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
Tweet
♦
Last 3 posts
– Mark Fox succeeding in changing basketball culture at Georgia
– Aaron gets wish: Steroid users kept out of Hall of Fame
– Richt’s plan for change is good, but why did it take so long?
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC; friend me at Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
698 comments Add your comment
Buckeye
January 7th, 2011
2:01 pm
2010,
I never knew that one. Too funny.
FYI, Pryor had foot surgery as reported by the Columbus Dipatch this afternoon. Intended to “stabilize the ligaments”. Plenty of time to rehab – that’s for sure.
JSS
January 7th, 2011
2:01 pm
Are they still crying about the ACC and SEC?
bamaguy
January 7th, 2011
2:02 pm
2010, I couldn’t resist. My business is located in Midtown near the GT campus, and there ARE a lot of hot guys in Midtown. I don’t know if the girls are hot or not, I never see any.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:02 pm
“See, there’s the logic. When you’re talking about Auburn or UGA, it’s the entire city.”
So, does GT share Atlanta with all the black schools and G State? What about the art schools?
“But if you’re discussing Tech, ONLY the Tech campus counts.”
There is one university in Auburn. There are several universities in Atlanta…..or did you not know that?
“the kids at Tech are visiting Buckhead and other nice places in Atlanta in a regular basis”
Are they buying overpriced condos?
“not just sitting in their dorm rooms listening to Widespread Panic or watching Dave Matthews cover bands perform at some hole in the wall.”
No, Tech fans sit in their dorm rooms looking at internet pics of UGA women.
RambleOn84
January 7th, 2011
2:02 pm
Oh, and Croakies.
Nothing sadder than seeing a fat balding UGA fan with short shorts and a pair of Croakies around his neck.
Wait, that’s every UGA fan.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:02 pm
“I married a UGA woman, and all she talks about is the obsession the UGA guys had with Dave Matthews”
Must have been her gay friends.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:03 pm
“Nothing sadder than seeing a fat balding UGA fan with short shorts and a pair of Croakies around his neck.”
Beats seeing a Tech grad on tv shouting ALLAH AKBAR at the top of his lungs.
Reality Check
January 7th, 2011
2:04 pm
Part of the reason we didn’t do more with AJ is he screwed up and missed 4 games this year. Maybe a little of the blame for the season that wasn’t falls on him. A strong start and things might have gone a little differently.
Sho-nuff
January 7th, 2011
2:04 pm
No way A.J. Green will be taken with the 1st pick. The Panthers have way to many needs to take a wide receiver with the first pick.
Savannah Dawg
January 7th, 2011
2:05 pm
There is only one constant in every article written by Schultz whether the article is about Mark Fox, A.J. Green, or whatever. He always finds a way to take a shot at Mark Richt. Jeff you are a hack, you do have an agenda…don’t know about your feet smelling.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:06 pm
bamaguy
That is just too funny! By the way, as much as I know you hate Auburn, what’s your pick for Monday’s game?
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:07 pm
“He always finds a way to take a shot at Mark Richt.”
That’s because he doesn’t like conservative people. He takes shots at Palin, Carlson etc… Funny thing is, Palin would beat his a$$ up and down Peachtree St, Road, LN etc……
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:08 pm
$10 says there are AJC staff members who send comments to the Obama White House snitch site. Bookman almost admitted it a year ago.
bamaguy
January 7th, 2011
2:08 pm
Auburn, no contest. The Tigers are going to have those Ducks limping off the field like Bama did the Spartans.
and, PS: I don’t hate Auburn, I taught there for four years immediately following my PhD.
RambleOn84
January 7th, 2011
2:08 pm
Wow, so you’re a Palin admirer…I knew there was some mental deficiency there.
I’ll leave you to your discussions on why terrorists are bad, mmm’kay?
Paul in RDU
January 7th, 2011
2:10 pm
DawginLex
South Carolina may not have been the #2 team in the SEC, but the record in 2010 shows that Alabama wasn’t either – they were 4th place in the West.
