I’m
gonna dish out draft grades for this past weekend’s NFL draft. Now while you can’t properly evaluate a draft
until a couple years down the road, you can still evaluate what teams got good
value, maximized picks, and filled needs.
Now without further ado, let’s get going in alphabetical order.
Arizona Cardinals
The
Cards, even though they have a major need at QB, did a great job passing on
that potential bust Blaine “Sunshine” Gabbert, instead taking Patrick
Patterson. Patterson will be a beast in
this league, and improves their secondary as well as their return game. Nabbing Ryan Williams in the second confirms
that Beanie Wells is a bust, but allows them to start over with a beast capable
of carrying the rock 20+ times a game.
OLB Sam Acho filled a need in the fourth and can be a good pass rusher.
The
only knock on them is that they failed to draft a single offensive lineman- a
team weakness. All in all, they got good
value and talent with their first two picks and did a good job of resisting
overdrafting a QB. Grade: B
Atlanta
No idea
what the fuck these guys were thinking, trading away the farm for Julio
Jones. If you think that you’re one
receiver away from the Super Bowl, then go after a more proven one once free
agency starts, like Sidney Rice or a James Jones. They would command similar money without
mortgaging the future. If Jones busts
out, which wouldn’t surprise seeing how hit or miss first round wideouts are,
they’re in big trouble.
Other
than that, they made a nice move getting Jacquizz Rodgers, who could play a
Darren Sproles-like roll in their offense.
But still, the gamble to get Jones was not worth it. Grade: D
Baltimore
The Ravens have another good
draft, addressing some major needs. CB
Jimmy Smith had the talent to be drafted much higher, and Ray Lewis should keep
him in check and off the Codeine. He’ll
likely step right in and start. They
also got Joe Flacco a deep threat in Maryland WR Torrey Smith. They addressed the O line, grabbing huge OT
Jah Reid. Grade B+
Buffalo
Buffalo
put an emphasis on rebuilding the defense, not on drafting a potential bust at
QB, and as a result got some very good players that should help quickly. Marcell Dareus will be a beast at DE in their
3-4 scheme, while grabbing CB Aaron Williams gave them great value in the 2nd. ILB Kelvin Sheppard from LSU is a good player
who can start early in his career.
While
they drafted a big OT in Chris Hairston in the fourth, they should have looked
to address the o-line earlier as it was a glaring weakness for them last
season. But all in all, a good
draft. Grade B+
Carolina
This whole thing rides on
Cam Newton. If he pans out it’s a A+,
and if he flames it will put the franchise back years. Other than that they addressed a need at DT
in the third and built some depth at WR and CB later on. But it all depends on Cam. Grade
C
Chicago
Hit on
two huge needs with their first two picks.
OT Gabe Carimi will step in and instantly help one of the worst lines in
the NFL. DT Stephen Paea can pump some
iron, throwing up 49 reps on the bench at the combine. He can also play, and will step right in to
replace the released Tommie Harris. Grade: A-
Cincinnati
This
could be either really good or really bad depending on the top two picks. A.J. Green looks like a potential All-Pro at
WR, but like I said earlier, 1st round WR’s are always a crap
shoot. Andy Dalton’s hair will go great
with his new uniform, and he’s sure to get some black stripes in his hair
courtesy of some veteran hazing. This
could be the WR/QB combo of the future that replaces Palmer and Ochocinco, or
it could set them back years.
I see
Dalton and Green being good though, so this is a solid draft for the Bengals. Grade B+
Cleveland
They
were wise to take Atlanta’s godfather offer.
Picking up Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard will go a long way to
strengthening the defensive line in their new 4-3 defense. WR Greg Little could either flame out or
provide Colt McCoy with a big, reliable target that’s perfect for the West
Coast Offense. Grade B
Dallas
They suck and can’t draft
worth shit. Tyron Smith fills a need,
but is already running his mouth about being a future Hall of Famer. Smart, just the type of guy to fit into that
circus in Arlington. Bruce Carter was a
solid pick as an eventual successor to Keith Brooking. Taking DeMarco Murray in the third made no
sense, they have enough running backs.
