2011 NFL Draft Results: Good Teams Are Still Good, and Bad Teams Are...The Bills
The first round of the 2011 NFL draft is in the books. Scouting reports have been pored over, player measurables dissected to death, draft boards shot to ribbons and 32 NFL clubs have selected young men to whom they will commit millions of dollars with no clue as to whether they will ever receive fair return on their investments.
Some players we thought were sure to go on day one (Da'Quan Bowers) failed to hear their names called, while others that us armchair experts knew would not be drafted until day two at the earliest (Jimmy Smith, Jonathan Baldwin) somehow sneaked into the later half of the round.
In some cities, there is an air of jubilation, while in others, there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. That none of us knows how any of these young men will pan out is hardly the point. History tells us that most of them will never live up to expectations; a few will be stars, most will become solid if underwhelming contributors and a few will become outright busts, setting their organizations back five or more years.
Greater value will be found in the later rounds, as players who do the "little things" that a club needs in order to field a successful team will be employed at a lesser wage.
So what? To Hades with facts, stats and metrics; we are fans!
With this spirit in mind, I present my grades for each club's first-rounder(s). Do I suggest that I know more about football than Thomas Dimitroff or Bill Belichick? Of course not—although I believe that I can take Bengals owner Mike Brown.
Lists such as these are what days like this are made for, and I would be less than a decent fellow if I didn't give my fellow fans something else to debate about. So sit back, enjoy and hope that somehow, that nitwit Goodell manages to get out of the way...
1. Carolina Panthers: Cameron Newton
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First, let's dispense with all of the nonsense and negativity surrounding Cam Newton.
Yes, he purchased a stolen computer while at the University of Florida, and no, I do not buy his story that he knew nothing about the origins of said laptop (he threw it out of the window when campus police knocked on his door—c'mon son...).
While I do not condone such behavior, it is hardly the worst thing done on a college campus (you know what you did back in the day). Stories of academic fraud are just that: stories. Nothing has been proven in that regard.
In any case, he paid for these sins with a mutual agreement to depart Gainesville (mutual meaning "leave gracefully so you aren't embarrassed by expulsion"). As far as the pay-for-play innuendos, all that was ever proven was that his father has no business ever stepping into a pulpit again.
Now, let's talk about Newton, the player.
He's a 6'5" athletic freak of nature with a powerful right arm, a fleet set of feet and mental toughness that Patton would envy (you try leading your team to a national championship under a cloud of investigation, stories of laptops being bandied about and dissertations written on the time you threw a spitball at Mrs. Gresham in the fifth grade).
He has won two consecutive national championships, one at some microscopic college entity named Blinn and one under the crucible of Tuscaloosa-inspired inferiority complexes known as Auburn. His coaches love him, his teammates respect him and he wins. And wins. And wins.
There has been much made of his transition to the complex offenses of the NFL after having played in Auburn's spread offense. Bunk. He has a clean, compact throwing motion, completes a high percentage of his passes and keeps plays alive with his feet, No one knows how to run an NFL offense until he runs an NFL offense.
Ask Jimmy Clausen and Brady Quinn how playing in a pro-style offense at Notre Dame translated into NFL success. Oh, wait...it didn't. It's funny to me how Blaine Gabbert also played in a spread at Missouri, but the same dire predictions of failure are not being made for him. Maybe it's just the SCLC cap I'm wearing as I write this talking to me. But I digress...
Does this mean that I believe that Newton will be a great NFL quarterback. Who knows?
The funny thing about great quarterbacks is that you can never be sure who will be a great quarterback until he becomes a great quarterback.
What's for certain is that Carolina—a struggling, small-market team—desperately needs someone who can generate excitement to get fans into the seats and generate the revenue Jerry Richardson needs to improve his ballclub. In this, if nothing else, Newton fits the bill.
Grade: A (just for the sheer audacity of it)
2. Denver Broncos: Von Miller
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We knew John Elway knew how to carve up a secondary. What we didn't know was whether or not he knew how to run a draft.
Consider this question answered.
Despite the calls of many in Denver (and elsewhere) to select a quarterback, Elway realized he had a pretty good one already in Kyle Orton and one with some promise in Tim Tebow, and decided to address a more pressing need.
The Bronco's pass rush was more anemic than Baron Davis' workout routine, placing undue pressure on a secondary with little more than an aging but still transcendent Champ Bailey. Enter Texas A&M DE/OLB Von Miller.
Miller is not—as some have had the temerity to suggest—the second coming of Bruce Smith or Derrick Thomas. He's probably not even the second coming of DeMarcus Ware. What he is, is an outside rusher that can get good pressure on the quarterback consistently, play the run some and be a generally disruptive nuisance.
While he certainly won't single-handedly bring back the days of the Orange Crush, his presence does give Denver's defense an immediate lift.
Somewhere in Graceland, my fellow Miami Jackson alum Elvis (Dumervil) is smiling.
Grade: B+
3. Buffalo Bills: Marcell Dareus
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Sometimes, you get the feeling that certain organizations are being run by Alicia Silverstone and Stacey Dash. You know, as in, they're Clueless.
The Buffalo Bills are that type of organization.
This is an unfortunate state of affairs, as some of the greatest players in NFL history have passed through Orchard Park (Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly, some dude named O.J.). Ralph Wilson is also one of the truly nice guys in the history of the league.
Still, since the 1990's K-Gun heyday, the Bills have contracted a terminal case of don'tgetititis.
