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A look back, a look ahead
Peering into our crystal ball, Vick looks like top player
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Michael Vick's ability to dominate defenses puts him on top in CNNSI.com's early look at the 2001 NFL Draft. Doug Pensinger /Allsport |
By Jon A. Dolezar, CNNSI.com
It's never too early to look ahead to next year's draft, is it?
The college season doesn't kick off for another four months, and the Scouting Combine isn't for another ten months, but we offer up our list of what the first round might look like in the 2001 NFL Draft next April.
Before we look ahead though, allow us to look back for a second and pat ourselves on the back for our impressive performance in the Mock Draft. Our group of four CNNSI.com Draftniks nailed 10 of the first 11 picks in our final version of our Mock Draft from last Thursday night, less than 48 hours before the beginning of the draft. Our colleague Dr. Z of Sports Illustrated did pretty well himself, correctly guessing right on nine of the first 11 picks, and 12 of 31 overall in the first round. SI's Peter King guessed eight of the top 10 correctly, while CNNSI.com's Trev Alberts got only one of the first five picks right in his predictions. We won't fault Trev, though, because he could still kick any of our butts with one arm tied behind his back.
The CNNSI.com users got seven of the first 11 picks correct in their poll-based Mock Draft from Friday, while our panel of experts got four of the top 11 right in our CNNSI.com Live Mock Draft Chat on Wednesday.
Coming off our incredible performance in our 2000 Mock Draft, we figured it was time to give all the draft fans who can't get enough a look ahead to the 2001 NFL Draft.
| 2001 NFL Mock Draft |
|---|
| Pick |
Player |
Pos. |
College |
Comment |
| 1. |
Michael Vick # |
QB |
Virginia Tech |
Would still be only 20 years
old on Draft Day 2001. |
| 2. |
Jamal Reynolds |
DE |
Florida State |
Next great pass-rushing FSU end in
Boulware, Wilson, Wadsworth mode. |
| 3. |
David Terrell * |
WR |
Michigan |
Big target who should hook up
with Henson on plenty of TDs. |
| 4. |
Ennis Davis |
DT |
USC |
Should have Trojans back in
Pac 10 race this fall. |
| 5. |
Drew Brees |
QB |
Purdue |
Quarterback smarts may
be best in some time. |
| 6. |
James Jackson |
RB |
Miami |
Most talented player on a
loaded Hurricanes team. |
| 7. |
Jamar Fletcher * |
CB |
Wisconsin |
Best cover corner to come out of
the Big 10 since Shawn Springs. |
| 8. |
Roylin Bradley |
LB |
Texas A&M |
Latest "Wrecking Crew" linebacker
to make some noise. |
| 9. |
LaDanian Tomlinson |
RB |
TCU |
Could have a shot at Dayne's
record if he stays four years. |
| 10. |
Alex Brown * |
DE |
Florida |
Sack machine may follow Kearse's
path of being better in NFL. |
| 11. |
Reggie Wayne |
WR |
Miami |
Half of magnificent Miami
receiving corps. |
| 12. |
Santana Moss |
WR |
Miami |
Other half of magnificent
Miami receiving corps. |
| 13. |
Deuce McAllister |
RB |
Ole Miss |
Best all-around back in SEC
could excel in pro game. |
| 14. |
Justin Smith * |
DE |
Missouri |
Top pash-rusher in Big 12 is best
Mizzou defender in years. |
| 15. |
Anthony Thomas |
RB |
Michigan |
Bruising Big Blue tailback isn't
afraid to run between the tackles. |
| 16. |
Jashon Sykes * |
LB |
Colorado |
Playmaking LB in tradition of Biekert,
Brown, Johnson and Russell. |
| 17. |
LaMont Jordan |
RB |
Maryland |
Powerful workhorse tailback will excel
in short-yardage situations. |
| 18. |
Quincy Carter * |
QB |
Georgia |
Raw, but very high upside to this
former minor league baseball player. |
| 19. |
Travis Henry |
RB |
Tennessee |
Vols tailback probably would've started
over No. 5 pick Jamal Lewis. |
| 20. |
Ben Leard |
QB |
Auburn |
Tall, talented signal caller hurt
by poor play of team. |
| 21. |
Karon Riley |
DE |
Minnesota |
Speedy end could lead Big 10
in sacks this fall. |
| 22. |
Todd Heap * |
TE |
Arizona State |
Hands like glue, but blocking
skills still need work. |
| 23. |
Derrick Gibson |
SS |
Florida State |
Heart and soul of defending
national champs' defense. |
| 24. |
Leonard Davis |
OT |
Texas |
Big tackle could move up charts
after season with good workouts. |
| 25. |
Richard Seymour |
DT |
Georgia |
Agile run-stuffing interior player,
much like Corey Simon. |
| 26. |
David Allen |
RB |
Kansas State |
Still developing other skills,
but already there as return man. |
| 27. |
Casay Rabach |
C |
Wisconsin |
Inherits Wisconsin blocking tradition
from Raymer, Gibson and McIntosh. |
| 28. |
Brian Allen |
LB |
Florida State |
Nimble outside linebacker makes
plays all over the field. |
| 29. |
Andre Carter |
DE |
California |
Will have to bulk up from 255 pounds
to play end in the NFL. |
| 30. |
Carson Palmer * |
QB |
USC |
Big quarterback has size, arm
that NFL scouts love. |
| 31. |
Rocky Calmus * |
LB |
Oklahoma |
Run-stuffing middle backer could
lead Big 12 in tackles. |
# -- Third-year sophomore
* -- Junior eligible
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