2011 Draft Prospects Thread

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The Gr8est said:
There are a couple of really good QB prospects coming out too. Just sayin'. With Oakland's pick we have a chance to potentially draft TFB's replacement.
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There sure are. Andrew Luck and Jake Locker are perhaps the two best QBs for the Pats that I've seen in the past decade, with the possible exception of Matt Ryan. Smart, accurate, good arms, leaders. If BB thinks it's not too early to grab a QB, and Oakland's pick is high enough, it's definitely an option. Luck probably won't come out though (red shirt sophomore), and Locker is the pre-season favorite to go #1.
 
Here's an early Top 100 for 2011 from Sideline Scouting:

http://www.sidelinescouting.net/top100/2011/

Guys on this list who I like (juniors with an *, redshirt sophomores with a **):

4. AJ Green*, WR, Georgia. Best WR prospect since Megatron.
6. Robert Quinn*, DE,OLB, North Carolina. Better 3-4 OLB prospect than DeMarcus Ware.
7. Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio St. A young Seymour.
8. Michael Floyd*, WR, Notre Dame. A power WR, compares well with Dez Bryant without the issues.
9. Greg Romeus, DE/OLB, Pittsburgh. Terrific strongside DE/OLB prospect.
10. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa. I think he's a 4-3 guy, but he's a great player if BB could find a way to fit him in. Incredible functional strength.
14. Bruce Carter*, OLB, North Carolina. A 4-3 OLB, but a terrific playmaker.
18. Jonathan Baldwin*, WR, Pittsburgh. My 2nd favorite WR after AJ Green.
19. Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB, Oklahoma. Versatile high-motor guy in the Jermaine Cunningham mold.
26. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin. A beast with a nasty attitude at 6'7" 325#.
30. Jared Crick*, DE, Nebraska. Suh's protege. Great physical attributes for the 5 technique.
32. Andrew Luck**, QB, Stanford. 31 spots lower than he will go if he comes out.
40. Ryan Williams**, RB, Virginia Tech. I like him better than Mark Ingram as a feature back. More explosive, better breakaway capability.
42. Akeem Ayers*, OLB, UCLA. Best pure 3-4 OLB prospect in a while, can also play 4-3 SAM.
43. Cliff Matthews, DE/OLB, South Carolina. He's what people thought Ricky Sapp could be.
64. Marcell Dareus*, DE, Alabama. Way too low. He'll be a top 15 pick if he comes out, and will vie with Cameron Heyward as the top 3-4 DE in the draft.
68. Nate Solder*, OT, Colorado. Raw but tremendous physical skills and upside.
75. John Moffit, OG/C, Wisconsin. My favorite interior lineman in the draft. 15 starts at center, 14 at LG. From Connecticut.
79. Lawrence Marsh, DE/DT, Florida. Was injured much of 2009, but very athletic prospect at the 5 technique.
90. Jason Pinkston, OT, Pittsburgh. Former TE, very athletic and underrated OT.

Missing from this list are a couple of underrated RB's who I like: Jacquizz Rodgers from Oregon St. and Daniel Thomas from Kansas St. Both are adept at catching the ball out of the backfield. Rodgers is in the "pocket hercules" mold at 5'7" 193, while Thomas is a bruiser at 6'2" 227#.

Right now, I'd love to see something like the following:

- 3-4 DE: Marcell Dareus or Cameron Heyward if we use our 1a from Oakland; Jared Crick if we use our 1b; Lawrence Marsh in the late 2nd or 3rd round

- 3-4 OLB (or DE/OLB): Robert Quinn if we use our 1a from Oakland; Greg Romeus if we trade back from 1a or up from 1b; Akeem Ayers or Jeremy Beal in the 2nd round

- WR: AJ Green with 1a or Jonathan Baldwin/Michael Floyd with a trade up from 1b.

- RB:Ryan Williams with 1b or 2a, or Jacquizee Rodgers/Daniel Thomas in the 2nd round.

- OL: Gabe Carimi in the late 1st, Nate Solder or Jason Pinkston in the 2nd, or John Moffit in the late 2nd/3rd.

Again, absurdly early. Jonathan Dwyer was my top rated RB at this time last year. But just some names to keep an eye on.
 
