2011 NFL Draft Results: 5 Biggest Winners and Losers from Round 1

The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft has come and gone.

Some unexpected players fell, and teams acquired players to solidify their squads on levels even the experts couldn't have predicted. 

Before the next round gets underway, here are some of the biggest winners and losers from Thursday night. 

Winner: Christian Ponder

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MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 29: Quarterback Christian Ponder #7 of the South Team passes over defensive lineman Pierre Allen #95 North Team during the fourth quarter of the Under Armour Senior Bowl on January 29, 2011 at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.

With the Minnesota Vikings on the clock with the 12th overall selection in the draft, no team would trade up and select a top 15 player. 

So instead, Minnesota selected quarterback Christian Ponder out of Florida State University. 

Not only does Ponder practically guarantee himself a starting job come Week 1 of the 2011 NFL season, but he cashes in big time. 

Initially Ponder was projected as a late second-rounder or an early third-round selection, yet he somehow wiggled his way into the first round. 

No one saw this coming, and for Ponder, it probably couldn't get any better. 

Winner: New England Patriots

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 12: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots leaves the field after beating Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Patriots beat the Bears 36-7. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty I

Mastermind Bill Belichick has done it again. 

Not only did he address one of the two biggest needs on his team by drafting OT Nate Solder with the 17th overall selection of the draft, but the Patriots managed to acquire another pick in Round 2 and a first-round selection in 2012 from the New Orleans Saints by trading the 28th overall pick. 

Oh yeah, the Patriots also own the first pick in the second round today. 

The Patriots will most likely trade that pick also, since a few teams have had all night to think about who is available.

Solder is a project pick, but once he adds some bulk to his frame, he will find his place protecting Tom Brady until he retires.

With Logan Mankins franchised for a second consecutive year and Matt Light's status with the team uncertain, Solder is a decent pick for a team that always gets more than 100 percent from its draft selection.  

New England has five picks in Day 2, so look for Belichick to maximize the value of those selections as well. 

Winner: Detroit Lions

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates the Tigers 22-19 victory against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (

After Nick Fairley and Auburn won the 2011 BCS National Championship, most boards had him being selected within the first three picks of the draft. 

Apparently he wasn't dominant enough for a team to select him inside the first 12.

With the 13th overall pick, the Detroit Lions took Fairley and now have one of the most feared defensive lines on paper. 

Pairing last year's defensive stud Ndamukong Suh with Fairley, there is no doubt the Lions have come back from their lull amongst the bottom-feeders of the NFL.

In an NFC North division that likes to run the ball, Suh and Fairley will go a long way in stopping the Super Bowl champion Packers and the rumbling backs in Minnesota.

Of course the Lions have greater needs than on the defensive line, but letting Fairley slip by was just a mistake the Lions couldn't make. 

Winner: Cleveland Browns

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Julio Jones #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes for a touchdown during the Capitol One Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Im

Much speculation was made about Cleveland and who they would pick with their sixth overall selection.

Most experts had them maximizing their pick with Julio Jones, and they were right—just not in the way they originally thought.

The Atlanta Falcons apparently thought trading from the 27th pick to the sixth and drafting Jones was the difference in getting to the Super Bowl, all while mortgaging this year's draft and a little bit of next year's to the Browns.

In trading the pick to the Falcons, the Browns got five picks in return: the 27th, 59th and 134th selection in this year's draft, plus a first-round and fourth-round pick in 2012. 

The Browns then traded up from No. 27 with the Kansas City Chiefs to No. 21 (only giving up a third-round pick) and selected Phil Taylor, who fills a huge hole for Cleveland.

Taylor is a huge space-filler and will be key in stopping the Steelers' and Ravens' running attacks in the next few years.

This draft marks the second consecutive year Mike Holmgren has traded back and acquired more draft picks. This year he filled a need on a Browns defense that ranked 27th in rushing defense and netted another three draft picks for 2011 and 2012.  

Winner: New Orleans Saints

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) poses for a photo with Cameron Jordan, #24 overall pick by the New Orleans Saints, holds up a jersey on stage during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York Cit

Hard to argue this choice. 

New Orleans thought it was finished after getting a play-making defensive lineman with their 24th overall selection. 

Then with New England on the clock and Mark Ingram still available, everyone knows no draft pick is unattainable from Bill Belichick so long as the price is right. 

The Saints traded their second-round pick and their 2012 first-round selection in order to move into New England's slot and select Ingram.

The Saints immediately upgrade both sides of the ball, and Sean Payton is the perfect coach to teach  Ingram and utilize him properly.

