2011 NFL Draft Results: Which First-Round Draft Picks Will Be Busts?
The NFL draft is a very exciting part of the year. In the 2011 NFL draft, each team had a first-round draft pick—unless you're the Oakland Raiders—and was able to bring a high-caliber prospect to help build a team for the future.
Unfortunately, not every player ends up being that "stud" that he was projected to be.
In fact, just thinking of recent memory, there have been quite a few first-round draft choices that never really worked out in the NFL—which are considered busts.
Which of the first 32 prospects will end up being considered busts?
Here is my analysis and quick thoughts of each player in the first round along with my prediction of whether they're going to be a bust.
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1. Cam Newton
1 of 32
Quarterback Cam Newton has all the pressure of the world on his shoulders as he was the first overall pick of the 2011 NFL draft.
Newton may not have been the best player in this year's draft class, or even the best quarterback, but he does have the most upside and potential.
However, not too many former spread-offense quarterbacks adjust to the NFL that well—which is certainly going to be a difficult challenge for Newton.
Bust? Yes.
2. Von Miller
2 of 32
Just a few days prior to the NFL draft, Von Miller's name jumped in as a likely choice for the Denver Broncos at second overall.
Many never thought Miller would have been selected by the Broncos, as Denver will now be running a 4-3 defense under John Fox and Miller is an ideal 3-4 outside backer.
Bust? Yes.
3. Marcell Dareus
3 of 32
Defensive lineman Marcell Dareus is the most NFL-ready prospect out of the 2011 draft class.
Dareus will enter the Buffalo Bills' 3-4 defensive scheme under Chan Gailey, and he'll likely flourish as he's one of the more versatile defensive linemen.
Bust? No.
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4. A.J. Green
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A.J. Green is one of the most talented wide receivers to come out of the NFL draft in quite some time now.
Green has all the intangibles, and the sky is the limit for the now Cincinnati Bengal.
Bust? No.
5. Patrick Peterson
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The Arizona Cardinals' fifth overall selection, Patrick Peterson, is one of the most physical and athletic cornerbacks that I have ever seen.
Peterson has got it all and will likely be a first-year impact player.
Bust? No.
6. Julio Jones
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The Atlanta Falcons put a lot of pressure on wide receiver Julio Jones as they traded a total of five picks, including their 2011 and 2012 first-round draft choices.
I have a funny feeling that Jones will crack under all the pressure that Atlanta has put on him. Don't get me wrong, Jones is one talented player, but I don't see him working out as a Falcon.
Bust? Yes.
7. Aldon Smith
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Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith was projected as a mid-first-round draft choice—however, he was selected seventh overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
In my opinion, this pick was a reach as they could have possibly traded back a few picks and still gotten Smith.
Bust? Yes.
8. Jake Locker
8 of 32
Quarterback Jake Locker was a shocking top-10 selection by the Tennessee Titans.
I am actually a huge Locker believer. If you take a look during his days at Washington, there wasn't much talent around him, which caused his statistics, including his 53.9 completion percentage, to appear rather low and non-impressive.
Locker has a great skill set and will succeed in the NFL.
Bust? No.
9. Tyron Smith
9 of 32
The Dallas Cowboys made the right decision when they kept their ninth overall draft pick and selected USC offensive lineman Tyron Smith.
Smith is a monstrous offensive tackle who is extremely athletic while being very powerful—he will be the Cowboys' left tackle for many years to come.
Bust? No.
10. Blaine Gabbert
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This was a brilliant selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars as they traded up six spots to grab Blaine Gabbert.
Gabbert will enter an ideal situation in Jacksonville where he'll sit behind David Garrard, which will enable Gabbert to take his time to develop into an NFL-ready quarterback.
Bust? No.
11. J.J. Watt
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Defensive end J.J. Watt was the draft's top 3-4 defensive end, and he was selected by the perfect team—the Houston Texans.
Watt will thrive in Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense, and I'm predicting that the Wisconsin product will have a monstrous rookie season.
Bust? No.
12. Christian Ponder
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Former Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder may have been the most talented quarterback in the draft that certainly fell under the radar.
Ponder will enter an ideal situation in Minnesota as he'll join a very strong defensive team with one of the league's best running backs in Adrian Peterson.
Bust? No.
13. Nick Fairley
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The Detroit Lions have set themselves to have one devastating defensive line for many years to come. However, Auburn's Nick Fairley will disappoint as he'll prove to be a one-year wonder.
Bust? Yes.
14. Robert Quinn
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If North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn entered the draft just a year ago, he'd probably have been a top-five draft choice. However, Quinn was suspended for an entire season by the NCAA.
Quinn will show up to the St. Louis Rams training camp in perfect physical shape, but will he be in "football-shape" after sitting a complete season out?
