2011 NFL Draft Reaction: AFC Teams

I personally liked what Denver and Buffalo did at the top of the draft. They made good early picks and added players who should compete. I also think Cleveland is better now that the draft is over, and will still have two first round picks next year to continue the process. Oakland and Miami were at an early pick deficit, but I also wasn’t a big fan of what they did after that, and I didn’t like the Locker pick at all. Besides that, many teams went with addressing needs and fitting players to their systems, and we’ll just have to see who pans out.

Buffalo Bills

3. Marcell Dareus, defensive tackle, Alabama.
34. Aaron Williams, cornerback, Texas.
68. Kelvin Sheppard, linebacker, LSU.
100. Da’Norris Searcy, safety, UNC.
122. Chris Hairston, tackle, Clemson.
133. Johnny White, running back, UNC.
169. Chris White, linebacker, Mississippi St.
206. Justin Rogers, cornerback, Richmond.
245. Michael Jasper, defensive tackle, Bethel (TN.)

I really like what Buffalo did early in this draft. They avoided reaching for a quarterback at any of their spots when the value wasn’t there because of the QB demand, and took players who were both among the best available and filled obvious needs. Buffalo’s defense was bad last year, and has really struggled against the run for two years in a row, and they added an impact defensive tackle, a likely starter at cornerback, and a player who can provide depth and challenge for a starting spot in Kelvin Sheppard.

New York Jets

30. Muhammad Wilkerson, defensive end, Temple
94. Kenrick Ellis, defensive tackle, Hampton
126. Bilal Powell, running back, Louisville
153. Jeremy Kerley, wide receiver, TCU
208. Greg McElroy, quarterback, Alabama
227. Scotty McKnight, wide receiver, Colorado

New York didn’t have a second round pick as a result of the Cromartie trade, so they used both of their picks on Thursday and Friday to draft players for the front 7 on a defense that struggled to generate a pass rush at times. Muhammad Wilkerson was highly ranked on many boards and was a great pick late in the first. Kenrick Ellis has legal issues that dropped him to the third, but if he is on the field he should challenge for a spot in the rotation right away.

New England Patriots

17. Nate Solder, tackle, Colorado
33. Ras-I Dowling, corerback, Virginia
56. Shane Vereen, running back, California
73. Stevan Ridley, running back, LSU
74. Ryan Mallett, quarterback Arkansas
138. Marcus Cannon, guard, TCU
159. Lee Smith, tight end, Marshall
194. Markell Carter, linebacker, Central Arkansas
219. Malcolm Williams, cornerback, TCU

Love what they did with the Mallett and Marcus Cannon picks late, getting players who dropped because of character (Mallett) or health (Cannon with treatable non-Hodgkin lymphoma) concerns, but who were excellent value when they added them. They didn’t address any front seven players on defense, though, where they just weren’t good enough in the pass rush, and spent two picks at the running back position in the first three rounds. The Nate Solder pick with the first round choice they got from Oakland in the Seymour deal is a boom/bust type situation, because he has physical tools and is athletic, but didn’t show it consistently.

Miami Dolphins

15. Mike Pouncey, guard/center, Florida
62. Daniel Thomas, running back, Kansas St
111. Edmond Gates, wide receiver, Abilene Christian
174. Charles Clay, tight end, Tulsa
231. Frank Kearse, defensive tackle, Alabama A&M
235. Jimmy Wilson, cornerback, Montana

I have this weird feeling that Mike Pouncey was over-drafted because of his last name and relation to Maurkice Pouncey. Pick #16 is high for an interior lineman, and this team had many needs, particularly in adding playmakers. They didn’t have a 2nd rounder, and then traded back into that round to take RB Daniel Thomas, who can be a pounder, but who’s upside for me is a guy who won’t contribute much in the passing game and can the bigger half and red zone option in a platoon. Not sure I would have traded multiple picks to get him.

Cleveland Browns

21. Phil Taylor, nose tackle, Baylor.
37. Jabaal Sheard, defensive end, Pittsburgh.
59. Greg Little, wide receiver, UNC.
102. Jordan Cameron, tight end, USC.
124. Owen Marecic, fullback/linebacker, Stanford.
137. Buster Skrine, cornerback, UT-Chattanooga.
150. Jason Pinkston, guard, Pittsburgh.
248. Eric Hagg, safety, Nebraska.

The Browns draft wouldn’t be complete without talking about what they did with the trade, which still nets them a first rounder and fourth rounder next year from Atlanta. For trading down this year, I thought they added a pretty good piece in Phil Taylor at nose tackle, and Sheard helps them in a need area along the line. The Greg Little pick is going to make this draft if he can stay out of trouble, and both he and Jordan Cameron will have a chance to play alot as rookies.