TFYdraft/draftinsider has an early top 150 out for 2011:

http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=2060

Interesting to compare with the previous rankings. Some interesting ones:

1. Robert Quinn*, DE/OLB, North Carolina
4. Marcell Dareus*, DE, Alabama
5. Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio St.
7. Bruce Carter*, OLB, North Carolina
9. AJ Green*, WR, Georgia
15. Andrew Luck**, QB, Stanford
17. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
18. Michael Floyd*, WR, Notre Dame
20. Cliff Matthews, DE/OLB, South Carolina
35. Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB, Oklahoma
36. Nate Solder*, OT, Colorado
39. Allen Bailey, DE/DT, Miami - he'll end up going much higher based on his combine workout
41. Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal - keep an eye on this kid.
44. Jason Pinkston, OT, Pittsburgh
48. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
53. Sam Acho, DE/OLB, Texas
60. Matt Reynolds, OT, BYU
76. Anthony Costanzo, OT, Boston College - way too low, he'll go 1st round
88. Lawrence Marsh, DE/DT, Florida
123. Pierre Allen, DE/OLB, Nebraska

No mention of Ryan Williams, Akeem Ayers, Daniel Thomas or John Moffitt.
 
I am excited about this draft already (early isn't it?).

Definitely looks to be a lot of good prospects at the top of the list, but it does start getting thin after round 3. Could this be BB's strategy - taking 12 players 2 years in a row in deep drafts and then making it a little top heavy in a draft that isn't as deep?

RB looks especially intriguing to me this year with Ingram, Williams, Royster, Murray, Thomas and then smaller backs like Devine, Rodgers, Rainey (I would expect him to come out after flirting with it this year), Hunter, etc. Even guys like Brandon Saine and Graig Cooper (assuming he is healed from his injury) could have big years and shoot up the charts.

I know Mayo is a big fan, but does anyone else think Quizz Rodgers could be a MJD type feature back in our system?
 
mayoclinic said:
Here's an early Top 100 for 2011 from Sideline Scouting:

Guys on this list who I like (juniors with an *, redshirt sophomores with a **):

4. AJ Green*, WR, Georgia. Best WR prospect since Megatron.
6. Robert Quinn*, DE,OLB, North Carolina. Better 3-4 OLB prospect than DeMarcus Ware.
7. Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio St. A young Seymour.
8. Michael Floyd*, WR, Notre Dame. A power WR, compares well with Dez Bryant without the issues.
9. Greg Romeus, DE/OLB, Pittsburgh. Terrific strongside DE/OLB prospect.
10. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa. I think he's a 4-3 guy, but he's a great player if BB could find a way to fit him in. Incredible functional strength.
14. Bruce Carter*, OLB, North Carolina. A 4-3 OLB, but a terrific playmaker.
18. Jonathan Baldwin*, WR, Pittsburgh. My 2nd favorite WR after AJ Green.
19. Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB, Oklahoma. Versatile high-motor guy in the Jermaine Cunningham mold.
26. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin. A beast with a nasty attitude at 6'7" 325#.
30. Jared Crick*, DE, Nebraska. Suh's protege. Great physical attributes for the 5 technique.
32. Andrew Luck**, QB, Stanford. 31 spots lower than he will go if he comes out.
40. Ryan Williams**, RB, Virginia Tech. I like him better than Mark Ingram as a feature back. More explosive, better breakaway capability.
42. Akeem Ayers*, OLB, UCLA. Best pure 3-4 OLB prospect in a while, can also play 4-3 SAM.
43. Cliff Matthews, DE/OLB, South Carolina. He's what people thought Ricky Sapp could be.
64. Marcell Dareus*, DE, Alabama. Way too low. He'll be a top 15 pick if he comes out, and will vie with Cameron Heyward as the top 3-4 DE in the draft.
68. Nate Solder*, OT, Colorado. Raw but tremendous physical skills and upside.
75. John Moffit, OG/C, Wisconsin. My favorite interior lineman in the draft. 15 starts at center, 14 at LG. From Connecticut.
79. Lawrence Marsh, DE/DT, Florida. Was injured much of 2009, but very athletic prospect at the 5 technique.
90. Jason Pinkston, OT, Pittsburgh. Former TE, very athletic and underrated OT.

