Monday, April 27, 2009

2009 NFL DRAFT GRADES

1. Cincinnati Bengals/DRAFT GRADE A+
Rd 1, Pick 6 (6) Smith, Andre OT
Rd 2
, Pick 6 (38) Maualuga, Rey ILB
Rd 3
, Pick 6 (70) Johnson, Michael DE
Rd 3
, Pick 34 (98) Coffman, Chase TE
Rd 4
, Pick 6 (106) Luigs, Jonathan C
Rd 5
, Pick 6 (142) Huber, Kevin P
Rd 6
, Pick 6 (179) Trent, Morgan CB
Rd 6
, Pick 36 (209) Scott, Bernard RB
Rd 7
, Pick 6 (215) Vakapuna, Fui RB
Rd 7
, Pick 40 (249) McDonald, Clinton DE
Rd 7
, Pick 43 (252) Brown, Freddie WR

OK, I have been hard on Coach Marvin Lewis over the last few years, and rightly so by the results they have had, but it looks like they may have done a lot better this time around. I was not in love with their pick of T Andre Smith at no. 6, but he does have potential and could be a very good tackle if he can lose his poor attitude and become someone who will go all out on every play, and they did need a tackle who can start right away. Rookie LB Rey Maualuga has a motor that doesn't stop and along with the improving Brandon Johnson and Rashad Jeanty, and veteran Dhani Jones, he should sure up their LB corps and should immediately make them a better defense. DE Michael Johnson also will help them improve and has enough talent to come in and start right away as well and give them someone who can really put some pressure on the opposing QB. 6th round pick Morgan Trent could also be good enough to help out right away in the dime package if he can beat out veteran CB Jamar Fletcher. 7th Round pick DE Clinton McDonald can also play DT and could make the team and supply depth along the line because of that versatility. TE Chase Coffman is another draft pick that has the chance to come in and possibly start, as they have needed a productive TE for a long time now, and Coffman has the chance to be the most productive TE on the roster. C Jonathon Luigs also gives them another rookie who could be a solid starter, and should beat out Kyle Cook and could be a solid starter for the offense for years to come. RB Bernard Scott could be a good backup for starter Cedric Benson and should still be a good 3rd RB to have if Kenny Watson can regain his role as the 2nd RB option. FB Fui Vakapuna is another draft pick who has the potential to be a starter this year, and P Kevin Huber, although possibly drafted a bit too high, made both Kyle Larson and Ryan Plackmeier expendable, and the Bengals released both already. WR Freddie Brown will likely have a tough time making the roster, but with a solid draft that could possibly see 7(including P Kevin Huber) draft picks as potential starters, I think you would have to say this could be one of the best drafts the Bengals have had in a long time.

2. Detroit Lions/DRAFT GRADE A
Rd 1, Pick 1 (1) Stafford, Matthew QB
Rd 1, Pick 20 (20) Pettigrew, Brandon TE
Rd 2, Pick 1 (33) Delmas, Louis CB
Rd 3, Pick 12 (76) Levy, DeAndre OLB
Rd 3, Pick 18 (82) Williams, Derrick WR
Rd 4, Pick 15 (115) Hill, Sammie Lee DT
Rd 6, Pick 19 (192) Brown, Aaron RB
Rd 7, Pick 19 (228) Murtha, Lydon OT
Rd 7, Pick 26 (235) Follett, Zack OLB
Rd 7, Pick 46 (255) Gronkowski, Dan TE

I still think the Lions would have been better served taking T Jason Smith with the no.1 pick, because let's face it, I don't care who your QB is, you still need to protect him. However, QB Matt Stafford will challenge Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton for the starting job, and has Pro Bowl potential. TE Brandon Pettigrew was an excellent pick to follow up with and should step in as the starter immediatley and provide help for whoever is behind center. S/CB Louis Delmas could challenge Kalvin Pearson for a starting safety role and should at least provide help in the nickel and dime packages. DeAndre Levy may have been a bit over-rated and could have to fight it out for a roster spot, but 7th round pick LB Zach Follett could be good enough to eventually find his way into the starting lineup. WR Derrick Williams could find himself helping out in the 3rd WR spot, while DT Sammie Lee Hill will likely be relegated to a backup role, but will provide more depth than what they had coming into the draft. RB Aaron Brown will likely have to beat out Aveion Cason as a kick returner in order to make the roster. T Lydon Murtha should provide backup help and if he can show enough improvement may even get some consideration as a starter as well. TE Dan Gronkowski should fit in nicely in a 3rd TE role. The Lions got some excellent talent this season, and maybe this is the start of the turnaround they have been looking for for a long time now.

3. Tennessee Titans/DRAFT GRADE A
Rd 1, Pick 30 (30) Britt, Kenny WR
Rd 2, Pick 30 (62) Marks, Sen'Derrick DT
Rd 3, Pick 25 (89) Cook, Jared TE
Rd 3, Pick 30 (94) Mouton, Ryan CB
Rd 4, Pick 30 (130) McRath, Gerald LB
Rd 4, Pick 35 (135) Kropog, Troy OT
Rd 5, Pick 37 (173) Ringer, Javon RB
Rd 6, Pick 30 (203) McCourty, Jason CB
Rd 6, Pick 33 (206) Edison, Dominique WR
Rd 7, Pick 30 (239) Durand, Ryan OG
Rd 7, Pick 33 (242) Schommer, Nick FS

Ok, again I'm not in love with the Titans 7th round picks, but what they did before that looks pretty impressive. I would have given them an A+ had they drafted a QB somewhere, as Kerry Collins is getting older and Vince Young is still a question mark, but overall they covered their needs pretty well and we should see some of this talent on the field this season making an impact for the Titans. WR Kenny Britt has the potential to be their no. 1 WR, and should make both Justin Gage and ex-Steeler Nate Washington more effective as well. They needed to replace the departed Albert Haynesworth(Redskins) at DT, and with Sen'Derrick Marks in the second round may not have found another Haynesworth, but Marks should be able to come in and contribute right away in a DT rotation and help them up the middle. Jared Cook is one of the top TE's in the draft, and now gives them another TE option along with Alge Crumpler and Bo Scaife who can make some plays. Cook could challenge for a starting job, but all 3 could be productive in this offense. CB Ryan Mouton was under-rated by many coming into the draft and could turn out to be an excellent nickel back throughout this season for the Titans. LB Gerald McRath has potential and should be their top backup at LB this season, and could play a lot if they line up in a 3-4 defense. T Troy Kropog should also be their top backup at tackle and gives them more depth on the O-line. RB Javon Ringer may not see the field a lot with RB's Chris Johnson and Lendale White already in place, but again adds depth and should be effective if called upon in a backup role. CB Jason McCourty also is a speedster with potential, and will challenge ex-Texan Demarcus Faggins for playing time as a possible dime back. With WR Justin McCareins still not signed yet, Dominique Edison could be productive as a 4th WR, and even if McCareins comes back should be no worse than receiver no. 5. While not a favorite of mine, 7th round pick Ryan Durand could make the team as a backup as well as they need some depth at G, but S Nick Schommer will likely have trouble making the final roster. Overall, however, this draft added a lot of missing pieces to the Titans roster, and should help them challenge the Colts once again for the division title.

