Atlanta Falcons - A
8. Jamaal Anderson, DE Arkansas
39. Justin Blalock, OG Texas
41. Chris Houston, CB Arkansas
75. Laurent Robinson, WR Illinois State
109. Stephen Nicholas, OLB South Florida
133. Martrez Milner, TE Georgia
185. Trey Lewis, DT Washburn
194. David Irons, CB Auburn
198. Doug Datish, C Ohio State
203. Daren Stone, S Maine
244. Jason Snelling, RB Virginia
I figure this is a good spot to unpack my philosophy on the draft, which should answer some questions regarding these grades. My thinking is this: if a team has a legit chance to compete for a Super Bowl, then they need to draft players that immediately increase that chance. The concept of "value" isn't nearly as important as filling needs, because these teams don't have a lot of needs. For teams that aren't legit Super Bowl contenders, value becomes much more important, especially with their high picks. They've also got to get guys who they can build around, and can't afford to take too many risks early - because one bad pick could set the franchise back five years (see: Tim Couch, Akili Smith, etc.). That said, when a Super Bowl contender can not only fill needs but get great value in the process, that's what makes an "A" draft. And that's what Atlanta did on Saturday. Jamaal Anderson, who somehow went under the radar of the mainstream media, is an absolute beast, and should be recording double-digit sacks within a year or two. Atlanta needed someone to pair with the oft-injured but extremely talented John Abraham, and Anderson is a perfect fit. Not only will he cause havoc in opposing backfields, but he has the size to develop into someone who can stuff the run, a la Julius Peppers. Then in the second, Atlanta snagged arguably the best guard in the draft in Justin Blalock. The big fellow out of Texas can fill in at right tackle if need be, but would be best suited to beef up the interior of Atlanta's line. Given his physical strength, big-game experience, and football smarts, Blalock can play right away. Next, the team snagged Chris Houston about 3/4 of a round lower than he could have gone, and only had to part with a fourth round pick to move up. Like Blalock, Houston can be plugged in right away, probably as a nickelback but potentially as the starter opposite DeAngelo Hall. The rest of the picks aren't quite as inspired, in my opinion, but I do like Doug Datish, and Stephen Nicholas should see playing time. But the point is that Atlanta, a Super Bowl contender, got an impact defensive end, a probable starter on the offensive line, and a potential starter at cornerback - and their chances of winning the title are much improved because of it.
San Francisco 49ers - A
11. Patrick Willis, ILB Ole Miss
28. Joe Staley, OT Central Michigan
76. Jason Hill, WR Washington State
97. Ray McDonald, DE Florida
104. Jay Moore, DE Nebraska
126. Dashon Goldson, S Washington
135. Joe Cohen, DE Florida
147. Tarrell Brown, CB Texas
186. Thomas Clayton, RB Kansas State
*Traded next year's first-round pick to the Patriots
*Acquired the Colts' 2008 first-round pick
*Acquired WR Darrell Jackson for a 4th round pick
I love what the 49ers did on draft day. They could have went a lot of ways with the 11th pick, but in my opinion they got it absolutely perfect. Willis is a true leader and pure playmaker, which is exactly the kind of player that this defense has needed. San Fran's D has talent, but has lacked a "centerpiece" who everyone can rally around - Willis will provide that. Probably my favorite pick of the draft. Then San Francisco addressed its biggest need on offense by trading up to get potential franchise left tackle Joe Staley in the late first. I have Staley graded on the same level as Levi Brown, and his ceiling is almost as high as Joe Thomas'. You'd think next year's first round pick was a steep price to pay - until San Francisco got the Colts' 2008 first rounder a little bit later. The 49ers are a borderline playoff team next year, so expect the pick they traded to be in the 16-22 range. The Colts are the Colts, so expected the pick they received in the 28-32 range. That is not that big of a price tag for acquiring a quailty player like Staley. San Fran continued its good day with Jason Hill in the third. He could have easily been a mid-second round pick, and probably would have been so had he left school after his junior season. Don't be surprised if he's starting for the Niners by mid-season. The rest of their draft was devoted to improving the defense, and a guy like Ray McDonald could have a nice impact as a 3-4 outside lienbacker. To top it all off, San Fran gave up just a fourth rounder to get Darrell Jackson from division-rival Seattle. Overall, really impressed with this draft from San Francisco, and I think they're building something special.
New England Patriots - A-
24. Brandon Meriweather, S Miami
28. Kareem Brown, DT Miami
171. Clint Oldenburg, OT Colorado State
180. Justin Rogers, LB SMU
202. Mike Richardson, CB Notre Dame
208. Justise Hairston, RB Central Connecticut
209. Corey Hilliard, OT Oklahoma State
211. Oscar Lua, LB USC
247. Mike Elgin, C Iowa
*Traded 4th round pick for WR Randy Moss
*Acquired San Francisco's 2008 1st round pick
Bill Belichick does it again. This draft wasn't great because of the picks New England made; it was great because of the picks they didn't. First, the Pats managed to trade the 28th pick (which would've had little value to them, based on the players available) to San Francisco for the Niners' 2008 first rounder. While I think San Fran will be much improved next season, that's still a pick in the 18-22 range. Then Belichick made the biggest splash of the draft, acquiring a certain receiver out of Marshall for a measely fourth round pick. While Randy Moss comes to New England with a boat-load of question marks, the price was definitely right, and this is a no-risk-huge-reward situation. Oh, and as for the players they did draft: Brandon Meriweather should be a star in New England, where he'll be in a great environment (as long as he's kept away from Moss!) and have a chance to learn from some true pros. So, for acquiring a #1 pick next year, a potential superstar receiver, and a potential star at safety, we all once again have to tip our hats to Mr. Belichick.
