The 2011 NFL Draft class doesn’t feature top-end quarterbacks, so it comes as a surprise to see so many in the first round of nearly NFL mock draft out there. While Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert appear to be sure-fire top-10 picks, the talent-level falls dramatically after those two. Jake Locker, Andy Dalton, Ryan Mallett and Christian Ponder are all lying in wait, and it appears most, if not all, of them could be picked in the first round.
How fast will quarterbacks come off the board on Thursday night. If New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis is right, the run on quarterbacks is expected to be fast and furious.
Just chatted briefly with #Saints GM Mickey Loomis. He thinks 5 QBs will be gone before Saints pick at No. 24.
It would be surprising to see five gone by the No. 24 pick. But with the ongoing labor struggle and the value placed on the quarterback position, teams are reaching in an effort to find that franchise quarterback of the future. In the 2011 draft class, though, seeing five or six quarterbacks taken in the first round screams desperation and could come back to bite more than a few teams down the line.
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.