NFL Draft 2011: The Most Impressive Video Highlights of the Top 25 Prospects

Picking the top 25 prospects in the 2011 NFL Draft makes for a bit of a moving target.  Different analysts will give different answers and the projected top 25 picks will be influenced by team needs.

To create a representative sample, I merged the ESPN draft boards with the Scouts Inc. top 25, and then applied a regression analysis to the New Era Scouting top 32 (a special thank you, too, from Matt Miller, Bleacher Report Featured Columnist, for letting me steal his efforts). Then I overlaid the sine...never mind.

I actually averaged the scores for the top 32 players from six popular draft sites.

As fun as the videos are, clicking through to see the consensus top 25 may be just as interesting.

25. Akeem Ayers, OLB UCLA

Ayers is one of the better true OLBs in this draft.  But does being last of the top 25 make him Mr. Irrelevant? Hardly...

24. Corey Liuget, DT Illinois

Liuget just barely made our top 25, even if many draft boards have him going in the top 15.  It will be interesting to see where his draft-day stock falls.

23. Nate Solder, OT Colorado

This video will show why some analysts are very high on Solder, as he has good mobility and a lot of potential.  However, it also shows why many of us see him as a late second-round talent.  He has some work to do.

22. Jake Locker, QB Washington

Few players have as much variance in rankings as Locker.  Few...as in nobody else.  Some have him ranked as a top 15 talent, while others have him falling out of the first round.  I'll let you decide for yourself...

21. Mike Pouncey, G/C Florida

Mike Pouncey is certainly being pulled up the draft boards by the performance of his older brother.  I resisted the temptation to share one of the videos where he had to get pulled up off the ground by a teammate after getting run over.

20. Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin/19. Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa

Is it really, really bad to double dip and use this video for both Carimi and Clayborn?  

I just couldn't help myself, particularly since they were already right next to each other on the listing.

18. Mark Ingram, RB Alabama

I've heard some analysts claim that Mark Ingram does things that defy physics.  If any video can prove or disprove that theory, this should be the one.  

He may not defy physics, but if he can stay healthy, he will certainly defy logic.

17. Cam Newton, QB Auburn

Speaking of falling down draft boards: How does the Heisman winner end up here?

Despite averaging out as just the 17th-best overall player in the 2011 NFL Draft, Cam Newton is being projected as a top five pick on April 28th.  Some look at this as a stretch, while others argue that he is a rare talent at the most important position on the field.  

Newton has the potential to be a franchise QB, or he could go the way of countless other first-round picks at the position who never lived up to expectations.

16. Ryan Kerrigan, DE Purdue

Beast.  Fast, sick beast.  Here is a guy that your team's QB doesn't want lined up opposite a weak OT.

15. Aldon Smith, DE Missouri

At the Missouri pro day, much was said about the number of head coaches there to see Blaine Gabbert.  This video should remind everyone that a lot of them were likely there to see Smith, too.

14. Cameron Jordan, DE California

Cameron Jordan can be difficult to keep your eyes on.  The guy is so good that his coaches couldn't decide where to put him...so they just kept moving him around.

To be fair, I picked a video where they "boxed" him before each play.

13. Anthony Castonzo, OT Boston College

Here I go again with the double dip!  It is more fun seeing talent lined up opposite talent, though. Maybe I'll give Quinn his own video.

12. J.J. Watt, DE Wisconsin

Please refer to the comment regarding Kerrigan.  And add two.

11. Tyron Smith, OT USC

I was picking Tyron Smith as a top 10 draft pick in February, long before it became the en vogue thing to do.  Compare his performance versus Cal to Solder's and you might understand why.  Oh, and he actually had to block Jordan.

10. Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri

I'm still trying to figure out how Gabbert has risen this high.  Maybe I need to look at this highlight reel again. If nothing else, the music is fun.

9. Da'Quan Bowers, DE Clemson

Bowers' health issues have him all over the board right now. He could be a top 10 pick on draft day, or he could go into a free-fall mode that can make his stomach churn.

8. Prince Amukamara, CB Nebraska

Amukamara will parlay his on-field disruption into a high draft pick in  2011, and end up being a royal pain to opposing receivers.

7. Julio Jones, WR Alabama

Julio Jones is attempting to parlay his combine performance into a top pick in the draft, possibly overtaking A.J. Green.  His performances deserve a big, big hand.

6. Nick Fairley, DT Auburn

Fairley received attention for more than just his tough, physical play.  Some claim his jovial off-field nature turns a 180 on the field, and his "dirty play" has turned some heads.

5. Robert Quinn, DE North Carolina

If the Incredible Hulk turned blue, he'd be Robert Quinn.

4. A.J. Green, WR Georgia

If you watch just one video, this should be it.  Nothing will be a better reminder of why Green is the top WR in this draft class.

But since you are this far, you might as well watch the rest of the videos.

3. Von Miller, OLB Texas A&M

By far the best LB in the draft, Miller could change the fortunes of a defense in 2011.

2. Marcell Dareus, DT Alabama

Yes, I did it.  Another double dip.  But this version provides a nice heads-up comparison of the two best DTs in the draft.

1. Patrick Peterson, CB LSU

Finding a highlight tape for Patrick Peterson proved to be quite complicated.  Well, to be fair, finding a highlight tape was easy.  They are everywhere and they are impressive.  But picking the best? Impossible. Hope you enjoy this one.