4. Carolina Panthers/DRAFT GRADE A
Rd 2, Pick 11 (43) Brown, Everette DE
Rd 2, Pick 27 (59) Martin, Sherrod S
Rd 3, Pick 29 (93) Irvin, Corvey DL
Rd 4, Pick 11 (111) Goodson, Mike RB
Rd 4, Pick 28 (128) Fiammetta, Tony FB
Rd 5, Pick 27 (163) Robinson, Duke OT
Rd 7, Pick 7 (216) Munnerlyn, Captain CB

OK, the Panthers didn't have a first round pick, but we can see by other teams that doesn't mean you can't have a very good draft. Much like the Cardinals, I have to wonder why they didn't try to get a TE who could help the offense and Jake Delhomme though. DE Everette Brown should be a good DE and could challenge Tyler Brayton for a starting job, and should see a lot of playing time this season even if he comes in off the bench. S/CB Sherrod Martin may be a bit over-rated but could have enough talent to take over a starting safety spot. DT Corvey Irvin may also get a chance to start if he can beat out Ma'ake Kemoeatu, but should also see time in a roation if he doesn't. Mike Goodson should be a good 3rd back behind Williams and Stewart and gives them nice depth at the RB position. FB Tony Fiammetta could also step in and help as the starting FB over Brad Hoover. T/G Duke Robinson is also a nice talent and could challenge Keydrick Vincent or Travelle Wharton for a starting G spot. CB Captain Munnerlyn should see time as a nickel back and should improve them there as well. Overall, getting 5 possible starters in 7 picks is pretty impressive, and with the other 2 picks providing nice depth at their positions, this could turn out to be an excellent draft for the Panthers.

5. Green Bay Packers/DRAFT GRADE A
Rd 1, Pick 9 (9) Raji, B.J. DT
Rd 1, Pick 26 (26) Matthews, Clay OLB
Rd 4, Pick 9 (109) Lang, T.J. OT
Rd 5, Pick 9 (145) Johnson, Quinn FB
Rd 5, Pick 26 (162) Meredith, Jamon OT
Rd 6, Pick 9 (182) Wynn, Jarius DE
Rd 6, Pick 14 (187) Underwood, Brandon CB
Rd 7, Pick 9 (218) Jones, Brad OLB

DT B.J.Raji should come in and be a force in the middle of the defense as a starter from day one. LB Clay Matthews will also likely start and gives them a nice LBing trio as long as Nick Barnett can make it back from injury. T/G T.J.Lang may be a little over-rated and could be relegated to backup duty for a while until he can get some experience. FB Quinn Johnson may also be able to beat out Kory Hall for the starting FB spot, and is an excellent blocking back. T Jamon Meredith has the potential to challenge Tony Moll for a starting tackle job. DE Jarius Wynn may also be under-rated but may need some time to develop and likely will only serve as a backup DE for now. I really liked CB/S Brandon Underwood, but do to their depth already, he likely will only make the team as a 5th CB. LB Brad Jones should also supply depth at LB and could challenge Desmond Bishop for the 5th LB spot on the depth chart. All in all not too bad for the Packers, but with a TE instead of a CB they really could have had a stellar draft.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers/DRAFT GRADE A
Rd 1, Pick 32 (32) Hood, Evander DT
Rd 3, Pick 15 (79) Urbik, Kraig OT
Rd 3, Pick 20 (84) Wallace, Mike WR
Rd 3, Pick 32 (96) Lewis, Keenan CB
Rd 5, Pick 32 (168) Burnett, Joe CB
Rd 5, Pick 33 (169) Summers, Frank RB
Rd 6, Pick 32 (205) Harris, Ra'Shon DT
Rd 7, Pick 17 (226) Shipley, A.Q. C
Rd 7, Pick 32 (241) Johnson, David TE

I know they won the Super Bowl with who they had, but it still amazes that they only drafted one G/T the way Roethlisberger was running for his life last season. Other than that, the Steelers did draft some nice talent. DT Evander "Ziggy" Hood has the potential to possibly be even better than incumbent Casey Hampton. T/G Kraig Urbik will likely also find a starting job this season and help improve an offensive line that needs some help. WR Mike Wallace may be one of the more under-rated players in the draft this year and has a great chance to become the Steelers 3rd WR. CB Keenan Lewis will add some depth to their DB's and could see some time in the nickel and/or dime packages. Joe Burnett also has some potential but will have to beat out both Fernando Bryant and William Gay to even make the final roster. This choice of taking a CB here instead of an offensive lineman I felt really is what cost them an A+ draft grade. FB Frank Summers could challenge Carey Davis for the starting FB. DT Ra'Shon Harris was a good pick in the 6th round and should see playing time behind Hampton and Hood at DT. C A.Q.Shipley has enough potential to challenge Jeff Hartwig for the starting center job,and may move Hartwig over to G. TE D.J.Johnson can also play FB and should be able to add depth as a 3rd TE. The Steelers draft was a pretty good one this year, as usual, and you will likely see many of these players with this team for a while.

7. Seattle Seahawks/DRAFT GRADE B
Rd 1, Pick 4 (4) Curry, Aaron OLB
Rd 2,
Pick 17 (49) Unger, Max OT
Rd 3, Pick 27 (91) Butler, Deon WR
Rd 6
, Pick 5 (178) Teel, Mike QB
Rd 7
, Pick 36 (245) Greene, Courtney SS
Rd 7
, Pick 38 (247) Reed, Nick DE
Rd 7
, Pick 39 (248) Morrah, Cameron TE

Not only did the Seahawks nab what could have been the most talented player in the draft in LB Aaron Curry, but they also added value with their other picks as well. If they can resign LB Leroy Hill, he along with Aaron Curry and LB Lofa Tatupu could give them one of the best LBing corps in the league. 2nd round pick Max Unger may be good enough to start at either T or C, and has the potential to be a starter in the league for a long time. Their 3rd round pick probably could have been used better by getting another RB or DT, and WR Deon Butler will have to beat out Billy McMullen,Courtney Taylor, Michael Bumpus, and Logan Payne for the 4th WR role. QB Mike Teel from Rutgers is an ever improving prospect and could prove to be an excellent pick in the future as he will have time to get better sitting and learning behind Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace. They grabbed another Rutgers prospect in S Courtney Greene in the 7th round, who should provide excellent depth at safety and probably should have been drafted a round or two earlier. DE Nick Reed will likely also play LB and could be a valuable addition adding depth to both positions and may even see some playing time as he develops, and could turn out to be a 7th round steal. TE Cameron Morrah could also turn out to be another 7th round gem, and should see time as the 2nd TE and be productive in that role. Overall, there seems to be a lot of potential here for a team that needs to get back on track after possibly their worst season ever. There grade would have been higher had they addressed some issues at RB and DT, but overall this draft was a good one for the Seahawks.

