I've wanted to make this thread for a while now. And I think now is a good time considering we're approaching another NFL draft. Let's take a minute and reminise at what might possibly be the best NFL draft of all time.
A couple of notes about this class:
(1) Its incredible the amount of superstar talent it had at the top. You pretty much had to fukk up epically to not have find a pro bowler in the first 15 picks. Another testament to the saying that you should never reach for a QB. Other than for Nick Fairley (who is a pretty good player), every non-cac QB taken in the top 15 is a perenial pro-bowler.
(2) SEC. SEC. SEC. Just look at the first 7 picks. All perenial pro-bowlers. All superstar talents of the highest order. All from schools CURRENTLY in the SEC. Auburn, Alabama, A&M, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and Kentucky all produced pro-bowlers in this draft. And yes I know this draft was before A&M and Mizzou joined the SEC. You can take em out and the SEC still dominates.
(3) Although this draft had superstars at almost every position, it was light on some. Other than for Demarco Murray, it had no other big time RBs. No real standout safeties. And not any great interior offensive lineman or inside linebacks. But then again, this is mad reaching considering the talent it had everywhere else.
Here’s who went in the top 15 picks along with some of the absolute bargains that were had in the later rounds:
1. QB Cam Newton — Carolina Panthers
Although Newton is enduring the worst statistical season of his career during an injury-plagued 2014, when healthy he remains one of the most dynamic players in the league. No other quarterback amassed more yards, rushing or passing, in his first three seasons than Newton, who has started every game for the Panthers since his debut in 2011. He has been to two Pro Bowls, won Offensive Rookie of the Year, and has a 76/52 touchdown to interception ratio in 58 games. Not a bad start to a career.
2. OLB Von Miller — Denver Broncos
Miller has shown no ill effects from the torn ACL he suffered at the end of 2013, with 10 sacks in 10 games for the Broncos this season, and has teamed with DeMarcus Ware to form one of the league’s best pass-rushing duos. The Defensive Rookie of the Year has 45 career sacks, two Pro Bowl nods, and one All-Pro designation.
3. DT Marcell Dareus — Buffalo Bills
Dareus, the former Alabama standout, anchors a Bills defense that ranks among the best in the NFL this season. The 330-pound defensive tackle went to his first Pro Bowl last year and appears set to make a second trip to Hawaii this season. His 10 sacks in 2014 are tied for the most by any defensive lineman through 11 weeks, and he consistently rates among the best run stoppers in the league.
4. WR A.J. Green — Cincinnati Bengals
Green was a star in the league from day one, with three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons and 29 touchdowns entering 2014, earning him Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three seasons. Although he has been hampered by injuries this season, he appears to be on track for a Hall of Fame career.
5. DB Patrick Peterson — Arizona Cardinals
Peterson has proven his worth as the fifth overall pick with three straight Pro Bowls, two All-Pro nominations, 14 interceptions, and four punt returns for touchdowns. Widely considered one of the best cover corners in the league, the Cardinals already awarded him a seven-year contract worth $83 million, even though they controlled his rights through 2015.
6. WR Julio Jones — Atlanta Falcons
There is no drop-off to the sixth player taken in the 2011 Draft: Julio Jones. He made the Pro Bowl in 2012 and would have again in 2013 if not for a foot injury cutting his year short mid-season. He ranks in the top 10 in both receiving yards and receptions in 2014, and is Matt Ryan’s favorite target in Atlanta.
7. LB Aldon Smith — San Francisco 49ers
If not for his off-field issues, Smith would be perhaps the premier pass rusher in the NFL. He has 42 sacks in 44 games — one of the highest career rates in NFL history — and 2012 Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections under his belt. If Smith can stay out of trouble — he was suspended for the first nine games of the 2014 season and voluntarily missed five games in 2013 for substance abuse treatment — he should solidify himself as one of the league’s elite defensive players.
8. QB Jake Locker — Tennessee Titans
The Titans went off the tracks with Jake Locker going eighth. He has been plagued by injuries his entire career, and after being replaced as the starting quarterback by Zach Mettenberger last month, Locker has likely played his last game under center for Tennessee.
9 . OL Tyron Smith — Dallas Cowboys
Smith has become one of the best left tackles in the game since being drafted in 2011, earning Pro Bowl honors last season. He is one of the key cogs in a Cowboys offensive line that has paved the way for a near-historic rushing season by DeMarco Murray, and appears to be justifying the 10-year $109 million contract he signed with the Cowboys this offseason.
