NFL Draft 2011: Day One News And Rumors

This isn’t a major surprise as many have starting honing in on Miller to the Broncos. The other option would be DT Marcell Dareus, who now appears likely to land in Buffalo.

Miller has been compared to NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas so there will immediately be lofty expectations for him in the AFC West if the Broncos opt to select him.

ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio, who just spoke with Panthers GM Marty Hurney, said the Panthers are at piece with their decision.

Also worth noting: the Panthers say they haven’t received a single offer for the No. 1 overall pick. Not one. That’s a little surprising given all the trade talks that go on during draft season.

The target, according to Glazer, will be Jones.

This would be a major trade and one that would presumably cost the Falcons their 2012 first round pick. I just don’t see the value in doing this. The Falcons are already a solid team and they just need to continue adding pieces -- not take draft picks away.

If the Bengals go with Green, they’ll be testing Palmer on that.

Of course, they can also address quarterback in the second round, or by moving back into the first round. But if Holtzmann’s report is accurate, then the Bengals will likely have the best receiver in the draft waiting for whoever their quarterback is.

Earlier this week SI’s Peter King reported that the Falcons wanted to trade into the top 10 to acquire WR A.J. Green or WR Julio Jones.

Glazer also reports that CB Patrick Peterson is among the Falcons targets.

Who would their target be?

Mort says it’s DE Cameron Jordan. SB Nation Boston weighs in on the Patriots trade rumors:

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer believes she has a list of four players the Browns could be considering: DT Marcell Dareus, LB Von Miller, CB Patrick Peterson, WR A.J. Green, CB Prince Amukamara or OT Tyron Smith.

The surprise there would be Smith as there’s no buzz for him to the Browns.

Peter King quotes Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik as saying, “New England’s got to be licking their chops at 17 about him.” The Pats have made a living of drafting players whom other teams are concerned about and usually making it work.

Of course, the Bucs could be tipping their own hand there, as they’re also being predicted to take a pass rusher by many and pick right behind New England at No. 20.

That hasn’t stopped SB Nation’s Behind The Steel Curtain from predicting the Steelers will trade up all the way to No. 20 and select Pouncey. Check out their mock draft here.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on the other hand is playing it safe and going with a familiar name for the Steelers pick -- CB Aaron Williams. He’s been a popular mock draft choice for the Steelers assuming they stay at pick No. 31.

The 2011 NFL draft is especially interesting because there is so much disagreement on the quarterbacks. Rick Gosselin’s mock draft has five quarterbacks in the top 12 while Todd McShay’s mock draft has two quarterbacks in all of the first round.

Buffalo is one of several teams who could look at a quarterback. The problem is that we don’t know if that will be at the third overall pick in the first round or if they’ll wait to the second round. Or, as some think, they could trade back into the first round to secure one.

The 2011 NFL draft is mere hours away at this point. The excitement is building, especially with the news that the NFL lockout may be ending. ESPN and NFL Network will be televising the draft and you can tune in now and see draft talk all day long.

First off, here’s the 2011 NFL draft order. That’s where everyone will be picking until all the trades start coming in. SB Nation’s latest 2011 NFL Mock draft, published this morning, follows that order.

On the quarterbacks, McShay has just two in the first round -- Newton to the Panthers and Gabbert to the 49ers. That shows the uncertainty of this draft because Rick Gosselin has five quarterbacks going in the top 12.

Obviously, what happens with the quarterbacks is the key to this draft.

We heard from Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News who had five quarterbacks drafted in the top 12 and now we’ll hear from ESPN’s Mel Kiper who has just three quarterbacks in the top 12.

As Kiper suggests, it will take just one trade to completely throw months of mock drafts off track.

Key words: right now.

The Raiders want back in the first round, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

As many of you know by now, Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News has predicted in his latest 2011 NFL mock draft that there will be five quarterbacks selected in the first 12 picks on Thursday night. That’s the highest number we’ve seen to this point so it’s worth noting.

But could five quarterbacks really go that high?

At the very top of the list of smart people covering the 2011 NFL draft is Rick Gosselin. Along with ESPN’s Mel Kiper and NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, Gosselin’s NFL mock draft is one folks look forward to the most because of his accuracy over the years.

There are a few surprises in his mock draft.

Mike Mayock’s 2011 NFL mock draft is an interesting one because I think many people look to Mayock as the best NFL draft analyst in the business. He’s got some odd ball picks and his mock draft definitely makes you think.

So I find it interesting that a couple of respected mock drafters like Mayock and Banks have him in the first round.

I can’t argue a whole lot with that. I can easily see those three players picked in the top three but in various order. Dareus could still go No. 1 overall, Miller to No. 2 and Newton to No. 3. Or I could see Newton going first followed by Dareus and then Miller.

No position can change a franchise like quarterback so Newton will be a very high pick, if not No. 1 overall. But there’s no consensus on the top defensive player in the draft. Mayock says Dareus is the best defensive player in the draft but others have compared Miller to Derrick Thomas so I think either way you’re getting a player that’s highly thought of.

This is nothing new for Cannon, who first learned of the tumor in his abdomen in 2006. Tests on it in 2008 came back negative but the mass was noticeable at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. After a nasty rumor circulated that Cannon had testicular cancer, he had to send each NFL team biopsy results proving he did not. Unfortunately, that same test revealed that he had lymphoma.

His four treatments conclude June 29.

NFL Network reports that the word one night before the draft is that the Broncos camp is leaning to Miller, although it’s hard to take anything you hear during draft week seriously. Teams routinely spread information with other motives in mind. Maybe they really do like Miller. Or maybe they’re hoping others who covet Miller will move up for him.

The Broncos have reportedly shown interest in trading back so they would presumably entertain offers.

SB Nation’s Cat Scratch Reader has a look at a few of the Panthers possible picks including Newton, Dareus, Green and Blaine Gabbert.

Dareus, Peterson and Green are seen as three of the safest players in the draft but none of them can affect a franchise like a quarterback can. Newton’s future depends on who you ask. Some say his one-year at Auburn is not a fluke and he’s the real deal while others wonder about his dedication to being the best.

In the weeks leading up to the 2011 NFL draft, NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi reported that at least two teams had taken RB Mark Ingram off their draft boards because of concerns over the long-term health of his knee.

That’s not the case, says Dr. James Andrews. Armando Salguero reports that Dr. Andrews sent a letter to all 32 teams giving Ingram a clean bill of health.

He also really likes the Dallas Cowboys. SB Nation’s Brad Wells is in New York at some NFL draft festivities and passes along this note about Miller, the Cowboys, and beating the Cowboys.

Unfortunately for Miller, he won’t be going to the Cowboys or Redskins. I can’t envision a scenario where he lasts to the ninth or 10th pick.

The 2011 NFL draft is just over 24 hours away and ESPN’s Mel Kiper has released his final big board of the draft season. Remaining at No. 1 is LSU CB Patrick Peterson.

Among some of the notable rankings:

If you’ve been watching ESPN this week then you probably noticed the 2011 NFL draft special with Bill Parcells. They showed portions of his draft board and I noticed that he had Pittsburgh WR Jonathan Baldwin rated as a third round pick.

That’s an interesting spot for him in light of the latest mock draft from Don Banks of SI.com, who has him going in the first round.