I'll try to grade every teams draft, and pretty quickly because I don't want to read
the "experts" grades before I make mine but I want to read them soon enough.
I'm not looking at UDFA signings yet either. To me, after the 5th round, maybe even
the 4th the picks become based more on the position the player plays and the needs
of the team and less on who the player is, unless great value is gotten.
Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford was obviously a good pick, and with Sanchez
and Freeman both gone before they picked again they made the right choice not
going OT first. Yet, they didn't draft Michael Oher with the 20th pick in the draft,
they took Pettigrew instead? I don't full understand that pick, nor do I understand
taking Louis Delmas in the 2nd round. I don't believe he was the best saftey option
available and the Lions haver a terrible front 7 outside of Ernie Sims. The picks
of Samie Lee Hill and Zach Follett are great picks for when they were made and
can provide help to a struggling defense. The rest of the Lions picks were just
puzzling and kind of pointless, IMO. Derrick Williams is a solid scat guy but he
has shown over and over again he isn't a great receiver.
Grade: B-
St Louis Rams - They couldn't have gone wrong with Monroe or Smith, I like Smith
better so they made the perfect pick there, IMO. James Laurinaitis fills a solid need
although I don't know why you pass on Rey Maualuga for him, unless there is a
HUGE hole in Rey's game that many of us didn't see. I really like Brooks Foster
Dorell Scott later in the draft where they got them, however I don't really feel the
pick of Bradly Fletcher in the 3rd round. Overall STL did a solid job of filling needs
with good, but not specatcular guys. Outside of Jason Smith, I'd look at Scott
to be a big force on that team.
Grade: B
Kansas City Chiefs - I'll try not to let my personal feeling get into this because it
wouldn't be pretty. Lets start with Tyson Jackson who I feel will be a great addition
to the Chief's defense, and will be a great DE for years to come, only at the 3rd
overall pick you have to draft someone that will make plays, and not just allow
players to make plays. We followed that up by draftin another DE, even though
we have 4 or 5 3-4 DE's already on the team, in Alex Magee, who is a solid player
but nothing spectacular. Next KC went corner, one of our last needs, and took
a troubled back-up in college. Not good, the rest of the draft was just reaches
and players that didn't really make any sense for the team. I guess the best pick
was the OT out of Missouri in which I didn't know who he was even though I watch
ever Missouri game, at least he filled a need. We left WR, TE, OT, and LB untouched
so the draft is really, really, really bad... Fortunatly what saves this draft is that
our second round pick was basically Matt Cassell and Mike Vrabel.
Grade: D-
Seattle Seahawks - The team that got to cash in on the Chief's mistake started
the draft off by stenghting in their already strong LB core with Aaron Curry. It's
a good pick that you can't really argue with because he was the best player in the
draft, although he didn't fill any need of Seattle. Next, they went Max Unger, so
I guess they feel Brown has plenty of years left, I would have gone OT but Unger
is a solid player. I'm not big on Deon Butler but Nick Reed in the 7th was a great
pick. Fewer picks than the previous teams, but they clearly went BPA with Curry
and Unger which you can't hate on.
Grade - C+
Cleveland Browns - I see a lot of hating on the Browns trading down, and while
I agree that they didn't get good value while trading down I really like how their
draft turned out. Sure, they didn't get a RT, but they got a Center that will be
top 3 in the league for years to come. They got two solid WRs, and with Edwards
possibly on his way out they need the receiving options for Quinnderson. Next
they took two LB's that are good fits for their 3-4 in Maiava and Veikune. They
eneded the second day with solid CB prospects that had fallen a bit Coye-Francis
and Don Carey. Then for their last pick of the day they got a RB to back up Jamal
Anderson with James Davis in the 6th round. Watch out for Mack, Robskie, Maiava,
Francis, and Davis. Did I mention i really liked their draft?
