2011 NFL Draft

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

Yeah, I really dont know outside of Luck a good QB pick in the first. Have you seen Mallet or Locker play this year? I saw both twice...all four games were not impressive. Locker is flat out horrible. Id give Mallet a long look, but his decision making is questionable IMO. Not questionable is his arm...its a cannon. His completion percentage this was higher than I thought it would be...but Id take Mallet over Newton and Locker.

Mallett has been really impressive this year. Maybe not more impressive than Jamarcus Russell was in the same conference in 2006, but impressive. He looks the part with the build of a quarterback and displays more than acceptable accuracy. Far from a complete product, though. The danger with Mallett is that he lights up the Ohio State defense at the Sugar Bowl and gets badly overdrafted because of it. You don't want to be stuck with a quarterback who won't make a play with his legs, and not ready to give him the universe in terms of offensive talent to work with.

Really, Luck is less than of a complete product at this point than people want to believe. I'd still take him with the first pick though. A franchise COULD easily screw up Andrew Luck's development -- which would be a shame, but that franchise was just wasting time with that regime anyway. Luck should be a top five type superstar in the NFL.

[GTripp0012]

This is Peter King on Monday, essentially echoing what I've believed about Luck for a long time:

Carolina's not feeling Lucky this morning.

I heard reliably earlier in the week that Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, the unquestioned top prospect in the draft should he choose to bypass his final two years of eligibility, was thinking about staying in school rather than being this year's Sam Bradford. As I said on NBC last night, Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh told me he thought Luck, a redshirt sophomore, was leaning toward staying for a fourth year.

I said to Harbaugh Sunday that I'd heard the Luck family (his dad, Oliver Luck, is a former NFL quarterback) was concerned with the fact that drafted players, because of the prospect of a protracted work stoppage, might not even see their playbook or start practice 'til Labor Day -- or later. If that's the case, why wouldn't Luck stay for his fourth year at Stanford and play, whether Harbaugh (who is rumored to be a candidate for both pro and college head-coaching jobs after turning around the Cardinal) is there to coach him or not?

"I don't think that's the correct logic,'' Harbaugh told me from his home in northern California. "But I do think it's more likely he'd come back. If I had to bet one way or the other, I'd bet he's coming back. He loves college. He loves the college life. He's such a good kid -- and so smart. He's got a 3.5 GPA in Architectural Engineering, and all along his plan has been to go to college for four years, get his degree, then figure out what to do with his life. This is a kid who has a plan. And he's a kid who's not the big-man-on-campus type. He just fits in.''

So it's not rock solid Luck stays. Stanford plays Virginia Tech in the Something Or Other Orange Bowl (who can keep straight all these sponsors?) next Monday, and maybe the kid figures he's done everything he could in college football and wants to move on. But it doesn't sound like it. That'd be terrible news for the Panthers, obviously. Carolina will be choosing first when the draft begins April 28.

Carolinians will be even more disappointed if he stays after hearing Harbaugh's assessment of him. "I'm absolutely convinced he'll make it in the NFL,'' Harbaugh said. "He's got no negatives. He's athletic -- he'll run the 40 in the high 4.5s. He's instinctive. He's accurate. He's got great touch on the ball. He throws lasers when he wants to. I think he's got a photographic memory, though he doesn't think so. And he's the anti-celebrity quarterback. He'll be perfect for the NFL.''

So we'll see what Luck does. But it sounds like another underclassman, Clemson pass-rusher Da'Quan Bowers, might be moving into the first-pick-in-the-draft neighborhood if Luck stays at Stanford.

Read more: Vikings-Eagles postponed, Mike Singletary fired, more NFL*Week 16 - Peter King - SI.com

But if Luck doesn't come out, it weakens the entire draft class considerably at the quarterback position. Now, don't get me wrong, we have to come out of the draft with SOMETHING at the position, just to avoid a situation like the one we are currently in. But something can be Christian Ponder in the second round, or it can be Scott Tolzien in the 5th. If you end up with a disaster season, maybe WE'RE the team that lands Andrew Luck. Or maybe you win and make the playoffs.

For what it's worth, Luck's closest comparable from my college passer spreadsheet is...Aaron Rodgers. If he comes out right now. But there's also a litany of poorer prospects not far behind, which concerns me some.

