2011 1st Round

[Simpleton]

This is kind of random but I'm tired of talking about our shit team, Jerry banging strippers or whatever else is going on. I was looking at the 1st round of the 2011 draft and I don't think I've heard too much discussion about this, and it certainly wasn't touted as such as the time, but I think it could arguably be the best 1st round ever.

I mean, you have 5 guys in my opinion who are at least 50/50 for the HOF in AJ Green, Tyron, Watt, Robert Quinn and Patrick Peterson. Then you have Aldon Smith and Von Miller who would be in that category if they weren't idiots, although I'd still argue that they are elite players.

On top of that you have Julio Jones, Marcell Dareus, Muhammad Wilkerson and Cameron Jordan who are also elite, perennial Pro Bow types. Following them you have Newton, Kerrigan, Pouncey, Solder and maybe another guy or two who aren't elite at their positions but are guys who will probably make a handful of Pro Bowls.

I mean, that's half of the guys taken in the 1st round who are at least borderline Pro Bowlers and I could legitimately argue that 7-9 HOF'ers could come out of these 32 picks when the most of all-time right now is 6 from 1983. This also doesn't take into account Richard Sherman who was taken in the 5th I believe and he'd probably be put in that 50/50 group too.

Random observation but it's kind of amazing.

 

[1bigfan13]

They were talking about this draft class on the radio last week right after Peterson signed his contract. They talked about how Peterson's deal would likely get the ball rolling for all the other stars from that draft class signing new deals.

And sure as shit Tyron Smith signed his new deal w/Dallas about than 24 hours later.

Also, check out this redo of the 2011 draft composed by Gil Brandt.

I laid into him a bit on twitter for a few of the picks, particularly Prince Amukamara.

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1. Carolina Panthers
Original pick: Cam Newton
Do-over pick: Newton
Comment: Newton's rookie season was statistically off the charts, but what has impressed me the most is that the Panthershave improved their record in each of his three seasons, and he took a talent-deprived team to the playoffs last season.

2. Denver Broncos
Original pick: Von Miller
Do-over pick: Colin Kaepernick (Round 2, No. 36 overall)
Comment: Kaepernick wasn't a surprise to be picked by the 49ers in the top 50, but it has been surprising how good he has gotten this quickly. He signed a six-year, $126 million extension in June.

3. Buffalo Bills
Original pick: Marcell Dareus
Do-over pick: J.J. Watt (1-11)
Comment: Watt has been a dominating player from the start, and he's doing it at a valuable position as a pass rusher.

4. Cincinnati Bengals
Original pick: A.J. Green
Do-over pick: Tyron Smith (1-9)
Comment: I think Smith is the best left tackle in football, and he won't be 24 until December. A Pro Bowl tackle is harder to find than almost every position other than QB or pass rusher.

5. Arizona Cardinals
Original pick: Patrick Peterson
Do-over pick: Peterson
Comment: Peterson is worthy of a higher spot but corner isn't as valuable as QB, pass rusher and LT. He's a shutdown corner who returns kicks. There's lots of value in that. If you ask 10 personnel men which player they prefer, Peterson or Richard Sherman, I believe the vote would be evenly split.

6. Atlanta Falcons
Original pick: Julio Jones
Do-over pick: Richard Sherman (5-154)
Comment: Without question, Sherman has been the biggest surprise of the 2011 draft. People didn't know much about him, even though he played in the Pac-12. He didn't run very well in pre-draft workouts, but teams liked his long arms and innate ability to find the ball.

7. San Francisco 49ers
Original pick: Aldon Smith
Do-over pick: Robert Quinn (1-14)
Comment: Quinn, who had a brain tumor in high school, didn't perform at North Carolina like he has in NFL. He should have been picked higher, but I remember the brain surgery he had in high school being an issue with a few teams.


8. Tennessee Titans
Original pick: Jake Locker
Do-over pick: Aldon Smith (1-7)
Comment: Smith was a two-year player at Missouri who was wildly inconsistent. He was lights out in a game vs. Oklahoma, but in other games the light never came on. On pure talent, he's a top-10 pick in 2011 or in this do-over; he has 42 sacks in three seasons. Only thing holding him back is his off-the-field decision-making.

9. Dallas Cowboys
Original pick: Tyron Smith
Do-over pick: A.J. Green (1-4)
Comment: I know players voted Calvin Johnson the No. 2 player in the NFL recently, but I'd take Green or Julio Jones over Megatron, who puts up numbers because they throw him the ball so much. You could flip Green and Jones here and be happy.

10 Jacksonville Jaguars
Original pick: Blaine Gabbert
Do-over pick: Julio Jones (1-6)
Comment: Both Jones and Green are better route runners, with better hands than Calvin Johnson; their speed is about even. It's a big year for Jones, who is coming off foot surgery, but has looked explosive in camp so far.

11. Houston Texans
Original pick: J.J. Watt
Do-over pick: Muhammad Wilkerson (1-30)
Comment: Wilkerson was a basketball player who played on some pretty poor Temple football teams. It was all projection with him. His stock rose dramatically when teams got a closer look at him in pre-draft workouts.

