So with players starting to declare their intentions, does anyone here have an opinion on how the 2011 draft may be shaking up? I only ask because with first round talent likely slipping deep into the second round, I'm curious as to whether it would be best for us to trade a high round 2011 pick for a 2nd or 3rd rounder in this draft. If it would be advantageous to do that, I certainly wouldn't mind trading our first next year for someone like Benn in the mid second this year if we don't hold onto Braylon for some reason or another. Just a thought I had with this draft being as loaded as it is. I'm more a straight-up draft guy than a College guy so I tend to lose track of guys who aren't expected to declare.
2011 is the year of the elite receiver: UGA's AJ Green, Notre Dame's Mike Floyd and Bama's Julio Jones should all be drafted in the top ten. Defensive line will also be strong in the first round: Clemson's DaQuan Bowers and The U's Allen Bailey and Marcus Forston. Southern Cal will be spitting out a lot of top talent: LBs Chris Galippo and Mike Morgan, OT Tyron Smith, and DT Jurrell Casey could all be first rounders. It'll be interesting to see what type of hype OSU's Terrelle Pryor gets. The way it's looking, Fresno's Ryan Mathews will stay in school, so Bama's Mark Ingram and Ryan Mathews will more than likely be the top running backs. 2010 is deeper at certain positions...like safety, quarterback, and 3-4 front seven players.
Pure speculation, but I wouldn't be surprised if a new coach at Notre Dame lessened Floyd's numbers and made him come back for a senior year. A lot will depend on the slotting system and what the difference will be between being the 1st receiver taken or the 3rd.
If Brian Kelly ends up at Notre Dame, Floyd's numbers should actually get better. I think you're a Notre Dame fan, right? Well, don't get your hopes up. Out of the three, I think AJ Green is the most talented. He's been labeled the next Randy Moss since his freshman year of high school. Julio Jones is right behind him. There's no way in hell Floyd gets ahead of one of these guys, but he'll still be a high draft pick.
I am a Notre Dame fan and would love nothing more for him to have a monster year, the Irish win 10 wins and he go pro. Brian Kelly aside, they'll be installing a new system with a new QB and Golden Tate will be gone, allowing defenses to focus more on Floyd. Either way, hopefully it'll pan out better then the last time 3 wide receivers were drafted in the top 10.
Dayne Crist should be a hell of a quarterback. Defenses will have to worry about whichever wideout emerges out of these guys: Duval Kumara, John Goodman, Shaq Evans, and Deion Walker. Also, Kyle Rudolph is a very good tight end and Kelly loves throwing to his tight ends.
Don't forget Jeff Demps, he should be a 1st rd RB/KR, not in the class of Mathews or Ingram. Demps is small but could be more explosive than Spiller next year. Demps might be the fastest player in next year's draft. Demps has another gear when he gets in the open field, exciting player. Best group of WRs in maybe 20 years coming out in 2011. In fact, I would guess if this group of receivers were eligible in 2010's draft they would ALL be drafted ahead of Thomas, Bryant, Williams, Tate...etc..
Don't forget Dion Lewis, who may very well end up as the best running back in the nation next year. Kid is a freaking monster. Don't forget about Montel Harris either, hopefully not just another William Green. And at receiver, a kid to watch is Jeff Fuller out at Texas A&M. If Jerrod Johnson goes back to school, my money's on JJ putting Fuller in the first round.
Dion Lewis is a heck of a back. For such a small guy, he runs with so much power. He's got incredibly vision. Pitt has to be the Big East favorite next season. Jeff Fuller Jr. is a beast, just like his dad. I can barely remember going to Niners' games as a 4 year old kid and watching his dad and Ronnie Lott absolutely destroy wideouts in the late 80s.