8. Saint Louis Rams/DRAFT GRADE B
Rd 1, Pick 2 (2) Smith, Jason OT
Rd 2
, Pick 3 (35) Laurinaitis, James ILB
Rd 3
, Pick 2 (66) Fletcher, Bradley DB
Rd 4, Pick 3 (103) Scott, Dorell DT
Rd 5
, Pick 24 (160) Foster, Brooks WR
Rd 6, Pick 23 (196) Null, Keith QB
Rd 7
, Pick 2 (211) Ogbonnaya, Chris RB

First, let's start with why they didn't get an A for this draft. In my opinion there were better choices for drafting a QB in the 6th round than Kevin Null. They could prove me wrong, but I didn't like this pick at all. RB Chris Ogbonnaya could challenge Antonio Pittman for the backup role to RB Steven Jackson, but I really feel that they should have drafted a G, as they could use some help in that area. That being said, their first 5 picks were pretty darn good. Jason Smith looks to be the best offensive lineman in this draft, and may be able to pick up for the departed perennial Pro-Bowler Orlando Pace. MLB James Laurinaitis could be just what they needed between LB's Will Witherspoon and Pisa Tinoisamoa on the outside. CB Bradley Fletcher has the potential to also come in and start across from under-rated Ronald Bartell, and DT Dorell Scott could see playing time in a rotation at DT even if he doesn't claim a starting role himself. These 3 should improve a defense that has been horrendous of late, and should at least have them showing some improvement in 2009. WR Brooks Foster has the potential to challenge for the 3rd WR role, and should see time as the 4th WR at worse once the season begins. Overall, the Rams did an excellent job filling their holes in this draft, but with a couple of wiser late round picks they could have done a little better.

9. Dallas Cowboys/DRAFT GRADE B
Rd 3, Pick 5 (69) Williams, Jason OLB
Rd 3
, Pick 11 (75) Brewster, Robert OT
Rd 4
, Pick 1 (101) McGee, Stephen QB
Rd 4
, Pick 10 (110) Butler, Victor DE
Rd 4
, Pick 20 (120) Williams, Brandon DE
Rd 5
, Pick 7 (143) Smith, DeAngelo CB
Rd 5
, Pick 30 (166) Hamlin, Michael FS
Rd 5
, Pick 36 (172) Buehler, David K
Rd 6
, Pick 24 (197) Hodge, Stephen SS
Rd 6
, Pick 35 (208) Phillips, John TE
Rd 7
, Pick 18 (227) Mickens, Mike CB
Rd 7
, Pick 20 (229) Johnson, Manuel WR

With no picks until the 3rd round, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys showed once again why they will always be a threat in the best division in football. With the LB position already being loaded, they now have another pass rushing LB in rookie Jason Williams and someone who will become even more valuable when LB Greg Ellis is ready to call it quits. T Robert Brewster is the only pick that dropped their grade to a B, as I really think they could have used someone who would be ready to possibly start at T, and I don't think Brewster has that kind of potential right now. However, QB Stephen McGee has potential to become better as he sits and learns behind Romo and Jon Kitna, much like Romo when he came into the league. DE Victor Butler could challenge Igor Olshanky and Marcus Spears for a starting job and could also see some time at LB. DE Brandon Williams was a good pick for most teams, but may have trouble finding a roster spot here in Dallas, which is another reason they dropped in their draft grade. However, D'Angelo Smith can play CB and S and should help in the nickel or at least dime package this season,and safeties Michael Hamlin and Stephen Hodge both may be good enough to have Pat Watkins looking for a new team by opening day. K David Buehler seemed like a wasted pick in round 5 though, since they already have K Nick Folk. However, they finished up with a bang getting TE John Phillips, who will add excellent depth as a 3rd TE, and CB Mike Mickens,who could make it hard on Alan Ball to retain his roster spot. WR Manuel Johnson also has the potential to be a reliable 4th WR, and with him being their final pick the Cowboys again have shown teams you don't need to have a 1st round pick to make your team better.

10. Chicago Bears/DRAFT GRADE B
Rd 3, Pick 4 (68) Gilbert, Jarron DE
Rd 3
, Pick 35 (99) Iglesias, Juaquin WR
Rd 4
, Pick 5 (105) Melton, Henry DE
Rd 4
, Pick 19 (119) Moore, D.J. CB
Rd 5
, Pick 4 (140) Knox, Johnny WR
Rd 5
, Pick 18 (154) Freeman, Marcus LB
Rd 6
, Pick 17 (190) Afalava, Al FS
Rd 7
, Pick 37 (246) Louis, Lance OG
Rd 7, Pick 42 (251) Kinder, Derek WR

Yet another team without a first or second round pick that did quite well with the picks they had. If not for their final 2 picks, they likely would have gotten an A as well. DE Jarron Gilbert will likely play DT and will give them another talent to play alongside Tim Harris to toughen up their defense in the middle. WR Juaquin Iglesias has the potential to become their top WR, and should make Devin Hester even more dangerous on the other side. DE Henry Melton may have been a bit of a reach as a 4th rounder, but still should have the talent to be a good backup and has the potential to play some in a DE rotation. CB D.J.Moore could be good enough to become an excellent dime back, and may even become a pretty good nickel back with some experience. WR Johnny Knox could have enough talent to challenge Earl Bennett for the 4th WR role and should make the team as no worse than WR no.5. LB Marcus Freeman should provide valuable help at LB and could challenge Hunter Hillenmeyer for his starting role. S Al Afalava could have come into the draft as over-rated, but should challenge Craig Steltz and Glenn Earl for a backup safety spot. Although Lance Louis could have a shot to make the team as a backup, it is only because the Bears are thin at G,and WR Derek Kinder, their other 7th round pick, will likely have trouble making the roster. However, with 7 picks possibly making the roster, and especially by nabbing Iglesias who could be a valuable starter at a position where they sorely need more production, the Bears deserve a lot of credit for what they accomplished with this draft.

11. San Diego Chargers/DRAFT GRADE B
Rd 1, Pick 16 (16) English, Larry DE
Rd 3, Pick 14 (78) Vasquez, Louis OG
Rd 4, Pick 13 (113) Martin, Vaughn DT
Rd 4, Pick 33 (133) Green, Tyronne OG
Rd 4, Pick 34 (134) Johnson, Gartrell RB
Rd 5, Pick 12 (148) Hughes, Brandon CB
Rd 6, Pick 16 (189) Ellison, Kevin S
Rd 7, Pick 15 (224) Byrd, Demetrius WR

Good draft for San Diego, I just think they could have done better than Brandon Hughes at no. 148, or I may have graded them higher. DE/LB Larry English should come in and start right away and will be another pass rusher to worry about and could make Shawne Merriman even more effective if he comes back healthy. G Louis Vasquez also has the potential to come in and start and Tyronne Green will give them depth at a position that looked weak coming into this draft. DT Vaughn Martin may take some time to develop, but also has the potential to take away time from Ryon Bingham backing up NT Jamal Williams. RB Gartrell Johnson could be a valuable short yardage back and adds depth behind Tomlinson and Sproles. Brandon Hughes I thought was a reach, and may have trouble making the final roster. S Kevin Ellison can also play LB, and will provide depth as a hitter in the secondary, but will likely have to beat out Paul Oliver for a roster spot. WR Demetrius Byrd is recuperating from a car accident, but should be ready for camp and could end up being a solid 3rd WR this season. Their is a lot of talent here for the Chargers, and it could help them again become a force in the AFC West.

