DT Nick Fairley and the Auburn Tigers are national champions after beating Oregon in the BCS national championship on Monday night. Fairley may have more attention coming his way with the 2011 NFL draft as he’s expected to be one of the first players taken next April.
Auburn Vs. Oregon: Nick Fairley Makes Case For 2011 NFL Draft
SB Nation’s Mocking The Draft is wondering if he would be a good fit in Carolina, who holds the No. 1 pick.
There is no question that Fairley is a good player. His playing style and effort could immediately give a defense an attitude. Rival teams will hate Fairley and his penchant for cheap shots. There are questions about whether or not Fairley is a one-year wonder, or if he can take up two gaps in the NFL. Or if he has the power to take on and shed blockers.
As MTD points out, if the Panthers move to the 3-4 defense, which soon-to-be-named head coach Ron Rivera ran with the Chargers, Fairley would be a poor fit. His game is more about speed and quickness and less about power. MTD writes that Fairley should be considered a risk at the top of the draft.
Of course there’s no sure thing at the top of the draft. It’ll be interesting to see how the perception of Fairley changes as the NFL draft process begins.
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