2011 NFL Draft: The Best and Worst Picks of the First Round
There were a fair share of surprises in the first round of the draft on Thursday night. From the Falcons dishing out all kinds of picks to Cleveland, to Jacksonville moving for a QB they may not use in 2011.
With several first-round talents left, there's plenty of steal opportunities in the second round as the NFL draft continues this evening.
Now that the first round has concluded, though, here are the the best and worst five picks from the first night of the 2011 draft.
The Worst: 5. Atlanta Falcons Giving Up Five Picks for Julio Jones
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The Falcons, with no doubt in my mind, got a solid receiver for years to come by drafting Julio Jones sixth overall out of Alabama.
But giving up two first rounders (one this year, one next), a second rounder this year and two fourth round picks (one in 2012)? Was it really worth it?
Originally, they could of picked Pitt's Jon Baldwin at number 26. But instead, they gave up five picks to get Jones. I think Jones will have a good career and could even win Rookie of the Year. But five picks?
I'm not even sure if wide receiver was that much of a need, a position they could of picked in the second round, using the pick for a guy Leonard Hankerson from Miami. So while Jones will be good, the Falcons gave up too much.
4. Dallas Being Risky, Picking Tyron Smith
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Tyron Smith is a first round talent. But picking the offensive tackle ninth overall is too high for a risky player that Smith is.
Anthony Costanzo might of even been a better, and much safer, pick for Dallas in the first round. Draft studs such as J.J. Watt, the Wisconsin defensive end, and Prince Amukamara, the corner from Nebraska, were also still available.
The Cowboys could of picked at those two positions, but rather took a big chance on Smith. We'll have to see how this plays out, but it seems too high for him to have gone at number nine.
3. The First Overall Pick
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We all saw this coming, and so it did. Cam Newton will be a major project, but his pure talent keeps him from being the worst first round pick.
He's a winner; there's no hiding that, but he isn't mentally ready for NFL playcalling yet. That's much more important than his natural physical prowess.
Simply said, Cam Newton should of never been the first overall pick, maybe not even a top 10 pick, but still has potential through the roof if he learns an NFL offense well.
The Panthers should have taken Patrick Peterson, but they went with another way, a way we figured they would. Jimmy Clausen's already out, moving over for Cam Newton. It'll be more than interesting to see how this turns out.
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2. Aldon Smith Being Chosen by San Fran
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The San Francisco 49ers could of used their seventh overall pick on a quarterback, a big position of need. Blaine Gabbert was still available. At the defensive end position, big prospects like Robert Quinn and J.J. Watt still remained.
Yet they choose Aldon Smith out of Missouri, who no one thought would be the first Missouri Tiger to go in the draft. He may fit San Francisco's style on defense, but this was a bit of a reach to me.
I think Gabbert, Cameron Jordan, Amukamara and Quinn would've all been just as good, if not better, picks for the 49ers. They could have even traded down for an extra draft pick and still selected Smith. But I don't think this is the way they should have went.
1. Tennesee's Hurt Locker
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I suppose Jake Locker's draft stock didn't fall as much from last year as we first thought it would. Here's the run-down on Locker: good mobility, can make plays with his feet, but has accuracy issues.
How familiar that description sounds to Titans' fans. They had just gotten rid of a running QB with accuracy issues, and they go pick up another one. Why didn't they take Blaine Gabbert, who ended up going two spots later?
With that said, the maturity and overall intangibles are there with Locker, something Vince Young never had. But this is still a risky pick to me, and I'm not sure they made the right one here.
The Best: 5. Nick Fairley at Number 13
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Detroit has one of the bigger steals in this year's draft and the best interior line in football. Many considered Fairley as the best defensive lineman in the draft behind Marcell Dareus, so going 13th was a huge pick-up for the Lions.
There were maturity and attitude issues with Fairley, but I think he will be pushed to be good in Detroit by the man beside him on the line, Ndamukong Suh.
Together, there will be less double-teaming by O-lineman, and that means a field day every week for Suh and Fairley. This will be very dangerous combo to say the least.
4. Browns Racking Up the Picks
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The Falcons were desperate to move up for a wide receiver after they had missed they're chance on trading up for A.J. Green had gone away.
So desperate that they threw an assortment of picks at the Cleveland Browns. The Falcons dished out their original first round pick, the team's first choice of next season, their second round pick and two fourth-rounders (one this year, one next), all so they could move up to take Julio Jones.
So the Falcons got what they wanted, while the Cleveland Browns stocked up on picks and traded up later to get defensive tackle Phil Taylor 21st overall. Chalk up a "W" for Mike Holmgren on draft day.
3.The Prince of New York
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What a steal this was for the G-Men. New York got the second best defensive back in the entire draft 19th overall, certainly a surprise from where most thought he would be drafted.
Prince Amukamara was expected to go as high as in the top 10 of the opening round, but instead fell back to New York, who followed their normal strategy of picking the best player available.
With Amukamara now with the Giants, it's fair to say the G-Men are the best defense when it comes to defending the past. Amukamara is more than ready for the NFL and as physical a corner as you could ask for.
2. Getting the Best Player Fifth
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The Arizona Cardinals cashed in in the first round with their draft choice of Patrick Peterson, considered by most as the most NFL-ready player and most athletic and versatile player in the draft.
He can play anywhere in the secondary for the Cardinals, showing an amazing combo of size and speed. He will also become one of the better return men in the game if he lives up to expectations.
I give big ups to Arizona for taking Peterson and not moving back and can still get Ryan Mallett tonight to fit the quarterback need that they have.
1. Some Cajun Kick in the First Round
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The New Orleans Saints had two picks in the first round of the NFL draft last night and made the most of the pair of selections by drafting Cameron Jordan and Mark Ingram.
Jordan could have went as high as 14th to the St.Louis Rams, but fell all the way to the 24th spot and was even ranked higher by some experts than Aldon Smith was, and Smith was taken seventh overall.
Ingram was a product of a trade between the Saints and Patriots and will now join Pierre Thomas in the Saints' backfield to compliment their already explosive offense.
So with Jordan wreaking havoc on quarterbacks on Sundays and Ingram becoming yet another addition to the Drew Brees-led offense, it was a great first round for New Orleans.
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