This is not a knock on Marcell Dareus. The Alabama product is a good defensive tackle, and I don't have any problems seeing him in the Pro Bowl one day. It's just that the Bills have so many more pressing needs that Dareus doesn't address, and I don't think he was even the best DT in this draft.
While many scouts say otherwise, I don't think Dareus will ever be truly great.
It has been suggested that Dareus is the safest pick in the draft. Maybe so. Buffalo, however, doesn't need safe, or merely very good. They need a game-changer, someone opposing coordinators have nightmares game-planning for.
They had none of those players before this pick. They still don't.
Maybe Dareus will prove me wrong. Many of these players will likely prove me wrong in some shape or fashion. I don't think this kid will, but I hope he does, for Ralph Wilson's sake.
Grade: D (because I just don't have it in me to give Wilson's crew an F)
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4. Cincinatti Bengals: A.J. Green
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I like A.J. Green. I really like A.J. Green.
I live in Atlanta and have had the opportunity to follow the UGA Bulldogs quite closely. I have seen a lot of A.J. Green, and believe me, there has been much to see.
I don't, however, like the comparisons to Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald. For one thing, Fitzgerald is one of the top three receivers in the NFL, while Green has yet to play a down. For another, Green is a lot faster than Fitzgerald.
Still, I can see why the comparison has been made. Green does possess a Fitzgerald-like combination of size, hands and unreal body control that has resulted in some highlight-reel catches, at least at the college level.
The question in Cincinnati is who is going to throw to him. Likely it will be Jordan Palmer, as I believe big brother Carson when he says that he will retire before playing another down for the Bengals. Good for Jordan; little brothers are supposed to pick up their elder brother's mantle (um, not really).
Whoever throws him the ball, Green will pick up where the soon-to-be-departed Chad Ochocinco left off, and likely improve the position in the process. Now, if the Bengals can re-sign Cedric Benson to run the ball, they should be awful as opposed to truly pitiful.
While nobody is truly can't-miss, with anything resembling barely competent quarterback play and minus injury, Green should come close to such status.
Here's proof that even the Bengals can get it right (believe me, even though Green was a no-brainer, history proves that this in no way guaranteed the Bengals would take him).
Grade: B+ (because I just don't have it in me to give Mike Brown's boys an A)
5. Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Peterson
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Honestly, I can't believe that Arizona passed on taking a quarterback with the fifth pick. They are not destitute of talent; they are just a train wreck at the most important position in football.
Max Hall? Ugh. John Skelton? Please. Derek Anderson? Don't get me started. I can't even say his name without risking nightmares of mass ineptitude.
Perhaps the organization will address the position when Roger Goodell removes his cranium from his hindmost regions and allows free agency to begin (or when Judge Susan Nelson forces him to). Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb (via trade) would fill the position nicely, finding Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston with frequency and aplomb.
With this, LSU cover man Patrick Peterson isn't a bad pick. Actually, Peterson isn't a bad pick for any club. He's big, fast, agile and sure in his assignments. He's also an excellent return man, but he won't be one for long in the NFL. You simply don't risk the Revis' or Bailey's of the world returning kicks for long periods of time; they are rare and entirely too valuable.
Does Peterson have the potential to develop into this type of corner? Oh, yes. He may have been the most feared defender in the SEC, and that's saying something.
Arizona already has an above-average set of players on defense (even if the defense isn't always above average). Pairing him with Adrian Wilson at safety and the talented Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie at the opposite corner may one day result in something mighty special in the secondary.
Grade: B+ (may become an A if QB situation addressed in free agency)
6. Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones
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The Atlanta Falcons have spent the last year or so providing NFL fans with plenty of "wow" moments.
Their 13-3 record was a wow-engendering phenomenon. Their total beatdown at the hands of the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs was another one.
Why should draft day be any different? General manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith were determined to add an explosive element to their team in 2011.
Atlanta's 13-3 record was obtained by running the ball, timely play-action passes to Roddy White, dump-downs to Tony Gonzalez, minimizing turnovers and playing defense just well enough to hold onto leads. It's a good game plan, except none of it worked against the Packers. The Falcons turned the ball over early, got behind, turned the ball over some more and just didn't have the team speed to mount any kind of a comeback.
Enter Alabama pass-cather Julio Jones.
While I don't like Jones as much as A.J. Green. I don't think Jones is far behind. The knock on Jones, if there is any, is that he often doesn't play as fast as his timed (4.3-ish) speed. Maybe that's fair, but playing in Nick Saban's heavily run-oriented system had much to do with that. Jones was asked to block quite a bit (which he did quite well), limiting his opportunities to get cleanly into the open field.
Remember, on play-action passes, receivers are often asked to block, release and somehow get open. This limits one's ability to hit full stride right away.
Enough about that.
Jones will make Roddy White's life a whole lot easier and give quarterback Matt Ryan a new toy to play with. Given that White is also a fantastic blocking receiver, Michael Turner is probably smiling as well. Now, not only should the falcons be able to grind out the clock to protect leads, they should be able to make a big play or two sometimes.
The problem with this pick is its steep price. To move up from pick 27, Atlanta gave up this year's second and fourth-round picks, as well as next year's first and fourth-rounders. To some followers of the NFC South, this has some shades of New Orleans and Ricky Williams.
Atlanta is not that far away, but a pass-rusher to complement and eventually replace the great but aging John Abraham would have been wise (it would also have protected Atlanta's skilled but smallish corners). A back to save some wear and tear on Turner is also needed.
