2011 NFL Draft: Biggest Steals

Who are the biggest steals in the 2011 NFL draft? Which players will rise above their draft spot to become a potential household name? NFL general managers have to feel as if they are playing the lottery sometimes. There are scouting reports, combines and all kinds of college video to sort through before coming up with an educated guess. But who really knows how the 2011 NFL draft will play out on the field as opposed to paper.

While it's safe to say there aren't any guarantees when it comes to high draft picks, I have narrowed down a few of the sleepers who might just be the biggest steals of the 2011 NFL draft. Will these guys be huge finds? Or will they just somehow fit the needs of a particular team? Either way, I think these five guys are huge "gets" for NFL teams wanting a late first round steal.

1) Ryan Mallett/Arkansas Quarterback
Mallett probably couldn't be called a "sleeper" because he played in the SEC against many of the other power schools. Mallett is an incredibly strong-armed quarterback who has the capacity to be a future NFL Hall of Famer. So why is he slipping down to the teens in the 2011 NFL mock drafts? The odd thing about the NFL draft is that teams draft for a slot they need. If a team on the board doesn't need a quarterback, they might just pass over a player despite the potential talent. Quarterbacks have slipped before in the draft(as did Jay Cutler a few years ago when Denver picked him up in the teens)--but that doesn't mean Mallett won't be a huge force on the football field for one lucky NFL team.

2) Mark Ingram/Alabama Running Back
Former SEC running backs tend to do just fine in the NFL. Can you imagine a former Heisman winner slipping to a late first round selection. That means a team like Green Bay, New England, Indianapolis or even New Orleans might have an opportunity to nab him or trade up a bit. Ingram steal has a lot of juice left in the tank. The guy had a few injuries-but I think he's still one of the best options in the draft as far as running back is concerned.

3) Adrian Clayborn/Iowa Defensive End
Some thought Adrian Clayborn was the best of the Defensive End prospects entering the past football season. So why has his stock dropped? Clayborn still has the tools to be an instant starter with a solid impact in the NFL-but he might get drafted late in the first round or even second round if some of the 2011 NFL Mock drafts are correct. The fact that he has slipped has to be a little frightening for some teams--but the eternal optimists who pick up Clayborn will be rewarded with a rock solid defensive starter and a 2011 NFL draft steal.

4) Drake Nevis/LSU Defensive Tackle
How can a guy who can make such an impact be picked so low in the draft? Drake Nevis will provide answers to any questions about his ability in the 2011-2012 season. Nevis a guy who might need to be double teamed on occasion because of his athletic ability. Typical of an SEC defender, Nevis will make it tough on opponents who run the ball his way. Nevis has been projected as a low first round pick which means he'll most likely end up at a team that's already pretty solid.

5) Gabe Carimi/Wisconsin Offensive Tackle
Is Gabe Carimi going to slip out of the first round? If so, hire me as a general manager and I'll make sure this future offensive lineman Hall of Famer gets on a team that desperately needs him. Carimi, like Nevis and Clayborn, could potentially go to teams that are already pretty loaded. That means he may have time to mature and become a legitimate NFL lineman. I don't think the guy needs a lot of time. His stint at Wisconsin against some tough Big Ten defensive lineman is all the proof I need to say this guy is legit. Carimi could be a Jeff Van Note type and last a few decades. He's that good of a steal. Why is he not rated higher in many 2011 NFL mock drafts? Maybe some analysts or general managers believe the O-Line just isn't that much of a priority. But how can you ignore it if you are trying to secure the building blocks for your franchise. It's where everything starts.

That's my list of top five steals in the upcoming 2011 NFL draft. There will be 2011 NFL mock drafts that point towards many other ideas concerning these specific players and perhaps some will even move up the chart in the next few weeks. I feel each of these players is a lock to be something special in the NFL if put in the right situation. I think they're all great "steals" and teams who draft them certainly won't regret it.

2011 Mock Draft, Bleacher Report, Brian DiTullio