2011 NFL Draft Grades: Reviewing Picks 9-12 of 2011 Draft

The Dallas Cowboys selected USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith at No. 9 overall in the 2011 NFL draft on Thursday, a predictable pick given their need to patch up their offensive line.

Then it was the Washington Redskins' turn. But with the chance to grab Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert or a defensive end like North Carolina's Robert Quinn, they elected to trade their pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the Jaguars' 16th and 49th selections.

The Jaguars then nabbed Gabbert at No. 10, making it known they expected him to be their next franchise quarterback after David Garrard's time is through.

At No. 11, the Houston Texans drafted Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt, a predictable pick given their needs and 3-4 defense.

Finally, to cap off picks 9-12, the Minnesota Vikings shockingly dubbed Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder as their answer under center.

Ponder was the fourth- or fifth-best quarterback in many experts' eyes.

For grades on how each team did, read on, fellow football fans.

9. Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith, OT, USC

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Tyron Smith, #9 overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys, holds up a jersey 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 Images)

The Dallas Cowboys hadn't selected an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL draft in 30 years before Thursday.

But with the ninth overall selection in the 2011 NFL draft, the Cowboys selected USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith, the best athletic specimen among offensive linemen in the draft.

Smith rarely had trouble with speed pass rushers in college given his athleticism and footwork; the main concern was him getting pushed around by stronger, bigger rushers. He put that concern to rest when he showed up at the NFL combine having added a good amount of weight with virtually the same build.

He was the best offensive lineman in the draft according to many draft experts.

You won't see many experts blasting this pick.

Grade: A-

This may be unfair, but the only reason I give the Cowboys a "minus" is because they waited for so long to draft a legit offensive lineman prospect and because of this were not able to address their other major concern—their secondary—in the first round. 

The Cowboys could have selected Nebraska corner Prince Amukamara here, but they had to address right tackle for the injury-prone Marc Colombo. They made the right selection, but drafting an offensive lineman before this year would have set them up nicely to take Amukamara.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Blaine Gabbert, #11 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, holds up a jersey during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

With the Washington Redskins on the clock, they opted to trade No. 10 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the Jaguars' 16th and 49th selections in the 2011 NFL draft.

With the 10th overall selection in the 2011 NFL draft, the Jaguars selected Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Gabbert was considered by most draft experts to be one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft along with Auburn's Cam Newton and he appears to have the mechanics and accuracy to potentially be a franchise quarterback.

The Jaguars primarily needed a pass rusher in the form of either a defensive end or a linebacker, but they opted to go with a top quarterback to groom for when David Garrard hangs up his cleats.

Grade: B

My thoughts are that after Missouri DE/OLB Aldon Smith went to the San Francisco 49ers at No. 7, the Jaguars decided to go a different direction (I had them selecting him at No. 16 in the draft).

And if you look at it, giving away a couple picks for a potential successor to Garrard is actually a pretty smart move, depending on your view of Gabbert. I liked Gabbert the most out of the quarterback class this year, and I do believe he has a chance to be a leader for the Jaguars.

They didn't fill a primary need, but there's still the chance to add someone later in the draft.

This was little risk for potentially a good amount of reward.

The Jaguars may have pulled off some sneaky brilliance to set themselves up nicely in the coming years.

11. Houston Texans: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, poses for a photo with J.J. Watt, #11 overall pick by the Houston Texans, on stage during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Ge

The Houston Texans had primary needs at outside linebacker, defensive end and in their secondary heading into the 2011 NFL draft.

With Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt, they at least should be able to add tremendous depth at defensive end.

The perfect player to select here for a 3-4 defense, Watt showed at Wisconsin that he not only pursued the passer, he pursued running backs really well, with 62 tackles and seven sacks in 2010.

He has toughness, determination and heart, attributes that should figure to make him a better player than even his promising talent suggests.

I won't say he has "a non-stop motor," you all have heard that enough.

Whoops, my bad, I just said it.

Grade: B+

It's tricky to grade the Texans here, because if they plan on grabbing a cornerback in free agency, which I expect them to do, then they made the right selection.

But if they don't address their secondary in the offseason, then they just passed up Nebraska corner Prince Amukamara, a potential Pro Bowler down the line that could have seriously helped them.

So, if they address their secondary, I give them a B+ for picking a good fit in Watt. If they don't address their pass defense, I give them a C- for passing up Amukamara.

Watt could be a potential star opposite Mario Williams for the Texans, but I don't see him being as good as Amukamara.

12. Minnesota Vikings: Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Christian Ponder #7 of the Florida State Seminoles warms up before a game against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Vikings came into the 2011 NFL draft with primary needs at quarterback, defensive end and the offensive line.

With the 12th overall selection and with QBs Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert already off the board, the Vikings figured to fill a concern at left end, with veteran Ray Edwards entering free agency.

But they didn't.

They made one of the most shocking selections in the draft, going with Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder, the fourth- or fifth-best prospect under center in most experts' eyes.

Ponder had 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions for the Seminoles in 2010, leading the team to a 10-4 record and a trip to the Chick-fil-A Bowl. His leadership is unquestioned, it's just the rest of the pie that had many scratching their heads with this selection.

Grade: D+

If the Vikings felt that Ponder was their man from the start, then I don't blame them for trying to fill a primary need with Ponder. But if they were just trying to fill a primary need and reaching, then they made a poor choice, especially because North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn was still on the board, who I expect to be a beast off the edge.

I feel they were reaching and they made a poor choice in passing up Quinn. Ponder was the fifth quarterback on my board, behind TCU's Andy Dalton. They better hope this pick turns out golden for them, or there is going to be more uproar than there already is from Vikings Nation.

With Brett Favre gone and Tarvaris Jackson obviously not the solution, this pick smells more like desperation than anything to me.