12. Atlanta Falcons/DRAFT GRADE B
Rd 1, Pick 24 (24) Jerry, Peria DT
Rd 2, Pick 23 (55) Moore, William S
Rd 3, Pick 26 (90) Owens, Christopher CB
Rd 4, Pick 25 (125) Sidbury Jr., Lawrence DE
Rd 5, Pick 2 (138) Middleton, William CB
Rd 5, Pick 20 (156) Reynolds, Garrett OT
Rd 6, Pick 3 (176) Adkins, Spencer LB
Rd 7, Pick 1 (210) Walker, Vance DT

I would have liked to have seen them get a G who could have challenged Harvey Dahl for a starting spot,but overall they did pretty well. 1st round pick DT Peria Jerry should come in and be their best DT and should at least help improve their defense up the middle. S William Moore also has the potential to start and was a nice 2nd round pick. CB Christopher Owens could also challenge Von Hutchins and Chevis Jackson for a starting CB position, and DE Lawrence Sidbury should also see his share of playing time this year and could beat out Chauncey Davis as a starting DE. It really looked like at least an A draft grade for the Falcons up until this point. CB William Middleton will likely have to fight for a roster spot with David Irons,Glenn Sharpe, and Marcus Paschal. T Garrett Reynolds may end up challenging for a starting tackle job, but there were other tackles on the board at this point that may have had more potential. LB Spencer Adkins is another pick that will likely be fighting for a roster spot and even if he does make the cut, I wouldn't expect him to see alot of playing time. DT Vance Walker could be the best of the late round picks, and could also have the potential to start alongside Peria Jerry, or at worst find playing time in a DT rotation. While these picks do have some value for the Falcons, the fact that they didn't get a top guard and made some shaky late round choices drops their grade.

13. Buffalo Bills/DRAFT GRADE B
Rd 1, Pick 11 (11) Maybin, Aaron DE
Rd 1, Pick 28 (28) Wood, Eric C
Rd 2, Pick 10 (42) Byrd, Jairus CB
Rd 2, Pick 19 (51) Levitre, Andy OL
Rd 4, Pick 21 (121) Nelson, Shawn TE
Rd 5, Pick 11 (147) Harris, Nic S
Rd 6, Pick 10 (183) Harris, Cary CB
Rd 7, Pick 11 (220) Lankster, Ellis DB

It appears the Bills landed some talent in this draft, but I think they got a little carried away by drafting 3 CB's when what they really needed was another safety.DE Aaron Maybin will likely start at OLB and should improve them at that position. C Eric Wood actually has the versatility to play anywhere on the offensive line and could possibly move to tackle to try and replace the departed Jason Peters(Eagles). CB Jairus Byrd could challenge 2nd year CB Leodis McKelvin for a starting CB spot, and at worst should help in the nickel package. Andy Levitre could be the best G to come out of this draft and will likely also get a chance to start right away. TE Shawn Nelson also should be able to take hold of the starting TE position. S/LB Nic Harris will likely not see much playing time but should be a reliable backup at both positions. CB's Cary Harris and Ellis Lankster both have a chance to become an asset in the dime package, but with Ashton Youboty,Drayton Florence, and 2nd year man Reggie Corner already on the roster, you have to wonder how they didn't get some more help at LB or at least another TE. The Bills first 5 picks were excellent, but you have to wonder what happened with the last three. Not that there isn't talent there, but just how do they fit in?

14. Arizona Cardinals/DRAFT GRADE B
Rd 1, Pick 31 (31) Wells, Chris RB
Rd 2, Pick 31 (63) Brown, Cody DE
Rd 3, Pick 31 (95) Johnson, Rashad S
Rd 4, Pick 31 (131) Toler, Greg CB
Rd 5, Pick 31 (167) Johnson, Herman OT
Rd 6, Pick 31 (204) Davis, Will DE
Rd 7, Pick 31 (240) Stephens-Howling, LaRod RB
Rd 7, Pick 45 (254) Canfield, Trevor OG

Again with the Cardinals, I would have to say talent wise they made out pretty well. I just don't see how they could have avoided drafting any TE's or DT's when,in my opinion, that is where they need the most help. I am sure they were ecstatic that RB Chris "Beanie" Wells was still available when their turn came, and he should go on to be their feature back this season. DE/LB Cody Brown will also likely come in and start at an OLB position and should be of some help to their defense. S Rashad Johnson has alot of potential but I think may be a bit over-rated at this point, but should supply some good depth at the safety position. The choice of CB Greg Toler was one that brought their draft grade down though, as I thought there were CB's with more potential still available with this pick, and there were surely TE's and DT's that were rated higher as well. T/G Herman Johnson is a monster of a man, and should help provide depth on the O-line, and could even challenge T Mike Gandy or G Deuce Lutui for a starting job if he can show he can dominate in the NFL. DE Will Davis was another curious pick,as I thought there were other DE's still on the board who could have offered more in the long run, but should make the team as a backup. A casualty of roster cuts will likely be RB LaRod Stephens-Howling, as I don't see him beating out Jason Wright for the final RB slot. Trevor Canfield, however, was an excellent pick in round 7, and could eventually challenge for a starting job and be a valuable backup in case of injury. As I said, not a bad draft talent-wise, but due to some curious picks and the fact they totally ignored their need for a more productive TE and DT, I think they could have gotten more value out of their picks.

15. Denver Broncos/DRAFT GRADE B
Rd 1, Pick 12 (12) Moreno, Knowshon RB
Rd 1, Pick 18 (18) Ayers, Robert LB
Rd 2, Pick 5 (37) Smith, Alphonso CB
Rd 2, Pick 16 (48) McBath, Darcel CB
Rd 2, Pick 32 (64) Quinn, Richard TE
Rd 4, Pick 14 (114) Bruton, David FS
Rd 4, Pick 32 (132) Olsen, Seth OG
Rd 5, Pick 5 (141) McKinley, Kenny WR
Rd 6, Pick 1 (174) Brandstater, Tom QB
Rd 7, Pick 16 (225) Schlueter, Blake C

When you have 10 draft picks, you better do well. They didn't draft any DT's or LB's however, as Robert Ayers will likely play DE and likely be their best player there, and those positions should have been a priority. RB Knowshon Moreno will have to beat out Correll Buckhalter and Lamont Jordan in order to earn a starting role. CB's Alphonso Smith and Darcel McBath each have a chance to become a starting CB, and will likely both see time at worse in nickel and dime packages. TE Richard Quinn has potential, but will likely be the 3rd TE behind Scheffler and Daniel Graham. I really liked S David Bruton coming into this draft, but I am still stunned that they wouldn't have taken a DT or LB in this spot,as Bruton will likely be relegated to backup duty. They could also use an offensive tackle, and instead opted for G Seth Olsen, who will likely be a decent backup at best if he even makes the team. WR Kenny McKinley will likely be nothing more than a 5th WR and Blake Schlueter should be a decent backup at C. QB Tom Brandstater was a good pickup and could challenge Chris Simms for the backup QB position.Overall the Broncos came away with some good talent, but should have addressed more needs on defense.

