The studs, duds and things to look for in this NFL Draft

The NFL is still locked out, and likely will be for a long time.

But despite the labor issues, the league plans to open the padlock up for a few days this weekend and resume normal operations with the 2011 NFL Draft.

I know that makes me very, very excited.

The NFL Draft is just an absolute dream for football fans.

It’s a three-day party where you can sit around with your friends and watch highlights of the top 200 or so collegiate players.

It’s also an opportunity for fans to proclaim that their team’s first round draft pick will be the savior of the franchise or the goat that will be a waste of $35 million. It’s a time to make the bold prediction that your team’s fifth round pick (who you never saw play before) will be a steal who will take the NFL by storm.

Top to bottom, this year’s crop is entirely too unpredictable, so I’m not even going to try to do a mock draft. Analysts say that three to four players could be the top overall pick and as many as 10 players might be selected in the top 3 picks.

But despite my cowardice and unwillingness to make a mock draft that will blow up in my face, I can do a few things to help get you prepared.

Here are my list of studs, duds, sleepers and things to look for when you’re throwing down a few cold ones this weekend with your buddies during this NFL Draft weekend.

The Studs (My Top 10 overall players in this draft)

1. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU. Simply the best player in the draft. It’s not close, either.

2. Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama. Will make an instant impact plugging the middle in a 4-3 alignment.

3. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn. Anyone with that kind of motor has to have a strong career, right?

4. A.J. Green, WR, Georgia. Size, speed, good route runner. Offensive Rookie of the Year? Why not?

5. Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina. He didn’t play in 2010, but that’s a good thing in my eyes. Keeps one year of wear off his body.

6. Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M. Maybe I’m not as high on him as others, but he still attacks the ball and will make an impact.

7. Tyron Smith, OT, USC. The best offensive lineman in the draft. Can be a useful LT for years in the NFL.

8. Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. Injury concerns aside, this kid is a beast and would be a unanimous Top 3 pick if not for those question marks.

9. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama. He’s a strong runner who catches the ball out of the backfield. Easily the best RB in the draft.

10. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. Guy just looks like Terrell Owens on the field. I’d take that in my draft pick any day.

The Duds (My 5 to avoid this draft weekend)

1. Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri. I’m not a big believer in the Gabbert for No. 1 QB overall argument. The guy struggled in the Big 12, where even bad QBs toss for 40 TDs.

2. Jake Locker, QB, Washington. Look at his stats against Nebraska this past season. You’ll see why I think he’ll struggle against NFL defenses.

3. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska. Scouts have already questioned his speed and athleticism, saying he’d be better suited playing safety. Do you want Roy Williams on your team? Stay away.

4. Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame. I think this kid’s a solid player, but I’ve seen him go as high as No. 15 overall. He’s not that good. Stay away unless he falls into your lap.

5. Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn. Bad character and has been in trouble every place he’s ever been. Not a good recipe in the NFL where just being talented isn’t enough anymore.

The Sleepers (The 5 mid-to-late round picks who can have an impact)

1. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas. OK, so he might go late first round, so he’s not a traditional sleeper. But the kid has a giant arm and can be a fit in a good system.

2. DeMarco Murray, HB, Oklahoma. He’s ranked as the No. 10 RB in the draft by Mel Kiper Jr. He’s much better than that.

3. Kelvin Sheppard, MLB, LSU. He lacks size, but no one will play with more heart than this guy. The kid is just a winner.

4. DeAndre Brown, WR, Southern Miss. Was on top of the world before a gruesome injury. But he’s back now and could be a good late-round gamble.

5. Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama. He’s a smart kid and that counts for a lot at QB. Knowing where to throw the football and when to throw it makes up for physical deficiencies.

What to Look for (The 5 storylines to follow this NFL Draft)

1. Trades. There simply won’t be many. During the lockout, you can’t trade players to other teams, so the only deals made will involve draft picks and nothing else. So don’t expect to see Kevin Kolb or any other guy on the trade block be moved, it’s not allowed under the current rules.

2. Who’s in, who’s out? With the lockout, keep an eye on who’s at the Draft in New York and who’s not. Should be interesting to see which future players embrace the brotherhood and opt to side with their fellow players.

3. It’s a D-Line world. Analysts say as many as 15 defensive linemen could be drafted in the first round of the draft. So basically there could be more d-linemen taken than every other position combined. That’s amazing to me.

4. Speed kills … your team’s draft. Speed is the most overrated measurement taken in the NFL Draft combine. How often have you seen a guy run 40 yards in a straight line without pads on during a Sunday? Never. But it’s inevitable that a handful of teams will gamble on guys who can’t do anything but run. They’ll pay for it in the long-run … pun intended.

5. What will the Saints do? The Saints don’t have any gaping holes on offense, so I think they will deposit their first round pick on the defensive line. In the mid-to-late rounds, I do see them picking up a halfback and probably some help in the secondary, as well.

There you have it, that should give you a pretty good guide of what to expect. Enjoy the draft.

It might be the last time we talk NFL football for quite a while.