Our forum has been loaded with questions recently about moving 2010 rookie draft picks for picks in 2011. It’s easy to take a guess and say “my #8 is surely worth a perceived top 5 in 2011.” Well, is it? The only way to make an educated guess is to, well, make an educated guess. At DLF, we do our best to prepare you for the future and give you unique and original content. With that in mind, here’s our first rookie mock draft for 2011. Use this as a general resource when you consider future decisions. Many of you will have offers coming soon in regards to your 2010 #1 picks. You’ll want to have a general idea of what’s going to be available next year to accurately judge the value of a trade.
As it stands now, next year’s fantasy draft stands to be WR gold. The consensus top pick will likely be a RB in Mark Ingram of Alabama. His resume speaks for itself and if you don’t know who he is, you really need to spend more time here. However, we’re likely going to have three elite WRs in AJ Green of Georgia, Julio Jones of Alabama and Michael Floyd of Notre Dame. Sprinkle some QBs in there and you have the making of a relatively solid draft, but one that could be remembered years later for its future WR stars.
- Mark Ingram RB ALA
The Heisman trophy winner put up 1,658 yards and 17 TDs last year in the SEC. That’s not bad.
NFL Size Comparison: Emmitt Smith - Ryan Williams RB VT
His first season was monstrous with 1,655 yards and 21 TDs. After a redshirt, he’ll likely be available in 2011.
NFL Size Comparison: DeAngelo Williams - Evan Royster RB PSU
Royster made a good call by going back to school. Another year in Happy Valley will do him some wonders and help him get back to double digit TDs.
NFL Size Comparison: Ryan Grant - AJ Green WR UGA
He’s 6’4” and averaged 16.2 ypc in his first two seasons in the SEC. Any questions? Green could easily crack the top 2 or 3 next year.
NFL Size Comparison: Larry Fitzgerald - Julio Jones WR ALA
Jones took a little step back last year, but his 73-yard TD against LSU last year shows what he can do when given a little bit of space. Expect his numbers to improve with defenses focused on Ingram.
NFL Size Comparison: Brandon Marshall (just a little slimmer) - Kendall Hunter RB OKST
A foot injury cost Hunter a chance at 2010 greatness. His durability and size will be questioned heavily. A bounce back season could vault him into the top 5.
NFL Size Comparison: Warrick Dunn - Jake Locker QB WAS
As a longtime Husky season ticket holder, I know enough about Locker. In fact, his High School team beat mine in the State Title game a few years back. Locker possesses ridiculous athletic ability, but another year in a pro style offense will help build on his deficiencies in accuracy. He’s still a major project, so his progression will be watched closely next year.
NFL Size Comparison: Steve Young - Michael Floyd WR ND
Compiling 800 yards in 7 games will get you noticed. Being visibly better than Golden Tate will get you drafted.
NFL Size Comparison: Andre Johnson - Jonathan Baldwin WR PITT
It would be nice to have Dion Lewis from Pitt this year, but Baldwin will do. At 6’5”, he’s got a fabulous size / speed combination. Look for him to improve on an 1,100 yard season.
NFL Size Comparison: Plaxico Burress (without the gun wielding sweats) - Ryan Mallett QB ARK
The former Michigan Wolverine made a good call to return to school and will challenge both Locker and Luck to be the first QB off the board. If you need to know nothing else right now, consider that Mallett is 6’6” with an absolute cannon for an arm. Al Davis on line one!
Size Comparison: The Jolly Green Giant
Just missed:
Andrew Luck QB STAN
Noel Devine RB WVA
Jacquizz Rodgers RB OSU
Terrance Toliver WR LSU
Jamie Harper RB CLEM
DeMarco Murray RB OKLA
So, plan your future wisely. If you’re a team short on WRs, next year is the year to position yourself with multiple first round picks. If you’re a team skinny on RBs, I’d stand pat and make some reaches in 2010. While much can change and player values on this list are sure to dip or spike, it’s important to know what’s in the deck before you deal.
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Valuable article for those looking to rebuild through the draft. Go get 2011 picks now!
You guys rock. It is nice to know there are dynasty junkies out there to learn from more hardcore and knowledgeable than myself…and the fact that you’re a Husky significantly adds to your credibility
Do you think Ryan Williams will declare for the 2011 draft as a redshirt sophomore?
Also:
DeMarco Murray > Kendall Hunter or Evan Royster
I do think that Ryan Williams comes out because of:
1.) The lack of competition at that position
2.) The new collective bargaining agreement implications looming
3.) The fact there are only so many miles on RBs / so many years for them to make their money.
Just a hunch, though.
I also find myself wanting more with Murray. He’s certainly a candidate to move up, but I just don’t see the “it” factor as of yet. With no Bradford or Gresham, he’ll have even more opportunities to shine. I actually thought Chris Brown outplayed him two years ago and he’s a late rounder at best.
Thanks for your support of the site!
Great information. Do you have projections for later picks?
Any way you can update this during the season? I have been looking everywhere for some indication of how the rookie class looks for next year, but not many people bother speculating.
This is a decent list, it would be helpful to have it updated with new guys (Daniel Thomas for example) and moving existing players up or down.
I have 4 firsts in my idp dynasty draft, so I am salivating at the WR options out there.
I can’t agree with the above post, and would like to take to task a few of the OP’s points. Not everyone will agree and though I am one of them, I do respect your right to have your view. Either way I have enjoyed reading 2011 Rookie Mock Draft (no, we’re not kidding) | Dynasty League Football.
The impending CBA and labor issue affected last years class because they knew the 2010 season would be played and theyd get their money if they went in early as opposed to this year. The ship has sailed to go into the draft early based on labor issues. For this class only bonuses would be guaranteed (no games, no gamechecks) and only the very top people will get the eye-catching ones (just take a look at how fast those bonus figures fall outside the top 20 players. Great money for you or me, but not for the possibility of an entire lost year of play. Not to mention how difficult it would be to possibly come into the 2012 training camps against the new rookies with fresher game experience). If anyone declares early now, it’s because of factors unrelated to a decision about a lockout. It’s one theydve made in any (but 2010 draft) other season. Aside from the flawed logic on motivation for declaring early because of the CBA, I like the attempt to look forward to the 2011 draft and love that aspect of dynasty league play. Thanks for the post. There’s great civil participation here.
ESPN breaks this down into more fine points than I, but the first one is:
1. 2010 probably will be the last year of huge rookie salaries
The next collective bargaining agreement — whenever it’s agreed upon — certainly will include a rookie wage cap implemented before the 2011 draft. It’s one of the few points that, in principle, both the union and league agree on. The details won’t be finalized for a while, but many in the league think you’ll see the top picks receiving deals in the three-year, $12 million range.
What does that mean for this year? Teams will try to depress salaries for this year’s picks. Owners of teams drafting in the top seven will not want to be the last suckers to give unproven rookies tens of millions in guaranteed money. So, expect lowball contract offers, which could lead to nasty holdouts. No agent will allow his client to settle for less than last year’s picks received; if so, his career will be over. And so, these contract disputes could get ugly.
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I guess it will remain to be seen if both sides remain tacitly agreed to use the 2011 draft as the beginning of a new era in rookie contract scales. I don’t think the NFL will give this up and I don’t think there will actually be a missed season, so I think most likely this is the case and Sam Bradford might go down in NFL history with the richest rookie contract.
Thanks a lot very much for the skilled and sensible help.
will give this up and I don’t think there will actually be a missed season, so I think most likely this is the case and Sam Bradford might go down in NFL history with the richest rookie contract.