The 7 Most Compelling 1st Round Picks in the 2011 NFL Draft
What a first day.
The draft had its usual share of surprises, and there are plenty of opinions still going around. Reports are buzzing and fans are still trying to grasp what just happened.
One day and night won't be enough to analyze the event that culminated months of preparation and underground workings. However, as the draft is still sinking in, this will be a moment to take a quick look at many of the more compelling picks in the draft.
The picks will be presented in draft order. We start with the Falcon's trade to the sixth pick.
Falcons Trade Ransom for Julio Jones
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The Falcons traded two 1st Round picks, one 2nd, and two 4th round picks to move up 21 spots in the 1st Round.
I wouldn't have done this trade if I were the Falcons. They already have Roddy White; Julio Jones would be nothing more than a number two receiver in the Falcon's offense.
The fact is, number two receivers are not top ten picks. They are the equivalent of a guard in terms of positional value.
Even if Julio Jones is the best receiver in the world, you're going to have some wasted talent. It's just like in the Pro Bowl; every receiver there can post a 100 catch season, but each will probably get about 60 catches apiece if they all play on the same team. That's a lot of wasted talented there, and as a coach, you want to maximize the distribution of talent on your team.
Keeping the picks that they traded would have allowed Atlanta to maximize their talent.
What's even more interesting is that the Falcons were initially trying to trade up with the Bengals to snag A.J. Green. The amount they would have to give up for that is preposterous; you're looking at two 1sts, two 2nds, and a 4th at lowest.
No matter how great the need for a number two receiver is, the bottom line is that the Falcons should have drafted a number two receiver to play the number two receiver role, not a number one receiver like Julio Jones or even A.J. Green.
Even if the Falcons didn't like any Day Two receivers, thinking for the long term would have been the best idea. Additionally, it's always risky business trading future picks, especially when you're giving it up for a low positional value.
San Francisco 49ers Pass on Quarterback, Take Pass Rusher
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My first thought when the 49ers took Aldon Smith was: "Okay, Jim Harbaugh really wants Andrew Luck next year."
My second thought was: "Okay, Robert Quinn definitely has some issues."
In all honesty, passing on a quarterback for a fairly raw prospect (by the looks of it) is a sign that Harbaugh is thinking for the long term, and will wait another year to find his quarterback. If that's the case, his former pupil Andrew Luck is almost certainly the target.
It's not hard to imagine a scenario next year where the 49ers need a quarterback, they are picking high, and Luck is not out of reach. That may be what they're eying for in taking Aldon Smith. The risk with that, though, is if the 49ers are surprisingly good next year and are out of reach for Luck.
They may be forced to shelf out a ransom for him like Atlanta did. It wouldn't be a bad trade necessarily, considering the value of the quarterback position, but the 49ers would be banking on a lot of things to go right. If the 49ers are picking in the twenties, and Luck is the consensus the go first overall, three first round picks might be the asking price or the other team may refuse to even trade at all.
Only time will tell what Harbaugh's motives are behind this pick.
The other thing this pick brought up was the status of Robert Quinn. Quinn showed amazing talent before he got suspended at UNC, and he showed ability to overcome adversity when he endured through a brain tumor in high school. For a less prolific player like Smith to be picked over Quinn was certainly an upset, and said a lot about why Quinn ultimately dropped to the Rams.
UPDATE: Well, the 49ers just selected Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick may have been the second quarterback on their board, prompting them to take Smith in the first round.
Titans Choose Jake Locker over Blaine Gabbert
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Now that we think about it, why was this pick even surprising?
The truth is, it shouldn't have surprised anyone that Locker was picked over Gabbert.
Before the draft, there were very few people heaping heavy praise on Gabbert. Many even called him out for throwing short passes and playing in a spread offense.
Locker, meanwhile, seemed to see his stock steadily rise. Before this year, Locker was the consensus candidate to be the first overall pick. Had he entered last year, he could have been the first overall pick.
Even though Locker regressed some, the fact remains that he still performed fairly well for two consecutive years. That consistency, in addition the extreme lack of talent around him, says a lot about Locker. It also doesn't hurt that he played in a pro-style offense.
Gabbert only came onto the scene this year. Locker had a much safer feel to him; he played in a pro offense, had the talent to possibly be the number one overall pick last year and the opinions on him were generally positive and consistent.
When a guy like Gabbert gets such mixed reviews, bursts onto the scene in one year, and plays in a spread offense, it definitely shouldn't have surprised anyone that he was the third quarterback taken.
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Lions Go Defensive Tackle in Back to Back Years
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I must say, Nick Fairley looked quite sharp in his snug vest and chic glasses.
Getting back to the subject, after hearing this selection, the first thing I thought was that Rick Gosselin was a genius. Gosselin had always been a terrific mocker, but this pick was totally unexpected.
Thinking about it though, the Lions really don't need a defensive tackle at all. They have Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams, and Sammie Lee Hill all already at the spot, and all are formidable starters.
It really looks like Jim Schwartz is going to be loading the defensive line, like he did with Tennessee.
Speaking of days with Tennessee, Fairley could be Schwartz's second Albert Haynesworth. Both show the same aggressiveness, belligerence, and ability to take over a play that Schwartz apparently loves.
