The NFL Draft ended, and it's time to see how the team's did in addressing their needs and who they selected. We'll go by division.
AFC North
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| 'Mount" Cody and Haloti Ngata will be a lot of girth. |
The defense (duh) was front and center in the draft, but Ozzie Newsome did get a couple of more weapons for Joe Flacco in TEs Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta. Getting DE/OLB Sergio Kindle in the second round at #43 overall may be a steal. The Ravens also draft "Mount" Cody in the same round at #57 overall. WR David Reed from Utah is one to keep your eye on even with Anquan Boldin, Donte Stallworth and Derrick Mason on the roster.
Cincinnati Bengals: B
We know the Bengals can now play defense so it was time to get QB Carson Palmer some playmakers for the offense. TE Jermaine Gresham was the only TE to go in the first round. While it's both a solid and a need pick, I wasn't too sure of it only because WR Dez Bryant was still on the board (Jerry Jones traded to #24 to get Bryant). Former Florida Gator Carlos Dunlap has his knocks, but Marvin will find a way. The picks of Jordan Shipley and Dezmon Briscoe seem a bid weird with all the WRs already on the Bengals roster, but Shipley could be a Wes Welker clone.
Cleveland Browns: C+
Yes, they got QB Colt McCoy. Some think the Browns could have gone a different direction at #7, bu CB Joe Haden is one guy that seemed to be in their sights all along. Maybe a stretch, but a major need was filled. I do feel Cleveland did reach for S T.J. Ward at #38 considering S Taylor Mays was still available. And what was the deal with the trade to move up and select...RB Montario Hardesty? I thought for sure that move was for McCoy.
Pittsburgh Steelers: C-
Three linebackers. Sure, the Steelers are known for that, but the offensive tackle position wasn't addressed at all. You want to get back to the "old school" Steelers? Get an O-line that will push you around. Taking C/G Maurkice Pouncey isn't an attractive pick, but an excellent one. After that, ho-hum.
AFC South
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| Morgan will have Jeff Fisher smiling. |
All of the Titans major needs were addressed...with talent...and they "unloaded" LenDale White in a trade with Seattle. Seeing DE Derrick Morgan at #16 had to bring a smile to Jeff Fisher's face. Another receiver for VY in the second round with former Trojan Damian Williams to go along with Nate Washington and Kenny Britt. Scary, just scary. LB Rennie Curran (3rd round) is thought of as from the same mold as former Titan LB Keith Bulluck. I'm sure he'd take that comparison. Fifth round pick S Robert Johnson could be as big a steal as Morgan.
Houston Texans: B-
Maybe reached a bit in the first round by taking CB Kareem Jackson over Kyle Wilson. Jackson had been the hot corner moving up the boards especially over the last week.. I love the pick of RB Ben Tate in the second. The Texans have never had a bruising RB and Tate can play that role. With the problems at RB last season, QB Matt Schaub had to like that selection. The best pick for the Texans may have been their last one, TE Dorin Dickerson from Pitt. Not big for a TE, but all Dickerson does is catch the ball and make plays.
Indianapolis Colts: C-
With the discussions of a new contract for QB Peyton Manning, shouldn't you get him more protection? You would think, but the Colts didn't really address the OT position. I like DE/OLB Jerry Hughes and LB Pat Angerer because they are Colt defenders. May have gotten a great pick in the third with CB Kevin Thomas.
Jacksonville Jaguars: D
Big reaches in their first three selections left almost everyone scratching their heads.
AFC East
New England Patriots: B+
Hard not to miss when you have 12 picks, but I was a tad puzzled with all the Florida Gators being relocated. LB Jermaine Cunningham will be the best of the bunch. Solidifying the corner with Devin McCourty was good, but again, Kyle Wilson was available. The two TE selections (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez) may signal a change in the offensive philosophy with Wes Welker being down and Randy Moss entering his final year on his contract. Still, Belichick worked the drat well, not sure about all the picks. He'll prove me wrong.
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| Odrick has the talent to play DE and DT. Will he be asked to play both? |
When the Dolphins traded out of the #12 slot with San Diego, I thought they may not get a D-lineman. At #26, they nab Jared Odrick who has the ability to play end or inside. I thought taking LB Koa Misi may have been a bit of a stretch at #40 overall. Despite acquiring WR Brandon Marshall, I thought the Fins would go after a receiver. The RB position is a sticky situation after this year, too, and that wasn't addressed either.
New York Jets: C+
I do like "stealing" Kyle Wilson at #29. It really was like taking candy from a bay. I also like the OG Vladamir Ducasse selection, too. Just not enough picks for Rex.
Buffalo Bills: C-
Passed on QBs in multiple rounds despite the glaring need. I hope new head coach Chan Gailey has something in mind for the QBs on his roster. I do feel picking DE Alex Carrington may prove to be a steal at #72 along with LB Arthur Moats at #178. The QB was finally addressed in the 7th round (#209 overall) with Levi Brown from Troy. Good luck.
AFC West
Oakland Raiders: B+
You gave the Raiders a "B+"? I sure did because I love the mix of players Al Davis selected. While almost everyone had Al taking either OT Bruce Campbell or QB Jimmy Clausen in the first round, he took the best ILB in Rolando McClain. Sure, Davis had his critics with the pick because some NFL "experts" think ILB is not worthy of a top ten pick. McClain is an exception. Davis shored up the O-line with Jered Veldheer in the third and finally taking Campbell in the fourth. The Campbell selection marked the changing back to the Al Davis we know...and some love. Campbell, a trade for WR Jacoby Ford in the fourth, selecting CB Walter McFadden in the fifth saw the usual "speed merchants" go to Oakland.
