Big game tonight between Pittsburgh and Miami. Keep an eye on Jonathan Baldwin (WR, Pitt), Brandon Harris (CB, Miami) and Allen Bailey (DE, Miami). I’ll have some thoughts on the blog tomorrow. In the meantime, here’s some links worth checking out:
Wes Bunting speculates on potential character issues for Ryan Mallett: “I talked to a scout the other day that said ‘I got stuff on Mallett that nobody knows about.’ There are a lot of concerns on him personally.” It’s not the first time stuff like this has been mentioned, but so far further details haven’t appeared.
Draft Insider adds to this subject in conversation with SI.com’s Tony Pauline, “The feeling down in Arkansas is that he’s just a different type of person“. Pauline also says Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford) will declare for the 2011 draft.
Bunting also publishes his top-20 Senior prospects. Prince Amukamara (CB, Nebraska) tops the list with Adrian Clayborn (DE, Iowa) at #2. Jake Locker appears at #17.
Chris Steuber compares Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan to Chris Long. The Rams DE was drafted second overall by St. Louis in 2008 and Kerrigan has a similar frame and motor. Steuber suggests Kerrigan could enjoy a similar rise up draft boards and be a high pick. Right now, I think he’s a borderline late first round pick at best. However, if he continues to register sacks (three so far) he might enjoy a rise. Long has struggled in the NFL so far and I wonder if teams will be put off by the comparison.
Mock the Draft looks at Arizona quarterback Nick Foles and reviews whether he deserves to be discussed alongside the bigger names – Luck, Locker, Ponder and Mallett. “Leading up to the Wildcats’ Saturday night matchup with Iowa, the buzz on Foles this season was minimal after playing lowly Toledo and the Citadel. After dismantling Iowa with 303 yards passing and two touchdowns, the buzz on Foles is that of an angry swarm of bees.”
Aaron Aloysius offers a 2011 mock draft with the Seahawks taking Alabama wide-out Julio Jones. As with my own mock draft, Andrew Luck goes first overall to the Bills.
Walter Cherepinsky updates his 2011 mock draft and has the Seahawks taking Jake Locker 6th overall. The Buffalo Bills take Andrew Luck with the #1 pick.
Mel Kiper publishes a new big board, with Jake Locker dropping from the top spot down to #4. There aren’t many other changes, but it’s good to see Akeem Ayers (DE/LB, UCLA) getting some attention. Clemson DE Da’Quan Bowers appears for the first time after a three-sack start to the season. I’ve added a video of Kiper and Todd McShay discussing Jake Locker and other issues for ESPN.
I have to say, I really like Mallett and think he may be the most talented QB leading up to this draft, so I really hope these character concerns aren’t an issue. Hopefully it will be more Mark Sanche than Jimmy Clausen.
As far as Jake Locker, I am glad he is slipping a bit. I’d love to be able to draft either Jake Locker or Ryan Mallett.
Foles is formidable in college, but I don’t think he’s a threat to go in the first couple of rounds. Arizona’s one of those pure spread offenses, so I can’t avoid tying Foles to guys like Graham Harrell, John Beck, and Brett Basanez. Also consider that Foles’ predecessor at Arizona, Willie Tuitama, was also able to put up very good numbers but was a afterthought for the NFL draft, even before he got in trouble.