Dimitroff is a skilled GM, and owner Arther Blank is not averse to spending money. Something tells me that these areas will be addressed somehow in free agency (Babin? Kiwanuka? Ahmad Bradshaw?). They'd better, as help will not be forthcoming in the draft anytime soon.
Grade: B-
7. San Francisco 49ers: Aldon Smith
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Missouri players had a couple of players go high in the draft this year. Both were probably taken too high, but I believe that one at least belongs in the first round.
That player is Aldon Smith. As a redshirt freshman, Smith made an immediate impact with 64 tackles and 11.5 sakes in 2009. His sack totals were down a bit in 2010 (5.5), but he still tallied 48 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. Smith possesses good size for either a 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB, and he is quick and strong with good, if not great, straight-line speed.
Some have questioned his burst, but Smith can get consistent pressure in the offensive backfield. He uses a combination of quickness and outstanding strength to mitigate any lack of pure speed. You may not want him as your only pass-rusher, but as a Lamar Woodley-type complement to a James Harrison-type player, Smith can probably do the job.
Smith probably went a little too high, but he is a nice addition to an already decent 49er defense. It looks like new coach Jim Harbaugh knows what he has on this side of the ball. If it were not for the fact that San Francisco really needs to address the problem known as Alex Smith at quarterback, I probably would have graded this pick a lot higher than many others. As it stands...
Grade: C-
8. Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker
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At the 1995 NFL scouting combine, a little-known Boston College defensive end wowed NFL scouts with one of the most impressive workouts in combine history. He ran faster than the linebackers, bench-pressed more reps than the offensive linemen and leaped over a tall building in a single bound.
Despite the fact that he'd had only one productive season at the college level, Mike Mamula leveraged that workout into being the seventh overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles. Mamula was a nice guy, so it pains me to say this, but the story didn't turn out very well.
Enter Washington flamethrower Jake Locker. I use the term flamethrower purposefully, as Locker is likely to be a quick burnout. Jake has been blessed with tremendous athleticism; he's big, runs ridiculously fast for a quarterback and he has a missile launcher for an arm.
What he failed to prove at the college level was that he can actually play quarterback. On any level.
While there are some doubts about Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder, they all enjoyed some level of success at the college level. Despite a late career rescue attempt by UW coach and noted QB developer Steve Sarkisian, Locker enjoyed none. He ran well. He dropped jaws with his long bombs. He just didn't, you know, complete passes.
He did, however, wow scouts with his postseason workouts. Somehow, despite history, he managed to become this year's Mamula, and Mamula did at least have 17 sacks the year he came out.
Locker, meanwhile, never surpassed a 58.2 percent completion rate, 2800 yards and his best season was 7-6. Hardly franchise-type stuff. As inconceivable as this may sound, the Titans may yet miss Vince Young.
Grade: D
9. Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith
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I'm not typically high on USC offensive linemen; they haven't worked out all that well recently. Perhaps I'm doubly biased because I've been privileged to watch Sam Baker steal Arthur Blank's money the past few seasons. In any case, many scouts believe that tackle Tyron Smith will reverse that recent trend.
He just may.
Smith is tall, moves well and is an elite athlete for the position. He isn't overly hefty and needs to get stronger, but his frame suggests that both of those disparities can be overcome in the weight room. His combination of quickness and lateral agility is a natural thing that can't be taught.
USC didn't play well this year, as Old Scratch is now getting his due for that deal they made involving Pete Carroll, but Smith managed to stand out on the right side of the line. I don't know that I agree with those that say he can eventually be a left tackle, but the young man is an immediate upgrade to a porous Cowboys line.
Dallas is one of those ultra-talented teams that just can't seem to get it together. They only go as far as Tony Romo can take them, which hasn't been very far, but they were a mess without him.
As overrated as many (correctly) believe him to be, Romo still gives that team their best shot at taking it all the way. He simply must be protected; dressing out five oversized bags of Skittles and calling them offensive linemen just isn't going to cut it.
Grade: C+
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Blaine Gabbert
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There were some concerns about Missouri star Blaine Gabbert's ability to transition to the complex reads of an NFL offense after playing in a spread tailored to take advantage of his athletic talents.
No, wait. That was Cam Newton.
Despite the fact that both young men played in a spread—and spread quarterbacks typically struggle in the NFL (though Drew Brees would likely disagree)—no such questions were raised about Gabbert. Go figure.
Honestly, other than the fact that he has an eerie resemblance to Christian Slater when he smiles, I don't know what anyone sees in Gabbert. He wasn't overly impressive in an offense designed to make the quarterback look good and he managed to regress this past season.
He's big. He's mobile. He's athletic. He sucks.
Jacksonville came into the draft looking for an upgrade over the highly paid and underwhelming David Garrard. They're still looking.
Grade: F
11. Houston Texans: J.J. Watt
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Face it. The Houston Texans are the Phoenix Suns of the NFL; a free-flowing, fast-paced offensive juggernaut with a defense just slightly more effective than the Maginot Line.
Oh, there's a Mario Williams here and a Brian Cushing there, but they're supermodels lost in a sea of mousy librarians. Help is needed—fast.
The Wisconsin DE is a big (6'6'', 292), powerful outside lineman with the ability to cause havoc in the run and pass games. He's not overly fast, but hey, the Texans already have one Mario Williams, whom I am convinced is some sort of alien life form.
