REDRAFTING THE 2011 NFL DRAFT
8. Tennessee Titans: Ryan Kerrigan, DE
Original Pick: Jake Locker, QB
Ryan Kerrigan has also perpetually been underrated, likely in part to playing for a bad franchise in Washington, D.C. However, the talent is there. Tennessee went ____ in. Kerrigan is a day-in, day-out stud with the athleticism and versatility to play in a two-point or three-point stance and wreck offenses either way.
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9. Dallas Cowboys: A.J. Green, WR
Original Pick: Tyron Smith, OT
What a steal this would have been for the Cowboys. They get Dez Bryant the year before and add A.J. Green here; that is two All-Pro wideouts to go with Jason Witten and Tony Romo. This almost feels like too much of a “Jerry Jones pick,” but Green has all the steak to go with the sizzle.
1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB
Original Pick: Cam Newton, QB
Is Cam Newton the best overall player in this class? Probably not. But he was the right guy in the right place at the right time. He put the Panthers over the top and made them championship contenders. Some of the upcoming players may have better total careers, but none of them would have been the catalyst to a Super Bowl like Cam was.
2. Denver Broncos: J.J. Watt, DL
Original Pick: Von Miller, DE/LB
There aren’t many guys in this class better than Von Miller; in fact, J.J. Watt may be the only one. Both are headed for Canton, but Watt was likely the defensive player of the decade. The Broncos defense is always ferocious, and Watt would have led the charge for a decade.
3. Buffalo Bills: Von Miller, DE/LB
Original Pick: Marcell Dareus, DT
The Bills are the beneficiary of the Watt pick. Von Miller slides to them here and could have changed the fortune of the long-suffering franchise. He was widely acknowledged as the best defensive player in the draft and a guaranteed star; he has lived up to, if not exceeded, all the hype. Miller is an elite pass-rusher and would have been the cornerstone of what became a pretty good front seven in the ensuing years.
4. Cincinnati Bengals: Julio Jones, WR
Original Pick: A.J. Green, WR
The debate between Julio Jones and A.J. Green went all the way up until draft day. Experts were evenly split on who the better pro prospect was; it came to past that both are amazing and familiar faces at the Pro Bowl. However, Julio Jones has been just slightly better throughout his career and remains an elite talent. The Bengals offense gets even more explosive with Jones in the fold.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Peterson, CB
Original Pick: Patrick Peterson, CB
Another pick that was right the first time, Patrick Peterson goes to the dessert in the redraft. At times he has been the best cornerback in the NFL and is certainly the best in this class. He is the prototypical cornerback with shutdown cover skills, physical prowess to play the run and even contributed frequently to the return game. Arizona gets an A+ for this original pick.
6. Atlanta Falcons: Tyron Smith, OL
Original Pick: Julio Jones, WR
The Falcons go in a little different direction with Julio Jones off the board. Instead of backfilling with A.J. Green, they opt for the best offensive linemen in the draft. Tyron Smith is massive and powerful, and he excels protecting the blindside. A routine Pro Bowler and often the best tackle in the game, Smith could anchor the line for one of the league’s best offenses.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Cam Jordan, DE
Original Pick: Aldon Smith, DE
This is probably the best NFL of the 2010s, and if there is any position group that is especially deep, it is the defensive line. Watt and Miller are clearly at the top of the heap, but depth behind them is exceptional, starting with Cam Jordan. Jordan has been a monster throughout his time in New Orleans, but he has just recently started receiving due credit. San Francisco has become a haven for defensive linemen and Jordan would have been the best way to kick start this tradition.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mike Pouncey, OL
Original Pick: Blaine Gabbert, QB
2011 also produced an impressive crop of offensive linemen at all positions. That is convenient for the Jaguars who had a lot of holes to fill at the time. Pouncey has been a sturdy interior linemen his entire career and would have been a terrific bulldozer for a Jacksonville franchise that often seems to find solid running backs.
11. Houston Texans: Cameron Heyward, DE
Original Pick: J.J. Watt, DL
The studs at defensive end keep coming. This time, it’s the three-time All-Pro who fills in for the Texans in lieu of J.J. Watt. Heyward doesn’t accumulate stats like some of his peers, but for a massive, mauling defensive end who sets the edge, Heyward is hard to beat. His three All-Pro nods are only surpassed by Watt and Miller among players on the defensive front.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Robert Quinn, DE
Original Pick: Christian Ponder, QB
Coming into the original draft, Robert Quinn was a trendy pick for best defensive end in the class; he wound up being the third one taken at #14. He slides up two spots here to join the defensive line factory that is the Vikings. From Jared Allen to Everson Griffen to Danielle Hunter, there is something about playing in Minnesota that makes defensive ends thrive. Quinn’s 81 sacks and two Pro Bowl appearances would have looked great in a purple helmet.
