Andrew Perloff of SI.com has come out with his latest 2011 NFL mock draft and in a somewhat surprising move has Missouri Tigers QB Blaine Gabbert going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers.
Quarterbacks have gone No. 1 overall eight out of the past 10 years. CAA, which represents Gabbert, has represented seven of the past eight overall No. 1 picks. Despite playing in a spread offense at Missouri, Gabbert is the top-rated quarterback and is the kind of player Carolina could sell to its fans.
This was unfathomable two weeks ago when Stanford QB Andrew Luck was still in the picture. Now that he's staying in school you can expect to see some chatter for Gabbert and the top overall pick.
Panthers fans at SB Nation's Cat Scratch Reader noticed this projection which perked their ears.
If you've been keeping up with the trends thus far you'll know that Gabbert has meteorically risen up the draft board since Andrew Luck decided to return to school, and typically this seems like the usual 'we need a QB!' panic. However, when pro-scouts are telling SI's Don Banks about the traits of Gabbert and respected analysts Mike Mayock and Todd McShay are sold on him one has to wonder.