NFL Draft 2011: Buying or Selling Each Position's Top Prospects
Many players have great college careers that launch them into the early rounds of the NFL Draft, but many are products of a collegiate system that helped them to succeed in ways the NFL just cannot offer.
Jimmy Clausen had a wonderful career at Notre Dame but was a complete disappointment in his first season with the Carolina Panthers.
Danny Wuerffel, arguably the best college quarterback ever, never amounted to anything in the NFL.
On the flip-side, players like Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, James Harrison and Priest Holmes had good, but not great, college careers and went on to dominate in the NFL.
Let’s examine the top players at each position in this year’s draft and see who will be busts and who will be diamonds in the rough.
Offensive Line
1 of 10
Tyron Smith is projected as the top offensive lineman in the 2011 draft class, but he may not even be the first picked.
Anthony Castonzo of Boston College is quickly moving up draft boards and rightfully so.
Smith had jumped himself into the early first round with a tremendous pro day, but the more NFL teams evaluate him, the more he drops in the draft.
Smith may still be the first offensive lineman picked, but if he is, it would be a mistake.
Castonzo is a better NFL prospect.
I’m selling Smith as a successful NFL player.
Tight End
2 of 10
Kyle Rudolph is the top-rated tight end in the 2011 NFL draft and could sneak into the first round, possibly as a replacement for Tony Gonzales in Atlanta.
Rudolph’s junior season at Notre Dame was cut short by a hamstring injury, but despite surgery less than six months ago, he still remains a promising prospect.
Regardless of whether or not he slips from the first round, Rudolph will have a solid NFL career and be a huge pick for whatever team lands him.
I’m buying Rudolph as an NFL player.
Wide Receiver
3 of 10
A.J. Green is an elite wide receiver with speed, hands and route running abilities to dominate at the NFL level.
Green is likely to be drafted in the top 10 and possibly as high as No. 4 to the Cincinnati Bengals. If they can keep Carson Palmer on their roster, the combination could be lethal for opposing defenses.
I’m buying Green as not only a successful, but dominant NFL player.
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Running Back
4 of 10
Mark Ingram is projected to be the first—and possibly only—running back drafted in the first round of this year’s NFL draft.
Ingram was dominant as a sophomore at Alabama as he became the Crimson Tide’s first Heisman Trophy winner and led the team to a National Championship.
Ingram is a little smaller than most NFL running backs, but his low center of gravity and ability to make multiple tacklers miss makes him a promising NFL prospect.
It is unlikely Ingram will ever be a featured back in the NFL, but in the right system, he could provide a nice change of pace and be an elite third-down back like Kevin Faulk, who had a long and successful career with the Patriots.
I’m buying Ingram as a successful NFL running back
Quarterback
5 of 10
Depending on who you ask, either Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert is the top quarterback in this year’s NFL draft.
Newton was one of the best athletes to ever play college football. Although his skills at quarterback aren’t elite, his pure athletic ability puts him in a class of his own.
That being said, I’m selling Newton as an NFL quarterback.
The physical dominance he displayed in college just won't happen in the NFL.
Gabbert on the other hand, was not nearly as dominant in college, but his skills as a quarterback translate well to the NFL.
I’m buying Gabbert as a successful NFL quarterback
Safety
6 of 10
The top safety in a draft where safeties are scarce, Rahim Moore would be a great pick for a team in the second or third round.
Though a bit undersized by NFL standards, Moore is not afraid to come into the box and make a hit.
A three-year starter for the Bruins, Moore never missed a start.
He is not the fast guy with a 4.62 40-yard time, but he plays a lot faster in pads.
As a value pick in the second or third round, I’m buying Moore as a good NFL player.
Defensive End
7 of 10
With Da'Quan Bowers dropping quickly down NFL draft boards, J.J. Watt is now the No. 1 prospect at defensive end.
One of the most overlooked players in this year’s draft, Watt will be a steal at No. 8 to the Tennessee Titans and go on to have a long and solid career in the NFL.
Watt’s power and speed combination are hard to find; he has the most upside of any player in the first round.
I’m buying Watt as an extremely successful NFL player.
Linebacker
8 of 10
There is no doubt Von Miller will be an elite NFL linebacker, barring injury or unforeseen circumstances.
The guy is a freak of nature and will follow the likes of Patrick Willis in instilling fear into offensive players coming his way.
Miller will be a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker very early in his NFL career.
I’m buying Miller as an NFL linebacker.
Cornerback
9 of 10
Patrick Peterson is not only the best cornerback in the NFL draft, but probably the best athlete as well.
Peterson will not only go into the NFL as an instant shutdown cornerback but will probably make an impact as a punt return specialist as well.
Peterson is a no-brainer for any team in this draft. Each team that passes on him is making a mistake, regardless of positional needs.
You cannot go wrong drafting a guy who can change any game on a single play, and that is exactly what Peterson can do.
I’m buying Peterson as a Pro Bowl cornerback.
Defensive Tackle
10 of 10
Nick Fairley has dropped out of the picture at the top of the draft, leaving Marcell Dareus as the No. 1 defensive tackle in this year’s NFL draft.
Dareus is a beast!
The Broncos will take him at the No. 2 spot, and he will not only be successful at the NFL level, but he will dominate.
I’m buying Dareus as a top 2 pick and an elite NFL player.
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