2011 NFL Draft Grades: Analyzing the Best and Worst of the 2011 Draft
By on April 29, 2011
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With the 2011 NFL Draft in the book, there's only one thing left to do; grade the selections.
One of the fastest first rounds in history was stocked with many eye-popping surprises; mock drafts were totally obliterated throughout the evening.
The No. 1 overall selection, Cam Newton, symbolized a class with many red flags, question marks and players who aren't ready to come in and start in the NFL from day one.
The Falcons sold the farm, moving five draft picks to jump into the Cleveland Browns No. 6 spot to land wideout Julio Jones.
Jake Locker was the second quarterback off the board at No. 8 to the Tennessee Titans, when many believed Blaine Gabbert would be the next quarterback taken after Cam Newton.
Somehow, Cameron Jordan fell to No 24, and Da'Quan Bowers wasn't even selected.
For as many great picks as their were, most notably Marcell Dareus to the Bills, A.J. Green to the Bengals, Nate Solder to the Patriots, Prince Amukamara to the Giants, Jimmy Smith to the Ravens and Muhammad Wilkerson to the jets, there were a great deal of bad ones, reaches or prospects that don't schematically fit for the teams that selected them.
For everything you need on the draft, make sure to bookmark our 2011 NFL Draft hub.
Keep it locked here today for a look at all the worst first-round selections.
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The Chicago Bears Add Offensive and Defensive Line Help With 2011 NFL Draft Picks
The 2011 draft was one in which the Chicago Bears needed to find some help for Jay Cutler.
Last season we witnessed what Cutler can do when he's protected, and we also saw him crumble under the pressure and take a ridiculous amount of sacks.
So, the Bears had to draft and offensive lineman, and they did with top-tier tackle Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin.
He's a great run blocker but is quick enough to defense the outside edge rush and will slide in seamlessly to the right side of Chicago's offensive line.
Monster defensive tackle Stephen Paea was grabbed in the second-round; he'll be Tommie Harris' replacement.
The went on to pick Idaho's Nathan Enderle in the fifth, who'll compete with Dan LeFevour and Caleb Hanie for the backup role to Culter.
They didn't have a ton of picks, but they filled holes with quality prospects.
A solid draft.
Final Grade: B
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Detroit Lions Primed To Compete In NFC North Next Season With 2011 NFL Draft Picks
Are the Detroit Lions finally ready to turn the corner in the NFC North?
After their 2011 draft, it's a distinct possibility.
Initially, the selection of Nick Fairley was stunning, especially with Ndamukong Suh being Detroit's first-round pick last season. But to me, there's nothing wrong with stockpiling a position on the defensive line with an immense amount of talent.
Who's blocking those two?
Titus Young was added to give Matt Stafford a nice slot target who has the ability to line up out wide and beat cornerbacks on go-routes.
Mikel Leshoure is a bigger back, who can combine with Jahvid Best to create quite the thunder and lightning tandem.
The NFC North should be extremely competitive next season, and on paper, the Detroit Lions can stick with the Vikings, Bears and Packers.
Final Grade: B
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Minnesota Vikings Take Risk With Christian Ponder, Add Talented Tight End Rudolph With 2011 NFL Draft Picks
The Minnesota Vikings either have no faith in Tavaris Jackson and Joe Webb or they really believe Christian Ponder is a quarterback you can build your team around.
No. 12, to me, was way to high for Ponder to be selected, especially with Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick and Ryan Mallet still on the board.
He's not a bad prospect by any means, but he lacks ideal size, and wasn't fantastic in college; something I like to see in a Top 12 pick.
They made up for their questionable first-round selection with a solid Day 3.
Brandon Burton was graded as a second-rounder by some and is an all-around cornerback, who can man up in sub-packages and defend the sweeps to the outside.
Kyle Rudolph and Visanthe Shiancoe formulate quite the tight end targets, with Ruldolph the better pass-catching threat.
