Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7
5/132: STL-Michael Hoomanawanui-TE-Illinois: Not a receiving threat, but is an exceptional blocker. Could become the next Brandon Manumaleuna, which is nothing to scoff at in round 5
GRADE: B
5/133: SEA-Kam Chancellor-S-VT: Huge safety (6'3" 231). Will be solid in run support but struggle in the coverage. Could be a steal if he is used only as a box safety or switches to linebacker.
GRADE: A-
5/134: PHI-Ricky Sapp-DE-Clemson: Could be the best out of all three DE's the Eagles drafted. Great value. An explosive pass rusher whose only real concern is knee trouble. If he can avoid injury at the next level, he could be a star.
GRADE: A
5/135: ATL-Dominique Franks-CB-OU: Pretty good pick, but not great. Franks can contribute in the return game, and projects to be a decent nickel corner or low-end #2 CB.
GRADE: B
5/136: KC-Kendrick Lewis-S-Ole Miss: Was fairly productive in college, but lacks the size and athleticism to be much more than a backup safety/special teamer in the NFL.
GRADE: C
5/137: DEN-Perrish Cox-CB-OkSt: Cox fills the Broncos need for corner depth and gives them a potentially dynamic return man as well. Terrific pick, as Cox easily could have been selected 2 or 3 rounds earlier.
GRADE: A
5/138: OAK-Walter McFadden-CB-Auburn: Fills a need, but I think more talented corners came off the board later.
GRADE: C+
5/139: NYJ-John Conner-FB-Kentucky: One of, if not the best blocking FBs in the draft. This pick will be underrated by some, but is very important. Shonn Greene needs a fullback to run behind, and Tony Richardson won't be around forever.
GRADE: B+
5/140: BUF-Edward Wang-OT-VT: Wang, a converted TE, is an athletic tackle who could potentially move to the left tackle position. Can't believe it took the Bills so long to upgrade the O-line.
GRADE: B+
5/141: CHI-Josh Moore-CB-K-State: A reach. I didn't have Moore getting drafted at all, and he doesn't really fit the Bears tendency to draft bigger, more physical corners.
GRADE: C
5/142: KC-Cameron Sheffield-OLB-Troy: Showed a knack for getting to the QB in college (12 sacks in the last 2 years), but ran very poorly at the combine (4.90 at 257 pounds). Good value in round 5 though.
GRADE: B+
5/143: JAX-Larry Hart-OLB-C.Ark: Undersized, but had 21.5 sacks in the last 2 years. Played in the lower college ranks, so competition concerns abound.
GRADE: C-
5/144: HOU-Sherrick McManis-CB-NW: A lingering quad injury pushed his stock down to the 7th round area, but the Texans still decided to pull the trigger on him here. Filling a need at corner is good, but they should have done it with a better corner.
GRADE: C-
5/145: MIA-Nolan Carroll-CB-Maryland: The Dolphins loaded up at corner last year, didn't have a need for it here, and reached big time to select Carroll. I would have went with an insurance RB for when Ronnie Brown gets injured and to replace Ricky Williams in a year or two.
GRADE: D+
5/146: SD-Cam Thomas-NT-UNC: Thomas was a second round prospect who put in a solid senior season, Senior Bowl, and combine performance, and he fills a huge need in the wake of the Jamal Williams release.
GRADE: A+
5/147: NYG-Mitch Petrus-OG-ARK: The Giants O-line wasn't as solid as it had been in recent years, and Mich Petrus is a good value here.
GRADE: B+
5/148: TEN-Robert Johnson-S-Utah: Johnson struggled a bit with injuries early in his career, but showed what he is capable when healthy as a senior, registering 6 interceptions. The Titans really struggled against the pass last year, so any DB additions are welcomed.
GRADE: A-
5/149: STL-Hall Davis-DE-ULL: Pretty good DE product. Good size at 6'4" 271, so could end up being a solid run stuffer.
GRADE: B-
5/150: NE-Zoltan Mesko-P-MICH: The Pats haven't had a consistently good punter in years. Mesko has the best leg in the class by far, and should be able to combat the winds of Gilette Stadium.
GRADE: B+
5/151: PIT-Chris Scott-OG/OT-TENN: A big lineman who will probably kick inside to guard for the Steelers. Fills a need and will provide solid depth.
GRADE: B+
5/152: CIN-Otis Hudson-OT/OG-E.Ill: Good athlete, but is very raw. I have my doubts if he will pan out though.
GRADE: C
5/153: JAX-Austen Lane-DE-Murray St: Has good size, and was very productive at Murray State last year, registering 11 sacks. Still, that was at Murray State, against players who for the most part couldn't even think of sniffing the NFL. I think he projects as more of a run stopper in the NFL, which isn't what the Jags need.
GRADE: C-
5/154: GB-Andrew Quarless-TE-Penn St: Quarless is a very talented tight end, but hardly ever gives 100%. He's not a hard worker, but his talent is too good to pass up here.
GRADE: B
5/155: ARI-John Skelton-QB-Fordham: Skelton has a cannon for an arm, and has decent accuracy to boot. A project, but could end up as a starter if given the chance to develop.
GRADE: A-
5/156: BAL-David Reed-WR-Utah: Could eventually fill in as a slot receiver, which the Ravens lack.
GRADE: B-
5/157: BAL-Arthur Jones-DE/DT-SYR: Good height and build for a 3-4 DE. No denying his talent, but effort and injury concerns knocked him down a few rounds.
GRADE: B+
5/158: NO-Matt Tennant-C-BC: One of the top few centers in the draft. Tennant should take over some spot on the line within the next couple of years, and play very successfully when he does.
GRADE: A-
5/159: PHI-Riley Cooper-WR-Florida: Nice size and athletic ability for a receiver, but has yet to put it all together. That could be because the QB at Florida couldn't throw a spiral, or a very accurate pass outside the numbers or more than 10 yards down the field. We'll see if it was the QB or Cooper himself to blame for his perceived lack of solid hands.
GRADE: B+
5/160: CLE-Larry Asante-S-NEB: Played very well, both against the run and pass, as a senior. A little slow at the Combine, which dropped his stock, but his tape doesn't lie. Very good value.
GRADE: B
5/161: MIN-Chris Degeare-OG/OT-WAKE: A big guard at 325 pounds, but he doesn't look very skilled as a blocker on film. Wasted pick in my eyes, as I thought there were several better offensive linemen at this point.
GRADE: D+
5/162: IND-Brody Eldridge-TE/OL-OU: I like this pick. Eldridge is the best blocking TE in the 2010 class. At only 260ish pounds, he started multiple games on the line throughout his OU career, starting games at center and guard in addition to tight end. Could redshirt for a few years to bulk up and play an interior lineman position, or stay as a blocking TE.
GRADE: B
5/163: MIA-Reshad Jones-S-Georgia: Fills a need, was selected 2+ rounds later than he should have been, productive in college. Yup, Parcells gets an A for this one.
GRADE: A
5/164: PIT-Crezdon Butler-CB-Clemson: The Steelers needed a corner or two in this draft, and fill the need when selecting Butler. Good size and athleticism, but isn't a very experienced Cover 2 corner.
GRADE: B
5/165: ATL-Kerry Meier-WR-Kansas: A big possession receiver with limited athletic ability. Meier knows how to get open though and has solid hands, so he could pan out.
GRADE: C+
5/166: PIT-Stevenson Sylvester-ILB-UTAH: Not a good fit at any LB position in the 3-4, so he'll have to make contributions on special teams.
GRADE: C
5/167: MIN-Nathan Triplett-ILB-Minnesota: Not a great prospect, even in round 5. Has the size to contribute on run downs though if he makes the team.
GRADE: C
5/168: SD-Jonathan Crompton-QB-TENN: The Chargers needed another developmental QB after trading Charlie Whitehurst this offseason. Has the tools to be a future starter, and played exceptionally well in 9 (or so) games his senior season. Trouble is, after being highly recruited out of high school, the last 9 (or so) games of his senior season were the only really good games of his college career.
GRADE: B-
5/169: GB-Marshall Newhouse-OG-TCU: The Packers O-line needed some serious depth, and they grab a player I had a round 2 grade on here. Can play both guard positions, and possibly RT in the NFL. Love this pick to close out the 5th round.
GRADE: A+
Showing posts with label analysis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label analysis. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Pick by Pick Analysis and Grades-Round 4
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7
4/99: STL-Mardy Gilyard-WR-Cincinnati: Gilyard is a very talented receiver who has the ability to stretch the defense for Sam Bradford. The Rams needed to get additional weapons for their new franchise QB, and they succeed in doing so here.
GRADE: A-
4/100: MIN-Everson Griffen-DE-USC: Outstanding value pick by the Vikings here. Griffen is one of the most talented players in the entire draft, and was clearly the best overall prospect left. The Vikings grab a player with the 100th pick that was projected by some to go as high as 16th overall to the Titans. The Vikings didn't really need a DE at this juncture, but Griffen was too talented to pass up here, and the Vikings don't really have many needs, and could have gotten a major steal.
GRADE: A+
4/101: TB-Mike Williams-WR-SYR: Interesting pick. Williams is a first or second round prospect in terms of talent alone, but he quit on his team mid-season last year. Hopefully with a paycheck involved, and no school to be "burdened" by, Williams will be able to actually give a crap about his team. If he pans out, the Bucs could be set at WR for the next 10 years.
GRADE: B
4/102: HOU-Darryl Sharpton-ILB-Miami: Sharpton is a decent player, but he doesn't fill a need. I would have gone with a WR or safety at this juncture.
GRADE: B-
4/103: WAS-Perry Riley-OLB-LSU: If the 'Skins were still running a 4-3, this pick would have graded out about 2 letters higher, but Riley is a very poor fit for the 3-4. If the Redskins were looking for a pass rusher, they could have picked Thaddeus Gibson or Eric Norwood, or could have selected Phillip Dillard as an inside linebacker.
GRADE: D+
4/104: TEN-Alterraun Verner-CB-UCLA: Verner is a decent corner who really fills a need for the Titans. Solid pick.
GRADE: B
4/105: Travis Lindley-CB-Kentucky: The Eagles really needed a corner after trading Sheldon Brown, but Lindley's stock has plummeted this season after terrible play, and poor draft season performances.
GRADE: C+
4/106: OAK-Bruce Campbell-OT-Maryland: Great, great pick. Many had the Raiders selecting this workout warrior in the first round, but smartly (can't believe I typed that non-jokingly) they waited until a round or two after Campbell should have gone. He's very raw, but has shown enormous promise and potential. Could be their LT of the next decade after sitting for a year or two to work on technique.
GRADE: A+
4/107: BUF-Marcus Easley-WR-UCONN: A project, but has good size, speed, and decent hands. May take a while to develop into a solid WR, but its not like the Bills are going to be good for a few years anyway.
GRADE: B
4/108: OAK-Jacoby Ford-WR-Clemson: Another solid pick by Oakland. Ford fits the Raider wishlist of an athletic freak (4.27 40), but presents very good value here. Will eventually help at receiver, but will contribute greatly in the return game-both punt and kick-immediately.