Minnesota Vikings - A-
7. Adrian Peterson, RB Oklahoma
44. Sidney Rice, WR South Carolina
72. Marcus McCauley, CB Fresno State
102. Brian Robison, DE Texas
146. Aundrae Allison, WR East Carolina
176. Rufus Alexander, LB Oklahoma
217. Tyler Thigpen, QB Coastal Carolina
233. Chandler Williams, WR Florida Int.
I'm telling you right now, don't be surprised if Peterson, Rice, McCauley, and Allison are all starting for Minnesota at some point in 2007. You heard it here first. Normally I'm not a fan of Minnesota's draft (at least in the Tice era), but this year I think the team did a real good job of identifying its biggest need and addressing it. If you look at the Vikings' offense, the first thing that jumps out at you is that they have no (literally no) talent whatsoever at the skill positions. Running back Chester Taylor might be their best player, but I doubt any defensive coordinators really worry about facing Chester Taylor. Adrian Peterson, on the other hand, is the type of guy that will keep opposing coaches awake at night. While I have concerns about his durability, he'll be in a good situation in Minnesota because he won't have to carry the full load. He gives Minnesota a playmaker in the running game. Then in the second round, the team got a much-need playmaker in the passing game. While Rice probably should have stayed another year in school, he'll be the deep threat in Minnesota's offense that Troy Williamson has thus far failed to provide. Rice isn't a burner like Williamson, but he has excellent ball skills and can make catches even when he's covered (a skill that Williamson sorely lacks). McCauley fell down draft boards after a disastrous senior campaign, but he's got the talent to start in the NFL. Finally, Minnesota got a steal in the 5th with Aundrae Allison, who has the skills to make an impact on this offense. Overall, in two days I believe Minnesota's offense went from being "catastrophically awful" to "hey, they've got some potential, right?" Not bad!
Chicago Bears - B+
31. Greg Olsen, TE Miami
62. Dan Bazuin, DE
93. Garrett Wolfe, RB Northern Illinois
94. Michael Okwo, LB Stanford
130. Josh Beekman, OG Boston College
167. Kevin Payne, S Louisiana-Monroe
168. Corey Graham, CB New Hampshire
221. Trumaine McBride, CB Ole Miss
241. Aaron Brant, OT Iowa State
*Also acquired San Diego 3rd round pick next year
This draft is made by one pick, in my opinion: Greg Olsen. Chicago so desperately needed to add a playmaker to their offense to help Rex Grossman, and getting Olsen at 31 is a steal. The Bears expect to be back in the Super Bowl next season, and there was no single player in this draft outside the top-10 that would help them achieve that more than Olsen. Just a great pick at 31. I'm lukewarm on the Bazuin and Wolfe selections; particularly the latter, which I thought was a three-round reach. It's a feel-good selection, but can you really see Wolfe succeeding in the NFL? I hope he proves me wrong. Really like the Beekman pick in the 4th; with some technique refining, he could start. Overall, the Bears get a nice grade for adding a player that significantly improves their chances at getting back to the Super Bowl next season.
Jacksonville Jaguars - B+
21. Reggie Nelson, S Florida
48. Justin Durant, LB Hampton
79. Mike Walker, WR Central Florida
101. Adam Podlesh, P Maryland
113. Brian Smith, LB MIssouri
149. Uche Nwaneri, OG Purdue
150. Josh Gattis, S Wake Forest
166. Derek Landri, DT Notre Dame
229. John Broussard, WR San Jose State
251. Chad Nkang, S Elon
252. Andrew Carnahan, OT Arizona State
Jacksonville did two things in this draft that I've been calling for them to do for the last few years: Add a playmaker at safety, and add a true speed linebacker. When you've got the two best run-stuffing defensive tackles in the game, it makes no sense why you wouldn't take advantage of the situation by building a speedy defense that can make plays behind them. Reggie Nelson is a perfect fit, plain and simple. He's my pick for "guy that will cause 15 teams next year to ask "why didn't we draft him, again?" Safety is such a position of need across the NFL, and if you've watched Nelson play, you just know this guy is special. I'm not saying he's going to be on Ed Reed's level, but I am saying he's going to be close. Durant was a reach in round 2, but I think it's a worthy reach, as he's the type of player that Jacksonville needs. Even if he only plays part-time in his first season or two, expect Durant to have an impact on this defense. I'm not crazy about the rest of the draft, but the Jags filled their biggest need by adding a big-time playmaker on defense in Nelson, and got a guy with a lot of upside in Durant.
New York Jets - B+
14. Darrelle Revis, CB Pittsburgh
47. David Harris, ILB Michigan
177. Jacob Bender, OT Nicholls State
235. Chansi Stuckey, WR Clemson
This is a great example of a contending team that understands what it needs, and is willing to do whatever it takes to fill those needs. Revis is the only corner in this year's class who could be a "shutdown" guy, and New York made the necessary move up to secure him. Revis fills the team's biggest question mark, and should instantly become the best player in this secondary. Then in round two, the Jets addressed another need by nabbing David Harris, once again trading up to do so. Like Revis, Harris is ready to play and contribute right away, and should help beef up a linebacking corps that Jonathan Vilma has been carrying for the last couple years. People criticize the Jets for spending most of their picks to move up, but I applaud them for getting quality guys who will help them right away while not sacrificing any future draft picks.
Washington Redskins - B
6. LaRon Landry, S LSU
143. Dallas Sartz, LB USC
179. H.B. Blades, LB Pittsburgh
205. Jordan Palmer, QB UTEP
216. Tyler Ecker, TE Michigan
Sure Washington only had one pick in the first four rounds, but they made it count. Landry was arguably the best defensive player in the draft (I prefer Patrick Willis, but I love Landry too), and a very smart pick for a franchise that in recent history hasn't been known for smart picks. I believe Landry has been mis-characterized by the media as a "linebacker playing safety," a la Roy Williams. While his coverage skills aren't perfect and ball skills aren't great, Landry is by no means that type of player. Yes he's a hard-hitter, but his lateral agility and speed are top-notch, meaning he has the potential to be a very strong cover safety. Pairing him with Sean Taylor is downright filthy. While Washington didn't pick again for quite some time, they had one of the best day twos in my opinion, due to the addition of H.B. Blades. I know Blades doesn't test well, but the guy is a football player, and I had him graded as a first day pick. I would not be surprised if he won a starting job at some point in his career as a Redskins. Overall, Washington didn't make many picks, but I believe they made their picks count and did a fine job in this year's draft.