Paul in RDU
January 7th, 2011
2:10 pm
DawginLex
South Carolina may not have been the #2 team in the SEC, but the record in 2010 shows that Alabama wasn’t either – they were 4th place in the West.
Sarah Palin
January 7th, 2011
2:10 pm
How come you are not writing about me?
John Frazier
January 7th, 2011
2:10 pm
Question was ask when has there been a number one pick as WR….1996…Keyshon Johnson
Buckeye
January 7th, 2011
2:11 pm
SARAH SARAH SARAH
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:12 pm
“Wow, so you’re a Palin admirer…I knew there was some mental deficiency there.”
Yeah, I admire hot women who could beat the living crap out of pasty skinned hacks like you.
bwell
January 7th, 2011
2:13 pm
OT Sturidvant is staying put hope OT Glenn stay as well.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:13 pm
“PS: I don’t hate Auburn, I taught there for four years immediately following my PhD.”
Sweet! Anyway, I was arguing with some tool who said that Oregon played a tougher schedule than Auburn. As soon as I posted Oregon’s schedule, she bolted.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:14 pm
“South Carolina may not have been the #2 team in the SEC, but the record in 2010 shows that Alabama wasn’t either”
So what’s your point?
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:15 pm
“I knew there was some mental deficiency there.”
Ma’am, my stool has a higher IQ than you do.
Buckeye
January 7th, 2011
2:15 pm
2010,
Auburn does have the second best colors/uniforms in college football. All the Nike Duck gear is nausiating.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
January 7th, 2011
2:15 pm
Where did I go?
To lunch.
Let’s run down the top 10 SEC teams, and their counterparts in the Pac-10:
1) Auburn – Oregon;
Georgia – Washington;
2) Alabama – Stanford;
3) Arkansas – USC;
4) LSU – Arizona;
5) South Carolina – Arizona State;
6) Miss State – Oregon State;
7) Florida – Cal;
9) Tennessee – UCLA;
10) Kentucky – Washington State.
You might want to reserve crap talking about Oregon State, considering they were 3-4 against top 30 teams (Sagarin), compared to Miss State going 1-4. Yes, Oregon State played 7(!) top 30 teams. Georgia was 0-5 against top 30 teams, Washington was 1-5, and went on to beat Nebraska in a re-match. Granted, South Carolina is probably better than Arizona State, but the argument that the SEC is stronger than the Pac-10 grows weak, especially when you consider the above list does not include Ole Miss and Vandy.
JSS
January 7th, 2011
2:15 pm
It’s liking being asked whether you want a root canal or toe amputated in witnessing this daily pissing contest…
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:15 pm
Anyone still think Oregon played tougher teams than Auburn?
Oregon’s schedule:
New Mexico – 1-11
TN – 6-7
Portland St. – 2-9
Arizona St. – 6-6
Stanford – 12-1
Washington St. – 2-10
UCLA – 4-8
USC – PROBATION – 8-5
Washington – 7-6
Cal – 5-7
Arizona – 7-6
Oregon St – 5-7
bamaguy
January 7th, 2011
2:16 pm
Yeah, but I’d take Rachel Maddow in a fight with Palin. Those lesbians are tough.
crabapplejoe
January 7th, 2011
2:16 pm
A college wide receiver who has never had a 1000 yard receiving year going #1 overall in the NFL draft……now that’s funny, I don’t care who you are…..LOL
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:17 pm
“Oregon State played 7(!) top 30 teams. ”
I see top 25 polls but not top 30. Next, you’ll be saying Portland State beat more top 50 teams than Vandy. LOL
Quit while you’re behind.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:17 pm
“Yeah, but I’d take Rachel Maddow in a fight with Palin.”
Palin would drop her at 50 yards.
RambleOn84
January 7th, 2011
2:18 pm
Sounds like you admire dumb women who could beat you up.
