At a time when as many as six or seven quarterbacks could be among the first 32 players selected in the 2011 draft, only two of them will be among the 25 players who’ll make the trek to Radio City Music Hall.
The NFL has released the full list of players who have accepted invitations to the draft. Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert will be there; Jake Locker, Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick, Christian Ponder, and Ryan Mallett won’t be.
Most of the latter five were invited. It’s possible that each opted not to go due to the possibility of engaging in an unexpected Brady Quinn-style slide, going later than expected -- and possibly going last of the seven big-name quarterback.
The other 23 players attending the draft are cornerback Prince Amukamara, defensive tackle Corey Liuget, linebacker Akeem Ayers, linebacker Von Miller, defensive end Adrian Clayborn, safety Rahim Moore, receiver Randall Cobb, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, cornerback Patrick Peterson, defensive tackle Nick Fairley, center Mike Pouncey, defensive end Aldon Smith, receiver A.J. Green, tackle Tyron Smith, linebacker Mark Herzlich, defensive tackle Phil Taylor, running back Mark Ingram, guard Danny Watkins, defensive end Cameron Jordan, defensive end JJ Watt, receiver Julio Jones, running back Ryan Williams, and defensive end Ryan Kerrigan.