2011 NFL Draft Grades: The Best Value Pick in Every Round of the Draft

There were plenty of solid picks in this year's NFL draft, and while each round had its fair share of steals, there was one in every round that stood out above the rest.

The point of this article is not to say who will have the most productive career from each round, but to say who the best value was in each round based on the pick he was selected with.

That is why someone like Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton, who should be a productive NFL quarterback, and who was a good value at the beginning of the second round, is not on this list.

Dalton was a good value, but I do not believe he was the best value in the second round.

There are plenty of other examples, but here are the seven players who were the best value picks in each round of this year's draft.

1st Round: Nick Fairley, DT, Detroit Lions

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Nick Fairley, #13 overall pick by the Detriot Lions, 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)

There were plenty of good value picks in the first round, including Prince Amukamara to the Giants, Anthony Castonzo to the Colts and Cameron Jordan to the Saints; but I have to go with the Lions selection of Nick Fairley with the 13th overall pick.

The Lions were already a trendy pick to do big things this year and the selection of the ultra-disruptive Fairley should make Detroit fans just that much more excited.

Fairley and Lions rookie Pro Bowler Ndamukong Suh should instantly form the league's scariest 4-3 interior, as opposing NFC North quarterbacks will have to be on the lookout for Detroit's relentless duo.

The Lions had other needs that they could have potentially gone after in the first round, but they filled many of their needs in the following rounds and landed an absolute steal with their opening pick.

2nd Round: Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers

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LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 13: Randall Cobb #18 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball while defended by Sean Richardson #21 of the Vanderbilt Commodores during the game at Commonwealth Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won

We'll stay in the NFC North for the best value pick in the second round, which was Green Bay's selection of Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb.

The Packers managed to land Cobb with the final pick of the round, and while there were some other good values in the round, I really like the pick of the former Wildcats weapon.

Cobb is considered by many to be the best return man in this class, and he is also a very polished receiver who should only add to the Packers lethal passing attack.

Cobb does not have blazing speed (4.46) but he is still quite fast and he runs very good routes. With Donald Driver nearing the end of his career, Cobb should eventually be the starter in Green Bay, but for now he will be very dangerous and productive in the slot.

I'm sure this pick will be scrutinized plenty with players like Dalton, Marvin Austin and Da'Quan Bowers coming off of the board in the second round, but Cobb went after all of them and I see him making the biggest difference for the best team.

3rd Round: Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs

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ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 21: Justin Houston #42 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Kentucky Wildcats at Sanford Stadium on November 21, 2009 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Some people may clamor for Ryan Mallett to be the pick here, but he's not going to be playing anytime soon and the Chiefs got a potential first-round talent who should start from day one. 

Justin Houston is a terror coming off of the edge, and when you add him to a Chiefs defense that already has Pro Bowl outside linebacker Tamba Hali, you have the recipe for a pretty good pass rush.

Houston also filled a position of need for the Chiefs, which is what makes him all the more valuable in the third round.

Redskins receiver Leonard Hankerson was another player considered for the best value in the third round, but I think Houston will have a slightly bigger impact for an improving Chiefs team.

4th Round: Tandon Doss, WR, Baltimore Ravens

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 9: Brandon Saine #3 of the Ohio State Buckeyes attempts to make a tackle on Tandon Doss #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers during a kickoff return at Ohio Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

This round was a tough call for me between two receivers, Baltimore's Tandon Doss and St. Louis's Greg Salas. Ultimately I chose to go with Doss, who has the some of the best hands in the draft, along with the size and route-running ability to be a very good player in the Ravens offense.

Doss does not have elite speed (4.50), but he is a solid character player who gives Joe Flacco a legitimate receiving threat for years to come.

Doss was one of the top-rated receivers in the draft, and many had him as a late second-round prospect, so his selection in the fourth round could be considered nothing short of a great value.

With the addition of Doss and Maryland receiver Torrey Smith, the Ravens really upgraded their receiving corps in this year's draft.

5th Round: Marcus Cannon, OT, New England Patriots

Cannon had a very unfortunate draft week, as he found out that he has Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Cannon was expected to go in the late first or early second round before the diagnosis, and instead he slipped all the way to the the fifth round, where the Patriots selected him.

Cannon is expected to make a full recovery, and he could turn out to be one of the top steals of the draft when healthy.

The massive 358 lb. offensive lineman is already a very good run blocker, and he should only get better in pass protection for the Pats.

Cannon is the easy choice in the fifth round as he hopefully recovers from his illness.

6th Round: Jordan Todman, RB, San Diego Chargers

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Jordan Todman #23 of the Connecticut Huskies stiff arms Jamell Fleming #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the second quarter during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Ariz

The San Diego Chargers were looking for a backup running back in this draft that could potentially share some of the load, and they found a very good one in UConn runner Jordan Todman.

Todman has excellent speed (4.40) and he is a very competitive runner. While he is not known as a big time power back, he does have some power (as evidenced by the above photo) and he also has great vision.

Todman ran for 1,694 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Big East champs last season on 334 carries, so there is little doubt he could be a workhorse down the line for the Chargers if need be.

San Diego got great value with this pick, taking a very productive college player who should be able to contribute immediately.

7th Round: Virgil Green, TE, Denver Broncos

Nevada tight end Virgil Green was the first selection of the final round and I believe he was also the best value pick of the round.

Green has the potential to be a solid contributor for the Broncos this season at tight end, as he has very good speed (4.54) and strong ball-catching ability.

Green will have to become a more polished route runner and work on getting stronger but he has as much upside as any of the players picked in the seventh round.

Denver also picked an intriguing tight end prospect in the fourth round with their selection of Portland State's Julius Thomas, and both players should be fun to watch as rookies in the Mile High City.