I think if you take off Crimson-colored glasses, you see he does have a point. Here are our 1st rounders since 2007, not counting this past year.
Andre Smith - Was drafted as a top 10 player (at Tackle) and although he has made a ton of strides, he has yet to live up to the hype with being a top pick. In a redraft, he would not be a 1st rounder.
Rolando McClain - He isn't in the league, next. In a redraft, he would go undrafted.
Kareem Jackson - For the most part he has started on a bad Texans secondary. He has been solid, but not great. In a redraft he would likely fall into the later second round.
Mark Ingram - Whether it is a waste of his talent because of the system, or his lack of being able to adapt to the NFL, he just hasn't panned out as a premier RB. He has shown SOME flashes that he can be effective, but lacks consistency. In a redraft he would likely be a late round pick.
James Carpenter - Carpenter has been okay, but when a team uses a first round choice on a GUARD then you have to be exceptional. He has not been. In a redraft he would probably fall to the third round.
Marcell Dareus - While he may not have lived up to his draft position (3rd overall), he has been a really solid player. This past year he made the Pro-Bowl (a late add due to an injury), and the future looks bright. In a redraft he would still be a 1st rounder, but maybe a little lower on the board. He is one of the biggest standouts we've had drafted.
Julio Jones - It's not arguable, this guy is the best player we've had get drafted. He has the ability and talent to be an elite level receiver. I would say that the ONLY current WR in the league to be better overall package (when healthy) is Calvin Johnson. As long as Julio bounces back from injury this pick is beyond validated.
Dont'a Hightower - Arguably the most perfect pick for any Alabama player drafted, Dont'a has been really good with the Pats. He lead the team in tackles this past year, finally coming in to his own. In a redraft I think he would go in the exact same spot, if not earlier.
Dre Kirkpatrick - Dre was supposed to be can't miss, and got injured. Then when he came back, he couldn't crack the starting lineup until Terrance Newman was injured, where he started 2 games. He has shown flashes of greatness, but again a lack on consistency. You could argue he might go first round on talent alone in a redraft, but the jury is still out.
Mark Barron - Barron has been solid. His rookie season was solid, and he followed it up with an almost identical second year effort. He does have the distinction of playing on one of the WORST pass defenses I have ever seen, so that makes him look even better at times. I think it is safe to say he is a first round pick in any scenario.
Trent Richardson - I hate to type this, because Trent is arguably my favorite player over the last decade, but to this point he has been a bust. He rushed for under just under 1000 yards as a rookie, then was jettisoned off to Indianapolis (where I thought he would thrive) where he lost his job to Donald Brown. He averaged a whopping 2.9 ypc with the Colts. I still think he can be successful, and think he will turn it around this year...but, would he be drafted that highly again? Not in a million years.
The point is, MOST of the guys that have been drafted in round one from here have been over valued. I think that isn't as much a knock on them, as a testament to what CNS can get out of them while here. NFL GM's will look at that going forward. Our guys may be more prepared MENTALLY for the NFL coming out, but that doesn't always translate to on the field play.
