Without Andrew Luck, three players could emerge as 2011 NFL Draft No. 1 pick

WIth just cause, Carolina Panthers fans are going a little crazy. Sorry Panthers fans, but no player eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft compares to Andrew Luck. He's on his own level as a prospect.

So what does Carolina do with the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft?

This isn't a case where you can slot the next-best player at the position into the pick. Missouri's Blaine Gabbert has all the tools required, but may not have the on-field football intelligence to warrant the top pick. Auburn's Cam Newton is far too risky and we've gone over plenty on why Washington's Jake Locker isn't worth the pick.

Now Carolina, devoid of talent at a lot of positions, could go in a number of directions.

If pure talent is what Carolina wants, it may not be any greater than Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green. Even after missing the first four games of the 2010 season, Green finished the year with 57 receptions for 848 yards and nine touchdowns. He's as talented as any receiver taken recently in the top five and would give the Panthers the No. 1 wide receiver they should have drafted in 2010.

Another player that will be bandied about for the top overall pick is Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers. Peter King of Sports Illustrated is on record saying if Luck had returned, Bowers would be the likely No. 1 overall pick.

The powerful junior could instantly upgrade a Carolina defensive line that finished 18th in the NFL in sacks.

But if you're going by stats, the Panthers may have to take a long, hard look at Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley. The junior rates somewhere in between Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy as prospects. He may not be able to take on double teams as well as some would like, but he's explosive and mean in the middle.