NFL: 2011 Draft Review

[Blackhawkswincup]

Looking back at how your team performed in 2011 draft. Enough time has passed that we can evaluate it pretty well now

Previous installments

2010 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1946663
2009 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1946031
2008 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1944037
2007 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=968187
2006 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=968983
2005 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=971013
2004 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=972073
2003 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=973605
2002 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=975732
2001 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=977951
2000 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=979119
1999 Draft review = http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=980037

2011 Chicago Bears draft

1st round (29th overall) = T Gabe Carimi
2nd round (53rd overall) = DT Stephen Paea
3rd round (93rd overall) = FS Chris Conte
5th round (160th overall) = QB Nathan Enderle
6th round (195th overall) = LB J.T. Thomas

- Carimi was a complete bust and got injured. Was traded after 2 seasons in Chicaog and played sparingly for Bucs and Falcons before washing out of NFL
- Paea was a productive DT for Bears when healthy ,, But with switch to 3-4 D he was allowed to depart as UFA and landed in Washington
- Conte was a average safety when at best ,, A horrid safety when at worst with Bears. After release from Bears started at safety for Bucs last year
- Enderle was a Martz project who never did anything and wasn't good enough to play in NFL
- Thomas became a surprise after being cut by Bears and found his way into starting LB job with Jaguars and Giants

Not a single player from that draft is still with Bears organization

Click to read more...

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Draft was great for S.F. helped them get to 3 NFCCG and 1 super bowl. Too bad Aldon is a train wreck and Kap stalled out.

 

[Blitzkrug]

This draft kind of sucked for Miami.

Round 1 - Mike Pouncey: The one bright side of this draft. I didn't like the pick at the time, but Big Mike has proven to be a pretty good lineman...when he's healthy. Spoilers; that's not often. He sucked last year, likely due to the fact he was coming off another hip injury, and then his foot got hurt near the end of the season. Still think he's a good lineman coming into this year seeing as he should be 100% going into camp.

Round 2 - Daniel Thomas, RB: Garbage. Parcells believed he was one of the better backs in the class and deemed he was worth a 2nd. Speed made Derrick Henry look like Barry Sanders in comparison. Mr "Let me run into the pile 20 times a game for a yard or two"

Round 4 - Clyde Gates, WR: Also garbage. 30 career receptions for like 300 yards. lasted a year and was never heard from again.

Round 6: Charles Clay, TE: Surprisingly good pick. Kind of hung around for a couple years before breaking out in 2013 with 750 yards and 6 TD's. Quickly became one of Tannehill's go to targets. Left when the Bills paid him all the money and by all accounts, is still a pretty solid player for a guy taken in the 6th round.

Round 7 - Frank Kearse, NT. Was considered a project and wasn't expected to do much. Kicked around the league and according to ESPN, is still kicking with the Pats, as he put up a sack and a couple tackles with them last season. Not bad.

Round 7 - Jimmy Wilson, CB: Usually you don't bag on a team for missing on a 7th rounder but i'm gonna make an exception here. Wilson spent two years in jail for a murder charge and was out of football for years until he got on the field for his senior year. Like, why bother? He sucked.

Draft grade: D

Nothing really to write home about.

 

[What the Faulk]

1st round - QB Cam Newton: What more needs to be said? MVP, NFC Championship, 15-1, all kinds of rookie records, career rushing records (already!), arguably a top 5 QB. I hated this pick. I've never been more glad to be wrong.

3rd round - DT Terrell McClain: "Played" one year here that I don't remember at all. Bounced around to a few teams and is still somehow currently in the NFL in Dallas. A nobody.

3rd round - DT Sione Fua: Marty Hurney double dipped at DT before it was cool. Too bad he has also done nothing.

4th round - CB Brandon Hogan: Back to back picks that both resulted in duds. Hogan was on the roster for two seasons before he went to Canada, where he couldn't cut it.

5th round - WR Kealoha Pilares: Well, he returned a kick once for a touchdown. So there's that. Otherwise, he also did nothing and then went to Canada.

6th round - LB Lawrence Wilson: Who?

6th round - C Zack Williams: You expect me to remember these generic Madden-sounding players?

7th round - OT Lee Zimba: Okay, now you're just making up names.

Undrafted - OT Byron Bell: Famous for being so bad that Michael Oher was a significant reason for a 9 win improvement.


Overall, wow. There is literally zero talent outside of Cam. I'd give this draft an F- if he wasn't taken. I don't know how to grade it with him at the top, though.

