Draft Day Shockers
Some of the best parts of watching the Draft is when a team makes a pick that no one sees coming. I’ve gone back and made a list of some of the biggest shockers in recent memory.
10. Aldon Smith DE, Mizzou; 7th Overall 2011
The 49ers headed into the 2011 Draft with a big time need at quarterback. So when Blaine Gabbert was still available to them at pick 7 many thought that was the way they were going to go. Well they shocked the world when the commissioner spoke the name Aldon Smith DE, Missouri. Now Smith was considered a top 15 pick, so it’s not a knock on him at all, but prior to this the Smith/9ers combo was never talked about and rarely if ever, mocked.
9. Duane Brown OT, Va. Tech; 26th overall 2008
Brown was considered by many during the 2008 Draftseason as a likely second round choice. As the tackles began flying off the board that Draft, the Texans got nervous and surprised everyone when they made him the 26th overall choice. Their gamble has paid off as Brown has started 60 games in his career and has played at a very high level.
8. Tyson Jackson DE, LSU; 3rd Overall 2009
Jackson was a late riser during the 2009 Draftseason as many teams that ran a 3-4 were very smitten with him. A lot of folks saw him as a fit in Denver with the 12th pick but just days before the Draft, rumors abounded that the Chiefs could take him as early as pick 3. I remember thinking that would never happen, but sure enough the Chiefs took him and have been disappointed ever since.
7. CJ Spiller RB, Clemson; 9th Overall 2010
This pick wasn’t suprising due to the player. Spiller was seen as a top ten talent that year, but no one had him going to the Bills. The Bills had clear needs along their offensive line and they could have addressed offensive tackle with either Bryan Bulaga or Anthony Davis or guard with Mike Iupati. What made their selection of a RB even more shocking was that they already had Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch on the roster. After two seasons Spiller finally looks to be coming into his own and seems poised for a breakout season in 2012.
6. Darrius Heyward Bey WR, Maryland; 7th Overall 2009
This pick would have been higher up if it wasn’t warned about prior to the Draft. Heyward-Bey ran a 4.30 40 at the Combine but had problems catching the ball. Those hands issued persisted at his Pro Day so many had him pegged as a guy you take toward the end of round 1, and work with his issues catching the ball. Heading into Draft week I remember Mike Mayock saying repeatedly watch out for Heyward-Bey going to Oakland at pick 7, as Al Davis loves speed. Again I didn’t believe that would happen, and that the big name and talent of Michael Crabtree would trump the speed of Bey. Well I was wrong, and the Raiders shockingly took Heyward Bey with the 7th pick. They chose him over higher ranked players that year like Crabtree, Maclin, and Harvin. Heyward-Bey has been a disappointment so far, though he did show signs of improvement last season.
5. Ted Ginn Jr. WR, Ohio St.; 9th Overall 2007
Ginn was highly ranked during the early portions of the 2007 Draftseason but as more study was done on him his stock began to drop a bit as teams wondered if he was just a fast guy who could return kicks, and wouldn’t be able to grow into a true no. 1 type of receiver. As Draft Day approached that year there were some rumblings that the Dolphins really liked him and were considering him with the 9th overall pick. As the Draft began to shake out that year, Brady Quinn started to fall. The Dolphins had a major need at QB so when he was available at 9, most, including Quinn himself, thought the Dolphins would take him. When the pick was announced Quinn was shown on camera mouthing “That’s a surprise” and he was right. This pick did give us the great video clip of Cam Cameron introducing Ginn at their Draft Party to a chorus of boos.
4. Mike Mitchell S, Ohio; 47th Overall 2009
Leave it to Al Davis and the Raiders to shock the world with their first two picks in one Draft. After surprisngly taking Hewyard-Bey with pick 7, the Raiders came back at pick 47 to draft a guy most teams didn’t even have on their boards. Mike Mitchell was such an obscure pick at the time that the draft experts on air were scrounging around to find info on him. Mike Mayock said during the broadcast “I’ve never heard about Michael Mitchell.” After the dust settled on that Draft there were reports the Bears were going to take Mitchell with their second round selection, so it wasn’t such a reach afterall. Whether that is true or not is still up for debate, but what is certain is that no one saw the pick of Mike Mitchell coming when it did.
3. Donte Whitner S, Ohio St.; 8th Overall 2006
The Bills selection of Whitner was one nobody saw coming. Whitner was a solid prospect heading into that draft and was considered to be a top 20 pick with the Miami Dolphins at pick 16 or the Minnesota Vikings at pick 17 being two likely destinations. The Bills needed a QB and Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler were both available. Also big Haloti Ngata was still on the board and one of those three were seen as likely choices when the Bills were up. When the commissioner came out and announced the pick shock ran through the crowd and I remember my drunken chin falling to my chest in utter surprise when that choice was made.
2. Christian Ponder QB, FSU; 12th Overall 2011
The Vikings held the 12th pick in the 2011 Draft with quarterback as their top need. A lot of draft gurus had Jake Locker penciled in as their pick here. So many debates were had whether or not he was worth this selection. Then the unthinkable happened, Jake Locker went 8 to the Titans (almost made this list). Then Blaine Gabbert went 10 to the Jaguars and the Vikings were soon on the clock. There were plenty of good prospects on the board that would fill needs for the Vikings; like Prince Amukamara, Robert Quinn, and Nick Fairley so many figured the Vikes would go B.P.A. Jon Gruden was on the air saying he thought they were going to take Da’Quan Bowers (that would have been terrible). Soon Mort appeared and said the Vikings were trying to trade out of the 12th pick. The clock kept ticking away, with no change of helmet on the screen. Soon after the commissioner came out and laid the bomb that the Viking have selected Christian Ponder QB, FSU. Most had Ponder ranked as a late first or early second rounder so the Vikes clearly reached to get him, when they couldn’t find a partner to move down. Ponder’s career started out pretty good for the Vikings but his play tailed off after taking a beating over consecutive weeks. Year two will go a long way in determining if the Vikings gamble was worth it or not.
1. Tyson Alualu DT, CAL; 10th Overall 2010
The Jaguars selection of Tyson Alualu is the hands down most shocking draft pick in recent years. The team needed a defensive end more than anything and most had them pegged as grabbing either Derrick Morgan or Jason Pierre-Paul with this pick. Alualu was seen as a good penetrating defensive tackle who would likely be an early to mid second round pick. No one in the mock draft world had him ranked or mocked as a top ten pick. There wasn’t even any rumblings or any little inkling that he would go in the top 20. So when the commissioner came out and clumsily read his name the shock and awe could be felt across the entire nation. The Jags have stood by their selection and Alualu has played well but has battled injuries recently. One has to wonder if the Jaguars could go back and do it again if Jason Pierre Paul wouldn’t be that name on the card this time around.
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