Without Andrew Luck, three players could emerge as 2011 NFL Draft No. 1 pick
by Dan Kadar on Jan 6, 2011 3:02 PM EST
in 2011 NFL Draft
Email
PrintWIth just cause, Carolina Panthers fans are going a little crazy. Sorry Panthers fans, but no player eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft compares to Andrew Luck. He's on his own level as a prospect.
So what does Carolina do with the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft?
This isn't a case where you can slot the next-best player at the position into the pick. Missouri's Blaine Gabbert has all the tools required, but may not have the on-field football intelligence to warrant the top pick. Auburn's Cam Newton is far too risky and we've gone over plenty on why Washington's Jake Locker isn't worth the pick.
Now Carolina, devoid of talent at a lot of positions, could go in a number of directions.
If pure talent is what Carolina wants, it may not be any greater than Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green. Even after missing the first four games of the 2010 season, Green finished the year with 57 receptions for 848 yards and nine touchdowns. He's as talented as any receiver taken recently in the top five and would give the Panthers the No. 1 wide receiver they should have drafted in 2010.
Another player that will be bandied about for the top overall pick is Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers. Peter King of Sports Illustrated is on record saying if Luck had returned, Bowers would be the likely No. 1 overall pick.
The powerful junior could instantly upgrade a Carolina defensive line that finished 18th in the NFL in sacks.
But if you're going by stats, the Panthers may have to take a long, hard look at Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley. The junior rates somewhere in between Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy as prospects. He may not be able to take on double teams as well as some would like, but he's explosive and mean in the middle.
Of the three, only Bowers has officially declared for the draft. Because of that, Panthers fans may have to remain anxious until Jan. 15, the deadline underclassmen have to declare for the draft.
44 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Green’s as talented as any receiver taken recently in the top five
Dan, how would you compare Green to your thoughts on Calvin Johnson when he came out?
similar
green ran pro style routes. hes not as a physical freak but he is the best physical receiver since johnson. others in years past i.e. crabtree and bryant are about 6’1 but major production in spread offenses. green is very similar to johnson because he knows the routes and is a physical freak but just like calvin did not completely dominate because qb situation was always fuzzy. should be able to contribute right away and become a probowler if he puts the work in.
"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things." - Joe Paterno
I WILL do great things so stand in my way if u want to come across because once the play starts its you and me.....
i always win
by HawaiiEaglesFanatic on Jan 6, 2011 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
Johnson is more physical. Green is more agile, especially in the open field. About the same hands and ability to make a spectacular catch.
Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.
I wrote a scouting report
on Green two months ago. Take a look.
"By MLB.TV, we can see J. Hamilton's homer, M. Young's clutch, and N. Feliz's explosive. All about Rangers things can be our interest"
--South Korean Rangers fan
"I don't have to watch awful movies to see hot women. " ---Robbie Griffin
I agree on all three candidates
Fairley fits the biggest need, which is why he’s the strongest candidate, imo.
by Ol' Uncle Munnerlyn on Jan 6, 2011 3:16 PM EST reply actions
I'm going to guess most likely a trade up situation
Where it could be Gabbert (even Newton) or if not a QB possibly Bowers
If they keep the pick, I’d put it between Green or Bowers.
Hopefully my picture doesn't show my bias.
Gabbert's Decision
Being a Mizzou fan, I was disappointed by Blaine’s decision to go pro, but for his sake, it doesn’t seem so crazy for him now, because if he has a good Combine showing he could put himself in the #1 QB position. Well played Mr. Gabbert, well played!
I wonder
If Carolina is interested enough in Patrick Peterson to make a play. Neither Goodson nor Munnerlyn were great in return duty, something Peterson added to his resume this season. And with Peterson and Richard Marshall at the top two CB spots with Munnerlyn at the nickel, that would seem to me to be a solid trio defensively. Just thinking.
You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.
Goodson is a good KR, thats it.
Gamble will stay, Marshall will not.
by RjTheMetalhead on Jan 6, 2011 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
Could but he made a buzz last offseason about only getting a 1 year deal.
