Final Thoughts on the 2011 NFL Draft

Some mostly non-Chiefs related Draft talk to put a capper on the April weekend that was.  Tons of action over the weekend.  Here are some reflections, add your own in comments.

• Once again, MVP of the NFL Draft goes to Patrick Allen for his outstanding coverage at Radio City Music Hall.  (Big Matt is Comeback Player of the Year — we were this close to cutting his ass.)
• What the Falcons gave up to trade for Alabama WR Julio Jones: their first & second this year, as well as their fourth this year, plus their first and fourth next year.  We gained a third to get Johnny Baldwin.  Who wins, Addicts?
• Worst pick of the first round: the Broncos selecting Von Miller with the #2 overall.  Von Miller is only a Top 5 product because he is an elite passrushing prospect.  In the Broncos defense, he’s slated to play outside linebacker in the 4-3, which isn’t a passrushing position!  
• The Browns accidentially called California DE Cameron Jordan, who was picked #24 by the Saints, instead of USC TE Jordan Cameron, who they meant to call for pick #102.  Wow.
• If you haven’t read new author Ladner Morse’s remarks about Pioli’s propensity for double-dipping from the same schools and at the same positions, do so now.
• Raiders traded away their 2nd rounder next year to the Patriots.  Because apparently they didn’t learn their lesson this year.
• As I predicted, since the lockout prevents any UDFA from being signed, the 7th round was full of WTF picks, since teams basically forgot their boards and drafted a bunch of nobodies that they didn’t want to have to wait until the lockout ended to acquire.
• Speaking of which, and I know we’re already talking about this, but the UDFA market is sick this year.  I can’t wait for the lockout to lift.  Hats off to some of the Addicts posting in that thread.  

Tons more, after the jump.

• The Bills drafted a 400 lbs lineman in the 7th round.  I’m not kidding.  Here’s a picture.
• The Texans are going to have a pretty mean defense in a year or two.  Their biggest acquisition was Wade Phillips as DC.  But they spent their first five picks on defense, and all of them were homeruns: Wisconsin DE JJ Watt, Arizona OLB Brooks Reed, Miami CB Brandon Harris, Virginia Tech CB Rashad Carmichael, and Idaho SS Shiloh Keo.
• This linebacker prospect for next year’s draft hits like Bobby Boucher.  Heard of him through the good people at ChiefsPlanet.
• I cannot believe the Jags drafted Mount Union WR Cecil Shorts III in the fourth round.  O v e r r a t e d .
• The most successful QBs from this draft in the next five years:  Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert with the Jags, Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick with Jim Harbaugh in San Fran, and North Carolina QB TJ Yates in spot work with the Texans.
• Speaking of QBs, Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett is going to be a disaster in New England. 
• In the 7th round, teams took seven cornerbacks and seven running backs.  Seems to be an indication that the future of the NFL will be devaluing running backs and cornerbacks.
• The Raiders selected Eastern Washington RB Taiwan Jones in the 4th round.  They are going to cause headaches when they put him and Jacoby Ford on the field at the same time.  Good lord they are so fast.
• Sam Bradford desperately needs help downfield to receive for him.  Wisconsin TE Lance Kendricks in the second round was really underwhelming.  But they got a hell of a sleeper in Hawaii WR Greg Salas in the fourth.  This guy brought in over 200 receptions in the past two years. 
• Tampa Bay is building a defensive line as fast as they can.  Last year, they picked DTs Gerald McCoy and Brian Price 1-2.  This year, they drafted DEs Adrian Clayborn and DaQuan Bowers 1-2.  Not exactly subtle, are they.
• Only one kicker and one punter drafted this year.  I think those numbers are actually higher than they should be.
• Super-productive Oklahoma OLB Jeremy Beal fell to one of the last picks of the draft, to the Denver Broncos.  That’s what happens when you run the 40 in 5.1 seconds.  Ouch.
• The Eagles got a really, really interesting 5th rounder in Pittsburgh RB Dion Lewis.  Lewis had a phenomenally productive career, breaking virtually every rushing record the school had.  Those old records were mostly established by:  current Eagles franchise RB LeSean McCoy.
• The Cowboys drafted our favored son, Missouri State OG David Arkin, in the 4th round.  Sooooo cool!
• This Chiefs draft class does suggest that Pioli was just completely off his rocker in the 2009 Draft.  That class is historically horrific, and our haul in 2010 and 2011 looks golden by comparison.  What happened, Scott?
• My advice to anybody who is wondering how they could research prospects themselves: find some way to get ESPNU.  That channel plays college games year round, especially during football season.  I DVR almost every college game on that channel, and I read up on college prospects from the participating schools, and I watch them very closely throughout the game.  It’s important that you DVR the games though, so you can watch an entire game in a fraction of the time.  Bowl games are also important, and get the NFL Network for the Combine. Also, read the National Football Post. Wes Bunting is a great writer.

What teams made picks you liked?  Picks you hated?  Any random thoughts about the draft?