Now that the dust has settled on the NFL draft, it feels like an appropriate time to look back.
This is not about grades - those are simply impossible at this point because the work has not been done. In fact, grading a draft before two, three or even four years is a crapshoot. It is not too early, though, to point out moments and trends that will shape this draft.
How does the Tampa Bay pick of a kicker in round two fare, considering the number of highly regarded prospects still on the board?
How does the decision by several teams to pass on Connor Cook play out?
How does the Titans decision to draft like it's 1996 rather than 2016 turn out?
As for that last one, let's face it, the Titans drafted a run-blocking tackle first and used a top-50 pick on Derrick Henry, a bruising back who had something like 12 million carries for Alabama last year.
If it works - and remember the Titans had a ton of holes, so using a second-rounder on what likely is a backup, third-and-short running back (at least in the beginning) considering they traded for DeMarco Murray and his contract - it could retool the process.
If it doesn't - and with a number of potential stars at defensive tackle and defensive back still on the board when the Titans called Henry's name, it could be telling.
That type of review comes years down the road, though. With that thought in mind, let's review the 2011 draft, one that was star-loaded and clear which teams hit home runs and which teams missed wildly early on.
Looking at the top 10 in 2011, you'll see several teams that added stars who helped move them among the elite in the league:
Top 10 (plus 1)
1. Carolina - Cam Newton (franchise QB and last year's MVP; five years later in the Super Bowl)
2. Denver - Von Miller (game-changing DE and renowned wind-breaker who was the Super Bowl MVP last February)
3. Buffalo - Marcel Dareus (a very good pick who has been productive, but look at the names the Bills passed on below)
4. Cincinnati - A.J. Green (bona fide No. 1 receiver who has helped the Bengals become a model of consistency)
5. Arizona - Patrick Peterson (lockdown corner around whom the Cardinals have crafted one of the best defenses in the league)
6. Atlanta - Julio Jones (another surefire Hall of Famer, and the trade to get him was made through Cleveland, which botched every extra pick it received in the deal and is why the Falcons have contended for the playoffs and the Browns have contended for the No. 1 overall pick each year since)
7. San Francisco - Aldon Smith (a great pass rusher who has off-the-field issues; kind of a microcosmic personification of the 49ers' freefall of the last five years, no?)
8. Tennessee - Jake Locker (a quarterback bust that the Titans are just now starting to recover from)
9. Dallas - Tyron Smith (a franchise left tackle who has been the piece around which the Cowboys have built the best O-line in football)
10. Jacksonville - Blaine Gabbert (read what we said about the Titans' pick at 8 and insert it here)
11. Houston - JJ Watt (there are a lot of teams in front of this pick who would not trade for Watt, who is only the best defensive player in the league)
Now that's a difference-making top half of the first round. As for final grades for the teams, the Seahawks owned this draft - and the one after it - and revamped their roster into a true power team in the league. With that, here are the three best and worst draft hauls by teams in 2011:
BEST
Seahawks - A
Recap: They added several starters to a team that made three consecutive Super Bowls, including arguably the biggest steal in the draft since Tom Brady by adding Richard Sherman in round five.
Cincinnati - A
Recap: While not adding the amazing value picks the Seahawks did, the Bengals added Green in round one and franchise quarterback Andy Dalton in round two.
San Francisco - A-
Recap: This grade peaked at A-plus two years ago when we thought Colin Kaepernick was going to be a franchise quarterback, but it still was talent-rich across almost every round.
WORST
Chicago - F
Recap: Missed badly on No. 1 pick Gabe Carimi, a tackle prospect who never developed, and did not add a meaningful starter.
Detroit - D-
Recap: First-rounder Nick Fairley has been wildly inconsistent and underwhelming. Plus, with limited picks elsewhere, the Lions' barren roster started with this missed draft cycle.
Philadelphia - D-
Recap: The Eagles not only drafted poorly but they missed a real opportunity in almost every place. The Eagles had 11 picks, and far and away the best pick was center Jason Kelce in round six.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343. Follow him on Twitter @jgreesontfp.