GRADE: B+
4/109: CHI-Coorey Wooten-DE-NW: Was dominant before his knee surgery after his junior year (16.5 TFL, 10 sacks), and struggled a bit his senior year, in comparison. Still, he is great against the run, and being another year removed from knee surgery should help him regain his pass-rushing form.
GRADE: B+
4/110: SD-Darrell Stuckey-S-Kansas: Stuckey is a very good value here, and could push the incumbents in front of him. Special teams ace this year, starter the next.
GRADE: A-
4/111: SEA-Walter Thurmond-CB-ORE: Thurmond will help provide quality depth for the Seahawks struggling secondary, but he is extremely injury prone.
GRADE: B-
4/112: NYJ-Joe McKnight-RB-USC: Was supposed to be the "Next Reggie Bush" at USC, but never amounted to anything close to that type of production. If McKnight came from another school, I doubt he would have even be drafted. All-hype player, but he fills a need as a speed back.
GRADE: C+
4/113: NE-Aaron Hernandez-TE-Florida: The Patriots had made it a goal this offseason to surround Tom Brady with more weapons, and they continue to accomplish that goal here. I know they took Gronkowski earlier, but Hernandez is a very different type of TE. They will be able to use him in a number of ways, including H-back, traditional TE, slot receiver, out wide, fullback, and elsewhere.
GRADE: A
4/114: BAL-Dennis Pitta-TE-BYU: The Ravens' second TE pick makes less sense to me than the Patriots does, because I'm not sure either Pitta or Ed Dickson is as versatile as Aaron Hernandez, and therefore it will be harder to get both on the field to help as much as possible. Still, Pitta presented good value here, and provides insurance in case Dickson busts.
GRADE: B-
4/115: NYG-Phillip Dillard-ILB-NEB: More athletic than you would expect when watching him on film. Has a good nose for the football, and a typical Nebraska player's motor (excellent). Solid pick.
GRADE: B
4/116: PIT-Thaddeus Gibson-OLB-Ohio St: Good value, and a potentially solid pick as a 3-4 rush LB. Still, 2 rush LBs before a single corner is questionable in my opinion.
GRADE: B
4/117: ATL-Joseph Hawley-OG/C-UNLV: Fills a need at center, but there were better center prospects on the board.
GRADE: C+
4/118: HOU-Garrett Graham-TE-WISC: The Texans have had success with another receiving TE from Wisconsin, so they dip into that pool again. I think Graham could be a very productive TE who they can move around the field, but Owen Daniels already is that, and so is their 5th round pick from last year, James Casey.
GRADE: B
4/119: MIA-AJ Edds-ILB-Iowa: A tough and gritty player who played outside in college, but will have to kick inside for the Dolphins 3-4. Could be solid, but I see Edds as a much better 4-3 strongside LB than at any LB spot in a 3-4.
GRADE: C+
4/120: CIN-Geno Atkins-DT-Georgia: A physically gifted player (4.75 40 at 293 pounds, 34 BP reps) but definitely underachieved in college, and started only 3 games his senior year. Still, he showed what he is capable of at the Senior Bowl, making 1st round guard Mike Iupati look silly all week. Serious concerns about his effort and work ethic though.
GRADE: B+
4/121: PHI-Keenan Clayton-OLB-OU: An undersized (229 pounds) but speedy (4.57 40) converted safety, Clayton fills a need, but is questionable value here.
GRADE: C
4/122: PHI-Mike Kafka-QB-NW: The Eagles needed a developmental QB in case Kevin Kolb falters, and they get a solid one here. Kafka has really good intangibles, coupled with a solid arm and accuracy.
GRADE: B+
4/123: NO-Al Woods-DT-LSU: Was thought to be the heir to Glenn Dorsey at LSU, but never quite played up to his potential. Still, he is a very intriguing pick for the Saints, and could potentially form a dominant DT duo with Sedrick Ellis.
GRADE: A-
4/124: CAR-Eric Norwood-LB/DE-S. Carolina: Probably a bit undersized to play DE in the NFL, and is probably a better fit in the 3-4, but Norwood was far too good of a value to pass up here. GRADE:A-
4/125: PHI-Clay Harbor-TE/FB-Missouri State: Could be a key cog to the Eagles offense next year. Is skilled enough to be used in multiple different positions right away. What keeps him out of the "A" grade range is the fact that the Eagles still haven't addressed the O-line.
GRADE: B+
4/126: DAL-Akwasi Owusa-Ansah-CB/S-IUP: Owusa-Ansah stock had been rising all draft season, until a knee injury set him back some. Provided very good tape (albeit at IUP) and showed his top-notch athleticism. The Cowboys won't really need him in the secondary until next year, but "AOA" should be able to contribute immediately in both punt and kick returning.
GRADE: A
4/127: SEA-EJ Wilson-DE-UNC: More of a run-stuffer than pass-rusher. Fills a need, but was considered a 6th or 7th round prospect.
GRADE: C
4/128: DET-Jason Fox-OT-Miami: Terrific pick. Fox was a 4 year starter at Miami who could have been a 1st round pick had it not been for an irregular heartbeat and knee injury this year. If he stays healthy, and the irregular heartbeat was a one-time thing, Detroit could have stolen a franchise LT here.
GRADE: A
4/129: IND-Jacques McClendon-OG-TENN: I never want to doubt Bill Polian, who has made so many picks that seemed questionable during the draft, but pan out and become great players, but I have a hard time seeing a positive with this pick. McClendon was a borderline draftable player by most teams, and could struggle to catch on with the Colts.
GRADE: C
4/130: O'Brien Schofield-OLB-Wisconsin: Had he not torn his ACL at the Senior Bowl, he probably would have gone in the first 2 or 3 rounds. The Cardinals won't need this undersized pass-rushing demon (12 sacks last year in the Big Ten at 237 pounds) until 2011 anyway, which should give him more than enough time to recover, and hopefully bulk up.
GRADE: B+
4/131: CIN-Roddrick Muckelroy-LB-Texas: Never got much publicity during his Longhorn tenure playing along with so many other talented defenders during his career. Muckelroy can be utilized at all of the LB positions (even rush LB occasionally) even though his versatility wasn't on display often in college. Great depth/ST pick at the very least.
GRADE: B
4/99: STL-Mardy Gilyard-WR-Cincinnati: Gilyard is a very talented receiver who has the ability to stretch the defense for Sam Bradford. The Rams needed to get additional weapons for their new franchise QB, and they succeed in doing so here.
GRADE: A-
4/100: MIN-Everson Griffen-DE-USC: Outstanding value pick by the Vikings here. Griffen is one of the most talented players in the entire draft, and was clearly the best overall prospect left. The Vikings grab a player with the 100th pick that was projected by some to go as high as 16th overall to the Titans. The Vikings didn't really need a DE at this juncture, but Griffen was too talented to pass up here, and the Vikings don't really have many needs, and could have gotten a major steal.
GRADE: A+
4/101: TB-Mike Williams-WR-SYR: Interesting pick. Williams is a first or second round prospect in terms of talent alone, but he quit on his team mid-season last year. Hopefully with a paycheck involved, and no school to be "burdened" by, Williams will be able to actually give a crap about his team. If he pans out, the Bucs could be set at WR for the next 10 years.
GRADE: B
4/102: HOU-Darryl Sharpton-ILB-Miami: Sharpton is a decent player, but he doesn't fill a need. I would have gone with a WR or safety at this juncture.
GRADE: B-
4/103: WAS-Perry Riley-OLB-LSU: If the 'Skins were still running a 4-3, this pick would have graded out about 2 letters higher, but Riley is a very poor fit for the 3-4. If the Redskins were looking for a pass rusher, they could have picked Thaddeus Gibson or Eric Norwood, or could have selected Phillip Dillard as an inside linebacker.
GRADE: D+
4/104: TEN-Alterraun Verner-CB-UCLA: Verner is a decent corner who really fills a need for the Titans. Solid pick.
GRADE: B
4/105: Travis Lindley-CB-Kentucky: The Eagles really needed a corner after trading Sheldon Brown, but Lindley's stock has plummeted this season after terrible play, and poor draft season performances.
GRADE: C+
4/106: OAK-Bruce Campbell-OT-Maryland: Great, great pick. Many had the Raiders selecting this workout warrior in the first round, but smartly (can't believe I typed that non-jokingly) they waited until a round or two after Campbell should have gone. He's very raw, but has shown enormous promise and potential. Could be their LT of the next decade after sitting for a year or two to work on technique.
GRADE: A+
4/107: BUF-Marcus Easley-WR-UCONN: A project, but has good size, speed, and decent hands. May take a while to develop into a solid WR, but its not like the Bills are going to be good for a few years anyway.
GRADE: B
4/108: OAK-Jacoby Ford-WR-Clemson: Another solid pick by Oakland. Ford fits the Raider wishlist of an athletic freak (4.27 40), but presents very good value here. Will eventually help at receiver, but will contribute greatly in the return game-both punt and kick-immediately.
GRADE: B+
4/109: CHI-Coorey Wooten-DE-NW: Was dominant before his knee surgery after his junior year (16.5 TFL, 10 sacks), and struggled a bit his senior year, in comparison. Still, he is great against the run, and being another year removed from knee surgery should help him regain his pass-rushing form.
GRADE: B+
4/110: SD-Darrell Stuckey-S-Kansas: Stuckey is a very good value here, and could push the incumbents in front of him. Special teams ace this year, starter the next.
GRADE: A-
4/111: SEA-Walter Thurmond-CB-ORE: Thurmond will help provide quality depth for the Seahawks struggling secondary, but he is extremely injury prone.
GRADE: B-
4/112: NYJ-Joe McKnight-RB-USC: Was supposed to be the "Next Reggie Bush" at USC, but never amounted to anything close to that type of production. If McKnight came from another school, I doubt he would have even be drafted. All-hype player, but he fills a need as a speed back.
GRADE: C+
4/113: NE-Aaron Hernandez-TE-Florida: The Patriots had made it a goal this offseason to surround Tom Brady with more weapons, and they continue to accomplish that goal here. I know they took Gronkowski earlier, but Hernandez is a very different type of TE. They will be able to use him in a number of ways, including H-back, traditional TE, slot receiver, out wide, fullback, and elsewhere.
GRADE: A
4/114: BAL-Dennis Pitta-TE-BYU: The Ravens' second TE pick makes less sense to me than the Patriots does, because I'm not sure either Pitta or Ed Dickson is as versatile as Aaron Hernandez, and therefore it will be harder to get both on the field to help as much as possible. Still, Pitta presented good value here, and provides insurance in case Dickson busts.
GRADE: B-
4/115: NYG-Phillip Dillard-ILB-NEB: More athletic than you would expect when watching him on film. Has a good nose for the football, and a typical Nebraska player's motor (excellent). Solid pick.
GRADE: B
4/116: PIT-Thaddeus Gibson-OLB-Ohio St: Good value, and a potentially solid pick as a 3-4 rush LB. Still, 2 rush LBs before a single corner is questionable in my opinion.
GRADE: B
4/117: ATL-Joseph Hawley-OG/C-UNLV: Fills a need at center, but there were better center prospects on the board.
GRADE: C+
4/118: HOU-Garrett Graham-TE-WISC: The Texans have had success with another receiving TE from Wisconsin, so they dip into that pool again. I think Graham could be a very productive TE who they can move around the field, but Owen Daniels already is that, and so is their 5th round pick from last year, James Casey.