Missing from this list are a couple of underrated RB's who I like: Jacquizz Rodgers from Oregon St. and Daniel Thomas from Kansas St. Both are adept at catching the ball out of the backfield. Rodgers is in the "pocket hercules" mold at 5'7" 193, while Thomas is a bruiser at 6'2" 227#.

Right now, I'd love to see something like the following:

- 3-4 DE: Marcell Dareus or Cameron Heyward if we use our 1a from Oakland; Jared Crick if we use our 1b; Lawrence Marsh in the late 2nd or 3rd round

- 3-4 OLB (or DE/OLB): Robert Quinn if we use our 1a from Oakland; Greg Romeus if we trade back from 1a or up from 1b; Akeem Ayers or Jeremy Beal in the 2nd round

- WR: AJ Green with 1a or Jonathan Baldwin/Michael Floyd with a trade up from 1b.

- RB:Ryan Williams with 1b or 2a, or Jacquizee Rodgers/Daniel Thomas in the 2nd round.

- OL: Gabe Carimi in the late 1st, Nate Solder or Jason Pinkston in the 2nd, or John Moffit in the late 2nd/3rd.

Again, absurdly early. Jonathan Dwyer was my top rated RB at this time last year. But just some names to keep an eye on.
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Imagine being able to get Robert Quinn with the Raiders pick, Ryan Williams with 32, a top OL with the Carolina pick and Marcel Dareus at 64? Won't happen, but wow.

Speaking of OL, what are your thoughts on Mike Pouncey? If rumors are tree we were interested in his brother, I would think he would be someone we would be interested in as well. After this draft, I'm definitely going to keep more of an eye on Florida players, with Marsh, Pouncey and Demps/Rainey the ones that really interest me so far.
 
nickw8810 said:
Imagine being able to get Robert Quinn with the Raiders pick, Ryan Williams with 32, a top OL with the Carolina pick and Marcel Dareus at 64? Won't happen, but wow.

Speaking of OL, what are your thoughts on Mike Pouncey? If rumors are tree we were interested in his brother, I would think he would be someone we would be interested in as well. After this draft, I'm definitely going to keep more of an eye on Florida players, with Marsh, Pouncey and Demps/Rainey the ones that really interest me so far.
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Mike Pouncey is generally not considered as athletic as his twin Maurkice. He's probably going to move inside to center this year. He certainly bears watching. I personally like John Moffitt from Wisconsin, but it's still way too early to sort out the potential prospects.

Between Pouncey Moffitt, Kris O'Dowd from USC and Stephen Wisniewski from Penn St. there should be a better crop of interior linemen next year.

Marcell Dareus will go top 10. At this point I'd be thrilled to get one of Robert Quinn, Marcell Dareus or AJ Green with our pick from Oakland. All 3 should be incredible players. My personal favorite is Quinn but there is a lot of good pass rushers, so it might make more sense to take a lineman first and then someone like Akeem Ayers, Jeremy Beal or Cliff Matthews in the late 1st or 2nd round. A lot will depend on how Jermaine Cunningham and the other youngsters develop, and whether we need a strongside or weakside DE/OLB.

There should be some very good running backs in 2011, too - Mark Ingram, Ryan Williams, Daniel Thomas, Jacquizz Rodgers. I'm not a big Evan Royster fan, but he'll be in the mix, and the kid from Oklahoma. So there should be some solid RBs in the 2nd round as well.
 
Here's a nice read on South Carolina DE/OLB Cliff Matthews:

"NBA great Larry Bird once said, 'I've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.' Junior defensive end Cliff Matthews is the embodiment of hard work and effort.
Having played in all 29 games over the past two seasons making 26 consecutive starts, Matthews has become an integral part of a Carolina defense that currently ranks fourth in the SEC in total defense. Rarely will head coach Steve Spurrier make it through a press conference without mentioning the hustle and effort of Cliff Matthews. Matthews has twice been awarded for his hustling ways earning the Weight Room Effort Award over the summer and the Everyday Effort Award in the spring of 2008. 'I guess it's sort of been molded in my head growing up,' said Matthews. 'If you're going to play football, why not play it full speed? That's what I've been told most of my life, and not just with football. I try to go full speed with everything.' "

http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/100709aaa.html

Matthews has the length (6'4"), bulk (250#+), motor and drive that the Pats like. He's excelled on special teams, and has played at both OLB and DE at South Carolina. He also played on offense as well as defense in high school. He is built somewhat like Clemson DE/OLB Ricky Sapp, but with more sand in his pants.