They added defensive depth in the late-rounds with Ross Homan from Ohio State and De'Aundre Reed from Arizona.
Still, that first-round pick of Ponder was too risky for my liking.
Final Grade: C
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Houston Texans Find 3-4 Players and Secondary Help With Their 2011 NFL Draft Picks
Wow.
There's no debating the Houston Texans look to have had a fantastic draft. They filled major needs with talented players that dropped; guys who will start in the 2011 season.
J.J. Watt is the ideal 3-4 defense end. He goes hard on every play and is very good against the run.
Brooks Reed surprisingly slipped to them at No. 42 overall, and is another great fit as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense that will be run next season in Houston.
Another high-motor guy, Reed specializes in getting to the quarterback; offensive tackles and tight ends will have a hard time stopping Reed and Mario Williams in the future, you can bet on that.
To help revamp their secondary, Brandon Harris and Rashad Carmichael were chosen in the mid-rounds. Both are well-rounded secondary members with potential.
I really like what Harris brings to the field as a pesky cover-corner.
Still, the defensive backfield needs a little more work.
Final Grade: A
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Jacksonville Jaguars Grab Future Franchise QB and Wide Receiving Depth With 2011 NFL Draft Picks
Blaine Gabbert lands in an ideal situation with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
As the backup.
David Garrard should start next season for Jack Del Rio, and the Jaguars first-round selection can be mentored by the veteran on his way to franchise quarterback status.
Gabbert has everything you need to be a top-level signal caller, his skill-set just needs to be slightly tweaked and it'll take time for him to learn the intricacies of an NFL offense.
They went with small-school prospects in Round 2 and 3, grabbing Lehigh guard Will Rackley and Mount Union wide receiver Cecil Shorts.
Both will need to be slowly worked onto the field, but they should be full-time starters by 2012 if not by mid-season this year. The receiving contingent really needed another body.
With only five picks, the Jags couldn't add a ton of talent, but it looks like they drafted three future starters with extremely high ceilings.
Watch out for Shorts, Pierre Garcon showed us that Mount Union wideouts can get it done in the NFL.
Final Grade: C+
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Indianapolis Colts Fortify Their Offensive Line With 2011 NFL Draft Picks
Rarely do the Indianapolis Colts have a chance to select one of the top players in a specific draft class.
2010 was one of their worst seasons in recent memory, and they went 10-6.
They've got Peyton Manning, who can bring the best out of any grouping of players; GM and draft guru Bill Polian knows that.
He also knows it's important to do everything in his power to keep Manning on his feet, so the Colts drafted the polished Anthony Castonzo out of Boston College, an offensive linemen factory. He'll start from opening weekend and will fit nicely into Indianapolis zone blocking scheme.
In the second-round, via a trade, they grabbed Ben Ijalana from Villanova, a massive tackle who could start next season on the other end from Castonzo. If not, he's great depth and has a lot of room to grow.
Drake Nevis out of LSU will strength their run defense and Delone Carter, the running back from Syracuse is one of the hardest runners in the 2011 draft class.
Solid pieces were added to the Colts roster this weekend, but really, are you surprised?
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Tennessee Titans Grab Their Future Franchise Quarterback, Help Defense With Their 2011 NFL Draft Picks
Jake Locker was a shocking selection to many, but the Titans were in dire need of a quarterback and Locker has all the tools and intangibles to be a franchise guy.
Akeem Ayers had first-round grades but slipped to Tennessee at No. 39 overall. He didn't really live up to preseason expectations, but he'll help improve the games of Will Witherspoon and Gerald McRath.
Jurrell Casey is a stocky nose tackle, who could instantly be plugged in as Albert Haynesworth's replacement. He's not as big, and isn't a pure pass-rusher but he possess a good combination of strength and initial quickness to disrupt plays in the backfield with some consistency.
Jamie Harper could end up being the bruising compliment to Chris Johnson, which is something he desperately needs.