16. New England Patriots/DRAFT GRADE B
Rd 2, Pick 2 (34) Chung, Patrick SS
Rd 2, Pick 8 (40) Brace, Ron DT
Rd 2, Pick 9 (41) Butler, Darius CB
Rd 2, Pick 26 (58) Vollmer, Sebastian OL
Rd 3, Pick 19 (83) Tate, Brandon WR
Rd 3, Pick 33 (97) McKenzie, Tyrone OLB
Rd 4, Pick 23 (123) Ohrnberger, Rich OG
Rd 5, Pick 34 (170) Bussey, George OT
Rd 6, Pick 25 (198) Ingram, Jake LS
Rd 6, Pick 34 (207) Pryor, Myron DT
Rd 7, Pick 23 (232) Edelman, Julian QB
Rd 7, Pick 25 (234) Richard, Darryl DT

They lost Heath Evans and didn't draft a FB, and with TE Ben Watson looking like he has past his prime, totally ignored the TE position as well,but still came away with some good talent. S Patrick Chung may have been a little over-valued, but still may be able to challenge James Sanders for a starting safety spot. DT Ron Brace will give them good depth up the middle behind Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork, and should see some playing time this year. CB Darius Butler also has good potential and could be a starter this year, or at worse play in a nickelback role. Sebastian Volmer could challenge Nick Kaczur for a starting T job as well. WR Brandon Tate could beat out Greg Lewis for the 4th WR, and should be no worse than the no. 5 guy. LB Tyrone McKenzie is also good enough to come in and vie for playing time as the 4th LB. G Rich Ohrenberger will challenge Ryan O'Callaghan for a backup spot as well as a possible roster spot. This is where things get kooky.T George Bussey was a risk and likely will not make the final cut. LS Jake Ingram is very doubtful to take away the job from Nathan Hodel. DT Myron Pryor will likely have to compete against 7th round pick Daryl Richard for a backup job and roster spot as well. QB Julian Edelman will likely try to make the switch to WR but I wouldn't expect him to make the team either. Overall, like a few teams this year, they started off pretty well, but the last 3 rounds could have been much better. Their top 7 picks really made their draft grade, and the 2 DT's were not bad, but they could have gotten an A+ by addressing their issues at FB and TE.

17. San Francisco 49ers/DRAFT GRADE B-
Rd 1, Pick 10 (10) Crabtree, Michael WR
Rd 2, Pick 10 (74) Coffee, Glen RB
Rd 5, Pick 10 (146) McKillop, Scott ILB
Rd 5, Pick 35 (171) Davis, Nate QB
Rd 6, Pick 11 (184) Pascoe, Bear TE
Rd 7, Pick 10 (219) Taylor, Curtis FS
Rd 7, Pick 35 (244) Jean-Francois, Ricky DT

Not only were they able to obtain the top WR in the draft in Michael Crabtree, but were also able to fill a much needed position at DT with their final pick with under-rated DT Ricky Jean-Francois, who may prove to be a valuable starter or at least help in a part time role. They were also able to fill a void and get FS Curtis Taylor earlier in the 7th round to compete with Dashon Goldson or Mark Roman for a starting safety spot. Glen Coffee could also prove to be a valuable backup for RB Frank Gore, and LB Scott McKillop was a steal as a 5th round pick and someone who has the potential to start beside LB Patrick Willis in the 3-4 defense. TE Bear Pascoe should also be an upgrade over J.J Finley as a 3rd TE and could challenge Delanie Walker for playing time as the 2nd TE as well. QB Nate Davis could have enough talent to send former 1st round pick Alex Smith packing and may even challenge veteran Damon Huard for the backup job to Shaun Hill. Crabtree has the potential to be one of the leagues top recievers, and overall this was a decent draft for the 49ers, but I think they could have done a little better with the picks they had.

18. Philadelphia Eagles/DRAFT GRADE B-
Rd 1, Pick 19 (19) Maclin, Jeremy WR
Rd 2
, Pick 21 (53) McCoy, LeSean RB
Rd 5, Pick 17 (153) Ingram, Cornelius TE
Rd 5
, Pick 21 (157) Harris, Victor CB
Rd 5
, Pick 23 (159) Tupou, Fenuki OT
Rd 5
, Pick 21 (194) Gibson, Brandon WR
Rd 7
Pick 4 (213) Fanaika, Paul OG
Rd 7
, Pick 21 (230) Fokou, Moise OLB

WR Jeremy Maclin could be an even bigger playmaker than last years top draft pick DeShaun Jackson, which could make this offense a very explosive one. 5th round pick Cornelius Ingram is also a TE who can be very productive and was a steal for the Eagles in the 5th round, and will challenge Brent Celek for the starting TE job. One thing that may have prevented then from getting a higher grade was a LB who could step in and start, but 7th round pick Moise Fokou should be good enough to provide them with some depth at that position and could be effective in a part time role. With Correll Buckhalter moving on to Denver, RB LeSean McCoy should provide excellent help backing up Westbrook and could have a nice year playing behind a good offensive line. CB Victor Harris is a fierce hitter and should become a valuable nickel or dime back as the season wears on, but I think there were other positions,namely LB, that could have used more help with this pick. T Fenuki Topou and G Paul Fanaika should both provide much needed depth on the offensive line and both have the potential to be in the league for a long time. WR Brandon Gibson may not make the final roster due to the depth they now have at WR, but may have enough talent to impress another team enough to be picked up as a 4th or 5th WR somewhere else. While that draft pick may have been better used on another LB, or possibly another TE or DT, or maybe even a QB to challenge Kevin Kolb and A.J.Feeley for the backup spot to McNabb, overall this draft should prove to be a decent one for the Eagles and make them an even tougher team in already the toughest division in football.