12. Minnesota Vikings
Original pick: Christian Ponder
Do-over pick: Justin Houston (3-70)
Comment: Some off-the-field issues dropped Houston to the third round. He proved his worth last year when the Chiefs' defense fell apart after he went down to injury.

13. Detroit Lions
Original pick: Nick Fairley
Do-over pick: Von Miller (1-2)
Comment: Miller is a really good player but a bit undersized. It shows the depth of this draft when guy like this drops to 13.

14. St. Louis Rams
Original pick: Robert Quinn
Do-over pick: Cameron Jordan (1-24)
Comment: Jordan has some pass-rush ability. He played on a bad Cal team in college, and I'm not sure we knew him as well as we should have. He's certainly one of the surprises of this draft.

15. Miami Dolphins
Original pick: Mike Pouncey
Do-over pick: Andy Dalton (2-35)
Comment: Dalton is head and shoulders above three quarterbacks who went in the top 12 of this draft, even though he lasted until the second round. He has taken the Bengals to the playoffs every year. Now he needs to win a postseason game.

16. Washington Redskins
Original pick: Ryan Kerrigan
Do-over pick: Marcell Dareus (1-3)
Comment: After a slow start, Dareus has come alive recently. Wasn't a big factor early, but made thePro Bowl last year. He shouldn't be measured alone on his sacks, but his career total (18.5) is still good.

17. New England Patriots
Original pick: Nate Solder
Do-over pick: Ryan Kerrigan (1-16)
Comment: Kerrigan is the Redskins' best defensive player. Scouts liked him coming out of Purdue, but he has certainly surpassed expectations.

18. San Diego Chargers
Original pick: Corey Liuget
Do-over pick: Nate Solder (1-17)
Comment: Solder stepped right in and played both left and right tackle for the Patriots. His best is ahead of him.

19. New York Giants
Original pick: Prince Amukamara
Do-over pick: Mike Pouncey (1-15)
Comment: Pouncey went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. You hate to draft centers this early, but he might be the exception.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Original pick: Adrian Clayborn
Do-over pick: DeMarco Murray (3-71)
Comment: Murray has exceeded expectations as both runner and receiver. He just can't stay healthy. There were injury concerns when he came out, but he's still a good player.

Other players who would now have first-round grades based on their NFL production: Corey Liuget,Randall Cobb, Phil Taylor, Kyle Rudolph, Jordan Cameron, Julius Thomas, Cecil Shorts, Prince Amukamara.

 

[Clay_Allison]

Gil Brandt is an idiot. When he says anything about personnel, remember he went 9 years (78-87) with only one starter out of the top 3 rounds (Jeffcoat, 1st, 1983). Not even Jerry is that bad.

 

[jeebs]

Gil Brandt is an idiot. When he says anything about personnel, remember he went 9 years (78-87) with only one starter out of the top 3 rounds (Jeffcoat, 1st, 1983). Not even Jerry is that bad.

That is a hell of a statement. A little before my time, but damning if true.

 

[Clay_Allison]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/ Research it for yourself. Every draft ever and links to the players' stats is on the site.

 

[22cowboysfan22]

Gil Brandt is an idiot. When he says anything about personnel, remember he went 9 years (78-87) with only one starter out of the top 3 rounds (Jeffcoat, 1st, 1983). Not even Jerry is that bad.

Seriously, not taking Watt as the #1 overall is absolutely moronic. Watt is already easily the best defensive player in the NFL. Maybe if there was a true franchise QB in this draft I'd take them over Watt, but Cam and Kaepernick? No thanks.

 

[boozeman]

Gil Brandt is an idiot. When he says anything about personnel, remember he went 9 years (78-87) with only one starter out of the top 3 rounds (Jeffcoat, 1st, 1983). Not even Jerry is that bad.

Brandt in his prime was good. But he lost it when other teams, notably the Steelers, started running circles around the Cowboys starting in the mid-1970s.

It started in the late 1970s and continued into the 1980s. They were always a day late and a dollar short on guys like Joe Montana and Jerry Rice.

Ripping off the Seahawks in 1976 for the right to trade up at and get Dorsett was the last major coup. From 1976 on, the drafts weren't good and they got by with aging vets and some lucky undrafted free agent guys.

 

[boozeman]

I am happy with Tyron Smith.

Just trying to get what people assume about A.J. Green. I just don't see the fact he's approaching Cal Johnson's level and is that much better than Dez Bryant or Julio Jones. Maybe I need to watch more Bengals football maybe?

 

[Simpleton]

I am happy with Tyron Smith.

Just trying to get what people assume about A.J. Green. I just don't see the fact he's approaching Cal Johnson's level and is that much better than Dez Bryant or Julio Jones. Maybe I need to watch more Bengals football maybe?

I think Green is closing the gap on Calvin but I don't think he'll eclipse him any time soon, but at the same time I don't think he is that much better than Dez or Julio, all four of them are HOF caliber talents honestly.