2011 NFL Draft Grades: How the Draft Affects the Green Bay Packers Next Year
2011 NFL Draft Grades: The Green Bay Packers Draft Well, But Several Other Teams Position Themselves To Dethrone the Champions
After months of anticipation leading up to the event, the 2011 NFL draft is now in the books.
And while the general rule is a three-year waiting period before you can really grade a draft, there are some things you can take away right away.
Let's breakdown the draft from the Packers point of view, including a look at several other teams within the NFC North.
OT Derek Sherrod (No. 32 Overall)
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How he fits
A long and athletic tackle, Sherrod has the talent to compete for a starting spot right away.
With a good camp, Sherrod could force the Packers to move Bryan Bulaga inside to guard to ensure the best five players are starting along the offensive line.
Good value?
Securing your potential left tackle of the future with the last pick in the first round is great value. Forget drafting an outside linebacker here—finding talented big men with the athletic skills of Sherrod is much harder to do later on in the draft.
Grade
A-
WR Randall Cobb (No. 64)
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How he fits
Where doesn't he fit? The versatile Cobb can give the Packers a type of slot receiver they haven't had, and he can also return punts and kicks.
This kid loves being on the football field, and I have no worries about coach Mike McCarthy finding ways to use him.
Good value?
There were some who thought Cobb should have went much higher than No. 64. That alone give him value. But with his Percy Harvin like skills, Cobb is a player who can really make an impact on the Packers 2011 season.
Grade
A
RB Alex Green (No. 96)
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How he fits
I hesitate to fully endorse the idea that this pick means the end of Brandon Jackson in Green Bay, but Green is a similar type player.
His power and receiving skills make him a candidate to see third down snaps early on in his career.
Good value?
I trust Thompson's draft board, but this was the first pick where you could possibly say his didn't match some of the others in the draft community.
Even so, Green was a fast riser towards the end of the process, and I see shades of Dorsey Levens in his style of play.
Grade
C+
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CB Davon House, (No. 131 Overall)
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How he fits
In a talented group of cornerbacks, House will need time before he sees any significant action. He has the base skill set and size to beat out Pat Lee and Brandon Underwood for the dime back, however.
Good value?
There were more than a few mock drafts that had House as a fringe second-round pick, but most agreed he was at least a third-rounder.
Overall, the Packers filled a long-term need with a high-ceiling player at good value. Not much more you can ask for in a draft pick.
Grade
A-
TE D.J. Williams (No. 141 Overall)
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How he fits
The rich get richer when you're talking about the Packers passing offense.
Williams was among the most talented pass-catching tight ends in the draft and is a class-act off the field.
The Packers have talent in place at the position, but it's clear to me that tight end is becoming a much more valued commodity in the NFL as of late.
Good value?
Depending on who you talked to, Williams was the third or fourth best tight end available in this class. He had plenty of production at Arkansas, and his journey to the NFL will make him work for everything he gets.
When you combine the talent and the person, drafting Williams in the fifth round was highway robbery.
Grade
A-
G Caleb Schlauderaff (No. 179 Overall)
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How he fits
Schlauderaff's experience and mean streak will give the Packers more depth among the interior of their line.
You'd have to guess that Thompson makes this pick with the idea that he'll be losing Daryn Colledge or Jason Spitz, and possibly both.
Good value?
Schlauderaff was drafted in the sixth round—a place where most had him going. He likely won't be a starting option anytime soon, but adding depth on the offensive line was one of the Packers priorities in this draft.
Grade
C
LB D.J. Smith (No. 186 Overall)
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How he fits
Smith is listed as an outside linebacker by most sites, but he looks more suited to play inside in the Packers' 3-4 defense.
While he won't be lining up on defense in 2011, he could be a big-time special teams contributor.
Good value?
This pick reminds me a lot of Desmond Bishop in 2007. Both were sixth-round picks with tons of production, but question marks about size and athletic ability to play linebacker.
Smith will need time to learn the NFL game, but he could be the type of thumper Bishop was on special teams.
Grade
C+
LB Ricky Elmore (No. 197 Overall)
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How he fits
Plenty of fans wanted a pass rushing linebacker from Arizona, but most thought that guy would be Brooks Reed.
While Elmore lacks the athleticism of his former teammate, he outproduced Reed over the course of their college careers.
Good value?
From a pass-rushing standpoint, the Packers did get good value with Elmore. He recorded a Pac-10- leading 21.5 sacks from 2009-2010.
For a sixth-round pick, Elmore can add competition to the outside linebacker position.
