NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 26, 2011

NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 26, 2011



Below, you can find various tidbits of NFL Draft rumors and information offered by Mike Mayock, Michael Lombardi and the rest of the Path to the Draft crew on the NFL Network. I posted these in my forum, but I thought it would be better to keep all the draft rumors together in this section. I’ll be tweeting these during Path to the Draft at @walterfootball.


  • Steve Wyche: The Panthers said they don’t know whom they’re going to take, but all indications continue to be that the No. 1 pick will be Cam Newton.

  • Steve Wyche: Carolina could surprise, but they’ve said you need to temper expectations about a young quarterback. You don’t say that about a free agent; you say that about a player you’re going to draft.

  • Alex Flanagan: Jerry Jones said there are a lot of five-techniques in this draft that would play well. He is already contemplating trading down.

  • Mike Mayock: Kendric Burney is the prototypical Tampa-2 corner. Short and slow is a bad combination on the edge. But for Burney, I’m banging the table. I would take him in the fourth round, and I think he’ll be a starter for a Tampa-2 team.

  • Mike Mayock: If I needed a free safety, I think Marcus Gilchrist is every bit as good as Rahim Moore. I would stand up and bang the table for Gilchrist in the second round.

  • Mike Mayock: Production and heart mean something to me. Every time you put the tape on, Ahmad Black flashes. You have to throw all the measurables out.

  • Michael Lombardi’s 2nd-round mock draft: 33. NE – Bruce Carter. 34. BUF – Danny Watkins. 35. CIN – Christian Ponder. 36. DEN – Aaron Williams. 37. CLE – Stephen Paea. 38. ARZ – Kyle Rudolph. 39. TEN – Greg Little. 40. DAL – James Carpenter. 41. WAS – Dontay Moch. 42. HOU – Brandon Harris.

  • Michael Lombardi: The Bengals are going to draft a receiver in Round 1; quarterback in Round 2.

  • Michael Lombardi: Greg Little might have the best hands in this draft. He’s a diamond in the rough, much like Greg Jennings.




  • Rick Gosselin: I think there are two players in consideration at No. 9: Tyron Smith and J.J. Watt. The most pressing need is on the offensive line, and I think he’ll be the higher player on the board. But Rob Ryan is doing a heavy campaign job on the other side.

  • Rick Gosselin: Blaine Gabbert is a potential franchise quarterback and shouldn’t get out of the top 10, but you’re going to get some defensive sliders. The quarterback could be the slider.

  • Rick Gosselin: I’m not sure Ryan Mallett’s in the top five quarterbacks. Mallett is the most ready to play and has the best arm, but he’s a statue. If you take him, you have to live with the speed. Peyton Manning ran a 4.9. Mallett ran in the mid fives.

  • Rick Gosselin: I really like Ryan Williams, I think he’s the most elusive pass-catcher of the second-round running backs.

  • Rick Gosselin: I think there’s only one linebacker in the first round – Von Miller. Akeem Ayers could go high 2, late 1. It’s one of the worst linebacker boards I’ve seen in the past 10 years.

  • Mike Mayock: I believe we’re going to see eight quarterbacks go in the first three rounds. Not because of talent; but because of need.

  • Charley Casserly: The phone is not ringing for Marty Hurney. The last time I had the No. 1 overall pick, I called up the Jets and asked what they would give me for it. They said, “What are you going to give us so we’ll take it?”



    2011 NFL Path to the Draft Rumors Menu:

    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 27, 2011 - Top Five Buzz
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 26, 2011 - Rick Gosselin Thoughts
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 25, 2011 - Blaine Gabbert slipping?
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 22, 2011 - Eagles to draft Greg Little?
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 21, 2011 - Casserly's 2nd-round mock
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 20, 2011 - Houston's pick plugged in
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 19, 2011 - Offensive tackle rankings
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 19, 2011 - Titus Young - first round?
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 18, 2011 - Ryan Mallett to go No. 10?
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 16, 2011 - Browns to go WR; no QB for Miami
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 15, 2011 - Quarterback Comparisons
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 14, 2011 - A.J. Green Historical Ranking
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 13, 2011 - Bowers, Fairley, Ingram Falling
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 12, 2011 - Da'Quan Bowers: Round 2?
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 11, 2011 - Defensive End Talk
    NFL Draft Rumors and Buzz: April 9, 2011 - Jon Baldwin, Hankerson Slipping?
    Path to the Draft: April 8, 2011 - NFL Network 2011 NFL Mock Draft
    Path to the Draft: April 7, 2011 - Gabbert better than Flacco/Sanchez/Freeman?
    Path to the Draft: April 6, 2011 - Mike Mayock's Running Back Sleepers
    Path to the Draft: April 5, 2011 - Charles Davis' Mock Draft; Overrated Players
    Path to the Draft: April 4, 2011 - Mike Mayock defends his new Big Board
    Path to the Draft: April 1, 2011 - Da'Quan Bowers Pro Day buzz
    Path to the Draft: March 31, 2011 - North Carolina Pro Day buzz
    Path to the Draft: March 30, 2011 - Jake Locker Pro Day buzz
    Path to the Draft: March 29, 2011 - "I'm taking Ryan Mallett over Jake Locker."
    Path to the Draft: March 28, 2011 - Julio Jones before A.J. Green?
    Path to the Draft: March 25, 2011 - "Hankerson scares the heck out of me."

    2011 NFL Draft - Path to the Draft Rumors - Home









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