Grade: A
Cincinnati Bengals - Another draft that I'm really feeling. I would have easily opted
Eugene Monroe over Andre Smith because I don't like his character at all, but skill
wise it's about a wash. Rey Maualuga in the 2nd round and will be paired up with
ex-teamate Keither Rivers? Are the Bengals making a worthwhile defense on us?
They follow that up with Michael Johnson in the 3rd round? Wow, if they can
convince him and Andre Smith to really really try look out. Oh, here comes the
good character in Chase Coffman, a beast of a TE somehow still available in the
4th and then Luigs in the 5th. They are nailing every need possible. Morgan
Trent is also a nice pick because of his athleticism so he was worth the pick.
Grade - A
Oakland Raiders - Reach. Failure. Is Matt Millen involved? I understand if you
think about using the vertical passing game to open stuff up how DHB could be
a decent pick, but just no. Maclin and Crabtree still available, no reason for DHB
at all. The 2nd and 3rd round might be the worst value in picks I've ever seen.
I do like Louis Murphy and Stryker Sulak but that is about it. Outside of Louis
Murphy, no good value and no real future studs.
Grade - F
Jacksonville Jaguars - Monroe was the BPA, in their minds, and fairly enough he fit
a need. Eben Britton doesn't make sense at all to me, unless they were in fact
just going BPA. Knighton ruins my BPA theory, but Mike Thomas and Jarret Dillard
in back to back picks is really nice. They are polar oppsites in terms of receiving
skills making them perfect young guys to bring in for Gerrard. If just one, I think
both can be decent, pans out thank god for them. Rashad Jennings is possibly
the best RB in this draft for Jax, with MJD sprinting all over the field then boom
bring in a Larry Johnson clone? Great pick, great value, great player. Filled most
needs, but questionable picks in the 3rd round and the overhall of OT's might
not work out as planned
Grade: B+
Green Bay Packers - They got the future NT for their 3-4 defense which is a great
move but then they traded up for Clay Matthews. Sure, he is a good prospect
but he is not the best prospect for the 3-4 OLB. He is just too small right now,
but him falling was too hard to for everyone to pass up. After this, GB starts
to struggle in the draft outside of Jamon Meredith. They traded up a fair amount
to get Clay Matthews, which I think cost them in the long run. They two OL in the
draft, but one is more of a can play anywhere which means isn't good enough to
be locked down anywhere. T.J. Lang and Quinn Johnson just don't toot my horn
in the least. The lower picks really don't mean much as long as they don't stray
away from their needs which GB did not.
Grade: C+
San Francisco 49ers - Michael Crabtree was a no brainer pick for San Fran, and
a good one at that. But Glen Coffey in the 3rd round??? I know Frank Gore
needs a backup, but if you wanted Coffey why not wait till the 5th round where
guys like Ringer and Jennings went afterwards. McKillop is a solid pick, not super
flashy but a good selection as was Nate Davis, although if your goign to go QB
either get one of the top 3 or wait till next year. Ricky Jean-Francios garners good
value for where he was taken, but the rest of the picks make no sense. Frisco
did a decent job of trying to fill up their team with talented guys, but they just
didn't seem to make the right moves after Crabtree.
Grade: C
Buffalo Bills - I don't like Aaron Maybin for a 3-4 team that much, and I dislike him
even more for a 4-3 team. I don't think he will be able to be that effective from
the down position, but hey time will tell. Eric Wood in the first round with Britton
and Beaty still on the board? Ouch. Sure he is goes on the OL, as does Levitre
who is a much better pick, but nothing still fixes loss of Peters who despite not
looking very good was clearly their best OL. The rest of the Bill's draft was a bunch
of reaches outside of Shawn Nelson who will ahve a suprisingly solid year. The
Bills drafted 3 corners and a saftey in this draft, I thought their secondary was
the strongest part of the defense. They could have use more DL and LB help
with some of those picks. Maybe Nic Harris will bulk up a tad and play WOLB?
