2011 NFL Draft Odds and Lines – Betting Props for the 2011 NFL Draft: Online oddsmakers from BoDog Sportsbook have posted their 2011 NFL Draft Odds and Betting Props for all NFL betting enthusiasts to bet on the 2011 NFL Draft and who they think will be the 2011 #1 Overall NFL Draft Picks among many other interesting NFL Draft props and odds. All of the 2011 NFL Draft Odds and Props are listed below as well as our 2011 NFL Draft breakdown for who we think will be the #1 Draft Pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Enjoy.
The NFL draft is a day away, and the Carolina Panthers will soon be on the clock. While some years the No. 1 pick al already decided at this point, Carolina’s top selection is still up in the air on the eve of the draft. That being said, the field of potential options has definitely been trimmed, and only four legitimate possibilities appear to remain.
The Favorite: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
He has been the frontrunner for this pick for a while now, and after winning the Heisman Trophy and the national title, it is easy to understand the buzz surrounding Newton. With his massive frame and rocket arm, there is no question that he has the physical tools and athletic ability to be a dual threat quarterback in the NFL. More importantly, Newton has been praised for having that little something special that separates players that are great from players that simply have great tools.
Taking a QB with the top pick makes sense for the Panthers. They have a new coach in Ron Rivera, and new coaches are notorious for wanting to hand pick the guy under center. Selecting Newton would mean giving up on Jimmy Clausen after only a year, but from what Clausen showed last season, that could end up being a wise move anyway. Carolina needs a leader, and the franchise needs someone to sell to fans. Newton could be both.
The few knocks on Newton are his accuracy from the pocket and his off the field issues. From the scandal involving payments to play in college to stealing a laptop while at Florida, he isn’t exactly free of baggage. Newton is also inexperienced running a pro-style offense, and he didn’t pick teams apart from the pocket at the collegiate level.
That being said, selecting Newton means Carolina is committing to building an offense around his skill set, and it seems everyone is willing to overlook the off the field stuff. It may take Newton a year or two to truly develop, but there is no doubting his potential. By most accounts, the Panthers appear ready to gamble on Newton reaching that immense potential.
The Dark Horse: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
I have already highlighted Carolina’s current issues at the quarterback spot, making Gabbert the likely alternative to Newton. Gabbert is a prototypical pocket passer, and he could step in and play in an NFL offense from day one. There is certainly something to be said for making sure the top pick can have an immediate impact, but teams have shown in the past that they are willing to make an exception when it comes to quarterbacks.
The downside is the Gabbert lacks the explosive playmaking ability outside of the pocket. While he is certainly mobile, he is by no means the physical specimen that Cam Newton is. Gabbert simply can’t impact the game on as many levels as Newton, and no amount of film study or work in the weight room will give Gabbert the same physical gifts that Newton has.
Gabbert does give the Panthers the best chance to compete right away. They still have two solid options at running back, and the offensive line should be healthy in the upcoming season. Inserting Gabbert under center should stabilize the position enough to make Carolina respectable. However, committing to Gabbert could mean committing to nothing more than respectability. The Panthers have to decide between the potential that Newton brings and the immediate help that Gabbert provides, and the team appears to be leaning toward the former.
The Safe Pick: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
Cornerback is by no means Carolina’s biggest need, but Peterson is the consensus top player in this year’s draft. If the Panthers front office isn’t entirely sold on either of the quarterback prospects, the natural pick is Peterson. Carolina has made some questionable decision on draft day the last few years, but a team can never go wrong by adding the most-talented player available to their roster.
Granted, taking the best player available doesn’t exactly address the team’s needs, but it doesn’t hurt Carolina either. The bottom line is that no player is a sure thing, but quarterbacks taken in the first round are especially hit or miss. There is no guarantee that Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert will succeed in the NFL, but every GM and draft expert in the league agrees that Peterson can step in and play at a high level right away.
The problem is that picking to avoid taking a bust is like playing not to lose. It almost inevitably comes back to bite a team. Even if Peterson comes in and becomes an immediate shutdown corner, the Panthers still don’t have an offense capable of putting points on the board with any kind of regularity. Unless Peterson is going to average a couple of pick sixes a game, it doesn’t matter how stout he makes Carolina on defense.
The Wildcard: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
He is considered the best receiving prospect since Calvin Johnson, and Detroit’s quarterbacks will tell you how much easier life is when “Megatron” is on the field. Green is blessed with a tall frame, plenty of speed, great hands, and the ability to out-jump just about anyone else on the field. All those attributes translate into him becoming one of the top receivers in the NFL in the very near future.
That being said, Green presence can only mask Carolina’s issues under center to a degree. Jimmy Clausen or whoever is playing QB can’t throw every single pass to Green, and spending the top pick on a guy that will be targeted roughly 10-15 times a game is always questionable. As great as Calvin Johnson has been, how many times has Detroit made the playoffs since he joined the team?
Green just doesn’t provide the every-down impact that a quarterback can. The Ron Rivera era is set to begin in Carolina, and I doubt that he plans on building his empire around a wide receiver. As tempting as a flashy playmaking deep threat can be, Green just doesn’t make sense for the Panthers.
Check out the latest 2011 NFL Draft Odds below from BoDog Sportsbook.
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