GRADE: B
4/119: MIA-AJ Edds-ILB-Iowa: A tough and gritty player who played outside in college, but will have to kick inside for the Dolphins 3-4. Could be solid, but I see Edds as a much better 4-3 strongside LB than at any LB spot in a 3-4.
GRADE: C+
4/120: CIN-Geno Atkins-DT-Georgia: A physically gifted player (4.75 40 at 293 pounds, 34 BP reps) but definitely underachieved in college, and started only 3 games his senior year. Still, he showed what he is capable of at the Senior Bowl, making 1st round guard Mike Iupati look silly all week. Serious concerns about his effort and work ethic though.
GRADE: B+
4/121: PHI-Keenan Clayton-OLB-OU: An undersized (229 pounds) but speedy (4.57 40) converted safety, Clayton fills a need, but is questionable value here.
GRADE: C
4/122: PHI-Mike Kafka-QB-NW: The Eagles needed a developmental QB in case Kevin Kolb falters, and they get a solid one here. Kafka has really good intangibles, coupled with a solid arm and accuracy.
GRADE: B+
4/123: NO-Al Woods-DT-LSU: Was thought to be the heir to Glenn Dorsey at LSU, but never quite played up to his potential. Still, he is a very intriguing pick for the Saints, and could potentially form a dominant DT duo with Sedrick Ellis.
GRADE: A-
4/124: CAR-Eric Norwood-LB/DE-S. Carolina: Probably a bit undersized to play DE in the NFL, and is probably a better fit in the 3-4, but Norwood was far too good of a value to pass up here. GRADE:A-
4/125: PHI-Clay Harbor-TE/FB-Missouri State: Could be a key cog to the Eagles offense next year. Is skilled enough to be used in multiple different positions right away. What keeps him out of the "A" grade range is the fact that the Eagles still haven't addressed the O-line.
GRADE: B+
4/126: DAL-Akwasi Owusa-Ansah-CB/S-IUP: Owusa-Ansah stock had been rising all draft season, until a knee injury set him back some. Provided very good tape (albeit at IUP) and showed his top-notch athleticism. The Cowboys won't really need him in the secondary until next year, but "AOA" should be able to contribute immediately in both punt and kick returning.
GRADE: A
4/127: SEA-EJ Wilson-DE-UNC: More of a run-stuffer than pass-rusher. Fills a need, but was considered a 6th or 7th round prospect.
GRADE: C
4/128: DET-Jason Fox-OT-Miami: Terrific pick. Fox was a 4 year starter at Miami who could have been a 1st round pick had it not been for an irregular heartbeat and knee injury this year. If he stays healthy, and the irregular heartbeat was a one-time thing, Detroit could have stolen a franchise LT here.
GRADE: A
4/129: IND-Jacques McClendon-OG-TENN: I never want to doubt Bill Polian, who has made so many picks that seemed questionable during the draft, but pan out and become great players, but I have a hard time seeing a positive with this pick. McClendon was a borderline draftable player by most teams, and could struggle to catch on with the Colts.
GRADE: C
4/130: O'Brien Schofield-OLB-Wisconsin: Had he not torn his ACL at the Senior Bowl, he probably would have gone in the first 2 or 3 rounds. The Cardinals won't need this undersized pass-rushing demon (12 sacks last year in the Big Ten at 237 pounds) until 2011 anyway, which should give him more than enough time to recover, and hopefully bulk up.
GRADE: B+
4/131: CIN-Roddrick Muckelroy-LB-Texas: Never got much publicity during his Longhorn tenure playing along with so many other talented defenders during his career. Muckelroy can be utilized at all of the LB positions (even rush LB occasionally) even though his versatility wasn't on display often in college. Great depth/ST pick at the very least.
GRADE: B
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Pick by Pick Analysis and Grades- Round 3
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7
3/65: STL-Jerome Murphy-DB-USF: Murphy was a good producer in college, and fills a smaller need. Still, I think the Rams should have grabbed a skill position player like Brandon LaFell, Jimmy Graham, or Eric Decker.
GRADE: C+
3/66: DET-Amari Spivey-CB-Iowa: Fills a need, and has potential to be an above average corner.
GRADE: B
3/67: TB-Myron Lewis-S/CB-Vandy: Could be a good fit as a corner in the Tampa 2 scheme, and he fits a need. Still, the Bucs probably reached by about a round.
GRADE: B
3/68: KC-Jon Asamoah-OG-Illinois: Not a huge fan of Asamoah, and if the Chiefs would have selected Russell Okung in the first round, they could have just kicked Brandon Albert (a far superior guard prospect) then this pick wouldn't have to be made.
GRADE: C+
3/69: OAK- Jared Veldheer-OT-Hillside: A very typical Raider pick. Veldheer is a very athletic and massive tackle prospect (6'8" 312 pounds) and could potentially be a very solid right tackle. However, freakishly athletic small school prospects aren't exactly sure things.
GRADE: C
3/70: BAL-Ed Dickson-TE-Oregon: A very good receiver out of the tight end position, as the Ravens continue to give Joe Flacco weapons galore to work with.
GRADE: B+
3/71: GB-Morgan Burnett-S-GT: The Packers needed some insurance and a possible successor for the oft-injured Atari Bigbi. Burnett is also a good value at this point in the draft.
GRADE: B+
3/72: BUF-Alex Carrington-DE-Ark. St: A talented prospect who should be able play early on, as the Bills lack any real pieces for the 3-4 defense. Lacks a very consistent motor though.
GRADE: B+
3/73: MIA-John Jerry-OG-Ole Miss: A massive offensive line prospect with decent athleticism. Provides depth, and has the potential to be a starter in a year or two.
GRADE: B
3/74: JAX-D'Anthony Smith-DT-LT: Defensive tackle wasn't even that big of a need for the Jags, yet they go and spend their first two picks on them. The Jags missed the playoffs last year, so they obviously have multiple needs, like an edge pass rusher, center, safety, corner, etc.
GRADE: F
3/75: CHI-Major Wright-S-Florida: The Bears have had a hole at the free safety position for years, so this pick definitely makes sense. Additionally, Wright was viewed as high as a 2nd round prospect by many, including me. Need+value=great pick.
GRADE: A-
3/76: NYG-Chad Jones-S-LSU: A big, physical safety who could provide insurance if Kenny Philips never returns to his old self after his injury.
GRADE: B
3/77: TEN-Damien Williams-WR-USC: Great pick by the Titans. Williams precise route running and great hands will help him be a solid #2 to Kenny Britt in the Titans offense. Vince Young is finally about to have a solid receiving core around him.
GRADE: A
3/78: CAR-Brandon LaFell-WR-LSU: LaFell was thought to be the 1st or 2nd best receiver in the draft before he ran poorly (4.59) at the combine. Still, LaFell is a very effective run-after-the-catch receiver, and could be a steal here.
GRADE: A-
3/79: SD-Donald Butler-ILB-WASH: I like Butler more as a 4-3 inside linebacker than a 3-4 one. Regardless though, he is a good value at this point.
GRADE: B
3/80: DEN-JD Walton-C-Baylor: Really good pick by the Broncos who also fills a need. Could possibly start this year, and is almost a lock to start in 2011.
GRADE: B+
3/81: HOU-Earl Mitchell-DT-Arizona: Had a very impressive combine, running a 4.70 at 294 pounds. He could end up being a solid interior pass rusher, but I have my doubts.
GRADE: C-
3/82: PIT-Emmanuel Sanders-WR-SMU: Emmanuel Sanders is a very quick and talented receiver who, like another former June Jones WR Davone Bess, should be a very productive slot receiver at the very least.
GRADE: B
3/83: ATL-Corey Peters-DT-Kentucky: Could be a good pass rushing DT, but the Falcons already have Jordan Babineaux and Peria Jerry, who are also pass rushing DTs. Questionable pick.
GRADE: C+
3/84: CIN-Jordan Shipley-WR-Texas: The Bengals have three or four other talented receivers on their team, but all of them are better suited to play out wide. Shipley is an ideal fit for a team that really needed a good slot receiver.
GRADE: B+
3/85: CLE-Colt McCoy-QB-Texas: Some people may think that Colt McCoy won't be successful at the next level, but I am not one of them. Colt has a stronger than advertised arm, is deadly accurate, has top-notch makeup, leadership, and intangibles, and is a very hard worker. I don't put all my stock in intangibles (like many Tebow lovers do), and know that it takes more than just leadership to win in the NFL. What makes me think he will be successful is that you can build an offense around an extremely accurate QB who may lack arm strength, which is basically what the Browns are going to be running anyway (West Coast). You can't do that with a guy that has a cannon but no accuracy (Raiders-JaMarcus Russell).
GRADE: A
3/86: PHI-Daneil Te'o-Nesheim-DE-WASH: Te'o-Nesheim had a very productive college career, but the Eagles already have a good number of DE's, and drafted another one in the first round. They should have used this pick to address their offensive line.
GRADE: C-
3/87: DEN-Eric Decker-WR-MINN: Decker had a very productive college career, and if it weren't for his season ending foot injury, he probably would have been a mid-second round pick. With the losses of both Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler this offseason, Denver needed some players to throw the ball to.
GRADE: B+
3/88: ARI-Andre Roberts-WR-The Citadel: Roberts is an extremely talented small school player who dominated during the Senior Bowl week. He runs very precise routes, has good hands, and is fairly athletic. He may have trouble moving up the depth chart though, as the Cardinals have 3 very talented receivers in front of him. (Fitzgerald, Breaston, and Doucet)
GRADE: B+
3/89: CAR-Armanti Edwards-QB/WR-App. St: Armanti Edwards is an intriguing prospect, but he could have been had much later. Additionally, the Panthers already selected a WR and a QB, and have plenty of athletes to run the wildcat if they decide to install that package more often. They traded a future 2nd to make this very questionable pick, which only makes this worse.
GRADE: F
3/90: NE-Taylor Price-WR-Ohio: An Ohio player picked before an Ohio State player. Taylor Price is a very good athlete who will need a year or two to refine the rest of his game. Still, a decent upside pick.
GRADE:C+
3/91: SF-Navarro Bowman-LB-Penn State: I'm not sure if the 49ers will try to convert him into a rush LB or an inside one for their 3-4 defense, as he is not really a solid fit for either position. Bowman is a very talented player though, and at this point was probably just too good to pass up.
GRADE: B
3/92: CLE-Shawn Lauvao-OT/OG-ASU: I'm not really a fan of this pick. Lauvao could have been selected at least a round later on in the draft, and isn't really all that talented of a player. Still, the Browns need some help and depth on the interior of their line so the pick isn't a complete waste.
GRADE: C
3/93: KC: Tony Moeaki-TE-Iowa: Moeaki is a very talented receiver at the TE position, but has a laundry list of injuries in his career. I have my doubts about him ever reaching his full potential, as he will likely be on the sidelines the majority of his career.
GRADE: D+
3/94: IND-Kevin Thomas-CB-USC: A talented corner who seemed to be overlooked during his tenure at USC despite his consistently solid play. Provides much needed depth at corner for the Colts.
GRADE: B
3/95: NO-Jimmy Graham-TE-Miami: Graham is my absolute biggest sleeper in this draft class, no questions asked. I honestly think he will be a top 3 TE in the league in a handful of years. He is a dynamic athlete with great ball skills, excellent natural hands, and is already a solid route runner, despite only playing football for 13 games in college. After a few years of developing, he could be the #1 target in the Saints already prolific offense.
GRADE: A+
3/96: CIN-Brandon Ghee-CB-WAKE: Brandon Ghee is a very athletic corner who has developed some excellent coverage and ball skills over the years. After a dominant Senior Bowl and very good combine, I thought he would have been selected about 35 picks earlier. The Bengals get another talented corner to go along with Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph, giving them one of the best corner trios in football.
GRADE: B+
3/97: TEN: Rennie Curan-LB-Georgia: Curran had back to back 100+ tackle seasons and is a pretty good fit for the Titans defense. Still, he is a bit small (5'11" 235 pounds) so he may have trouble shedding blocks at the next level. At the absolute least, he should be a terror on special teams.
GRADE: B
3/98: ATL-Mike Johnson-OG-Alabama: Guard isn't the most pressing need for the Falcons, and they probably could have used a pass rusher like Everson Griffen at this juncture instead. Still, Johnson is very talented and could push for playing time early in his career.
GRADE: B
Stay tuned for Round 4's analysis tomorrow.
3/65: STL-Jerome Murphy-DB-USF: Murphy was a good producer in college, and fills a smaller need. Still, I think the Rams should have grabbed a skill position player like Brandon LaFell, Jimmy Graham, or Eric Decker.
GRADE: C+
3/66: DET-Amari Spivey-CB-Iowa: Fills a need, and has potential to be an above average corner.
GRADE: B
3/67: TB-Myron Lewis-S/CB-Vandy: Could be a good fit as a corner in the Tampa 2 scheme, and he fits a need. Still, the Bucs probably reached by about a round.
GRADE: B
3/68: KC-Jon Asamoah-OG-Illinois: Not a huge fan of Asamoah, and if the Chiefs would have selected Russell Okung in the first round, they could have just kicked Brandon Albert (a far superior guard prospect) then this pick wouldn't have to be made.
GRADE: C+
3/69: OAK- Jared Veldheer-OT-Hillside: A very typical Raider pick. Veldheer is a very athletic and massive tackle prospect (6'8" 312 pounds) and could potentially be a very solid right tackle. However, freakishly athletic small school prospects aren't exactly sure things.
GRADE: C
3/70: BAL-Ed Dickson-TE-Oregon: A very good receiver out of the tight end position, as the Ravens continue to give Joe Flacco weapons galore to work with.
GRADE: B+
3/71: GB-Morgan Burnett-S-GT: The Packers needed some insurance and a possible successor for the oft-injured Atari Bigbi. Burnett is also a good value at this point in the draft.
GRADE: B+
3/72: BUF-Alex Carrington-DE-Ark. St: A talented prospect who should be able play early on, as the Bills lack any real pieces for the 3-4 defense. Lacks a very consistent motor though.
GRADE: B+
3/73: MIA-John Jerry-OG-Ole Miss: A massive offensive line prospect with decent athleticism. Provides depth, and has the potential to be a starter in a year or two.
GRADE: B
3/74: JAX-D'Anthony Smith-DT-LT: Defensive tackle wasn't even that big of a need for the Jags, yet they go and spend their first two picks on them. The Jags missed the playoffs last year, so they obviously have multiple needs, like an edge pass rusher, center, safety, corner, etc.
GRADE: F
3/75: CHI-Major Wright-S-Florida: The Bears have had a hole at the free safety position for years, so this pick definitely makes sense. Additionally, Wright was viewed as high as a 2nd round prospect by many, including me. Need+value=great pick.
GRADE: A-
3/76: NYG-Chad Jones-S-LSU: A big, physical safety who could provide insurance if Kenny Philips never returns to his old self after his injury.
GRADE: B
3/77: TEN-Damien Williams-WR-USC: Great pick by the Titans. Williams precise route running and great hands will help him be a solid #2 to Kenny Britt in the Titans offense. Vince Young is finally about to have a solid receiving core around him.
GRADE: A
3/78: CAR-Brandon LaFell-WR-LSU: LaFell was thought to be the 1st or 2nd best receiver in the draft before he ran poorly (4.59) at the combine. Still, LaFell is a very effective run-after-the-catch receiver, and could be a steal here.
GRADE: A-
3/79: SD-Donald Butler-ILB-WASH: I like Butler more as a 4-3 inside linebacker than a 3-4 one. Regardless though, he is a good value at this point.
GRADE: B
3/80: DEN-JD Walton-C-Baylor: Really good pick by the Broncos who also fills a need. Could possibly start this year, and is almost a lock to start in 2011.
GRADE: B+
3/81: HOU-Earl Mitchell-DT-Arizona: Had a very impressive combine, running a 4.70 at 294 pounds. He could end up being a solid interior pass rusher, but I have my doubts.
GRADE: C-
3/82: PIT-Emmanuel Sanders-WR-SMU: Emmanuel Sanders is a very quick and talented receiver who, like another former June Jones WR Davone Bess, should be a very productive slot receiver at the very least.
GRADE: B
3/83: ATL-Corey Peters-DT-Kentucky: Could be a good pass rushing DT, but the Falcons already have Jordan Babineaux and Peria Jerry, who are also pass rushing DTs. Questionable pick.
GRADE: C+
3/84: CIN-Jordan Shipley-WR-Texas: The Bengals have three or four other talented receivers on their team, but all of them are better suited to play out wide. Shipley is an ideal fit for a team that really needed a good slot receiver.
GRADE: B+
3/85: CLE-Colt McCoy-QB-Texas: Some people may think that Colt McCoy won't be successful at the next level, but I am not one of them. Colt has a stronger than advertised arm, is deadly accurate, has top-notch makeup, leadership, and intangibles, and is a very hard worker. I don't put all my stock in intangibles (like many Tebow lovers do), and know that it takes more than just leadership to win in the NFL. What makes me think he will be successful is that you can build an offense around an extremely accurate QB who may lack arm strength, which is basically what the Browns are going to be running anyway (West Coast). You can't do that with a guy that has a cannon but no accuracy (Raiders-JaMarcus Russell).
GRADE: A
3/86: PHI-Daneil Te'o-Nesheim-DE-WASH: Te'o-Nesheim had a very productive college career, but the Eagles already have a good number of DE's, and drafted another one in the first round. They should have used this pick to address their offensive line.
GRADE: C-
3/87: DEN-Eric Decker-WR-MINN: Decker had a very productive college career, and if it weren't for his season ending foot injury, he probably would have been a mid-second round pick. With the losses of both Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler this offseason, Denver needed some players to throw the ball to.
GRADE: B+
3/88: ARI-Andre Roberts-WR-The Citadel: Roberts is an extremely talented small school player who dominated during the Senior Bowl week. He runs very precise routes, has good hands, and is fairly athletic. He may have trouble moving up the depth chart though, as the Cardinals have 3 very talented receivers in front of him. (Fitzgerald, Breaston, and Doucet)
GRADE: B+
3/89: CAR-Armanti Edwards-QB/WR-App. St: Armanti Edwards is an intriguing prospect, but he could have been had much later. Additionally, the Panthers already selected a WR and a QB, and have plenty of athletes to run the wildcat if they decide to install that package more often. They traded a future 2nd to make this very questionable pick, which only makes this worse.
GRADE: F
3/90: NE-Taylor Price-WR-Ohio: An Ohio player picked before an Ohio State player. Taylor Price is a very good athlete who will need a year or two to refine the rest of his game. Still, a decent upside pick.
GRADE:C+
3/91: SF-Navarro Bowman-LB-Penn State: I'm not sure if the 49ers will try to convert him into a rush LB or an inside one for their 3-4 defense, as he is not really a solid fit for either position. Bowman is a very talented player though, and at this point was probably just too good to pass up.
GRADE: B
3/92: CLE-Shawn Lauvao-OT/OG-ASU: I'm not really a fan of this pick. Lauvao could have been selected at least a round later on in the draft, and isn't really all that talented of a player. Still, the Browns need some help and depth on the interior of their line so the pick isn't a complete waste.
GRADE: C
3/93: KC: Tony Moeaki-TE-Iowa: Moeaki is a very talented receiver at the TE position, but has a laundry list of injuries in his career. I have my doubts about him ever reaching his full potential, as he will likely be on the sidelines the majority of his career.
GRADE: D+
3/94: IND-Kevin Thomas-CB-USC: A talented corner who seemed to be overlooked during his tenure at USC despite his consistently solid play. Provides much needed depth at corner for the Colts.
GRADE: B
3/95: NO-Jimmy Graham-TE-Miami: Graham is my absolute biggest sleeper in this draft class, no questions asked. I honestly think he will be a top 3 TE in the league in a handful of years. He is a dynamic athlete with great ball skills, excellent natural hands, and is already a solid route runner, despite only playing football for 13 games in college. After a few years of developing, he could be the #1 target in the Saints already prolific offense.
GRADE: A+
3/96: CIN-Brandon Ghee-CB-WAKE: Brandon Ghee is a very athletic corner who has developed some excellent coverage and ball skills over the years. After a dominant Senior Bowl and very good combine, I thought he would have been selected about 35 picks earlier. The Bengals get another talented corner to go along with Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph, giving them one of the best corner trios in football.
GRADE: B+
3/97: TEN: Rennie Curan-LB-Georgia: Curran had back to back 100+ tackle seasons and is a pretty good fit for the Titans defense. Still, he is a bit small (5'11" 235 pounds) so he may have trouble shedding blocks at the next level. At the absolute least, he should be a terror on special teams.
GRADE: B
3/98: ATL-Mike Johnson-OG-Alabama: Guard isn't the most pressing need for the Falcons, and they probably could have used a pass rusher like Everson Griffen at this juncture instead. Still, Johnson is very talented and could push for playing time early in his career.
GRADE: B
Stay tuned for Round 4's analysis tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Pick by Pick Analysis and Grades-Round 2
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7
Round 2/Pick 33: STL-Roger Saffold-OT-Indiana: Incredibly smart pick by the Rams. You just made a 50 million dollar investment in Sam Bradford, so why not give him an exceptional O-lineman for protection? Some wanted a WR like Golden Tate or Arrelious Benn here, but the Rams were smart in building up their line first.
GRADE: B+
2/34: MIN: Chris Cook-CB/S-Virginia: I like Chris Cook as a corner prospect, but I don't think he will be anything exceptionally special. Solid pick by the Vikings that fills a definite need.
GRADE: B
2/35: TB: Brian Price-DT-UCLA: In terms of value, this is a good pick, as Price could have gone as high as 20th overall according to some. However, the Bucs already have two very good DTs in Gerald McCoy, who they selected in the first round, and Roy Miller, a second year player. If the Bucs were a solid playoff level team, this pick would be acceptable. They are not however, and therefore need to focus on their needs more.
GRADE: D
2/36: KC-Dexter McCluster-RB/WR-Ole Miss: The Chiefs select a lightning quick RB with very good hands and is a capable return man here. That would have been fine, if they hadn't selected the same exact thing 2 years ago in Jamaal Charles (who is everything McCluster is, only 15 pounds heavier). Terrible pick. If you're the Chiefs, you can't afford to take a luxury pick like McCluster in the 2nd round. You need players who can start for you, not backups.
