2011 NFL Draft: 20 Burning Questions Headed into the 1st Round
All the mock drafts are turned in, all the big boards have been assembled and all the hype of the 2011 NFL draft will finally go to bed at 8:00 PM Eastern tonight on ESPN and NFL Network.
The first round of the NFL draft awaits, but there are still so many questions left to be answered.
Those answers will come tonight, but for now, let's examine the substance of some of the most interesting questions.
Follow Erik Frenz on Twitter @erikfrenz.
Will Roger Goodell Give a Pre-Draft CBA Speech?
1 of 20
There has been a lot of activity on the collective bargaining front in the past few days, as Judge Nelson has ruled in favor of the players in their antitrust case. Of course, the league and the owners will appeal the ruling, but for now, the entire country seems to be siding with the players.
Don't think that's lost on Roger Goodell.
Always a PR guy, Goodell could make a last-ditch effort to curry favor with the fans before the draft begins. Of course, in doing so he may lose more support than he would have any chance of gaining. The feeling I get from fans is that no one wants to hear about the negotiations until they're resolved. Interfering with what is supposed to be a joyous day for fans to further discuss the gloomy outlook doesn't look like a great way to win the favor of the fans.
Who Will Be the First Overall Pick?
2 of 20
This is the first time since 2007 that we've had absolutely no idea who the first overall pick will be before the draft begins. Of course, this is because teams can't currently negotiate with prospects, as they have been able to in the past.
The growing opinion of analysts and mock drafters is that the Panthers will go with Auburn QB Cam Newton with the first overall pick, but there's enough room for doubt. There are certainly "safer" picks to be had with that No. 1 pick, but the allure of a franchise quarterback could be just too much for the Panthers to pass up.
Will New York Jets Fans Boo the First Pick of the Draft?
3 of 20
This isn't a burning question so much as a guarantee. Jets fans must be disgruntled that they haven't won a Super Bowl in 42 years, because it seems no matter who is taken first, no matter how likeable they are, fans in New York will boo.
It's a disturbing tradition, but look for it to continue this year. This will hold especially true if the first player taken is Cam Newton.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Who Will Take the Leap of Faith and Draft Cam Newton?
4 of 20
Tangibles vs. intangibles. That's the argument every time people discuss Cam Newton as a boom-or-bust prospect in the 2011 NFL draft.
He has the rocket arm, the mobility, the explosion and all those enticing "measurables" that make a head coach and/or GM salivate over the possibilities of Newton reaching his potential.
Newton could go as high as No. 1, or could fall out of the top 10 if no one is willing to take the risk.
When Will Mike Pouncey Be Drafted?
5 of 20
Pouncey may have become one of the most polarizing figures in this year's draft. When the draft process began about a year ago, he was considered a third-round prospect. He drove his stock up with a solid season in 2010, and there are varying opinions as to where he will be drafted. Some believe he'll be taken in the top 10, others believe he's a mid-first-round guy and others still believe he'll be taken later than expected.
Most believe his grade to be somewhere in that mid- to late-first-round range.
Of course, his stock may have been driven up a bit simply by his relationship to brother Maurkice, the 18th overall selection last year who had a stellar rookie campaign for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mike Pouncey will certainly be one of the more interesting figures to watch come the first round.
Will the Patriots Finally Trade Up?
6 of 20
The New England Patriots have drawn the ire of their fanbase over the past 10 years for trading down. They never make the "sexy" pick, instead trading around the board to add more picks while still making a sound selection on a player they like.
This year, with nine picks overall and six in the first three rounds alone, many believe there's simply not enough room on the roster for all those picks. That leads those people to believe that Belichick will do the unthinkable: trade up into the top half of the first round to finally make that "sexy" pick we've been waiting for him to make for all these years.
At this point, nothing Bill Belichick does will surprise me (except maybe trading all of his picks and not making a single selection this year...that would undoubtedly surprise most). With so many picks and so many possibilities, nothing can be ruled out.
Who Will Have the Most Outrageous Celebration After His Name Is Called?
7 of 20These prospects will be very excited just to be drafted, and why shouldn't they be? This is the day they've been waiting for since the first time they put on a helmet, pads and cleats.
It will be pretty hard to match up with last year's most outrageous celebration, undoubtedly belonging to Rob Gronkowski and his family after the Arizona TE was drafted to the Patriots.
Still, it will be entertaining to watch these prospects enjoy what will probably be the happiest moment of most of their lives up to this point.
How Many Defensive Linemen Will Be Drafted in the First Round?
8 of 20
In his Draft Confidential special on ESPN, Bill Parcells mentioned that the average for defensive linemen taken in the first round is around six. This year, he grades 10 defensive linemen as worthy prospects in the first round.
According to Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston, there could be as many as 15 defensive linemen taken in the first round. This would be an anomaly like no other, and would be a testament to what Bill Belichick calls one of the strongest defensive line classes in history.
Will the Colts Finally Draft a Defensive Tackle in the First Round?
9 of 20
The Colts have had most of their success in the first round drafting top-notch offensive players to surround Peyton Manning with as much talent as possible to get the most out of his Hall of Fame career.
Last year, the Colts drafted Texas Christian DE Jerry Hughes in the first round. This was seen as a step outside the box for them.
As mentioned in the previous slide, there is a surplus of talent on the defensive line in this year's draft, and there are at least a couple that will be taken right around that No. 22 spot where the Colts pick. With one of the league's worst run defenses over the past few years, the Colts would be wise to explore the option of drafting a defensive tackle to finally help plug some of those holes in run defense.
Did Justin Houston's Positive Drug Test Bump Him out of the First Round?