Getting back to Watt, he's probably never going to be a threat turning the corner. He just pushes the overmatched idiot trying to block him straight back into the quarterback.
Watt also possesses the ability to play some tackle, which is nice, because as gifted as Amobi Okoye is, it's questionable as to whether he will ever figure the NFL out.
I like this pick for Houston. Even if Watt only turns out to be decent, that would give the defense a considerable upgrade.
Grade: A
12. Minnesota Vikings: Christian Ponder
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Let's see here...
Team that runs West-Coast offense. Check.
Highly intelligent quarterback that reads defenses well and acts as a second coach on the field. Check.
A quarterback that moves well in the pocket, rolls out with ease and makes plays with his feet. Check.
Quarterback has just enough arm strength to complement strong running game and occasionally go deep. Check.
Talented team missing mostly a competent signal-caller. Check.
A fanbase with many members of Nordic descent and a QB with the same name as Denmark's greatest emperor. Check (this one has nothing to do with football, but I just had to throw it in here).
Minnesota Vikings, meet FSU quarterback Christian Ponder. Protect him well, for he is frail, but he will lead you whither you want to go, health provided. May you enjoy a long and productive union.
Grade: B+
13. Detroit Lions: Nick Fairley
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I was talking to a cashier in Krispy Kreme when I saw on my Blackberry that Auburn DT Nick Fairley had gone to the Detroit Lions. We both had a similar response, though his was unprintable.
Fairley, not Marcell Dareus, is the best DT in this draft. Why Fairley lasted this long is as much a mystery to me as Lady Gaga's success. There were some scouts disappointed that Fairley was less than the 303 pounds he was listed as at Auburn, but there is no denying his power. There was also some talk of character concerns, but I've seen nothing solid, only innuendo.
All I know is that Fairley spent all of last season tossing around college linemen like so many frisbees. It was ridiculous how easily he disrupted opponents' offenses. He was every bit as important to the War Eagles defense as Cam Newton was to the offense.
Sometimes players drop for reasons as stupid as a Pamela Anderson flick (Dan Marino, Warren Sapp), and it works out to some team's advantage. Detroit is certainly a winner here. Pairing Fairley on the interior with Ndomukong Suh is frightening. Visions of John Randle and Henry Thomas in their quarterback-terrorizing heyday flashed through my head.
The night before, Ochocinco was spotted in that same Krispy Kreme. It turns out that he was in Atlanta working out with Lions QB Matthew Stafford and WR Calvin Johnson. Hmmm. Now, if the Lions manage to draft a good roll of duct tape in the second round to hold their franchise passer together, Detroit may be on the verge of something special.
Grade: A+
14. St. Louis Rams: Robert Quinn
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The Rams made great strides last year under Steve Spagnuolo, in great part because of the relatively smooth transition rookie QB Sam Bradford made to the NFL. Though missing much time at Oklahoma due to injury, Bradford (who, by the way, ran the spread in college) was a relatively safe pick, due to his previous body of work, his known accuracy and his low-key but competitive demeanor.
The former North Carolina defensive end also, like Bradford, missed much playing time in his college career, but here the similarities to his new St. Louis teammate end.
Robert Quinn, as most observers of the draft know, was permanently suspended by the NCAA after his sophomore season for accepting some $5,642 in "improper benefits" (the foolishness of this rule is best left for a different venue). This suspension caused Quinn to be available to the Rams at this spot; talent-wise, he is a top-5 kind of guy.
Of course, his selection will cause some controversy, but I doubt Quinn cares. You see, in high school, Quinn was diagnosed with a brain tumor that caused him to have severe headaches and blackouts. He still must be monitored to this day. Quinn came back from this to have a sophomore season of 52 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and 15 quarterback pressures.
What is overcoming a stigma (that NFL success will likely erase) compared to overcoming that?
Quinn has acknowledged his transgressions and as far as I know, generally kept his nose clean while preparing for the NFL. While this pick represents a high degree of risk for the Rams, it also represents the potential for high reward should Quinn continue to work hard and stay out of trouble. For taking a risk on such a talented man, the Rams deserve a high grade, but the risk must still be factored in.
Grade: B-
15. Miami Dolphins: Mike Pouncey
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The NFL is a copycat league. This is reasonable; when something works, copy it.
Former University of Florida center Maurkice Pouncey worked out well for the Steelers last year (they certainly did miss him in the Super Bowl). The Miami Dolphins, also enamored of constructing a power running game, followed suit by drafting Pouncey's genetic near-copy, former Gator center Mike Pouncey.
Many things went wrong for the Fish last season, and most of them originated on the offensive line. Left tackle Jake Long continued to provide a reasonable facsimile of Anthony Munoz, and while right tackle Vernon Carey slipped some, he was still better than average.
These two represent the best linemen Miami has had since Richmond Webb and Keith Simms were routinely punishing those presumptuous miscreants who entertained notions of dirtying the No. 13 jersey of Dan Marino. The rest of the line was a mess.
While a combination of age and injury contributed to the decline of the once ultra-productive rushing tandem of Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown and Michael Bivins (got ya!), the leaky interior play of Richie Incognito and crew certainly did not help.
Quarterback Chad Henne, who was already suffering from a mental breakdown due to head coach Tony Sparano's head games, was definitely not helped by the interior's lack of drive (blocking).
It is said that Mike is not as good as his brother, and that he may be a much better guard than center. Of course, this may turn out to be one of those Mike Webster-Dwight Stevenson debates, as many predict future Pro Bowls for Mike. GM Jeff Ireland has stated that Pouncey will start his career at center, and even if this is not his best position, he provides an immediate upgrade.