If we end up needing a "weakside" ROLB more than a "strongside" LOLB, Matthews and UCLA OLB Akeem Ayers seem like the two best prospects. Much as I love North Carolina DE/OLB Robert Quinn he projects purely to the strong side. A 3-4 DE like Marcell Dareus or Cameron Heyward and a DE/OLB like Matthews or Ayers would be a very nice combination.
 
I can't help but think that the O-line is going to get a major overhaul next year.
Mankins, Light and Neal could all be gone and despite how much I like Vollmer, I don't think we've seen enough evidence that he can carry the LT position without help yet.

To me that seems to be the biggest weakness of our team for the 11 season (of course depending on injuries and performance of this year's draft picks).
 
anderson said:
I can't help but think that the O-line is going to get a major overhaul next year.
Mankins, Light and Neal could all be gone and despite how much I like Vollmer, I don't think we've seen enough evidence that he can carry the LT position without help yet.

To me that seems to be the biggest weakness of our team for the 11 season (of course depending on injuries and performance of this year's draft picks).
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I'm a bit more bullish on the OL than you are, particularly regarding Vollmer, who I think can be a pro bowler at either RT or LT. But a lot depends on whether we can keep Mankins long term, and on how Rich Ohrnberger develops at OG. Rumors are that Ohnrberger has bulked up over the offseason, and I'm hoping that he will show himself capable of handling one of the guard spots for the long haul.

Right now I'm in the "wait and see" mode regarding the OL. I think that we definitely need a long term successor/upgrade to Koppen who can handle the big NTs. That's part of why I'm high on John Moffitt, a versatile OG/C from Wisconsin who could step in at either LG (14 starters) or center (15 starts). I'd be fine with a physical RT like Gabe Carimi as well, who could probably play either OG or RT.
 
A couple flying below most radars:

Ryan Winterswyk, DE, Boise State (6'4" 263) - Two time first team All-WAC selection, 9 sacks in 2009. I've been tracking this kid since his redshirt freshman season. He just makes plays or eats blockers so someone else can.

Karl Klug, DE, Iowa (6'4" 258) - All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Coaches) for 2009. Watching the Orange Bowl scouting Adrian Clayborn, Pat Angerer, and A.J. Edds, the guy who stood out and made those three look good was Klug playing inside at RDT. Georgia Tech was unable to move him with triple teams - yes, triple - there was nothing but a pile of white jerseys whenever GT tried to run behind Center or LG. If they went the other way he was in the backfield or moving down the LOS because one OL on the backside couldn't stop him. Georgia Tech pulled their starting LG and brought in a 300+ lb. reserve to at least try to wear Klug down, in the middle of the fourth quarter you could see that Klug was finally being blocked one-on-one on the backside, but Georgia Tech was still unable to run inside to their left. Adrian Clayborn has his stats because nobody could block Klug without help, freeing Clayborn to beat one-on-one situations. Indy will probably sign him to a UDFA contract and use him as an inside pass rusher and run defender, but if ever a kid was made for LOLB in NE's 3-4, it's Klug.
 
Box_O_Rocks said:
A couple flying below most radars:

Ryan Winterswyk, DE, Boise State (6'4" 263) - Two time first team All-WAC selection, 9 sacks in 2009. I've been tracking this kid since his redshirt freshman season. He just makes plays or eats blockers so someone else can.

Karl Klug, DE, Iowa (6'4" 258) - All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Coaches) for 2009. Watching the Orange Bowl scouting Adrian Clayborn, Pat Angerer, and A.J. Edds, the guy who stood out and made those three look good was Klug playing inside at RDT. Georgia Tech was unable to move him with triple teams - yes, triple - there was nothing but a pile of white jerseys whenever GT tried to run behind Center or LG. If they went the other way he was in the backfield or moving down the LOS because one OL on the backside couldn't stop him. Georgia Tech pulled their starting LG and brought in a 300+ lb. reserve to at least try to wear Klug down, in the middle of the fourth quarter you could see that Klug was finally being blocked one-on-one on the backside, but Georgia Tech was still unable to run inside to their left. Adrian Clayborn has his stats because nobody could block Klug without help, freeing Clayborn to beat one-on-one situations. Indy will probably sign him to a UDFA contract and use him as an inside pass rusher and run defender, but if ever a kid was made for LOLB in NE's 3-4, it's Klug.
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I knew I could count on you to come up with the lesser known prospects after I pick off the low lying fruit. Good stuff. I remember you talking about Klug in January. Gotta keep an eye on him.
 
