A Few NFL Draft Questions with Draft Headquarters’ Shawn Zobel
NFL Mocks was able to have a short Q&A with Draft Headquarters owner and operator Shawn Zobel to get some more insight into the 2011 NFL Draft. You can see Shawn’s prospect interviews, analysis, rankings, mock drafts, and more by visiting his website. You can also follow Shawn on Twitter for his insights, and be sure to look into his annual NFL Draft preview, which he is working hard right now to complete.
NFL Mocks: If the draft were tomorrow, who does your gut say will be the top overall pick?
Shawn Zobel: Auburn QB Cam Newton
My thought: I agree. My gut right now is telling me Cam Newton. The Panthers really like Newton, and have not been shy about it. Sure, there are other guys in the running like Patrick Peterson, Da’Quan Bowers, Marcell Dareus, Blaine Gabbert, and maybe even Nick Fairley, but right now my gut tells me it’s going to be Newton.
NFL Mocks: How big of a concern is Da’Quan Bowers’ knee injury? It sounds like his stock is really falling.
SZ: From everything that I’ve heard, it’s more serious than most initially anticipated. No one knows how bad exactly, but I’ve been told it’s worst than they originally reported
My thought: I have been hearing the same, and adjusted my mock draft accordingly. I put Bowers at 12 overall to the Minnesota Vikings. I think scouts are really concerned about his knee right now. He played the whole 2010 season on a partially torn meniscus.
NFL Mocks: Who is going to be the best player from this draft?
SZ: LSU CB Patrick Peterson
My thought: 100% agreed. Been saying this for months.
NFL Mocks: Assuming ________ goes to Carolina, the Denver Broncos will take _________?
SZ: Cam Newton, Patrick Peterson
My thought: Interesting. Assuming the Panthers take Newton, the Broncos will have a tough choice. Peterson might be the best DB prospect in the last decade, and for the next decade. The Broncos re-signed Champ Bailey, but he is going to be 33 and Andre Goodman will be 32.
NFL Mocks: Who is your favorite sleeper prospect from this draft (Big School Kid)
SZ: Florida Atlantic TE Rob Housler
My though: Housler is an interesting prospect for sure. He has good size and speed combination. No one really talks about him.
NFL Mocks: Who is your favorite small school player that no one knows about?
SZ: Lehigh OG Will Rackley
My Thought: One of my favorite sleeper prospects. Rackley could be a starting guard in the NFL for a long time.
NFL Mocks: Who is the player from a weak position group that will out-play his “classmates”?
SZ: Texas A&M LB Von Miller or Notre Dame TE Kyle Rudolph
My thought: Agreed on both accounts.
NFL Mocks: Team most likely to surprise by taking a quarterback in the first two or three rounds?
SZ: I’ve put Seattle, Miami, Jacksonville, and Oakland in this list.
My thought: I could see all of these teams going with a QB. In my latest mock, I have the Seahawks taking Jake Locker, and the Raiders trading up to take Ryan Mallett.
NFL Mocks: Player at the top of the draft that has the most risk attached?
SZ: Cam Newton, Nick Fairley, Da’Quan Bowers, Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett, Jimmy Smith
My thought: Undoubtedly. I think Newton and Fairley are maybe the biggest boom or bust players in this year’s draft. Bowers’ injury is a major concern, Locker has accuracy issues, and Smith has character concerns.
NFL Mocks: Best Fantasy Football player from this draft?
SZ: Alabama RB Mark Ingram
My thought: Ingram is a beast. If he is selected to a team where he can get a lot of early carries, he should be dominant from the start.
NFL Mocks: Most likely team to trade down?
SZ: This one is hard to say, but I think Denver or Carolina at the top could both certainly be possibilities.
My thought: I had Denver trading down with Arizona in my latest mock draft. If a team falls in love with a quarterback and the Broncos are willing to deal, they might not be able to pass it up. They do not have picks in the 4th or 5th round, and I’ve heard they are interested in getting picks back in those rounds.
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Quick update too from Russ Lande’s twitter:
“Jaball Sheard had a very good all performance at Pitt’s Pro Day and has definitely put himself in the top 20 of the 1st round”
We just wrote a prediction here that Sheard could be Mock Draft “Bracket Busting” yesterday: