The run on quarterbacks during the early portions of the 2011 NFL Draft — four went in the first 12 picks, including surprise selections of Jake Locker (eighth) and Christian Ponder (12th) — had another subtle result.

It was a very telling point of the NFL draft when the Buccaneers, badly in need of a pass rusher at No. 20, selected Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn. Not that Clayborn was a reach, but that the Bucs chose him over Clemson DE Da’Quan Bowers, who is sliding because of concerns over his surgically repaired knee.

Jake Locker, and not Blaine Gabbert, was the second quarterback taken in the 2011 NFL Draft, as the Titans provided the first true surprise pick at eighth overall.

The Bengals are looking for a quarterback, that much we know about the draft. But where do the Bengals make the move? Our Gil Brandt told readers on Monday during his NFL.com chat that the Bengals could be looking to move out of the No. 4 spot in the draft, and that the club has its eyes on quarterback down the draft board.

Pat Kirwan throws another name into the Randy Moss sweepstakes: The Washington Redskins.

NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi didn’t change his opinion after watching Jake Locker’s workout at Washington’s pro day.

Might Alabama RB Mark Ingram be the next Emmitt Smith? Nobody is going that far right now, but NFL Network’s Marshall Faulk says that Ingram reminds him of Smith — and it goes far beyond wearing No. 22 and playing in the SEC.

There’s little debate about what Ryan Mallett does well on the field. What remains to be seen is whether teams believe questions about him off the field are a real concern.

Auburn QB Cam Newton probably didn’t do himself any favors with his NFL Scouting Combine workout that’s drawing mixed reviews. Then again, the consensus seems to be that he didn’t show talent evaluators anything they didn’t already know about his game.

Much time has been spent discussing the merits of the top quarterbacks at the NFL Scouting Combine, and on Sunday, they finally took the field. So when all was said and done, who stood out?

Is it possible that somebody other than Mike Mamula is the biggest combine bust of all-time? You will just have to take a look for yourself.

It’s the question that’s on the mind of every football fan in Buffalo, and will be for the next two months: Should the Bills take a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft?

I feel sick right now. I tweeted earlier that I thought Aaron Rodgers was going to have his way with the Steelers defensive backs, and next thing you know, Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson for a touchdown. Jordy Nelson!

As Rich Eisen said this morning on NFL GameDay, today just happens to be the nicest day all week. Good omen? Let’s hope so.

A pair of tight ends have stepped out from the pack and flashed some intriguing skills this week during Senior Bowl practices.