2011 Draft, one at a time (+ Top 40)

#25. JERRELL POWE, Defensive Tackle - Ole Miss - Senior



Another of one of my favorite prospects in the class, and, at the moment, my #1 target for the Jets this season. Powe is everything that teams would look for in a Nose Tackle, and then some. He has great size and strength, the ability to anchor a defensive front, but also has a lot of athleticism to his game as well. He plays like Vince Wilfork, a massive man that an move around and make plays.

Powe has had a ton of issues so far in his career just making it onto the football field, and I give him all the credit in the world fighting through and finally being able to accomplish his goal of playing college ball for Ole Miss. He's going to be older than most prospects, but with that age comes a life of hardships that I can only imagine will help him be ready for life as a professional. He could end up as a late first rounder with the talent in this class and the fact that there may be a lot of questions from teams about his ability to understand pro defenses, but if he's as dominant as he can be this year we could be talking top ten. He has that kind of talent.

On a Jets specific note, I couldn't imagine a better player stepping in for Big Jenks.

 

#24.GABE CARIMI, Offensive Tackle - Wisconsin - Senior



Carimi is a guy that most people have way up above this point, mostly due to the fact that he's, at least for now, the top tackle in the class. He's a good player, but I haven't seen the same kind of dominance from him that I've seen from other guys that have been given that tag in recent years. I saw a comparison to Joe Thomas, but he's been nowhere near as great as Thomas was while at UW. Now Carimi could step it up and dominate this year, and then I would absolutely reconsider his ranking.

What Carimi does well is run-block, thanks to long arms, strength, and the ability to move to the 2nd level. He's got the kind of body that could allow him to start right away, though that would probably have to be on the right side. If I were an NFL team my greatest concern would be whether he could be a top left tackle, which is another reason why the top ten would be too optimistic for him. When it comes to athleticism a guy like Nate Solder will blow him away, and it may be unlikely that he would be drafted over a prototype LT like him.

 

I'm a big fan of Adrian Robinson's too, just didn't quite have the juice to get into my top 50. If given the option of Powe in Rd 1 I just can't see the Jets passing on him because he so perfectly fits what the team wants at that key position, even if they also badly need a rush LB.

As for Carimi, it really is the pass blocking that is keeping him back. The frustrating part for him is that UW will continue to be a run first team with John Clay, so he won't have the chance to show his stuff like Solder will have in Hawkins' Buffalo offense. Carimi can't even talk up the Wisconsin legacy factor either, because Solder's predecessor in the offense is a Pro Bowler too in Ryan Clady.

 

#23. ADRIAN CLAYBORN, Defensive End - Iowa - Senior



Clayborn is a player who has all the tools to be a very good NFL player, but may have a ceiling at just that. He was absolutely dominant last season, and would have gotten my vote for the best defensive player in the Big Ten. Clayborn is a big guy, running 6'3 280, and looks every bit of it, but his game is built around his speed and footwork to gain leverage on tackles and explode past them. His body is maxed out, and once he gets into an NFL conditioning program I wouldn't be surprised to see him cut down about ten pounds and turn the rest into muscle.

That said, when you stack a guy like Clayborn against some of the other top defensive ends in the class, it's hard for him to stand out. He's big, but not really an impressive specimen, a good athlete but more of a football player than workout guy, and he's a hard worker, but it's hard to say he is and the others necessarily aren't. Plus, he was arrested early this year after assaulting a taxi driver, which is the kind of off the field issue that would concern me more than things like underage drinking. I think Clayborn will end up as a 1st rounder, but not as high as some might be projecting. Oh, and he might have OK size for it now, but after he slims down into his NFL body I don't think anyone will be projecting him for the 34.

 

#22. TRAVIS LEWIS, Linebacker - Oklahoma - Junior



Lewis has been ready to go pro since his freshman season as a Sooner, breaking or coming close to just about every OU freshman record. Lewis is a tremendous athlete to go along with great natural instincts for the position, so its no wonder why he's so dominant at the college level. He's just too much of a natural not to be this good, but there is a question of how well his game will translate to the NFL.

One of his best skills is getting after the quarterback, but he's only about 6'2, 230, and doesn't have the kind of body to add much weight. Getting into the backfield won't be as easy against pros, so he'll have to work on his coverage game to make sure he can have an early impact. As smart as he is, he could conceivably move inside as well, but again he'll need to improve in coverage. Lewis was a candidate to jump early last season but decided to better his game as a junior, and I think that it could put him right at the top of the linebacker class if teams see a rounded out skill set come next spring.

 

#21. DION LEWIS, Running Back- Pittsburgh - Sophomore



Second Lewis in a row, and first of a disgusting trio of Pittsburgh prospects. Lewis has just one year experience at the college level and has already placed himself among the elite college running backs. He was dominant at times last season, tearing through the Rutgers defense before my very eyes, and obliterating a North Carolina defense with about thirty first round picks. Still, the highlight of the season was his 47 carries against Cincinnati in the snow... so much for small backs not carrying the load.

As a prospect, Lewis is probably another great season away from being regarded as a Maurice Jones Drew type player. Lewis is lightning quick and could do just about anything in the open field, but also showed a willingness to take it into the line and break tackles. His lower body is built as well as you'd want a running back's to be, think Ray Rice jumbo legs. To be perfectly honest, I think he's a lot better player than your regular old #21 prospect, but I suppose I do buy in, in part, to the idea that a guy his overall size will need to prove he can get through another year without injury before I can vault him up the list. Plus, this is an unusually outstanding top 20 that he just barely couldn't crack. Not bad for a soon-to-be sophomore though.

