When the 2011 NFL draft rolls around next week, there will undoubtedly be some prospect that a team falls in love with because of his potential. We see it every year. Whether it’s a young player without much college experience or a player without much production but great physical tools, there will be a player deemed a “project” but with high potential.
NFL Lockout May Put Priority On NFL Draft Prospects Ready To Play Quickly
With the NFL lockout, it will make selecting a project a little more difficult. That’s because once these draft picks are selected, and the NFL draft ends, contact with their teams will cease, thanks to the lockout.
So I predict that this will place a higher premium on players with plenty of experience who, in theory, would be able to move into the pro game easier than others.
Younger players without much experience may not understand all the nuances of the game and the importance of working out on your own. That’s usually something you would gain during OTAs and rookie minicamp, which won’t be conducted this year unless the lockout is lifted. This could lead to some players essentially having their rookie year wasted if the lockout goes into September (think of JaMarcus Russell’s holdout).
The lockout will affect the draft in plenty of ways. Getting prospects that can hit the ground running if and when the lockout is lifted now becomes more important.
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