to that potential, he's going to be a total beast for whatever team gets him.
Imagine two guys making plays like Calvin Johnson on Sunday's. It's a scary thought.
No. 2: Da'Quan Bowers — Julius Peppers
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Just watch Da'Quan Bowers play and you'll be blown away.
Bowers shows off a rare blend of power and speed off the edge and he reminds a lot of people of Julius Peppers, a guy who has dominated the NFL. He's not as physically gifted as Peppers is, but he's the best comparison possible.
It will be interesting to see if Bowers pans out at the next level. I have my doubts.
No. 1: Nick Fairley — Albert Haynesworth
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Nick Fairley is a guy who can flat out take over a football game.
Albert Haynesworth, when he's on, can just dominate an opponent's line and cause havoc. Haynesworth was a beast for the Tennessee Titans until he got paid by Washington and started feuding with the coaching staff.
Fairley has a lot of Haynesworth's skills, but has a much better motor than Big Al.
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