Pittsburgh Steelers

31. Cameron Heyward, defensive end, Ohio St.
63. Marcus Gilbert, tackle, Florida.
95. Curtis Brown, cornerback, Texas.
128. Cortez Allen, cornerback, Citadel.
162. Chris Carter, outside linebacker, Fresno St.
196. Keith Williams, guard, Nebraska.

The Steelers make solid picks and go about things smartly. They added a player who is perfect for their system in Cameron Heyward, and he doesn’t have to start right away, and then added a young offensive tackle in Marcus Gilbert at a clear area of need. Then, in the middle rounds, needing to create depth and competition at corner, they drafted two with the 3rd and 4th round picks.

Cincinnati Bengals

4. A.J. Green, wide receiver, Georgia.
35. Andy Dalton, quarterback, TCU.
66. Dontay Moch, defensive end, Nevada.
101. Clint Boling, guard/tackle, Georgia.
134. Robert Sands, safety, West Virginia.
167. Ryan Whalen, wide receiver, Stanford.
207. Korey Lindsey, cornerback, S. Illinois.
246. Jay Finley, running back, Baylor.

Love the A.J. Green pick here and I think he is the best wide receiver in this class and that pick was solid with the chance to also be spectacular. Whether this draft will be viewed positively or negatively three years from now depends on whether Andy Dalton is a success in the NFL as a starter. Opinion is very much mixed on him, and I am a skeptic.

Baltimore Ravens

27. Jimmy Smith, cornerback, Colorado
58. Torrey Smith, wide receiver, Maryland
85. Jah Reid, tackle, Central Florida
123. Tandon Doss, wide receiver, Indiana
164. Chykie Brown, cornerback, Texas
165. Pernell McPhee, defensive end, Mississippi State
180. Tyrod Taylor, quarterback, Virginia Tech
225. Anthony Allen, running back, Georgia Tech

This one really comes down to whether Jimmy Smith has his head on straight. He was available late in the first because of character concerns, not because of ability. We may look back on this draft in a few years and ask why he slipped so far. The picks of Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss give the Ravens a double chance at finding a quality receiver, and with Mason and Houshmandzadeh not exactly stretching defenses and Boldin’s physical style leaving him susceptible to injury, it was a need they need to address for the future.

Houston Texans

11. J.J. Watt, defensive end, Wisconsin.
42. Brooks Reed, defensive end, Arizona.
60. Brandon Harris, cornerback, Miami.
127. Rashad Carmichael, cornerback, Virginia Tech.
144. Shiloh Keo, safety, Idaho.
152. Taylor Yates, quarterback, UNC.
214. Derek Newton, tackle/guard, Arkansas St.
254. Cheta Ozougwu, outside linebacker, Rice.

Houston went defense early and often in this draft, with good reason as the unit was torched in 2010, particularly in the back half. They are also switching to a 3-4 with Wade Phillips, and needed players that fit the system. J.J. Watt is a good pick, though I think that is a little early for a guy that projects as an end in the 3-4. Brooks Reed provides a guy to play pass rush OLB, and then they went secondary heavy in the middle rounds. The Texans will likely get some starters out of this draft fairly early, out of need.

Indianapolis Colts

22. Anthony Castonzo, tackle, Boston College
49. Ben Ijalana, tackle, Villanova
87. Drake Nevis, defensive tackle, LSU
119. Delone Carter, running back, Syracuse
188. Chris Rucker, cornerback, Michigan State

Well, other than drafting more trainers to keep players healthy, we knew where the Colts had to go in this draft based on how much the offensive line deteriorated in the last few years. Anthony Castonzo is the perfect pick for this team, and they had to be ecstatic that he was there. Then they added Ben Ijalana at interior offensive line, and Drake Nevis should play early at the defensive tackle positions. They may have only had five picks, but they will get immediate contribution.

10. Blaine Gabbert, quarterback, Missouri
76. Will Rackley, guard, Lehigh
114. Cecil Shorts, wide receiver, Mt. Union
121. Chris Prosinski, safety, Wyoming
147. Rod Issac, cornerback, Middle Tennessee St

This draft class is about whether Blaine Gabbert is going to be an above average NFL starter or not. They traded up to get him, and didn’t have another pick until Will Rackley was selected in the 3rd. I know there are Gabbert skeptics, but I’ve seen him as an NFL starter all along at Missouri, and I think if he had thrown to Jeremy Maclin and had the offensive talent that the team had three years ago, people wouldn’t be talking about him with as much skepticism. I view him as a Kerry Collins/Jim Everett type player, which is worth a 10th pick. Not everyone can be Peyton Manning.

