2011 NFL Draft

The 2011 NFL Draft will have a record 25 prospects in attendance anxiously waiting to hear Commissioner Roger Goodell call their name.  Usually these prospects are sure top fifteen picks, you know, guys who will be selected when Goodell is still announcing the names.  This year’s draft will feature prospects attending the draft that aren’t even projected to go in the first round.  Guys like Kentucky wide receiver Randall Cobb and Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams will be attending this year’s draft, but they definitely won’t be greeted by Roger Goodell when they are chosen.  In years past, we have been shocked to see guys like Aaron Rodgers and Brady Quinn still sitting in the green room after the top 20 picks have been announced. 

The 25 players attending the 2011 NFL Draft:
Prince Amukamara – CB – Nebraska
Akeem Ayers – OLB – UCLA
Adrian Clayborn – DE – Iowa
Randall Cobb – WR – Kentucky
Marcell Dareus – DT – Alabama
Nick Fairley – DT – Auburn
Blaine Gabbert – QB – Missouri
A.J. Green – WR – Georgia
Mark Herzlich – LB – Boston College
Mark Ingram – RB – Alabama
Cameron Jones – DE – Cal
Julio Jones – WR – Alabama
Ryan Kerrigan – DE – Purdue
Corey Liuget – DT – Illinois
Von Miller – OLB – Texas A&M
Rahim Moore – FS – UCLA
Scam Newtown – QB – Auburn
Patrick Peterson – CB – LSU
Mike Pouncey – C/G – Florida
Aldon Smith – DE – Missouri
Tyron Smith – T – USC
Phil Taylor – NT – Baylor
Danny Watkins – G/T – Baylor
J.J. Watt – DE – Wisconsin
Ryan Williams – RB – Virginia Tech

 Could you imagine being a prospect attending the NFL Draft on draft day?  You are sitting there at a table filled with your closest friends, family, your agent, and your cell phone.  All you can do is wait for that cell phone to ring.  You and your table full of people are sitting in the green room full of 24 other tables waiting and waiting just like you.  The tension in the room is unbearable.  Every guy in the room wants to be the next guy chosen.  Nobody wants to be the last guy left in the room.  Every time you look around the room you see college All-Americans, the best of the best.  You are continuously measuring yourself up against every guy in the room.  Doubt fills your mind.  Why didn’t I just stay home and watch this on TV with my family to avoid the embarrassment?  Why did I put up with all the media hype just to be here?  The few hours you spend in the green room feel longer than your entire college football career felt.

Ah yes, the tough life of being an NFL Draft prospect waiting to sign that multi-million dollar contract.  This year could be different though.  With the lockout situation and no CBA, these guys are being drafted into a world of questions and unknown.  Maybe a lot of them won’t become instant multi-millionaires if the new CBA includes a rookie pay scale.  Maybe these guys won’t even get to play football for a full year if the lockout continues.  The 2011 NFL Draft attendees may have some different questions on their minds.  Instead of wondering how big their signing bonus will be, this group of players will be wondering when their careers will even begin. 

Tune into the 2011 NFL Draft:

Round 1 – Thursday 4/28 – 8pm – ESPN

Rounds 2 and 4 – Friday 4/29 – 6pm – ESPN

Rounds 4-7 – Saturday 4/30 – Noon – ESPN

-Written by Kevin Rossi