Grade
B+
TE Ryan Taylor (No. 218 Overall)
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How he fits
Coach McCarthy already stated that Taylor will be a tight end for the Packers.
While that position is certainly full to the brim with talented players, his main contributions could be on special teams.
Good value?
A two-time special teams captain at North Carolina, Taylor reminds me a lot of Spencer Havner.
He's not going to wow anyone on offense (even though Havner did catch four touchdowns in '09), but his versatility gives him a shot at making the roster.
Grade
C-
DE Lawrence Guy (No. 233 Overall)
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How he fits
Defensive end was targeted as one of the Packers draft needs, and Guy fits that mold.
His athleticism and size makes the five-technique Guy's ideal position.
Good value?
A lack of production and a few off-the-field issues kept Guy from being a mid-round pick. If he can overcome some of those issues, Guy is a talented defensive end that can help the Packers out next year.
He's got C.J. Wilson type value in the seventh round.
Grade
B+
Minnesota Vikings Draft
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Best picks
TE Kyle Rudolph (No. 43), DT Christian Ballard (No. 106), C Brandon Fusco (No. 172)
Commentary
The onus of this class lies with Christian Ponder, but the Vikings quietly put together a really solid draft after the first round.
Rudolph can immediately impact the offense, Ballard was great value at 106 and Fusco has the ceiling to be a solid interior lineman.
And while drafting Ponder that high was certainly a risk, I applaud the Vikings for finally putting together a long-term plan at the quarterback position.
Ponder could have the same type of rookie season that Mark Sanchez had in New York for a still-talented Vikings team.
Overall grade
B
Detroit Lions
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Best picks
DT Nick Fairley (No. 13), RB Mikel Leshoure (No. 57), WR Titus Young (No. 44)
Commentary
The Lions only ended with five total picks, but GM Martin Mayhew made the most of them talent-wise.
Fairley will team with Ndamukong Suh to give Detroit a dominating defensive front, and Leshoure and Young should give the offense two more playmakers.
Also, you have to credit Mayhew for being the anti-Matt Millen. He understood that the best drafters take good players before they reach to address needs. The draft is a tool for bolstering talent levels, and free agency is there to fill any immediate needs.
This isn't fantasy football, folks.
Overall grade
A-
Chicago Bears
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Best picks
OT Gabe Carimi (No. 29), DT Stephen Paea (No. 53)
Commentary
The Bears were another team with just five draft picks, and getting both Carimi and Paea where they did were solid values at positions of need.
You'd be underwhelmed with this draft if the Bears were rebuilding, but people forget this team was one win away from the Super Bowl last season.
This draft addressed a few of the weaknesses that kept them from getting to Dallas in 2010.
Overall grade
B+
Other Good Drafts in the NFC
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The Saints got tremendous value on day one. Mark Ingram will give them the balance on offense they lacked in 2010, and Cameron Jordan could be an impact player right away at defensive end.
New Orleans will be a good measuring stick for the Packers to open the 2011 season.
It's hard to argue with what the Giants did during the first two days. Getting Prince Amukamara, Marvin Austin and Jerrel Jernigan where they did was a solid haul for GM Jerry Reese.
And for those who say they don't need a cornerback: Didn't Aaron Rodgers torch that secondary to the tune of 406 yards in an elimination game last December?
I don't necessarily like how they went about it, but getting Julio Jones will make that offense one of the best in the NFL. And don't forget about Jacquizz Rodgers—he'll make an impact for Atlanta in 2011 somehow.
I applaud Tampa Bay for staying out of the offensive arms race that seems to be occurring in the NFC South and loading up on defense.
Defensive ends Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers and linebacker Mason Foster will help completely revamp their front seven and make Tampa Bay a more balanced team overall. The Bucs are certainly a team to watch for 2011.
What Does It Mean?
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The Packers have the best team on paper and should be the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl in 2011.
That doesn't mean we should hand them the Lombardi Trophy quite yet, however.
The NFC North is going to be as competitive as it's ever been next season, and I'd say all four teams have a plausible chance of winning it next year.
The entire conference should be better as well. The NFC South has three playoff worthy teams, and the NFC East could be an interesting three-team race between the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys.
And the bull's eye is firmly planted upon the Packers' back. They certainly loaded up with talent in this draft, but there are more than a few teams that want redemption for the Packers' six-game run to end the 2010 season.
We knew the 2011 season was going to be a fun one (if there is a season), but this draft only added more intrigue.
The Packers are a better football team today than they were before the draft, and there's a good number of NFC teams that can say the same thing.
That means better football for next season, which is all you can really ask for.
Is it Sept. 8 yet?
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