2011 NFL Mock Draft thread.

They are blowing smoke up people's ass with this one. I don't see this one happening, but I'll eat my crow if they do indeed select him. If they do, you can write off the Panthers for another 5 years or so.

Maybe, but it wasn't the Panthers releasing this info so take it for what it is. At the very least the Panthers are just doing their homework.

When it comes to the 1st pick where theres smoke there is usually fire. It's the one pick the media usually figures out and most of the rumors so far have been on Newton. When the Texans passed on Reggie Bush and took Mario Williams it's like the only time I can remember being even remotely surprised by the #1 pick recently.

When it comes to the 1st pick where theres smoke there is usually fire. It's the one pick the media usually figures out and most of the rumors so far have been on Newton. When the Texans passed on Reggie Bush and took Mario Williams it's like the only time I can remember being even remotely surprised by the #1 pick recently.

Yup. Until there is a rookie wage scale it will be hard to trade out of that first pick. And if you cannot trade out, there is no harm in broadcasting your intentions.

Yup. Until there is a rookie wage scale it will be hard to trade out of that first pick. And if you cannot trade out, there is no harm in broadcasting your intentions.

Well, anybody being drafted in this years draft will fall under the new rookie scale that will be implemented with the new CBA. This is one of the few issues that both sides have agreed on. There isn't much to risk (financially wise) from teams choosing "high risk" guys in the top spots now. Poorly picking can still set your team back though. (especially at the QB spot) Trading back should be easier than ever with the financial risks gone from insane rookie contracts.

I do not believe any team in the first round would guarantee Newton 40-60 million under the previous CBA. He would free fall much like Jimmy Clausen did, who was another talented QB, but had "character issues".

Well, anybody being drafted in this years draft will fall under the new rookie scale that will be implemented with the new CBA. This is one of the few issues that both sides have agreed on. There isn't much to risk (financially wise) from teams choosing "high risk" guys in the top spots now. Poorly picking can still set your team back though. (especially at the QB spot) Trading back should be easier than ever with the financial risks gone from insane rookie contracts.

I do not believe any team in the first round would guarantee Newton 40-60 million under the previous CBA. He would free fall much like Jimmy Clausen did, who was another talented QB, but had "character issues".

Nope. There has been agreement in principle that there should be a rookie wage scale. But details have not been worked out. Even if they had details, such will not go into effect until a new CBA is signed. The chances of having a signed and sealed CBA before the draft are slim. Rookie pay this year remains an uncertainty but there is a good chance that last year's rules will apply.

I won't pretend I know, well because I don't. How would this scenario really play out? We can agree that chances are that a new agreement will not be signed before the Draft, but rookie contracts wont be signed before the agreement either. So, what happens, if the new CBA does indeed contain a rookie cap? Will it cover this year's draft class or will it start in 2012?

I'll put it this way. Do you think the owners, who are locking the league out over money, is going to allow the new rookies coming in to fall under the same scale that Bradford and crew were under? I think GWB has a better chance at a third Presidency term than that happening. Stranger things have happened though. Kudos to them if they get it.

I won't pretend I know, well because I don't. How would this scenario really play out? We can agree that chances are that a new agreement will not be signed before the Draft, but rookie contracts wont be signed before the agreement either. So, what happens, if the new CBA does indeed contain a rookie cap? Will it cover this year's draft class or not start until 2012?

If the players' injunction against the lockout wins through appeal, the owners will have to create operating rules and a new season will begin, even absent a CBA. There is a good chance that those operating rules will be the same as the rules from last year, even though the owners were not fond of those rules, since the players can't really file a lawsuit or scream antitrust against rules created within the context of a CBA which they signed. So, in this scenario, even without a CBA, rookies will be signed according to last year's rules: no rookie wage scale.

There is no guarantee that things will go down this way, of course. But they could. And this uncertainty alone may make teams wary of trading up into the top spot, the top 5, or the top 10.

If a CBA is signed over the summer, no one knows whether a rookie wage scale will be retroactive. Hence, in this latter scenario, the same uncertainty arises, likely with the same reticence of teams to trade towards the top.

What a mess.

I'll put it this way. Do you think the owners, who are locking the league out over money, is going to allow the new rookies coming in to fall under the same scale that Bradford and crew were under? I think GWB has a better chance at a third Presidency term than that happening. Stranger things have happened though. Kudos to them if they get it.

Yes, they might, because they know that they cannot be sued under those rules.

Also, don't forget that the current rookie wage scale proposal simply moves rookie money into money for player benefits, etc. The owners still have to pay big bucks either way.

Yes, they might, because they know that they cannot be sued under those rules.

Also, don't forget that the current rookie wage scale proposal simply moves rookie money into money for player benefits, etc. The owners still have to pay big bucks either way.

You are right about the injunction though. If that is granted, they would indeed fall under the same rules as last year. I forgot about that part of this whole fiasco going on.