I had predicted that the Fish would select Alabama running back Mark Ingram or Illinois back Mikel Leshoure, as replacing Brown and Williams is paramount.
However, there are some rumors that whenever this lockout-related free-agent mess in fixed, Miami is a preferred destination of Carolina Panthers star DeAngelo Williams. This would leave the Fins in need of a speedy receiver to play opposite Brandon Marshall, assuming Marshall's marital woes provide no obstacle to his return.
This was not a sexy pick, but the regime that chose Jake Long over Matt Ryan has proven pretty consistent, and Long didn't turn out so bad.
Grade: B-
16. Washington Redskins: Ryan Kerrigan
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Nancy Kerrigan was a tremendous skater, and she's still kinda cute after all these years. Wait a moment. Wrong Kerrigan.
What in the name of common sense is going on in Washington? Three years ago, it was LSU safety LaRon Landry. Two years ago, it was Texas DE/OLB Brian Orakpo. Last year, it was Oklahoma LT Trent Williams. This year, it's Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan.
Shhh, don't tell anyone. It may be possible that someone within the Redskins organization knows what they're doing, at least as far as the draft is concerned. They still have some issues with trades (Donovan McNabb) and free agency (Albert Haynesworthless), but any level of personnel competence is progress when talking about Snyder's gang.
Kerrigan is a lean, quick tweener-type with good pass-rushing instincts who possesses decent, but not great, straight-line speed. He possesses good strength, as he bench-pressed 31 reps of 225 lbs at the combine, so the potential for the occasional bull rush is there. I wouldn't necessarily want the hard-working, high-motor Kerrigan as my primary pass-rusher, but I believe he'll be a pretty good complement to Pro Bowler Orakpo.
Now if only they could surround their excellent draft picks with productive free agents. Oh, well.
Grade: B
17. New England Patriots: Nate Solder
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Admit it: you were enjoying the presumptive demise of the New England Patriots.
Ever since that stunning upset in the Super Bowl against the NY Giants, something hasn't been quite right up in Foxboro. Oh, the Pats look like the Pats during the regular season, but come playoff time, they seem to be haunted by the Ghost of Michael Strahans Past.
The Randy Moss Experience generated a lot of highlight plays, but didn't quite work out. The amazing specimen that is the wee Wes Welker can't seem to stay healthy enough to contribute in the postseason. Despite recently drafting dynamic defenders such as ILB Jerrod Mayo and CB Devin McCourty, the Pats can't seem to make that critical stop in the second season.
To top it all off, New England's vaunted offensive line, which long allowed franchise stalwart Tom Brady to do his best Ken Stabler impersonation (stand in the pocket, don't move, complete pass) seemed to be falling apart.
Yes, there were a couple Pro Bowlers, but that was more a reputation thing. And All-Pro Logan Mankins made his desire to play anywhere but New England quite well and quite publicly known. Well, I hope you enjoyed the evil empire's misery, because they have begun to reload.
Patriots maestro Darth Vader—er, Bill Belichick—is a master of moving up, down and side to side in drafts to obtain more picks and generate value, and Thursday was no different.
Having come into the day with the 17th and 28th picks, Belichick traded away his second first-round slot to the Saints for the 56th pick and the Saints' 2012 first-rounder. Having hoarded more rebuilding chips, Belichick then proceeded to draft Colorado OT Nate Solder.
Solder, a former TE (what, he escaped Iowa and Kirk Ferentz?) is a massive man with good strength and incredible speed (4.8 40) for his size (6'9'', 315). Some scouts question his ability to handle speed-rushers, but I shrug off such concerns. Solder faced some of college football's best pass-rushers in the Big 12, and proved equal to the task. Remember, he has 4.8 speed at his size.
There are some minor technical issues that may be of concern, but the New England coaching genius factory will certainly sort those out.
Stop that groaning, and why are you shaking your fists at me. I simply report what happens, guys. Brady won't last forever, but Solder may forestall that decline. I know, I know. I hear it, and I weep.
Grade: B+
18. San Diego Chargers: Corey Liuget
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Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget is one of those big, powerful 3-4 type linemen that can play both end and tackle that the Chargers seem to love. Some of them work out (Luis Castillo), others don't (Ogemdi Nwagbuo). Into the nix comes Liuget.
Liuget is powerful, quick, disruptive at times and plays with little control or feel for the game.The biggest knock on him was his frequent tendency to play outside of the scheme, causing more disruption for his teammates than the opposition.
There is little need for Liuget to start right away, so maybe there is time to coach his foolishness away. Tackle is hardly the Charger's most pressing need; they need anyone who shows signs of competence on special teams. Maybe Liuget's gonzo-style of play can contribute there.
There is certainly talent there. Is he worth the risk? Who knows?
Grade: C-
19. NY Giants: Prince Amukamara
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It is often said that it is better to be lucky than good. When healthy, the New York Giants are plenty good.
On Draft Day 2011, they got plenty lucky.
That was the day a Prince dropped into their laps. Despite having no interceptions during his senior season, Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara was the 2010 Big 12 Defensive Player of the year. Opponents' dogged determination to avoid throwing his way resulted in 19 interceptions for Amukumara's defensive teammates. After 60 tackles and five picks as a junior, the Prince had more than earned that respect.
