2011 Draft 1st Round Recap...

 

The 1st round of the NFL draft kicked of last night. I wasn't excited as I usually am because of the lockout, but since the judge ended it earlier this week I regained my excitement. This draft just like any other had some things we definitely saw coming (see photo above) and some surprises. Here's my take on the 1st round.

#Respect

Atlanta Falcons 

Wrong side man

Trading up to draft Julio Jones a big, physical, tough, surprisingly fast WR to compliment Roddy White was definitely a good look. I was a little shocked they gave up so much for him but I like him and think he will be a great receiver in the league, better than AJ Green. 

Detroit Lions
Drafting Nick Fairley. Fairley was such a beast in the National championship game I thought he may have gone number 1, I wasn't the only one. That talk died down but he was still looking like a top 5 pick. Somehow he fell to 13 where the Lions didn't need him, having drafted Ndamukong Suh last year but they nabbed him anyway. Suh and Fairley on the same defensive line #ridiculous.

New Orleans Saints

Any team that gets two picks in the 1st round gets #respect. Drafting Cameron Jordan was great. He will help the defense and be the heir apparent to Will Smith. Trading back into the 1st round to pick up Mark Ingram was excellent. Ingram is the perfect power runner to compliment the other Heisman winning RB on the roster (if he is still there).

Cleveland Browns
The traded their 1st round pick (the aforementioned Jones) to Atlanta for 5 picks. 1-2-3-4-FIF. Not just any 5 picks either, Atlanta's 1st this year (which they flipped), 2nd and 4th this year and next year's 1st and 4th. I'm sure this year's 1st and 2nd would have been enough to close the deal but the Browns push to the max (or took advantage of ATL's thirst) to get those additional picks.

Good Look

Dallas Cowboys
Drafting for need instead of headlines. Tyron Smith will help the O-Line just not sure if it will be at Left Tackle.

Washington Redskins
Resisting the allure of the QB and trading down for more picks. I think Ryan Kerrigan could be a bust though.

Jacksonville Jaguars 
Trading up to get Blaine Gabbert. I didn't think Gabbert would be good in the league but now I think he has a chance to. He can sit behind David Garrard for a while and learn.

New York Giants and Jets
Prince Amukamara fills a definite need at CB for the Giants. Muhammad Wilkerson fills the need for a giant DT for the Jets.

Baltimore Ravens
Ravens had an excellent draft last year and started this one of pretty good as well drafting Jimmy Smith to fill their CB needs. He has some character issues but Ray Lewis and Ed Reed will whip him into shape.

Teams who drafted Offensive Lineman
Usually cant go wrong when you draft O-lineman because if they're young and healthy they're good and some even great. So good look to the Cowboys, Dolphins, Patriots, Colts, Eagles, Seahawks, Bears and the Packers.


Surprise Surprise

Minnesota Vikings
Cristian Ponder at #12? They must have really loved this guy. I think they could may have been able to get him in the second round. If they weren't confident they could have waited then they could have traded down a little lower in the 1st, get some additional picks, and then drafted him. They botched this one.

Tennessee Titans
Jake Locker at #8? See above about Ponder.


Da'Quan Bowers

This guy was once talked about as the #1 overall pick. and he didn't even get drafted in the 1st round. Guess his knee injury scared people off. can't imagine him not going in the top 3 picks in the 2nd.

Denver Broncos

I thought they'd go with Marcell Dareus, a bit of a safer pick, instead they opted for Von Miller who I think is a potential bust. 

Beware

AJ Green WR, Bengals. For some reason he reminds me of Charles Rodgers. I think he'll be productive but not great, just not blazingly fast. And who is throwing to him?

Von Miller OLB, Broncos. Always weary of a hybrid DE/OLB tweeners. Without the proper inside help he may not get many sacks.

Aldon Smith DE, 49ers. See above.

Ryan Kerrigan DE, Redskins. Ditto.

Robert Quinn DE, Rams. Ditto again lol.

Johnathon Baldwin WR, Chiefs. Has a chance to be good because Dwanye Bowe will get doubled but he's big and slow.

Drafting The Franchise Player

I love the draft. Its the best way to make your team better. Fans and GMs alike know the importance of the draft. A good one can change the course of a franchise. A few good picks and your team can go from horrible to decent, decent to good, good to great. You could even find that special player who could be the one to help you bring home the ring. That in fact is the reason people draft to find the franchise player.

This of course is no easy task. There are so many prospects, many of whom look like they will be excellent players and perhaps even that franchise player. They've put together their highlight tapes. Trained for and performed admirably at the combine and/or their pro days. They've taken tests and went on interviews. They've put all this work in trying to solidify themselves as a number 1 pick. So how do you pick?

You have to do your due diligence. Understand your needs and conduct your research accordingly. Review the tape, a prospect's track record. That's the best way to see them in action, see how they have preformed in the past and see what they need to work on to get better. (Sometimes you yourself aren't able to view tape but make sure your scouts have). Look at their combine numbers to see their skill set. If you need to, bring them in for additional workouts and closer observations of their skill set. Notice how they've trained. This will give you and idea of their work ethic, which is so important to a player's and team's development.

Then of course there is the interview (hopefully a few). In my opinion the most important aspect of the draft process. Its the best way to see what kind of person your prospect is. You can ask questions about things you saw on tape or things you've heard from scouts and critics. Gauge their character. Find out as much as possible before determining if you want them on your team.

Good luck in your search for The Franchise Player.