 

[Big Poppa Puck]

Vikings:

1(12) QB Christian Ponder, Florida St.
-Panic reach for a 2nd/3rd round talent because they literally only had Joe Webb on the roster at the time. Got on Adrian Peterson's back for 1 playoff appearance in 2012 but didn't even play in the game. Was benched by 2013 and demoted to 3rd stringer once Teddy came along before they let his contract expire after that year. Bounced between OAK and DEN last year and currently a FA. Awful pick in foresight and hindsight.

2(43) TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame
-Can't complain about this pick. He's been solid despite poor QB play in a run first offense most of his career, but he seems to get hurt a lot. One of only 2 good picks in this class.

4(106) DT Christian Ballard, Iowa
-Never did anything in 2 years and then "took time off" for personal issues and never came back to the NFL.

5(139) CB Brandon Burton, Utah
-Bottom of the roster fodder for 2 years, played a few games for the Bills after Vikes cut him. Currently out of NFL.

6(168) T DeMarcus Love, Arkansas
-Redshirted his rookie year, got hurt his 2nd and suspended for roids and then cut in his 3rd. Has been camp fodder for teams ever since.

6(170) S Mistral Raymond, UAB
-Played out his entire rookie contract (although he spent the last year of it on IR) but wasn't very good. Vikings let him walk and no one's even signed him as camp fodder since.

6(172) G Brandon Fusco, Slippery Rock
-Became a very solid RG for us and was arguably our best OL for a while. Struggled a bit last year returning from an injury and sliding over the LG. Moving back to RG this year so hopefully he'll be better. Great pick for the 6th round.

6(200) LB Ross Homan, Ohio St.
-Never made the team.

7(215) DE DeAundre Reed, Arizona
-Was like the 53rd man on the roster for 2 years then got cut and was never heard from again.

7(236) WR Stephen Burton, West Texas A&M
-Spent two years on the bottom of the depth chart and I actually remember him catching a TD off a deflection once. Then got cut, claimed by the Jags and retired due to concussions.



D+/C-

The reach for Ponder and that idiot Childress trading the 3rd for Moss the season prior, only to cut him, really killed this class. Only 2 of the 10 players drafted panned out.

Thank God Spielman was given full control after this season instead of the stupid triangle. Vikings drafts have been so much better since then.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Steelers
1.31 DE Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
It took a while, but Heyward has developed into the 3-4 stud that the Steelers were hoping he'd be. Any time you get 7+ sacks a season from a guy whose job isn't primarily to rush the QB you have to be happy.

2.63 T Marcus Gilbert, Florida
Solid starting RT. Nothing to complain about and nothing to write home about.

3.95 CB Curtis Brown, Texas
Bust. In 3 years with the Steelers he defender 2 passes.

4.128 CB Cortez Allen, The Citadel
The Steelers weakness at corner is a tradition, as seen by taking multiple cracks at the position here. Allen impressed early on, but unfortunately was given a larger contract than he was worth a year after the team lost Keenan Allen to the salary cap in an attempt to prevent that from happening again...and wound up being atrocious while on his second contract and barely saw the field the past two season and a half thanks to a combination of injuries and free-falling down the depth chart. He was released a few weeks ago.

5.162 OLB Chris Carter, Fresno State
Special teamer who started a couple games because of injuries, but wasn't able to establish himself outside of special teams. Has turned into a bit of an AFC North journeyman, playing for the Ravens now.

6.196 G Keith Williams, Nebraska
I literally forgot this guy existed. Not only did he fail to make the team, but he didn't even make the practice squad. Buffalo eventually put him on their practice squad a few weeks later.

7.232 RB Baron Batch, Texas Tech
Training camp hero who struggled mightily when he was able to get into actual games. He had offers on the table after the Steelers let him go, but he decided to retire to focus on his art while staying in Pittsburgh.

Draft Grade: B-

Certainly not the best Steelers draft, but it still had two long-term starters, one of which is damn good despite not having the accolades (the perils of being a 3-4 DE), and a short-term starter who got overpaid on potential that was sapped largely by injuries. Fairly solid for a team coming off a trip to the Super Bowl.

 

[What the Faulk]

Vikings:

1(12) QB Christian Ponder, Florida St.
-Panic reach for a 2nd/3rd round talent because they literally only had Joe Webb on the roster at the time. Got on Adrian Peterson's back for 1 playoff appearance in 2012 but didn't even play in the game. Was benched by 2013 and demoted to 3rd stringer once Teddy came along before they let his contract expire after that year. Bounced between OAK and DEN last year and currently a FA. Awful pick in foresight and hindsight.

