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Thursday, April 28, 2011

2011 NFL Draft Prospect Thoughts

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Previously, I addressed who the Chiefs might take in the first round in tonight's NFL Draft. But I have other thoughts too! Here's a random jubilation of thoughts on players scattered throughout the shazbot. Enjoy!

I'm gonna start by ranking the Top QB's (where they're drafted is a factor, i.e. I would rather have Stanzi in the 4th than Gabbert with the 5th pick):

1. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas - 2nd
2. Andy Dalton, TCU - 2nd
3. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa - 3rd/4th
4. Cam Newton, Auburn - 1st
5. Christian Ponder, Florida St. - 2nd
6. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri - 1st
7. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada - 2nd
8. Jake Locker, Washington - 1st
Sleeper: Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M

Here's my Top 5 prospects overall in this year's NFL Draft:

1. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU - Will be a top 5 CB in the NFL in a few years
2. Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M - Hoping the Broncos don't pick him at #2
3. J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin - Hoping the Chargers don't pick him at #18
4. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn - Wasn't he considered the #1 pick immediately after the season?
5. A.J. Green, WR, Georgia - Top flight Wide Receivers seem to be boom or bust - He Boom
Sleeper: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson - Freefalling because of longterm injury concerns - should dominate in the short term

Here are some potential 2nd round picks by the Chiefs:

1. Sam Acho, OLB, Texas - 8 sacks each of the last 2 years
2. Rodney Hudson, C, Florida St. - Considered the best Center in the Draft
3. Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland - Discussed in my Chiefs first round article
4. Randell Cobb, WR, Kentucky - Small, playmaking WR
5. Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami - Big, fast, productive WR with questionable hands
6. Stefan Wisniewski, C, Penn St. - Considered 2nd best Center in the Draft
7. Jabaal Sheard, OLB, Pitt - 8 sacks last year - spells his name like JamaAL Charles
8. Titus Young, WR, Boise St. - Tiny, big play receiver of the Blue Waffles
9. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas - Would be very happy to get the best QB at pick #55
10. Jon Baldwin, WR, Pitt - Not high on my list because he's essentially the same type of WR as D-Bowe

But, Dirk Noss, you didn't mention any Nose Tackles for the 2nd round, whatupwitdat? Well, it's because past Phil Taylor (projected late 1st/early 2nd) there isn't much until later in the Draft. Here's a look at the top prospects who could plump down at Nose in a 3-4 defense (as well as their listed weight and when the Chiefs would have to take each of them):

1. Phil Taylor, Baylor - 334 lbs - 1st round
2. Kenrick Ellis, Hampton - 346 lbs - 3rd round
3. Jurrell Casey, USC - 300 lbs - 3rd round (Seems too small to me, but read this)
4. Jerrell Powe, Ole Miss - 335 lbs - 3rd round (whoddathunk 2 prospects named Jerrell and Jurrell)
5. Ian Williams, Notre Dame - 319 lbs - 4th round
6. Chris Neild, West Virginia - 319 lbs - 5th round
7. Anthony Gray, Southern Miss - 330 lbs - 6th round

And since I listed Outside Linebacker as the Chiefs #1 need for this offseason, here's a list of the top 10 hybrid prospects who project as a 3-4 OLB:

1. Robert Quinn, North Carolina - Will be selected before #21
2. Aldon Smith, Missouri - Slight chance he falls to #21
3. Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue - Decent chance he falls to #21
4. Akeem Ayers, UCLA - Should be available at #21, good chance Chiefs select him
5. Brooks Reed, Arizona - My #1 choice for Chiefs pick at #21
6. Justin Houston, Georgia - Failed drug test might slide him to 2nd round
7. Jabaal Sheard, Pitt - Popular choice for Chiefs 2nd round pick
8. Sam Acho, Texas - The most reoccurring mock selection for Chiefs in 2nd round
9. Chris Carter, Fresno St. - Recorded 11 sacks last year, should be around in 3rd round
10. Dontay Moch, Nevada - '09 WAC Defensive POY, potential 3rd rounder
Sleeper: Greg Romeus, Pitt - Combined 15.5 sacks as Soph/Junior but missed most of 2010 with injury

And just for the smell of it here are some other lower round prospects that I like:

- Austin Pettis, WR, Boise St.
- Tyler Sash, S, Iowa
- Greg Jones, ILB, Michigan St.
- Stanley Havili, FB, USC
- Eric Hagg/Dejon Gomes, CB/S, Nebraska
- Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB, Oklahoma
- DJ Williams, TE, Arkansas
- Ahmad Black, S, Florida
- Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas St.
- Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia
- Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
- Lazarius Levingston, DE, LSU (never heard of him but check out that name)
- Alex Henery, K, Nebraska (the best College kicker of all time)

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