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2011 Draft Preview

For draft fanatics like myself, the minute this draft over, you start to look toward the next year. Here is my 2011 Mock Draft for next year. But instead of trying to predict where teams will be picking, I’ll just rank players based off their potential to where they could be drafted. This is not meant to be a comprehensive guide. There are many rising seniors and juniors I have not seen play that are top players, but this is based off my own observations. This appears to be set up for another year where the junior class makes up the bulk of the top half.

Jake Locker, QB

Jake Locker, Washington

1. Jake Locker, QB, Washington (Senior)
Locker has all the tools to be a top quarterback. Frankly, if he makes significant improvement this year with another year under Steve Sarkisian, I might be willing to consider him the greatest quarterback prospect I’ve ever seen. Now I must qualify that is that I’ve only been paying attention since 2001. The reason for that is the amount of improvement Locker has shown since his freshman year where he completed only 47% of his passes and had 14:15 TD-INT ratio and was more like Eric Crouch as a running quarterback. This past year, that number was 58% and 21:11. If he can get that number up to around 65% and 30:10, then that sort of improvement is uncanny. Locker still trusts his legs a bit too much, but if he gets to a point where he trusts his arm to a similar level, he’ll be as good a prospect as any franchise QB to come out since Peyton Manning, if not better.

2. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas (Junior)
He has room to grow but with his size (6-6/240) and big arm, he has all the tools that NFL scouts love. He plays in Arkansas spread offense, unlike the pro style system that Locker employs, so that can hurt his stock. But for a second team looking for a big-armed and talented at the top of the draft could have their eyes set on Mallett.

3. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama (Junior)
Many compare Ingram to Emmitt Smith, and with his vision, burst, and power, it makes sense. The Heisman winner will have a target on his back from defenses this season, and from NFL scouts, so his stock could dip by next April. But if he can stay healthy, one imagines he’ll be considered a top back going into 2011.

4. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin (Senior)
Carimi is another solid Big Ten tackle. He probably isn’t a great prospect, but he has good size (6-7/325), strength, and ability as a run blocker. He’s probably not quite the athlete most teams look for in a top offensive tackle prospect, but until someone emerges from this class, he looks to be near the top.

5. Don’ta Hightower, ILB, Alabama (Junior)
He’ll presumably slide in the spot vacated by Rolando McClain. He was injured for much of last year, but in some early games actually outplayed McClain. If he can continue that this year then he stands a good chance to be a Top 10 pick like his ex-teammate. If you project his production from his 4 appearances last year to a full 14-game season, he would have had 56 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.

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Mock Draft Muncher – Final Update

Okay, it’s all over. I’ve included links only to the drafts that have been updated in the past 72 hours, but still managed to munch all of the others.

Brandon Graham

Brandon Graham

For April, we munched 126 mocks, which included 70 unique mocks. By far, Brandon Graham is the leading candidate to be the Falcons pick. He was picked in 53 mocks this month, including 20 unique ones. Second was Jason Pierre-Paul among unique mocks with 10 selections. Although Sean Weatherspoon barely edged him out in total mocks with 15 over Pierre-Paul’s 14. Next on the list were Maurkice Pouncey (9 total, 7 unique); Derrick Morgan (7, 6); Everson Griffen (7, 3). Both Kyle Wilson and Mike Iupati each had 3 total picks and 3 unique picks.

In total, there were 317 mocks munched (198 unique) since the beginning of the year. Graham of course was the leader, appearing in 92 total mocks (41 unique). Next was Sean Weatherspoon with 44 total and 25 unique. Jason Pierre-Paul was third with 32 and 23 respectively. Derrick Morgan appeared in 21 total mocks and 15 unique. Kyle Wilson rounded out the top five with 17 total mocks and 13 unique ones.

But here are the final mocks:

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Positional Rankings Added

Better than late than never, I always say. Added positional rankings, with the top ten players at each position, and include links to their scouting reports which you can find in the forums. They are a rough consensus based off the rankings and profiles you’ll find on the site.

Click here to view the positional rankings.


Falcons work out Nicholls State DB

Justin Van Fulpen of NFL Draft Bible reports that the Falcons worked out Nichollas State defensive back Dominique Daniels.

Daniels, listed at 6′2″ 190, is noted for his versatility to play either cornerback or safety. This past year, his lone as a starter, he recorded 42 tackles, 1 interception, and 6 passes defended. He also returned 10 punts for 88 yards. He played primarily corner, but did log one start at free safety. Per Daniels, the Falcons put him through a long workout both at defensive back, punt returner, and kickoff returner.