Don’t see him staying unless he likes the new HC/DC.
by RjTheMetalhead on Jan 6, 2011 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
He said he likes it here and would like to return
I don’t see why we don’t keep him, as long as he doesn’t demand big money. We have absolutely nothing past Gamble/Marshall/Munnerlyn
by Ol' Uncle Munnerlyn on Jan 6, 2011 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
Wasn't that a problem though?
Thinking he was worth shutdown $ while only being an above average CB, if he does leave we will have a huge dropoff in Pass D though.
by RjTheMetalhead on Jan 6, 2011 4:28 PM EST up reply actions
He was coming off of a great year
His desire for a maximum tender was justified.
by Ol' Uncle Munnerlyn on Jan 6, 2011 4:38 PM EST up reply actions
It was.
He regressed this season however.
by RjTheMetalhead on Jan 6, 2011 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
I think Peterson is a sensible pick
But I don’t think the #1 pick is really where you pick somebody because of his KR skills
TheSouthWing.com - A Magazine of essays, prose and poems
I think Patrick Peterson
Has to be above Bowers. DE isn’t as much of a problem as DT or CB. I think we end up with Green though.
2011 Draft Draft = The only bright spot of this season
by chinchillas sword on Jan 6, 2011 3:57 PM EST reply actions
You gotta take the elite pass rusher when he's there
although Green may make some sense as he is a great WR prospect. He made Aaron Murray look excellent at times so I’d think he’ll help a ton for Clausen. Of course the Panthers will probably stink again next season so they could have Luck throwing to Green,
Bowers if he does Peppers or Mario Williams type stuff at the combine tho…he’ll be the #1 and they’ll probably sign him before the draft even starts.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
I think you have to take Green.
The guy is a game changer. Of course, he will probably have some struggles in the NFL is Jimmy Clausen and Matt Moore are the guys primarily responsible for getting him the ball.
BOILER UP!! 2010-2011
"You can commit no mistake and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." - Jean-Luc Picard
is trading down a more sensible option?
considering the needs Carolina has across the board at different positions, which team can they trade with to move down in the First as well as picking up extra picks through Second to Fourth Rounds?
The 2010 Bucs: Considering their two-minute offense works wonders... Why can't EVERY offensive drive be run like that during the other 58 minutes of the damn game?!
Is there a prospect
that a team will covet so strongly that they’ll be willing to pay the huge premium to move up to #1?
Doesn’t look like it at the moment, to me.
That sigh of relief you just heard was Clausen knowing he's not trade bait for Arizona or Cleveland now
The 2010 Bucs: Considering their two-minute offense works wonders... Why can't EVERY offensive drive be run like that during the other 58 minutes of the damn game?!
Green
I think u cant pass up the next steve smith when u can meet defensive needs later in the draft. i hope thee panthers can get the next tom brady in the the sixth round. lol
"The great quarterbacks aren’t the quarterbacks that just come out and light up a game and throw for 500 yards and four or five touchdowns. The great quarterbacks are the quarterbacks who can throw six or seven picks the day before and get back in the huddle the next day and still be the leader of his team." - DeAngelo Williams
by pinstriped_panther on Jan 6, 2011 4:37 PM EST reply actions
Defense for the Panthers
It’s gotta be Bowers or Fairley. The NFC North has Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, and Josh Freeman at QB.
Why is it a foregone conclusion...
That Nick Fairley is better than Marcel Dareus? Dareus has been very productive for the past few years while Fairley burst onto the scene this year. I admit he is a force in the middle, but I also have him as a potential bust. One year wonders don’t sit well with me. He could be great, there are success stories in the past. But if I was the GM, I would take the safe pick, not spend a ton of money on a potential bust.
