So far, there have been a few surprises and the usual obvious picks. The difference this year is the specter of the labor negotiations hanging over everyone's head. Trades can still be made, but the various team's war rooms will have to be content moving only picks and not live players.
Cam Newton may not be a slam dunk overall number one, but he has a great upside and the Carolina Panthers are looking to start fresh with a new coach and face of the franchise. A player he has been compared to is Vince Young, who is finished in Tennessee with the Titans selecting quarterback Blaine Gabbert eighth overall.
The Atlanta Falcons seem to be looking for the crown in the 'reach' department by trading a one, two, four and 2012 one and four to move up 21 spots to take wideout Julio Jones of Alabama. Not a great move and that was the reaction by the crowd when the deal was announced.
Perhaps the best pure player in this draft went fifth with the Cards picking DB Patrick Peterson from LSU. Another nice selection was Nick Fairley (Auburn) by Detroit at number 13 to team up with Suh on a d-line that is headed in the right direction in the Motor City
