A.J. Green could be No. 1 overall pick in NFL draft
A.J. Green could be Georgia's second No. 1 overall NFL draft pick in the last three years, joining Matthew Stanford.
With Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck announcing that he’s returning to school for another season, there’s only one question: Does A.J. Green send him a thank you note?
If Green says he’s coming back to Georgia, it would be even more stunning than Luck’s decision. I follow this general rule: When a college player sells his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000, he’s ready to make money.
By Luck staying in school, Green could be the first overall pick. That would give Georgia two first overall selections in the last three years (Matthew Stafford went No. 1 to Detroit in 2008.) It would be a nice honor for the school but there also could be a sense of, “Why didn’t we do more with them?”
Green is considered a lock top-five selection. ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranked Green as the fourth best prospect on his current “Big Board” (requires Insider subscription), behind Luck, Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley.
With no other quarterback worthy of being drafted first overall, there’s no obvious No. 1 pick. But several mock drafts already have Green slotted in the No. 1 spot and going to the Carolina Panthers. Excerpts from a couple of them:
– The Orlando Sentinel: “Carolina has got to be upset that Andrew Luck, who was a lock here, is returning to Stanford. They could go with a defensive lineman here, but they are hurting bad at wide receiver and may take Green as an athletic, flashy pick to try and help Jimmy Clausen and pacify a restless fan base.”
– NFL Fanhouse: “So Andrew Luck won’t be the QB in Carolina next season. It’s a bad development for the Panthers, obviously, but what can you do? In this case, Carolina will either ride Jimmy Clausen or add a veteran QB (Vince Young? Donovan McNabb?) — either way, the Panthers need to give that quarterback some weapons. Green is an absolute stud.
Based on recent first overall picks and inflation, Luck left potentially $55 million of guaranteed salary on the table (pending changes in the next CBA that could cap rookie salaries). Two years ago, Stafford signed a contract worth up to $78 million, with $41.7 million guaranteed.
Maybe he and Green can build a library on campus or something.
– By Jeff Schultz
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698 comments Add your comment
blazer
January 7th, 2011
11:14 am
Mr Pushoff #1-??????????????
Enemas for Arbor Day
January 7th, 2011
11:14 am
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:10 am
QB’s who were supposed to be big time in the NFL:
1: Andre Ware
2: Eric Zier
3: Eric Crouch
4: Matt Leinert
5: Carson Palmer
6: Matt Stafford
7: Jamarcus Russel
8: Heath Shuler
9: Vinny Testicles
10: Danny Weurful
My point in all of this is no one knows who will do well in the NFL.
Who said Crouch and Weurferal were going to be big time?
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:15 am
“You see recievers drop passes and get out jumped all the time and AJ just doesn’t hardly ever miss those. ”
Well AJ isn’t exactly getting balls thrown to him by Peyton Manning.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:16 am
“Who said Crouch and Weurferal were going to be big time?”
ESPN etc.
Outside Observer
January 7th, 2011
11:17 am
Dirty Dawg, Andrew Luck made a decision that frankly shocked me. And don’t forget there is still time for him to change his mind, especially if his coach ends up leaving. Tebow stayed because there were so many questions regarding his draft status. It would have been great if the four guys for Tech would have stayed an extra year like the guys at Oklahoma did, but they did what was best for themselves. Do you think AJ should do what is best for him? Or do what is best for your favorite football team?
jarvis
January 7th, 2011
11:17 am
2: Eric Zier?
Wasn’t he a 3rd round pick?
dawgfacedboy
January 7th, 2011
11:17 am
Wouldn’t that be something. Stafford (1st) Moreno (15th) Massaquoi (25th?) Green (somewhere between 1-5) all on the same team and the best we could do is the Citrus bowl against MSU. What a waste of superior talent. Keep drinking the kool-aid homers.
Sarcasm
January 7th, 2011
11:18 am
Montana
January 7th, 2011
9:51 am
@duh @bryan g. Are u guys morons? “can auburn match the NFL offer?” “auburns salary cap?” u do know that college doesn’t pay them and there’s no salary cap in college football right? Wtf?