GRADE: D
2/37: PHI-Nate Allen-S-USF: Some had a late first round grade on Allen, although I had him in the early 40s. Regardless, the Eagles filled a big need at safety with this selection.
GRADE: B+
2/38: CLE-TJ Ward-S-Oregon: I'm not sure if the Browns just panicked because they wanted to take Nate Allen, so they spazzed out and grabbed the next safety they saw on their board, or what, but this was an exceptionally bad pick. Ward was, at best, a round 4 prospect in this year's draft, but the Browns select him with the 38th overall pick. No wonder they're drafting towards the beginning of every round nearly every year.
GRADE: D+
2/39: TB-Arrelious Benn-WR-Illinois: Benn is a dynamic athlete who thrives making big runs when the ball is in his hands. Unfortunately though, Benn had a hard time getting the ball in his hands last year, as he dropped a ton of passes. Some of that may have been caused by his shoddy (at best) QB play last season that could not throw a spiral, or accurate pass. Great value pick by the Bucs here.
GRADE: B+
2/40: MIA-Koa Misi-OLB-Utah: Misi has the size and athletic ability to be a productive Rush LB for the Dolphins, while not being terrible in coverage. Somewhat of a project though, as he'll need to learn coverages and how to play with his hand off of the ground after playing with his hand on the ground at Utah.
GRADE: B
2/41: BUF-Terrell Troupe-NT-UCF: Does the pick fill a need? Yes, the Bills simply had nothing to plug in at NT in their first year as a 3-4 team. However, I would probably have selected Terrence Cody or Cam Thomas here instead. Still, fills a need and gives them a probable starter this year.
GRADE: B-
2/42: NE-Rob Gronkowski-TE-Arizona: Had Gronkowski played this year, he more than likely would have been a 1st round pick. There are/were some worries about his back, but everything I've heard says he is medically cleared now. He is an exceptional blocker in the run game, and is athletic enough to make catches all over the field. The Pats get themselves a potentially huge steal in round 2, much to the delight of Tom Brady.
GRADE: A-
2/43: BAL-Sergio Kindle-OLB-Texas: Kindle's play dropped off a bit after his dominating junior year, although there is a perfectly good explanation for this. All through high school, and until his senior year, Kindle played some semblance of linebacker. His junior year, when he recorded double digit sacks, he played predominately as a Rush LB, a position similar to what he will play in the NFL, while his senior year, he played with his hand on the ground mainly as a DE. Baltimore gets the steal of the 2nd round.
GRADE: A+
2/44: OAK-LaMarr Houston-DE/DT-Texas: This pick befuddles me a bit, as Houston is fits better as a 4-3 DT fit than a 3-4 DE, in my opinion. In their first two picks, the Raiders selected one player, depending on the scheme they choose, that will not be as productive as possible due to playing in the wrong scheme. I do love Houston as a player, and think he could be very disruptive as an interior pass rusher.
GRADE: B
2/45: DEN-Zane Beadles-OT-Utah: After the Senior Bowl, I knocked Beadles down into the 4th round range, so picking him here is definitely a reach. That said, he does fill a big need on the Denver offensive line, so they get some marks for that.
GRADE: C
2/46: NYG-Linval Joseph-DT-ECU: The Giants address their defensive line, again, this time going for a big run stuffer. I think Joseph would be more effective in a 3-4 scheme, but he'll be okay here. Unfortunately for the Giants, who want to win now, he probably won't contribute for a year or two, as he is still somewhat raw, but there is potential aplenty.
GRADE: B-
2/47: ARI-Darryl Washington-ILB-TCU: I am very high on Darryl Washington. He may be able to step in right away and help fill the void created when Karlos Dansby left for Miami. Predicion-in three years, Washington will lead the league in tackles, and be considered one of the 3 best ILB in football.
GRADE: A-
2/48: CAR-Jimmy Clausen-QB-ND: I'm not sold on Jimmy Clausen, at all. Sure, he came out of a Pro Style offense at Notre Dame, put up good numbers, and has solid mechanics, but his arm strength is very overrated, he stares down receivers (and wasn't able to fix that in 3 years with one of the best offensive minds in the world in Charlie Weis), and is not the leader you want in a QB. Additionally, I don't like this pick because I felt Matt Moore was the perfect QB for the Panthers, a smart game manager who won't lose you the game who was on the verge of becoming a top 8 quarterback in the NFL.
GRADE: C
2/49: SF-Taylor Mays-S-USC: Mays lost a ton of money this year, when his lack of ability in coverage was exposed. Still, get him here is an incredible value for San Francisco. Mays definitely fits the physical nature that Coach Singletary prefers in his players. Could eventually have to move to linebacker if he doesn't improve in coverage.
GRADE: B+
2/50: KC-Javier Arenas-CB-Alabama: A solid corner prospect who should develop into a very good #2 in the league. Also is a capable return man, but with the selection of Dexter McCluster 14 picks earlier, he may be delegated to only taking punt returns instead of both kickoffs and punts.
GRADE: B
2/51: MIN-Toby Gerhart-RB-Stanford: I hate playing the race card, but I truly believe that if Toby was not a white man, he would have been a first round pick. He is a bruising runner with solid speed (ran in the 4.5's at the combine), has outstanding vision, and is a capable, underrated receiver out of the backfield. That being said, the Vikings probably could have used a quicker back to change the pace from AP's bruising style. (Maybe they have big plans for Harvin out of the backfield??)
GRADE: B
2/52: PIT-Jason Worilds-OLB-VT: A pretty good athlete, but wasn't terribly productive as a pass rusher last year (only 4 sacks). He has the tools to be another great Steeler rush LB though.
GRADE: B-
2/53: NE-Jermaine Cunningham-OLB-Florida: A promising rush LB prospect. Cunningham has the motor, and nonstop, never quit attitude that you covet in a pass rusher (this is why he was selected before his more-talented college teammate Carlos Dunlap). Still has an uphill battle to be successful though, since he'll be moving from a 3 point to a 2 point stance.
GRADE: B
2/54: CIN-Carlos Dunlap-DE-Florida: Will step into the NFL and automatically be one of the most physically talented prospects in the league. Unfortunately for both Dunlap and the Bengals, there is more to a player than just natural ability. If Dunlap had any sort of motor, he would be a lock for double digit sacks every year of his career. I think falling into the 2nd round will be a wake up call for him and he will finally play up to his potential. (Until his first big payday)
GRADE: B+
2/55: DAL-Sean Lee-ILB-Penn State: Typical Penn State linebacker, Lee is gritty as can be. Could push for playing time this year, and will probably be starting (barring injury-big concern) by year two.
GRADE: B
2/56: GB- Mike Neal-DE-Purdue: Is very athletic (runs a 4.86 and 294 pounds) but was way overdrafted in my opinion as I had him as a round 4 prospect. Still, if he can combine his athleticism with some consistent play, he could be a very good end.
GRADE: C
2/57: BAL- Terrence Cody-NT: At the start of the draft season, I was extremely weary of the work ethic of the 370 "Mount" Cody. Over the next couple of months, I saw some very good things out of him, as he cut over 20 pounds in a short period of time. He will be a dominant run stuffer in the league for as long as he wants to stay in shape.
GRADE: B+
2/58: HOU- Ben Tate-RB-Auburn: Tate is a very good fit for the Texans' zone blocking scheme, as he is definitely a "one cut n' go" type runner.
GRADE: B
2/59: CLE- Montario Hardesty-RB-TENN: I really like Hardesty as a runner, but I also like two of the backs already on Cleveland's roster: Jerome Harrison and James Davis. I have a hard time seeing Hardesty getting much burn, or being much better if he gets carries, with the other runners on the team. Pick should have been used elsewhere.
GRADE: C-
2/60: SEA- Golden Tate-WR-ND: Projected by some to go as high as the late 20's overall, the Seahawks AGAIN make another great selection. A big-time dynamic playmaker that can line up almost anywhere (out wide, slot, as a back, WildCat QB) will really open up the Seahawks offense, and he fills a big need with the loss of Nate Burleson.
GRADE: A
2/61: NYJ- Vladimir Ducasse-OG/OT-UMass: Ducasse has the potential to be one of the best interior linemen in football. However, he is very raw, so hopefully the Jets don't throw him to the wolves right away in the wake of the Alan Faneca release.
GRADE: B+
2/62: NE-Brandon Spikes-ILB-Florida: Spikes ran painfully slow at his Pro Day (5.00+ in the 40) but still can be an extremely effective in-the-box linebacker. He won't make many plays going sideline to sideline, but will be a good fit as a 2 down linebacker in New England's 3-4.
GRADE: B
2/63: IND-Pat Angerer-MLB-Iowa: I had him going in the late 3rd round, so this isn't a terrible reach. Still though, I would have liked it if the Colts selected someone like Charles Brown or even Bruce Campbell here instead to give Manning blindside protection.
GRADE: B-
2/64: NO-Charles Brown-OT-USC: Reportedly fell due to injury concerns. The Saints get a steal here if Brown can stay healthy, as they could eventually replace Jammal Brown with Charles Brown on the blindside.
GRADE: B+
Round 2/Pick 33: STL-Roger Saffold-OT-Indiana: Incredibly smart pick by the Rams. You just made a 50 million dollar investment in Sam Bradford, so why not give him an exceptional O-lineman for protection? Some wanted a WR like Golden Tate or Arrelious Benn here, but the Rams were smart in building up their line first.
GRADE: B+
2/34: MIN: Chris Cook-CB/S-Virginia: I like Chris Cook as a corner prospect, but I don't think he will be anything exceptionally special. Solid pick by the Vikings that fills a definite need.
GRADE: B
2/35: TB: Brian Price-DT-UCLA: In terms of value, this is a good pick, as Price could have gone as high as 20th overall according to some. However, the Bucs already have two very good DTs in Gerald McCoy, who they selected in the first round, and Roy Miller, a second year player. If the Bucs were a solid playoff level team, this pick would be acceptable. They are not however, and therefore need to focus on their needs more.
GRADE: D
2/36: KC-Dexter McCluster-RB/WR-Ole Miss: The Chiefs select a lightning quick RB with very good hands and is a capable return man here. That would have been fine, if they hadn't selected the same exact thing 2 years ago in Jamaal Charles (who is everything McCluster is, only 15 pounds heavier). Terrible pick. If you're the Chiefs, you can't afford to take a luxury pick like McCluster in the 2nd round. You need players who can start for you, not backups.
GRADE: D
2/37: PHI-Nate Allen-S-USF: Some had a late first round grade on Allen, although I had him in the early 40s. Regardless, the Eagles filled a big need at safety with this selection.
GRADE: B+
2/38: CLE-TJ Ward-S-Oregon: I'm not sure if the Browns just panicked because they wanted to take Nate Allen, so they spazzed out and grabbed the next safety they saw on their board, or what, but this was an exceptionally bad pick. Ward was, at best, a round 4 prospect in this year's draft, but the Browns select him with the 38th overall pick. No wonder they're drafting towards the beginning of every round nearly every year.