19. Cleveland Browns/DRAFT GRADE B-
Rd 1, Pick 21 (21) Mack, Alex C
Rd 2, Pick 4 (36) Robiskie, Brian WR
Rd 2, Pick 18 (50) Massaquoi, Mohamed WR
Rd 2, Pick 20 (52) Veikune, David DE
Rd 4, Pick 4 (104) Maiava, Kaluka ILB
Rd 6, Pick 4 (177) Carey, Don CB
Rd 6, Pick 18 (191) Francies, Coye CB
Rd 6, Pick 22 (195) Davis, James RB

First thing I need to ponder, is with neither Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson being able to step it up last season, how do you go 8 draft picks without even selecting one QB? My next problem lies in selecting 2 CB's when they could have used at least one of those picks on another LB or helped with depth on the offensive line. However, they did manage to draft some player with good potential, so I can't be too hard on them.C Alex Mack is potentially the best C in this draft, and should take over the starting job from Hank Fraley. WR Brian Robiskie could become a decent starter regardless of what happens with Donte Stallworth. Mohamed Massaquoi should at least become the 5th WR even if Stallworth is around, but can move up to no.4 if he is not, and could even challenge Josh Cribbs for the 3rd WR role at that point. DE David Veikune could challenge Robaire Smith for a starting DE spot, and will likely play in a DE rotation at worst. I thought there were better LB's still on the board when the Browns took Kaluka Maiava, and at this point it looks as though he may be no better than 6th on the LB depth chart. CB Coye Francies could make the team as the 5th CB, with Don Carey likely not surviving the final cut. RB James Davis was a nice 7th round pick though, and should challenge Jerome Harrison for the backup role to Jamal Lewis. While this was not a bad draft,it could have gone better for the Browns had they made some different choices, but overall this years rookies should help.

20. New York Giants/DRAFT GRADE C
Rd 1, Pick 29 (29) Nicks, Hakeem WR
Rd 2, Pick 13 (45) Sintim, Clint OLB
Rd 2, Pick 28 (60) Beatty, William OT
Rd 3, Pick 21 (85) Barden, Ramses WR
Rd 3, Pick 36 (100) Beckum, Travis TE
Rd 4, Pick 29 (129) Brown, Andre RB
Rd 5, Pick 15 (151) Bomar, Rhett QB
Rd 6, Pick 27 (200) Wright, DeAndre DB
Rd 7, Pick 29 (238) Woodson, Stoney DB

The Giants again are another team that I would have rated higher had it not been for their final 2 picks. 1st round pick Hakeem Nicks has the potential to become a reliable starting WR and should be a key factor for Eli Manning and the passing game this season. 3rd round pick Ramses Barden is a big receiver who should also help the receiving corps and should be no worse than the team's 4th WR this year. The Giants needed an upgrade at WR with Burress no longer around, and I think they did well with both Nicks and Barden. LB Clint Sintim also should be a good player and should challenge Danny Clark for the 4th LB role and will add depth to this unit. T William Beatty may have been able to start for a lot of teams this season, but on the Giants will be a valuable backup for Kareem McKenzie and David Diehl. TE Travis Beckum also has nice potential as a 2nd TE and should help complement Kevin Boss. RB Andre Brown could fill in nicely for the departed Derrick Ward(Bucs) and should see playing time along with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. QB Rhett Bomar should be a nice 3rd QB and could have enough talent to challenge David Carr for the backup QB job. Both DeAndre Wright and Stony Woodson will challenge Rashad Barksdale and Travonti Johnson for a roster spot, but I thought there were other DB's out there with more potential than these picks. However, the Giants seem to have done a good job getting some needs filled here, and this draft should be of help to them in the coming season.

21. Oakland Raiders/DRAFT GRADE C
Rd 1, Pick 7 (7) Heyward-Bey, Darrius WR
Rd 2, Pick 15 (47) Mitchell, Mike SS
Rd 3, Pick 7 (71) Shaughnessy, Matt DE
Rd 4, Pick 24 (124) Murphy, Louis WR
Rd 4, Pick 26 (126) Norris, Slade DE
Rd 6, Pick 26 (199) Sulak, Stryker DE
Rd 6, Pick 29 (202) Myers, Brandon TE

OK,I admit the Raiders could have done much better,especially since they didn't draft a CB to challenge Chris Johnson to start across from Asomugha, but it could have been a lot worse as well. 1st round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey may not have been the best choice with both Michael Crabtree and Jeremey Maclin still on the board, but he can fly and will stretch the field and give Jamarcus Russell and the offense some big play ability. Michael Mitchell is perceived as a reach as a second round choice, and I would have to agree at this point, but at least he can provide some depth at safety. DE Matt Shaughnessy should also add some depth at DE,along with Strykar Sulak, but it could be tough for both of them to make the final roster. What helped their draft grade was WR Louis Murphy and DE/LB Slade Norris. Louis Murphy could challenge Darrius Heyward-Bey and Johnnie Lee Higgins for a starting role and at worst should be an excellent 3rd WR. Slade Norris is an under-rated talent who could find himself a starting LB spot and should be on the field making plays for the Raider defense this season. TE Brandon Myers was also not a bad 6th round pick and should challenge Tony Stewart for the 2nd TE spot. All things considered, it may not have been a stellar draft for the Raiders, but I think they should at least be more competitive with the talent they obtained in this draft., and ended up doing better than a few other teams.

22. Minnesota Vikings/DRAFT GRADE C
Rd 1, Pick 22 (22) Harvin, Percy WR
Rd 2, Pick 22 (54) Loadholt, Phil OL
Rd 3, Pick 22 (86) Allen, Asher CB
Rd 5, Pick 14 (150) Brinkley, Jasper ILB
Rd 7, Pick 22 (231) Sanford, Jamarca FS

I think the Vikings made some good picks talent wise, I just have to question how they didn't do more to bolster their offensive line,especially at C and G. WR Percy Harvin was a great start for them and has the potential to become a starter across from Bernard Berrian. T Phil Loadholt could also challenge Ryan Cook for a starting tackle job, but with 2nd year C John Sullivan and inconsistent G's Artis Hicks and Anthony Herrera, I would have thought they would have drafted someone who could be more consistent at the other guard and help out Steve Hutchinson, and at least try to find someone to help replace the departed Matt Birk(Ravens), who was one of the top 3 centers in the league. CB Asher Allen should be good enough to challenge Karl Paymah for the nickelback and should definitely see some playing time in dime packages. LB Jasper Brinkley will add much needed depth at LB and could split time with E.J.Henderson if he has any trouble coming back from his injury. S Jamarca Sanford may also be talented enough to vie for a starting job against Tyrell Johnson, but again their draft grade has to suffer as, in my opinion they needed more help up front offensively than what they obtained here.

23. Houston Texans/DRAFT GRADE C
Rd 1, Pick 15 (15) Cushing, Brian OLB
Rd 2, Pick 14 (46) Barwin, Connor DE
Rd 3, Pick 13 (77) Caldwell, Antoine OG
Rd 4, Pick 12 (112) Quin, Glover CB
Rd 4, Pick 22 (122) Hill, Anthony TE
Rd 5, Pick 16 (152) Casey, James TE
Rd 6, Pick 15 (188) McCain, Brice CB
Rd 7, Pick 14 (223) Nolan, Troy S

This is another team that would have scored higher had they not ignored their offensive line needs and only drafted one offensive lineman. LB Brian Cushing should come in and start and help LB DeMeco Ryans and make the defense better.DE/LB Connor Barwin should also help right away and should also help improve the defense playing on the other side from DE Mario Williams. C/G Antoine Caldwell could also earn himself the starting C job or even a starting G spot. CB Glover Quin I believe may have been drafted too high and may hang on to a roster spot as the 5th CB, but another guard would have benefited them greatly with this pick. Another curious pick was TE Anthony Hill, as with Owen Daniels already a very good starting TE, Hill will likely be competing for the 3rd TE spot with Joel Dreesen, as I believe their 5th round pick,TE James Casey will takeover the 2nd TE spot and has more potential then Hill. Another G could have been a better pick as well. CB Brice McCain also may end up being better than Glover Quin and I think has a very good chance of falling into the dime back position,with Quin making the roster as the 5th CB. S Troy Nolan should be a decent backup safety and should supply depth at the position. Not a bad draft talent wise here, but their 4th round picks in my opinion could have been alot more productive, and for that reason I couldn't give them a better draft grade.