Detroit Lions - B
2. Calvin Johnson, WR Georgia Tech
43. Drew Stanton, QB Michigan State
58. Ikaika Alama-Francis, DE Hawaii
61. Gerald Alexander, S Boise State
105. A.J. Davis, CB NC State
117. Manuel Ramirez, OG Texas Tech
158. Johnny Baldwin, LB Alabama A&M
255. Ramzee Robinson, CB Alabama
I tried to talk myself out of giving this draft a high grade, because I'm not a big fan of what Detroit did after the first round - but you know what? Who cares, they got Calvin Johnson! Kudos to Matt Millen for showing some intenstinal fortitude and enduring the wide receiver jokes to take the best player in this draft. Sure it's not their biggest position of need, but Johnson is a transcendent athlete who will turn Jon Kitna into a potential top-5 fantasy quarterback, and give Detroit fans reason to attend home games. Oh and on the subject of quarterbacks, I can't fault the Drew Stanton selection. They needed to get a young guy, and though I'm not a Stanton fan, his physical potential is very intriguing when you consider the receivers he'll be throwing too. I mean, couldn't you just see this guy being like Jeff George in Minnesota, just lobbing deep balls up and letting his ultra-talented receivers get them? I can, so while I don't think Detroit really helped itself from the third round on, I think they gave themselves a future on Saturday.
Baltimore Ravens - B
29. Ben Grubbs, G auburn
74. Yamon Figurs, WR Kansas State
86. Marshall Yanda, OG Iowa
134. Antwan Barnes, OLB Florida Int.
137. Le'Ron McClain, FB Alabama
174. Troy Smith, QB Ohio State
207. Prescott Burgess, OLB Michigan
Another solid draft from Ozzie Newsome & Co., which is no surprise. It's funny that the biggest splash they made was in the 5th round, but that's what happens when you take the Heisman Trophy winner. At one point this off-season, I had Troy Smith projected to Baltimore in the first; which is both a testament to the kind of fall he's taken this off-season as well as what a great fit he is on the Ravens. He'll have a great mentor in Steve McNair, no pressure to play right away, and as an added bonus, he cannot possibly be worse than Kyle Boller. Of course, he might not even make the team - I mean c'mon, he is a late 5th round pick - but Smith has the physical tools and leadership ability to be an effective NFL quarterback. Whether or not Smith pans out, Baltimore still did a nice job addressing its biggest need: the offensive line. Ben Grubbs should play right away, and Marshall Yanda is a potential starter that the team traded up to snag in round 3. Baltimore also got the fastest player in the draft, Yamon Figurs, which appeals to the Madden video game fan inside of me. He'll help Baltimore stretch the field from time-to-time. While the Ravens didn't get any great value, I like what they did on both days of this year's draft.
Dallas Cowboys - B
26. Anthony Spencer, DE Purdue
67. James Marten, OT Boston College
103. Isaiah Stanback, QB Washington
122. Doug Free, OT Northern Illinois
178. Nick Folk, K Arizona
195. Deon Anderson, FB UConn
212. Courtney Brown, CB Cal Poly
237. Alan Ball, CB Illinois
*Acquired Cleveland's first round pick next year
When grading this draft, you've got to factor in the acquisition of Cleveland's first round pick - a potential top-10 selection - in next year's draft. And you've got to impressed that Dallas not only picked that up, but managed to make a first round selection of their own, and snag an impact player on defense. Spencer, while not a big name, is the type of 'tweener who typically thrives as a 3-4 pass-rusher, and should be a nice compelement to DeMarcus Ware. James Marten addresses a big need in the third round, though he's not ready to play right away. I'm not crazy about Stanback and Free, and while I like kicker Nick Folk, Mason Crosby was still on the board. But still, Jerry Jones was back to his old wheelin' and dealin' self, and got good value for the future while still really helping the team this year with Spencer.
Carolina Panthers - B
25. Jon Beason, ILB Miami
45. Dwayne Jarrett, WR USC
59. Ryan Kalil, C USC
83. Charles Johnson, DE Georgia
118. Ryne Robinson, WR Miami
155. Dante Rosario, TE Oregon
164. Tim Shaw, LB Penn State
226. C.J. Wilson, CB Baylor
Flashy draft for Carolina, but I'm not enamored with it (like a lot of people are, apparently). For all the talk about how the Panthers would've taken Beason at 14 if they couldn't trade down, I still think he was a reach at 25. I see nothing in him that makes me think he'll be more than a solid linebacker in the pros. Don't get me wrong, solid linebackers are fine - but I'd have much rather seen them try to move up and snag Patrick Willis. I haven't liked Dwayne Jarrett all off-season, and I'm a little unclear about why Carolina took him. He's the same player as Keyshawn Johnson, and while Keyshawn is getting old, this is a team that can win now, right? In the second round, they shouldn't be worried about eventually replacing their #2 receiver - they should be adding players that will seriously help them win a Super Bowl in 2008, and I don't think Jarrett will do that. Kalil was a great pick in the third round, and will start right away. I'm not crazy about Charles Johnson, but he's a worthwhile risk in the 3rd, and definitely has the upside. I like what Carolina did on day two as well, getting a speedy tight end like Rosario and a gifted linebacker like Tim Shaw. I also think C.J. Wilson can make this team. Overall, good draft for Carolina, I just don't think it was one of the best. EDIT: The Panthers just released Keyshawn Johnson. Well, maybe now the Dwayne Jarrett pick makes more sense.