The Giants are more than talented enough to be a perennial contender. A combination of injuries and Eli Manning's troublesome penchant for turnovers has halted some of their playoff pushes and exposed some of their weaknesses.
Despite having a disruptive D, the Giants secondary is a real matter for concern. Amukamara alleviates some of that concern. He is tall, agile and fast (4.38 40 at the combine). Not only that, he knows how to use these skills to cover.
If Patrick Peterson is the best CB prospect to come along in some time (he is), Amukamara can't be that far behind. How he lasted this long is mysterious, but the Giants aren't complaining.
Grade: B+ (C'mon. They got lucky.)
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn
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Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn is an interesting case.
Projected as a top-15 pick at one point, Clayborn slid in the draft due to concerns about him having Erb's Palsy, a condition that causes his right arm to weaken. Considering his propensity to disrupt the flow of opposing offenses with his powerful bull rush, I really don't think that's a concern.
More troubling is his drop in sack totals from 2009 (11.5) to 2010 (3.5). Clayborn is a big, powerful end who does everything quite well, but is not a standout in any one area. This portends a long, productive career in which he is a major contributor but never quite a star.
Perhaps Tampa Bay doesn't need Clayborn to be anything more than that. After having drafted promising and productive defensive tackles Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma) and Brian Price (UCLA) last year, Tampa's defensive line is shaping up nicely. Playing next to the powerful McCoy may even alleviate Clayborn's lack of closing speed.
The Bucs made many strides last year, and Raheem Morris' rebuilding plan is moving along quite well. After a rough start to his coaching career, it is obvious that the Bucs' brain trust have a clear idea of the direction in which they are going. Good for them.
Grade: C+
21. Cleveland Browns: Phil Taylor
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Mike Holmgreen is doing some things up in Cleveland: acquiring Peyton Hillis, drafting Colt McCoy, ridding himself of the albatross formerly known as Brady Quinn.
Having transitioned themselves to playing a 3-4 defensive alignment, they need someone to clog the middle, and Baylor tackle Phil Taylor figures to be a biiiig part of their plans. Taylor is 6'4'', 345 pounds, and he is a load to move off the line.
After an underwhelming junior season, Taylor stepped it up as a senior and had a solid combine to boot. He is not that quick, however, and does not always play to his strength. The same could be said of former Green Bay star Gilbert Brown. That worked out reasonably well.
There are better tackles out there, but Taylor was probable the best 3-4 nose available. Of course you knew this already, because you watch a lot of Baylor football, right?
Grade: C+
22. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Castonzo
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One day, it's going to happen. Peyton Manning is going to hang up his cleats.
There won't be any Favre-type indecision on his part; Peyton's a decisive guy. When his equally accomplished counterpart in New England rides off into the sunset, Man will cheer. When Manning goes, Indiana will be funereal, and many outside the state will also mourn.
This probably will not happen for a long time yet, but Manning is getting no younger, so it will be sooner rather than later. Much like Tom Brady, Manning's protection ain't like it used to be. Time does these things, but smart GMs find a way to fix it.
Into the void steps Boston College OT Anthony Castonzo.
Now, mind you, Castonzo ain't my cup of tea, as I like linemen who occasionally drive defenders off the line and open running lanes. However, Castonzo is a superior pass-protector (ask former BC teammate Matt Ryan) and the Colts only make token attempts at running the ball anyway (where are the Edge's of yesteryear?).
No, what the Colts need is someone who will keep Manning upright and making those wild gesticulations for some years yet, and Castonzo seems able. He is tall, lean, agile, smart and quick. He will occasionally be bull-rushed, but possesses good strength for a relatively skinny tackle and he'll give Manning enough time to get rid of the ball.
What more could the Indy faithful ask for?
Grade: B
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Danny Watkins
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Michael Vick. LeSean McCoy. Jeremy Maclin. DeSean Jackson. Brent Celek.
The Philadelphia Eagles don't lack for much on offense except for a line that can keep the dynamic but smallish Vick healthy (and a coach that realizes that running McCoy more often will help keep Vick healthy).
An upgrade at tackle would have been nice, as Winston Justice has joined fellow USC-alum Sam Baker of the Falcons in a heinous plot to unduly deprive their clubs' owners of millions of dollars of unearned lucre—but again, I digress.
Most of the superior tackle prospects were gone at this point, so Philly tried to solve its woes with Baylor guard Danny Watkins.
Watkins has decent size and good strength for the position, and proved a capable two-way blocker at the college level. He is not all that quick, but he is a mauler who seems to believe that giving ground is somehow grounds for harikari. That is a good thing.
Watkins came to college football late and there are some concerns about his advanced age, but I'm not worried about it.
Watkins will never be a great lineman, and he certainly doesn't solve the Eagles line woes by himself, but the former fireman will likely be solid and provide somewhat of an upgrade. Let's just hope that it's enough to keep Vick electrifying stadiums everywhere.
Grade: C
24. New Orleans Saints: Cameron Jordan
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I once knew a girl who told me that she dated Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan in high school. Considering he's from Arizona and she's from Ohio, I doubt the veracity of her testimony; then again, she told me many things, a few of which were moderately amusing. One thing that she did say that was true was this: Jordan is good. How she knew this, I can't say, but it was true nevertheless.
Whether or not he's good for the New Orleans Saints is another matter. Jordan is big, powerful, quick and most likely best-suited to play end in a 3-4 alignment. However, playmakers produce plays and I'm sure Jordan will do that in whatever defense Sean Payton and Gregg Williams stick him in. Linemate Will Smith is a similar size to Jordan and he's done well in the 4-3.
