Predicting The Draft - Where Will Our Sooners Land?
by ccmachine on Apr 28, 2011 2:37 PM CDT
in Oklahoma Sooners Football
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PrintOklahoma set the bar high last in last year's NFL draft with the best first round representation to date. Sam Bradford, Gerald McCoy, Trent Williams and Jermaine Gresham all made the first round enjoyable for Oklahoma football fans to watch. Unfortunately we shouldn't expect the same results in this year's draft. The Sooners in this year's draft just don't have that "Super Star" appeal about them and the youth of Oklahoma's team means there isn't as many players draft eligible. That's not to say there aren't players available and that they won't be selected. Oklahoma will put players into this year's NFL Draft and they are guys who have the opportunity for a long and successful career. Here's a look at where I believe they'll be selected.
Demarco Murray to the Atlanta Falcons - The 2011 NFL draft isn't going to be too kind to running backs. I expect Murray to be the first Oklahoma player selected but it won't be until the third round. Atlanta needs depth at the running back position and Murray's skill set of running, blocking and receiving makes for a perfect match.
Quinton Carter to the Houston Texans - Carter will be a fourth round selection but he's gonna be a steal there. Look for him to have the opportunity to make an immediate impact in the Houston secondary.
Jeremy Beal to the New York Jets - Beal had a bad Senior Bowl and a sub par NFL Draft Combine workout which is ultimately going to result in him falling to the fourth round. However, game film will show that Beal knows how to make plays. He has the "football smarts" to be in the right position at just the right time and also possesses the ability to get to the quarterback. Rex Ryan is a defense first guy and he recognizes the potential that Beal possesses. Look for him to scoop up Oklahoma's former defensive end in the fourth round.
Unfortunately I think that's going to be all the names we hear called in this year's draft. Cameron Kenney has a chance to be selected in the seventh round by a team like Philadelphia who needs to boost their depth at receiver but he's more than likely an undrafted free agent candidate. With the current labor dispute going on in the NFL who knows when we'll see the free agent marked start up.
For more detail on Sooners in this year's NFL draft check out our podcast interview with Wes Bunting of the National Football Post.
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Any chance Adrian Taylor gets signed as a free agent, or is he totally done with football? So sad to think that two years ago he was going to have 2nd or 3rd round potential…
Any chance Jonathan Nelson gets drafted in the 7th round or signed as a free agent? That guy played his ass off last year and I’d like to see him make a little money in the NFL and maybe stick around for a couple years as a reserve or something.
I'd think Nelson definitely will get a shot somewhere
It gets said a lot this time of year, but it doesn’t make it any less true. It’s probably better not to get drafted like in the 7th round and go the UFA route, that way you (at least in some sense) get to pick where you want to go.
As for Taylor, very hard to say. You’d hope he’s healthy enough to get a shot somewhere, but at the same time is it really worth risking being able to walk in the future? I can’t really say, other than you can’t help but admire the hell out of the kid for his determination.
"You see we got another championship banner up? It’s not a South Division one, either." Bob Stoops
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Gotta say I'm a little disappointed with where you have Q going
To say that he drops into the fourth round is not a crazy prediction but Q certainly could go as high as in the late second round. He had received a second round grade earlier but we all know his 40 time is what has caused much concern but it is something he can improve on. You are absolutely right in saying he is a steal in the fourth round but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go in the third. Some of the best players in the NFL have come in late rounds and this draft year has that same kind of feel. Not sure that it will happen but who knows at this point?
On the rest I would tend to agree with you. And I hate the fact that scouts put a ton of weight on combine results instead of factoring that in with on the field results and giving them an equal weight. But, that’s the reason I’m not an NFL scout but I’m also not picking Jamarcus Russell #1 overall.
I'll just say this
If Murray goes as late as most are projecting, someone is getting an absolute steal. He’s just so versatile, I can’t see him not helping a team immediately (assuming health of course).
"You see we got another championship banner up? It’s not a South Division one, either." Bob Stoops
Crimson and Cream Machine - There's only one Oklahoma!
Listen to Sooner Nation, the #1 podcast for OU fans
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