Ironically, Joe Webb is the one that's still in the NFL.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

#7 Aldon Smith-Turned into an pass rushing specialist right away as a rookie and full blown defensive force by the end of the year. Interesting enough had zero red flags coming out. Navarro Bowman was more of a character concern the previous year. Now at Oakland but has played very little football the last few years due to off the field issues.

Colin Kaepernick-Sat behind Alex in 2011, took over half way in 2012 and the offense took off behind his arm and legs. Had a good 1st year as a full time starter almost got them to another super bowl. 2014 he was good the first 7 weeks but the entire team fell apart after that. 2015 was not good. Still has the talent and ability, needs to find himself again.

Chris Culliver-Became a pretty solid player albeit an oft injured one. Pretty good nose for the ball. Terrible knee injuries robbed him of his speed. Got a big 2nd contract from Washington but was cut after blowing his knee out again.

Kendall Hunter-Was a great complement to Gore until his achilles and knee injuries. Tremendous burst and speed. Nice find for a 4th round pick.

Daniel Kilgore-Underrated center. Strong and athletic. Noticeable absence without him in there. Please stay healthy.

Ronald Johnson-Meh

Colin Jones-Last seen kicking around with Carolina.

Bruce Miller-Talk about a diamond. 49ers took an athletic but undersized defensive end and converted him to fullback/tight end and he's been lights out in that role. Under Chip Kelly it seems he will be used more as a tight end or h-back. Devestating blocker but has surprising speed and soft hands.

UDFA

DeMarcus Dobbs-Currently in Seattle.

Ian Williams-Another great find at NT. A cheap chop block ruined his ankle but when healthy he's a top flight NT/DT.


Grade-A.

 

[Hasbro]

Denver Broncos: Elway's first draft after inheriting the smoldering crater left for him by Josh McDaniels.

1/2 Von Miller, OLB ask #1 how he turned out.

2/45 Rahim Moore, S OK player, never recovered from mistake in the 2012 playoffs. Left team last year.

2/46 Orlando Franklin, OG Very good O lineman. Walked last year returned a 4th in compensation (Devonte Booker).

3/67 Nate Irving, ILB Bust. Early 3rd in a strong draft and never was a contributor. Walked last year.

4/108 Quinton Carter, S Started well, at least back up quality, but injuries ended his career.

4/129 Julius Thomas, TE Touchdown machine, two pro bowls, but refusal to play hurt and attitude problems lead to his departure. Overpaid by Jax and returned a 3rd round comp this year (Justin Simmons).

6/189 Mike Mohamed, LB Still bouncing around the league

7/204 Virgil Green, TE good back up, still on the team

7/247 Jeremy Beal, DE never played a game

UDFA Chris Harris Jr., CB made the team as a rookie and is one of the best CBs in football.

B+ Elway might the right pick at #2 and landed the franchise player. Picked up a other starters and still getting good value out of the draft. However for such a high position, could have pulled down a bit more.

 

[Big Poppa Puck]

Just went back and read the old threads in the OP and I think I overvalued hitting on 5-7th rounders at the time and only gave the Vikings a C+ as whole for 2007.

I mean they got Adrian freakin Peterson that year and also Sidney Rice and Brian Robison (in my defense Robison was still a wasn't a starter yet, but still a good player). Then there's Tyler Thigpen, who while it wasn't with them, was a backup for a number of years, which is good for the 7th round. Definitely an A draft. B+ at worst.

 

[m9]

I'll give the Steelers a B. They hit on Cameron Heyward, who should be in the Pro Bowl discussion this year. Marcus Gilbert has been up-and-down, but generally is a good RT and has been a good 2nd round pick.

That's when things go bad. Curtis Brown was absolutely terrible as a CB and goes down as a big bust in the 3rd.

They double-dipped and grabbed Cortez Allen in the 4th round. He flashed great potential and earned a second contract, but injuries derailed him and he was cut earlier this year.

Chris Carter showed some promise in the 5th but never enough to stick around.

I don't even remember OL Keith Williams, their 6th round pick.

RB Baron Batch was kind of a fan favorite, but a combination of average skills and injuries ended his career quite early.

 

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

St. Louis Rams (Of course, they're in LA now ....... only partially bitter)

1/14 Robert Quinn DE North Carolina
I think he turned out to be pretty good.

