2011 NFL Mock Draft thread.

Good read Longtime. It is funny how we act like we know what will happen when really no one knows.

There is something different about the NFL Draft. Granted, you have to be a real sports dork to care about things like drafts--but if you do, there is nothing quite as intriguing. Every team has the possibility of filling all the various holes that their fans have spent months screaming about. Every player, no matter how nondescript, is a potential gem, an all-star-in-waiting.

But the NFL Draft is full of complexities, which has largely to do with the high level of specialization in the NFL these days. There are two ways that a team can significantly change itself in the draft. It can draft a dominant player, who'll simply make the team better. Or it can draft a domino player--someone who makes some aspect of the team (like the pass rush, or a nickel package, or third-down efficiency) better, in turn making an entire side of the ball better, in turn making the team better. The inexact science of sports is well-documented, certainly, and there is a great deal of science in trying to figure out the many variables that go into drafting a player and signing him to a multi-million dollar contract.

It's difficult to figure out which players are best in a game situation, and it's even tougher to figure out where they fit in the scheme of a given team. NFL teams spend millions of dollars on scouting services and people who can sort through all the stats and stories....and... "they still don't have a clue"

lol We're all experts here and we do have a clue.....borrowed maybe, but a clue nontheless. :)

Making a mockery of the draft - The League - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-league/post/making-a-mockery-of-the-draft/2011/04/07/AFfArrvC_blog.html)

Most fans know the mock drafts are a joke but they are fun to look at. Getting a mock draft right is not really the job of guys like Kiper and Mayock IMO. Their job is to study the players in depth so that they can give an educated opinion on them. They are like scouts who are not employed by a team so they are able to give their honest opinion before the draft. This opinion will be wrong often just like the teams scouts opinions will be wrong but that doesn't mean it's not an educated opinion. That's different from your average sports writer who has looked at no tape on the players and throws together a mock draft.

Most fans know the mock drafts are a joke but they are fun to look at. Getting a mock draft right is not really the job of guys like Kiper and Mayock IMO. Their job is to study the players in depth so that they can give an educated opinion on them. They are like scouts who are not employed by a team so they are able to give their honest opinion before the draft. This opinion will be wrong often just like the teams scouts opinions will be wrong but that doesn't mean it's not an educated opinion. That's different from your average sports writer who has looked at no tape on the players and throws together a mock draft.

You nailed it Celts'.

Most fans know the mock drafts are a joke but they are fun to look at. Getting a mock draft right is not really the job of guys like Kiper and Mayock IMO. Their job is to study the players in depth so that they can give an educated opinion on them. They are like scouts who are not employed by a team so they are able to give their honest opinion before the draft. This opinion will be wrong often just like the teams scouts opinions will be wrong but that doesn't mean it's not an educated opinion. That's different from your average sports writer who has looked at no tape on the players and throws together a mock draft.

The prelude to that link was rooted in slight sarcasm. Your point however, is well taken and well understood.

There is something different about the NFL Draft. Granted, you have to be a real sports dork to care about things like drafts--but if you do, there is nothing quite as intriguing. Every team has the possibility of filling all the various holes that their fans have spent months screaming about. Every player, no matter how nondescript, is a potential gem, an all-star-in-waiting.

But the NFL Draft is full of complexities, which has largely to do with the high level of specialization in the NFL these days. There are two ways that a team can significantly change itself in the draft. It can draft a dominant player, who'll simply make the team better. Or it can draft a domino player--someone who makes some aspect of the team (like the pass rush, or a nickel package, or third-down efficiency) better, in turn making an entire side of the ball better, in turn making the team better. The inexact science of sports is well-documented, certainly, and there is a great deal of science in trying to figure out the many variables that go into drafting a player and signing him to a multi-million dollar contract.

It's difficult to figure out which players are best in a game situation, and it's even tougher to figure out where they fit in the scheme of a given team. NFL teams spend millions of dollars on scouting services and people who can sort through all the stats and stories....and... "they still don't have a clue"

Mock Draft experts are like baseball players. Even if you're out up to 70% of the time you're still one of the best in the game.

But there's really no way to fully know what teams are thinking. Even people, such as people in the media, who have more access and info than the general public still don't have access to I'd say 60% (if not more) of what teams are discussing/thinking

Uncanny Mock extended (http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=5185)

Jones and Dalton...I'd take that for sure.

We better find some good FA offensive linemen and a NT though...or use ALL remaining picks on the line.

Why waste a pick on a safety though? We have 2 VERY solid starters and sufficient depth already.

Mock Draft experts are like baseball players. Even if you're out up to 70% of the time you're still one of the best in the game.

But there's really no way to fully know what teams are thinking. Even people, such as people in the media, who have more access and info than the general public still don't have access to I'd say 60% (if not more) of what teams are discussing/thinking

So right you are about baseball. Hitting safely three out of ten times can land you a hefty contract.

The vast majority of media mocks (in their vocal description) leave the impression as factual based, with 60% or less knowledge of team(s) thinking to help comprise their process, we learn to love or not trust the likes of Mel Kiper and others like him when talking about the NFL draft.

There is no way you can talk about the draft and not mention Kiper as something we love, or hate about the draft, but the draft wouldn't be the same without him, he's become an institution there.

Mock Draft experts are like baseball players. Even if you're out up to 70% of the time you're still one of the best in the game.

But there's really no way to fully know what teams are thinking. Even people, such as people in the media, who have more access and info than the general public still don't have access to I'd say 60% (if not more) of what teams are discussing/thinking

True. But even if we did know fully what teams thought, it only takes one trade to make the dominos fall differently, making the draft unpredictable to everyone.

This is on reason why when we have posted mock stuff here I have posted what I would do if I were Shanny, not predictions about what Shanny or someone else WILL do. As you indicated, teams have a lot of information that we don't. But even then, teams themselves don't know what they will do until they do it.

True. But even if we did know fully what teams thought, it only takes one trade to make the dominos fall differently, making the draft unpredictable to everyone.

This is on reason why when we have posted mock stuff here I have posted what I would do if I were Shanny, not predictions about what Shanny or someone else WILL do. As you indicated, teams have a lot of information that we don't. But even then, teams themselves don't know what they will do until they do it.

Absolutely. You never know when someone is going to take Darrius Hewyard-Bay with the 7th overall pick

Absolutely. You never know when someone is going to take Darrius Hewyard-Bay with the 7th overall pick

And you never know when the year will finally come and GM's actually take the BPA for the first 10 picks..........hah hahahahahahahahahaahahaha ROFL LOL LMAO!