GRADE: D+
2/39: TB-Arrelious Benn-WR-Illinois: Benn is a dynamic athlete who thrives making big runs when the ball is in his hands. Unfortunately though, Benn had a hard time getting the ball in his hands last year, as he dropped a ton of passes. Some of that may have been caused by his shoddy (at best) QB play last season that could not throw a spiral, or accurate pass. Great value pick by the Bucs here.
GRADE: B+
2/40: MIA-Koa Misi-OLB-Utah: Misi has the size and athletic ability to be a productive Rush LB for the Dolphins, while not being terrible in coverage. Somewhat of a project though, as he'll need to learn coverages and how to play with his hand off of the ground after playing with his hand on the ground at Utah.
GRADE: B
2/41: BUF-Terrell Troupe-NT-UCF: Does the pick fill a need? Yes, the Bills simply had nothing to plug in at NT in their first year as a 3-4 team. However, I would probably have selected Terrence Cody or Cam Thomas here instead. Still, fills a need and gives them a probable starter this year.
GRADE: B-
2/42: NE-Rob Gronkowski-TE-Arizona: Had Gronkowski played this year, he more than likely would have been a 1st round pick. There are/were some worries about his back, but everything I've heard says he is medically cleared now. He is an exceptional blocker in the run game, and is athletic enough to make catches all over the field. The Pats get themselves a potentially huge steal in round 2, much to the delight of Tom Brady.
GRADE: A-
2/43: BAL-Sergio Kindle-OLB-Texas: Kindle's play dropped off a bit after his dominating junior year, although there is a perfectly good explanation for this. All through high school, and until his senior year, Kindle played some semblance of linebacker. His junior year, when he recorded double digit sacks, he played predominately as a Rush LB, a position similar to what he will play in the NFL, while his senior year, he played with his hand on the ground mainly as a DE. Baltimore gets the steal of the 2nd round.
GRADE: A+
2/44: OAK-LaMarr Houston-DE/DT-Texas: This pick befuddles me a bit, as Houston is fits better as a 4-3 DT fit than a 3-4 DE, in my opinion. In their first two picks, the Raiders selected one player, depending on the scheme they choose, that will not be as productive as possible due to playing in the wrong scheme. I do love Houston as a player, and think he could be very disruptive as an interior pass rusher.
GRADE: B
2/45: DEN-Zane Beadles-OT-Utah: After the Senior Bowl, I knocked Beadles down into the 4th round range, so picking him here is definitely a reach. That said, he does fill a big need on the Denver offensive line, so they get some marks for that.
GRADE: C
2/46: NYG-Linval Joseph-DT-ECU: The Giants address their defensive line, again, this time going for a big run stuffer. I think Joseph would be more effective in a 3-4 scheme, but he'll be okay here. Unfortunately for the Giants, who want to win now, he probably won't contribute for a year or two, as he is still somewhat raw, but there is potential aplenty.
GRADE: B-
2/47: ARI-Darryl Washington-ILB-TCU: I am very high on Darryl Washington. He may be able to step in right away and help fill the void created when Karlos Dansby left for Miami. Predicion-in three years, Washington will lead the league in tackles, and be considered one of the 3 best ILB in football.
GRADE: A-
2/48: CAR-Jimmy Clausen-QB-ND: I'm not sold on Jimmy Clausen, at all. Sure, he came out of a Pro Style offense at Notre Dame, put up good numbers, and has solid mechanics, but his arm strength is very overrated, he stares down receivers (and wasn't able to fix that in 3 years with one of the best offensive minds in the world in Charlie Weis), and is not the leader you want in a QB. Additionally, I don't like this pick because I felt Matt Moore was the perfect QB for the Panthers, a smart game manager who won't lose you the game who was on the verge of becoming a top 8 quarterback in the NFL.
GRADE: C
2/49: SF-Taylor Mays-S-USC: Mays lost a ton of money this year, when his lack of ability in coverage was exposed. Still, get him here is an incredible value for San Francisco. Mays definitely fits the physical nature that Coach Singletary prefers in his players. Could eventually have to move to linebacker if he doesn't improve in coverage.
GRADE: B+
2/50: KC-Javier Arenas-CB-Alabama: A solid corner prospect who should develop into a very good #2 in the league. Also is a capable return man, but with the selection of Dexter McCluster 14 picks earlier, he may be delegated to only taking punt returns instead of both kickoffs and punts.
GRADE: B
2/51: MIN-Toby Gerhart-RB-Stanford: I hate playing the race card, but I truly believe that if Toby was not a white man, he would have been a first round pick. He is a bruising runner with solid speed (ran in the 4.5's at the combine), has outstanding vision, and is a capable, underrated receiver out of the backfield. That being said, the Vikings probably could have used a quicker back to change the pace from AP's bruising style. (Maybe they have big plans for Harvin out of the backfield??)
GRADE: B
2/52: PIT-Jason Worilds-OLB-VT: A pretty good athlete, but wasn't terribly productive as a pass rusher last year (only 4 sacks). He has the tools to be another great Steeler rush LB though.
GRADE: B-
2/53: NE-Jermaine Cunningham-OLB-Florida: A promising rush LB prospect. Cunningham has the motor, and nonstop, never quit attitude that you covet in a pass rusher (this is why he was selected before his more-talented college teammate Carlos Dunlap). Still has an uphill battle to be successful though, since he'll be moving from a 3 point to a 2 point stance.
GRADE: B
2/54: CIN-Carlos Dunlap-DE-Florida: Will step into the NFL and automatically be one of the most physically talented prospects in the league. Unfortunately for both Dunlap and the Bengals, there is more to a player than just natural ability. If Dunlap had any sort of motor, he would be a lock for double digit sacks every year of his career. I think falling into the 2nd round will be a wake up call for him and he will finally play up to his potential. (Until his first big payday)
GRADE: B+
2/55: DAL-Sean Lee-ILB-Penn State: Typical Penn State linebacker, Lee is gritty as can be. Could push for playing time this year, and will probably be starting (barring injury-big concern) by year two.
GRADE: B
2/56: GB- Mike Neal-DE-Purdue: Is very athletic (runs a 4.86 and 294 pounds) but was way overdrafted in my opinion as I had him as a round 4 prospect. Still, if he can combine his athleticism with some consistent play, he could be a very good end.
GRADE: C
2/57: BAL- Terrence Cody-NT: At the start of the draft season, I was extremely weary of the work ethic of the 370 "Mount" Cody. Over the next couple of months, I saw some very good things out of him, as he cut over 20 pounds in a short period of time. He will be a dominant run stuffer in the league for as long as he wants to stay in shape.
GRADE: B+
2/58: HOU- Ben Tate-RB-Auburn: Tate is a very good fit for the Texans' zone blocking scheme, as he is definitely a "one cut n' go" type runner.
GRADE: B
2/59: CLE- Montario Hardesty-RB-TENN: I really like Hardesty as a runner, but I also like two of the backs already on Cleveland's roster: Jerome Harrison and James Davis. I have a hard time seeing Hardesty getting much burn, or being much better if he gets carries, with the other runners on the team. Pick should have been used elsewhere.
GRADE: C-
2/60: SEA- Golden Tate-WR-ND: Projected by some to go as high as the late 20's overall, the Seahawks AGAIN make another great selection. A big-time dynamic playmaker that can line up almost anywhere (out wide, slot, as a back, WildCat QB) will really open up the Seahawks offense, and he fills a big need with the loss of Nate Burleson.
GRADE: A
2/61: NYJ- Vladimir Ducasse-OG/OT-UMass: Ducasse has the potential to be one of the best interior linemen in football. However, he is very raw, so hopefully the Jets don't throw him to the wolves right away in the wake of the Alan Faneca release.
GRADE: B+
2/62: NE-Brandon Spikes-ILB-Florida: Spikes ran painfully slow at his Pro Day (5.00+ in the 40) but still can be an extremely effective in-the-box linebacker. He won't make many plays going sideline to sideline, but will be a good fit as a 2 down linebacker in New England's 3-4.
GRADE: B
2/63: IND-Pat Angerer-MLB-Iowa: I had him going in the late 3rd round, so this isn't a terrible reach. Still though, I would have liked it if the Colts selected someone like Charles Brown or even Bruce Campbell here instead to give Manning blindside protection.
GRADE: B-
2/64: NO-Charles Brown-OT-USC: Reportedly fell due to injury concerns. The Saints get a steal here if Brown can stay healthy, as they could eventually replace Jammal Brown with Charles Brown on the blindside.
GRADE: B+
Monday, April 26, 2010
Pick by Pick Analysis and Grades-Round 1
Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7
I know the Draft is already a few days old, so I am a little late with these grades, but I wanted to be able to step back for a few days, do a little additional research, and get the initial reaction emotion out of my system before I provided my analysis.
That being said, here is Round One...
Round 1/Pick 1: STL-Sam Bradford-QB-OU: The only pick the Rams could have made. They have been floundering for years, with bad FA signings, draft busts, poor coaching, poor play, and severe money losses. The team needed some semblance of hope, and are lucky they got a potential franchise signal caller.
GRADE: A
1/2: DET-Ndamukong Suh-DT-Nebraksa: The best defensive tackle prospect to come along in probably a dozen years. Suh is a rare player who is able to be a game-changer from the defensive tackle spot, a luxury only a few teams in the last decade have had. The Lions could have used an O-lineman to protect Matthew Stafford's blindside, but they choose once-a-decade talent over need here.
GRADE: A-
1/3: TB-Gerald McCoy-DT-OU: Possibly the second best defensive tackle prospect, behind Suh, in the last decade, McCoy uses a rare blend of quickness and technique to harass the opposing offense. McCoy is a little smaller/weaker than Suh, and therefore is less effective against the run, but is more effective rushing the passer. In addition to being a great prospect, McCoy is an ideal fit for the Bucs defense as a 3 technique.
GRADE: A
1/4: WAS-Trent Williams-OT-OU: Not a huge fan of this pick. Williams is a very athletic player, but he struggled for most of the year as a LT. If he fails there, he will excel as a RT, but you simply don't spend a top 5 pick on a RT because of positional value. He will be more effective than Russell Okung in the Redskins running game, but Donovan McNabb will need to be extra aware of the blindside rush with Williams on the left side.
GRADE: C+
1/5: KC-Eric Berry-S/CB-TENN: Best safety prospect since at least the late Sean Taylor, Berry is able to do it all. He is excellent in run support, can blitz, and is absolutely amazing in coverage. Able to lock up a TE or slot receiver in Man-to-Man, and force the QB to look to the other side of the field while playing zone. Regardless, the 5th pick is a bit high for a safety.
GRADE: B
1/6: SEA-Russell Okung-OT-OKST: My number 1 Left Tackle in the draft. Eliminates opposing DEs in pass protection, hardly even letting them sniff the QB. Not a dominant run blocker, but is more than good enough in that department.
GRADE: A+
1/7: CLE-Joe Haden-CB-Florida: His terrible combine dropped his stock, but when word came out that it was due to a stiff back, every one gave him a pass. Has the potential to be an absolute lockdown corner at the next level who can shut down an entire half of the field. Also is willing and able in run support.
