NFL draft grades: Which teams aced 1st round?
CBSSports.com senior writer Pete Prisco analyzes each pick from Round 1 of the 2011 NFL Draft, grading each team on its draft-night selections.
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No. 1: Panthers select: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn - GRADE: C
This is a pick that will define this franchise for the next 10 years. It could be feast or famine. Big risk.
No. 2: Broncos select: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M - GRADE: C
I think they are forcing getting a pass rusher with this pick. He is a little overrated. They should have taken Marcell Dareus.
No. 3: Bills select: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama - GRADE B+
The Bills were 32nd against the run last season. Dareus will fill a big need as they try and fix that.
No. 4: Bengals select: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia - GRADE: B+
I love this pick. They need a big-play receiver and Green will be a star. He plays faster than he runs. Now he has to hope Carson Palmer stays.
No. 5: Cardinals select: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU - GRADE: A
I love Peterson. He is smooth, big and can cover. The Cardinals can pair him with Cromartie to form a heck of a cover combination.
No. 6: Falcons select: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama - GRADE: C
Wow. This is a big price to pay to get a receiver. It's a big gamble. He better be Larry Fitzgerald. Thomas Dimitroff is a bold GM.
No. 7: 49ers select: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri - GRADE: D
I think this is a risky pick. He is a bit overrated. He is somewhat tentative with contact coming at him. Why not a quarterback?
No. 8: Titans select: Jake Locker, QB, Washington - GRADE: C
Wow. They needed a quarterback, so it makes sense. But why not Gabbert? I would have picked Ponder. But that's just me.
No. 9: Cowboys select: Tyron Smith, OT, USC - GRADE: B+
I love this pick. This kid will be a star left tackle. He is young, athletic and fills a need. He will start on the right side, but move to left. Love this pick.
No. 10: Jaguars select: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri - GRADE: B-
I like Christian Ponder more, but they had to get a quarterback. This is a bold move up. I like it. You can't win without a franchise passer.
No. 11: Texans select: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin - GRADE: B
This is a good pick. I think he fits in their 3-4. He will be like Aaron Smith in Pittsburgh. Wade Phillips gets some help.
No. 12: Vikings select: Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State - GRADE: A
I love this pick. I think he will be the best in this class. Smart. Tough. Sees the field. Great move, Vikings.
No. 13: Lions select: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn - GRADE: A+
This is a steal. He was the top player on my board. Now he plays next to Suh. Good luck handling that tandem for years to come.
No. 14: Rams select: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina = GRADE: A
I love this pick. Steve Spagnuolo loves pass rushers and this is the best of the group.
No. 15: Dolphins select: Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida - GRADE: B
The Dolphins badly need help in the middle of their line. Pouncey can address that right away. Nice solid pick.
No. 16: Redskins select: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue - GRADE: B+
This is one of my favorite players in this draft. He can rush the passer. He will be a 3-4 rush guy in Jim Haslett's defense.
No. 17: Patriots select: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado - GRADE: B
Matt Light is a free agent, so this kid steps in and starts. Along with Sebastian Vollmer, they will have a good pair of young tackles. One question: Why not defense?
No. 18: Chargers select: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois - GRADE: B
He fits a big need as a down 3-4 end. He will be a nice replacement for Jacques Cesaire.
No. 19: Giants select: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska - GRADE: A
This kid was fourth on my board. How did he fall this far? The Giants get a great value pick, a guy who can cover DeSean Jackson.
No. 20: Buccaneers select: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa - GRADE: B
They needed to get an end, and this kid will help a pass rush that needs it. He was a productive player in in a good conference.
No. 21: Browns select: Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor - GRADE: C
This is a strange move for a team moving to a 4-3 scheme. He is more of a nose tackle. Strange pick.
No. 22: Colts select: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College - GRADE: B+
This is a great pick. Colts haven't picked a lineman in the first round since Tarik Glenn. They need somebody to take care of Manning's blindside. This is a good pick.
No. 23: Eagles select: Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor - GRADE: B-
One thing about the Eagles, they love taking big people. This is an aggressive player who will fit right into the Eagles' style of play.
No. 24: Saints select: Cameron Jordan, DE, California - GRADE: B-
This is a need pick for a left end who will help their pass rush. He is a value pick who somehow slid down the board. Nice job by Mickey Loomis.
No. 25: Seahawks select: James Carpenter, OT, Alabama - GRADE: B
I like this kid a lot. He was on my Better-than team. He was a left tackle, but will move to right tackle. Along with Russell Okung, they now have a nice pair of tackles.
No. 26: Chiefs select: Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh - GRADE: C
He is a big-time player, but there are questions about his attitude. Some teams hated him. But he does fill a need.
No. 27: Ravens select: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado - GRADE: C
He has top-10 ability. But they better make sure he stays away from trouble. That's where the locker room will be big. Smith will be a quality shutdown corner -- if he stays problem-free.
No. 28: Saints select: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama - GRADE: C-
I'm not sure about this pick for the Saints. Don't they have guys like this already? They had other more pressing needs. And they gave up a 2012 first-round pick?
No. 29: Bears select: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin - GRADE: B+
He fills a major need. He is a tough guy who will start right away. Mike Tice loves him. He's his kind of lineman.
No. 30: Jets select: Muhammad Wilkerson, OT, Temple - GRADE: B
They need help on their defensive line and this is a kid who can step in and provide help inside on the nose or at end.
No. 31: Steelers select: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State - GRADE: B+
They are getting old on the defensive line, so this makes sense. I think this kid will be a steal.
No. 32: Packers select: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State - GRADE: B+
They need a left tackle for the future and they get one here. He will be a good player in a year. The Packers can be patient.