2011 NFL Draft Grades: 5 Teams Who Left Better Players on Board with Pick

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Every NFL team has regrets later on when it comes to the NFL Draft whether they admit it or not.

For example, every team with a need who passed up on Clay Matthews in 2009 (including the Cleveland Browns, THREE Times) probably kicked themselves every time Matthews destroyed their quarterback.

The Carolina Panthers will be second-guessed for the next few years because they had the first pick in the draft, and if Cam Newton is not an immediate success, they passed up every other quality player in the draft in favor of taking a huge risk with Newton.

The Detroit Lions took Nick Fairley, but they left Jimmy Smith and Prince Amukamara on the board when corner was a position of need.

The Cleveland Browns drafted Phil Taylor but left Cameron Heyward, Cameron Jordan and Muhammad Wilkerson on the board.

The New York Giants probably could have better utilized their first-round pick on an offensive lineman like Anthony Castonzo or Gabe Carimi, and the Kansas City Chiefs reached for Jonathan Baldwin.

MUST READ: Report Cards For The First Three Rounds

The Chiefs could have drafted a Randall Cobb or Titus Young, who look more explosive than Baldwin does, but wide receivers are difficult to grade out at the end of the day.

We will find out who was right and who was wrong over the course of the next three years.

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