The NFL Lockout presents a problem not commonly talked about by NFL draft experts like ESPN’s Mel Kiper and NFL Network’s Mike Mayock: teams can’t have any kind of direct contact with the players they draft in the 2011 NFL Draft.
The 2011 NFL Lockout represents a current labor dispute between NFL owners and players over a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), a provision in the current CBA ensures that this NFL draft will still take place. However, barring a new CBA, NFL teams will not be able to trade NFL players for NFL draft selections (trades involving only selections are permitted, however), and will not be able to sign or even contact undrafted NFL players.
The NFL restriction on trading NFL players extends to NFL players selected in this NFL draft—teams will be unable to swap any NFL player once selected. In addition, with no agreement in place with the NFL players mandating future NFL drafts, NFL teams have been advised by the NFL that any NFL trades involving future NFL draft picks would be made at the teams’ “own risk”. The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) is reportedly trying to dissuade potential prospects from attending the draft, and perhaps plans to host a separate ceremony for those players drafted. According to the orders, the Carolina Panthers, who at 2–14 had the worst record for the 2010 NFL season, will have the right to the first selection in a NFL draft.
Meanwhile, looking at the 2011 NFL Mock Draft, Joe Reedy of Cincinnati Enguirer’s Bengals has come out with four mock NFL drafts detailing where he thinks certain prospects will go in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. In the first three, Reedy had the Bengals selecting Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green twice and Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert once.
On Monday, Reedy came out with his fourth NFL mock draft and went back to his original pick, Green saying: “The more we look at the best candidates when the Bengals go on the clock, there are three who stand out — Green, Jones and LSU CB Patrick Peterson. Quarterback and defensive line would be a slight reach at this spot and there aren’t any offensive linemen worth Top 5 consideration.”
With the first NFL Draft pick, Reedy predicts that the Carolina Panthers will select Auburn quarterback Cam Newton. Then, with the second overall NFL Draft pick, he thinks that the Denver Broncos will select Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller. Then he thinks that the Buffalo Bills will use their No. 3 overall NFL Draft pick on Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. Next, at the fourth spot, Reedy believes the Bengals will pass up Gabbert and select Green, leaving Gabbert to fall to the Arizona Cardinals at the fifth spot.
After Carolina Panthers, the next NFL teams to make their 2011 NFL Draft picks in order are: Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, etc. The 2011 NFL draft, only three weeks away now, will likely be the primary means of filling holes in any team’s roster due to the fact that the NFL is still in lockout mode and teams will be unable to utilize free agency. (Source)