13. Detroit Lions: Marcell Dareus, DT
Original Pick: Nick Fairley, DT
Originally picked third overall, expectations were high for Marcell Dareus; he is a more traditional monster in the middle rather than speed rusher on the edge. His career has been up and down, but he has earned two Pro Bowl elections and is a one-time honoroee on the All-Pro team. Dareus doesn’t have a flashy job, but he is consistent and adroitly holds down the middle.
14. St. Louis Rams: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE
Original Pick: Robert Quinn, DE
Defensive ends for days! Muhammad Wilkerson is next on the best available list, and next best is pretty excellent. Wilkerson was great from day one and started 101 games in seven seasons with the Jets; he peaked with a Pro Bowl selection in 2015. His consistency and productivity fit exactly what the Rams were looking for in 2011.
15. Miami Dolphins: Jason Kelce, C
Original Pick: Mike Pouncey, G
This class produced world-class players at every line position; Tyron Smith at tackle, Mike Pouncey at guard and Jason Kelce at center. One of the league's most enjoyable personalities and characters, Kelce makes a strong case for also being the best center in the league right now. Kelce also has the most All-Pro selections of any offensive lineman and the second most of all players. He somehow fell to pick 191 in the sixth round of the original draft.
16. Washington Football Team: Richard Sherman, CB
Original Pick: Ryan Kerrigan, DE
A man who seems to crave having a chip on his shoulder, Richard Sherman had plenty to be bitter about in 2011. He fell to the fifth round, despite having an impressive college run at Stanford. He turned that disrespect into a magnificent career, including three All-Pro teams and five trips to the Pro Bowl. Some have viewed him as the best cornerback in the league at times, and he was the spokesman for the "Legion of Boom" during Seattle's glory days. Cornerback was not a position prioritized by Washington in the 2011 draft, but with a mediocre defense, any major upgrade would have been worth this prized pick.
17. New England Patriots: Rodney Hudson, OL
Original Pick: Nate Solder, OT
New England gets to slide higher in the draft due to a trade with the Raiders, and they use it to bolster one of the league's best lines. Rodney Hudson to the Patriots is a "rich getting richer situation." Hudson is a center as opposed to Nate Solder on the outside, but he is arguably the better player. He likely would not have started right away, but he eventually would have become a cornerstone for the Patriots. Hudson is a rock solid performer who has played in nearly 100 percent of snaps throughout the last eight seasons.
18. San Diego Chargers: Jurrell Casey, DT
Original Pick: Corey Liuget, DT
Even this feels too low for Jurrell Casey. The defensive tackle out of USC has come a long way since being taken 77th overall on draft day. Casey is often unheralded, but football fiends know his talent. He is a five-time Pro Bowler who is seventh in the class in total games played. In more recent years, the Chargers have built one of the best defensive lines around; the combination of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram is menacing. Add Jurrell Casey to the middle and that defensive line is suffocating any offense.
19. New York Giants: Chris Harris, Jr. CB
Original Pick: Prince Amukamara, CB
54 cornerbacks were drafted in 2011; Chris Harris, Jr. was not one of them. The Broncos took a flyer on Harris as an undrafted free agent, and he turned the opportunity into a decorated career. His 20 interceptions are third best in the class, only surpassed by Patrick Peterson and Richard Sherman. He made the 2016 All-Pro team, four Pro Bowl teams and was part of one of the best defenses in history with the Denver Broncos Super Bowl team.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Justin Houston, LB/DE
Original Pick: Adrian Clayborn, DE
The Tampa Bay defense was in bad shape coming out of the 2010 season. 4.5 sacks was good enough to lead the team. Justin Houston is the perfect cure for those woes. A four-time Pro Bowler with an All-Pro nod to top it off, Houston is a blistering force off the end. He's amassed 93 sacks, including four double-digit sack seasons. There are few players who can match Houston's singular ability to chase down quarterbacks.
21.Cleveland Browns: K.J. Wright, LB
Original Pick: Phil Taylor, DT
K.J. Wright leads this class in tackles and it is not even close; his 571 is more than 100 better than the next best guy. Wright is a linebacker's linebacker--he patrols the middle of the field, reads and reacts and steps up to take on any lineman or ball carrier. The Mississippi State alum inexplicably fell to the fourth round on draft day, a bonified steal for the Seahawks. Cleveland should always take the best player available, and in this case, K.J. Wright is the best on the board; with his consistency and toughness, he could have been the leader and field general for the Browns for a long time.
22. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Castonzo, OL
Original Pick: Anthony Castonzo, OL
That hair, though. Castonzo stays put here for a Colts team transitioning from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck. As a blindside protector, Castonzo has been fantastic at the most important offensive line position. He is not a household name, but he is steadily gaining recognition as one of the league's premier tackles, due largely to the Colts creating an elite offensive line around him.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Solder, OL
Original Pick: Danny Watkins, OL
Solder sliding down a bit in this version means a big win for the Eagles. At the time, the Eagles had Jason Peters, one of the best ever, at left tackle; adding Nate Solder on the other side would have given the Eagles arguably the best bookend pair in the league. There is not much glamorous about Solder, but he is a consumate offensive lineman whose consistency is nearly unrivaled.