2/47 Lance Kendricks TE Wisconsin
Won't blow you away, but isn't bad either.

3/78 Austin Pettis WR Boise St.
Same as Kendricks

4/112 Greg Salas WR Hawaii
Meh


The rest I don't believe even made the roster their rookie year.
5/158 Jermale Hines DB Ohio St.
7/216 Mikail Baker DB Baylor
7/228 Jabara Williams OLB S.F. Austin
7/229 Jonathan Nelson DB Central Oklahoma

Edit: My interest in football has been declining for a few years now, so if I'm way off with some of this, that's why.

 

[m9]

Steelers
1.31 DE Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
It took a while, but Heyward has developed into the 3-4 stud that the Steelers were hoping he'd be. Any time you get 7+ sacks a season from a guy whose job isn't primarily to rush the QB you have to be happy.

2.63 T Marcus Gilbert, Florida
Solid starting RT. Nothing to complain about and nothing to write home about.

3.95 CB Curtis Brown, Texas
Bust. In 3 years with the Steelers he defender 2 passes.

4.128 CB Cortez Allen, The Citadel
The Steelers weakness at corner is a tradition, as seen by taking multiple cracks at the position here. Allen impressed early on, but unfortunately was given a larger contract than he was worth a year after the team lost Keenan Allen to the salary cap in an attempt to prevent that from happening again...and wound up being atrocious while on his second contract and barely saw the field the past two season and a half thanks to a combination of injuries and free-falling down the depth chart. He was released a few weeks ago.

5.162 OLB Chris Carter, Fresno State
Special teamer who started a couple games because of injuries, but wasn't able to establish himself outside of special teams. Has turned into a bit of an AFC North journeyman, playing for the Ravens now.

6.196 G Keith Williams, Nebraska
I literally forgot this guy existed. Not only did he fail to make the team, but he didn't even make the practice squad. Buffalo eventually put him on their practice squad a few weeks later.

7.232 RB Baron Batch, Texas Tech
Training camp hero who struggled mightily when he was able to get into actual games. He had offers on the table after the Steelers let him go, but he decided to retire to focus on his art while staying in Pittsburgh.

Draft Grade: B-

Certainly not the best Steelers draft, but it still had two long-term starters, one of which is damn good despite not having the accolades (the perils of being a 3-4 DE), and a short-term starter who got overpaid on potential that was sapped largely by injuries. Fairly solid for a team coming off a trip to the Super Bowl.

I didn't even see yours, but you pretty much nailed it. Keith Williams has to go down as one of the most obscure Steelers draft picks. I can rifle off Steelers picks from 10 or 15 years ago but I have no recollection of him.

 

[Big Poppa Puck]

I think enough time has passed to do a 2012 review as well. 4 years is enough time to evaluate.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

2012 draft-everyone failed

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I do plan to follow this up with a 2012 ,, Probably post that one tomorrow

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

2012 draft-everyone failed

Are you telling me a draft where the best pick of the first round was taking an inside linebacker with a top ten pick was weak?

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Are you telling me a draft where the best pick of the first round was taking an inside linebacker with a top ten pick was weak?

I was mainly speaking about how bad it was for S.F. At the time they could afford to take big risks since the roster was loaded but it sucked.

 

[Avs_19]

Oh no, the Ponder draft. Agree with pretty much everything BPP said so I'll just move along and try to forget about it.

2012 draft-everyone failed

I actually like this one, even with Kalil taking a big step back from his rookie season.

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

I was mainly speaking about how bad it was for S.F. At the time they could afford to take big risks since the roster was loaded but it sucked.

Two top five picks already out of the league. Weedon. RGIII... it is a rough year.

 

[What the Faulk]

In 2012, the Panthers got Kuechly, Norman, a depth DE and an okay punter that just got "stolen" by Jacksonville. Last draft of the Hurney era, but it turned out pretty great.

 

[Reality Check]

This comes on the heels of article after article declaring the 2013 draft a bust.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-draft-2013-bust-fifth-year-option-ej-manuel-luke-joeckel-050316

Which makes it even more surprising that the Lions ended up with one of the better guys in Ansah. Who was viewed as a potential huge bust.

As for the 2011 Lions draft, I'm not even going to go there

Tons of potential with practically no results.

 

[GKJ]

Saints 2011 Draft:

1.24, DE, Cameron Jordan, Cal
Not much to write home about in his rookie year, but he's been among the second-tier of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Twice had 10 sacks or more and went to the Pro Bowl both times. They could have had Wilkerson, but so could other teams, it's not like he was a bust.

