Cam Newton’s time in Carolina is coming to a close. The Heisman winner from Auburn was the first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. How did the rest of the first round go and how did the players perform?
32. Green Bay: Derek Sherrod
The Packers went last in the first round and chose a tackle from Mississippi State, Derek Sherrod. He made one start in four seasons — not playing at all in 2013. Grade: F
31. Pittsburgh: Cameron Heyward
The Steelers continue to enjoy the benefits of this pick. Cameron Heyward came to Pittsburgh via Ohio State. He has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons and has 54 career sacks. Grade: A
30. New York Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson
Two double-digit sack seasons while with Gang Green through 2018. The big defensive lineman spent three games with Green Bay last year before being injured and going to IR. Wilkerson was a Pro Bowler in 2015. He has been in the headlines for getting arrested twice in the past 15 months. Grade: C-plus
29. Chicago: Gabe Carimi
Gabe Carimi made 14 of his 26 starts for the Bears, who drafted him from Wisconsin. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound lineman did not deliver the way Chicago hoped he would as a first-round pick. Grade: D-plus
28. New Orleans: Mark Ingram
The Saints got a Heisman winner from Alabama in this slot and he proved to be a gem. Ingram rushed for more than 6,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in eight seasons with New Orleans before exiting via free agency to sign with the Baltimore Ravens: Grade: A
27. Baltimore: Jimmy Smith
Baltimore keeps Jimmy Smith in the family, signing the DB to a one-year contract this week. The DB from Colorado was part of the Ravens team that won Super Bowl XLVII. He played in 12 games with 10 starts, recording 45 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, and two interceptions after missing the first four games of 2019 because of a suspension. Grade: B
26. Kansas City: Jonathan Baldwin
A bust if there was one. Kansas City grabbed the wideout from Pittsburgh and he lasted two seasons before heading to San Francisco for a short spot. Baldwin had 44 catches in his career. Grade: F
25. Seattle: James Carpenter
James Carpenter continues to play in the NFL, currently with the Atlanta Falcons who gave the lineman from Alabama a four-year, $21M contract last March. Carpenter made 39 starts in four seasons for the Seahawks before moving to the New York Jets. Grade: B-minus
24. New Orleans: Cameron Jordan
The Saints had quite the first round in 2011, getting Cameron Jordan, who has been named to the Pro Bowl five times, before grabbing Mark Ingram. Jordan has 87 sacks with New Orleans. Grade: A
23. Philadelphia: Danny Watkins
The offensive lineman from Baylor did not work out in Philadelphia. He was gone after two seasons and spent one game with Miami in 2013. Grade: F
22. Indianapolis: Anthony Castonzo
Anthony Castonzo came to the Colts from Boston College. The offensive lineman continues to play well for Indy and was rewarded with a two-year, $33M contract on March 15. He has played in 132 games as a Colt and started every one of them. Grade: B
21. Cleveland: Phil Taylor
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One of a series of pick that did not pan out for the Browns. Phil Taylor played college ball at Baylor and the defensive lineman lasted four seasons in Cleveland, notching seven sacks. From 2016 on, he was plagued by injuries and never saw the field in the regular season again for other teams. Grade: D
20. Tampa Bay: Adrian Clayborn
Adrian Clayborn came to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Iowa. The 6-3, 280-pound defensive lineman spent four seasons as a Buc, accounting for 21 of his 36.5 sacks. He went on to Atlanta, New England, back to Atlanta and is currently a free agent. Grade: C
19. New York Giants: Prince Amukamara
Prince Amukamara spent five seasons with Big Blue after being chosen out of Nebraska. The defensive back had seven picks as a Giant. He earned a ring as part of the Super Bowl XLVI champs. Amukamara moved on to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chicago Bears and is currently a free agent. Grade: C-minus
18. San Diego: Corey Liuget
Corey Liuget made 103 starts over seven years with the Chargers after being chosen out of Illinois. He had 24 of his 25 sacks with the Bolts. Liuget moved on to the Bills and spent time in Buffalo over a season-plus before moving to the Raiders in 2019. No honors in his career. Grade: C