Another thing that came to mind with this pick is that Schwartz's philosophy is clearly to take the best player available, regardless of position (obviously there will be a few exceptions). He did this even though defensive tackle may be the most stacked position on his roster already, and picking the same position in the first round two years in a row doesn't happen very often.
The next question is whether Fairley starts. I would say it's very likely, but if Sammie Lee Hill really puts up a fight, Schwartz doesn't seem like the guy to hesitate to put the best player on the field.
If Fairley does pan out and start, it might be safe to say Detroit jumps past Chicago in the division. Chicago's offensive linemen wouldn't be able to block the Lion's tackles if their lives depended on it.
Patriots Ignore Cries for Pass Rush, Draft Offensive Line
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Being a Patriots fan, I must admit I was pretty disappointed at first with the Nate Solder pick. But that's usual, and after reminding myself this was Belichick's team, I quickly found myself searching for the positives about this pick.
My philosophy is that teams will always evaluate better than fans, so I have no doubt that Solder was the best tackle available at the time in the eyes of most teams.
The reason I was initially disappointed was because I didn't really like Solder as a prospect. I was particularly down on the fact that his lower body just didn't seem strong enough for him to hold his own in the NFL.
Looking at the positives, though, you can see why the Patriots liked him.
First, he has the personality that you like. McCourty was the player with an absolutely terrific personality last year (all class), and Solder is pretty close in that department. However, one has to wonder whether Solder can transition his off-the-field pleasant smile to meanness on the field.
Also, one thing to think about is, offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia has done a very good job developing offensive linemen. He often works with later-round picks and builds them into quality players, like Stephen Neal and Dan Koppen. However, all the Patriots early round picks on offensive line have turned out to be hits.
Matt Light and Sebastian Vollmer were two second round picks that panned out. Logan Mankins was the only first round lineman in Belichick history, and he's turned out very well.
But Solder gives "Scar" the most he's ever had to work with. Solder is a former tight end, and he posted a fantastic 32 inch vertical and 4.96 forty time. He also is over 6'8 and has very long arms.
And one final thing: The players that the Patriots pick in the first round that fans don't like usually end up very good. This occurred when they drafted a "special-teamer" last year in McCourty, it happened with Logan Mankins, and with Ty Warren. Solder could be the next one of these "disliked" players.
Oh, and the last first round pick that the fans really did seem to actually like? I think it was 2006, with Laurence Maroney and Chad Jackson in the first two rounds.
Philadelphia Eagles Take 26 Year Old Guard with Their Pick
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Danny Watkins is clearly a feel-good story.
Watkins grew up in British Columbia, and grew up playing hockey and rugby. He initially chose a career as a firefighter, but later attended Butte College and played football there. He transferred to Baylor in 2009, and never looked back after replacing Jason Smith, the second overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
However, Watkins is 26 years old. That is a well-known fact, though many people write it off, saying Watkin's skills offset his age. Watkins had a very good Senior Bowl performance.
I'm no talent evaluator, but I know that a 26 year-old player, let alone a guard, has to be ridiculously good if they're going in the first round.
Here's another way to think about it: Pretend this was the 2007 NFL Draft. Would Danny Watkins be a top 13 pick (approximately)? The last time a guard was drafted in the top 13 was in the 1997 NFL Draft, when Chris Naeole was taken by the Saints.
The Eagles must really feel as if Watkins will come in and be a Logan Mankins. I don't want to sound like I'm bashing Watkins here, I actually do feel as if he'll become a very solid player. His journey getting here has been much more difficult than likely anything he'll face in the NFL. But you have to wonder if he's worth a pick this high.
Another thing this shows is that the Eagles love heart.
Last year, they drafted a defensive end who loved the game of football in Brandon Graham. Although Watkins may not value football as much as Graham (firefighters), Watkins has shown great toughness and perseverance, two traits any team would admire.
One note to acknowledge though is how the Eagles have made 21 picks the past two years. They might be afraid they are getting too young. Watkins wouldn't further their fear; he would be the equivalent of signing a free agent in the age department.
Pittsburgh Steelers Make Unflashy, Solid Pick in Cameron Heyward
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This pick wasn't a flashy pick by the Steelers, but it shows why the Steelers draft so well and are so good every year.
I immediately thought Cameron Heyward was the perfect player for the Steelers right when Roger Goodell announced the pick.
He is very tough, strong and is a smart player. He is mentally strong, something that the Steelers love. He has also shown the ability to take over a game. And he comes from a football family; his dad played running back in the NFL and was known as a punishing, tough runner.
Heyward may have those same traits too. He's a great fit for the Steeler's defense, and he might not have been available here had this year's defensive end class not been so deep.
Just as we started thinking that the Steeler's defensive line was getting old, they have now injected two first round picks into their defensive line in the past three years. An old defensive line now has Evander Hood and Cameron Heyward consisting of its main parts.
Drafting for the future is a trait of a consistently good team. The Steelers have that trait. This pick is a living example of it.
Conclusion
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Every pick in the first round had its own story associated with it. It'll be weeks, or even months, before we find out some of the small intricacies involved with each pick.
If you have any interesting comments on any other pick, or have any points to make about the picks I wrote about, feel free to comment.
For now, it's time to enjoy the rest of the draft. Enjoy Day 2 and Day 3!
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