Oakland Raiders - B
1. JaMarcus Russell, QB LSU
38. Zach Miller, TE Arizona State
65. Quentin Moses, DE Georgia
91. Mario Henderson, OT Florida State
99. Johnnie Lee Higgins, WR UTEP
100. Michael Bush, RB Louisville
110. John Bowie, CB Cincinnati
138. Jay Richardson, DE Ohio State
165. Eric Frampton, S Washington State
175. Orenthal O'Neal, FB Arkansas State
*Acquired QB Josh McCown and WR Mike Williams for a 4th round pick
This is a typical Raiders draft, in my opinion, and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. By "typical Raiders" I mean that none of these picks are even close to a 'sure thing.' Russell has a monster arm, but it's going to take a while for him to adjust to the pro game - especially with Oakland's shaky supporting cast. Miller had a disastrous off-season and wasn't as productive as you'd like to think in college. Moses was once a first-round prospect, but was virtually invisible last year for Georgia. Henderson was a major reach, in my opinion, and even a day two value selection like Michael Bush has a lot of question marks. But with all that said, the other side of the coin is that Oakland got good value with most of its picks, and got four players (Russell, Miller, Moses, Bush) who could be Pro-Bowlers at some point in their career. While I think passing on Calvin Johnson is going to be a tough pill to swallow, Oakland did what it needed to do in order to give its offense a shot of turning things around sooner rather than later.
New York Giants - B
20. Aaron Ross, CB Texas
51. Steve Smith, WR USC
81. Jay Alford, DT Penn State
116. Zak Deossie, LB Brown
153. Kevin Boss, TE Western Oregon
189. Adam Koets, OT Oregon State
224. Michael Johnson, S Arizona
250. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB Marshall
For the last year I've been using the Giants as my go-to "team that drafts poorly" reference, but I'm going to have to re-think that, because this is a solid effort. Ross has the experience and athleticism to start right away, and though he's not spectacular, he's a welcome addition to the Giants' shaky secondary. I thought Steve Smith was overrated going into the draft, given that people were talking about him as a first rounder - but he makes great sense for the Giants in the second. He's like a young Amani Toomer, which, given Eli Manning's mental breakdown after Toomer went down last season, is probably good to have around. I'm not a fan of the Alford pick, but I do like Boss and Michael Johnson to see some playing time eventually. My only criticism is that the Giants failed to address their offensive line in a meaningful way, which could come back to haunt them during the season. But still, I think the G-Men helped themselves this year, and had a much-needed quality draft.
Cleveland Browns - B-
3. Joe Thomas, OT Wisconsin
22. Brady Quinn, QB Notre Dame
53. Eric Wright, CB UNLV
140. Brandon McDonald, CB Memphies
200. Melila Purcell, DE Hawaii
213. Chase Pittman, DE LSU
234. Syndric Steptoe, WR Arizona
*Traded next year's first round pick to Dallas.
This is a love-it-or-hate-it draft, so obviously it gets an average B- grade from me. Look, the grade you give this draft depends entirely on what you think of Brady Quinn. Joe Thomas was a solid selection at three, and you can't really argue with it. But trading next year's first rounder to move up 14 spots for Quinn was a very steep price to pay, by any measure. Even if Quinn turns out to be a good quarterback, chances are he'll struggle as a rookie, meaning that the pick they traded could very well be in the top 10. If you read my draft blog, you know that I am not a Brady Quinn fan, so naturally I think Cleveland set themselves back with this draft. But I have to respect that I could be wrong about him, and they did get great value picking him up at 22. And perhaps more importantly, the Browns gave the city of Cleveland hope with this draft. I mean, in one day they added a potential franchise left tackle and a potential franchise quarterback, which gives everyone something to be excited about - and I can't fault them for that. It's the same thing with the trade Houston made for Matt Schaub; when your franchise has been down for so long, sometimes it's worth it to make a bold move just to give the fans reason for optimism. For that reason, I'm giving this draft a B- even though I have serious reservations about how it will work out.
San Diego Chargers - B-
30. Craig Davis, WR LSU
37. Eric Weddle, S Utah
96. Anthony Waters, ILB Clemson
129. Scott Chandler, TE Iowa
172. Legedu Naanee, WR Boise State
240. Brandon Siler, LB Florida
*Traded next year's 3rd round pick to Chicago
Like the Jets, the Chargers are an example of a contending team that "gets it." Now, the Bolts didn't get the same kind of value New York did, but they filled needs every bit as effectively. Going into this draft, San Diego had the fewest needs of any team in the NFL, with their short list being: starting wide receiver, starting safety, punt returner, and inside linebacker who can handle some playing time. So what does San Diego do? They fill the needs at wide receiver and punt returner in the first round, fill the need at safety in the second round, and fill the need at inside linebacker in the third. How do you criticize that? Sure, Davis was about a 15 pick reach in the first round. But who else is San Diego going to draft? They don't need another big receiver (Dwayne Jarrett) because they have Vincent Jackson, and they don't need another route-running and hands receiver (Steve Smith) because they have Eric Parker. They needed a guy that can stretch the field and return punts, and the only player in the draft class who fits that role better than Craig Davis is Ted Ginn, who was long gone by pick 30. The ESPN talking heads criticized San Diego for trading three picks to move up for Weddle, but why? It's not like the Chargers were going to fill needs with those picks, and Weddle was the last starter-quality safety available in the draft. He should start from day one for this defense. In the third round, San Diego added Anthony Waters, who missed all of last season with an injury but is the kind of tough, nasty middle linebacker that can step right in for Randall Godfrey on this defense. They also stole Brandon Siler in the 7th, who many people had ranked higher than Waters. So basically, while San Diego made no "value" picks until the 7th round, they addressed all their needs and undoubtedly improved their chances of winning a title. How do you criticize a team for doing that?