No wonder you love Auburn so much…all those fat cows from the sticks will be glad to strap one on and give it to you how like it.
NFL Guru
January 7th, 2011
2:18 pm
Here is a realistic look on how it will shake out.
Carolina- AJ Green- S. Smith is old and is not good in the Lockerroom
Denver- Nick Fairley
Buffalo Bills- D. Bowers
Bengals- Quinn
Cardinals – Newton
Browns- Blackmon
49ers- Mallett
Titans-B.Gabbert
Cowboys- P. Amukamara
Redskins- Dareus
An Opinion
Paul in RDU
January 7th, 2011
2:18 pm
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:14 pm
“South Carolina may not have been the #2 team in the SEC, but the record in 2010 shows that Alabama wasn’t either”
So what’s your point?
__________________________________________________________________
Whose talking to you?
The Ghost of Wally Butts
January 7th, 2011
2:18 pm
Watch replays of E-Bay Green’s performance (and drops) during the UCF Bowl Game (if you have the stomach for it).
You’ll see a guy who had already mentally checked out of UGA and was protecting his body and biding his time for the NFL.
Big Dawg
January 7th, 2011
2:18 pm
AJ would obviously be throwing it all away by staying, and it’s a proven fact 10 years running that nothing much is going to happen around Athens with Captain Sleepy at the wheel. And great points to add to the Capn’s sterling resume too. Two top picks in Stafford and Green, and an outstanding first rounder in Moreno, and what do we really have to show for it? That’s about as much damning evidence against keeping him on board as losing to Colorado and UCF this year, and going 2-8 lifetime against the Gators. Remind me again why he’s still around, and you aren’t allowed the ’such a good man’ scenario. And fluffing your winning percentage against the Lafayette Louisiana’s and Idaho State’s don’t count at all. The best high schools in Georgia could beat those teams.
Truly study the game of football, the trends, and what's going on
January 7th, 2011
2:18 pm
6 points
and a cloud of bobo.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:18 pm
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
Bama would destroy Stanford. LSU would destroy whoever it is that is in third place in the Shat-10.
ugaalumn81
January 7th, 2011
2:19 pm
Good riddance
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
January 7th, 2011
2:19 pm
Please read where I noted Sagarin.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt10.htm
If you would like another system that rates teams, try Massey:
http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cf
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:20 pm
“Sounds like you admire dumb women who could beat you up.”
If by dumb, you mean a woman who ran the largest state in the union, can kill a bear with her bare hands and break the nose of a pasty skinned loser like you then yes. LOL
“No wonder you love Auburn so much…all those fat cows from the sticks will be glad to strap one on and give it to you how like it.”
Speaking of strap ons, how did it feel taking it from Air Force?
RambleOn84
January 7th, 2011
2:20 pm
With the obsession over women who can fight and punish men, I shudder to think what internet sites you frequent.
Hay
January 7th, 2011
2:21 pm
You’re a complete boneheaded idiot if you think Carolina takes him with the first pick.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:21 pm
“Whose talking to you?”
No one, this is a blog, ma’am. We read on blogs.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
January 7th, 2011
2:21 pm
Bama would destroy Stanford?
OK, now you just proved yourself stupid.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:22 pm
“I shudder to think what internet sites you frequent.”
Well Forrest, I frequent the AJC often to irritate pasty little twits such as yourself.
RambleOn84
January 7th, 2011
2:22 pm
More deflection…instead of working on curing yourself of your strange fetish, you put it back on Tech.
You need lots of help, young man. I hope you get it. Your cornhole won’t last much longer with that type of daily abuse.
Billy Bob
January 7th, 2011
2:22 pm
AJ Green owes it to me to stay another year at UGA! He is very shelfish to want to leave for the NFL! Dosent he no that ive been hero worshipping him since he was in high school!I even bought his jersey at the UGA book store! How dare he!!