Winners
Saints – Most teams in the NFL dream of hitting a home run with their first round pick. Not many teams can say they hit two home runs in the same round.
Still stinging from their playoff loss to Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks, the Saints grabbed a blue chip defensive end in Cameron Jordan out of Cal with the 24th pick in the first round. Four picks later, Mickey Loomis and Sean Payton traded up to grab the best running back in this year’s draft, Alabama’s Mark Ingram.
Lions – In two short years, Lions G.M. Martin Mayhew has gone a long way to erasing the bitter memories of Matt Millen’s reign of terror in the Motor City. One year after taking the eventual defensive rookie of the year, Ndamukong Suh, Mayhew grabbed another stud for his defensive line. With the 13th pick in the first round, the Lions chose Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley.
This is the same kid who ran roughshod over the Oregon Ducks in the BCS Championship game. The addition of Fairley means the Lions now have the makings of what could end being the most feared defensive line in the NFC.
Browns – I really liked what Mike Holmgren and the Browns did this past weekend. After their trade with the Falcons, the Browns were still able to grab a mammoth run stuffing defensive tackle in Baylor’s Phil Taylor. The Browns added more depth to their defensive line in the second round with the selection of Jabaal Sheppard from Pitt. To make it even sweeter for the Browns and their fans is the fact they will go into the 2012 draft with two first round draft picks.
Taking a gamble
Falcons – There is no question that G.M. Thomas Dimitroff and the Falcons are deadly serious about winning the NFC this year. Why else would a team trade five draft picks over two years in order to move up and select receiver Julio Jones from Alabama? The Falcons gave up a first, second and fourth round pick this year, AND a first and fourth round pick in 2012 to move up from 27th to sixth spot to grab Jones.
If Jones emerges as the impact receiver Dimitroff and his scouting staff believe they can be, then the gamble will have been worth it. If Jones stumbles and the Falcons don’t make it to at least the NFC Championship game, then the gamble will come back to haunt them in the 2012 draft.
Vikings – I really have a hard time trying to figure out what the Vikings were thinking. This is not meant to be a knock against Christian Ponder. However, by all accounts, Ponder was a quarterback they could have easily waited until the second round to take. Defensive line was a high priority with the Vikings and they passed on Nick Fairley and Robert Quinn to take Ponder. Vikings fans were irate over the selection. Ponder will have to be good in a real hurry to win over the Vikings nation.
Bucs – Tampa G.M. Mark Dominik took a gamble in the second round with his selection of Clemson’s outstanding defensive end Da’Quan Bowers. Reports of Bowers chronic knee issues scared off a lot of teams. If the Bucs medical staff can keep Bowers healthy, then Tampa might have picked up the biggest steal in the 2011 draft. The big question is whether or not Bowers’ right knee can hold up to the rigors of a 16 game NFL season.
Titans – Taking quarterback Jake Locker with the eight pick in the first round stunned everyone in the NFL. There was every indication that the Titans could have traded down, grabbed an extra pick, and then still selected Locker. While he is talented, Locker still has trouble with his accuracy. A quarterback can get away with accuracy issues in the NCAA, but you can’t in the NFL.
Patriots – With the 10th pick in the third round, the Patriots grabbed quarterback Ryan Mallett from Arkansas. An incredible talent, a lot of scouts ranked Mallett far higher than first picks like Ponders or Locker. But stories of his off field issues and partying caused Mallett’s stock to plunge. Now he’s joining a team with a hall of fame coach and a hall of fame quarterback.
If Mallett can be indoctrinated into the Belichick/Brady way of doing things, then the Patriots could very well have their quarterback of the future. If he’s a bust, all it cost them was an extra third round pick that they picked up in the Randy Moss trade.
Safe draft
Bills – G.M. Buddy Nix avoided making the sexy choice and decided to make a safe and smart pick with his selection of Alabama Marcell Dareus in the first round. The Bills were dead last in the NFL stopping in the run and a player like Dareus will go a long way to doing the dirty work along the of scrimmage necessary to stop the run in the NFL. Nix picked seven defensive players with the Bills nine picks as he was obviously on a mission to rebuild his defence.
Giants – New York’s football Giants used their first two picks to add some serious talent to Perry Fewell’s defence. The late season fourth quarter collapse to Michael Vick and the Eagles likely played a role in the strategy of G.M. Jerry Reese on draft day as the Giants selected outstanding cornerback Prince Amukamara and defensive lineman Marvin Austin.
Losers
The fans – The only real losers in the 2011 NFL draft were the league’s loyal fans. Chants of “we want football” nearly drowned out Commissioner Roger Goodell’s opening remarks at the start of the first round. Fans are sick of the litigation and petty political grand standing going on between the owners and the players. All they know is their favourite teams can’t sign their respective draft picks until the lockout comes to an end.