J.J. Watt was taken with the 11th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. Quite a steal in that slot. The former Wisconsin star has 92 career sacks entering his ninth NFL season, and is a five-time All-Pro selection and former NFL Man of the Year. “I was shocked that J.J. lasted as long as he did in the draft,” Gil Brandt told the Houston Chronicle. So, who were the players chosen before Watt and how have they fared?
10. Jacksonville: Blaine Gabbert
Jacksonville got itself a quarterback who was a disappointment and has become nothing more than a journeyman. Gabbert spent three seasons with the Jaguars going 5-22 as a starter. He’s is currently on the Bucs, his fifth team.
9. Dallas: Tyron Smith
Dallas grabbed a gem in Tyron Smith out of USC. He is one of the vital cogs on one of — the? — best offensive lines in the game. Smith is a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time, first-team All Pro. He has played in 118 games, starting them all. In the last three seasons, Smith has played in 13 games each.
8. Tennessee: Jake Locker
Another quarterback selection that simply did not work out. The Titans drafted Jake Locker out of Washington. He went 9-14 in 23 starts in an injury-riddled career. Locker retired after the 2014 season.
7. San Francisco: Aldon Smith
On the field, Aldon Smith was an absolute star. He had 33.5 sacks in his first two seasons. However, his issues off the field destroyed what likely would have been an amazing career. Arrest after arrest after arrest. He played for both Bay Area teams and has now become a washout.
6. Atlanta: Julio Jones
The Falcons dealt five picks to Cleveland in order to move into this slot so they could draft Julio Jones out of Alabama. They win. The wideout has twice led the league in yards. He is a six-time Pro Bowler and one of the best in the game. Jones has 698 receptions, with 51 going for touchdowns.
5. Arizona: Patrick Peterson
Patrick Peterson has been a bright spot for the Arizona Cardinals. The eight-time Pro Bowler has been a shutdown CB and has 23 career picks. The Cardinals will miss him at the start of this season as he serves a suspension.
4. Cincinnati: A.J. Green
Another wideout from the SEC who went before Watt is A.J. Green of Georgia. Green has 602 catches, including 63 touchdowns. His biggest flaw has been injury as Green has missed considerable time in two of the last three seasons and will be out to start 2019.
3. Buffalo: Marcel Dareus
The two-time Pro Bowler Marcel Dareus was a Bill from 2011 until 2017 when the Bills dealt him to Jacksonville. Dareus has 35 career sacks, but the stat has slowed since he had 10 in 2014. He’s also had a couple run-ins with the law.
2. Denver: Von Miller
The only player on this list with a Super Bowl ring is Broncos LB Von Miller. The former Texas A&M star has been in double-digits in sacks in seven seasons and has 98 overall. The only year he didn’t reach 10 was 2013 when he ran afoul of the NFL drug-testing rules.
1. Carolina: Cam Newton
Cam Newton came out of Auburn and to the Carolina Panthers with a Heisman Trophy and national championship in 2010 at Auburn. He has been mercurial in Carolina, throwing for more than 28,000 yards and rushing for another 4,800. He averages 5.2 yards per carry. Newton has led the Panthers to a Super Bowl but they did not win the game, falling to Denver, 24-10, after a 15-1 regular season in 2015.