Grade: C-
the "experts" grades before I make mine but I want to read them soon enough.
I'm not looking at UDFA signings yet either. To me, after the 5th round, maybe even
the 4th the picks become based more on the position the player plays and the needs
of the team and less on who the player is, unless great value is gotten.
Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford was obviously a good pick, and with Sanchez
and Freeman both gone before they picked again they made the right choice not
going OT first. Yet, they didn't draft Michael Oher with the 20th pick in the draft,
they took Pettigrew instead? I don't full understand that pick, nor do I understand
taking Louis Delmas in the 2nd round. I don't believe he was the best saftey option
available and the Lions haver a terrible front 7 outside of Ernie Sims. The picks
of Samie Lee Hill and Zach Follett are great picks for when they were made and
can provide help to a struggling defense. The rest of the Lions picks were just
puzzling and kind of pointless, IMO. Derrick Williams is a solid scat guy but he
has shown over and over again he isn't a great receiver.
Grade: B-
St Louis Rams - They couldn't have gone wrong with Monroe or Smith, I like Smith
better so they made the perfect pick there, IMO. James Laurinaitis fills a solid need
although I don't know why you pass on Rey Maualuga for him, unless there is a
HUGE hole in Rey's game that many of us didn't see. I really like Brooks Foster
Dorell Scott later in the draft where they got them, however I don't really feel the
pick of Bradly Fletcher in the 3rd round. Overall STL did a solid job of filling needs
with good, but not specatcular guys. Outside of Jason Smith, I'd look at Scott
to be a big force on that team.
Grade: B
Kansas City Chiefs - I'll try not to let my personal feeling get into this because it
wouldn't be pretty. Lets start with Tyson Jackson who I feel will be a great addition
to the Chief's defense, and will be a great DE for years to come, only at the 3rd
overall pick you have to draft someone that will make plays, and not just allow
players to make plays. We followed that up by draftin another DE, even though
we have 4 or 5 3-4 DE's already on the team, in Alex Magee, who is a solid player
but nothing spectacular. Next KC went corner, one of our last needs, and took
a troubled back-up in college. Not good, the rest of the draft was just reaches
and players that didn't really make any sense for the team. I guess the best pick
was the OT out of Missouri in which I didn't know who he was even though I watch
ever Missouri game, at least he filled a need. We left WR, TE, OT, and LB untouched
so the draft is really, really, really bad... Fortunatly what saves this draft is that
our second round pick was basically Matt Cassell and Mike Vrabel.
Grade: D-
Seattle Seahawks - The team that got to cash in on the Chief's mistake started
the draft off by stenghting in their already strong LB core with Aaron Curry. It's
a good pick that you can't really argue with because he was the best player in the
draft, although he didn't fill any need of Seattle. Next, they went Max Unger, so
I guess they feel Brown has plenty of years left, I would have gone OT but Unger
is a solid player. I'm not big on Deon Butler but Nick Reed in the 7th was a great
pick. Fewer picks than the previous teams, but they clearly went BPA with Curry
and Unger which you can't hate on.
Grade - C+
Cleveland Browns - I see a lot of hating on the Browns trading down, and while
I agree that they didn't get good value while trading down I really like how their
draft turned out. Sure, they didn't get a RT, but they got a Center that will be
top 3 in the league for years to come. They got two solid WRs, and with Edwards
possibly on his way out they need the receiving options for Quinnderson. Next
they took two LB's that are good fits for their 3-4 in Maiava and Veikune. They
eneded the second day with solid CB prospects that had fallen a bit Coye-Francis
and Don Carey. Then for their last pick of the day they got a RB to back up Jamal
Anderson with James Davis in the 6th round. Watch out for Mack, Robskie, Maiava,
Francis, and Davis. Did I mention i really liked their draft?
