revisiting 2011 draft projections
 

My friend and I were looking at the earliest mock draft on ESPN for next year. (For those interested, we are picking last in the AFC West and drafting Landry Jones - no Tyler Wilson, Tyler Bray, or Logan Thomas in first round. Oakland takes Barkley at #9).

However, this spawned us going back and looking at the previous year's draft projection. Todd McShay had KC taking Manti Te'o at #16. Of course, he didn't come out, and many have speculated that we would have taken Kuechly if he weren't off the board. (McShay has Denver taking Te'o next year - one pick in front of KC).

But then we went back further. The 2010 projection for the 2011 draft. Remember, these come out right after the previous draft. McShay had us picking at #3 overall. Sad, I know, but apparently he didn't buy our 10-6 season any more than we did. (For those curious, the pick was projected as Anthony Castonzo).

What's more interesting to me is that he projected three players to go in the first round. #16, #23, and #30. Those players?

Jerrel Powe
Jon Baldwin
Allen Bailey.

In that order.

It's kind of a silly exercise, and most of this means nothing, but I thought it was interesting that, at least at some point, three of our later picks (Bailey, Powe, and Houston), were projected as first rounders before falling. Kind of gives you hope that we might actually be drafting somewhat well. If we really are, there's a possibility this defensive line could - gasp! - actually come together and play well.

We can only hope.

It's almost more interesting to see how variable perceptions of a player can be with Powe dropping so far after being projected so high. That drives home the point that the draft is a total crap shoot more than anything.

This defense plays well now. They're no doubt the strength of the team right now. If Poe turns out to be a beast then we have ourselves a legit top 10 defense for many, many years.

I thought Justin Houston, Allen Bailey and Johnny Baldwin as first round value, I believe.

Ricky Stanzi as 2nd round value. David Mims as 5th round value.

Crazy value all over that draft.