Although he proved he can be an every-down back in 2009, when he rushed for 2000+ yards, Johnson is better suited getting a rest throughout the game, then hitting it big late in the game when the defense is tired.
Overall, the Titans have positioned themselves to improved greatly in the AFC South in the foreseeable future.
Final Grade: B
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Pittsburgh Steelers Add To Their Defense, Offensive Line With Their 2011 NFL Draft Picks
The Pittsburgh Steelers had an outstanding 2010 draft without a lot of flash, and the 2011 draft class won't be talked about as a much either.
That's just how it's been for the Steelers since their rise to prominence.
Cameron Heyward is another big, strong and surprisingly agile defensive end, and that's exactly what the Steelers like.
It almost doesn't seem fair for Pittsburgh to add another ferocious defender.
With Max Starks, Willie Colon and Flozell Adams nearing the end of their careers, Max Gilbert is an offensive line prospect for the future, and he could start next year.
Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen aren't guys everyone's talking about, but with the uncertainty surrounding Ike Taylor's future, they needed some talent and depth at the cornerback position.
With these additions, the Steelers should be primed to make another run at the Super Bowl.
Final Grade: B-
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Cincinnati Bengals Turn the Page on Their Franchise with 2011 NFL Draft Picks
We aren't sure who we'll see on the field for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011.
Although there's a lot of uncertainty right now, it looked Marvin Lewis and his team is ready to move on without the familiar names.
A.J. Green is the do-it-all wideout that could either compliment or replace Chad Johnson. No waiting for him; Green should come in and produce right away.
Andy Dalton was the pick in the second-round, and his leadership qualities give reason to believe he can be a competent starter in the NFL.
Their late-round prospects are somewhat of unknowns, but Dontay Moch, the Bengals third-round pick is oozing with athleticism and was far and away the fastest linebacker at the 2011 Combine.
Still a way to go for Cincy, but at the top, they made the right selections.
Final Grade: C+
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Buffalo Bills Bring Size and Bulk To Defense in 2011 NFL Draft
The Buffalo Bills had the worst run defense in the NFL during the 2010 season.
Their defensive line was average and their linebackers had trouble getting off blocks, thus gaping holes were opened for many opposing running backs.
The pass rush wasn't very vicious either.
So the Bills were smart and dedicated their 2011 draft to defense.
Marcell Dareus fell to them at No. 3 overall, a pick that has many Western New Yorkers excited. Even with the Bills instituting both a 3-4 and a 4-3 defense next season, he'll be able to fit on any front.
The secondary is a bit thin, with an aging Terrence McGee and a free agent in Drayton Florence, so Aaron Williams was the right choice in the second round.
Kelvin Sheppard isn't outstanding at any one aspect of playing linebacker, but he's certainly an upgrade to the second line of defense for the Bills and should start from day one.
A tackle was added later in Chris Hairston, who blocked for C.J. Spiller in college and two more secondary members were also selected.
The Bills have laid the groundwork to solidify their defense.
I like it.
Final Grade: A-
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Cleveland Browns Add Toughness In Their 2011 NFL Draft
The 2010 season didn't go as the Cleveland Browns would have liked, but dominating wins over the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots along with the emergence of Peyton Hillis give Browns fans reason to be excited for the future.
There was a general thought that Cleveland would draft Julio Jones at No. 6, to give Colt McCoy weapon on the outside, but the Browns ultimately traded out of the spot with the Atlanta Falcons to acquire a load of draft picks.
Their first two defensive line picks may have come as a head-scratcher to some, but I loved both selections.
Phil Taylor has the possibility to be the next Shaun Rogers and Jabaal Sheard is extremely tough and can get in the backfield from the defensive end spot.
Two perfect picks for the division in which they play.
Their mid-round picks were outstanding.
Greg Little is another victim of the UNC season-long suspension, but he's a superb talent that can stretch the field but he's also a chain-mover.
Jordan Cameron is a former basketball player, and we all know how a few of them have fared as tight ends in the NFL.