This is why good teams are good teams; they think outside the box, for lack of a better term. Jordan is simply the best lineman available, and the Saints need an end to take pressure off of Smith. Between Payton and Williams, they will place their players in a position to make it work.
Grade: B
25. Seattle Seahawks: James Carpenter
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No lengthy preamble here. This pick does not help Seattle much in the short term.
While Alabama OT James Carpenter played at a reasonably high level in college, he has trouble with speed-rushers (and tackles named Fairley) and projects as a guard in the NFL. Of course, Seattle's line is terrible, so maybe Carpenter will be okay playing next to Russell Okung.
However, I'm of the belief that guards selected in the first round better be Alan Fanecas or the like. At the risk of sounding Kiperish, I believe that Wisconsin RT Gabe Carimi would have been a better pick here, giving Seattle a nice bookend to pair with Okung.
Despite Seattle's mind-boggling playoff appearance and win last season, I think perhaps this underwhelming team choosing this late is also a part of Old Scratch taking his payment for the whole USC-Pete Carrol thing.
Grade: D
26. Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Baldwin
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Success breeds success. Bill Parcells spawned Lord Vader—er, Bill Belichick—and Belichick has spawned a host of successful NFL coaches and executives. One of those execs is Chiefs GM Scott Pioli (Atlanta GM Tom Dimitroff is another).
All Pioli did was bring former New England backup and emergency starter Matt Cassel to KC, make a few roster tweaks, hire a fiery coach (Todd Haley) and build a winner. Last season, the Chiefs won a surprising division title (though the Chargers' mysterious meltdown contributed) and returned to the playoffs for the first time since Wellington pimp-slapped Napoleon at Waterloo (actually, since 2006, but it seemed that much longer).
Pioli did not let that success go to his head. Recognizing that the run-heavy offense was too reliant upon Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones and that star wideout Dwayne Bowe needed help, the Chiefs used the 26th pick to select Pitt receiver Jonathan Baldwin.
Baldwin is a big (6'5"), strong and while not possessing great stopwatch-speed, deceptively fast. Baldwin is prone to lapses in concentration that lead to drops that a man of his skill set should not make, but Haley will probably drill that out of lime.
Like Falcons pick Julio Jones, Baldwin steps into an ideal situation. Possessing the talent of a No. 1 receiver, he is stepping into the No. 2 role, alleviating the pressure to be an All-Pro by day one. The Chiefs still need pass-rushers and more help in the secondary, but Pioli is slowly getting the job done.
Grade: B-
27. Baltimore Ravens: Jimmy Smith
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Here is another example of why good teams remain good teams and bad teams remain bad: Bad teams select the safe picks and good teams select young men who can play football.
Much has been made of Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith's perceived character flaws. That he got wasted and smoked some puff at Colorado is not excusable; bad behavior is bad behavior. How this makes him any different from thousands of college kids who grow up to lead productive and upstanding lives is one of those mysteries that crops up from time to time. H
e's also perceived as arrogant, as he proclaimed himself to scouts as a shutdown corner. Oh, and Darrelle Revis, Deon Sanders and Charles Woodson aren't/weren't loud, self-promoting divas.
What Smith is, is a large, agile, fast and productive corner who backs his braggadocio by playing with an edge. He is not quite on par with Peterson and Amukamara, but he can flat-out play.
The Baltimore Ravens have had some experience with young men of Smith's attitude and have had some level of success with them (Ray Lewis, anyone?). Baltimore's defense, long known for its attitude as well as skill, is aging and doesn't quite strike fear as it once did. New blood is needed and Jimmy Smith fits right in with the tradition.
Grade: A-
28. Saints: Mark Ingram
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The New Orleans Saints are not happy with their title of "Recent Super Bowl Champion." They are not happy with it at all.
By most accounts, 2010 was a successful season, but there was no ring at the end of it. There was not even a serious run at defending their title. Unused to such heights in the Big Easy, Payton and crew are determined to do whatever it takes to reach them again.
Much has been made of what Alabama tailback Mark Ingram is not. He's not big, he's not fast, he's not a good enough pass-catcher. His samba is lacking, his tango is terrible and his baking skills leave much to be desired.
Such is the case during a lockout when scouts have too much time on their hands (see how Da'Quan Bowers went from potential No. 1 overall pick to out of the first round). What Ingram is, is a back with good agility, lateral quickness, rare vision, an elite short-area burst and he's seldom caught from behind.
In other words, he does the one thing that a running back should be able to do extremely well: Run the ball.
Twenty-seven teams failed to draft Ingram. Some of them are set at the position. Others had more pressing needs. Many were scared off by phantoms and goblins. Most of those will come to regret this day for quite some time.
New Orleans, however, has cause to celebrate.
While there was some element of luck to this selection, there was also an element of courage as well. The Saints already employ a productive stable of backs (Chris Ivory, Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush) who helped them win a championship. They have also used a recent first-round pick and invested quite a few millions in Bush, who is versatile and valuable, but a part-time player at best.
What they lacked was a bellwether carrier. They lack it no longer.
It should be pointed out that Sean Payton is a third generation member of that Parcells/Belichick coaching tree. As I noted earlier, success breeds success.
