The effect of last week's announcement that Andrew Luck will stay at Stanford and return for the 2011 season is beginning to be felt around both the NFL and college football alike, particularly in 2011 NFL Mock Drafts.
With the consensus favorite to be the top overall pick, draft boards everywhere have had to reshuffle the order at the top, and in SB Nation's latest 2011 NFL mock draft, the new No. 1 pick is Da'Quan Bowers, a defensive end from Clemson.
Minus a sure thing at quarterback, the Panthers will seriously consider sticking with Jimmy Clausen and take the draft's best pass rusher. Bowers is a phenomenal talent just starting to come into his own.
The New England Patriots first of two first-round picks -- No. 17, via Oakland -- has not changed from the original mock draft (assuming they don't trade it, of course):
17. New England Patriots (f/OAK): Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State. Chances are outstanding that the trade-happy Pats will deal this pick, but Heyward would be an outstanding fit for Bill Belichick. He's a high-character kid and a great football player that fits the 3-4 perfectly.
And with their second pick, SB Nation has the Pats drafting a cornerback:
32. New England Patriots (14-2): Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado. The Pats appear to have found an excellent, possibly lock-down corner in 2010 first-round pick Devin McCourty. They're still searching for quality players at that position, and Smith would give the group a little size, as well.