Denver Broncos - B-
17. Jarvis Moss, DE Florida
56. Tim Crowder, DE Texas
70. Ryan Harris, OT Notre Dame
121. Marcus Thomas, DT Florida
So much for the Browns' defensive line! Coach Shanny made a big splash this year, using three of his four picks on big name defense linemen. While I've got some reservations about this draft, overall I like it. Denver has desperately needed to get some kind of pass rush from its front four for the last few years, and they will undoubtedly get that from speed-rushers like Moss and Crowder on the outside and Thomas in the middle. However, none of those guys can really play the run, and I question whether any of the three linemen are really fit to be every-down players. Moss probably is, but he's going to have to be more consistent than in college to warrant the mid-first round selection. There's also character issues - minor with Moss and major with Thomas - that keeps me from liking this draft more than I do. Ryan Harris is a Denver-style lineman who was pretty awful last year at Notre Dame, so I can't really get excited about that pick. In the end, I think this draft has the potential to be a huge help for Denver, but it's by no means a slam dunk.
St. Louis Rams - B-
13. Adam Carriker, DE Nebraska
52. Brian Leonard, FB Rutgers
84. Jonathan Wade, CB Tennessee
139. Dustin Fry, C Clemson
154. Cliff Ryan, DT Michigan State
190. Kendrick Shackleford, OT Georgia
248. Keith Jackson, DT Arkansas
249. Derek Stanley, WR Wisconsin Whitewater
Surprisingly solid draft for the Rams, and I'm glad they waited until the 7th round to start taking players from crazy schools (normally they do it in the second or third). Carriker is arguably the most solid prospect in this draft, and while the Rams are probably not going to get double-digit sacks out of him, he'll provide a steady push and be a force against the run. He reminds me so much of a larger version of Justin Smith it's not even funny - and the Bengals had to use the #1 pick on Smith. I like the Brian Leonard selection in round 2, and he'll provide the Rams offense with a unique threat from the fullback position. Expect to see him lined up at fullback, halfback, and tight end in most games this season. Not crazy about the rest of the selections, but the Rams addressed their biggest need by adding a quality player to their defensive line, and they didn't make any major reaches; so for that I believe they had a good draft.
Arizona Cardinals - C+
5. Levi Brown, OT Penn State
33. Alan Branch, DT Michigan
69. Buster Davis, ILB Florida State
142. Steve Breaston, WR Michigan
215. Ben Patrick, TE Delaware
The Cardinals of the last few years have my vote for "team that probably does most of its draft research by reading websites and watching ESPN," due to the fact that they always seem to pick big-name players that fall down the board a bit. I mean, seriously, look at their drafts from the last few seasons. Virtually every player they've drafted is a big-name guy who casual fans recognize. Note that I'm not criticizing this, I just think it's interesting and worth noting. This year was no exception, with Alan Branch (who was a potential top-6 pick a month ago) in round 2, former first-round prospects later Buster Davis and Steve Breaston later on, and even Ben Patrick, a guy Mel Kiper mentioned roughly three dozen times on draft day, in the final round. But to me, this draft is defined by the Levi Brown selection, and I am not a Levi Brown fan. Nothing I've seen from him indicates to me that he has the potential to be any more than an above-average offensive tackle. He's not nearly as athletic as most tackles taken in the first round, and he's not as nasty as people would like to think. He doesn't have long arms, and is going to seriously struggle against speed rushers (which every team in today's NFL has). Look, I know Arizona needed a left tackle, but with a virtual sure-thing like LaRon Landry on the board, I believe the Brown pick is a huge mistake. They could have just as easily selected Landry, then traded back into the first round (like San Francisco did) to nab Joe Staley, who in my opinion is going to be a better player than Brown anyway. I'm sure a guy like Alan Branch will help, but I'm only lukewarm on this draft overall.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - C+
4. Gaines Adams, DE Clemson
35. Arron Sears, OG Tennessee
64. Sabby Piscitelli, S Oregon State
68. Quincy Black, OLB New Mexico
106. Tanard Jackson, CB Syracuse
141. Greg Peterson, DT NC Central
182. Adam Hayward, LB Portland State
214. Chris Denman, OT Fresno State
245. Marcus Hamilton, CB Virginia
246. Kenneth Darby, RB Alabama
I'm grading this draft down a bit more because of what could have been as opposed to who they actually got. Yes Gaines Adams will help this defense and fill a need, but I'd have loved to see them pull off the trade with Detroit and land Calvin Johnson. Adams is a very good prospect, but I hesitate to call him "elite" because I don't think he's in the same class as guys like Mario Williams, and he really has to start giving consistent effort and learn how to play the run to become worthy of the #4 pick. Then in the second round, I've got no problem with the team taking Sears to fill a need at guard (presumably) - but they could have traded a third rounder and moved up to get Ben Grubbs, who I believe is a much better prospect. Speaking of the third round, the team spent that pick on Sabby Piscitelli - who despite his great name is probably not going to be a great player. Safeties have to be able to change direction on the fly, and Piscitelli is too bulky to do that effectively. I like the selections of Quincy Black and Tanard Jackson, but overall I believe the Bucs should have been more aggressive in pursuing trades, rather than waiting for players to fall for them.
Cincinnati Bengals - C+
18. Leon Hall, CB Michigan
49. Kenny Irons, RB Auburn
114. Marvin White, S TCU
151. Jeff Rowe, QB Nevada
187. Matt Toeaina, DT Oregon
230. Dan Santucci, OG Notre Dame
253. Nedu Ndukwe, S Notre Dame
Cincinnati did amazing with its first pick, then completely fizzled out. Leon Hall was the absolute best case scenario for the Bengals going into the draft, and is a guy that will probably start right away for them. Paired with last year's first rounder Jonathan Joseph, Hall could give Cincy solidity at the crucial cornerback position for the next decade. Love that pick. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the rest of this draft. I understand that the Chris Perry injury situation is uncertain, but was running back really a priority in the second round? Why not Tony Hunt or Michael Bush in round 3? Or someone later on? It's not like it's hard to find a backup running back later in the draft, and Irons is nothing special. I don't understand that pick at all, especially for a team with needs on defense who really could have used a big-time pass rusher or linebacker. The rest of the picks are reaches who have little chance of making an impact. Overall, the Hall pick keeps this from being a bad draft, but I believe Cincy could've done a lot better with the rest of their choices.
