2011 NFL Draft Grades: Who Had the Best Draft in the NFC North?
The 2011 NFL draft has come and gone already, so you know what that means!
It’s time to start scrutinizing and analyzing the picks like they are going out of style, and believe me, there is a whole lot to talk about from this draft.
Let’s take a minute and focus on the NFC North, though. The North has easily become one of the most intriguing divisions in football, and it is on its way to becoming one of the best divisions too.
The Green Bay Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions, the Chicago Bears are the defending division winners, and the Lions seem to be on their way to contention. Even the Minnesota Vikings have found hope in a new quarterback, if only for the fact that his hair is not grey.
Things are about to get very interesting in the NFC North, so let’s take a look at their draft results and see who came out with the best draft:
Minnesota Vikings
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Draft Results:
12. Christian Ponder, QB Florida State
43. Kyle Rudolph, TE Notre Dame
106. Christian Ballard, DT Iowa
139. Brandon Burton, CB Utah
168. Demarcus Love, OT Arkansas
170. Mistral Raymond, S South Florida
172. Brandon Fusco, OC Slippery Rock
200. Ross Homan, OLB Ohio State
215. De’Aundre Reed, DE Arizona
236. Stephen Burton, WR West Texas A&M
Grade: D
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Honestly, I think the Vikings ended up last in the division with this draft, but they made up for a poor start with a pretty decent finish.
I’m just going to come out and say it.
Taking Christian Ponder at No. 12 overall is probably one of the worst picks that I have ever seen in my life, and I’m pretty sure the Vikings will regret it.
Now, it won’t be regrettable because he is going to be a bust, because I actually think he will be a great quarterback for the Vikings.
The fact remains that they could have easily drafted Ponder in the second round if they felt like it, and used their first-round pick to get any number of defensive studs that were available.
It’s quite stupid, to be honest.
The Vikings made up for their abysmal start by taking some really quality players in the later rounds. I think that Ross Homan out of Ohio State is going to end up being a really solid starter in the NFL, and Kyle Rudolph just might end up surprising people.
Ponder could have been had in the second though, and that’s how we will all remember the 2011 Vikings draft.
Chicago Bears
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Draft Results:
29. Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin
53. Stephen Paea, DT Oregon State
93. Christopher Conte, S California
160. Nathan Enderle, QB Idaho
195. J.T. Thomas, OLB West Virginia
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Grade: C
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I have to cut the Bears some slack here, if only because they drafted simple and for their needs.
Protecting Jay Cutler was the No. 1 need going into this draft, and they solved that by drafting Gabe Carimi out of Wisconsin, who is going to be a stud on the line for them.
In the second round, they drafted Stephen Paea, who was arguably the best nose tackle in the draft, and even though he didn’t fit the scheme I think they are going to find a way to make him work in Chicago.
Everything else from the second round on is baffling to me though.
I think they should have really focused on getting Cutler a receiver to throw to, but instead they went defense and then selected another quarterback?
In my mind that indicates that they might be starting to lose faith in Cutler, but that still remains to be seen.
Detroit Lions
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Draft Results:
13. Nick Fairley, DT Auburn
44. Titus Young, WR Boise State
57. Mikel Leshoure, RB Illinois
157. Douglas Hogue, OLB Syracuse
209. Johnny Culbreath, OT South Carolina State
Grade: B
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Detroit came into this draft with too many needs and not enough picks to address them all, so to be honest, even though they started off strong, I think they disappointed most, Lion fans.
Nobody in their right mind had Nick Fairley dropping down to No. 13, so one could see why they took him. An interior line of Fairley and Ndamukong Suh is going to cause havoc around the league, but it is still a huge risk. Fairley has had problems concerning his character and endurance. Robert Quinn was sitting right there as was Prince Amukamara, and they both would have filled huge needs.
Titus Young and Mikel Leshoure are great players, but once again they were not dire needs for the Lions. At the end of the day the Lions might look back on this draft as the one where they got a little bit too big for their britches.
The Lions drafted some big talent though, so I won’t let that be overshadowed by the risks. I just think that they should have focused a little bit more on the needs of their team, rather than going for the home runs this year.
They took some risks that could pay off, but they aren’t quite yet in the position to be making those risks yet, and they might suffer for it.
Green Bay Packers
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Draft Results:
32. Derek Sherrod OT Mississippi State
64. Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky
96. Alexander Green RB Hawaii
131. Davon House CB New Mexico State
141. D.J. Williams TE Arkansas
179. Caleb Schlauderaff OG Utah
186. D.J. Smith OLB Appalachian State
197. Rick Elmore DE Arizona
218. Ryan Taylor TE North Carolina
233. Lawrence Guy DT Arizona State
Grade: A
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Right away I have to come out and hand it to the Packers. They came into this draft with an obvious plan to draft for their needs, and they did that plus a whole lot more.
Derek Sherrod in the first round is a typical Green Bay pick. It is clear that the Packers want to continue to focus on protecting Aaron Rodgers, and it makes plenty of sense because at this point Green Bay goes as he does.
He has ascended to Brett Favre–like status in Green Bay, and in my opinion he will do even more for the Packers, so protecting him is No. 1.
Randall Cobb is a guy I had going in the first round to the Packers, so the fact that they could snag him in the second round is great. He is one more weapon for Rodgers and will tremendously help in the return game.
They might have also got a steal in tight end D.J. Williams out of Arkansas. He is going to look very good across the way from Jermichael Finley.
The Green Bay Packers are solidifying themselves as the best drafters in the NFL right along side of New England, and all the credit has to go to Ted Thompson.
The Packers are in prime position to make another run.
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AKonSports
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