With our first mock draft posted, we are starting to wrap our minds around the 2011 draft class here at PFT. With a little help from NFL Network’s Mike Mayock.
Mayock held a media conference call on Thursday, and we’ll be posting some of the interesting nuggets throughout the day.
Let’s start with some notes on how this draft looks as a whole. Mayock says it’s the best defensive end class he can remember, and eight players have first round grades from him.
Mayock also says he believes this class has a deeper first round than in recent years. That’s an impressive statement considering how deep last year’s draft was as a whole, but Mayock believes this one loaded with more true first-rounders.
(Mayock’s opinion was in direct contrast to ESPN’s Todd McShay, who said Wednesday he only had only 23-24 first-round grades. So McShay saw this year as a shallow first round. Hmm.)
Add it all up, and this is a good year to be looking for a pass rusher or five technique defensive ends and have picks late in the first round. The Patriots, then, should be smiling with the No. 17, No. 28, and No.33 overall picks.