Hey Montana, look me up in the dictionary.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:18 am
Another thing I find interesting is how Coach Shannon of the Redskins threw Jason Campbell out the door and brought in Donavan McScabb.
Jason Campbell had a better year on a far worse team and finished with a better record than McScabb.
Oh, and McScabb isn’t even playing. LOL
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:19 am
“Wasn’t he a 3rd round pick?”
Not sure, but I remember how Dawg fans talked about him being the next Joe Montana. He was THAT good!
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:20 am
Sorry, I meant Coach Shanahan.
athensdawg
January 7th, 2011
11:21 am
i hope AJ goes #1.
that will be a perfect commentary on the state of UGA football.
Buckeye
January 7th, 2011
11:22 am
Schultzie,
Then it follows the half priced tatts and gold pants for cash were also “a mistake, but that’s all”
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:23 am
“that will be a perfect commentary on the state of UGA football.”
I do hope he has a great career. I remember when Hines Ward went to the Steelers and thought, “oh man, the Steelers just grabbed the best and smartest football player in the country.”
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:24 am
Buckeye
I see you got your arse kicked over on Barnyards blog. You gonna start talking trash again about the SEC, 1-9er?
dawgfacedboy
January 7th, 2011
11:25 am
You never can tell how an amateur athelete will do once he becomes a professional. This applies in any sport. Baseball is probably the biggest crap shoot just because of the years spent in the minors and constantly having to adjust to the next level of competition. The draft is always a crapshoot.
I will say that Carson Palmer’s career wasn’t a complete waste. He has played for probably the most disfunctional franchise in the NFL while he’s been there. Stafford has the potential to be a good one, if he cans stay healthy.
UGA fans are so ....
January 7th, 2011
11:27 am
What the Panthers should do is contact the Bungles & tell them if they want Green, they better trade with us or the Panthers will take him. The Bungles have already said that they will take Green with the #4 pick. Why they want another UGA player is beyond me, considering the luck they had with UGA players in the past.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:27 am
dawgfacedboy
Totally agreed. But, at the same time it can work out to “experts” analysis. In baseball, Jason Heyward and Buster Posey were set to have a great season which they both did. Posey had the better year, obviously, but Heyward did finish second in the rookie of the year ballot. I can think of plenty of players who were thought to be awesome and flopped but I can think of players who were picked to be great and did.
Top Dawg
January 7th, 2011
11:29 am
Has Auburn entered the bidding for Andrew Luck?
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:29 am
“Has Auburn entered the bidding for Andrew Luck?”
I give you “the lunatic UGA fringe.”
RambleOn84
January 7th, 2011
11:30 am
Thanks, Schultzie. I just get annoyed by some of these guys who do nothing but tear down you and other sports reporters. Even though I don’t always agree with some of the stuff you write (and sometimes I agree deep down but just don’t want to admit it), it’s always honest and usually pretty darn good.
To say that you or anyone else in your profession don’t know what they’re talking about is ridiculous because I know how long the average writer wallows in obscurity, paying their dues until they’re noticed and catch their break.
I myself have spent several years sending in writing samples to various sports sites and such, and haven’t even gotten a sniff. And I consider myself to be a good writer!
Anyway, I don’t want to brown nose you too much, but I hope you realize most of us who read your articles really enjoy them and are glad you’re with us in Atlanta. And the ones who don’t like you read you anyway, so who cares what they think?
RambleOn84
January 7th, 2011
11:31 am
Thanks, Schultzie. I just get annoyed by some of these guys who do nothing but tear down you and other sports reporters. Even though I don’t always agree with some of the stuff you write (and sometimes I agree deep down but just don’t want to admit it), it’s always honest and usually pretty darn good.
To say that you or anyone else in your profession don’t know what they’re talking about is ridiculous because I know how long the average writer wallows in obscurity, paying their dues until they’re noticed and catch their break.