24. New Orleans Saints: Aldon Smith, DE
Original Pick: Cameron Jordan, DE
The saga of Aldon Smith is one of the most intriguing in modern NFL history. He burst onto the scene as a rookie with 14 sacks. He would follow that up with19.5 sacks and an All-Pro selection in his sophomore campaign. He looked set to become the world-class star he was hyped to be. However, a series of off-field incidents basically cost Smith the next seven seasons. He finally returned to the league in 2020 and has looked very good in his second stint. So why take a guy with so few years in the first round? His two elite years would have coincided with the Saints peak in 2011, a year when they lost in the divisional round and had almost no pass rush; a guy as immediately good at Smith may have helped flip the loss.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Stefen Wisniewski, OL
Original Pick: James Carpenter, OL
The original version of this redraft kept James Carpenter in Seattle, but upon further research it was deteremined that while Carpenter has had a good career and been a perennial starter, he blossomed after leaving Seattle. Thus, a change of course was charted that brings another consistent starter to the Seahawks. Wisniewski has bounced around the league, but he has been a major contributor to every line he has played on. More importantly, he has the versatility to excel at both guard or center.
26. Kansas City Chiefs: Corey Liuget, DT
Original Pick: Jonathan Baldwin, WR
Corey Liuget has often been overshadowed by his peers in San Diego, but he was the first piece to that vaunted puzzle that has since added Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram and Jerry Tillery. Liuget is a 300-pounder with exceptional athleticism who occupies offensive linemen so his teammates can be free to roam the offensive backfield. Kansas City was trending toward a rebuild in 2011, and Liuget would have been a centerpiece of the new-era Chiefs that are now dominating the NFL.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Doug Baldwin, WR
Original Pick: Jimmy Smith, CB
Two Baldwin wide receivers were available in the 2011 draft; one went in the first round, one went undrafted. This one is the latter. Somehow, Doug Baldwin slipped past everyone's eyes before the Seahawks took a flyer on him as an undrafted free agent. It took a few years for him to get going, but once Baldwin broke out, he was among the best in the league; his career peaked with two Pro Bowl picks. The Ravens always seem to have a dearth at wideout, and Baldwin would have given them a young, top pass-catcher for years.
28. New Orleans Saints: DeMarco Murray, RB
Original Pick: Mark Ingram, RB
The 2011 running back crop is Murray, Ingram and everybody else. Both players produced great careers, albeit via very different paths. Similar to the Saints earlier pick of Aldon Smith, the choice here is for immediate dividends. While Ingram has had the longer, slow simmering career, Murray exploded early in his career, including two Pro Bowls and nearly 2,000 yards in his fourth season. For a Saints team in win-now mode, Murray is the better fit.
29. Chicago Bears: Jabaal Sheard, DE
Original Pick: Gabe Carimi, OL
Nobody knows who Jabaal Sheard is, and that is a discredit to Mr. Sheard. It is hard to stand out in this historically great defensive end class, but Sheard deserves his share of credit. He came into the draft with some hype, being taken 37th overall, but he has exceeded those expectations. He is tenth in the class in sacks and spent seven season as the brightest spot of the Browns defense. Adding Sheard to a Bears' defense that featured Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs would have made a menacing new version of the "Monsters of the Midway."
30. New York Jets: Mario Addison, DE
Original Pick: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE
It took Mario Addison a while to find his footing, but he is a prime example of patience paying off. A rotational player who didn't really find his groove until his fifth season, Addison is a long-term project who turned himself into a sack machine. His 56 sacks are tied for seventh in the class with Cam Heyward. The Jets were heading into an era where new blood was in high demand on the edge, a demand for which Mario Addison was ideally suited.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mason Foster, LB
Original Pick: Cameron Heyward, DE
A man who toiled for years in mediocrity in Tampa, Mason Foster never got his due. He was a tackling machine who sits at third in the class in tackles. Foster was originally drafted in the third round, but life could have been different had he been taken where he deserved--in the first round. No team develops linebackers like the Steelers and Foster had all the tools to thrive in the Steel Curtain--and get his requisite degree of adulation from fans.
32. Green Bay Packers: Mark Ingram, RB
Original Pick: Derek Sherrod, OT
Early round running backs have never been a priority for the Packers, but Ingram is too tantalizing to pass up. A three-time Pro Bowler who has carved out a fruitful career in several systems, Ingram's swiss-army-knife skill set would be a boon for Aaron Rodgers. The Packers needed a bellcow running back at the time, and Ingram could fill that void or play a niche role in a committee.