Washington quarterback Jake Locker has been on a rollercoaster ahead of the 2011 NFL Draft as his draft stock bounces up and down on an almost daily basis. There's no question Locker has the physical tools to perform at the sports highest level, but questions about his accuracy and mechanics have scouts wary of picking him in the first round. After a less than accurate Senior Bowl and practices that didn't inspire confidence, Locker fell all the way out of the first round in many 2011 NFL mock drafts, but has been on a steady rise since as he shows improvement at various workouts leading up to the draft.
Locker has come full circle in at least one mock draft, moving back into the top-10 after breezing through his pro day workout. CBS Sports' Rob Rang has Locker going to the Washington Redskins, but he also floats the idea of a trade.
Though it would be a surprise to see the Redskins take Locker here (but not out of the question), with only two picks (No. 10, No. 41) before the fifth round, the Redskins will be looking at trade-down options and could be targeting the former Washington passer if they are successful in doing so.
It's about fit with Locker, and finding an offense that suits his skill-set. As of now, Locker's legs are his biggest strength, and an offense that allows him to roam and throw on the run would seem to be an ideal fit.
Chad Reuter, Rang's counterpart at CBS, also has Locker in the first round, but stuck with what's become the conventional wisdom recently. With the 25th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Reuter believes the Seattle Seahawks will hop aboard the Locker bandwagon.
Even if the Seahawks decide not to go this route, a team is likely to deal to get him if Locker drifts to the spot below where the Packers nabbed Aaron Rodgers in 2005.
It seems unlikely Locker will fall out of the first round as some team will snatch him up, either within the order currently set or through a trade. Despite the concerns, his athleticism is too much of a draw, and the improvement he's shown may be enough to convince teams to take a chance.
Stay tuned to this StoryStream for more on Locker, including where he's been working out and which teams are showing interest. For more on the Washington Huskies, head over to SB Nation's UW Dawg Pound.