Times staff, wires
Thursday, April 28, 2011
1. Carolina
Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
The Panthers apparently are convinced the skills that led to Newton's breakout senior season, which earned him the Heisman Trophy, can transfer to the NFL. Newton likely will be asked to start immediately and become the face of a franchise that isn't blessed with a ton of talent. Strengths are his arm strength, speed and elusiveness. But questions linger about the precision of his throws, his ability to read defenses and his transition to a more complicated game plan.
2. Denver
Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M
Miller's expertise in college was rushing the passer. Extremely athletic with good power, Miller led the nation with 17 sacks as a junior and added 101/2 in 2010. Able to play out of numerous formations, Miller was an easy pick for new coach John Fox, who inherited the worst defense in the NFL that also had the fewest sacks (23). Many consider him the best player in the draft.
3. Buffalo
Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
Considered the best defensive lineman in the draft, Dareus has explosive power off the ball and is able to split the gap and disrupt the play. Very strong against the run, he can play three positions in Buffalo's 3-4 defense, including nose tackle. He was named the MVP of Alabama's national championship win over Texas in January 2010.
4. Cincinnati
A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
The Bengals don't have a quarterback with Carson Palmer apparently on his way out. But they picked up, perhaps, the best offensive player in the draft. Green has that rare combination of size (6 feet 4, 211 pounds) and speed that has some comparing him to Keyshawn Johnson and Randy Moss. Tough in traffic with great hands, he leaves after his junior season second in school history in touchdowns (23) and yards (2,542).
5. Arizona
Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
Probably not their greatest need, Peterson is a product of the "best available athlete" approach by the Cardinals. Compared to Deion Sanders and Charles Woodson, Peterson has great speed and range and also could be a valuable weapon as a return specialist.
Chilly reception
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was soundly booed by the Radio City Music Hall crowd when he was introduced then heard chants of, "We want football." Goodell acknowledged the response, saying, "I hear you" and, "So do we." The crowd quieted down only when Goodell called some Crimson Tide players and coaches to the podium and asked for a moment of silence for those killed and injured during this week's devastating storms in Alabama.
Welcomed relief
For Marcell Dareus, the Alabama defensive tackle taken third by Buffalo, providing for his family is an enviable goal. His father died when he was 6, leaving his mother to raise seven children.
Dareus even stayed with his high school coach and godfather, Lester Reasor, for a while when things were really difficult and lived with a sponsor family in college. He knows an NFL paycheck will be an enormous help to his family, especially after his mother died in May.
"We're all struggling in certain ways," Dareus said of his family, which includes two brothers now living in California. "(An NFL paycheck) will be a big benefit to help my brothers and sisters to the point we can do something in life."
The NFL has been a dream of Dareus' since he played on the swings in fifth grade and people took notice of his size.
"I didn't have the money for it. But we played, and we had a good time," Dareus said. "I started watching Warren Sapp, what he did, and I'm like, 'Why can't I do that?' So I pushed myself to do what he did."