Anyway, I don’t want to brown nose you too much, but I hope you realize most of us who read your articles really enjoy them and are glad you’re with us in Atlanta. And the ones who don’t like you read you anyway, so who cares what they think?
Enemas for Arbor Day
January 7th, 2011
11:32 am
ESPN said no such thing about Crouch. They had him 6th or 7th round because he stated he would only play QB. The Rams drafted him I think in the 5th round, then tried him at WR. Again, NO ONE said Crouch would be big time.
Enemas for Arbor Day
January 7th, 2011
11:32 am
Unless you meant Tim Couch.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:33 am
“Again, NO ONE said Crouch would be big time.”
Yes. They did.
“Unless you meant Tim Couch.”
No, I meant who I meant.
Paul in RDU
January 7th, 2011
11:33 am
2010 SEC CHAMPS
How can you put up a list of 10 QBs who underperformed in the NFL and forget about the immortal Ryan Leaf? Remember when some so-called “draft experts” were saying that Leaf should have gone ahead of Peyton Mannaing?
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:36 am
Paul in RDU
AHHHHHHHHHHH, I totally forgot about Ryan Leaf!!!!!!
“Remember when some so-called “draft experts” were saying that Leaf should have gone ahead of Peyton Mannaing?”
Well, remember that Charles Woodson also won the Heisman over Manning. He’s having a great year but it took him over 10 years to have one good year.
Whatever happened to that Manning chap?
Outside Observer
January 7th, 2011
11:37 am
Buckeye, don’t worry. Ever one who trashes Ohio State wishes they had the number of players in the NFL that you do. Or the number of BCS appearances that you have. Or the number of BCS wins that you have. Just because you have struggled lately against one conference doesn’t mean anything. Guess what? Tech has a winning record against Alabama. Does that mean I think Tech is the better program? No. But with that record I could make an argument.
Nut Job
January 7th, 2011
11:37 am
I think Mr. Luck really sets a good example for all of these money hungry yahoos that play the sport today. I guess one would have to be FROM money to be able to experience it though. He’ll take out an insurance policy like they all do, so he’s not really losing anything anyway. What are the chances he gets hurt so bad he can never play again??? Slim to none, those are the chances. He’s not an idiot, he just has his priorities right. His parents obviously did a better job of raising him than some of the other players leaving THEIR teams early and going into the draft simply so they can make money.
These guys will never get the opportunity to go back and play for a National Title again. That’s something you can’t take away for as long as they live. Kudos to Andrew and his family for seeing the big picture. I wish more players would do.
On top of all of that, it screws everyone up involved with the NFL draft and gives these writers one more topic to write about. Good for everyone, except the Carolina Panthers I guess.
Happy New Year
Bust QB's
January 7th, 2011
11:37 am
What about Vince Young?
UGA fans are so ....
January 7th, 2011
11:39 am
ATL XMEN: I don’t think I’d use NoShow & the brittle Stafford as examples of UGA players doing well in the NFL. It is evident that UGA has lots of talent come thru Athens & on to the NFL, but what happens to it in Athens?
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:40 am
“Ever one who trashes Ohio State wishes they had the number of players in the NFL that you do.”
LOL
“Or the number of BCS appearances that you have.”
Not when most of those are losses to SEC teams.
“Or the number of BCS wins that you have. ”
Conference with most BCS bowl game wins: SEC (14)
Conference with most championships: SEC (6)
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:41 am
“What about Vince Young?”
Not sure because everyone was talking about how awesome Leinert was.
My favorite quote after the NFL draft was “Matt Leinert arrived in a limo but left in a cab.”
Bust QB's
January 7th, 2011
11:42 am
Todd Marinovich?
Buckeye
January 7th, 2011
11:42 am
2010,
Who is your team? I presume Auburn. Identify yourself.
Nut Job
January 7th, 2011
11:42 am
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:36 am
Paul in RDU
AHHHHHHHHHHH, I totally forgot about Ryan Leaf!!!!!!
“Remember when some so-called “draft experts” were saying that Leaf should have gone ahead of Peyton Mannaing?”
