2011 NFL Draft Results: Reviewing Picks 5-8 of 2011 Draft
The Arizona Cardinals selected Patrick Peterson with the No. 5 pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
Then all hell broke loose.
With the Cleveland Browns set to make their pick at No. 6, the Atlanta Falcons traded down to select Alabama receiver Julio Jones. All they gave up was their first-, second- and fourth-round picks of this year's draft, and their first- and fourth-round picks of next year's draft.
Receiver wasn't even their primary need.
At No. 7, the San Francisco 49ers went with potential over immediate impact in Missouri defensive end/linebacker Aldon Smith.
And, to top off picks No. 5 through No. 8, the Tennessee Titans selected Washington quarterback Jake Locker to be their franchise quarterback despite Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert still being available.
Talk about a bizarre start to the draft.
Read on for my grades of each team's selections.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
1 of 4
The Arizona Cardinals had four primary positions they needed to draft for in 2011: quarterback, outside linebacker, inside linebacker and guard.
But they decided to go with the best player available at No. 5, selecting LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson despite the secondary not being the top need for the team.
Peterson is considered in some circles to be a once-in-a-generation cornerback, the size and height to break up jump balls in the end zone and the technique, speed and athleticism to break up passes or take interceptions to the house.
In short, he's got it all.
Grade: A
The Cardinals could have been tempted to draft Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert given they have no one on the current roster that figures to be a franchise signal-caller, but I applaud them for taking the best player available at No. 5.
Gabbert is no Andrew Luck, and if the Cardinals didn't feel he was the one, why draft him?
With Peterson, they could have a lockdown corner for years to come, and a potential perennial Pro Bowler, as well.
They made the right choice, regardless of their immediate needs.
Sometimes a player takes precedent over a glaring need. Especially when he has the potential of Patrick Peterson.
6. Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
2 of 4
The Atlanta Falcons had primary needs rushing the passer and on the offensive line coming into the 2011 NFL draft.
They figured to be set up nicely at No. 27 to grab a solid defensive end or outside linebacker.
But they shocked everyone, trading their first-round pick, second-round pick and fourth-round pick this year, as well as first- and fourth-round picks in 2012, to the Cleveland Browns for a chance to move up to No. 6 and select receiver Julio Jones.
I've seen a lot of things in my day, but this figures to be one of the most stunning I have ever witnessed. Now, I see what they're doing, adding a wideout opposite Roddy White, and Jones is the second-best receiver in the draft, but what they gave up to not even get a primary need is a bit shocking.
I like Jones but I didn't even think he was worth a top-six pick.
Grade: D-
The only reason I don't give the Falcons an "F" for this move is because Jones could become a Pro Bowl receiver, given his work ethic and explosiveness. But you don't need another Pro Bowl receiver, and they gave up a ridiculous amount to claim Jones. Plus, they were set up nicely to address their primary need with possibly someone like Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn.
Bizarre, and frankly, and dumbfounding.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri
3 of 4
The San Francisco 49ers had three glaring areas of concern coming in the 2011 NFL draft: quarterback, cornerback and outside linebacker.
With Missouri DE/OLB Aldon Smith, the 49ers may have set themselves up nicely at one of these areas of concern.
Smith is very raw, at just 20 years old, but he has tremendous potential given his athleticism and propensity to get to the quarterback quickly and ferociously. He had 17 sacks in his first two years with the Tigers and displayed his speed with a 58-yard interception return last season.
He may be a little reach now, but it's not a bad pick given what he could be with some seasoning.
Grade: B
The 49ers had a chance to grab Smith's teammate, QB Blaine Gabbert, here at No. 7, but I think they were wise to pass. There was plenty of talent surrounding Gabbert, and he just didn't stand out as a potential franchise quarterback.
I do think they made a solid pick in Smith. He's raw, but the 49ers don't appear to be getting a quarterback to lead them to the promised land anytime soon, and that will give him time to develop into a potential beast off the edge in the meantime.
But where I think they went wrong is passing up Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara. I see him as a better prospect, and a possible Pro Bowl lockdown defensive back. They need a big-time corner in their secondary badly.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
8. Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
4 of 4
When it came time for the Tennessee Titans to select at No. 8, Cam Newton was off the board, Marcell Dareus was off the board but Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert was still there, as well as Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley.
Not only did the Titans pass these guys up, they pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the draft, selecting Washington QB Jake Locker, who many saw either going to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 25 or missing the first round altogether.
Obviously, the Titans looked at more of this kid's positives than his negatives, and traveled back in time to before 2010, the season in which he imploded. But he does have some skills and still has the potential to be a franchise quarterback.
Remember, Locker was rated as the No. 1 quarterback in the nation before the 2010 season began.
Grade: C-
I'll say this: Locker was largely considered to be the third-best quarterback in the draft. So if the Titans didn't like Gabbert, for whatever reason, then it's logical to go after Locker. But then you realize you could have gotten a prime defensive tackle at this spot, ranging from Fairley, to Corey Liuget to Muhammad Wilkerson to Phil Taylor.
How do you pass those guys up for Locker?
Only time will tell, but if this guy doesn't develop into a star this will go down as a colossal mistake by the Titans in their NFL draft history.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
