2011 NFL Draft Grades: 5 Teams That Improved the Most in 2011 NFL Draft

After a tumultuous weekend of wild drafting for all 32 teams, the days of drafting future NFL players are almost over.

It’s been a long three days and a lot of quality kids went to great teams. There will be perennial Pro Bowl players that come out of this draft and there will be busts, just like every other year.

While teams like the Vikings and Falcons may have made big mistakes, other teams thrived this draft and really improved their franchises.

This slideshow is of the top five teams that went out and made themselves better. Enjoy!

5. Philadelphia Eagles

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CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 4: Quarterback Ryan Katz #12 of the Oregon State Beavers lays on the turf after being hit by Casey Matthews #55 of the Oregon Ducks in the first quarter of the game at Reser Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Corvallis, Oregon. The Du

The Philadelphia Eagles had a really solid draft this season and their picks addressed their needs.

One of the biggest weaknesses of the team was on offensive line, and they addressed that need with Baylor lineman Danny Watkins.

Watkins has a ton of raw talent and the Eagles will use his aggressiveness to turn him into a John Runyan-type offensive lineman.

Another great pick was taking Clay Matthews’s younger brother, Casey, from Oregon in the fourth round.

Matthews is a stout player who has a ton of potential, and the Eagles defensive coaches will love to turn him into their style of linebacker.

4. Arizona Cardinals

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TEMPE, AZ - APRIL 29: First round draft pick Patrick Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals speaks during a press conference to introduce him at the team's training center auditorium on April 29, 2011 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Ima

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt comes from the Pittsburgh Steelers school of learning and uses that mentality in the draft as well.

With the Cardinals drafting at No. 5, experts had them reaching for a quarterback because of their lack at starter.

They should’ve known better. Whisenhunt takes the best player available and took cornerback Patrick Peterson, who was ranked No.1 by almost all NFL experts.

Some of the later-round picks have a lot of potential, but the standout pick was running back Ryan Williams. I personally had Williams as the best all-around back in the draft, so I think the Cardinals got a real steal here.

3. Buffalo Bills

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell poses for a photo with Marcell Dareus, #3 overall pick by the Buffalo Bills, as Dareus holds up a jersey during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Phot

The Buffalo Bills had one of the worst defenses in the league last season and they made it a point to upgrade as much as they could on that side of the ball.

Picking at No. 3 opens your team up to the best players available and the Bills got the best defensive tackle in this draft class with Marcell Dareus.

With their next pick they took standout Texas cornerback Aaron Williams, which was another stellar pick for their defense.

Buffalo went with the best-player-available-at-positions-of-need route and have really helped the team with every pick.

2. 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)

The Detroit Lions were the only team in the first round that wowed me for a positive reason.

When Nick Fairley fell to No. 13 and the Detroit Lions, everyone saw that the Lions were taking best player available and they stole him.

Fairley will play alongside Ndamukong Suh and Kyle Vanden Bosch, and any questions about work ethic will be answered by the pressure put on him by those two gentlemen.

The rest of the Lions picks are great plug-in players that fill their needs, and Detroit made the right moves.

1. Houston Texans

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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 got the most out of every one of their picks and they are the game changers that the Texans defense needed.

They have one of the most prolific offenses in the game today, with Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Arian Foster, but their defense was terrible.

New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips got the Texans to take four-straight defensive prospects in this draft, including defensive end J.J. Watt, outside linebacker Brooks Reed and cornerback Brandon Harris.

With all the new blood on defense, times will get tougher for everyone in the AFC. I’m looking at you Peyton Manning.