24. Miami Dolphins/DRAFT GRADE C
Rd 1, Pick 25 (25) Davis, Vontae CB
Rd 2, Pick 12 (44) White, Pat QB
Rd 2, Pick 29 (61) Smith, Sean CB
Rd 3, Pick 23 (87) Turner, Patrick WR
Rd 4, Pick 8 (108) Hartline, Brian WR
Rd 5, Pick 25 (161) Nalbone, John TE
Rd 5, Pick 29 (165) Clemons, Chris FS
Rd 6, Pick 8 (181) Gardner, Andrew OT
Rd 7, Pick 5 (214) Folsom, J.D. OLB

The Dolphins started out with a great day one. Then day two of the draft came and their draft grade went down the tubes! With help needed on both the offensive and defensive lines, they only drafted one lineman on either side of the ball, and they had a total of 9 draft picks. CB Vontae Davis was a nice pick to start with, and could be an excellent starting CB for years to come. Pat White should challenge Chad Henne for the backup QB position and adds some nice versatility for the Wildcat formation. CB Sean Smith can also play safety and may have enough talent for the Dolphins to start two rookie CB's this season, and at worst should be an excellent nickel back. Great up until then, now the downgrade begins. WR Patrick Turner could be a decent 4th or 5th WR, and their were plenty of other WR's still on the board with more potential when he was drafted. Same could be said about WR Brian Hartline, who likely will have trouble even making the final roster. TE John Nalbone should be a nice addition and could challenge David Martin for the 2nd TE spot, but I have to ask, WHERE ARE THE LINEMEN? S Chris Clemons has some potential, but how much will he play behind Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson? They finally selected an offensive lineman in the 6th round with T Andrew Gardner, and he may be able to challenge for a starting role and should be a decent backup. Then they took LB J.D.Folsom, who is another pick that will likely have trouble making the team. While it wasn't a horrible draft for the Dolphins, it looks like it could have been better.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars/DRAFT GRADE C-
Rd 1, Pick 8 (8) Monroe, Eugene OT
Rd 2, Pick 7 (39) Britton, Eben OT
Rd 3, Pick 8 (72) Knighton, Terrance DT
Rd 3, Pick 9 (73) Cox, Derek CB
Rd 4, Pick 7 (107) Thomas, Mike WR
Rd 5, Pick 8 (144) Dillard, Jarett WR
Rd 6, Pick 7 (180) Miller, Zach TE
Rd 7, Pick 41 (250) Jennings, Rashad RB
Rd 7, Pick 44 (253) Underwood, Tiquan WR

This team desperately needed help at G,S and LB, and yet didn't draft a single player at any of these positions. T Eugene Monroe could be a potential Pro Bowler at tackle and gives them an excellent tandem, now paired up with ex-Eagle Tra Thomas as the starting tackles. Eben Britton could likely have started at tackle for a lot of teams, but unless he can make the switch to the guard position, may just be a quality backup here. DT Terrance Knighton, even if he makes the team,will likely not play much behind John Henderson,Rob Meier and Derek Landri. I really liked CB Derek Cox though, and think he should at least be a valuable nickel back, and if he can prove to be a decent starter, CB Brian Williams may be able to move back to safety. WR's Mike Thomas and Jarrett Dillard should also be decent and should battle it out for the 3rd and 4th WR positions. TE Zach Miller though, in my opinion was a reach as there were other TE's available that have more potential, and Miller may not even make the final roster. RB Rashad Jennings was an excellent round 7 choice, and should be a good backup to Jones-Drew. WR Tiquan Underwood also has some potential and could make the team as a 5th WR. However, having 9 picks and not addressing 3 of their main needs, and then not getting as much potential as I think they could have gotten with some of these picks, I believe this draft has to be at least a little disappointing for Jaguar fans.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers/DRAFT GRADE D
Rd 1, Pick 17 (17) Freeman, Josh QB
Rd 3, Pick 17 (81) Miller, Roy DT
Rd 4, Pick 17 (117) Moore, Kyle DE
Rd 5, Pick 19 (155) Fulton, Xavier OT
Rd 7, Pick 8 (217) Biggers, E.J. CB
Rd 7, Pick 24 (233) Stroughter, Sammie WR

Although they may have reached taking QB Josh Freeman in the 1st round, they still filled some needs with the rest of the draft. If they had taken a LB instead though, and a better CB then E.J.Biggers in the 7th round, they could have graded out better. Freeman will challenge Byron Leftwich for the starting job, but I think he will need time to develop but could challenge Brian Griese and Luke McCown for the backup job. DT Roy Miller will challenge Ryan Sims and Greg Peterson to start at DT,and should at least see playing time in a DT rotation. DE Kyle Moore also has some talent and could see playing time behind starters Gaines Adams and Greg White. Rookie Xavier Fulton could be a steal as a 5th rounder and could end up starting at RT sometime this season. CB E.J.Biggers could see time as a dime back, but will have a lot of competition and it is possible he may not make the final roster as well. WR Sammi Stroughter was a nice pick in the 7th round and could possibly be the teams no. 3 WR. With only 6 picks the Bucs did a nice job filling some gaps and should benefit from this draft class, but with a LB instead of Freeman and another CB who may have had more potential than Biggers, they could have done alot better.

27. New Orleans Saints/DRAFT GRADE D
Rd 1, Pick 14 (14) Jenkins, Malcolm CB
Rd 4, Pick 16 (116) Vaughn, Chip S
Rd 4, Pick 18 (118) Arnoux, Stanley ILB
Rd 5, Pick 28 (164) Morstead, Thomas P

Malcolm Jenkins was an excellent pick and should help them out in the secondary and be a good starter for a number of years. S Chip Vaughn also may beat out Darren Sharper for a starting job and gives them a vicious safety tandem along with Roman Harper. Stanley Arnoux was a decent pick but I think he could have been picked later than the 4th round. I don't see Arnoux starting but he should be able to give them depth at the LB position. While Thomas Morstead may be a very good punter, I don't think you can take a punter when you only have 4 draft picks to make! They could have used this pick to pickup someone who could possibly challenge for a starting C role, but the fact that they used their final pick, and a fifth rounder no less, on a punter drops their draft grade dramatically.

