In an effort to crowd-source, the SB Nation NFL bloggers got together and conducted an extensive 2011 NFL mock draft. The 32 bloggers took turns picking the first two rounds for their team, giving us a nice change of pace from the traditional mock drafts. The projections are still rolling in, but you can find them all in the NFL mock draft StoryStream over at SB Nation.
In the first round, Field Gulls’ Danny Kelly selected Ryan Mallett with the No. 25 pick.
Ultimately the upside of Ryan Mallett is too much to pass up. The character concerns are there but widely unsubstantiated, and Mallett is a good fit for the direction the Seahawks want to go in. Most scouts rate his arm in the top 10 range, but Mallett will fall due to off-field and character concerns. The Seahawks’ front office has shown a willingness to take a chance on these types of issues, and will see Mallett at No. 25 as a good value
There’s no questioning Mallet’s arm, but looking at the rest of his game raises red flags. He’s a statue in the pocket with little in the way of mobility, which isn’t huge for a quarterback, but could also pose a problem. While his arm strength is phenomenal, his accuracy and decision-making leaves something to be desired, and Mallett had a tendency to make bone-headed decisions at times.
Those bone-headed decisions carried over to his personal life, raising red flags about his character, as well. Mallet has been unable to shake questions about his maturity and reports of drug use throughout the process, though he did reportedly answer candidly during team interviews. He’s a high-risk, but his arm strength may be too tantalizing to pass.
In the second round, Kelly selected LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis with the 57th pick.
Nevis was one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the SEC in 2010, leading LSU with 56 tackles, 13 for a loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles, four QB hurries, and an interception in 13 games. He’s extremely strong – he squats 535 and benches 475 – and combined with his quick initial burst and ability to disengage blocks, he’ll make an immediate impact for the Hawks. With Colin Cole or Brandon Mebane playing next to him at one-tech and Red Bryant returning to the five-tech DE position, he’ll draw a lot of one-on-one matchups.
In this case, I think Kelly nailed it. Nevis fills an immediate need and has the production to make him an intriguing prospect. He could slot-in right away and appears to be NFL-ready in a physical sense. It’s a good value pick and with the loaded crop of defensive linemen in the draft class, there should be solid players around in when the Seahawks step to the podium for a second time.
For more on the draft, stay with our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream. Be sure to head over to SB Nation’s 2011 NFL Draft hub for the latest news, including mock drafts, rumors and projections. Head over to Field Gulls, SB Nation’s Seahawks blog, for even more draft analysis.