Now that Super Bowl XLV is a week old, sports betting online enthusiasts can shift their attention to the upcoming draft in the end of April. This year’s draft class looks to be one of the best in most NFL betting online handicapper’s minds. Who will go first? Will quarterbacks be the talk of the draft like the last three years? Here are some predictions regarding the draft.

The 2011 NFL draft will be defensive heavy for the first couple of rounds. On paper, it appears that the three teams that won the honor of drafting in the first three spots will all be defensive heavy. Carolina Panthers finished in dead last this past season and unless they trade the first overall pick, appear destined to pick a defensive minded player, although that could change as there are some great offensive threats.

In our opinion, we feel that since Carolina’s defensive line ranked amongst the worst last season, we predict they will focus on grabbing a defensive tackle or a defensive end. While cornerback Patrick Peterson of LSU appears to be the consensus pick amongst our colleagues, as the top draft choice, we feel Da’Quan Bowers a defensive end from Clemson will move up in the draft. Bowers is projected by our colleagues to be a four, five or six pick, but the big defensive end has all the tools to be a number one. What’s more, Bowers is comparable to former Carolina Panther great Julius Peppers, and really if the Panthers have a chance to get another Peppers, you can guarantee they will do so.

What’s more, look for several veteran quarterbacks to be in play come draft time. With rumours coming out, that Carson Palmer of the Bengals and Donovan McNabb of the Redskins want to be traded, both of their clubs could move the disgruntled pivots for higher draft choices. Donovan McNabb in Buffalo could be the pivot the Bills have been waiting for since Doug Flutie left in 1998.