[GusFrerotte]

QB should not be the highest priority, but if we do get one we need to look at the kid for Missouri, as he can throw the ball pretty accurately and has a pretty quick release. Locker ran the ball very well and seems to have a good head on his shoulders, but he really can't pass all that great. Last season he threw a lot of errant picks. To me he is a lot like Snead, who also never really impressed me, but a lot of folks had a thing for him.

[GusFrerotte]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

Yeah, I really dont know outside of Luck a good QB pick in the first. Have you seen Mallet or Locker play this year? I saw both twice...all four games were not impressive. Locker is flat out horrible. Id give Mallet a long look, but his decision making is questionable IMO. Not questionable is his arm...its a cannon. His completion percentage this was higher than I thought it would be...but Id take Mallet over Newton and Locker.

Gabbert would be a nice pickup regardless of when he comes out. There will be a lot of nice QBs in 2012 for us to nab. Some will be under the radar alo, just in case we have another season around .500.

[GusFrerotte]

IF Dan Persa fully recovers from his Achilles tear and is injury free next season he might be a good pickup also, if we can't land Gabbert in 2011 or 2012. I know he runs the spread at Noorthwestern, but he was their entire offense just about, and he can run the ball. If he has a nice season with the newly aligned Big Ten, he might be worth a 2nd or 3rd round pickup.

[GTripp0012]

If Luck doesn't come out, this is just a dreadful draft for offensive talent. Kiper's big board is AJ Green, and a whole lot of nothing until Ryan Mallett and Cam Newton.

Newton will likely still be there when we pick, but Mallett and Green almost certainly will be gone. Getting value on our pick might just force us to the defensive side of the ball, though trading down would appear to be the best option.

[Bucket]

We have the 32nd rank defense in the NFL..

This draft is smashed full of defensive talent.

Why wouldn't we go defense? I'm confused...

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

If Luck doesn't come out, this is just a dreadful draft for offensive talent. Kiper's big board is AJ Green, and a whole lot of nothing until Ryan Mallett and Cam Newton.

Newton will likely still be there when we pick, but Mallett and Green almost certainly will be gone. Getting value on our pick might just force us to the defensive side of the ball, though trading down would appear to be the best option.

Kiper has AJ Green his top...oh lord I might need to change my thinking.

Is anybody an insider at espn? Can you please post the Kipers and McShays boards...just like to see what the so-called experts rankings are

[Son Of Man]

I'll throw my hat in for Jake Locker. That guys a competitor with great athleticism.

[SkinzWin]

Originally Posted by Son Of Man

I'll throw my hat in for Jake Locker. That guys a competitor with great athleticism.

Mleh. I think he has mediocre written all over him.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I would be very happy if we got Mallet in round 1 and Justin Blackmon in round 2, although I'm not sure Blackmon makes it out of the first round. He's a freakin beast.

Last I heard, Blackmon's not coming out. Current buzz is we hope to trade down to still get a QB and someone who can complement Orakpo. Looking for another pass rusher. Defense, rightly so, feels predictable when Orakpo is out there. Coaches felt one reason they played well this weekend was because the Jags didn't know what to expect with Alexander, Wilson, and Jackson.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Last I heard, Blackmon's not coming out. Current buzz is we hope to trade down to still get a QB and someone who can complement Orakpo. Looking for another pass rusher. Defense, rightly so, feels predictable when Orakpo is out there. Coaches felt one reason they played well this weekend was because the Jags didn't know what to expect with Alexander, Wilson, and Jackson.

That's surprising about Blackmon. I know AJ Green is amazing, but IMO Blackmon is more physical, and not too far behind talent wise. I think if you're going to be a sure-fire first round pick, you gotta go pro. You can always go get your degree once you've made your millions and taken care of your family.

I like the idea of trading down, as long as we're still targeting a QB that we plan on making "the guy." We need more picks. I'm all about moving down in the 1st round if it nets us another 1st or 2nd rounder. Good points about Rak. If we're all in on this switch to a 3-4, we need a lot of new personnel.

[MTK]

We definitely need another strong pass rusher.

[Son Of Man]

Originally Posted by SkinzWin

Mleh. I think he has mediocre written all over him.

Looks like a competitor to me. I think he'll look good with NFL talent around him. Potential franchis QB.

[Bucket]

I was watching Washington play last night with Jake Locker at QB..

He was 5-25 or soemthing like that before I turned it off...

I'm not sure about him lol