Box_O_Rocks said:
A couple flying below most radars:

Ryan Winterswyk, DE, Boise State (6'4" 263) - Two time first team All-WAC selection, 9 sacks in 2009. I've been tracking this kid since his redshirt freshman season. He just makes plays or eats blockers so someone else can.

Karl Klug, DE, Iowa (6'4" 258) - All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Coaches) for 2009. Watching the Orange Bowl scouting Adrian Clayborn, Pat Angerer, and A.J. Edds, the guy who stood out and made those three look good was Klug playing inside at RDT. Georgia Tech was unable to move him with triple teams - yes, triple - there was nothing but a pile of white jerseys whenever GT tried to run behind Center or LG. If they went the other way he was in the backfield or moving down the LOS because one OL on the backside couldn't stop him. Georgia Tech pulled their starting LG and brought in a 300+ lb. reserve to at least try to wear Klug down, in the middle of the fourth quarter you could see that Klug was finally being blocked one-on-one on the backside, but Georgia Tech was still unable to run inside to their left. Adrian Clayborn has his stats because nobody could block Klug without help, freeing Clayborn to beat one-on-one situations. Indy will probably sign him to a UDFA contract and use him as an inside pass rusher and run defender, but if ever a kid was made for LOLB in NE's 3-4, it's Klug.
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With that size and strength we'd be foolish to let him slip thru 7 rounds...
 
Speaking of Boise State players, one WR that I really like is Titus Young. He had some maturity issues in the past, some big ones, but if that checks out, I'd love to see him on the Pats. He's a quick, playmaker, almost in a Percy Harvin/DeSean Jackson mold. Last year he scored 15 TDs for Boise - 10 through the air, 3 on the ground and he returned 2 kickoffs.

I'm interested in seeing what times the "big 4" wide receivers run and wonder if the Pats would seriously go after one of them?

Slightly off-topic, but does anyone else think Terrelle Pryor could be a stud WR? Would he ever give up QB?
 
Someone to watch is Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn. He was backup to Tebow at FL for 2 years before leaving FL. Newton transferred to Blinn College (Texas) for playing time and to get out from under Tebow's wing. He bought a laptop at FL that had been stolen, unknown to him and he was cleared of wrongdoing. At Blinn, a J college well known as a premier launching pad for college footballers, Newton performed well. Spring reports have been glowing. He is 6'6", 245 lbs and mobile.

http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042810aaa.html?loc=interstitialskip

Newton, who joined Auburn in January, was the No. 1 overall junior college prospect according to Rivals.com in 2009 and helped lead Blinn College (Texas) to the 2009 NJCAA National Championship.
The 6-6, 245-pound Newton passed for 2,833 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for 655 yards and 16 scores this past season at Blinn. Newton completed 204-of-336 and 5 ints for the Buccaneers, who finished with an 11-1 record.
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http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/10691/sec-post-spring-superlatives

Best performance by an offensive newcomer: Freshman quarterback Cameron Newton arrived at Auburn with a lot of hype. But he was all substance during the spring in playing his way to the top of the depth chart.
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video highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM6zr932J_E (starts at 3 min mark)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNI36tWZWiw&feature=related
 
Here's a scouting report on Penn St. junior DE Jack Crawford, a British transplant, from NFL mocks:

http://nflmocks.com/2010/04/28/scouting-report-jack-crawford-psu/

Along with Cliff Matthews and Akeem Ayers, Crawford is one of my favorite DE/OLB prospects for 2011 (after Robert Quinn, who will go top 10 and possibly top 5 if he declares). Crawford has great length and size at 6'5" 256#. He had 14.5 TFL last year, and 5 pass breakups over the past 2 seasons. He needs to show that he can play in space and set the edge, but he's someone to keep a close eye on over the next year.

I predict that 10 months from now we'll be having lengthy threads discussing the relative merits of these guys. All are 6'4" or taller and over 250# with the kind of motors and character that the Pats like.
 
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