10 of 20
Justin Houston tested positive for marijuana at the NFL combine. Some prospects have survived that kiss of death in the past (Percy Harvin), but others have slid as a result. With some questions about Houston's work ethic and inconsistent motor, the positive test could drop his stock even further.
With that in mind, though, some team could make Houston a steal in the second round. There are questions about his effort in run defense, but Houston loves to get after the quarterback, and teams love drafting guys who love getting after the quarterback.
How Far Will Da'Quan Bowers Fall?
11 of 20
Da'Quan Bowers has had a roller-coaster ride since being a top recruit in high school. Two years of limited productivity were followed by one phenomenal season in which Bowers logged 15.5 sacks and 25 tackles for loss. That season had Bowers' draft stock through the roof.
Then, news of a knee injury and arthroscopic surgery broke. Now there are questions about extensive damage to the knee and the possibility of a more invasive microfracture surgery down the road. Those issues have raised questions of just how far Bowers could fall.
Once considered a potential first overall pick, Bowers could easily fall out of the top 10 or even top 20. This will be a story worth watching on draft day.
How Many Quaterbacks Will Be Drafted in the First Round?
12 of 20
Every year, it seems there are only a select few quarterbacks with first-round grades. Yet every year, more than just those select few quarterbacks are taken in the first round.
Why are people still surprised at this?
Quarterback is always at a premium in the first round. There are plenty of fringe first-round quarterbacks that teams could trade into the back end of the first round to acquire.
However many there are taken in Round 1, you can be fairly certain it will be more than just two.
Will Ryan Mallett Be One of Those Quarterbacks?
13 of 20
Ryan Mallett is another polarizing figure in this draft class similar to Mike Pouncey. The difference with Mallett is that the debate is whether or not he's a first-round pick. He's certainly a first-round talent, but there have been stories of a checkered past. As this NFL.com video debate between Paul Burmeister and Chris Kouffman suggests, the opinions on Mallett are varying, to say the least.
Where Mallett will ultimately be taken remains to be seen, but his rocket arm will make him one of the top prospects in this year's draft.
Will Kyle Rudolph Be Drafted in the First Round?
14 of 20
Tight end is one of the most undervalued positions when it comes to the first round of the NFL draft, and why shouldn't it be? Tight ends don't really touch the ball enough to make them worth a first-round selection for most teams.
Kyle Rudolph is this year's highest-rated tight end. He has drawn many comparisons to Rob Gronkowski, drafted by the Patriots in the second round last year. Gronkowski was largely considered a steal, and if a team thinks Rudolph can contribute similarly, it would be foolish not to pull the trigger.
His college production doesn't match up with that assertion, though. He only had 28 receptions for 328 yards and three touchdowns last year. Rudolph is an interesting case, and will be a prospect worth watching in the 2011 draft.
Will Any Safeties Be Drafted in the First Round?
15 of 20
Last year, we were treated to the unfamiliar scenario of a safety being drafted in the top five when Eric Berry was selected fifth overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.
This year, it appears there may not be a single safety taken anywhere in the first round. In fact, only one (Rahim Moore) has been projected to be taken in the first round (and most have him in the last three picks.
There's reason to believe not a single safety will go in the first round, but just because Kiper and McShay say it won't happen, doesn't mean it won't. Believe it or not, they've been wrong before. Very wrong. Plenty of times. But hey, who hasn't?
Who Will Make the Most Shocking Pick?
16 of 20
Every year, at least one team surprises everyone with its pick. Whether or not that player ends up being a bust always remains to be seen until they step onto the field. A lot of people were eating crow last year when the Jaguars used their 10th overall pick on DT Tyson Alualu, projected as a second-round pick. He ended up being a great player for the Jaguars defense.
The opinions of the masses are molded by the Kipers and McShays of the world, and anything that breaks from those trends is considered a surprise. What we don't know is that the opinions of the coaches and GMs could be much different from those of the pundits, and the opinions of those coaches and GMs are much more informed.
How Many Times Will Mel Kiper Jr. Say "Upside"?
17 of 20
I'm pretty sure this is Kiper's favorite word in the English dictionary. "Upside": Some prospects have it, others don't. Whether it's a prospect with a lot or none at all, Kiper is sure to discuss the upside of at least 75 percent of the prospects drafted over the three-day stretch.
The problem with upside is that it's such a vague measuring stick. Some will reach their full potential, others won't. It has a lot to do with landing in the right system, with the right coach, in the right environment—all things that are out of these prospect's control.
It also has to do with things that are completely up to the prospect, like motivation, work ethic, skill and football intelligence.
How Many Times Will Todd McShay Disagree with Mel Kiper Jr.?
18 of 20
The arguments between Kiper and McShay make for some great television, and it seems as though ESPN has employed McShay for the sole purpose of the arguments they generate.
The two are the embodiment of the draft process. There are so many stances to take on so many prospects you could talk for hours about each one.
In between picks, they will have 15 minutes to discuss and debate each pick. With 32 picks in the first round, expect at least 10 disagreements between the two talking heads.
Who Will Be the Biggest Bust?
19 of 20
This is a question that won't be answered for at least a year or even more following the draft. It was this day four years ago that JaMarcus Russell was drafted first overall to the Raiders.
Chances are whoever the biggest bust is we will hear his name called in the first round. Not often are second-round picks considered the biggest busts of their draft.
Who Will Your Favorite Team Draft in the First Round?
20 of 20
The most burning question every NFL fan wants answers to is "Who will my team draft in the first round?"
No one has the answers, though everyone thinks they do (myself included). One thing is for certain: This year's edition of the NFL draft is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in years.
Thanks for reading, everyone, and enjoy the draft!
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
