2011 NFL Draft Grades: The 10 Biggest Losers of the First Round
There were plenty of winners in the NFL draft's first round, particularly at the quarterback position where four signal-callers went in the top 12 picks.
The Cleveland Browns picked up a haul of four picks in addition to the 27th pick for moving down from their 6th selection, so they also have to be considered a winner.
There were some losers on the first night of the draft also and those are the team's and players we are going to concentrate on now.
Here are the 10 biggest losers from the NFL Draft's first round.
1. Minnesota Vikings
1 of 10
The Vikings needed to get a quarterback in this draft, but once the top three were off of the board when they were on the clock, they should have looked in another direction or to trade down.
Instead they made a major reach and took Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder. Ponder could develop into a solid starter in the NFL, but I don't see it happening and he definitely could have been had later in the round.
Minnesota would have loved to see Jake Locker available with the 12th pick, but when that didn't happen they made the mistake of reaching for a quarterback anyways.
I give the Vikings a first-round grade of a D.
2. Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
2 of 10
Da'Quan Bowers was once in the discussion to be the No. 1 pick in this draft, instead he was not drafted at all in the first round.
Bowers should hear his name called fairly early in the second round but he can't be happy about falling this low in the draft.
Whoever takes Bowers could be getting a steal, or they could be getting damaged goods as Bowers' stock has taken a tumble due to multiple injury concerns.
3. Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
3 of 10
Four quarterbacks were taken in the first round and TCU signal-caller Andy Dalton was not among them.
Dalton, just like Bowers, should be a hot commodity on Day 2, but I'm sure he much rather would have heard his name called during the first round.
Dalton will be out to prove everyone wrong as he likely begins his NFL career as a backup at this point.
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4. Seattle Seahawks
4 of 10
I'm not sure what the Seahawks were doing with the 25th pick in the draft, but I do know that I don't approve.
Seattle was reportedly trying to trade down, but when that didn't work out they ended up taking Alabama guard James Carpenter.
Carpenter could turn out to be a solid player, but he wasn't likely going to go in the first round if Seattle didn't take him and the Seahawks should have taken Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin instead with their pick.
Seattle gets a C-minus for their first-round selection.
5. Carolina Panthers
5 of 10
I'm not a fan of Cam Newton and therefore I am not a fan of the Carolina Panthers' first-round pick.
Newton is a run-first quarterback who went with the first overall pick because of his athleticism. Newton has a strong arm but he also has questionable accuracy (despite what his 280 pass attempts say) and even more questionable character.
The Panthers should have waited for Andrew Luck next year and taken A.J. Green or a defender for Ron Rivera's defense this year.
The Panthers get a D for their first-round selection.
6. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
6 of 10
Just like Andy Dalton, Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett watched as the first round came and went without his name being called.
Some were predicting Mallett to go in the middle of the first round and while I never thought that was a realistic scenario, Christian Ponder did go early in the draft and that had to be a punch to the gut for Mallett.
It will be interesting to see where Mallett ends up on Day 2 now that many of the teams looking for a quarterback have found their franchise player. I could see the Redskins or Bills being a possibility for the big gunslinger.
7. Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
7 of 10
Ayers was at one time thought to be going in the middle of the first round, but after a slow time at the combine (4.84) he has seen his stock take a dramatic tumble.
I will be shocked if Ayers doesn't go early on Day 2 since he is a solid player who has shown that he can get it done on the field, but he has to be reeling after missing out on the first-round action.
Ayers could be one of the steals of the draft now that he has surpassed the first round.
8. Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona
8 of 10
It's hard to call Brooks Reed too much of a loser as far as the first round goes because he was not talked about as a first-round pick until recently. However, many had Reed moving into the first round as of late and it did not end up happening.
Reed is another of the spurned players on Day 1 who should go early on Day 2 and he will be looking to prove the rest of the league wrong.
9. Washington Redskins
9 of 10
I know the Redskins wanted a quarterback, or at least I thought they did (unless Rex Grossman is going to be their starter), but instead of taking Blaine Gabbert they decided to trade down and take outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan.
I am fine with the Redskins doing this because I am not sold on Gabbert, but the Redskins were losers based on the cards they were dealt since Locker was taken with the eighth pick.
Washington could end up being one of Day 2's winners if they are able to land Dalton and some other solid players with their remaining picks.
10. Running Backs
10 of 10
Mark Ingram was the lone running back to hear his name called during the first round, and that came only when the Saints traded back into the first round to take him with the 28th pick.
I don't see Day 2 being much better for this running back group as many of them seem to be best equipped to serve as third-down backs.
Mikel Leshoure and Daniel Thomas should be names to watch at the position on Day 2, but this weak running back class doesn't appear to be in good shape when it comes to going in the early rounds.
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