The 1st round of the 2011 draft can really be defined by two things:
1.) Teams overrate and overvalue QBs when there is no one great QB.
2.) Because of this, a lot of teams can get players they never imagined could fall to them.
Before I give out my grades, I'll admit that I don't know too much about a lot of these players. The endless line of 3-4 DEs and 4-3 DE/3-4 OLBs got confusing. My knowledge of this years first round is far from what it was last year. That said, let's get to the grades.
1.) Carolina selects Cam Newton, QB.
Grade: B
Here is the problem with the whole 2011 QB class. There was no one great QB. There was no Sam Bradford, no Matt Stafford. It was a lot like 2006 (Young, Leinart, Cutler) where all the QBs were overrated since they were judged against each other. Cam Newton got artificially hyped and overselected because of that. I considered giving the Panthers a far worse grade, but they need a QB. For a team that bad record-wise, they don't have that many areas of need. Their o-line is good. Their RBs are good. Their defense is pretty well set. Their major needs were QB and WR, so they could have picked AJ Green. Also, I like Cam Newton. He seems to be motivated and a smart guy, totally unlike JaMarcus Russell who some were comparing this selection to. I don't think he'll be a total success, but he won't be a bust.
2.) Denver selects Von Miller, OLB
Grade: B
I like the pick if the Broncos were staying with a 3-4. They could have used a defensive lineman, but with their transition back to a 4-3, he's a good guy to rush the passer. He'll need to bulk up a bit to play a 4-3 DE, but I think he can. He was great in college, and a great prospect, but the fact that he is not a pure positional fit gives me cause. That said, John Fox has done wonders with slenderer guys at the 4-3 DE with Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker.
3.) Buffalo selects Marcell Dareus, 3-4 DE
Grade: A
Nothing more to say other than that this is a great pick. Fills a big need up front for the Bills. He was the best d-lineman on the board. He's a consistent player week-to-week and he was at times dominant in the SEC. For a team that had one of the bigger head-scratchers in the NFL last season with selecting CJ Spiller, this is a safe, solid, good pick.
4.) Cincinnati selects AJ Green, WR
Grade: A
Again, there is not a lot to say. With the TO & Ocho Show being a disaster, they needed some help outside. Whether or not they intend to keep Carson Palmer, they got the consensus best skill position player in the draft, to go along with Jordan Shipley who quietly had a nice rookie season, and Jerome Simpson who came on late after TO & Ocho were injured. Throw in Gresham, and the weapons are there. They just need to make sure they have the right player throwing it.
5.) Arizona selects Patrick Peterson, CB
Grade: A
Along with AJ Green, Patrick Peterson was said to be the best and safest prospect in the draft, and kudos to the Cardinals to sticking to their board. They have bigger needs (namely QB), but didn't reach for those needs like quite a few of the upcoming teams. No, the Cardinals took the best player available, who can now be paired with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to make for a good CB tandem.
6.) Atlanta (from Cleveland) selects Julio Jones
Grade: B-
This is a two part grade. For the selection of the player itself, it is a B+. Jones is a good player, and the Falcons obviously needed another target to pair with Roddy White, as Matt Ryan was left useless in the playoffs without the other option. That said, the trade was a C-. That was a whole lot to give up. I applaud the Falcons for having giant balls for pulling off this deal and going out and getting the guy they wanted, but that was a lot to give up. Also, I find Julio Jones a little overrated. He was a really highly touted recruit and then prospect, but failed to dominate in college which is never a good sign. The great WRs usually dominate in college (Fitzgerald, Andre).
7.) San Francisco selects Aldon Smith, DE
Grade: B-
How long can the 49ers go on without actually adressing needs. They need a CB, and they have one out there waiting in Prince Amukamara (not the last on him). They need some skill position players (not really available here, but they could have traded back). Aldon Smith is also not a prototype 3-4 DE. The 49ers do need someone to rush the passer, but I'm just not sure Aldon Smith is that guy.
8.) Tennessee selects Jake Locker, QB
Grade: C
The Titans are basically taking a huge risk for a player they could have gotten later. I guess they really like Locker, but why? He was a 54% passer in college. Do they really expect that to rise in the NFL. One of his biggest positives is that he is a good athlete and leader. So was Vince Young. This was just a bizzarre pick this early, especially with Albert Haynesworth 2.0 (in the good sense) out there in Nick Fairley.
9.) Dallas selects Tyron Smith, OT
Grade: B+
Nice pick that fills a need and also gets a good player to Dallas. However, there were other needs (corner - again Prince?). Smith is also a guy who might not get any better, plus comes from USC. The USC offensive players in the Pete Carroll era (and Pete recruited him) have all for the most part been huge disappointments. In fact, even their defensive players haven't all been great. After a while that is a trend.