Jason Garrett proved what he cares about, devoting only two of his picks
to rebuilding that sorry ass defense. Grade D-
Denver
We’ll see how Von Miller
fits their 4-3 and how John Fox moves him around, but I thought they should
have taken Dareus to upgrade their atrocious defensive line. Rahim Moore was a good pick in the second, as
he was the drafts’ best safety and should start right away. If Miller pans out this will be a great
draft. Grade B
Detroit
Damn that defensive line is
going to wreck havoc. The Lions snagged
Nick Fairley and in the process now have two of the best pass-rushing DTs to
come out in years. WR Titus Young will
be an explosive addition to the offense opposite Calvin Johnson, and Mikel
LeShoure will get a lot of carries right away, and could potentially be their
main RB. Awesome draft, and for the
first time in a while the Lion’s future looks promising. Grade
A
Green Bay
The Packers got OT Derek
Sherrod of Mississippi State at the end of the first round, and he should pair
with last years 1st rounder Bryan Bulaga to form a good tackle combo
for years to come. They also added WR
Patrick Cobbs, who should develop into a monster in the slot, just giving Aaron
Rodgers yet another toy to use at his disposal.
Grade B+
Houston
Another draft spent on
shoring up a porous defense. J.J. Watt
should become a great end in Wade Phillips’ new 3-4 defense, while Brooks Reed
will provide a pass rushing presence from the OLB position. CB Brandon Harris could start right away in a
secondary that was beyond miserable last season. Grade
B+
Indianapolis
They obviously live and die
with Peyton Manning, so continuing to keep him upright is a must. They went tackle with their first two picks, and
Anthony Castonzo should start at LT from day one. Grade
B
Jacksonville
They didn’t address their
glaring need at CB until late in the draft.
But that’s not the point. They
made a big mistake taking Sunshine Gabbert, who I can just see now- combing
that hair back with a confused look on his face, wondering how he threw a
fourth red zone interception. I’m
convinced he’ll be a bust, and I’m so glad the Redskins stole the Jags’ 2nd
rounder just to pass on him. Grade F
Kansas City
Got a potential star wide
receiver in Jon Baldwin, he just needs to keep his head on straight. Other than that, they added good depth to the
defensive line, and got a potential starting center in Rodney Hudson. Justin Houston has first round talent and
should help the pass rush. Grade B
Miami
The Dolphins looked to
address their terrible running game with their first two picks, grabbing Mike
Pouncey and RB Daniel Thomas. Pouncey
should step right in at center and become a potential All-Pro like his twin
brother Maurkice. They didn’t go defense
until late in the draft, but still addressed major needs early. Grade B+
Minnesota
Christian Ponder was a MAJOR
reach at 12. While I’m not totally high
on any of the quarterbacks in this draft, I feel like he was the one with the
least upside. He reminds me of a more
mobile Chad Pennington, smart and pretty accurate, but that’s about it. They should have gone D-end and worried about
QB later. This team has too much aging
talent to go with a rookie QB anyway. TE
Kyle Rudolph was a great pick though in the second, he’ll be a beast
pass-catching TE. Grade C-
New England
Considering all their picks,
I think they had a shitty draft. They
didn’t address their main need- a pass rushing outside linebacker- yet could
have at various points in the first three rounds. Ryan Mallett may develop into a potential
trade chip, and Nate Solder is a massive LT, but otherwise I was very
unimpressed. Grade C-
New Orleans
The rich get richer. They lucked out getting Cameron Jordan with
the 24th pick and he will step in right away and start. Moving back in to grab Mark Ingram at 28 was
great- he’ll shore up a RB group that while talented, can’t stay healthy. He should develop into their every down back,
and even better, forces that overpaid loser Reggie Bush out of town. Go cry on twitter about the pick some more
Reggie, and #dontletthedoorhitya. Grade B+
New York Giants
CB Prince Amukamara has a
chance to be a top cover corner, and Marvin Austin will provide another
talented body to put in their D-Line rotation. MLB Greg Jones might see a lot of time as a
rookie. Solid draft. Grade B
New York Jets
J-E-T-S….SUCK SUCK
SUCK. The Footclan addressed Rex Ryan’s
second biggest fetish to feet-defensive linemen, drafting two with their top
two picks. Grade F for feet.