One of the concerns about Ingram and his draft stock was the wear and tear he endured at Alabama, but the Saints possess a deep and talented crop at the running back position that could combine with their lethal passing attack to get them back to the Super Bowl. 

There is little doubt the Saints had the best start of any of the 32 NFL teams in the draft.

Loser: Houston Texans

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LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 26: Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers misses a chance at an interception from Scotty McKnight #21 of the Colorado Buffaloes during the second half of their game at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Lincoln, Neb

For a team that ranked dead last in passing defense and an heir to the throne sitting there fresh for the taking at the 11th selection, the Houston Texans dropped the ball. 

Instead of improving a struggling secondary by taking Prince Amukamara, CB from Nebraska, the Texans deemed it necessary to take J.J. Watt.

Don't get me wrong, Watt is a great addition, but he doesn't fill a big need for the Texans. 

Houston only managed 30 sacks in 2010, but defensive line is arguably the deepest position of this draft, not to mention finding good secondary talent isn't guaranteed past the first round.

With Gary Kubiak on the hot seat and a fan base begging its team to make their first-ever postseason, a cornerback would have gone a long way in improving one of the league's worst defenses in 2010. 

Loser: Jimmy Smith

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AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 10: Cornerback Jimmy Smith #3 of the Colorado Buffaloes picks up the loose ball which was knocked out of the hand of quarterback Colt McCoy of the Texas Longhorns as he rolled out in the second quarter on October 10, 2009 at Darrell K

This pick has nothing to do with anything Jimmy Smith did.

The Baltimore Ravens chose Smith with the 27th overall selection of the NFL Draft, but the problem was they were supposed to pick 26th. 

Baltimore had a trade in line which fell through at the last minute, causing their time to expire before their draft card was handed in. Kansas City, who was slated at 27th, jumped on the opportunity and handed in their selection before Baltimore. The Ravens then had to wait until the 27th pick to choose their guy.

While falling one spot didn't hurt the Ravens at all, it hurt Jimmy Smith in the wallet.

Listen, I know no one will be crying for him when he signs his rookie contract, but instead of getting 26th-pick money, he will get a little bit less than what he would have gotten since he was the 27th overall selection. 

Dan Williams, the 26th overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, received a rookie contract worth $8.94 million in guaranteed money. 2010's 27th overall selection was Devin McCourty, who received $7.285 million in guaranteed money.

Loser: Seattle Seahawks

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Marcell Dareus #57 and James Carpenter #77 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

After Pete Carroll's rookie draft was a success in 2010, his 2011 is not off to a good start. 

I'm sure they got the guy they wanted, but boy did they reach for James Carpenter, an interior lineman from Alabama.

The Seahawks probably could have managed to grab Carpenter with their pick in the second round. 

While the 'Hawks certainly did fill a need, there were a few names that could have filled other needs, even at the guard or tackle position.

Ryan Mallett was there at quarterback, as well as Gabe Carimi and Derrick Sherrod on the offensive line. Both Carimi and Sherrod were selected before the first round ended.

Loser: The Rest of the NFC South

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) greets Mark Ingram, #28 overall pick by the New Orleans Saints, on stage during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Ima

The NFC South is undergoing many changes due to the 2011 NFL Draft. 

Even though the Panthers took Cam Newton with the first overall selection in the draft, the New Orleans Saints made the biggest improvements to their team, upgrading both sides of the ball with top talent at both positions. 

Ingram was the consensus top running back available, and Cameron Jordan was the second or third-rated defensive lineman on most boards. 

How do you game plan for the passing attack of the Saints, then add the youth of last year's pick Jimmy Graham and now Mark Ingram?

Oh and don't forget Jordan's explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and his violent pass-rush.

The NFC South is going to be the division to keep an eye on next year. 

Loser: Minnesota Vikings

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Quarterback Christian Ponder of Florida State looks on during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

This slide could literally be blank and still right on point.

How do you justify selecting Christian Ponder at No.12? 

I understand the inability to trade out of the pick, but then to reach for arguably the fourth or fifth-best quarterback in the top 15? 

With Nick Fairley practically waving at you and a slew of offensive and defensive linemen there for the taking, the Vikings closed their eyes and threw a dart to a player on their board.

It landed on Christian Ponder.

I can't even begin to put together an argument as to why they would take Ponder at this spot.

It's not like six quarterbacks would be gone at the end of Round 1. Minnesota could have waited to see who was left after 32 picks had passed by and easily traded with New England at 33 (we all know Belichick would trade that pick in a heartbeat) to get one of the remaining quarterbacks.

No team failed or even came close failing as bad as the Vikings did Thursday night.