2011 NFL Draft Thread

[Color Me Badd Fan]

This year if I were managing a team with a pick in the top 20, I would avoid all of the QB prospects with the exception of Gabbert.

Cam Newton will be gone by #20, but I also think that Newton is simply not going to be better than, say, a Vince Young -- I wouldn't waste a first round draft pick on him.

I think Christian Ponder could be a serviceable NFL QB. I like him better than all of the QB prospects except for Gabbert. I think Andy Dalton could be a hidden gem.

I can't comprehend really any team picking up Mallett before the 3rd or 4th round. He should be selected as a backup and that's it.

[Commando]

Great inside piece by the Onion...


http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/ar...cks-for,20165/

[Sizzle]

This year if I were managing a team with a pick in the top 20, I would avoid all of the QB prospects with the exception of Gabbert.

Cam Newton will be gone by #20, but I also think that Newton is simply not going to be better than, say, a Vince Young -- I wouldn't waste a first round draft pick on him.

I think Christian Ponder could be a serviceable NFL QB. I like him better than all of the QB prospects except for Gabbert. I think Andy Dalton could be a hidden gem.

I can't comprehend really any team picking up Mallett before the 3rd or 4th round. He should be selected as a backup and that's it.

I feel similar to you, though I am a little higher on Mallett. I think he is definitely a huge risk/reward type pick. As a 9ers fan, I don't want him at 7, would be okay with him in round 2, and happy any time after that. He won't make it that long.

I'm also not 100% sold on Gabbert. When was the last time a QB underwhelmed in college and went on to be a stud QB in the pros? Most top QBs were high level producers at the college level. Gabbert didn't really stand out to me (his passer rating was 127 last year... good for 69th in the country. By comparison, Jordan Wynn was 38th at 139.9). I'd be interested in seeing what the worst rating in college was for a Superbowl winning QB in the modern era their last season in college. I wonder how much lower than that it would be. I just can't see spending a top 10 pick on a guy who was the 69th best passer in college last year, though I will admit to having watched very little Missouri.

I am much more interested in some of the 2nd/3rd round guys who could be available. Dalton, Ponder and even Kapernick pique my interest. I think each of those guys could turn into a Matt Hasselbeck level of QB in the NFL. Not guys who are going to be true franchise QBs, but if the talent level is high enough around them, they'll get you to the playoffs and a shot at the Superbowl. I think Ricky Stanzi is another guy who could be a starter, though not a star. I do think next year will be much stronger with Andrew Luck and Kellen Moore both being guys I would take ahead of any QB in this draft. I'm not sure what to think about Cam Newton. I see anywhere from a bigger Randall Cunningham to Vince Young to a guy who completely revolutionizes the QB position in the NFL to a guy who is a complete bust. He's a winner, but I'm not sure his style of play will translate. I think he'll be better than VY, but not as good as Randall, and Randall never made it to a Superbowl (at least not as a starter).

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I feel similar to you, though I am a little higher on Mallett. I think he is definitely a huge risk/reward type pick. As a 9ers fan, I don't want him at 7, would be okay with him in round 2, and happy any time after that. He won't make it that long.

I'm also not 100% sold on Gabbert. When was the last time a QB underwhelmed in college and went on to be a stud QB in the pros? Most top QBs were high level producers at the college level. Gabbert didn't really stand out to me (his passer rating was 127 last year... good for 69th in the country. By comparison, Jordan Wynn was 38th at 139.9). I'd be interested in seeing what the worst rating in college was for a Superbowl winning QB in the modern era their last season in college. I wonder how much lower than that it would be. I just can't see spending a top 10 pick on a guy who was the 69th best passer in college last year, though I will admit to having watched very little Missouri.

I am much more interested in some of the 2nd/3rd round guys who could be available. Dalton, Ponder and even Kapernick pique my interest. I think each of those guys could turn into a Matt Hasselbeck level of QB in the NFL. Not guys who are going to be true franchise QBs, but if the talent level is high enough around them, they'll get you to the playoffs and a shot at the Superbowl. I think Ricky Stanzi is another guy who could be a starter, though not a star. I do think next year will be much stronger with Andrew Luck and Kellen Moore both being guys I would take ahead of any QB in this draft. I'm not sure what to think about Cam Newton. I see anywhere from a bigger Randall Cunningham to Vince Young to a guy who completely revolutionizes the QB position in the NFL to a guy who is a complete bust. He's a winner, but I'm not sure his style of play will translate. I think he'll be better than VY, but not as good as Randall, and Randall never made it to a Superbowl (at least not as a starter).

Josh Freeman had a 136 passer rating his last year, and he's a very good young QB (IMO, he's clearly the best QB from the 2009 rookie class -- ahead of Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford, neither of which has been a bust). Gabbert had a better 2009 than 2010 and I'm not sure why that was the case, perhaps Missouri lost some personnel on offense.

I'm hearing discussion that Carolina is looking to draft Cam Newton #1. Compare Cam Newton's workout to Sam Bradford's last year.