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| Berry just looks good in a KC jersey. |
Not much to not like about Scott Pioli's choices. Best safety in Eric Berry (and #5 is NOT too early for a talent like Berry!) A good OG in Jon Asamoah to help protect the QB. TE Tony Moeaki is solid. He just needs to stay healthy. If he has stayed on the field last year for Iowa, he could have been the second rated TE in this draft. That's how good he could be. The selections of Dexter McCluster in the second and Javier Arenas in the third were a bit surprising. Both are return demons. McCluster is also versatile like Percy Harvin and C.J. Spiller. QB Matt Cassell cold use another weapon.
San Diego Chargers: C+
Their best pick was getting DT Cam Thomas in the fifth round. I still believe that they may have been able to get RB Ryan Mathews at their original #28 spot. If not there, I didn't think they needed to trade up as far as they did, but the Bolts front office most likely couldn't find a trading partner between pick 18-20.
Denver Broncos: C-
Don't think I need to explain this one. So much for one guy and he's a project.
NFC North
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| Schwartz and Mayhew made a major statement to the NFC North. |
DT Ndamukong Suh and RB Jahvid Best were beyond solid picks. The pick was in the third round at #66 with CB Amari Spievey. The D got a major shot in the arm with Suh and Spievey. Taking OT Jason Fox in the fourth could be a guy the Lions lean on to help protect QB Matthew Stafford. He'll get to learn the ropes from a wily vet in Jeff Backus.
Chicago Bears: B
No picks until the third round and the Bears did just fine, thank you. The receiver position was not addressed and I was a bit disappointed that they didn't try to find a WR draft worthy for the new Mike Martz system. Still, to get a decent safety in Major Wright in the third, a great DE in Corey Wootton in the fourth and a QB project like Dan LeFevour in the sixth shows that the Bears can still draft when they want to. Just needed more picks to "fix" the team.
Green Bay Packers: C-
After taking OT Bryan Bulaga in the first round, the Packers kind of lost sight of the draft. Bulaga will be a steal, but the other picks are confusing. The CB need was ignored and there were CB available at #56 and #71. Head scratcher.
Minnesota Vikings: C-
The only real value the Vikings got was getting DE Everson Griffen at #100 in the fourth round. I don;t understand the move to draft RB Toby Gerhart at #51 even though the Vikes had a need. Gerhart isn't proficent in the passing game.
NFC South
Carolina Panthers: A-
How can a team with no first round pick get such a good grade? Luck. Dumb luck at that. Look at the Panthers first five picks:
- Jimmy Clausen, QB
- Brandon LaFell, WR
- Armanti Edwards, QB/WR/RS
- Eric Norwood, DE/OLB
- Greg Hardy, DE
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B-
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| McCoy couldn't have found a better defensive scheme for his talents. |
New Orleans Saints: C
I would have liked the Saints to address the LB and S positions. Sean Payton did manage a couple of good O-line picks to keep QB Drew Brees safe and sound. Hard to address every need and value with only six picks, but New Orleans did move a couple of picks to trade up and grab C Matt Tennant in the fifth.
Atlanta Falcons: C
It's not the first couple of picks that I liked (although it's hard to argue against selection LB Sean Weatherspoon), I liked the Falcons getting CB Dominique Franks in the fifth round. Franks could be a gem in a couple of years. Outside of those two, not much.
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles: B+
When you have 12 picks, can't mess it up, and Andy Reid rarely does. Going for DE/OLB Brandon Graham at #13 by moving up may have been a bit of a stretch, but Graham was a guy the Eagles were targeting. A bit puzzled with the Nate Allen choice in the second round since Taylor Mays was still on the board, but that tells me that there was something amiss with Mays since many clubs passed over him. I have zero comments about the rest of Reid's picks. Solid as always.
Dallas Cowboys: B-
Usually, the Cowboys are stashing picks. This year, they dealt a couple to snag WR Dez Bryant at #24 over all and breaking the hearts of Ravens fans. But Jerry Jones did not address the needs at OT and S.
New York Giants: B-
What's not to like about DE Jason Pierre-Paul and DT Linval Joseph? The G-men are telling their fans the defense will be better in 2010. Of the seven picks, six were on defense. Not crazy about taking a punter with their last pick either. Could have addressed the O-line with that.
Washington Redskins: C+
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| A perfect fit for the Silverback. |
NFC West
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| Okung will anchor of a depleted Seahawks O-line. |
You get the most pro ready tackle in Russell Okung at #6, the best DB at #14 in Earl Thomas and a first round talent at WR at #60 in Golden Tate. Can't argue with that one bit, and Pete Carroll and John Schneider worked their magic in their first draft together. The 12th Man should be pleased that Carroll and Schneider didn't stop there. S Kam Chancellor and TE Anthony McCoy practically fell into their laps. Well, Okung and Thomas did, too. can't deny these two already show they're on the same page.
Arizona Cardinals: B
The Cards got a gift in having NT Dan Williams fall to them at #26. I liked the LB Daryl Washington pick in the second round and LB O'Brien Schofield selection in the fourth, too.
St. Louis Rams: B
Eleven picks, but no DT. Outside of QB Sam Bradford, the Rams got good value in WR Mardy Gilyard at #99 and DE George Selvie at #226. Selvie could have been a first rounder in the last draft had he left South Florida last year. OT Rodger Saffold will protect Bradford's backside.
San Francisco 49ers: C
Not sure why the Niners traded up two spots to get OT Anthony Davis at #13. Did they really think he would be gone? That's the main reason they didn't get a higher grade. San Fran could have used those extra picks to add depth at corner and running back. Sure, they did draft one of each, but will RB Anthony Dixon and CB Phillip Adams stick?
There you have it. Opinions?
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