28. Indianapolis Colts/DRAFT GRADE D
Rd 1, Pick 27 (27) Brown, Donald RB
Rd 2, Pick 24 (56) Moala, Fili DT
Rd 3, Pick 28 (92) Powers, Jerraud CB
Rd 4, Pick 27 (127) Collie, Austin WR
Rd 4, Pick 36 (136) Taylor, Terrance DT
Rd 6, Pick 28 (201) Painter, Curtis QB
Rd 7, Pick 13 (222) McAfee, Pat P
Rd 7, Pick 27 (236) Thomas, Jaimie OT

Looking at the Colts draft this year, it's easy to tell that Tony Dungy is no longer in charge. I don't think they could have gone through 8 picks with Dungy around and not taken at least one LB,which is where they need to add some depth. RB Donald Brown looks like a keeper and should complement Addai nicely, and the way Addai has had trouble staying healthy, Brown is good enough to even make him expendable if he can't stay on the field. DT Fili Moala as a 2nd round pick was quite a reach in my estimation, and will likely assume a backup role there. CB Jerraud Powers was also taken too high as a 3rd round pick and could have trouble even making the final roster. WR Austin Collie has some potential and could be a good 3rd WR this season. DT Terrence Taylor will likely have his hands full trying to make the final cut as well. QB Curtis Painter should land the 3rd QB role, but there were alot of other QB's on the board with more potential in the 6th round of this draft. As I stated before, they did need help at LB, YET THEY TAKE A PUNTER,Pat McAfee, with their first 7th round pick. G Jaimie Thomas should make the team as a backup. If this is what the future has in store for the Colts without Tony Dungy, they better have a good year this season, because the future doesn't look good.

29. Baltimore Ravens/DRAFT GRADE D
Rd 1, Pick 23 (23) Oher, Michael OT
Rd 2, Pick 25 (57) Kruger, Paul DE
Rd 3, Pick 24 (88) Webb, Lardarius CB
Rd 5, Pick 1 (137) Phillips, Jason ILB
Rd 5, Pick 13 (149) Drew, Davon TE
Rd 6, Pick 12 (185) Peerman, Cedric RB

OK, you now have Joe Flacco at QB, HOW DO YOU NOT GET THIS GUY SOME HELP AT WR? Oh yeah, and how about finding another G to help keep him protected? T Michael Oher will help and should start at tackle right away. DE Paul Kruger also looks like he can start as well, but I believe there were other DE's available who may have had more potential. CB/S Ladarius Webb will likely be relegated to a backup role and will need to improve to be able to play more in the NFL. LB Jason Phillips should see time as the 4th LB and could be the 2nd best pick for them in this draft behind Oher. TE Davon Drew will likely battle Quinn Sypniewski for the 3rd string job behind Todd Heap and L.J. Smith, and RB Cedric Peerman will challenge Ray Rice for playing time behind McGahee, but again I say, where are the WR's and at least one G? These were some bad choices by the Ravens as they didn't fill some holes they needed to fill, and may not get a whole lot of production out of half of these picks.

30. Kansas City Chiefs/DRAFT GRADE D-
Rd 1, Pick 3 (3) Jackson, Tyson DE
Rd 3, Pick 3 (67) Magee, Alex DT
Rd 4, Pick 2 (102) Washington, Donald CB
Rd 5, Pick 3 (139) Brown, Colin OL
Rd 6, Pick 2 (175) Lawrence, Quinten WR
Rd 7, Pick 3 (212) Williams, Javarris RB
Rd 7, Pick 28 (237) O'Connell, Jake WR
Rd 7, Pick 47 (256) Succop, Ryan K

The way this draft went, you would think Herm Edwards was still in charge! After trading Tony Gonzalez to the Chiefs, how do you not take a TE? They also could have used some help at center and totally neglected that position as well. DE/DT Tyson Jackson is an over-rated player, much like they found out last year with Glenn Dorsey, and will likely play in some form of DL rotation. DT Alex Magee will likely find a place within that rotation as well, but there were better options out there at this point in the draft. CB Donald Washington could turn out to be their best pick of this draft and should beome their nickel back this season. T Colin Brown has a chance to make the team as a backup lineman, but then again, there is a chance he may not make the team as well. WR's Quinten Lawrence and Jake O'Connell will likely also have trouble making the final cut, and even if they do, will likely end up about as successful as Will Franklin, last years choice at WR who was just recently let go. RB Javarris Williams should make the roster as a 3rd RB behind L.J. and Jamaal Charles, but again, there were likely better choices still available with this pick. K Ryan Succop became Mr. Irrelevant with the final pick in the draft, and likely that is what his career could turn out to be, irrelevant. You wonder why this team has been on a steady decline the last few years, look no further than these drafts people. Again a horrible job by this organization. If they do improve, it will be because of the veterans, but I wouldn't expect a lot of help from this draft class.

31. Washington Redskins/DRAFT GRADE F
Rd 1, Pick 13 (13) Orakpo, Brian DE
Rd 3, Pick 16 (80) Barnes, Kevin CB
Rd 5
, Pick 22 (158) Glenn, Cody LB
Rd 6
, Pick 13 (186) Henson, Robert OLB
Rd 7, Pick 12 (221) Williams, Eddie TE
Rd 7, Pick 34 (243) Mitchell, Marko WR

While I think their 5th and 6th round picks of LB's Cody Glenn and Robert Henson could be shaky, at least they added some depth to a position where they needed some bodies. 1st round pick Brian Orakpo could make this a great draft for them by himself,but I don't think they did very well with the rest of their picks. Orakpo has the talent to be a potential rookie of the year candidate on defense and with the addition of DT Albert Haynesworth from the Titans gives them a defense that can challenge teams up the middle and on the outside. Under-rated 3rd round pick Kevin Barnes should give them a solid player in the dime package. 7th round pick Eddie Williams can also play FB and could be a nice addition as a 2nd TE after Fred Davis disappointed last season. WR Marko Michell could also prove to be a valuable 7th rounder and could challenge James Thrash,Devin Thomas, and Malcolm Kelly for the 3rd WR role. The Redskins definitely filled some holes here, but Orakpo was likely the only pick who will have a major impact.

32. New York Jets/DRAFT GRADE F
Rd 1, Pick 5 (5) Sanchez, Mark QB
Rd 3, Pick 1 (65) Greene, Shonn RB
Rd 6, Pick 20 (193) Slauson, Matt OG

It's not that I don't like the Jets draft picks, because all 3 have talent and could contribute. My thing with the Jets in my opinion is they had holes to fill at WR and defensive line and just traded away too many picks they could have used to build their team rather than go with the players they got. Trading up for Mark Sanchez could have been a great move, and started the Jets draft out with a bang. But with a thin receiving corps his chance of success,especially this year, becomes difficult, and that's a lot to put on a rookie QB. Instead they went and drafted Shonn Greene, who definitely has potential, but likely will only see playing time behind Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, so you have to wonder how much value he can really add this season. G Matt Slauson could challenge Brandon Moore for a starting G spot,but with the lack of depth behind Kris Jenkins and Shaun Ellis on the defensive line, and again at WR, the value here is only minimal. With all their trading and to end up with only 3 draft picks, and then miss out on some big needs on both offense and defense, I don't think the Jets deserve a good draft grade in 2009, no matter how good or bad Sanchez turns out to be.