8. Jake Locker, quarterback, Washington
39. Akeem Ayers, linebacker, UCLA
77. Jurrell Casey, defensive tackle, USC
109. Colin McCarthy, linebacker, Miami
130. Jamie Harper, running back, Clemson
142. Karl Klug, defensive end Iowa
175. Byron Stingily, tackle, Louisville
212. Zach Clayton, defensive tackle, Auburn
251. Tommie Campbell, cornerback, California (PA)

Do not like the Jake Locker pick at #8 overall. The anti-Vince Young? Only in some ways, but Young didn’t have huge character concerns coming out, and Locker is an athlete, but less accurate than Young. After that, Akeem Ayers and Jurrell Casey were solid picks along the defensive front seven. 

Denver Broncos

2. Von Miller, linebacker, Texas A & M.
45. Rahim Moore, safety, UCLA.
46. Orlando Franklin, tackle, Miami.
67. Nate Irving, linebacker, N.C. State.
108. Quinton Carter, safety, Oklahoma.
129. Julius Thomas, tight end, Portland St.
189. Mike Mohamed, linebacker, California.
204. Virgil Green, tight end, Nevada.
247. Jeremy Beal, defensive end, Oklahoma.

Great start to the draft with both Von Miller and Rahim Moore, who should move into the lineup quickly in an old secondary. This team needed a major upgrade on defense and with these two, plus the return of Elvis Dumervil, it should bounce back some in 2011. After that, the Franklin pick will be a good one, and he won’t have to play LT with Ryan Clady already there, and will be a plus at the guard positions who can also slide to right tackle.

Kansas City Chiefs

26. Jonathan Baldwin, wide receiver, Pittsburgh.
55. Rodney Hudson, guard, Florida St.
70. Justin Houston, linebacker, Georgia.
86. Allen Bailey, defensive end, Miami.
118. Jalil Brown, cornerback, Colorado.
135. Ricky Stanzi, quarterback, Iowa.
140. Gabe Miller, outside linebacker, Oregon St.
199. Jerrell Powe, defensive tackle, Mississippi.
223. Shane Bannon, running back, Yale.

I am happy with what the Chiefs did here. The first two picks were need-based, but at least if they determined that they wanted to address the receiver position with taking a high upside player like Jon Baldwin, they did so by also trading back and picking up another pick, which they turned into Justin Houston. Houston had slipped to the third round after being a first round talent because of character concerns following a positive drug test, but getting Baldwin + Houston was big. The other need was interior linemen for the future, with Brian Waters turning 34 and Casey Wiegmann turning 38 this season, and they added Rodney Hudson there. I had also said prior to the draft that Ricky Stanzi was a guy on whom I would take a chance in the latter half of the draft, and I saw a lot of qualities similar to Trent Green or Marc Bulger in college. If he turns out better than some of the QB’s in front of him, and creates depth and competition with Matt Cassel in a few years, it will be a good pick.

San Diego Chargers

18.Corey Liuget, defensive end, Illinois.
50. Marcus Gilchrist, cornerback, Clemson.
61. Jonas Mouton, linebacker, Michigan.
82. Vincent Brown, wide receiver, San Diego St.
89. Shareece Wright, corerback, USC.
183. Jordan Todman, running back, UConn.
201. Steve Schilling, guard, Michigan.
234. Andrew Gachkar, outside linebacker, Missouri.

DT Corey Liuget will be a very good pick for the Chargers and fits their system. After that, this draft was about getting depth and adding athletes that will play special teams, where the Chargers were dreadful last year, costing them a chance at the playoffs despite being very good both offensively and defensively. WR Vincent Brown is a player to watch out of this group. If all these youngsters at LB, DB, and WR can contribute on special teams right away, the Chargers will be a team to watch in 2011.

Oakland Raiders

48. Stefen Wisniewski, guard, Penn St
81. Demarcus Van Dyke, cornerback, Miami
92. Joseph Barksdale, tackle, LSU
113. Chimdi Chekwa, cornerback, Ohio St
125. Taiwan Jones, running back, Eastern Washington
148. Denarius Moore, wide receiver, Tennessee
181. Richard Gordon, tight end, Miami
241. David Ausberry, wide receiver, USC

Oakland had traded away the first round pick for Richard Seymour two years ago. Their first pick was Stefen Wisniewski, who projects as a Center and could play Guard as well. His uncle, Steve, was a Raiders’ star lineman in the 90’s and is now coaching the offensive line. After that, the Raiders added cornerbacks with the impending departure of Nnamdi Asomugha, and adding speed at skill positions. I can’t get too excited about an interior lineman getting the legacy treatment, but if he turns out as good as his uncle, it would be a solid draft.

[photo via Getty]