GRADE: B+
1/8: OAK-Rolando McClain-ILB-ALA: Surprising pick, as Al Davis deviated from his love of measurables and 40 times for an actual solid football player. If the Raiders switch to a 3-4, McClain will be an All-Pro, if not, he will still be effective, just not nearly as good. Even though he may be great, Oakland's grade for this pick gets docked a few notches due to the relative lack of value inside linebackers have in the draft. (No ILB prospect had been picked in the top 10 since Brian Urlacher).
GRADE: B-
1/9: BUF-CJ Spiller-RB-CLEM: CJ Spiller could be an 2000 all-purpose yard back in a year or two, but when you have as many holes to fill as the Bills do, you can't afford the luxury of taking a back who will split carries for you early on. They could/should have gone in any number of different directions (O-line, QB, NT, Rush LB, trade down for more picks, etc), but chose a luxury.
GRADE: C+
1/10: JAX-Tyson Alualu-DT-CAL: Baffling pick to say the least. I had at least 3 other non Nose Tackle DTs on my board ahead of Alualu. The Jags could have trade down 20 to 30 picks and still been basically assured of getting him. Even if Alualu turns out to be a Hall of Famer, this will still be a bad pick, as they could have gotten him so much later, and gotten additional picks out of it.
GRADE: F
1/11: SF-Anthony Davis-OT/OG-Rutgers: They probably didn't have to trade up to get him, and I'm not convinced Davis will ever be in good enough shape to ever man the left side effectively, and possibly not even the right. His home could eventually be at either of the guard spots. However, if coach Singletary is able to get Davis' head on straight, the 49ers may have a dominant tackle for the next 10 to 12 years.
GRADE: C-
1/12: SD-Ryan Matthews-RB-Fresno St: Matthews was one of the best backs in the nation last year, statistically, but I'm not convinced he's a true NFL #1 back. He doesn't hit the hole as hard as you would like, and doesn't always pick the right one when he finally decides which one he wants to go to. I'm not sure why the Chargers jumped up this far to get him either, as the only team I could see picking Matthews before their original pick would be the Texans (20th). GRADE: D-
1/13: PHI-Brandon Graham-DE-MICH: I love Graham's motor, but I don't think he will be very successful in the NFL. He lacks height, has very short arms, and isn't as explosive as everyone makes him out to be. Graham probably wouldn't have made it past Atlanta had the Eagles not traded up, but they could have just grabbed Jerry Hughes instead, who I feel is a much stronger pass rushing prospect, without moving up.
GRADE: C
1/14: SEA-Earl Thomas-S/CB-TEXAS: Another outstanding pick by Seattle. They're atrocious secondary gets a serious upgrade with the ball-hawking Earl Thomas. Thomas is a great all-around safety who is able to change the game on any play.
GRADE: A
1/15: NYG-Jason Pierre-Paul-DE-USF: I'll admit it, I HATE JPP as a first round pick. He is an all-upside pick that has an extremely high chance of busting. He only played D1 football for one season, and was only mildly productive that season, registering only 6.5 sacks. JPP wasn't even the most feared DE on his own team last season, as George Selvie, a 7th round pick by the Rams, was the one getting most of the double teams. Is he a freak athlete? Of course, but how many freakish athletes with limited football skills have busted? Plenty. And the list is about to grow a player longer.
GRADE: D
1/16: TEN-Derrick Morgan-DE-GT: This is the pick the Giants should have made. The number 1 DE prospect this year, Derrick Morgan has prototypical size (6'4" 275) and speed (4.70) for the position, and was the most game-planned against DE in college football last year. Despite the constant attention and double teams, he still managed to record 12 sacks.
GRADE: A+
1/17: SF-Mike Iupati-OG-Idaho: Some viewed this pick as overkill on one area for the 49ers, but they needed some serious help on the line. Iupati should be able to step in right away at either of the guard spots and form an intimidating line with Joe Stalely at LT and Anthony Davis (if he pans out) at RT. Frank Gore had to be thrilled when Iupati's name was called, as he'll get some huge holes to run through now.
GRADE: B+
1/18: PIT-Maurkice Pouncey-OG/C-Florida: Pouncey will step in right away at one of the guard spots, and will help greatly in both pass-protection and run blocking, before eventually moving over to center.
GRADE: B
1/19: ATL-Sean Weatherspoon-LB-Mizzou: A very versatile linebacker who can play inside and outside and is effective against both the run and the pass. Weatherspoon should be able to step in right away, and could get upwards of 100 tackles this season.
GRADE: A-
1/20: HOU-Kareem Jackson-CB-ALA: Not a fan of this selection. Kareem Jackson isn't even my favorite corner prospect from his own school (Javier Arenas). While he does have a good skillset, I don't think Jackson will ever be more than a #2 corner, and will probably be a nickel corner for most of his career.
GRADE: C-
1/21: CIN-Jermaine Gresham-TE-OU: The Bengals have hardly ever used their TE in the passing game, but that probably has more to do with personnel than it does scheme. Gresham isn't an elite blocker, so he may be replaced on running downs, but there is no denying this young man's talent as a pass catcher. If he manages to stay healthy, which has been a concern throughout his career, he can be a top 2 TE in the NFL.
GRADE: A-
1/22: DEN-Demaryius Thomas-WR-GT: A physically imposing player at WR (6'3" 226), Demaryius could potentially be a #1 target in the NFL. He lacks skill as a route runner, but once the ball is in his hands, he is tough to bring down. Very raw, and lacks experience in a pro style system (came from GT's triple option offense).
GRADE: B-
1/23: GB-Bryan Buluga-OT-Iowa: Fell mightily on draft day, as many predicted he would be snatched up at #5 by the Chiefs. Buluga is a very skilled player that has above average ability as both a run and pass blocker.
GRADE: A+
1/24: DAL-Dez Bryant-WR-OKST: Steal of the first round. Bryant has the talent be a top 5 WR in the NFL in a few years, as he has great hands, run after the catch ability, and a very good work ethic. He has some "character concerns", but I think they are greatly overblown. The Cowboys just got the player they thought they were getting when they traded a 1st and 3rd to Detroit for Roy Williams.
GRADE: A+
1/25: DEN-Tim Tebow-QB-Florida: The steal of the first round is quickly followed up by the reach of the first round. Nothing about Tebow translates to the NFL as a QB. He has a strong-ish arm on tape, but if he ever successfully fixes his throwing motion, he'll lose a lot of that strength and be below average in that category (usually a wind-up delivery is used to compensate for a lack of arm strength, as it gives your arm more momentum. Good for pitchers, bad for QBs). His accuracy is HORRIFIC, yes I know he completed better than 65% of his passes at Florida, but 90% of his throws were less than 10 yards down the field with no defenders within 5 yards of him. In the Senior Bowl, when defenders were actually closing in on him, he through some of the worst passes I have ever seen in my life, including a pass that bounced twice on its way to a receiver only 15 yards down the field. His mechanics are incredibly screwed up. Yes, I've seen the thousands of ESPN segments on his renewed throwing motion at his Pro Day, but it is easy to throw with near perfect form when you have no defenders on you and get to focus on a single target all day. Tebow will have to undue the muscle memory of 20+ years of terrible mechanics on his way to not throwing like an idiot anymore, which simply can't happen. When a 300 pounder is breathing down his neck, Tebow will revert to his old ways and windup. I seriously could go on all day about why Tebow will fail as a pro QB, but I'll stop here for now. He will make a terrific H-Back though in 5 years.
GRADE: F-
1/26: ARI-Dan Williams-NT-TENN: Aside from the playoffs, Arizona's defense was actually pretty solid last year, but one of the key ingredients they were missing was a dominant NT. They solve that need here by selecting a player that could have gone as high as #9 in the draft in Dan Williams.
GRADE: A
1/27: NE-Devin McCourty-CB-Rutgers: A solid pick, although I would have preferred Kyle Wilson here. I don't think McCourty will ever be a shutdown corner, but you won't be screwed if he is your #1 corner.
GRADE: B
1/28: MIA-Jared Odrick-DE-Penn State: A very talented player who fits the 3-4 end position perfectly. Odrick could become one of the best 5 techniques in the league in a year or two.
GRADE:A-
1/29: NYJ-Kyle Wilson-CB-Boise State: At first I was a little perplexed by this pick, but it makes a lot more sense now. With Kyle Wilson, Darrell Revis, Antonio Cromartie, and UDFA Donovan Warren-who I thought could have been a 2nd round pick-and some solid safeties, the Jets will be able to blitz whoever, whenever and not worry about getting burnt with their stable of exceptional DBs.
1/30: DET-Jahvid Best-RB-CAL: My second favorite runningback in the class behind CJ Spiller. I don't think the Lions really needed to trade up to get him though. Regardless, Detroit needed another back since Kevin Smith hasn't quite lived up to the hype, and had a nasty ACL injury last season. Jahvid Best has the ability to take it to the house on any given down, and should be a huge asset in both the running and passing games.
1/31: IND-Jerry Hughes-DE-TCU: Bill Polian does it again, selecting another phenomenal player at the tail end of the first round. Hughes should be the next great pass rusher for the Colts, and eventually could be a double digit sack player in the league. The only reason this pick isn't an A or A+ is because I felt the Colts should have addressed their LT spot here instead.
GRADE: B+
1/32: NO-Patrick Robinson-CB-FSU: A very gifted corner, Robinson has the ability to shut anyone down at any time. The only problem with him is consistency. If he can avoid the mental lapses that occasionally plagued him in college, the Saints will have a steal here. That being said, if he doesn't fix his problems, he could also be a pretty big bust.
GRADE: B-
I will be back with my Round 2 analysis tomorrow
I know the Draft is already a few days old, so I am a little late with these grades, but I wanted to be able to step back for a few days, do a little additional research, and get the initial reaction emotion out of my system before I provided my analysis.
That being said, here is Round One...
Round 1/Pick 1: STL-Sam Bradford-QB-OU: The only pick the Rams could have made. They have been floundering for years, with bad FA signings, draft busts, poor coaching, poor play, and severe money losses. The team needed some semblance of hope, and are lucky they got a potential franchise signal caller.
GRADE: A
1/2: DET-Ndamukong Suh-DT-Nebraksa: The best defensive tackle prospect to come along in probably a dozen years. Suh is a rare player who is able to be a game-changer from the defensive tackle spot, a luxury only a few teams in the last decade have had. The Lions could have used an O-lineman to protect Matthew Stafford's blindside, but they choose once-a-decade talent over need here.
GRADE: A-
1/3: TB-Gerald McCoy-DT-OU: Possibly the second best defensive tackle prospect, behind Suh, in the last decade, McCoy uses a rare blend of quickness and technique to harass the opposing offense. McCoy is a little smaller/weaker than Suh, and therefore is less effective against the run, but is more effective rushing the passer. In addition to being a great prospect, McCoy is an ideal fit for the Bucs defense as a 3 technique.
GRADE: A
1/4: WAS-Trent Williams-OT-OU: Not a huge fan of this pick. Williams is a very athletic player, but he struggled for most of the year as a LT. If he fails there, he will excel as a RT, but you simply don't spend a top 5 pick on a RT because of positional value. He will be more effective than Russell Okung in the Redskins running game, but Donovan McNabb will need to be extra aware of the blindside rush with Williams on the left side.