Bust? Yes.
15. Mike Pouncey
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The Miami Dolphins drafted this year's best interior lineman in Mike Pouncey out of Florida.
Pouncey is versatile enough to line up as a center or an offensive guard, which will enable many opportunities for success.
Bust? No.
16. Ryan Kerrigan
16 of 32
Unlike what many draft scouts and analysts believe, I strongly feel that defensive end/outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan is best suited for a 3-4 defense.
This may be the only draft in the last decade that the Washington Redskins found a quality player in the first round.
Bust? No.
17. Nate Solder
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The New England Patriots were in search of their future left tackle as Matt Light is aging, and his productivity is decreasing.
Colorado's Nate Solder stands in at 6'8" and is one enormous athlete that can line up as the Patriots' left tackle for many years to come.
Bust? No.
18. Corey Liuget
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Defensive lineman Corey Liuget is a very athletic 300-pounder—believe it or not.
Liuget is very powerful force that will likely demand double teams on nearly every play moving forward for the San Diego Chargers.
Bust? No.
19. Prince Amukamara
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Prince Amukamara was projected as an early first-round draft choice, but he fell all the way to the New York Giants at 19th overall.
Amukamara is a great cover cornerback who is often compared to New York Jets' Darrelle Revis.
Bust? No.
20. Adrian Clayborn
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are collecting all the right pieces to the puzzle, including defensive end Adrian Clayborn.
Clayborn, who is considered a top-15 talent, had some minor character issues which caused him to slip all the way to 20th overall.
Bust? No.
21. Phil Taylor
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The Cleveland Browns desperately needed an anchor for their reconstructed defensive line, and Phil Taylor out of Baylor is a massive object to place on their defensive line.
Taylor is rather athletic for a 335-pound lineman who is virtually unblockable.
Bust? No.
22. Anthony Castonzo
22 of 32
Boston College is known for producing high-quality offensive linemen, and Anthony Castonzo is projected to be the next best one.
The Indianapolis Colts drafted Castonzo with their 22nd overall pick, and they have now found a left tackle for the future.
Bust? No.
23. Danny Watkins
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The Philadelphia Eagles may have found a gem in offensive guard Danny Watkins.
Watkins entered the 2011 NFL draft as a 26-year-old, and he will play like a seasoned veteran his rookie season as an Eagle.
Bust? No.
24. Cameron Jordan
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Defensive end Cameron Jordan will likely go down as a draft steal rather than a bust, as he fell to the New Orleans Saints at 24th overall.
Jordan is a well-rounded defensive end and will be a huge asset to New Orleans 4-3 defense.
Bust? No.
25. James Carpenter
25 of 32
What were the Seattle Seahawks thinking when they drafted James Carpenter? Carpenter was projected to go somewhere in the mid- to late second round.
Carpenter will be a hugely disappointing first-round draft choice, although he may have a solid NFL career.
Bust? Yes.
26. Jonathan Baldwin
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Yet again, another mind-boggling selection made as the Kansas City Chiefs selected Jonathan Baldwin out of Pittsburgh.
Sure, the Chiefs were in need of a wide receiver, but Baldwin was definitely not worthy of a first-round draft pick.
Bust? Yes.
27. Jimmy Smith
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Cornerback Jimmy Smith, along with all his luggage, was selected 27th overall by the Baltimore Ravens.
Smith has some major character concerns, but if he can overcome them, he will be one effective cornerback in the NFL.
Bust? No.
28. Mark Ingram
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The New Orleans Saints jumped up to 28th overall just to draft running back Mark Ingram.
The former Alabama running back has all the potential to be a 1,500-yard rusher for many years to come—this was a brilliant pick by the Saints' draft team.
Bust? No.
29. Gabe Carimi
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Offensive lineman Gabe Carimi dominated the Big Ten during his years at Wisconsin and has all the right tools to be just as effective with the Chicago Bears.
Carimi is a nasty player who plays with a mean streak; he will not stop until his defender is out of the play completely.
Bust? No.
30. Muhammad Wilkerson
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I don't see where all the hype came from regarding Temple defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson.
Wilkerson played very well for Temple, but the field of talent around him and opposing him wasn't that impressive.
Bust? Yes.
31. Cameron Heyward
31 of 32
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't draft a bust in Cameron Heyward—they found a steal in the former Ohio State defensive end.
Heyward has all the intangibles to be a very successful and dominant defensive end as a pass rusher and a run stopper in the NFL.
Bust? No.
32. Derek Sherrod
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Derek Sherrod out of Mississippi State was one of the most massive offensive tackles in the draft, as he stands in at 6'5" and 320 lbs.
Sherrod has all the raw talent to be great, he just needs to be coached up a bit.
Bust? No.
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