2011 NFL Draft Coverage – Outside Linebacker Preview
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The NFL draft moves to primetime for the second time in 2011. The first round will be in PRIMETIME, and is scheduled to take place Thursday, April 28, 2011; the second and third rounds on Friday, April 29; and the final four rounds on Saturday, April 30, 2011.
The Panthers with the worst record for 2010 have the right to the 1st pick in 2011.
Note: A provision in the current NFLPA-CBA ensures that this draft will still take place even with the current labor dispute.
OLB Rankings
VON MILLER, Texas A&M
6”2, 240 lbs
Miller is, overall, one of the best players in the 2011 NFL Draft crop. He could be a little bigger, but other than that, Miller is a bona fide playmaker and possesses every building piece you need to be a great NFL pass-rusher. He’s got the first step, the moves, the speed, the strategy, the tenacity, the versatility to play with a hand down in the DE position. He’s a fluid athlete that can cover, he’s instinctive, he’s a leader that hasn’t yet hit his ceiling. Want to know what else he is? A Top 5 pick.
May remind you of: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys
AKEEM AYERS, UCLA
6”3, 254 lbs
Ayers grades as a first-round pick because of his versatility. He is strong at stopping the run and very strong in coverage. The short-coming of his game is the pass-rushing skill set, but there are coaches out there who will believe they can coach that. He’s a competitor and though his Combine 40 time was a tad slower than expected, he’s got a lot of game film in his corner.
May remind you of: Julian Peterson, FA
BROOKS REED, Arizona
6”3, 263 lbs
The man with the dirty blond flow spilling out of his helmet could also be regarded as a rush DE, but he looks well-suited as an OLB in a 3-4 scheme. He’s a true pass-rusher with a constant motor. At the Senior Bowl, Reed made OT Anthony Castonzo – one of the top tackle prospects and a likely first-rounder – look like a child. He also ran a 4.66 forty at the Combine, faster than expected. Some teams will like Reed’s potential and he should go in the second round.
May remind you of: Clay Matthews, Packers (for both the dirty Grunge-era hair and the never-say-die motor)
BRUCE CARTER, North Carolina
6”2, 241 lbs
Carter was earlier considered a first-round talent, but he didn’t participate in the Combine and a lot of players have made late pushes with strong Combines and Senior Bowls. He joins Robert Quinn as a Tar Heel with oodles of NFL upside. Carter is a big hitter with plenty of range and athleticism for pursuit in space and coverage. He projects strongest as a weakside 4-3 ‘backer and is a likely second rounder.
May remind you of: Chad Greenway, Vikings
SAM ACHO, Texas
6”2, 262 lbs
Acho is another one of those DE/3-4 OLB ‘tweeners that has gained notoriety in recent weeks. Earlier, scouts might have said Acho was too much of a finesse player. But he looked excellent at the Senior Bowl, registering a sack and two TFLs against elite offensive line prospects. Granted, he is a raw player that will need to study in the NFL, but his lethal quickness is indeed a desired trait in NFL locker rooms. Acho will probably go in Round 2.
May remind you of: Osi Umenyiora, Giants
Honorable Mention: MASON FOSTER, Washington The best Huskies prospect not named Jake Locker, Foster exhibits productivity, consistency and undeniable talent. He looks like a 4-3 OLB and ought to go in the second or third round.