Falcons contact Wisconsin linebacker

In a blog entry for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin linebacker Jaevery McFadden indicates that the Falcons are a team that has interest in him. According to McFadden, the team asked for his draft day information, including his phone number and agent.

Such a measure indicates that the Falcons are interested in either drafting him or pursuing him as a rookie free agent.

McFadden led the Badgers defense the past two years in tackles, recording 74 as a senior and 84 as a junior. He played outside linebacker this past year, also recording 8.5 tackles for loss and a sack. As a junior, he was the starter in the middle, adding 2.5 tackles for loss to his production.

Measuring 6′1″ 240, McFadden reportedly ran a 4.78 40 at his pro day in March, also did 20 bench reps of 225 pounds, and recorded a 33-inch vertical jump.


A Comprehensive Falcons Mock based off Interest

Look, I have no shame in admitting that I’m jacking this idea from the Falcoholic blog. But I’ll pretend that I’m doing it better, by going through the Falcons potential picks in their entire draft.

So I’m going to use the projections one can find at CBS Sports’ draft page in their player rankings. They aren’t the most accurate, but I do think they do represent what I’d consider to be the overall consensus on where most prospects ranking.

So for our first round pick we have the following players:

TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
OG Mike Iupati, Idaho
OC Maurkice Pouncey, Florida
DE Everson Griffen, USC
DE Brandon Graham, Michigan
OLB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
ILB Rolando McClain, Alabama
CB Joe Haden, Florida

Now, Dimitroff drafts based off need, and I think the two biggest needs in Atlanta are defensive end and linebacker. The Falcons have been coy since the Combine about their desire to improve their pass rush. Mike Smith said during a Combine interview that in order to improve their pass defense, they must address both the secondary and pass rush. Well, they addressed the secondary when they signed Dunta Robinson, so now I think it’s time to address the pass rush.

And with the 19th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select…Defensive end Brandon Michigan from the University of Michigan.
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Falcons looking at UMass safety

Universal Draft reports that Massachusetts safety Jeromy Miles has indicated the Falcons have been a team that has shown “a lot of interest” in him.

Miles is a big safety, standing at 6′2″ 210.  Miles shined at both UMass’s pro day as well as that of Boston College in March. He ran a 4.45 40 time, jumped 35.5 inches in the vertical jump, and ran a 4.23 short shuttle at Boston College’s pro day. He impressed with a 10 foot-10 inch broad jump, 6.72 three cone drill, and 13 bench press reps at his own school’s pro day at the end of March.

On the field at free safety, he closed out his career with 62 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles, earning All-American honors. For his career, he recorded 9 career interceptions, 23 passes defended, and 7 forced fumbles in four years as a starter at Massachusetts.


Clemson’s Ford visits Falcons

Universal Draft.com reports that Clemson wideout Jacoby Ford visited the Falcons today. Ford shined primarily as a return specialist during his career at Clemson. He scored twice on punt returns and once on kickoffs during his career.

Ford is coming off a career-best 56 catches, 779 yards, and 6 receiving touchdowns. He also added 1 punt return for a score while averaging 14.3 yards on 10 returns. For his career, he averaged 23.9 yards on 47 kickoff returns and 9.8 yards on 49 punt returns.

The Falcons showed interest in another return specialist, as Scout.com’s Chris Steuber reported that Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas visited the team yesterday. Arenas scored 7 times on 125 career punt returns for an average of 14.0 yards while at Alabama. He is also coming off a career-best five interceptions as a senior.


Falcons work out Gresham

D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC reports that Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham worked out for the Falcons on a private visit this past Thursday.

Gresham is widely considered this year’s top tight end prospect, despite missing all of this past season to a knee injury. But the year before, he shined as the top target of Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, catching 66 passes for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Ledbetter also reports that the Falcons worked out Florida center Maurkice Pouncey in Gainesville on March 31, confirming earlier reports that the Falcons would get a closer look at who many consider the top center in the draft.


Lang and others join locals’ pro day

D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC reports that Troy defensive end Brandon Lang will be among several players that will work out for the Falcons today in their structured pro day. The event will include draft-eligible players that have local ties either via where they attended college or high school.

Previous reports indicated that Clemson tight end Michael Palmer and Minnesota cornerback Traye Simmons will also be in attendance. Ledbetter also includes in his report a list of several NFL prospects that have local ties, although it’s unconfirmed if any of them will be on hand at Flowery Branch today. Lang was among several players that the Falcons showed interest in during the Senior Bowl week.

Update: Tennessee offensive tackle Chris Scott tweeted that he was at the Falcons facility on hand for the pro day. He was one of the players Ledbetter listed as a possibility to be in attendance.