NFL Draft: First round look ahead

BY: JEFF SIMMONS

sportsnet.ca

Expected top 3:

· Cam Newton – QB, Auburn – All indications are the Carolina Panthers will draft the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner if they cannot trade down. Expect a lot of sleepless nights for GM Marty Hurney.

· Marcell Dareus – DT, Alabama – New head coach John Fox loves defensive lineman and Dareus is the cleanest defensive prospect in the entire draft.

· Von Miller – LB, Texas A&M – The Bills desperately need a pass rusher after the failed Aaron Maybin experiment. Miller has been compared to a thinner-version of Bruce Smith.

On the rise:

· Jake Locker – QB, Washington – Locker is flying up the draft boards and could go as high as No.8 to Tennessee. Other than Newton, Locker has the most upside of any quarterback in the draft.

· Corey Liuget – DT, Illinois – Luiget was one of the best interior rushers in all of college football last season. If Julio Jones is off the board, look for the Rams to draft Luiget at No. 14.

· Mike Pouncey – G, Florida – Pouncey’s twin brother was an All-Pro centre with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. The Miami Dolphins are reportedly intrigued with pairing Pouncey with former first-overall pick Jake Long.

· Andy Dalton – QB, TCU – The red-haired quarterback will be a solid game-manager at the pro level. He is an ideal fit for any team that runs a West Coast offence in the NFL.

On the decline:

· Nick Fairley – DT, Auburn – After winning MVP of the national championship game, Fairley was expected to be the top pick of the draft. But reports have surfaced that numerous teams are unimpressed with Fairley’s work ethic and tendency to take plays off.

· Da’Quan Bowers – DE, Clemson – Bowers is a terrific athlete and finished with an impressive 15.5 sacks in his junior year. Bowers was projected as a top five pick coming out of school, but health concerns could have Bowers slipping to the mid-late teens.

· Mark Ingram – RB, Alabama – Ingram’s stock is sliding as numerous teams in the first round don’t have a need at running back. The former Heisman winner hasn’t had the same speed since undergoing knee surgery at the beginning of his junior season.

· Ryan Mallett – QB, Arkansas – Mallett came from a Pro-style offence and possesses the best arm strength of any quarterback in the draft. Numerous character concerns have caused teams to remove him from their draft boards.

Safest bets in the draft:

· A.J. Green – WR, Georgia – Green is considered to be the elite offensive prospect in this year’s class. The wide receiver has excellent size, speed, and route-running ability. Don’t expect Green to fall out of the top five.

· Patrick Peterson – CB, LSU – Peterson was a dominate cornerback in the SEC (toughest college conference) and has the skillset to be a Pro Bowl returner. Peterson has the size, speed, and ability to change the direction to cover elite wide receivers at the pro level.

· J.J. Watt – DE, Wisconsin – Watt doesn’t possess the upside of Green or Peterson but is arguably the most effective five-technique tackle in the draft class. Watt can play at numerous different spots across the defensive line and has the motor, athleticism to be a Pro Bowl player at the next level.

First-round sleepers:

· Jimmy Smith – CB, Colorado – Smith is being undervalued due to maturity and character concerns. On talent alone, Smith is one of the top 15 players in the draft and would be an ideal fit for any team that uses a heavy dose of press coverage.

· Marvin Austin – DT, North Carolina – After sitting out the entire 2010 season with a suspension, Austin has regained his dominate form in his post-season workouts. Austin drives scouts crazy with his inconsistency, but when productive, has the potential to dominate offensive lineman with his interior quickness and power.

· Anthony Castanzo – OT, Boston College – Costanzo has referred to himself as the best tackle in the draft, and he may be right. He was a four-year starter in college and was an All-conference player for the last three seasons. The Boston College product could go as high as No. 9 Dallas or No. 13 Detroit.

Teams looking to trade up:

· Houston Texans – After hiring Wade Phillips to run the defence, the team desperately needs some playmakers for their new 3-4 alignment. Houston is said to be interested in moving up for Von Miller or Patrick Peterson.

· New England Patriots – Bill Belichick is at his best when he has draft ammo, and the Pats are the only team in the league with two first round picks. New England has been known to trade down over the years, but after failing to win another playoff game, this could be the year Belichick trades up to acquire an upper-echelon prospect.

· Atlanta Falcons – The Falcons are badly seeking another wide receiver to pair with Pro Bowler Roddy White. If Green or Julio Jones slips in the draft, the Falcons could offer an enormous package to add another premier playmaker for franchise player Matt Ryan.

First round storylines:

· Huge run of defensive lineman – NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock called this year the deepest defensive line group he’s ever seen. There could be up to nine defensive lineman drafted in the first round.

· How many quarterbacks will go? – Most draft experts consider Newton, Locker, and Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert as locks to be drafted in Round 1. The intrigue comes later in the round where Dalton, Mallett, Florida State’s Christian Ponder and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick are all in play. There is a bevy of teams with needs at quarterback, and it’ll be interesting to see if teams overpay and trade up to draft these second-tier quarterbacks.

· Will Danny Watkins be drafted on Day 1? – Canadian offensive lineman Danny Watkins would be a great fit for a veteran team with interior issues on the offensive line, such as Green Bay, Pittsburgh, and New England. Watkins is one of 25 players to be invited to New York City for the draft, and everyone in Canada is rooting the B.C native gets selected on Thursday night.

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