Look, I was up against the clock… in the Bloguin Network Mock Draft today, the Colts took Gabe Carimi at #22…Jimmy Smith and Akeem Ayers were still on the board…but I just selected Derek Sherrod for the Eagles at #23…
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Derek Sherrod, Offensive Tackle, Mississippi State, 6-5, 305, has a great agility for a man of his size and has been clocked as fast as 5.08 in the 40-yard dash. He is fundamentally sound, but struggled slightly against elite pass-rushers–whom he will see plenty of in the NFL. Sherrod has been a staple at left tackle for Mississippi State and he may be asked to protect his quarterback’s blind side for years to come at the next level. He will surely start out on the right side, but a move to the left is likely at some point. Anything lower than a late first-round selection in the 2011 draft would be a major surprise.
I know Sherrod comes from more of a run-oriented program at Mississippi State than he would encounter with the Eagles…but, if he fell to the Eagles at #23, I have to believe Andy Reid would jump on the pick. There’s just so much raw ability and upside in Sherrod, and knowing Andy’s predisposition for talented offensive linemen as building blocks for the future, I pulled the trigger and drafted him in the Network Mock.
To many fans, if this actually played out in real-time, it would be a shocking move. How could you leave quality players like Jimmy Smith and Leonard Hankerson hanging on the board, as they still were, or potentially the next Jerry Robinson at linebacker, Akeem Ayers, also still available to us?
I tried to put myself into Andy’s head. If the 1st Round went straight-up like this Network Mock played out, and Carimi, Phil Taylor, Mark Ingram, Pouncey, Cam Jordan, J.J. Watt, Ryan Kerrigan and Ryan Mallet were already gone between #15 and #22, I thought Andy would see his best value in picking Sherrod. And as Andy sees it, “draft value” is a 5-year window of consistent improvement.
It takes five years to properly judge a draft, says Reid. Sherrod has the best chance of still being in the league in 2016, as compared to Jimmy Smith, Leonard Hankerson and Akeem Ayers.
“You play mental gymnastics”, says Reid. ”Would I take this guy? At the end, you say, ‘Boy, I’d really like to get this guy’ and you say, ‘If we have to move up an inch to get him, we will.”’
As good as the corners and linebackers still remaining would be at #23, I don’t see Reid moving up an inch to get them…but if Sherrod were still available as the ultimate offensive line talent still on the board, at anywhere between #20 and #22, I could see Andy moving up to get him.
That may be a shocking statement to some who feel the Eagles have pressing needs at cornerback and strong-side linebacker…
Nonetheless, I mock my draft the way I think Andy sees it… and I think Andy would see the 5-year-future of the right side of the line in Sherrod…with a potential conversion to the left side of the line once Peters is done, and when Vick is gone…
Currently Reid is bluffing he will not be trading up in the draft this year… so that could mean just the opposite. But don’t be shocked if he does remain at #23 in the 1st round…and grabs Sherrod…and passes on a corner or a linebacker.
Other “Don’t Be Shocked” moments to look for in the 2011 Draft:
Don’t Be Shocked If Two Running Backs Go in the First Round—
At one point in the middle to later portion of the season, as many as three or four running backs were projected to be taken in round one. However, now it seems the consensus is that no running backs will go in round one.
However, keep this stat in mind: There has NEVER been a draft with less than two running backs taken in the first round. Only once in the past six years had less than three taken in the Top 32.
Don’t Be Shocked If Two North Carolina Non-Players in 2010 Go Early 2nd Round—
While a whole host of North Carolina Tar Heels were suspended or injured this year, many have a chance to still go high in the draft. Robert Quinn is firmly entrenched in the 1st round someplace, but many of the other talents are scattered throughout the draft.
However, two not getting enough attention— and both who could end up in the 33-50 range— are Marvin Austin at defensive tackle and Bruce Carter at outside linebacker. Austin has some motor question marks and Carter is coming off major knee surgery, but both have first round ability and potential, and could be a steal in the 2nd round to a patient team.
Don’t Be Shocked If Five Small School-ers go in Top 64—
Right around this time of the year, fans get sick of hearing about the top 10-15 players in the draft and are searching for the diamonds in the rough. This season, there could be as many as four or five taken in the first two rounds.
Ben Ijalana of Villanova, Kenrick Ellis of Hampton, Edmund Gates of Abilene Christian, Taiwan Jones of Eastern Washington, and Will Rackley of Lehigh are all in the mix for the 2nd round area and could be viewed as worth the reach before some other team picks the “sleeper” prospect.
Don’t Be Shocked If Ben Ijalana and Brooks Reed Go Top 25—
On the note of Ben Ijalana being firmly in the top two rounds, he has a definite chance to not only go in the first round, but in the middle portion of it. So far, the Giants have shown interest at #19, but teams like the Chiefs, Colts, and Eagles all could use a right tackle in this draft.
Brooks Reed is an outside linebacker I’m not sold on, and I don’t see Casey Matthews’ hype nearly as much as others do. Still, teams like the Jaguars, Patriots, Chiefs, and Seahawks have all shown interest, and it wouldn’t shock me to see either of them go much higher than I think they belong.
Don’t Be Shocked If Jimmy Smith Doesn’t Go First Round—
Some consider Jimmy Smith the #2 cornerback in this draft ahead of Prince Amukamara, which in my opinion isn’t warranted on film. However, the likelihood that Smith ends up in the first round seems dimmer and dimmer as the draft gets closer.
Reports of his character and work ethic are well-documented, and we’ve had him as a 3rd round prospect most of the year because of it. He had a positive drug test in 2007 and two arrests for possession of alcohol as a minor. Teams may not think he’s a smart investment with their first pick in the draft.
Don’t Be Shocked If Corey Liuget and Cameron Jordan are In the Top 10—
I am not a Corey Liuget fan, and I think he’s awfully raw and not fully developed to fit really anywhere in an NFL defense. However, some believe that he’s a raw talent with some good film and enough potential to be a high draft pick. He has talent, and teams like the Browns and Titans in the Top 10 may be intrigued.
Cameron Jordan flew up my board after his dominating Senior Bowl effort, and he’s well worth the value in the Top 10. The Bills could be very interested if Marcell Dareus is gone at #3, and the Browns, 49ers, Titans, and Cowboys all could be very intrigued by the versatile pass-rusher from Cal.
—Thanks to Eric Galko of Bloguin’s OPTIMUM SCOUTING for participating in the Bloguin Network’s Mock Draft with me this year, and for assisting me in scouting the possible “Shocking Moments” of the 2011 NFL Draft…
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