Fortunately, I'm seeing a few mock drafts that indicate that Patrick Peterson may fall to the Niners. That would make me very happy (not as happy as trading back and using the resulting picks to get Kevin Kolb, but still).

[Sizzle]

Josh Freeman had a 136 passer rating his last year, and he's a very good young QB (IMO, he's clearly the best QB from the 2009 rookie class -- ahead of Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford, neither of which has been a bust). Gabbert had a better 2009 than 2010 and I'm not sure why that was the case, perhaps Missouri lost some personnel on offense.

I'm hearing discussion that Carolina is looking to draft Cam Newton #1. Compare Cam Newton's workout to Sam Bradford's last year.

Fortunately, I'm seeing a few mock drafts that indicate that Patrick Peterson may fall to the Niners. That would make me very happy (not as happy as trading back and using the resulting picks to get Kevin Kolb, but still).

I would say 75% of the mocks have SF taking Peterson... and I really like that.

[Sizzle]

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/pos...k-mock-draft-3

This mock draft is about worst case scenario for me as a 49ers fan.

[Hot Lunch]

TCU's Marcus Cannon has cancer. This sucks for him. He was projected to go pretty high. Around the 3rd round I believe. I wonder how far he will drop because of this.

[ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=6432659"]Sources: TCU draft NFL prospect Marcus Cannon has cancer - ESPN[/ame]

TCU offensive lineman Marcus Cannon has a treatable form of lymphoma that was discovered in the run-up to the NFL draft, sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

According to multiple media reports, Cannon was diagnosed with a benign growth in his groin area over four years ago, but physicals for the draft revealed that it had grown. A biopsy and further tests revealed that the 6-foot-6, 350-pound senior has non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Cannon's representatives have released a medical report to all 32 NFL teams, sources told Schefter.

Cannon will begin chemotherapy Wednesday and will have three more treatments over the next three months. Because of his age and health, Cannon faces a success rate for beating the cancer of more than 90 percent.

The NFL draft begins Thursday, and ESPN's Todd McShay has Cannon ranked as the 11th best offensive lineman in the nation.

[BoylenOver]

Sad news about Cannon, but thank goodness it was discovered because of these examinations.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Gabbert was on Dan Patrick today and was being asked about some of the questions he got asked by teams. Gabbert said sometimes they would just ask random questions in quick succession to see how you would react; things like "Who wrote Hamlet?" followed by "What is the difference between an egg and a seed?"

My thought was I wish I could have been present when those questions were thrown at Cam Newton. And I wish Warren Moon could have been watching as well.

[Surfah]

Gabbert was on Dan Patrick today and was being asked about some of the questions he got asked by teams. Gabbert said sometimes they would just ask random questions in quick succession to see how you would react; things like "Who wrote Hamlet?" followed by "What is the difference between an egg and a seed?"

My thought was I wish I could have been present when those questions were thrown at Cam Newton. And I wish Warren Moon could have been watching as well.

Gabbert didn't seem to bright to me during his session with Gruden, especially when talking about his pass protection schemes.

[Sizzle]

Here is my top 5 for San Fran for the first round today:

1) Dareus, DL Ala Not gonna happen but I think he will be special and can play nose or end
2) Patrick Peterson, CB LSU Potential to be a lockdown corner, outstanding size/speed combination and great ball skills
3) Von Miller OLB, A&M Niners need a guy that can bring pressure off the edge, and he is one of the best in the draft
4) AJ Green WR Georgia Big WR if paired with Crabtree, Gore, Vernon Davis etc there is no excuse for SFs QB
5) Prince Amukamara CB Neb Maybe a better cover guy than Peterson (if not it's close) but a very good corner that can anchor the secondary for a long time

Wouldn't be totally shocked if SF moves back into round 1 for a QB. I honestly think I would be happier with Dalton, Ponder or even Kapernick than I would Newton or Gabbert. I do have quite a bit of faith though in Harbaugh, if he feels Gabbert can be really good, I'll trust his judgement over mine. Anybody who can turn Todd Mortensen into a guy who gets a shot at the NFL knows QBs in my book.

[Green Monstah]

The more I watched Ryan Mallet last year on the field, the more I liked him. The more I've seen him during off-field interviews, etc., the less I like him. He won't go as high (no pun intended), but he's got some very Leaf-esque qualities about him.

[Sizzle]

The more I watched Ryan Mallet last year on the field, the more I liked him. The more I've seen him during off-field interviews, etc., the less I like him. He won't go as high (no pun intended), but he's got some very Leaf-esque qualities about him.

Yeah Mallet is an interesting prospect. Big time arm, good production (not something I think you can say about Gabbert), slightly suspect decision making, and definitely has character concerns. Is he Ryan Leaf 2.0? Not sure, but I think not being picked #2 overall will help. I would take a chance on him in the last first/early second. The talent is definitely there for him to bs successful.

[Sizzle]

Cam Newton at number one to Carolina. So long Jimmy Clausen era in Carolina. If you know he isnt going to be the guy cut your losses and move on... But man if you were a Panthers fan you have to hope Newton pans out or it's a huge mistake.

[Sizzle]

If I'm Denver, I take Dareus right here. I think he will be a stud.