Cam Newton vs. Von Miller matchup highlights deep talent in 2011 NFL draft

SAN JOSE, Calif – Wade Phillips prepared for the 2011 NFL draft in hopes of getting an outside linebacker.

Von Miller was there, and the then-Houston Texans defensive coordinator realized the Texas A&M star wouldn’t fall to Houston at No. 11. But then there was Aldon Smith out of Missouri. Draft day came and Smith went in the top 10 as well.

Phillips figured he could move Mario Williams over and grab a player out of Wisconsin. The Texans made a controversial pick: J.J. Watt. Von Miller was the No. 2 pick in the 2011 draft. (AP)

Nearly five years later, that top 11 is remarkable in terms of the NFL talent it produced. Cam Newton went first overall, and is the MVP frontrunner on the eve of his first Super Bowl appearance with the Carolina Panthers. Miller is his foe in the game, his second Super Bowl (he was sidelined in Denver’s last title game appearance, a loss to the Seattle Seahawks).

The next five picks all became Pro Bowlers: Marcell Dareus, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, Julio Jones, and Smith. Tyron Smith went ninth to Dallas and Watt went two picks later.

Several of these players are arguably the best at their positions in the league. Even Smith, who got into off-field trouble before being suspended from the league last year, helped the 49ers to a Super Bowl.

There’s more: six other Pro Bowlers went in that first round – Robert Quinn, Mike Pouncey, Ryan Kerrigan, Cameron Jordan, Mark Ingram and Muhammad Wilkerson.

That’s 15 Pro Bowlers out of 32 first-round picks (so far), and a likely MVP.

A lot of these players have become prototypes: Watt is the ideal pass rusher, Newton is a new-age quarterback with old-school ability, Miller is a hybrid linebacker-rusher (exactly what Phillips thought he’d be), Jones is tall, wide, and fast, and Peterson is heady and dynamic.

“It was a lot of special guys, man,” Newton said this week before reciting some of the names from memory. “J.J. Watt, Von Miller, Julio Jones, A.J. Green. Sheesh, that’s amazing. We are all impacting the game in some shape or form.”

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That might be an understatement; it’s hard to imagine the Panthers without Newton, the Broncos without Miller, the Texans without Watt, the Cardinals without Peterson or the Falcons without Jones. Even Richard Sherman, drafted in the fifth round that year, seems as much of the marrow of the Seahawks as any other player except perhaps Russell Wilson.

The draft itself was unique even before the first pick took place. A labor dispute between the players’ union and the league imperiled the upcoming season, and only a CBA provision allowed the draft to go forward. Trades of players for picks were forbidden, and Miller was named as a plaintiff in an antitrust lawsuit against the league.

Despite the tumult, the players at the top of the class excelled almost immediately. Watt, whose name was booed by Texans fans when it was announced, quickly justified his team’s choice. Newton, who was compared to fellow first-rounders Blaine Gabbert and Jake Locker, became Rookie of the Year, and Miller battled with Smith for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors (which Miller won).

Five of the top 11 from that draft took part in these playoffs, and three made championship games. On Sunday, it will be No. 1 vs. No. 2. And it’s Phillips, now a coordinator with Denver, who is tasked with helping Miller get to Newton.

“Hope they see each other a lot on Sunday,” he said.

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