The Impactful 2011 NFL Draft

The 2011 NFL Draft, held from April 28th to April 30th at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, stands as a significant event in NFL history.

The 2011 NFL Draft's first round featured numerous impactful players, including potential Hall of Famers like Miller, Watt, Jones, Peterson, and Jordan, making it a historically talented class.

This draft is particularly notable for the exceptional talent it produced, with numerous players going on to achieve All-Pro status and even potential Hall of Fame careers. The Carolina Panthers, holding the first overall pick due to their league-worst 2-14 record in the 2010 season, selected quarterback Cam Newton from Auburn University, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. This pick set the stage for a draft that would reshape several NFL franchises for years to come.  

Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the day The Charlotte Observer “Prospects and fans work hard before the Draft."

April 28, 2011 - Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was the first pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2011 NFL Draft. It is far too early to have hHall of Famers officially named but I am quite sure in the next decade some of these names will be found in Canton.

✦ Here is a look at the top 11 picks per the PFR.

Pick    Tm    Player    Pos    College/Univ                 
• 1    CAR    Cam Newton    QB    Auburn

✦ 2    DEN    Von Miller    LB    Texas A&M

✦ 3    BUF    Marcell Dareus    DT    Alabama

✦ 4    CIN    A.J. Green    WR    Georgia

✦ 5    ARI    Patrick Peterson    DB    LSU

✦ 6    ATL    Julio Jones    WR    Alabama

✦ 7    SFO    Aldon Smith    DE    Missouri

✦ 8    TEN    Jake Locker    QB    Washington

✦ 9    DAL    Tyron Smith    T    USC

✦ 10    JAX    Blaine Gabbert    QB    Missouri

✦ 11    HOU    J.J. Watt            DE          Wisconsin

Info courtesy of Newspapers.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com

✦ Details of the picks in 2011 NFL Draft

The first round alone showcased a remarkable array of talent. Following Newton, the Denver Broncos selected linebacker Von Miller from Texas A&M, a pick that would give them a dominant pass rusher and future Super Bowl MVP. The Buffalo Bills chose defensive tackle Marcell Dareus from Alabama at number three, adding a powerful interior presence to their defense. The Cincinnati Bengals picked wide receiver A.J. Green from Georgia at number four, providing their quarterback with a true number-one target. Rounding out the top five, the Arizona Cardinals selected cornerback Patrick Peterson from LSU, a player who would become one of the league's premier defensive backs.  

The remainder of the top ten saw the Atlanta Falcons trade up to select another standout wide receiver in Julio Jones from Alabama at pick six. The San Francisco 49ers added defensive end Aldon Smith from Missouri at number seven, hoping to bolster their pass rush. The Tennessee Titans selected quarterback Jake Locker from Washington at number eight, while the Dallas Cowboys picked offensive tackle Tyron Smith from USC at number nine, a cornerstone for their offensive line for over a decade. The Jacksonville Jaguars, at pick ten, chose quarterback Blaine Gabbert from Missouri.  

The teens continued to deliver impactful players. The Houston Texans selected defensive end J.J. Watt from Wisconsin at number eleven, who would go on to become a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. The Minnesota Vikings took quarterback Christian Ponder from Florida State at number twelve, followed by the Detroit Lions selecting defensive tackle Nick Fairley from Auburn at number thirteen. The St. Louis Rams picked defensive end Robert Quinn from North Carolina at number fourteen, another significant pass-rushing talent. The Miami Dolphins selected offensive lineman Mike Pouncey from Florida at number fifteen.

The latter half of the first round featured even more future stars. The Washington Redskins chose defensive end Ryan Kerrigan from Purdue at number sixteen, a consistent pass rusher for many years. The New England Patriots selected offensive tackle Nate Solder from Colorado at number seventeen, providing stability to their offensive line. The San Diego Chargers picked defensive tackle Corey Liuget from Illinois at number eighteen, while the New York Giants selected cornerback Prince Amukamara from Nebraska at number nineteen. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn from Iowa at number twenty.  

Picks twenty-one through thirty continued to yield valuable players. The Cleveland Browns selected defensive tackle Phil Taylor from Baylor at number twenty-one, followed by the Indianapolis Colts taking offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo from Boston College at number twenty-two. The Philadelphia Eagles selected offensive lineman Danny Watkins from Baylor at number twenty-three, while the New Orleans Saints picked defensive end Cameron Jordan from California at number twenty-four, a perennial Pro Bowler. The Seattle Seahawks chose offensive lineman James Carpenter from Alabama at number twenty-five. The Kansas City Chiefs selected wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin from Pittsburgh at number twenty-six, followed by the Baltimore Ravens taking cornerback Jimmy Smith from Colorado at number twenty-seven. The New Orleans Saints made their second first-round pick at number twenty-eight, selecting running back Mark Ingram II from Alabama. The Chicago Bears chose offensive tackle Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin at number twenty-nine, and the New York Jets rounded out the first round by selecting defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson from Temple at number thirty.  

Beyond the immediate impact of these players on their respective teams, the 2011 NFL Draft is particularly noteworthy for the number of players it produced who are either already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame or have a strong case for future induction. While the College Football Hall of Fame inducted Deion Sanders, who was drafted in 1989, in its 2011 class, the focus here is on players drafted in 2011 who have achieved or are on the path to achieving Hall of Fame status in the professional ranks.

Several players from the first round of the 2011 draft have built careers worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. Von Miller, with his Super Bowl 50 MVP award and consistent status as one of the league's premier pass rushers, is a strong candidate. J.J. Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and dominant force for a decade, is also highly likely to be inducted. Julio Jones, a two-time receiving yards leader and perennial Pro Bowler, has a compelling resume as well. Patrick Peterson, with his multiple All-Pro selections and status as a shutdown cornerback in his prime, is also in the conversation. Tyron Smith, a multiple-time All-Pro offensive tackle, has been a cornerstone of the Cowboys' offensive line for many years. Cameron Jordan, with his consistent high-level play and numerous Pro Bowl selections, continues to build his Hall of Fame case.  

While not a first-round pick, Jason Kelce, a center selected in the sixth round, has also established himself as a potential Hall of Famer with his Super Bowl victory and multiple All-Pro selections. The overall depth and high-end talent of the 2011 NFL Draft make it one of the most impactful classes in recent memory, with a significant number of its top selections leaving an indelible mark on the league and potentially earning football's highest honor.