1.28, RB. Mark Ingram, Alabama
The Saints traded the following year's 1 (which helped them avoid a stiffer bounty penalty) and that year's 2 to the Patriots to get back into the first round to take the previous year's Heisman Trophy winner. I wasn't a fan of doing that since the Saints had proven to be effective in unearthing guys like Khiry Robinson, Chris Ivory, and Pierre Thomas as UDFA's, and help was still sorely needed on defense. And frankly I still don't agree with doing it. The pick itself has been fine, as long as Ingram doesn't fumble and the coaches keep him from getting in fights with them. But they spent a 1 and 2 to do it, in a system where running backs are rotated often. He is simply a good pro player, but for the price paid, his production hasn't been the difference in fixing a problem that didn't exist.

3.72, LB, Martez Wilson, Illinois
Saints needed more help in the Front 7 and didn't get it with Martez Wilson. Now with the Toronto Argonauts

3.88, CB, Johnny Patrick, Illinois
Saints needed more help getting Patrick Robinson off the field, and didn't get with Johnny Patrick. Signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

7.226, DE, Greg Romeus, Pitt
Romeus ran into injury issues in his draft year where he was otherwise being talked about as a 1st round pick. He spent his whole rookie year on IR, and then got hurt again in OTA's. Didn't stick with the Argos either, went to some semi-pro league and was an all-star there.

7.243, LB, Nate Bussey, Illinois
Saints must have thought Illinois was producing high end talent on defense for whatever reason. They did the same thing a few years before selecting teammates from Wake Forest. Bussey made it into a few games, later ended up in the CFL.

Actually, I think it's not a good thing if most of your draft picks were trying to latch on in Canada after leaving your team.

 

[Brodeur]

1/18: DE Corey Liuget - Solid 3-4 DE who hasn't been put in a situation to accumulate big numbers.

2/50: CB Marcus Gilchrist - Decent four years as a Charger (last 2.5 years as starter), signed with the Jets last season.

2/61: MLB Jonas Mouton - Just an odd, odd pick by A.J. Smith who remained incredulous amidst the criticism. Barely played as a rookie, tore his ACL during his 2nd year, and got cut before his 3rd year. Justin Houston was taken a few picks later.

3/82: WR Vincent Brown - Local product out of San Diego State. Depth receiver who was brought back briefly last season.

3/89: CB Shareece Wright - Earned some time as a starter. Currently with Baltimore after a stint with the 49ers.

6/183: RB Jordan Todman - Seemed like a good value pick at the time, but was relegated to the practice squad. During his rookie year, he signed with Minnesota off the practice squad. Has bounced around to Jacksonville/Carolina/Pittsburgh/Indianapolis.

6/203: OT Stephen Schilling - No big recollection of him. Looks like he was mostly a practice squad guy, briefly signed with Seattle, and retired last year.

7/234: LB Andrew Gachkar - Special teamer who worked his way into the starting lineup for a bit (albeit that was more a commentary on Donald Butler's play). Signed with the Cowboys last year.

This was another notch towards the end of the A.J. Smith era.

 

[What the Faulk]

1.28, RB. Mark Ingram, Alabama
The Saints traded the following year's 1 (which helped them avoid a stiffer bounty penalty) and that year's 2 to the Patriots to get back into the first round to take the previous year's Heisman Trophy winner. I wasn't a fan of doing that since the Saints had proven to be effective in unearthing guys like Khiry Robinson, Chris Ivory, and Pierre Thomas as UDFA's, and help was still sorely needed on defense. And frankly I still don't agree with doing it. The pick itself has been fine, as long as Ingram doesn't fumble and the coaches keep him from getting in fights with them. But they spent a 1 and 2 to do it, in a system where running backs are rotated often. He is simply a good pro player, but for the price paid, his production hasn't been the difference in fixing a problem that didn't exist.

I've got so many competing thoughts about this. I'm not sure if Ingram would be a better player anywhere else, but he definitely could be worse. He's in a fantastic situation, and though the price was steep, the Saints' window is/was still open. If you look at it simply as a late 1 and 2 for Ingram, that's not so bad, even for a HB on a passing team. The Saints are probably in for some rough years after Brees retires (and let's be honest -- Ingram isn't going to do much of anything without him), so losing that extra would-be middle-aged player won't really make much of a difference in the long term.