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NFL mock draft: Mallett, Liuget and Sherrod moving up draft boards
Russ Lande
Sporting News
Do not be shocked to see DT Corey Liuget continue to climb draft boards and ultimately become a top-five pick, says Russ Lande.
As pro days are in full swing, here's a look at the players rising and falling on draft boards around the league:
Moving up
1. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas. As happens every year, one QB who looks so-so on film will fly up draft boards because he looks like an All-Pro in workouts. Mallett showed elite arm strength and good touch during his Combine and pro day workouts, and without a pass rush coming at him he can make every NFL throw with zip and accuracy. Mallett’s supporters are pushing him because of his elite arm and his experience in a pro-style offense. Still, choosing Mallett in the first round would be a huge risk because he struggles greatly under duress.
2. Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois. As more and more NFL coaches break down his film, they are amazed by his explosiveness, natural strength, competitiveness and speed. He has as much, if not more, physical talent as Auburn's Nick Fairley and Alabama's Marcell Dareus. Do not be shocked to see Liuget continue to climb draft boards and ultimately become a top-five pick.
3. Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State. He is an athletic tackle we have hyped since early last season. After a strong Senior Bowl and solid Combine workout, NFL personnel men now see what we saw last September: Sherrod has the height, long arms, quick footwork and athleticism to be an elite pass blocker. He really improved as a run blocker in '10, too, and enhanced his strength to better handle bull rushers. Sherrod could work his way into the top 20 by April 28.
Moving down
1. Nate Solder, OT, Colorado. Solder is a far better athlete than football player. He struggled at the Senior Bowl and clearly needs a lot of work on his technique and footwork. At the Combine, he failed to "wow" anyone. As a former tight end, he is still learning the position and will be a bit of a project to get his production to match his potential. He would be a huge risk in the middle of the first round.
2. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn. No one doubts he has the rare talent — as he displayed Tuesday at Auburn's on-campus workout — to merit being a top-three pick. Fairley's concern is that Dareus and Liuget have similar talent but no questions about their maturity level and work ethic, and thus both ultimately could be drafted ahead of Fairley. We think the knock on him — about taking plays off — is overblown, but any time there are questions about work ethic a player is going to slide, if only a couple spots.
3. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska. He ran well at the Combine and did well in position drills, personnel men are concerned about what they have seen on game film, especially vs. Oklahoma State. No one wants to knock a good prospect based on one bad game, but more and more NFL teams are using big receivers and Prince was abused by Oklahoma State sophomore Justin Blackmon (6-1, 207), beating him deep and exposing his lack of ball awareness. Scouts worry that he often is in position to play the ball but rarely bats it down or makes the interception.
Lande’s Mock Draft
1. Panthers—Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
2. Broncos—Robert Quinn, OLB, North Carolina
3. Bills—Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
4. Bengals—Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
5. Cardinals—Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
6. Browns—A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
7. 49ers—Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
8. Titans—Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
9. Cowboys—Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
10. Redskins—Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
11. Texans—Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
12. Vikings—Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
13. Lions—Tyron Smith, OT, USC
14. Rams—Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
15. Dolphins—Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
16. Jaguars—Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pitt
17. Patriots (from Oakland)—Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
18. Chargers—Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal
19. Giants—Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
20. Buccaneers—Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
21. Chiefs—Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
22. Colts—Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
23. Eagles—Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
24. Saints—Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
25. Seahawks—Danny Watkins, G, Baylor
26. Ravens—Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
27. Falcons—Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
28. Patriots—Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
29. Bears—Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy
30. Jets—Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa
31. Steelers—Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple
32. Packers—Mike Pouncey, C, Florida
Russ Lande
Sporting News
Do not be shocked to see DT Corey Liuget continue to climb draft boards and ultimately become a top-five pick, says Russ Lande.
As pro days are in full swing, here's a look at the players rising and falling on draft boards around the league:
Moving up
1. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas. As happens every year, one QB who looks so-so on film will fly up draft boards because he looks like an All-Pro in workouts. Mallett showed elite arm strength and good touch during his Combine and pro day workouts, and without a pass rush coming at him he can make every NFL throw with zip and accuracy. Mallett’s supporters are pushing him because of his elite arm and his experience in a pro-style offense. Still, choosing Mallett in the first round would be a huge risk because he struggles greatly under duress.
2. Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois. As more and more NFL coaches break down his film, they are amazed by his explosiveness, natural strength, competitiveness and speed. He has as much, if not more, physical talent as Auburn's Nick Fairley and Alabama's Marcell Dareus. Do not be shocked to see Liuget continue to climb draft boards and ultimately become a top-five pick.
3. Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State. He is an athletic tackle we have hyped since early last season. After a strong Senior Bowl and solid Combine workout, NFL personnel men now see what we saw last September: Sherrod has the height, long arms, quick footwork and athleticism to be an elite pass blocker. He really improved as a run blocker in '10, too, and enhanced his strength to better handle bull rushers. Sherrod could work his way into the top 20 by April 28.
Moving down
1. Nate Solder, OT, Colorado. Solder is a far better athlete than football player. He struggled at the Senior Bowl and clearly needs a lot of work on his technique and footwork. At the Combine, he failed to "wow" anyone. As a former tight end, he is still learning the position and will be a bit of a project to get his production to match his potential. He would be a huge risk in the middle of the first round.
2. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn. No one doubts he has the rare talent — as he displayed Tuesday at Auburn's on-campus workout — to merit being a top-three pick. Fairley's concern is that Dareus and Liuget have similar talent but no questions about their maturity level and work ethic, and thus both ultimately could be drafted ahead of Fairley. We think the knock on him — about taking plays off — is overblown, but any time there are questions about work ethic a player is going to slide, if only a couple spots.
3. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska. He ran well at the Combine and did well in position drills, personnel men are concerned about what they have seen on game film, especially vs. Oklahoma State. No one wants to knock a good prospect based on one bad game, but more and more NFL teams are using big receivers and Prince was abused by Oklahoma State sophomore Justin Blackmon (6-1, 207), beating him deep and exposing his lack of ball awareness. Scouts worry that he often is in position to play the ball but rarely bats it down or makes the interception.
Lande’s Mock Draft
1. Panthers—Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
2. Broncos—Robert Quinn, OLB, North Carolina
3. Bills—Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
4. Bengals—Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
5. Cardinals—Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
6. Browns—A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
7. 49ers—Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
8. Titans—Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
9. Cowboys—Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
10. Redskins—Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
11. Texans—Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
12. Vikings—Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
13. Lions—Tyron Smith, OT, USC
14. Rams—Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
15. Dolphins—Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
16. Jaguars—Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pitt
17. Patriots (from Oakland)—Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
18. Chargers—Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal
19. Giants—Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
20. Buccaneers—Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
21. Chiefs—Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
22. Colts—Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
23. Eagles—Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
24. Saints—Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
25. Seahawks—Danny Watkins, G, Baylor
26. Ravens—Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
27. Falcons—Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
28. Patriots—Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
29. Bears—Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy
30. Jets—Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa
31. Steelers—Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple
32. Packers—Mike Pouncey, C, Florida
