NFL Draft 2011: Jake Locker Won't Attend Draft in Person

According to the folks at Pro Football Talk, Jake Locker has declined his invitation to the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28.

Locker is one of two players (Nate Solder) who has opted not to attend this month's draft even though he has a chance to go in the top 20 picks.

Many mock drafts have projected Locker going anywhere from Washington at 10, Minnesota at 12 and Jacksonville at 15.  Of course, many NFL scouts and experts have also said they could see him dropping out of the first round altogether. 

At this point, it is unclear if his decision to skip the draft is along the same line of thinking as Jimmy Clausen in 2010—fearing an embarrassingly public slide—or if it has something to do with the current labor situation between the players and owners.

Then again, he could be doing what Browns left tackle Joe Thomas did in 2007—choosing fishing with his dad over shaking the commissioners hand.

Locker, who was projected to be a top pick in 2010 if he had declared for the draft, returned to the University of Washington for his senior year and has seen his stock drop sharply after a mediocre final season.

Most scouts agree that he has the physical tools to be a successful NFL quarterback.  He's big (6'3'', 220 lbs), athletic (faster 40 than Cam Newton) and has a rocket arm.  There are some question marks though.

His two main issues at Washington were his accuracy in the pocket and his decision-making skills.  Whether or not those deficiencies are simply mechanical and can be fixed with good coaching remains to be seen.

Mike Shanahan is reportedly very fond of Locker and would have taken him at No. 4 overall in 2010 instead of left tackle Trent Williams had he came out.

If Shanahan does decide to take a bit of reach at No. 10 and grab Locker, he won't be there to hold up the Redskins No. 1 jersey.