Indianapolis Colts - C+
32. Anthony Gonzalez, WR Ohio State
42. Tony Ugoh, OG Arkansas
95. Daymeion Hughes, CB Cal
98. Quinn Pitcock, DT Ohio State
131. Brannon Condren, S Troy
136. Clint Session, LB Pittsburgh
169. Roy Hall, WR Ohio State
173. Michael Coe, CB Alabama State
242. Keyunta Dawson, DE Texas Tech
*Traded next year's first round pick to San Francisco to draft Ugoh
I get the impression that Indianapolis went into this draft intending to improve a defense that was bad last year and lost a lot of talent, but couldn't help but take Anthony Gonzalez in the first, then couldn't help but trade next year's #1 for Tony Ugoh in the second. Don't get me wrong, both are good players and both will help, but wouldn't defense had made more sense for a team trying to win another Super Bowl next year? Couldn't they have gotten a slot receiver in the third round? It seems like the Colts did fine last season without Brandon Stokley for most of the year, so it's obviously not a position that's crucial to the team winning. Indy did address the defense later on, taking a couple guys that slipped down the board this off-season in Hughes and Pitcock, but I don't think either has all that much potential. Hughes isn't athletic enough to be a starting corner, in my opinion, and Pitcock isn't big or athletic enough to be an every-down tackle. So while I've got no problem with the players Indy took in rounds 1 and 2, I do have problems with the fact that they didn't address their defense with either pick.
Kansas City Chiefs - C
23. Dwayne Bowe, WR LSU
54. Turk McBride, DT Tennessee
82. Tank Tyler, DT NC State
148. Kolby Smith, RB Louisville
160. Justin Medlock, K UCLA
196. Herbert Taylor, OT TCU
231. Michael Allan, TE Whitworth
The Chiefs do know they're going into this season with Damon Huard at quarterback, right? I know they drafted Brodie Croyle last season, but he's a project at best. To miss out on Brady Quinn by one pick hurts, in my opinion, because he would have given them a future at the quarterback position. That said, I'm still glad to see Kansas City take a receiver, which they've needed to do for a couple of years now. Bowe is a nice player, and while I don't think he'll ever be a superstar, at least he'll help this pass offense a little. But after that, I'm not entirely sure what the Chiefs were doing. Turk McBride is built to be a 3-4 defensive end, so I don't know how exactly Kansas City plans to use him. He doesn't have the size to play tackle in the NFL, in my opinion. Tyler slid down draft boards, and while he's pretty good value in the third, I don't see him making a big impact at the pro level. What about the offensive line, which has been gutted the last couple of off-seasons? You're telling me that the two longshot defensive tackle prospects are going to help more than an offensive lineman in either of those rounds would have? I don't know, it's not that I really dislike Kansas City's draft, I just don't believe they helped themselves enough.
Houston Texans - C
10. Amobi Okoye, DT Louisville
73. Jacoby Jones, WR Lane
123. Fred Bennett, CB South Carolina
144. Brandon Harrison, SS Stanford
163. Brandon Frye, OT Virginia Tech
183. Kasey Studdard, OG Texas
218. Zach Diles, LB Kansas State
First, Houston didn't have a second round pick this year (and won't have one next year) due to the Matt Schaub trade. I like that trade, but unfortunately for Houston, I don't like this draft. Amobi Okoye wasn't a bad pick at 10, but it's a position where there are a lot of busts, and Okoye is going to take a year or two to make an impact. If Mario Williams doesn't pick up the pace in 2007 and Okoye doesn't develop quickly, this is going to be a very expensive and basically unproductive defensive line. I really don't like the rest of these selections, and the only one I see with a chance to become a starter is Harrison - but that would be more due to the Texans having horrible safeties than Harrison's own skills. Most importantly, however, Houston failed to address its offensive line in a meaningful way, which is baffling when you consider what they spent on Schaub. I mean, is Jacoby Jones really going to help this team more than an offensive lineman (any offensive lineman!) would have in the third round? When you put Schaub behind a bad offensive line, and put Okoye and Mario Williams on a defense with a lot of holes....I don't know, I mean you've got a lot of talent there, but isn't there just a huge amount of "complete disaster" potential for Houston next season?
Buffalo Bills - C-
12. Marshawn Lynch, RB California
34. Paul Posluszny, OLB Penn State
92. Trent Edwards, QB Stanford
111. Dwayne Wright, RB Fresno State
184. John Wendling, FS Wyoming
222. Derek Schouman, FB Boise State
239. C.J. Ah You, DE Oklahoma
See, here's what I don't understand. Buffalo trades Willis McGahee for two third rounders and a fourth rounder - then spends the 12th pick in the draft on Marshawn Lynch? Really? Lynch is an average prospect with limited upside who probably can't handle a full load of carries, yet the Bills are sending the message that he's about 10x the back McGahee is, considering the pick they spent on him. I'm not criticizing the McGahee trade (they had to make it), I'm criticizing the selection of a running back with the 12th pick. From everything I've heard, Michael Turner could be had for a 2nd round pick - so why not just trade for him and spend the first round selection on another of the teams' many, many needs? Heck, why not trade the first rounder for Turner, if you're just going to use it on Lynch? Or why not try to move up for Adrian Peterson and at least get a back who's worth a high pick? When you consider the historically low market for running backs right now, this in my opinion is the worst value selection of the entire draft. I know it fills a need, but that need could have been filled A LOT of different, better ways. With all that said, I like the rest of this draft! Posluszny is a great second round choice who will provide much-needed leadership to this defense. Edwards gives the team another option if J.P. Losman doesn't keep improving, and Wright has potential to be a quality back. Wendling is a steal in the 6th and could play his way into a starting role. Overall, I hate the Lynch pick for a variety of reasons, but I think the rest of the draft at least partially makes up for it.
