Gosselin's top 100

[gimmesix]

Pity the Carolina Panthers.

They won just twice in 16 games last season to earn the first overall choice of the 2011 NFL draft.

But there isn’t a Sam Bradford waiting there for them. There isn’t a Peyton Manning or an Orlando Pace. Even the Ndamukong Suhs and Matt Ryans are nowhere to be found at the top of this draft board.

The Panthers have the first overall selection in a draft that has no consensus first overall choice. Some teams have Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green at the top of the board. Others have LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson. Still others have Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, they have a pressing need at quarterback. When Andrew Luck decided to return to Stanford for his senior season in 2011, Carolina lost out on a potential franchise quarterback of its own.

If the Panthers are to address the need at quarterback with either Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert in this draft, they will have to skip over more talented players at other positions. But if you don’t have a quarterback in the NFL, you don’t have a chance.

The Panthers are one of eight teams that will be staring at the quarterback board in the first round. So expect a run of passers early in this draft, starting with the Panthers.

But pencil in Green at No. 1 on the annual Top 100 of The Dallas Morning News. The Top 100 is compiled based on conversations with NFL general managers, personnel directors, pro and college coaches and scouts. This is not a mock draft. Teams will skip around the board on draft day to make selections that fit their needs.



No., player Pos. School
1, A.J. Green WR Georgia
2, Von Miller OLB Texas A&M
3, Patrick Peterson CB LSU
4, Marcell Dareus DT Alabama
5, Julio Jones WR Alabama
6, Cam Newton QB Auburn
7, Tyron Smith OT Southern California
8, Nick Fairley DT Auburn
9, Robert Quinn DE North Carolina
10, Blaine Gabbert QB Missouri
11, J.J. Watt DE Wisconsin
12, Cam Jordan DE California
13, Nate Solder OT Colorado
14, Aldon Smith DE Missouri
15, Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska
16, Anthony Castonzo OT Boston College
17, Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue
18, Mark Ingram RB Alabama
19, Corey Liuget DT Illinois
20, Mike Pouncey C Florida
21, Gabe Carimi OT Wisconsin
22, Da'Quan Bowers DE Clemson
23, Jake Locker QB Washington
24, Phil Taylor DT Baylor
25, Jimmy Smith CB Colorado
26, Marvin Austin DT North Carolina
27, Christian Ponder QB Florida State
28, Danny Watkins G Baylor
29, Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa
30, Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State
31, Aaron Williams CB Texas
32, Derek Sherrod OT Mississippi State
33, Muhammad Wilkerson DT Temple
34, Andy Dalton QB TCU
35, Marcus Cannon G TCU
36, Ryan Williams RB Virginia Tech
37, Jon Baldwin WR Pittsburgh
38, Akeem Ayers S UCLA
39, Kyle Rudolph TE Notre Dame
40, Ryan Mallett QB Arkansas
41, James Carpenter OT Alabama
42, Daniel Thomas RB Kansas State
43, Greg Little WR North Carolina
44, Brooks Reed DE Arizona
45, Kenrick Ellis DT Hampton
46, Ras-I Dowling CB Virginia
47, Rahim Moore S UCLA
48, Torrey Smith WR Maryland
49, Jarvis Jenkins DT Clemson
50, Orlando Franklin OT Miami
51, Mikel Leshoure RB Illinois
52, Titus Young WR Boise State
53, Lance Kendricks TE Wisconsin
54, Stephen Paea DT Oregon State
55, Randall Cobb WR Kentucky
56, Will Rackley G Lehigh
57, Edmond Gates WR Abilene Christian
58, Allen Bailey DE Miami
59, Terrell McClain DT South Florida
60, Martez Wilson OLB Illinois
61, Shareece Wright CB Southern California
62, Taiwan Jones RB Eastern Washington
63, Colin Kaepernick QB Nevada
64, Brandon Harris CB Miami
65, Bruce Carter OLB North Carolina
66, Rodney Hudson C Florida State
67, Dontay Moch DE Nevada
68, Shane Vereen RB California
69, Luke Stocker TE Tennessee
70, Jah Reid OT Central Florida
71, Leonard Hankerson WR Miami
72, Marcus Gilchrist CB Clemson
73, Steve Wisniewski C Penn State
74, Kendall Hunter RB Oklahoma State
75, K.J. Wright OLB Mississippi State
76, John Moffitt G Georgia
77, Tandon Doss WR Indiana
78, Drake Nevis DT LSU
79, Marcus Gilbert OT Florida
80, Pernell McPhee DE Mississippi State
81, Ben Ijalana G Villanova
82, Jabaal Sheard OLB Pittsburgh
83, Jalil Brown CB Colorado
84, DeMarco Murray RB Oklahoma
85, Rashad Carmichael CB Virginia Tech
86, Jerrel Jernigan WR Troy
87, Johnny Patrick CB Louisville
88, Jurrell Casey DT Southern California
89, Clint Boling G Georgia
90, Bilal Powell RB Louisville
91, Ricky Stanzi QB Iowa
92, Jaiquawn Jarrett S Temple
93, Brandon Burton CB Utah
94, Sam Acho DE Texas
95, James Brewer OT Indiana
96, Rob Housler TE Florida Atlantic
97, Quinton Carter S Oklahoma
98, Jerrell Powe NY Mississippi
99, Colin McCarthy OLB Miami
100, David Arkin OT Missouri State