Grade: A
Cincinnati Bengals - Another draft that I'm really feeling. I would have easily opted
Eugene Monroe over Andre Smith because I don't like his character at all, but skill
wise it's about a wash. Rey Maualuga in the 2nd round and will be paired up with
ex-teamate Keither Rivers? Are the Bengals making a worthwhile defense on us?
They follow that up with Michael Johnson in the 3rd round? Wow, if they can
convince him and Andre Smith to really really try look out. Oh, here comes the
good character in Chase Coffman, a beast of a TE somehow still available in the
4th and then Luigs in the 5th. They are nailing every need possible. Morgan
Trent is also a nice pick because of his athleticism so he was worth the pick.
Grade - A
Oakland Raiders - Reach. Failure. Is Matt Millen involved? I understand if you
think about using the vertical passing game to open stuff up how DHB could be
a decent pick, but just no. Maclin and Crabtree still available, no reason for DHB
at all. The 2nd and 3rd round might be the worst value in picks I've ever seen.
I do like Louis Murphy and Stryker Sulak but that is about it. Outside of Louis
Murphy, no good value and no real future studs.
Grade - F
Jacksonville Jaguars - Monroe was the BPA, in their minds, and fairly enough he fit
a need. Eben Britton doesn't make sense at all to me, unless they were in fact
just going BPA. Knighton ruins my BPA theory, but Mike Thomas and Jarret Dillard
in back to back picks is really nice. They are polar oppsites in terms of receiving
skills making them perfect young guys to bring in for Gerrard. If just one, I think
both can be decent, pans out thank god for them. Rashad Jennings is possibly
the best RB in this draft for Jax, with MJD sprinting all over the field then boom
bring in a Larry Johnson clone? Great pick, great value, great player. Filled most
needs, but questionable picks in the 3rd round and the overhall of OT's might
not work out as planned
Grade: B+
Green Bay Packers - They got the future NT for their 3-4 defense which is a great
move but then they traded up for Clay Matthews. Sure, he is a good prospect
but he is not the best prospect for the 3-4 OLB. He is just too small right now,
but him falling was too hard to for everyone to pass up. After this, GB starts
to struggle in the draft outside of Jamon Meredith. They traded up a fair amount
to get Clay Matthews, which I think cost them in the long run. They two OL in the
draft, but one is more of a can play anywhere which means isn't good enough to
be locked down anywhere. T.J. Lang and Quinn Johnson just don't toot my horn
in the least. The lower picks really don't mean much as long as they don't stray
away from their needs which GB did not.
Grade: C+
San Francisco 49ers - Michael Crabtree was a no brainer pick for San Fran, and
a good one at that. But Glen Coffey in the 3rd round??? I know Frank Gore
needs a backup, but if you wanted Coffey why not wait till the 5th round where
guys like Ringer and Jennings went afterwards. McKillop is a solid pick, not super
flashy but a good selection as was Nate Davis, although if your goign to go QB
either get one of the top 3 or wait till next year. Ricky Jean-Francios garners good
value for where he was taken, but the rest of the picks make no sense. Frisco
did a decent job of trying to fill up their team with talented guys, but they just
didn't seem to make the right moves after Crabtree.
Grade: C
Buffalo Bills - I don't like Aaron Maybin for a 3-4 team that much, and I dislike him
even more for a 4-3 team. I don't think he will be able to be that effective from
the down position, but hey time will tell. Eric Wood in the first round with Britton
and Beaty still on the board? Ouch. Sure he is goes on the OL, as does Levitre
who is a much better pick, but nothing still fixes loss of Peters who despite not
looking very good was clearly their best OL. The rest of the Bill's draft was a bunch
of reaches outside of Shawn Nelson who will ahve a suprisingly solid year. The
Bills drafted 3 corners and a saftey in this draft, I thought their secondary was
the strongest part of the defense. They could have use more DL and LB help
with some of those picks. Maybe Nic Harris will bulk up a tad and play WOLB?
Grade: C-
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