Well, remember that Charles Woodson also won the Heisman over Manning. He’s having a great year but it took him over 10 years to have one good year.
Whatever happened to that Manning chap?
LOL at Charles Woodson taking 10 years to have a good year! The guy has 47 career interceptions and 163 passes defended. What a joke dude.
Outside Observer
January 7th, 2011
11:43 am
How many of those BCS wins has Auburn contributed? One? Hopefully they paid enough for another one this year.
Tosh.No
January 7th, 2011
11:44 am
Joke? About the Auburn salary cap thing? Thats not a joke, the joke is that the NCAA won’t do anything about it.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:44 am
Outside Observer
It’s easy for Ohio State to win many games in the Big Ten when every team in the Big Ten sucks.
SEE 2011 Bowl Games: Wisconsin(lost), Michigan St. (Lost), Michigan (lost), Penn St (lost), Northwestern(lost)……..
See what I mean?
Bust QB's
January 7th, 2011
11:45 am
Strange that at least one of the two, Leinert or Young, didn’t pan out. Of the two, it would appear that Young has the better shot at a redemptive career, he has at least shown signs that he can play at this level.
Fish Bisch
January 7th, 2011
11:45 am
eric crouch was a #1 pick so he is a good pick on your bust list. But three of those qb’s were/are not busts. Carson Palmer has done well and when not throwing to Me First type players has the ability to really air it out, Vinny Testaverde was a good QB and started for over a decade successfully in the NFL, and Matt Stafford has a shot if he stays healty from what I have seen. Even though these three have no rings to show for it, these three were/can be good QBs. The others on your list I agree with; don’t forget that guy out of Washington State that was a big #1 bust. lol
Pago Pago Dawg
January 7th, 2011
11:45 am
So UGA had Stafford, Moreno, AJ, etc., and still couldn’t win! Pretty sad coaching in Athens.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:46 am
“How many of those BCS wins has Auburn contributed? One? Hopefully they paid enough for another one this year.”
Yeah, that’s because you have to beat other great SEC teams to get to a BCS game. We’ve beaten three teams that won the BCS national championship in the last few years.
See: LSU, Florida and Bama.
Oh, and where is Auburn being accused of paying anyone? NO WHERE!!!!!
Outside Observer
January 7th, 2011
11:46 am
I guess you can’t argue facts against ego. 9 appearances, 6 wins, sounds like a record I would be happy with, even with a pair of disappointed showings in the title game.
Buckeye
January 7th, 2011
11:47 am
2010 SEC,
It’s also easy for the SEC West to win so many games because the SEC East sucks.
Claim your team, big fella.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:47 am
“Thats not a joke, the joke is that the NCAA won’t do anything about it.”
Yeah, that’s because there’s no evidence that Auburn did anything wrong. Auburn hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing.
I really hope you’re not a law student at UGA because if you are, watch out state of GA! LOL
Jason
January 7th, 2011
11:48 am
Richt continues to be the pipeline to the NFL. Richt has more guys in the NFL than any other SEC team. Having a guy go #1 doesn’t hurt, and to have 2 guys go #1 in 3 years, man, what a tool that would be for recruiting. Richt also has more Captians in the NFL than any other coach.
If players want to get to the NFL and go high in the draft, Richt’s the pipeline.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:48 am
“I guess you can’t argue facts against ego. ”
Pot meet kettle.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
11:49 am
“It’s also easy for the SEC West to win so many games because the SEC East sucks. ”
Then again, all but one team from the west won their bowl game. The east has 2 bowl games left.
Hey, what is your record against the SEC again? Oh yeah, ONE AND NINE!!!!!!!!!! LOL
Outside Observer
January 7th, 2011
11:49 am
I don’t think every team in the big ten sucks. I think it is a solid conference. I also get tired of the SEC superiority complex. Yes, they are currently the best conference. But to believe they are stronger, faster, hit harder, have the best defenses, the best offenses, the best players, etc is a joke. Rough year for the Big Ten in bowls. But it’s not like the SEC has looked incredible with some of their losses.