10.) Jacksonville (from Washington) selects Blaine Gabbert, QB
Grade: A-
I rarely do this, but good on the Jags. Good on them for being decisive, trading up and getting their guy. Despite hanging around division and wild card contention each of the last two years, GM Gene Smith correctly realizes that the David Garrard era has already peaked. They need a QB to compete, and Gabbert is, in my opinion, the most likely of any 2011 QB to make it. He needs some time, but they have that available as they can just play Garrard for a year. The minus comes from the fact that they do have other needs, and they gave up a lot to get this pick, and Gabbert could have been availabe at 16.
11.) Houston selects JJ Watt, 3-4 DE
Grade: B-
The Texans are transitioning to a 3-4 under Wade Phillips, and they have their DEs in Mario Williams and Antonio Smith, but productive and both good. What they need are OLBs to rush the passer, and more importantly, players in teh secondary (Prince Amu-fucking-kamara!!!). JJ Watt is a good player, and gives them more depth, but this pick could have been better.
12.) Minnesota selects Christian Ponder, QB
Grade: C
The grade is more due to them picking him 12th overall. He's a west coast QB, and other than Cincinnati, there is no West Coast team that still needs a QB. That was a major, major reach. They could have traded down into the 20s and gotten him. Also, he's just not that good. Kevin Kolb was better and he was a 2nd round pick. Overall, this is an unimpressive set of QBs and they all went high. It is dumbfounding that four QBs could go in the first 12 picks and I could easily see none of them ever winning a Super Bowl.
13.) Detroit selects Nick Fairley, DT
Grade: A+ (tied for best in the draft)
Unbelievably good pick. Make a strength better. I've always loved that way of drafting, personified by the Giants selecting umpteen DEs from 2004-2007. Sure, they have a monster DT in Ndakukong Suh, but why not have two monster DTs. Nick Fairley is Albert Haynesworth 2.0 and Jim Schwartz knew how to motivate Big Al. This was an incredible steal for the Lions and makes them instantly have one of the best D-Lines in the NFL. Incredible.
14.) St. Louis selects Robert Quinn, DE
Grade: A
Robert Quinn's only year of college was when he was 19 and he was great then. A bad situation is different than a bad kid, and that he is not. Robert Quinn is the best 4-3 DE in the draft, and that works perfectly for Steve Spagnuolo who knows the importance of stockpiling great DEs. The Rams were quietly a great pass rushing D-Line last year, and now, that is only getting better.
15.) Miami selects Mike Pouncey, G
Grade: C+
First of all, Maurkice was overrated to begin with. If not for Peter King's incessant "Maurkice Pouncey for All-Pro" train, no one would think of Maurkice as a great player. Second of all, if Mike Pouncey was named Mike Jones, he's probably a second round pick. Because of their need at OG, the pick is at least defendable, but I have a feeling that the Pouncey twins are not the next Barber twins of the NFL.
16.) Washington selects Ryan Kerrigan, DE
Grade: B-
It is unknown whether Ryan Kerrigan can actually play big enough as a 3-4 DE. That's a tough position to play really well, and Kerrigan would be much better off suited as a 4-3 DE. He's a very good player though, so at least Washington is getting good value in that pick, if not great positional need and fit.
17.) New England selects Nate Solder, OT
Grade: B-
Just an odd pick for the Pats. OT isn't a real need, as Matt Light still has a year or two left and Sebastian Vollmer is a good young player. They have a major need at DE and OLB, and there were a bunch of talented guys to fill those roles. Solder is also regarded as the fourth best OT prospect in the draft, and as a technically good finnesse OT, something the Pats don't usually like. This pick makes their trade essentially Richard Seymour for Nate Solder. I think, and we don't say this often, the Raiders won.
18.) San Diego selects Corey Liuget, DT
Grade: B
As far as just a player, this is a great pick. Liuget is seen by many as the best pure 3-technique DT in the draft (if not Nick Fairley), and by just value this is a great pick. However, I'm not sure where he fits in San Diego. He doesn't have experience at 3-4 DE, and he's not ideally suited for that. However, San Diego stuck to their board, and more often than not, they are right. I really wanted him for teh Colts so it was a bit sad to see him go here.
19.) New York (n) selects Prince Amukamara, CB
Grade: A+ (tied for best in draft)
Amazing how far he fell for no real good reason. There are no character or injury concerns. There is no reason why he would fall this far, but the Giants got a great player at 19, and a player I am sure the Giants never thought would be here. The Giants really need a LB, but 4-3 LBs are undervalued and are readily available later on. The Giants now have a good corner to put in that rotation with Aaron Ross, Corey Webster and the rest.
20.) Tampa Bay selects Adrian Clayborn, DE
Grade: A
The Bucs needed pass rushing help, and Clayborn is just that. He's perfect value at this spot, a good fit as a 4-3 DE, and a player that can contribute immediately. Probably doesn't have the upside that some other players do, but he's really the definition of a solid, safe pick. The Bucs have a good defense outside of their lack of pass rush and he can help solve those problems.
