The guessing game wasn’t so tough last season, even though some tried to suggest it was. Sam Bradford was going first, Ndamukong Suh would go next and then it would be Gerald McCoy.
Good luck picking out the first five picks this season. Yes, more than a month remains before the NFL Draft. But the uncertainty surrounding the draft is a little unusual.
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Even ESPN’s Mel Kiper listed seven players “worthy of being No. 1 overall.” That means there’s either a lot of depth or too many questions about the top quarterbacks, normally locks for No. 1.
“Everyone is all over the place on who it should be and who it is,” Kiper said.
There’s quarterback Cam Newton, who has the talent but not the makeup and who scares more teams and scouts than he impresses.
There’s his Auburn teammate, defensive lineman Nick Fairley, who is a one-year wonder. Why was he so quiet as a junior (two starts, 1.5 sacks)?
“Suh had three great years,” Kiper said.
Then he listed quarterback Blaine Gabbert as a possibility because of his size and quick release. Our take: No way should that happen. Just too many flaws at such an important position to go first. Pass-rushing linebacker Von Miller, arguably the best defensive player in the draft, is another option.
Two other defensive linemen have top-choice talent: Marcell Dareus and Daquan Bowers, coming off a knee injury. Dareus might be the most versatile lineman in the draft.
One scout said, “You can’t go wrong with Bowers. He’s Julius Peppers, and it’s hard to pass that up.”
And the last one might end up being the best player: cornerback Patrick Peterson. He doubles as an explosive returner. He’s also Kiper’s No. 1 talent on his big board.
“If you want to take the safest or most exciting person, it’s Peterson,” Kiper said.
But Carolina won’t. Corners are important in a pass-happy league, but linemen who rush the passer and quarterbacks are more important. So that leads back to one question: Who will go first?