"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham
by sportsfan4life2012 on Jan 6, 2011 6:29 PM EST reply actions
Well, consider the differences
Dareus is playing in the Alabama 3-4. A lineman in that system is not going to put up huge numbers. But he has been statistically consistent. 33 tackles, 6 sacks last year; 33 tackles, 5 sacks this year. They don’t blow you out of the water but he was consistent and has the physical tools to be great. Fairley on the other hand had these numbers: 28 tackles, 1 sack last year; 55 tackles, 11 sacks this year. While the numbers are incredibly impressive this year, it scares me that he only did it one year. I like the safer pick of Dareus, but again, that is just my opinion
"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham
by sportsfan4life2012 on Jan 6, 2011 11:23 PM EST up reply actions
Bills
What does this do to the Bills @ 3? A lot of mocks had them going BPA (Green) at 3 even though we need tons of front 7 help.
by TedWashington'sRobotDance on Jan 6, 2011 6:32 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Dropping in from Rumblings to say...
I think personally with Green and Fairley, the Bills will take the other of the two. Green would mean we could trade Lee safely, whereas Fairley is someone who can play both schemes we have.
And I have to say I sympathize a lot., by the way, with all you guys. I was sitting back and trying to figure out how many picks Chix (Chan and Nix) would have to give up to make it worth the Panthers’ while to get the top spot, and I’d just decided the number I came up with (1st Round 2011, 3rd Round 2011, 1st Round 2012 and a player — a worthwhile player at that) was worth it when I heard the news. And I am, in point of fact, the biggest Ryan Fitzpatrick fan in existence, so it tells you how much I think of this guy.
"Why so serious?... so raise your glass if you are wrong/in all the right ways..." -- P!nk
by Orlando John on Jan 7, 2011 12:42 AM EST up reply actions
Bowers might be a bit overrated
It’s not like he was playing against the best of the best with ACC teams… and in the bowl game vs. USF the Bulls were able to quiet him down to just one sack.
The 2010 Bucs: Considering their two-minute offense works wonders... Why can't EVERY offensive drive be run like that during the other 58 minutes of the damn game?!
He had a sack and nine tackles vs. Auburn this year. He also had three total sacks and 12 total tackles against FSU and UNC, who beat SEC teams in bowls.
I think his production vs. SEC teams is pretty comparable to his ACC output.
I am proud to be a Kennesaw State Fighting Owl. -- Vince Dooley
Green or trade
I doubt Bowers gets a #1 overall grade from anyone. I really like him from 3-5, but not at 1.
Fairley comes with intense character concerns from what I hear. Not unlike Albert Haynesworth, he will slack off and give up. Also, as I scouted him, I expected better conditioning out of him.
I can see a trade down here
Bowers should be the pick
As a franchise you have to understand the concept of value for your pick. Bowers would instantly sell out bank of america stadium for years to come, having played college ball only 2 hours away (and for a ‘traveling’ fan base).
He also replaces the loss of Julius Peppers and helps out an already young and developing D-line. One that needs to put pressure on QBs like josh freeman and drew brees, as well as stop the run against ATL, for years to come.
Rivera
If Ron Rivera is the next Panthers coach, how will this impact the #1 pick? Rivera is a smart Cal grad, an ex-NFL linebacker, a DC. I would guess he would make a pick to improve the defense. So, I would think Bowers or Fairley. I would guess Fairley. He could also select Newton to support the defense through a more ball-controlled offense. I’m not a big Newton fan, I question if he has the intelligence to succeed in the NFL [he had to cheat at Florida to pass an underwater basket weaving course?], but his physical skill are unquestioned, as is his competitiveness. Clausen did not light up anyone’s Christmas tree with last year’s performances, so Newton may be a surprise pick, depending on tonight’s game and his pre-draft workouts and numbers.
Fairly is The Beast
Other than Suh, the most beastial of all DTs is Fairly. He was all over the Ducks’ QB in the Sugar Bowl. Practically un-blockable.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Mocking The Draft
Related FanShots on Mocking The Draft
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Roger Goodell wants Wi-Fi in every stadium
- Plaxico Burress wants to workout for the Dolphins; Dolphins don’t want Plaxico Burress
- NFLPA files collusion claim against NFL, claiming salary cap arrangement in uncapped year
- Donald Driver compared winning ‘Dancing With The Stars’ to winning Super Bowl
- Report: Most NFL players would have no problem with an openly gay teammate
