Dallas Cowboys: B-
The Cowboys addressed a glaring need by taking offensive tackle Tyron Smith in the first round but then their draft got a little strange. They took an outside linebacker coming off ACL surgery in round two and a running back in round three. They had much greater needs in the secondary but they waited until the fifth round to take a cornerback.
27) Atlanta Falcons – Adrian Clayborn, Defensive End, Iowa
A first team All-Big Ten selection, Clayborn is a powerful defensive end that can add a boost to the Falcons pass rush. He didn’t produce in his senior year like he did when he was a junior and had 11 sacks, but he is good value at this point in the draft.
28) New England Patriots – Gabe Carimi, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin
The rich get richer as the Patriots grab another player with a ton of talent that can start right away. Matt Light may not return and the Pats would need a replacement for him. A mountain of a man at 6’7, he was the Outland award winner for best offensive lineman.
21) Kansas City Chiefs – Phil Taylor, Defensive Tackle, Baylor
Stopping the run was a major problem for Kansas City late in the season as they had no run stuffing nose tackle. Taylor fills that role like Vince Wolfork used to do for this coaching staff in New England. At 6’3 and 334 pounds, Taylor eats up a lot of space and will make the unit much better.
22) Indianapolis Colts – Derek Sherrod, Offensive Tackle, Mississippi State
16) Jacksonville Jaguars – Ryan Kerrigan, Defensive End, Purdue
The Jaguars greatly improved the inside of their defensive line in last year’s draft and will look to fix the edges this year. Kerrigan was a three year starter and an Academic All-American who was very productive on the field. Jacksonville managed almost no pass rush down the stretch and Aaron Kampman is coming off his second ACL tear in two years.
17) New England Patriots – Aldon Smith, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Missouri
11) Houston Texans – Da’Quan Bowers, Defensive End, Clemson
The Texans need some major improvements on defense with the transition to a 3-4 scheme. While they could go cornerback, Bowers could add an immediate pass rushing presence after leading the nation with 15.5 in 2010. Injuries and the risk of a one year wonder are concerns, but the risk is worth the reward at 11.
12) Minnesota Vikings – Cameron Jordan, Defensive End, California
6) Cleveland Browns – A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, Georgia
With this pick, the Browns have a choice between the best receiver and defensive back in this class. Green would likely be the pick as there is barely a number three receiver on the roster, let alone a number one. Second year quarterback Colt McCoy needs a weapon and Green is it. Also, the team went with a cornerback in the first round last year so they will likely want to address other positions now.
7) San Francisco 49ers – Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, LSU
1) Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton, Quarterback, Auburn
This year’s top pick is one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. The Panthers have holes all over the field, but their passing game in 2010 was horrid. New Head Coach Ron Rivera has no loyalty to last year’s second round pick, Jimmy Clausen, and Newton brings immediate excitement to a down franchise. While he may not be ready to play right now, his physical abilities and intangibles make him too hard to pass up.
2) Denver Broncos – Marcell Dareus, Defensive Lineman, Alabama
As is the case in most years, the premier defensive backs in the 2011 class are at the cornerback position, not at safety. Truly outstanding corners are very hard to find, likely a reason why many more are taken early in the draft. This year’s class has two players that look to be able to start immediately at the next level.
LSU’s Patrick Peterson has been considered one of the best prospects in this class for a long time. He is over six feet tall and ran an incredible 4.34 40 yard dash at the NFL combine. Teams were too afraid to throw in his direction and he is also a great kick returner. He will be the first cornerback selected in the draft.
Linebackers are the heart and soul of a defense. The men in the middle have to have that special combination of strength and speed that make them true physical freaks. This year’s draft has some very talented linebackers that can rush the passer, be a run stuffer and cover receivers down field.
The number one linebacker on everybody’s board is Texas A&M’s Von Miller. Considered one of the safest picks in the draft, Miller is 6’3 and almost 250 pounds and can run a 4.42 40 yard dash. He recorded 28 sacks in his last two seasons and was named the nation’s best at his position in 2010. He will be a sure fire top five selection.
Although they may not be in the glamorous positions with all the spotlights, the offensive linemen are the key to any successful organization. The “big uglies” perform their jobs in relative anonymity, but their value and importance to a team can’t be overstated. Here is a brief overview of some of the top offensive line candidates in the 2011 NFL draft.
The tackle position is always the most important on the line, and it looks like the top one this year is Anthony Costonzo from Boston College. Big (6’7, 311 pounds) and intelligent (second highest score on Wonderlic of all players), Castonzo performed well in the Senior Bowl and combine and should be the first tackle off the board.