GRADE: C+
1/5: KC-Eric Berry-S/CB-TENN: Best safety prospect since at least the late Sean Taylor, Berry is able to do it all. He is excellent in run support, can blitz, and is absolutely amazing in coverage. Able to lock up a TE or slot receiver in Man-to-Man, and force the QB to look to the other side of the field while playing zone. Regardless, the 5th pick is a bit high for a safety.
GRADE: B
1/6: SEA-Russell Okung-OT-OKST: My number 1 Left Tackle in the draft. Eliminates opposing DEs in pass protection, hardly even letting them sniff the QB. Not a dominant run blocker, but is more than good enough in that department.
GRADE: A+
1/7: CLE-Joe Haden-CB-Florida: His terrible combine dropped his stock, but when word came out that it was due to a stiff back, every one gave him a pass. Has the potential to be an absolute lockdown corner at the next level who can shut down an entire half of the field. Also is willing and able in run support.
GRADE: B+
1/8: OAK-Rolando McClain-ILB-ALA: Surprising pick, as Al Davis deviated from his love of measurables and 40 times for an actual solid football player. If the Raiders switch to a 3-4, McClain will be an All-Pro, if not, he will still be effective, just not nearly as good. Even though he may be great, Oakland's grade for this pick gets docked a few notches due to the relative lack of value inside linebackers have in the draft. (No ILB prospect had been picked in the top 10 since Brian Urlacher).
GRADE: B-
1/9: BUF-CJ Spiller-RB-CLEM: CJ Spiller could be an 2000 all-purpose yard back in a year or two, but when you have as many holes to fill as the Bills do, you can't afford the luxury of taking a back who will split carries for you early on. They could/should have gone in any number of different directions (O-line, QB, NT, Rush LB, trade down for more picks, etc), but chose a luxury.
GRADE: C+
1/10: JAX-Tyson Alualu-DT-CAL: Baffling pick to say the least. I had at least 3 other non Nose Tackle DTs on my board ahead of Alualu. The Jags could have trade down 20 to 30 picks and still been basically assured of getting him. Even if Alualu turns out to be a Hall of Famer, this will still be a bad pick, as they could have gotten him so much later, and gotten additional picks out of it.
GRADE: F
1/11: SF-Anthony Davis-OT/OG-Rutgers: They probably didn't have to trade up to get him, and I'm not convinced Davis will ever be in good enough shape to ever man the left side effectively, and possibly not even the right. His home could eventually be at either of the guard spots. However, if coach Singletary is able to get Davis' head on straight, the 49ers may have a dominant tackle for the next 10 to 12 years.
GRADE: C-
1/12: SD-Ryan Matthews-RB-Fresno St: Matthews was one of the best backs in the nation last year, statistically, but I'm not convinced he's a true NFL #1 back. He doesn't hit the hole as hard as you would like, and doesn't always pick the right one when he finally decides which one he wants to go to. I'm not sure why the Chargers jumped up this far to get him either, as the only team I could see picking Matthews before their original pick would be the Texans (20th). GRADE: D-
1/13: PHI-Brandon Graham-DE-MICH: I love Graham's motor, but I don't think he will be very successful in the NFL. He lacks height, has very short arms, and isn't as explosive as everyone makes him out to be. Graham probably wouldn't have made it past Atlanta had the Eagles not traded up, but they could have just grabbed Jerry Hughes instead, who I feel is a much stronger pass rushing prospect, without moving up.
GRADE: C
1/14: SEA-Earl Thomas-S/CB-TEXAS: Another outstanding pick by Seattle. They're atrocious secondary gets a serious upgrade with the ball-hawking Earl Thomas. Thomas is a great all-around safety who is able to change the game on any play.
GRADE: A
1/15: NYG-Jason Pierre-Paul-DE-USF: I'll admit it, I HATE JPP as a first round pick. He is an all-upside pick that has an extremely high chance of busting. He only played D1 football for one season, and was only mildly productive that season, registering only 6.5 sacks. JPP wasn't even the most feared DE on his own team last season, as George Selvie, a 7th round pick by the Rams, was the one getting most of the double teams. Is he a freak athlete? Of course, but how many freakish athletes with limited football skills have busted? Plenty. And the list is about to grow a player longer.
GRADE: D
1/16: TEN-Derrick Morgan-DE-GT: This is the pick the Giants should have made. The number 1 DE prospect this year, Derrick Morgan has prototypical size (6'4" 275) and speed (4.70) for the position, and was the most game-planned against DE in college football last year. Despite the constant attention and double teams, he still managed to record 12 sacks.
GRADE: A+
1/17: SF-Mike Iupati-OG-Idaho: Some viewed this pick as overkill on one area for the 49ers, but they needed some serious help on the line. Iupati should be able to step in right away at either of the guard spots and form an intimidating line with Joe Stalely at LT and Anthony Davis (if he pans out) at RT. Frank Gore had to be thrilled when Iupati's name was called, as he'll get some huge holes to run through now.
GRADE: B+
1/18: PIT-Maurkice Pouncey-OG/C-Florida: Pouncey will step in right away at one of the guard spots, and will help greatly in both pass-protection and run blocking, before eventually moving over to center.
GRADE: B
1/19: ATL-Sean Weatherspoon-LB-Mizzou: A very versatile linebacker who can play inside and outside and is effective against both the run and the pass. Weatherspoon should be able to step in right away, and could get upwards of 100 tackles this season.
GRADE: A-
1/20: HOU-Kareem Jackson-CB-ALA: Not a fan of this selection. Kareem Jackson isn't even my favorite corner prospect from his own school (Javier Arenas). While he does have a good skillset, I don't think Jackson will ever be more than a #2 corner, and will probably be a nickel corner for most of his career.
GRADE: C-
1/21: CIN-Jermaine Gresham-TE-OU: The Bengals have hardly ever used their TE in the passing game, but that probably has more to do with personnel than it does scheme. Gresham isn't an elite blocker, so he may be replaced on running downs, but there is no denying this young man's talent as a pass catcher. If he manages to stay healthy, which has been a concern throughout his career, he can be a top 2 TE in the NFL.
GRADE: A-
1/22: DEN-Demaryius Thomas-WR-GT: A physically imposing player at WR (6'3" 226), Demaryius could potentially be a #1 target in the NFL. He lacks skill as a route runner, but once the ball is in his hands, he is tough to bring down. Very raw, and lacks experience in a pro style system (came from GT's triple option offense).
GRADE: B-
1/23: GB-Bryan Buluga-OT-Iowa: Fell mightily on draft day, as many predicted he would be snatched up at #5 by the Chiefs. Buluga is a very skilled player that has above average ability as both a run and pass blocker.
GRADE: A+
1/24: DAL-Dez Bryant-WR-OKST: Steal of the first round. Bryant has the talent be a top 5 WR in the NFL in a few years, as he has great hands, run after the catch ability, and a very good work ethic. He has some "character concerns", but I think they are greatly overblown. The Cowboys just got the player they thought they were getting when they traded a 1st and 3rd to Detroit for Roy Williams.
GRADE: A+
1/25: DEN-Tim Tebow-QB-Florida: The steal of the first round is quickly followed up by the reach of the first round. Nothing about Tebow translates to the NFL as a QB. He has a strong-ish arm on tape, but if he ever successfully fixes his throwing motion, he'll lose a lot of that strength and be below average in that category (usually a wind-up delivery is used to compensate for a lack of arm strength, as it gives your arm more momentum. Good for pitchers, bad for QBs). His accuracy is HORRIFIC, yes I know he completed better than 65% of his passes at Florida, but 90% of his throws were less than 10 yards down the field with no defenders within 5 yards of him. In the Senior Bowl, when defenders were actually closing in on him, he through some of the worst passes I have ever seen in my life, including a pass that bounced twice on its way to a receiver only 15 yards down the field. His mechanics are incredibly screwed up. Yes, I've seen the thousands of ESPN segments on his renewed throwing motion at his Pro Day, but it is easy to throw with near perfect form when you have no defenders on you and get to focus on a single target all day. Tebow will have to undue the muscle memory of 20+ years of terrible mechanics on his way to not throwing like an idiot anymore, which simply can't happen. When a 300 pounder is breathing down his neck, Tebow will revert to his old ways and windup. I seriously could go on all day about why Tebow will fail as a pro QB, but I'll stop here for now. He will make a terrific H-Back though in 5 years.
GRADE: F-
1/26: ARI-Dan Williams-NT-TENN: Aside from the playoffs, Arizona's defense was actually pretty solid last year, but one of the key ingredients they were missing was a dominant NT. They solve that need here by selecting a player that could have gone as high as #9 in the draft in Dan Williams.
GRADE: A
1/27: NE-Devin McCourty-CB-Rutgers: A solid pick, although I would have preferred Kyle Wilson here. I don't think McCourty will ever be a shutdown corner, but you won't be screwed if he is your #1 corner.
GRADE: B
1/28: MIA-Jared Odrick-DE-Penn State: A very talented player who fits the 3-4 end position perfectly. Odrick could become one of the best 5 techniques in the league in a year or two.
GRADE:A-
1/29: NYJ-Kyle Wilson-CB-Boise State: At first I was a little perplexed by this pick, but it makes a lot more sense now. With Kyle Wilson, Darrell Revis, Antonio Cromartie, and UDFA Donovan Warren-who I thought could have been a 2nd round pick-and some solid safeties, the Jets will be able to blitz whoever, whenever and not worry about getting burnt with their stable of exceptional DBs.
1/30: DET-Jahvid Best-RB-CAL: My second favorite runningback in the class behind CJ Spiller. I don't think the Lions really needed to trade up to get him though. Regardless, Detroit needed another back since Kevin Smith hasn't quite lived up to the hype, and had a nasty ACL injury last season. Jahvid Best has the ability to take it to the house on any given down, and should be a huge asset in both the running and passing games.
1/31: IND-Jerry Hughes-DE-TCU: Bill Polian does it again, selecting another phenomenal player at the tail end of the first round. Hughes should be the next great pass rusher for the Colts, and eventually could be a double digit sack player in the league. The only reason this pick isn't an A or A+ is because I felt the Colts should have addressed their LT spot here instead.
GRADE: B+
1/32: NO-Patrick Robinson-CB-FSU: A very gifted corner, Robinson has the ability to shut anyone down at any time. The only problem with him is consistency. If he can avoid the mental lapses that occasionally plagued him in college, the Saints will have a steal here. That being said, if he doesn't fix his problems, he could also be a pretty big bust.
GRADE: B-
I will be back with my Round 2 analysis tomorrow
Sunday, April 25, 2010
I'm back!
Good evening/afternoon/morning one and all! It has been quite a layoff since my last post on here, almost a full year, and barring injury, I should be back for good.
Over the next few days, I will be taking you all through the ins and outs of the most important day(s) in the NFL season, the Draft, giving you insight and hopefully opening your eyes to a few things you were unaware of about the draft process, players, picks, and so on.
Again, it is great to be back everyone, and I can't wait to get (re)started on all things NFL!
Over the next few days, I will be taking you all through the ins and outs of the most important day(s) in the NFL season, the Draft, giving you insight and hopefully opening your eyes to a few things you were unaware of about the draft process, players, picks, and so on.
Again, it is great to be back everyone, and I can't wait to get (re)started on all things NFL!
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