Oakland
Speaking
of fetishes, if Al Davis has one besides putting band-aids on his festering,
open wounds, it’s speed. So of course he
drafts the fastest guy in the draft, CB Demarcus Van Dyke. The didn’t have a first, and in the second
got C Stefen Wisniewski who’s uncle was a great Raider O-lineman and now is the
O-line coach. I wonder if they don’t
speak because of the CBA. Grade C
Philly
I’m running out of space,
and since I hate the Eagles, I’ll make this quick. The losers drafted at 26-year old guard and a
kicker in the fourth round. There was
only one selected the rest of the draft.
At least it gives their shit fans something to boo. Grade
C-
Pittsburgh
A very Pittsburgh-esque
draft, they worked on building from the inside out. DE Cameron Heyward should take over for Brad
Keisel sooner rather than later, and OT Marcus Gilbert from Florida will surely
replace the slow, washed up, holding machine that is Flozell Adams. Grade
B
San Diego
They nabbed Corey Liuget in
the first, and he should start soon at 3-4 end.
LB Jonas Mouton and CB Marcus Gilchrist should also see PT early. Their later rounds picks should help shore up
what was a terrible special teams unit last season. Grade
B
San Francisco
I thought Aldon Smith was a
reach in the first, they would have been better off taking Robert Quinn. Colin Kaepernick could very well become the
best QB in this draft, he’s athletic, smart, and has a great arm. He’s also a football junkie who’ll be working
hand-in-hand with Jim Harbaugh, surely helping his development. RB Kendall Hunter can develop into a great
third-down and change of pace back, taking Brian Westbrook’s roll. Grade B-
Seattle
They can be criticized for
taking OL Carpenter a little high, but he plays all over the line and new
O-line coach Tom Cable loves him. G John
Moffitt should be a candidate to step in and play soon too, as Wisconsin
o-linemen are always big, nasty, and ready for the league. They didn’t address the QB position though,
and didn’t add much else either. Grade C-
St. Louis
The already have two good
defensive ends, but coach Steve Spagnuolo went back to the well just like he
did in his NY Giant days, selecting Robert Quinn. He should be great in the rotation and on
passing downs before eventually taking over for James Hall. They also gave Sam Bradford some more weapons
in TE Lance Kendricks , and WRs Austin Pettis and Greg Salas- a reception
machine from Hawaii. Grade B+
Tampa Bay
I thought they should have
grabbed Da'Quan Bowers in the first round.
Instead they went with Adrian Clayborn, while still landing Bowers in
the second. If Bowers can stay healthy,
the have a potentially devastating defensive line. Grade
A
Tennessee
They fell in love with Jake
Locker, and make his decision to stay in school last year look not as
stupid. But time will tell if their decision
to take him is. He’s inaccurate, but that’s
because he was playing behind a porous offensive line and with so-so wide
receivers. OLB Akeem Ayers was taken in
the second, but has first round talent. Grade
C
Washington
Finally. Finally the damn Skins play it smart, moving
down and collecting picks. They got
Ryan Kerrigan in the first, and his athleticism, high motor, and playmaking
skills should allow him to make a good transition to OLB opposite Brain
Orakpo. Jarivs Jenkins should start at
end in their 3-4 from day one, and getting Leonard Hankerson in the 3rd
was a huge steal. Roy Helu is a
Shanahan-type running back- he makes one cut, reads blocks well, and hits the
hole hard. 7th rounder Chris
Neild was the NT for WVU’s 10th ranked defense, and he could very
well assume that role on the Redskins. A
great draft that addressed need, built depth, and proved that the Redskins for
once might just know what the hell they’re doing. Grade A
-Kellen
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