 

He's a nasty football athlete, absolutely. You know I've raved about this kid before Cato, and I can't wait to see him play this year. He was already rock solid last year, if he added any weight and kept his quickness he could easily be a top 15 pick. That said, there are a couple other elite backs he'll have to work hard to get above if he wants to do it.

They'll probably have to lean on him even more with Stull gone and a new QB coming in, the only worry I'd have if I were NFL teams is that he might get too much run (which also would be a reason he might go early). The other two guys he's competing with have great compliment backs to lessen the workload.

 

#20. JARED CRICK, Defensive Tackle - Nebraska - Junior



It happens all the time that a prospect's value is held in limbo until we see how he responds to losing an All American teammate to the NFL, and that's where Crick now sits. He has the skills, if last year was any indication, to be a top ten pick in the draft, be it this year or next, but he needs to show that he wasn't simply taking advantage of Suh's double teams. Realistically, that Nebraska defense last year was very good overall, and it might be said that each part was made better because the whole of it was so outstanding, so it's hard to just pinpoint Crick as the one player that needs to prove himself. Still, we can't reject the concerns, but luckily for us we'll have a whole season, at least, to see what he can do as the top dog.

Crick represents an intriguing fit as either a DT in a standard 43 or an end in a 34, possessing ideal size for both positions with a varied skill set. He's an athletic tackle that has shown many times the ability to get into the backfield, but has the strength to match. What separates him from a lot of other DTs in the college game (and makes him more like Suh) is how smart his game is, always willing to get his hands up and tip passes or string plays along to let his linebackers make plays. When NFL teams see things like that from a 20 year old they probably can't wait to see what will happen with an NFL staff around him. He has a great frame too, and can easily add another ten to fifteen pounds to get up above 300.

As far as his overall value, I figured #20 was fair because he's definitely one of the best prospects in the country, we just have to wait and see him prove it.

 

Side note, I might have limited computer access over the next two days, but if I'm forced to miss anything I'll make it up on Sunday.

 

#19. AKEEM AYERS, Linebacker - UCLA - Junior



It's easy to say that some players would work best in a 34, or that they have the right size for that defense, but Akeem Ayers is as close to a perfect fit as you'll get. He brings the best of both worlds, the ability to disrupt in the backfield like an End, and the ability to drop back into coverage like a linebacker. Ayers is already ideal size for either inside or outside in a 34, though with the frame and incredible strides he's made in adding weight since he arrived at UCLA he could easily be 260 by next April.

Ayers isn't unbelievably fast, nor is he really a natural as a passrusher, which is why he is down around pick 20 and not up in the top ten like other guys with his measurables might be. He came on in a big way toward the end of last season, and that bodes well for a UCLA defense that will need him making the big plays he was known for in '09. Even as that skill improves, his ability in coverage puts him already head and shoulders above the countless college DEs that usually project to 34 OLB. Double digit sacks and keeping his coverage skills up (two more lucky INT for TDs aren't necessary) could punch him a ticket to the top ten.

 

#18. GREG JONES, Linebacker - Michigan State - Senior



The value of a player like Greg Jones is really tough to judge. As a player, there's not much more you can ask for, he's fast, strong, intelligent, and almost guaranteed to produce. He could tackle anyone or anything with even the slightest angle available to him. Most importantly, he'll be able to step into the role of leader on a team very early in his career, because that's just the type of player he is. That all said, what's the market for an undersized middle linebacker that can't be effective in a 34 and without top notch athleticism?

Teams will likely value Jones like they did Jonathan Vilma some years back. Despite an All World college career, Vilma wasn't really drooled over by NFL teams until the draft got closer and they understood what early impact a player like him could have. I have no questions that Jones can start in the middle of a pro defense from the second he signs his rookie contract, it's just a matter of how early a team gives him that chance. There's no way that he could possibly raise his stock this year because he's already been totally dominant, but it wouldn't hurt to reinforce for teams just how fantastic a player he is.

 

#17. PRINCE AMUKAMARA, Cornerback - Nebraska - Senior



I'm starting to understand why so many people have Nebraska ranked in the top ten this season. Amukamara is a kid that came on like a madman last season in his first as a full-time starter, with his five picks and eleven passes defensed paving the way towards numerous preseason All American nods for '10. Amukamara is a big, physical corner that fits the mold most teams are turning to when it comes to first round DBs, with the intent to counter those 6'4, 220 lb freaks at wideout. Despite losing a few key starters on the defense, Amukamara's presence will help make that defense one of, if not the best in the nation.

The downside with Amukamara is that he is saddled with the same plight as all tall corners, the potential lack of top end speed. He's the kind of player that likes to play up on receivers, be physical with them, then run with them as they break away. He can close in a hurry so not being stride for stride with receivers isn't a big hassle, but the concern is that when he gets to the pros that makeup speed won't be so impressive. I'm not going to go against him on this because I honestly think he's fast enough, but it would both be something to keep an eye on, as well as a reason to have him behind a couple other corners to start the season.

 

Nebraska is going to start turning out some very Jet-happy prospects. Pelini instills the same kind of frenzy in his defense that Rex does, and those big country guys are usually perfect for 34 defenses.

On a larger note, the top twenty or so in this class can stack up to just about any class I've seen in a while. Last year's draft was stacked with similar values from the end of round one to about round three, but a top group of players like this is outstanding. I think starting with Clayborn of Carimi in the mid 20s these guys are interchangeable up to around #11 or 12 when we start talking elite prospects.