http://www.nfl.com/draft/2011/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-round/dt-by-round-input:1Of the surprises, my hometown Vikings taking QB Christian Ponder out of FSU with the 12th pick. Many are lighting up the Vikings for reaching for him that high after 3 QB's flew off the board, and I think there is some validity to the claims they panicked a bit, but if they think this guy can be their future signal caller, it falls upon them to do whatever they can to make it so. Some speculate he could've been there in the 2nd round, but I doubt it. Vikings don't pick till 11th and with the Bills, Bengals, Cardinals and Redskins picking ahead of them I doubt Ponder would've been there at 11.
I thought they had a shot at Gabbert once Locker went to Tennessee, but Jacksonville shocked me when they took Gabbert. My next choice, Watts, got snagged by Houston so my favorites evaporated quickly. I was thinking OL at that point.
Anyway, I like Ponder, good arm, smart...it will be interesting to see how the team brings him along, taking a guy this high at the already high-profile position of QB puts a lot of pressure on everyone to see this work. I hope it does, time will tell.
As for Caroliona and the top pick, I have my doubts Cam Newton can be an effective NFL QB, I think Von Miller was the lead-pipe-cinch stud of this draft and he would've been my choice for top pick.
I'll make a prediction right now that Ponder outshines Newton in the NFL.