17. New England: Nate Solder
The Patriots got a huge piece of their offensive line when they drafted Nate Solder out of Colorado. He spent seven seasons protecting Tom Brady and made 95 starts. Solder was a two-time Super Bowl champ before heading off the Giants. Grade: B-minus
16. Washington: Ryan Kerrigan
Washington scored one of the top players in the draft when it chosen Ryan Kerrigan from Purdue. The linebacker has 90 career sacks including a stretch that saw him hit double-digits from 2014-18, except when he had 9.5 sacks in 2015. Grade: A
15. Miami: Mike Pouncey
A four-time Pro Bowler, Mike Pouncey went from being a Florida Gator to becoming a Miami Dolphin. The center has made 114 starts, having left Miami for the Chargers in 2018. Grade: A-minus
14. St. Louis: Robert Quinn
Quinn played college ball at North Carolina before heading to St. Louis. He has made the Pro Bowl twice in his career, which has seen the defensive lineman notch 80 sacks. Nineteen of those came in 2013 with the Rams. Quinn just signed a massive contract as a free agent with the Chicago Bears, who will be his fourth NFL team. Grade: B-plus
13. Detroit: Nick Fairley
The big lineman who was a teammate of Cam Newton at Auburn, Nick Fairley, never quite lived up to the slot he was chosen in by Detroit. Fairley played for the Lions from 2011-14. He then moved on to St. Louis and New Orleans before exiting the NFL. Grade: C-minus
12. Minnesota: Christian Ponder
The Vikings have to ponder why they chose the quarterback from Florida State with the 12th pick in the draft. He didn’t work out despite going 10-6 as a starter in his second season. That only makes the 14-21 overall mark in starts look worse. Grade: F
11. Houston: J.J. Watt
Grade: A-plus-plus-plus-plus-plus, which says it all.
10. Jacksonville: Blaine Gabbert
The quarterback from Missouri failed to live up the hype and hope Jacksonville had when it selected him 10th overall. He was 5-22 as a starter and drifted as a journeyman. Grade: F
9. Dallas: Tyron Smith
The Cowboys got an all-time great lineman when they chose Tyron Smith out of USC. He’s been a seven-time Pro Bowler and is one of the best in the business of any generation. Grade: A-plus
8. Tennessee: Jake Locker
The quarterback from Washington had a sorry NFL career after being taken by the Titans. He was injured often and did not deliver in any way for the team that grabbed him eighth. Grade: F
7. San Francisco: Aldon Smith
The Niners struck gold with Aldon Smith out of Missouri. He had 33.5 sacks in his first two seasons. Then, the roof fell in as Smith had troubles with abuse and the law. He went bust quickly. Can’t ignore the immediate impact but his fall was fast and harsh. Grade: C
6. Atlanta: Julio Jones
One of the great wide receivers to step on an NFL field. Julio Jones was coveted by Atlanta, which traded up to get him. It was a smart move as the former Alabama star has 797 catches for 12,125 yards. Grade: A-plus
5. Arizona: Patrick Peterson
The Cardinals dipped into the LSU secondary for Patrick Peterson and got themselves a shutdown corner for many years. He has 25 interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries but they don’t tell the story of his dominance in the defensive backfield. Grade: A
4. Cincinnati: A.J. Green
The Bengals got themselves a top wide receiver for many years when they chosen Georgia’s A.J. Green. He missed 2019 due to injury but had 602 catches — 63 for touchdowns — in his first eight seasons. Grade: A
3. Buffalo: Marcel Dareus
Marcel Dareus came to Buffalo from Alabama. He had 35 of his 37.5 sacks in his six plus seasons with the Bills before being sent to Jacksonville. He didn’t deliver big time with the Jaguars, either, and is currently a free agent. Tough choice to go with at No. 3. Grade: C
2. Denver: Von Miller
Denver got a generational linebacker when it drafted Von Miller from Texas A&M. Miller has 106 career sacks and is a menace to opposing offenses. Good luck trying to control this Bronco. Grade: A-plus
1. Cam Newton
As Cam Newton’s time ends in Carolina, his legacy as a Panther is of greatness and disappointment. The quarterback never won a Super Bowl, getting to one and losing to Denver after leading Carolina to a 15-1 season in 2015. His numbers are strong, 29,041 yards passing and 4,806 yards rushing. He scored 58 touchdowns on the ground. The last two years have soured what he accomplished with the Panthers. Still, impossible question the impact he had on his position and the team. Grade: B
