Best Pick – Detroit picks Nick Fairley at 13.
Fairley was considered one of the top players coming out but reportedly interviewed badly (not shocking considering his inability to string coherent sentences together after Auburn's BCS title win), but he produced a ton last season for Auburn. Pairing him with Ndamukong Suh makes for a scary inside pass rushing pairing for the next few years. Nice job by the Lions not overthinking this and taking the best player left on the board and not reaching for need.
Biggest Surprise – Tennessee picks Jake Locker at 8.
For those who don't know, I think Locker has super bust written all over him because he can't throw. That would qualify him for most likely to bust later on in this, but even more than that is the shock of seeing him come off the board before Blaine Gabbert of Missouri. Considering that Locker never completed a ton of passes in college and was super athletic, what makes Tennessee think they are getting anything more than a more stable, less athletic Vince Young. While that stability matters, Young still didn't cut it as a franchise quarterback and that is what teams are looking for in first round quarterbacks. I am stunned that Tennessee took the quarterback most like their previous one.
Most Predictable Move – The Patriots trade out of the first round, again.
This season the Patriots had two first round picks so trading out was no shock at all. That said many think it is a mistake and I would have to agree with them. Mark Ingram would have fit very well in New England and I don't think there are any back of his caliber to pick up later in the draft. Along with that, I think Ingram will be better out of the gate than Danny Woodhead and the Lawfirm (BenJarvis Green-Ellis) are. Predictable, yes. The right move, maybe not so much.
Biggest Reach – Minnesota takes Christian Ponder at 12.
Of course I think this is better than what they were going to be getting had Tennessee not surprised everyone and taken Locker. That said, Ponder was likely going to be available to the Vikings in round two considering no other quarterbacks went off the board and Andy Dalton seems to be higher rated than Ponder was on may draft boards. He might be a good quarterback in the league sometime, but Ponder was most certainly a reach in every sense.
Biggest Bust Potential (non-Locker category) – Julio Jones to Atlanta at number 6.
I understand what the Falcons were doing here by trading up for Jones, but I don't think he is the guy. He can't catch. He will block very well and get down the field, but his hands have been an issue as has durability. He had a subpar sophomore year due to lingering hamstring and calf injuries, broke his foot at the combine and broke his hand last season. That is too many red flags for the bust heavy receiver position and certainly too many to trade four picks away to get.
Best Players left on the board
Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson – Obviously sunk by injury issues, whoever takes him is likely to get a super-motivateed, super talented pass rusher. Should be great once rehab finishes.
Titus Young, WR, Boise St. - One of the real engines behind Boise St.'s run the last two years, Young will make some team very happy with a Rookie of the Year type season.
Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas – Has off the field issues that many teams don't want in their quarterbacks, but played well at Arkansas and has a huge arm. A project, yes, but a better option than Locker or Ponder.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame – Can get down the field and has good hands. Grad him and plug him in as a nice, above-average tight end for the next 12 years.
Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA – Underrated because of UCLA's struggles, Ayers makes big plays, making up for sometimes missing the fundamentals.
