A look back at the 2011 NFL Draft

Saw this on another forum, and decided to look through the draft again.  That draft has already produced eleven pro bowl players, and several guys who are among the best in the league at their position, and it's only been two years.
 
Round 1 
1. Carolina Panthers - Cam Newton†  - ROY + pro bowl.  Arguably top 10 at his position.
2. Denver Broncos - Von Miller†  - DROY + 2 pro bowls.  One of the most versatile LBs in the game.  Top 5 pass rusher in football.
3. Buffalo Bills - Marcell Dareus  - Hasn't lived up to potential, but still a big piece of the Bills defense. 
4. Cincinnati Bengals - A. J. Green†  - 2 pro bowls.  Top 5 receiver in football.  
5. Arizona Cardinals - Patrick Peterson† - 2 pro bowls.  Above average cover corner and tremendous on special teams.
6. Atlanta Falcons - Julio Jones†  -  Pro bowler.  Arguably top 10 at his position.  
7. San Francisco 49ers - Aldon Smith†  - Pro Bowler.  Leads the league in sacks the past two seasons (I believe) 
8. Tennessee Titans - Jake Locker  -  Potential bust.  Hasn't lived up to potential.
9. Dallas Cowboys - Tyron Smith  - Not quite a bust, but very inconsistent.  Hasn't lived up to potential.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars - Blaine Gabbert  - Probably a bust.  Plays like a bitch.
11. Houston Texans - J. J. Watt†  - Pro Bowler.  Just put together one of the best seasons for a defensive player in NFL history.  Probably the best player at his position in the league.
12. Minnesota Vikings - Christian Ponder  -  Average QB at best.  Hasn't quite lived up to potential.
13. Detroit Lions - Nick Fairley  - Battled injuries.  Has shown flashes.
14. St. Louis Rams - Robert Quinn  - Very good pass rusher.  Cornerstone for Rams defense.
15. Miami Dolphins - Mike Pouncey  - Probably top 10 at his position.
16. Washington Redskins - Ryan Kerrigan†  -  One of the most versatile LBs in the league.  Cornerstone for Redskins defense.  Hasn't missed a snap in two years.
17. New England Patriots - Nate Solder  - Has shown flashes of elite play.  Could eventually be a bookend tackle.
18. San Diego Chargers - Corey Liuget  
19. New York Giants - Prince Amukamara  
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Adrian Clayborn
21. Cleveland Browns - Phil Taylor 
22. Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Castonzo  
23. Philadelphia Eagles - Danny Watkins 
24. New Orleans Saints - Cameron Jordan 
25. Seattle Seahawks - James Carpenter 
26. Kansas City Chiefs - Jonathan Baldwin 
27. Baltimore Ravens - Jimmy Smith   
28. New Orleans Saints - Mark Ingram
29. Chicago Bears - Gabe Carimi  - OT 
30. New York Jets - Muhammad Wilkerson  
31. Pittsburgh Steelers - Cameron Heyward 
32. Green Bay Packers - Derek Sherrod
 
 
I got bored after 17, but you get what I'm saying.  So much talent in that draft.  Dalton, Rudolph and Justin Houston were also pro bowlers.
 
Kaepernick, Sheard, Orlando Franklin, Torrey Smith, Cobb, Demarco Murray, Ridley,  Richard Sherman, Kerley are other notables. 
 
 
 
 
EDIT: the 2010 draft had a ton of talent as well... so maybe this isn't an unusual amount of great players, but it seems that way.
 

JJ Watt was the best 3-4 DE in the league last year and it wasn't even close.

And that's not an exaggeration, it wasn't even somewhat close.

The equivalent in Nascar would be he lapped the entire field.

Right, and I even said it may have been the best individual season defensively in NFL history, but it's still just one season.
 
He's probably still the best 5 tech in the game, but I do still really like both Ngata and Justin Smith.

nolafan33 said:

JJ Watt was the best 3-4 DE in the league last year and it wasn't even close.

And that's not an exaggeration, it wasn't even somewhat close.

The equivalent in Nascar would be he lapped the entire field.

Click to expand...

im not putting anything against watt, and he is the best 3-4 end, but Justin Smith was fantastic in a different way.

Watt created pass rush at the 3-4 end spot, and was Mr. Miagi at swatting footballs. Smith didn't create pass rush, but he took pressure for sure. Justin was doubled so often that he couldn't do much as a pass rusher. But Aldon Smith played off of Smith as a pass rushing OLB, and he dominated. And Justin was arguably the better run defender out of him and Watt.

Peterson has become better than just an above average corner...

Almost took Fairley over Miller