Mods, please make this conform to our style for posting off-site info. Thanks.

[Idgit]

There's *no way* I roll the dice on a QB if I'm the Panthers. Way too risky with this lot.

I take the best defender and don't look back. They'll be in position to draft a QB again next year with better options available and not so much risk.

[gimmesix]

Was going to post the link (and cut back the copy):

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/nfl...-nfl-draft.ece

But apparently I ran out of editing time, which is one of the few things I don't like about this forum.

[gimmesix]

Originally Posted by Idgit

There's *no way* I roll the dice on a QB if I'm the Panthers. Way too risky with this lot.

I take the best defender and don't look back. They'll be in position to draft a QB again next year with better options available and not so much risk.

I guess it depends on how risky they think it is. If Newton is a true "6" in this draft, it doesn't seem like teams view him as too much of a risk.

[UnoDallas]

if I am Carolina I take PP or Dareous

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by gimmesix

I guess it depends on how risky they think it is. If Newton is a true "6" in this draft, it doesn't seem like teams view him as too much of a risk.

Taking the consensus #6 player with your first pick out of need is a significant risk in my book. Think of what you could get in a trade for that kind of drop. That's the difference between what you'd get and what your pick is worth.

Then you figure you have to pay that guy #1 money and give him two or three years as a starter to try to develop him. That's a huge commitment.

If I'm a brand new defensive coach, I take the defensive playmaker in a heartbeat. Improve my team as much as I can with the safe pick, knowing that without a QB you're going to be picking in the top ten again next year. Take the shot at Luck, or at getting a player of Gabbert or Locker's quality a year from now lower in the draft where the risk isn't go great and you can afford to throw another developmental player into the mix to see who develops.

[Cowboy from New York]

Interesting that according to these rankings. JJ Watt would be a value pick in a trade down scenario.

[AmishCowboy]

Ellis is rated higher then I would like, so I guess we'll have to take him at #40, especially if we take a OT at #9

[Skerr41]

I'm surprised that Rackley is rated 17 spots higher than Wisniewski. I really expected that to be the other way around.

[ThreeandOut]

Originally Posted by Cowboy from New York

Interesting that according to these rankings. JJ Watt would be a value pick in a trade down scenario.

And Tyron Smith would be a value pick at #9.

[big dog cowboy]

Thanks gimme.

[Romo 2 Austin]

Thanks for posting.

[Cowboy from New York]

Originally Posted by sadevil

And Tyron Smith would be a value pick at #9.

An excellent point as well.

[dbair1967]

And just like his positional top-10, no Justin Houston or Christian Ballard to be seen.

[dbair1967]

Originally Posted by sadevil

And Tyron Smith would be a value pick at #9.

I'd take him there and not look back. Unless they get an overwhelming offer to move down a few spots, I'd just stay there and take him at 9.