New Orleans Saints - C-
27. Robert Meachem, WR Tennessee
66. Usama Young, CB Kent
88. Andy Alleman, OG Akron
107. Antonio Pittman, RB Ohio State
125. Jermon Bushrod, OT Towson
145. David Jones, CB Wingate
220. Marvin Mitchell, LB Tennessee
When you've got a historically good passing offense and your weakness for every year in recent memory has been a porous defense, what do you spend your first round pick on? A wide receiver, of course! Look, I like Robert Meachem, and I understand that New Orleans has made a couple of acquisitions on defense this off-season. But you're telling me that Meachem is going to improve this team's chances of winning a Super Bowl more than, say, a cornerback, safety, linebacker, or defensive tackle would? New Orleans has needs at every level of their defense! I mean, if they really wanted a complementary receiver, Steve Smith could have been had in round two. I don't get it. Sure they went defense in round 2, but Young is a complete long-shot who won't make an impact for at least one year. And he was the only defensive player they selected until the 5th round! Drew Brees has to be happy with this draft, but he might feel differently when he's once again having to score 30+ points against Chicago because his defense can't stop Rex Grossman.
Miami Dolphins - D+
9. Ted Ginn Jr., WR Ohio State
40. John Beck, QB BYU
60. Samson Satele, C Hawaii
71. Lorenzo Booker, RB Florida State
108. Paul Soliai, DT Utah
181. Reagan Mauia, FB Hawaii
199. Drew Mormino, C Central Michigan
219. Kelvin Smith, LB Syracuse
225. Brandon Fields, P Michigan State
238. Abraham Wright, DE Colorado
If this draft was being graded on entertainment value alone, Miami would receive an A+. After all, they were primarily responsible for Brady Quinn's tumble down the draft board, and they provided that amazing highlight of new coach Cam Cameron getting mercilessly heckled as he announced the Ginn pick. I love how he justified it by saying that he's known Ginn's family for years. Yeah, that's a good reason to draft someone at the 9th pick. Good luck in Miami, Cam! Anyway, since we're not grading on entertainment value, I'm giving Miami what I feel to be a very generous D+. It's not often I get to call a prospect selected in the top-10 a "longshot," but Ginn warrants that description. Not only is he coming off what seems like a pretty serious injury, but he's literally a one-tool player (speed) with very limited skills as a receiver. Yes he makes big plays, and yes he'll be a good punt returner - but at the 9th pick, you want a heck of a lot more than a return-man. This reminds me so much of the Troy Williamson pick a few years ago, and unfortunately for Miami, I see a very similar outcome. I've got no problem with John Beck in the second round, but I think there were better QB's available. Then at pick 60, they miss out on Ryan Kalil by two picks, and settle for Samson Satele. Kalil had a late-first round grade, Satele had a late-second round grade. Kalil is ready to start from day one, Satele is not. So if you're Miami, why in the world would you not sacrifice a fourth rounder and trade up a few spots to secure Kalil?! Booker in the third makes no sense to me either - he wasn't worth a first day pick and the Dolphins have bigger needs. I like Soliai in the fourth, but overall, this draft leaves a lot to be desired. When you have the 9th pick in the draft and two second rounders, and the best you can say is "we got a punt returner and the fourth-best quarterback in the draft!," that doesn't strike me as being a good thing.
Green Bay Packers - D+
16. Justin Harrell, DT Tennessee
63. Brandon Jackson, RB Nebraska
78. James Jones, WR San Jose State
89. Aaron Rouse, SS Virginia Tech
119. Allen Barbre, OT Missouri Southern
157. David Clowney, WR Virginia Tech
191. Korey Hall, LB Boise State
192. Desmond Bishop, LB Cal
193. Mason Crosby, K Colorado
228. Deshawn Wynn, RB Florida
243. Clark Harris, TE Rutgers
Not a fan. Period. I don't know where people get the "Justin Harrell is a safe pick!" mentality, but he's not. Defensive tackle is one of the riskiest positions to draft, and Harrell is coming off an injury. When you're a defensive tackle that's not 320+ pounds, you better be darn good at rushing the passer and give consistent effort, because you can't fall back on being a "run stuffer." I don't see that with Harrell, and in fact if you made me pick one player to be a bust from this year's first round, it would be him. And that's not even mentioning the fact that defensive tackle wasn't one of the Packers' top 5 needs. Inexplicable selection in my opinion. I like Brandon Jackson in round 2, but Green Bay almost certainly could have had Michael Turner if they had traded that pick instead. Is Jackson going to be their every-down back from day one? Who knows. They waited until the third round to get Brett Favre help in the passing game, and even then it's questionable whether the receivers they got will make an impact. Green Bay spent quite a few picks on wide-outs in last year's draft, and to me, Jones and Clowney are just two more faces in a receiving corps that's already crowded with average players. Why not add a real quality pass catcher like Robert Meachem in the first, or a red zone threat like Dwayne Jarrett in the second? Mason Crosby is a nice addition, but it's too little too late for a team that had a chance to get a lot better on Saturday, but in my opinion only improved marginally.
Pittsburgh Steelers - D
15. Lawrence Timmons, OLB Florida State
46. LaMarr Woodley, DE Michigan
77. Matt Spaeth, TE Minnesota
112. Daniel Sepulveda, P Baylor
132. Ryan McBean, DT Oklahoma State
156. Cameron Stephenson, OG Rutgers
170. William Gay, CB Louisville
227. Dallas Baker, WR Florida
I know what Pittsburgh was trying to do here, but I just don't like the players they selected. Since the Combine, I've been questioning why exactly Timmons is considered a first round pick, and for him to go in the top-15 is a monster reach in my opinion. He had one good (good, not great) year at Florida State, where he was one of the leaders on an underachieving defense. His draft stock was high entering the off-season because of his athletic ability, but he couldn't break 4.60 in the 40 and looked sluggish in other drills. Now the Steelers are spending the 15th pick in the draft on him and expecting him to be the next Joey Porter? Please. He doesn't have the power, size, or explosiveness to play effectively outside in a 3-4, either. When you consider that the team's second rounder LaMarr Woodley is a pure pass rusher at defensive end who also doesn't project to a 3-4 outside linebacker, you've got to figure Pittsburgh's going to be running a 4-3 in 2007. But Woodley is going to have trouble transitioning to the pro level, and he reminds me of Elvis Dumervil last year if he had played for a Big-10 school. I see Woodley as a similar player: a situational pass rusher who can get you 7 or 8 sacks a season, but who doesn't have the size or desire to stand up against the run. Guys like that are not hard to find, and there were players available in round two who would have helped the team more. Ironically, my favorite selection the Steelers made was punter Daniel Sepulveda, who should really help their special teams. But the main issue here is that it looks like Pittsburgh is planning to re-invent its defense; and if it's planning to do so around Timmons and Woodley, then I question this team's future.
