Much of the attention has been focused on the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and rightfully so. With the draft broken-up into three days, the focus is on the first 32 picks on Thursday, with the rest to come on Friday and Saturday. But we do have some local prospects to keep an eye on and if Todd McShay’s final 2011 NFL mock draft is correct, both could hear their names called on Friday.
Washington linebacker Mason Foster has been nothing but solid throughout his collegiate career and opened many scouts’ eyes during the workouts leading up to the draft. Foster was solid at the Senior Bowl, where he faced some of the top NFL Draft prospects. His measurable numbers may not be eye-popping, but his production is undeniable.
Foster had been seen as a late-second or early-third round prospect, but McShay went with the former projection. McShay has Foster going to the New Orleans Saints with the 24th pick in the second round
Taiwan Jones, on the other hand, has been a bit of an enigma. His speed and explosiveness generated a buzz and his performance on tape is outstanding. But injuries have plagued him during his time at Eastern Washington, leaving many teams concerned. As a mid-round pick, Jones could be the sleeper of the draft and if he stays healthy, he could make an immediate impact in the NFL.
McShay has Jones going to the Green Bay Packers with the 31st pick in the third round. The Packers need an immediate boost to their run game and Jones could be an excellent change-of-pace back. With Aaron Rodgers at the helm, Jones would be in the best-possible position, in addition to joining the reigning Super Bowl champions.
We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday’s first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.