Grade: A
29. Chicago Bears: Gabe Carimi
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Any discussion of the Chicago Bears will inevitably lead to purported franchise quarterback Jay Cutler's allegedly phantom injury in the 2011 NFC Championship Game. Cutler has never seen fit to reveal the nature of the injury, but such is the nature of Jay Cutler. He is surly, cocky and quite uncooperative with media types, who undoubtedly possess a mere fraction of his Vanderbilt-educated IQ.
I have no problem, personally, with Cutler's 'tude; I find it rather amusing, in truth. Unfortunately for Cutler, it rules out him getting the benefit of the doubt that other, more congenial players get from the media. Despite being sacked roughly 700 times during the season, Cutler played in pain, played reasonably well and played with nary a complaint. This causes me to lean in his favor in debates concerning the seriousness of the aforementioned injury.
That Da Bears did not play so well in the title precursor is not really the issue. The true issue is how they got that far in the first place. True, they have a stout defense and just enough playmakers on offense, but that O-line is more permissive than Tila Tequila—and just as flighty to boot (okay, that's pushing it, but not by much).
Perhaps Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi can help alleviate those woes (and whoas).
Like most Badger linemen, Carimi is big, powerful and mean. He is a superior drive-blocker who rarely gives ground. However, he is not overly quick and sometimes relies on his tremendous strength too much, leaning forward at the waist with his feet out of position. His technique can be worked on; lack of quickness, not so much.
As such, Carimi projects as a right tackle. This does not address protecting Cutler's blind side, but almost anything will improve Chicago's line.
Grade: C (as it will be until this line is fixed)
30. New York Jets: Muhammed Wilkerson
30 of 32I really wanted the Jets to blow this pick. I detest the Jets, and Rex Ryan blows. I was hoping that Vernon Gholston had an even more underachieving sibling hiding somewhere on Ryan's draft board. Ah, well. A man can dream.
Most of you have never heard of Muhammed Wilkerson. Stop, stop—you haven't.
It's okay, he played for Temple. Temple, in case you haven't heard, went to a bowl game this past season. Wilkerson was a big reason why. The 6'5", 305 tackle generated 70 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. This was good enough to help coach Al Golden get the head gig at University of Miami (he should have stayed at Temple).
While certainly large enough to remain at tackle in the NFL, Wilkerson will likely play at DE in the Jets' 3-4 alignment.
There was some talk about Wilkerson's supposed lack of competition, as Temple plays in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Yeah—that same lack of competition certainly hurt Chad Pennington and Ben Roethlisberger in the NFL.
New York, while certainly a contender, is not getting any younger on the line, and this pick addresses that fairly well.
Grade: C+
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cameron Heyward
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Some players just belong in some cities, period.
Take the Pittsburgh Steelers, for instance. They are a perennial contender that doesn't need much; they played horrifically in this year's Super Bowl and still had a chance to win. They have a roster full of masters at their craft; a few apt apprentices are all that is needed to keep the Steelers near the top.
Nowhere is this more true than on the defensive line. Casey Hampton, Brett Keisel and Aaron Smith are as good a trio as there is in the league, but they aren't getting any younger. Smith, in particular, may be near the end of the line. Hampton has Ziggy Hood waiting in line, but a couple of young ends are in order.
Cameron Heyward is tall, powerful and immensely talented. He just doesn't play hard all the time. Given all that's been going on at Ohio State under Jim Tressel, that may be somewhat understandable.
Heyward would be under no pressure to star right away in Pittsburgh, and a year or two under Smith's watchful eye and coach Mike Tomlin's masterful motivational strategies, and young Heyward may just be ready to step into the legend that is being a Steeler defender.
How fitting is it that the son of the late Craig "Ironhead" Heyward should end up in the Steel City.
Grade: C (it's a bit of a reach, but they can afford to make it)
32. Green Bay Packers: Derek Sherrod
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What do you buy that ridiculously hot, super-intelligent, fabulously wealthy girl who has everything?
It's good to be the Green Bay Packers. Hit by an overwhelming spate of injuries, the Pack uncovered stars everywhere from the undrafted nickelback (Sam Shields) to the local garbageman/safety. Even more amazing was the fact that Green Bay managed to win the Super Bowl despite these injuries.
GM Ted Thompson should probably be put in charge of the national budget. I guarantee you, he'll patch it up.
Still, even the most beautiful girl is not without her blemishes, and Green Bay is no exception. They won despite an aging and somewhat patchwork offensive line that has to be a real concern going forward. This is especially important considering that the Pack faces maniac rusher Jared Allen of Minnesota twice a year, as well as Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher and the rest of Chicago's typically stout D.
Add to this the fact that Detroit has added Ndamukong Suh's virtual clone, Nick Fairley, to the interior of their line, and the continued health of franchise-everything Aaron Rodgers comes into question.
As noted, Ted Thompson is a smart guy, and the Pack has begun the rebuilding of the O-line with Mississipi State's Derek Sherrod. Sherrod is an agile, quick tackle who anchors well and gets a good post-snap push off of the line. He struggles somewhat against speed-rushers, but does not give ground once he locks on a defender.
He'll probably need to play right tackle in the NFL, where he won't see as many speed-rushers, but he'll likely hold up well against the power-rushers. He's also a road grader in the run game, something that has to be making Ryan Grant and James Starks feel all warm inside.
Will Sherrod ever be a First-Team All-Pro? Most likely not. Will he ever be a pretty good, Pro Bowl-caliber right tackle? Who knows?
Given the Pack's track record picking in the later half of the first round (see Rodgers, Aaron), probably. He'd better be reasonably good. My middle name is Sherrod.
Grade: B-
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