Lastly, Owen Marecic will instantly become a fan favorite in Cleveland, and Hillis will love him, too.
Final Grade: A+
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Baltimore Ravens Add Top Corner and Give Joe Flacco Help With Their 2011 NFL Draft Picks
Here's a Super Bowl contender that infused much needed youth to their defense and supplemented their quarterback with talent at the wide receiver position.
Jimmy Smith, to some, was the best cover corner in this entire draft. Forget Patrick Peterson.
He's had some off-field issues, so what better lockerroom for him to be a part of than the one with Ray Lewis in it?
Another aggressive defender to strengthen Baltimore's defense.
On the offensive side of the football, speedster Torrey Smith was grabbed from their backyard at Maryland and Tanden Doss is a sure-handed possession guy that could replace Todd Heap as Joe Flacco's favorite target.
Tyrod Taylor is a big, intriguing name, who could blossom into a solid backup. He's similar to former Ravens second-stringer Troy Smith, but I like him more as a pocket passer.
Third-round pick Jai Reid is an interesting tackle prospect, who still is raw, but he takes pressure off Michael Oher and provides depth along the line that must deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers twice a year.
Final Grade: B+
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Arizona Cardinals Take Rangy Athletes Peterson, Williams and Acho in Their 2011 Draft
The Arizona Cardinals were another NFC West team that completed, on paper, a very solid draft.
Patrick Peterson doesn't fill an immediate need, but he's the best all-around player at his position in the draft, and is an other-worldly athlete.
If he works out at corner, he and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie formulate quite the cornerbacking duo. He also has the potential to be an All-Pro saftey; an Ed Reed type.
Ryan Williams is risky, but if stays off the injury list, the Cardinals get a very physical, yet shifty runner. Reminds me a lot of Marshawn Lynch, and it isn't just because of the long hair.
Sam Acho and Quan Sturdivant are two very intriguing prospects who have the measurables, instincts and mobility to be starters in the not so distant future.
Great value with both those selections, and overall, had a very sound draft from top to bottom.
Final Grade: B-
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San Francisco 49ers Gained Promising Talent With Smith and Kaepernick in 2011 NFL Draft
Aldon Smith is the true defensive wild-card of the first-round.
He looks like a basketball player, is tenacious as a defensive tackle and is only 21 years old.
A massive amount of potential.
The fact they didn't panic on a first-round quarterback was very admirable, as they got the kid they liked in Colin Kaepernick in Round 2.
Another promising youngster, that Jim Harbaugh will love to mold into a multi-dimensional signal caller.
One of my favorite picks in this year's draft was San Francisco's fourth-rounder, Kendall Hunter. He's the perfect compliment for Frank Gore, and has a similar skill set to that of current 49ers runner Brian Westbrook.
They helped their run defense with sixth-rounder Colin Jones, who can really plug the holes from the safety position, although he's got a long way to go to crack the starting lineup.
Final Grade: B
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Analysis and Report Card for Seattle Seahawks 2011 Draft Picks
The Seattle Seahawks may have had the least flashy draft in 2011, but they did what they needed to do; draft offensive lineman.
Last year they jumped on Russell Okung an athletic offensive tackle, and put an onus on the offensive front again in this season.
James Carpenter was a surprise in the first-round but a guard was needed, and he was one of the best in this year's class.
We know what offensive linemen from Wisconsin bring to the table, and second-round pick John Moffitt is another down-hill run blocker from Madison, who sometimes struggles in pass protection.
They still need to add more depth, but the Seahawks definitely made the right choice putting a premium on offensive guards; as their run games was one of the worst in the NFL last season.
Georgia wideout Kris Durham has the potential to be a great possession guy alongside Mike Williams, and linebacking depth in the late-rounds.
Seattle's draft doesn't pop out at you now, but when the running lanes are a little wider next season for Marshawn Lynch, you'll remember why the Seahawks went offensive lineman with their first two picks in this year's draft.
Final Grade: B-
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