2011 NFL Mock Draft: Which Big Names Have Slipped Out of Round 1?

Many mock drafts have come out for the 2011 NFL draft in the past few weeks, and many players have shot up the boards. 

Consequently, many players that were thought to go in the first round, are starting to slip out of it.

Teams are starting to get a better look at the players now that the combine has come and gone, and pro days really reveal a lot about a player to the organizations interested in them.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at a list of some big names that may be slipping out of the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.

10. Kyle Rudolph

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SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 04: Kyle Rudolph #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is tackled by Charlton Williams #15 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Notre Dame Stadium on September 4, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Purdue 23-12. (Photo by

Rudolph has been considered to be the best tight end to enter the draft from a pure skill standpoint.

Unfortunately, for him though, he struggled through most of his last season with an injury that eventually ended his season at Notre Dame, and the timeline for recovery from surgery is around mid-April.

He most likely won’t be 100 percent entering the draft, and that alone will keep him out of the first round.

If he is lucky, a team will take a chance on him in the second round, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he dropped further than that.

Whatever team he does drop too will be getting a bargain though, and if they can heal him up, they will find that he has first-round talent.

9. Mike Pouncey

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 30: Jordan Reed #11 and Mike Pouncey #55 of the Florida Gators celebrate a touchdown during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field on October 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Im

It is rare for an offensive lineman to go high in the first round unless he shows legitimate star potential.

Pouncey could be considered the third best lineman in this draft, so picking him even in the late first round is a stretch. That being said, he has shown great potential and has a good bloodline.

Pouncey would be an exceptional pickup in the early second round, and I think that too many teams in the late first will be addressing other needs.

8. Mikel Leshoure

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 20: Mikel Leshoure #5 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs past Bryce McNaul #51 of the Northwestern Wildcats on his way to a 339 yard rushing performance during a game played at Wrigley Field on November 20, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois.

Leshoure is more than good enough to be a first-round draft pick, and I think that he is going to make many teams take a hard look at him.

The problem is that he would most likely be a good option in the late first round, if anything, and many of those teams are not looking to spend that pick on a running back.

Leshoure has the talent, the chips may not be falling in his favor though.

7. Anthony Castonzo

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CHESTNUT HILL, MA - OCTOBER 03: Anthony Castonzo #74 of the Boston College Eagles congratulates teammate Montel Harris #2 after Harris scored a touchdown in the first quarter against the Florida State Seminoles on October 3, 2009 at Alumni Stadium in Che

Castonzo is a fringe first-round player, and with the talent available in the late first round, I just don’t see any of those later teams going for him.

At that point of the draft, teams have the luxury of drafting for want over need, and a fringe first round big man will not look too attractive.

Castonzo will be available in the second round for a lucky team to snatch up.

6. Ryan Mallett

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks avoids a tackle by Kelvin Sheppard #11 of the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Grayt

Mallett has the size, strength and ability that you are looking for in a first-round quarterback.

Unfortunately, his attitude and off-field issues have plagued his status as a top quarterback in the draft.

There have been speculations and supposed allegations about drug use, so obviously any team looking for a franchise quarterback is going to want to take a second look.

He can play a pro-style and has the intangibles that you look for, but he may be too risky in the first round.

5. Jake Locker

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TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies drops back to pass during the college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats defeated the Huskies 4

Many people thought that if Jake Locker declared for the 2010 draft that he would be the No. 1 overall pick.

This year things are different and Locker may not even make the first round.

There are questions about his accuracy throwing the ball, and he hasn’t done much to prove the reports wrong.

He may end up regretting his decision to stay in school one more year.

4. Brandon Harris

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DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 18: Running back Tony Jackson #25 of the Duke Blue Devils stiff arms Brandon Harris #1 of the Miami Hurricanes during the game at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 18, 2008 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Image

Harris played well enough to be first-round talent for most of the year, but he hurt himself with poor showings at the combine and at his pro day.

There have been concerns about Harris’s leaping ability, and he didn’t help his cause by showing just a 34 ½ inch vertical at his pro day.

3. Jimmy Smith

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AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 10: Wide receiver John Chiles #7 of the Texas Longhorns makes a quick cut after catching a pass against cornerback Jimmy Smith #3 of the Colorado Buffaloes in the first quarter on October 10, 2009 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial St

Smith is another player that could be taken in the top 15, but questions about his character and work ethic have supposedly completely wiped him off of some teams draft boards.

Smith’s time at Colorado was plagued by brushes with the law and illegal activities, and he apparently refused to take responsibility of his actions during interviews.

It was also reported that he was skipping workouts in the weeks prior to the combine.

It’s sad because the consensus is that he is skilled enough to be a high draft pick.

2. Jonathan Baldwin

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TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 2: Wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin #82 of the Pittsburgh Panthers grabs a pass for a touchdown against the University of South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on October 2, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Get

Baldwin had a bad pro day, which instantly dropped his stock in the draft.

He is also said to have some worth ethic issues and attitude problems.

He has the talent to be a first-round pick, but I think that these problems are going to be red flags to most teams considering drafting him, and that they would feel much more comfortable with taking him in the second round.

1. Akeem Ayers

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PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Linebacker Akeem Ayers #10 of the UCLA Bruins in the game with the Houston Cougars at the Rose Bowl on September 18, 2010 in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 31-13. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Ayers registered a 4.84 40-time and his draft stock started falling faster than the sky.

Ayers is a big and talented backer that displays great power and explosion. He could blow up the line or pursue a runner downfield with the best of them in college, so apparently the slow 40 really disturbed some teams.

If he did fall to the second round, he would be an absolute steal for whoever can pick him up.