2011 NFL Draft Results: 5 Teams That Played It Safe During NFL Draft
In the NFL draft, there are times when you take risks, times when you go for the best player available and times when you fill your primary need with a consensus top player.
Here I will discuss which five teams took the least chance by essentially filling their needs with the best player available.
These five teams are the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints (with a nod to the Indianapolis Colts for making it a priority to protect QB Peyton Manning).
No reaches for potential here, folks.
Just the obvious.
But picking the consensus pick for your primary need isn't always the best way to go; sometimes you need to be a little risky in certain areas.
5. Washington Redskins
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The Redskins could have selected a quarterback in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft, but even though consensus pick Blaine Gabbert was available at No. 10, he still was a bit risky, given he wasn't as promising a prospect as Stanford's Andrew Luck.
The Redskins traded down to No. 16 to select defensive end/outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, a guy that has seen his name in the first round of mock drafts dating back to last season.
They filled a primary need with a top player in most people's eyes, and his sack numbers in college back the pickup.
They also went with top wideout Leonard Hankerson as far as the third round, and found a potential gem in Nebraska RB Roy Helu in the fourth round.
4. Buffalo Bills
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The Buffalo Bills were another team looking for a potential star quarterback, but with no prospects really jumping out to anyone, the Bills elected for the second-best player available at No. 3 with Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus (I saw Patrick Peterson as the best player available).
They instantly shored up their ailing pass rush, as well as the worst rush defense in the NFL in 2010.
Then they grabbed top cornerback Aaron Williams of Texas to add to their secondary in the second round.
3. Houston Texans
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The Texans had needs on defense first and foremost this year, and they picked a prototypical 3-4 defensive end in J.J. Watt of Wisconsin.
They even passed up Robert Quinn of North Carolina, probably due to concerns of him missing his last season at UNC, and backed Watt up with top outside linebacker Brooks Reed of Arizona, and finished with top corner Brandon Harris of Miami.
Their primary need was defense, and they weren't going to deviate from this.
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2. Cincinnati Bengals
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The Bengals needed serious help at receiver and quarterback in this year's draft, with Terrell Owens likely gone and Chad Ochocinco and QB Carson Palmer disgruntled.
All they did was go with the No. 1 receiver in this year's class in Georgia's A.J. Green.
That should solve their dilemma looking for their next star receiver.
Then in the second round they picked up TCU QB Andy Dalton to succeed Palmer. Dalton wasn't considered a top-three QB generally, but he still has the potential to lead the franchise.
Two top needs, two obvious selections at the Bengals spots in the draft.
1. New Orleans Saints
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Not only did the Saints possibly have the best draft in the league, they did so by being rather obvious in addressing their needs.
With needs on the defensive line, at running back and at outside linebacker, the Saints selected in that order, grabbing a steal in Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan, the top running back in the draft in Alabama's Mark Ingram (via trade) and a highly rated outside linebacker in Illinois' Martez Wilson with their third-round selection.
Saints fans should be happy.
Not only did the organization decide not to throw any curveballs, they addressed primary needs right away and helped the Saints significantly.
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