Draft Insiders' Digest Premier NFL Draft and Free Agency Publication
Giants Grade Top NFL Draft Class
The NFL Draft 2011 has been consummated with 254 prospects chosen over the three-day seven round event. The postseason leaves many key questions though, with the lockout in place until a new CBA contract is signed. The NFL postseason places both veteran and rookie free agency in limbo and areas that clubs can address only when open. At this point, mini camps are in jeopardy and almost certain not to occur. NFL training camps are only three months away and the regular season slightly over four months from now. Free agency will be a great unknown until key questions are answered related to salary gap and number of years of service needed to become eligible. The current NFL lockout makes it very difficult for clubs to evaluate new players, injured veterans or to institute new systems under first year head coaches.
Photo - CB Prince Amukamara - Nebraska
Our NFL Team 2011 Report in April had 45 direct hits with the team matched with the exact player chosen and that included only up through the middle rounds. No other publication, web site or analyst had half that total. Clubs our NFL Team Report matched three prospects selected were the Giants, Dolphins, Titans Ravens and Chiefs on our detailed team by team evaluation.
Best NFL Draft 2011 Classes
The Giants got incredible value from top to bottom and had Prince Amukamara fall in their flap at the 19th overall selection. The Saints also were able to get excellent value with their six selections, but did surrender their #1 pick next April on runner Mark Ingram. Obviously, any evaluation of draft classes takes a few seasons, though the eight clubs below graded out high on selecting value pro prospects.
#1 Giants - A
#2 Saints - A
#3 Lions - A
#4 Patriots - B+
#5 Cardinals - B+
#6 Ravens - B
#7 Texans - B
#8 Chiefs - B
NFL Draft 2011 Facts
North Carolina and Southern Cal led the nation’s schools in overall selections with 9 picks each and one first round choice. North Carolina had 5 players chosen, 4 of them defenders in in the top 100 selections. Southern Cal saw five of their 9 players chosen after the top 180 overall selections. Miami had 8 and Nebraska 7 players chosen over the seven round event. Miami had no first round player but five of the top 86 and six of the top 109 prospects chosen. Nebraska had Prince Amukamara selected as their first round and 19th overall selection, though their second player Roy Helu was not chosen until the 105th overall selected.
The SEC was once again the leader among conferences with 38 players chosen.
SEC 38
ACC - 35
Pac 10 - 31
Big 12 – 30
Big Ten – 29
Big East – 22
WAC – 16
MWC – 10
CUSA - 7
Sun Belt – 5
Underclassmen Scoreboard
The group of underclassmen who declared in January for the NFL Draft 2011 had the expected huge impact on the selection process, especially the top rounds. Overall, 42 of the 55 underclassmen who declared in this year's group were selected over the seven rounds, including 15 in the first round. In particular, underclassmen totally dominated the early part of the first round with 6 of the first seven prospects and 8 of the top 10 picks from this group. The offensive line led all positions with 40 prospects selected with the defensive line and cornerback positions close behind with 38 players chosen overall.