NFL Draft 2011 Results: 5 1st-Round Picks That Made No Sense

The 2011 draft was unconventional, to say the least. Amidst a lockout and league uncertainty, teams went into the draft prior to free agency, which left many more unaddressed needs heading into the draft.

The amount of needs increased ambiguity. Few teams are as well off as the Steelers, Packers and Falcons, which presented a number of different directions each team could go in the first round.

There were a number of picks that occurred in the first round that left many fans too dumbfounded to even boo their team's selection. Some fan bases seem content with their selections, but three years down the road may be singing a different tune.

Here are five day one picks that made no sense.

Von Miller, Denver Broncos

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ENGLEWOOD, CO - APRIL 29: Von Miller of the Denver Broncos is presented to the media for the first time with vice president of football operations John Elway at Dove Valley on April 29, 2011 in Englewood, Colorado. Miller, a projected outside linebacker

I saw thousands of mock drafts and not one had Von Miller going to the Broncos. Know why? He's a prototypical edge rushing 3-4 outside linebacker.

John Fox is now the head coach in Denver. He runs a 4-3 and has a history of relying heavily on his defensive line to be the foundation of his defense.

Rather than draft a promising defensive tackle who can stuff the run and terrorize the quarterback, Fox went with Miller. It's not that Miller isn't going to have a great NFL career. I just don't understand how Fox plans to utilize him in the 4-3 to reach his full potential.

Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans

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SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies scrambles against the Stanford Cardinal on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Stanford won 41-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The Titans started the run on second tier quarterbacks far too early. While I'm all for going after a guy if you really believe in him, especially at the QB position, Jake Locker does not merit the eighth overall selection.

You could argue that another team may have swooped in and stole Locker, had the Titans traded back. It is also possible that the Titans could have had another shot at him in the second round.

Locker was one of the most polarizing draft prospects in the draft. Some teams thought he was top 10 talent (obviously) while others took him off their board. He will forever be compared to Blaine Gabbert.

Luckily for us, they ended up in the same division.

Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Christian Ponder #7 of the Florida State Seminoles throws for a first down during a game against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

I was in Radio City Music Hall during the draft and, take it from me, this was the most unpopular selection of the entire draft.

Christian Ponder has tremendous upside. His stock sky rocketed as the draft approached and it seemed like he may sneak into the back of the first round on draft day.

He wasn't the 12th best player on the board. The Vikings may have been unable to trade back and get Ponder later, but the opportunity cost of passing on a better player to take a position of need could be devastating.

Would it have been so bad if the Vikings ended up with Nick Fairley in the first round? They could have traded up the way the 49ers did in the second round to get comparable talent to Ponder and obtained a defensive stud.

It's almost worth risking walking away with no QB and exploring free agency options.

Danny Watkins, Philadelphia Eagles

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) poses for a photo with Danny Watkins, #22 overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, on stage during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chri

Danny Watkins is going to be a 26 year old rookie. As refined as he is, he has no time to develop. There is no learning curve, there is no transition process.

Watkins seems like a great guy and talented athlete. He is going to appeal to the fan base in Philly, given his hard nosed, blue collar fire fighter background. It's not a sexy pick and Eagles fans are going to love it.

What about bringing in a guy like Jimmy Smith, though? Asante Samuel and Smith would have the potential to be one of the best tandems in the league. Watkins gives them a great plug and play guard for a while, but his age should have been a bigger deterrent, given the talent on the board.

James Carpenter, Seattle Seahawks

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Marcell Dareus #57 and James Carpenter #77 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Who? Who is right. The James Carpenter selection left Seahawks fans in a daze.

All the fans frantically "Googling" their selection had to be disappointed with their findings:

James Carpenter, Alabama

"Not a technician, nor is he a mauler. Good leverage."

The Seahawks needed a lineman, but to say this was a reach is a gross understatement. They came back by saying Carpenter was their second highest rated tackle in the draft. Shame on your scouting department, Seattle.