Seattle Seahawks - D
55. Josh Wilson, CB Maryland
85. Brandon Mebane, DT California
120. Baraka Atkins, DE Miami
124. Mansfield Wrotto, OG Georgia Tech
161. Will Herring, LB Auburn
197. Courtney Taylor, WR Auburn
210. Jordan Kent, WR Oregon
232. Steve Vallos, OT Wake Forest
*First round pick belonged to the Patriots due to the Deion Branch trade
*Acquired a fourth-rounder for WR Darrell Jackson.
Right. For the second year in a row, I'm not entirely sure what Seattle was going for with their draft. They didn't get good value, and they addressed "need" positions with players who aren't ready to contribute right away. Let's start with the trades they've made, though. Last season, they traded this year's first-round pick for Deion Branch. On draft day, they traded Darrell Jackson to a division-rival for a fourth round pick? There's a three-round difference between Deion Branch and Darrell Jackson? Really? I know Jackson was oft-injured, but he was a very effective receiver when healthy, which you can't really say about Deion Branch based on his first season in Seattle. Highly questionable pair of moves, in my opinion. As for their actual draft picks, Seattle reached hard for Josh Wilson, who is two years away from being able to make an impact, in my opinion. Brandon Mebane is a decent pick in the third, but I doubt he'll be anything more than a backup. Seattle still hasn't addressed the hole at offensive guard left by Steve Hutchinson, and I doubt Mansfield Wrotto is going to be the answer. I just haven't agreed with the Seahawks' draft strategy the last couple seasons, and I think their division supremacy is in serious jeopardy in 2007.
Tennessee Titans - D-
19. Michael Griffin, S Texas
50. Chris Henry, RB Arizona
80. Paul Williams, WR Fresno State
115. Leroy Harris, C NC State
128. Chris Davis, Florida State
152. Antonio Johnson, DT Mississippi State
188. Joel Filani, WR Texas Tech
204. Jacob Ford, DE Central Arkansas
206. Ryan Smith, CB Florida
223. Mike Otto, OT Purdue
So, you're the Titans. You've got the future face of the NFL at quarterback; a player that singlehandedly won you 8 games last season. Your receiving corps is a complete disaster, and you've lost your two of your top guys already this off-season. You also traded your starting running back, and your offensive line is suspect at best. So naturally, you take a safety with the 19th pick. What? Did I miss something? This team does realize that it has Vince Young and absolutely nothing else on offense, right? Robert Meachem was sitting right there! Safety is about 7th on this team's list of needs. Inexplicable pick. And I even like Griffin, but he was a reach at 19 and Tennessee needed to go offense with that pick. I don't understand this philosophy that teams like Packers and Titans have where they think they can consistently find quality receivers in the middle rounds. Yes Tennessee spent third, fourth, and sixth round picks on receivers - but are any of those guys any good? I doubt it. This is a team with a desperate need at receiver, yet they're going to be relying on long-shots to be Vince Young's primary targets. I like Chris Henry in the second round, but he has big time bust-potential, and is by no means a sure thing. I just don't understand how a team with a special player like Vince Young could not do everything they can to help him succeed.
Philadelphia Eagles - F
36. Kevin Kolb, QB Houston
57. Victor Abiamiri, DE Notre Dame
87. Stewart Bradley, OLB Nebraska
90. Tony Hunt, RB Penn State
159. CJ Gaddis, CB Clemson
162. Brent Celek, TE Cincinnati
201. Rashad Bardksdale, CB Albany
236. Nate Ilaoa, RB Hawaii
I've given the Redskins an "F" in each of the last two drafts, but I must apologize to their fans, because Philadelphia's 2007 draft redefines what an "F" is. This is, in my opinion, the worst draft any team has had in the last five years. Now granted, I've loved Philly's drafts the last two seasons and they haven't really panned out on the field, so maybe I'm just off with this team. But my goodness. I don't even know where to begin. Let's start with the fact that Philadelphia inexplicably traded down with division rival Dallas, allowing the Cowboys to get the only remaining player on the board would could immediately help them, OLB Anthony Spencer. Why in the world would Philly help one of their chief competitors like that? Then to compound the problem, Philly used the pick they traded down to in order to draft...a quarterback? Really? And not just any quarterback, but the sixth-best one in the class! Unbelievable. This is a team that is built to win a championship now - with guys like Brian Dawkins and Jeremiah Trotter leading the defense, their window of opportunity is closing fast. Yes Donovan McNabb has injury problems, but that's why the team signed Kelly Holcomb and A.J. Feeley this off-season. Besides, if McNabb does indeed get hurt once again, then this team isn't going to win a title anyway regardless of who the backup is; so why not spend the pick on someone who could actually help the team win as opposed to yet another "insurance policy"? Or better yet, why not throw a big contract at Jeff Garcia, who is better at handling this offense than Kolb ever will be? Drafting Kolb was not only a reach, but it undermines the team's confidence in its backups and in Donovan McNabb. Despite what Andy Reid says, a team does not spend its first draft pick on a quarterback if it is comfortable with its current one. Period. The rest of Philly's draft was uneventful, and both Abiamiri and Bradley will just be 'faces in the crowd' on a front-seven that's already overcrowded with average players. Hunt is the only player in this draft who could actually help right away, and that will just be as a situational short-yardage back. Overall, I am utterly baffled by Philadelphia's draft, and I think they've done more harm than good by using their first pick on Kolb. A well-deserved "F", indeed. |