10. QB Blaine Gabbert — Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars select Blaine Gabbert, quarterback…. And that’s why they’re the Jaguars.
11. DE J.J. Watt — Houston Texans
Even worse, the Jags picked Gabbert over J.J. Watt, who went to Houston with the next pick. The 2012 Defensive Player of the Year went to the Pro Bowl and won All-Pro honors the last two years, and is widely considered the top defensive player in the league. He is having an MVP-caliber season in 2014, racking up insane numbers on both sides of the ball — 9.5 sacks, 44 tackles, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, an interception return touchdown, a fumble return touchdown and two (!) receiving scores.
12. QB Christian Ponder — Minnesota Vikings
Keep it going Vikings! Wait, seriously, you are picking Christian Ponder? Really? Ugh.
13. DT Nick Fairley — Detroit Lions
Fairley has probably been the most disappointing of all the players taken that weren’t quarterbacks. He has no Pro Bowl Appearances, but has started 30 of 46 games and has 13.5 career sacks.
14. DT Robert Quinn — St. Louis Rams
The Lions probably wished they took Robert Quinn, who led the NFL with 19.5 sacks last year on the way to Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. After a slow start in 2014 (zero sacks in his first five games), Quinn now has six sacks this season, helping St. Louis to a 4–6 record that includes upset wins over the 49ers, Seahawks and Broncos.
15. OL Mike Pouncey — Miami Dolphins
Pouncey went to the Pro Bowl in 2013 and has started in all 52 games he has played in his NFL career. He is regarded as a top center, but injuries have hampered him this season.
Ryan Kerrigan went 16th to the Redskins, and he not only made the Pro Bowl in 2012, but also has 32 career sacks while being considered a good run defender.
Prince Amukamara was the Giants pick at No. 19 and became a full-time starter last year. He was having an outstanding 2014 season with three picks in his first seven games, before suffering a season-ending biceps injury in Week 9.
Cameron Jordan went at 24 to the Saints, and made the Pro Bowl last year after ranking fifth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks.
Andy Dalton (1 Pro Bowl) and Colin Kaepernick (led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game two straight years) were both picked in the second round.
Torrey Smith and Randall Cobb were both 2nd round picks, though neither has a Pro Bowl… yet.
Kyle Rudolph, selected in the second round, has one Pro Bowl appearance.
Justin Houston leads the NFL with 12 sacks this season, and has two Pro Bowl appearances despite being picked in the third round.
DeMarco Murray was picked right after Houston and made the Pro Bowl last season. In 2014 he became the first player in NFL history to begin a season with eight consecutive 100-yard rushing games, and is nearly on pace to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark.
Jordan Cameron was the 102nd overall pick in the fourth round and made the Pro Bowl last year as an emerging tight end for the Browns.
Julius Thomas went in the fourth round as well, and is now considered one of the league’s top tight ends after making the Pro Bowl last year. He enters Week 12 with a league-leading 12 touchdown catches this season.
Did I forget to mention that Richard Sherman went in the fifth round? He has one Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections, and is one of the most feared cover cornerbacks in the league.
https://medium.com/the-cauldron/the-2011-nfl-draft-class-might-be-the-best-ever-596113be87be
A couple of notes about this class:
(1) Its incredible the amount of superstar talent it had at the top. You pretty much had to fukk up epically to not have find a pro bowler in the first 15 picks. Another testament to the saying that you should never reach for a QB. Other than for Nick Fairley (who is a pretty good player), every non-cac QB taken in the top 15 is a perenial pro-bowler.
(2) SEC. SEC. SEC. Just look at the first 7 picks. All perenial pro-bowlers. All superstar talents of the highest order. All from schools CURRENTLY in the SEC. Auburn, Alabama, A&M, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and Kentucky all produced pro-bowlers in this draft. And yes I know this draft was before A&M and Mizzou joined the SEC. You can take em out and the SEC still dominates.
(3) Although this draft had superstars at almost every position, it was light on some. Other than for Demarco Murray, it had no other big time RBs. No real standout safeties. And not any great interior offensive lineman or inside linebacks. But then again, this is mad reaching considering the talent it had everywhere else.
Last edited:
