2011 NFL Draft Grades: Reviewing Picks 13-16 of 2011 Draft
After some wild surprises in the first 12 picks of the 2011 NFL draft, things got back to normal in picks 13-16, with the Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins grabbing some top talents that dropped, and largely filling needs in the process.
At No. 13, the Lions could have addressed several primary needs, but they couldn't help but grab Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, given his talent alone projected him as a potential star. Plus, lining him up next to Ndamukong Suh could be absolutely devastating for opponents, both for running backs and QBs.
At No. 14, the Rams also picked the best player available, going with North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn. They were hoping for Alabama receiver Julio Jones, but with him already off the board they decided to add depth to Steve Spagnuolo's defensive line with a guy that people have compared to Chicago Bears linebacker Julius Peppers. Quinn could be a superstar in the NFL.
At No. 15, the Dolphins opted for Florida guard/center Mike Pouncey over Alabama running back Mark Ingram. Both areas were of need, but I think they made a mistake in passing up Ingram.
And with the 16th overall selection, via a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Redskins added Purdue defensive end/outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, a wise choice after a wise trade.
For grades on how each team picked, read on, fellow NFL draft surveyors.
13. Detroit Lions: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
1 of 4
The Detroit Lions had top needs at outside linebacker, cornerback, running back and at the offensive line coming into the 2011 NFL draft.
But with the 13th overall selection, the Lions grabbed Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, setting up a potentially frightening interior combo with Ndamukong Suh.
Fairley was instantly being labeled the No. 1 pick in the draft after he and teammate Cam Newton led the Tigers to a national title in 2010. During that game, Fairley dominated, and it seemed a foregone conclusion he would be a prized prospect in the draft.
But something happened. Fairley showed up the NFL combine weighing less than he was listed at Auburn, people began questioning his character and if he took plays off on the field, and all of a sudden he found himself dropping in the draft and Newton being selected No. 1 by the Carolina Panthers.
His talent alone makes him a top-five pick in my mind. It's just a matter of if you can get past those character concerns.
Grade: B+
With offensive tackle Tyron Smith gone and Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara available, the obvious choice would have been Amukamara here, but, then again, the obvious choice isn't always the right choice.
When you see someone like Fairley drop to you at No. 13, I believe you gobble him up without hesitation. He was the best player available here, and although he doesn't fill an immediate need, he provided a potentially devastating one-two punch with Suh. Those two could be the most lethal DT combo in the NFL when this is all said and done, folks.
I knocked the Lions a little for not filling a need, but they made the right choice with Fairley dropping so far.
14. St. Louis Rams: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
2 of 4
The St. Louis Rams came into the draft figuring to look for a star receiver for young quarterback Sam Bradford, more likely given Josh McDaniels was their new offensive coordinator.
But the problem was there were really only two potential star wideouts in the draft, according to most draft experts—A.J. Green of Georgia and Julio Jones of Alabama.
So when Green and Jones were selected fourth and sixth respectively, the Rams had to look at other needs.
Steve Spagnuolo has done a commendable job with the D-line, and when Robert Quinn fell all the way to No. 14, the Rams did what a lot of teams did this year in the first round—took the best player available.
Quinn missed his junior season at UNC, but in his sophomore year he exploded, compiling 11 sacks in 2009 and drawing comparisons to Chicago Bears linebacker Julius Peppers.
His speed and athleticism are virtually unparalleled among defensive ends in this year's draft.
And his comparisons to Peppers (out of UNC, that is) aren't unfounded in my opinion.
Grade: B+
I'll give the Rams a B+ for the same reason I graded the Detroit Lions highly; they didn't fill an immediate need, but they made a solid selection when a top-10 player fell in their lap.
Quinn could be a beast in the NFL, and it's hard to pass him up at No. 14, especially when the guy the Rams probably truly coveted, Alabama's Julio Jones, had already been selected.
This adds another piece to Spagnuolo's defense, and frightening one, at that. If anything, it's going to finally make the San Francisco 49ers realize QB Alex Smith can't play under pressure.
15. Miami Dolphins: Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida
3 of 4
In the first round of the 2011 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins figured to add a running back, an offensive lineman or a quarterback.
Well, they certainly helped their O-line by selecting Florida guard/center Mike Pouncey at No. 15.
Pouncey was highly touted this year, but there weren't as many teams that needed guards as offensive tackles, so it was difficult to project where he would land.
Draft experts were split on if the Dolphins would select Alabama running back Mark Ingram or Pouncey, and it appears the Dolphins felt that their O-line was in too much disarray to ignore.
Grade: B-
I don't blame the Dolphins for grabbing Pouncey to add to a battered line that really only had two players, Jake Long and Richie Incognito, solidify their jobs in 2010.
But I do blame them for passing up Ingram, the unquestioned No. 1 back in this year's draft. Not only do I believe he can be a franchise back, I believe running back was just as critical an area to fill for the Dolphins this year. Ricky Williams is probably gone and even if the Dolphins re-sign Ronnie Brown, it's going to cost too much money for a guy that disappointed in 2010.
Basically, it's a matter of preference, and I preferred Mark Ingram.
I do think Pouncey will be a longtime starter on the Dolphins, though, so it's not like they made a bad pick.
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16. Washington Redskins: Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue
4 of 4
The Washington Redskins originally had the 10th overall selection, but, apparently deciding Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert wasn't their franchise quarterback, they traded their pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the Jaguars' 16th and 49th selections.
So, with the 16th overall pick, the Redskins selected Purdue defensive end/outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan.
Not only did the Redskins get an extra pick in the draft, they still were able to fill a primary need at pass rusher, and did so by picking one of the best pass rushers in the draft in Kerrigan.
Kerrigan, who has been heavily lauded as a first-round pick pretty much ever since the 2010 season, had 25 sacks in his last two years with the Boilermakers, and demonstrated his range with an average of 68 tackles in the two years.
He was clearly a top prospect coming into the draft and he fell right where he was generally expected to—just to different team that was expected.
Grade: A
I love the Redskins' move for a number of reasons. First, they didn't take Gabbert as their franchise QB. Some believe he could become a franchise QB. I don't. I think he will be a solid quarterback, but not a star in the NFL.
Second, the team's other primary area of concern was getting to the quarterback, and Kerrigan figures to help in this regard emphatically, perhaps right away.
Third, this now puts Andre Carter back in his natural position at defensive end, after he flailed transitioning to linebacker last season (I expect the Redskins to use Kerrigan as a linebacker).
Fourth, they got an extra pick out of it, to boot.
It's a win-win-win-win situation.
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