21.) Cleveland (from Kansas City) selects Phil Taylor, NT
Grade: B
In the sense that he was the best NT in the draft, he's a good pick, but the Browns are moving back to a 4-3. He would have been better in Eric Mangini's system. Also, I don't understand why they moved up, as I don't think any team from 21-26 would have needed a NT. That said, he's the best at his position, so it's a fine pick.
22.) Indianapolis selects Anthony Castonzo, OT
Grade: A-
Safe and smart. Just like Adrian Clayborn earlier, Castonzo is a safe pick and a position of need. The Colts needed a true LT, as Charlie Johnson is better as a LG (although did commendably at LT). The reason why this isn't a great pick is because OT just isn't that important to the Colts, but without a great DT option on the board, the pick still makes sense.
23.) Philadelphia selects Danny Watkins, G
Grade: B
26 year old rookie? That doesn't sound like a recipe for success. That said, he fills a position of need a team with few true needs and should help shore up the interior of that line which will help Mike Vick. Also, the Eagles have a great track record with 1st round picks, so there is some benefit of the doubt grade inflation at work here.
24.) New Orleans selects Cameron Jordan, DE
Grade: A
He's one of the best 3-4 DEs in the draft, and one capable of moving inside in four man nickel situations. He's the guy the Patriots could and probably should have picked. Gregg Williams will love the versatility of Jordan who should be an immediate contributor. I'm sure the Saints are absolutely ecstatic that he fell this far.
25.) Seattle selects James Carpenter, OT/OG
Grade: B-
I'll be honest, I know little to nothing about Mr. Carpenter. From what I've read, he's really versatile and a low-risk lower-upside player, which is fine. He'll never play OT as that is Russell Okung's job, but his versatility makes him an okay pick. The big problem was that it was a reach, as he was rarely considered a first round pick.
26.) Kansas City selects Jonathan Baldwin, WR
Grade: B
There was really no first-round talent at WR, so this is a reach, however, the Chiefs need another WR to place oppisite the resurgent Dwayne Bowe. Jonathan Baldwin has his drops problems and doesn't have elite speed, but is a good route running possession receiver which makes him the perfect complement. They needed more weapons for Matt Cassel, who by the end of the year seemed to have been figured out.
27.) Baltimore select Jimmy Smith, CB
Grade: B+
He's a great player and fills a position of need, but his character concerns are just too much. I realize that the Ravens locker room is perfect for a guy with character and motivation issues, because Ray Lewis will basically force you to be prepared and play hard, but his alleged one-time addiction to Codeine is a major problem. The Sizzurp kills careers; just ask JaMarcus Russell.
28.) New Orleans (from New England) selects Mark Ingram, RB
Grade: B-
He doesn't really fill a need unless this is the end of the Pierre Thomas/Chris Ivory era. Sadly this looks like its the end of the Reggie Bush era, which makes no sense. Mark Ingram cannot replace the explosiveness of Reggie Bush, but rather he could replace the consistency of Pierre Thomas. I like the teh player, but I don't see the tandem working, and that is problem when they gave up a 2012 1st round pick. (BTW, I like that New England always acquires future 1st round picks, but its pointless acquiring them when you just trade one of them away each time).
29.) Chicago selects Gabe Carimi, OT
Grade: A-
Perfect pick in an area of dire need. Gabe Carimi is a physical player that should work well in the Windy City, and hopefully give Jay Cutler some much needed added protection. The reason why it is docked down to an A- is just a way of giving the Bears a slap on the wrist for their fault in the whole Baltimore/KC pick mess.
30.) New York (a) selects Muhammad Wilkerson, DE
Grade: B+
Again, I don't know much about Mr. Wilkerson. He seems like okay value, but not great need. The Jets have good DEs on their 3-4. They need pass rush help, and they could have selected an Akeem Ayers type player on the outside. Linebacker is the much bigger need than D-Line for the Jets going forward.
31.) Pittsburgh selects Cameron Heyward, DE
Grade: A
Pittsburgh is just amazing at doing this: drafting for future need. They did it with LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, and now with Heyward. They'll sit him for a year or two as he gets his degree in LeBeau-ology. Then, they'll release either Brett Keisel or Aaron Smith in two years, just to start Heyward. It's a beautiful proccess really. The Steelers could have used a corner, but there are always corners available.
32.) Green Bay selects Derrek Sherrod, OT
Grade: B
Good value, but not really need. I can't blame the Packers as there weren't many needs they had, but their OTs were quite good in 2010. Their interior was a different story, and Sherrod won't really contribute immediately. I'm probably being a bit harsh though.
That was fun. Look forward to some post-draft power rankings next week.
