PNF attempts to grade other teams' drafts

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Dallas Cowboys: B-

Mike Jenkins, Tashard Choice and Orlando Scandrick were pretty good value picks. I do question the doubling up of running backs, among other things, but I guess the 'Boys figure they're enough of a contender this year that they can afford a luxury pick or two. I'd have gone with an offensive lineman at some point, but it's not like the Cowboys won't be able to pound the rock this year.

New York Giants: B

It could be argued that two of their biggest needs, secondary help and linebacking help, were summarily ad-dressed on draft day with talented players at nice perceived value. Mario Manningham isn't going to be a world-beater in the NFL, but if you look at the receiver talent drafted after him...pretty slim pickings. I also didn't think Terrell Thomas was that great, but the Giants don't need him for much.

Philadelphia Eagles: B

I'm a big fan of Laws, McGlynn, Ikegwuonu and Gibson in terms of value. I wouldn't have touched DeSean Jackson on the first day because to me he's nothing but a glorified kick returner, but he does fill a nice need in Philly. Again, not a world-beating draft, but you can see that the Eagles are taking stock of where they are this year and getting ready to pounce after the 2009 draft.

Washington Redskins: C

This is the entrance to the region of "meh". Some great talent drafted but the Redskins won't be able to play 5 WR sets on every down. Chad Reinhardt, Chris Horton and Durant Brooks are all picks that can be contributors in the near future IMO. I'd probably give them a lower grade but the fact that they've just stockpiled all kinds of offensive talent with their selections is a little hard to ignore.

Chicago Bears: B

They may still be in a cloud over Rex Grossman, but can you fault them for surrounding him with quality depth? All three drafted offensive linemen could see significant time. If Kellen Davis and Greg Olsen both work on their blocking, they could make up with Dez Clark the best TE group in the NFL. Craig Steltz is a little underrated, Bennett and Marcus Monk should contribute, Matt Forte should get quite a few carries...the offense looks a little dysfunctional at present but it's hard to argue that it's improved. Cut Cedric Benson immediately, please.

Detroit Lions: C-

So many holes, so little time, and so little brainpower to assist in the process. Gosder Cherilus was good for a laugh; he's probably already the best OL the Lions have. Cliff Avril was probably the draft's best pick, and Fluellen, Cherilus and Campbell do fill needs, but what are the odds that all but one or two players are gone after three years?

Green Bay Packers: B+

I have no qualms whatsoever about Nelson and Brohm's selections, even if Nelson doesn't fill an immediate need. They didn't address the offensive line until late, but they did get Patrick Lee to shore up the secondary and Matt Flynn was a nice selection as a third QB. Life in the post-Favre era will be unkind; they had to be prepared.

Minnesota Vikings: C+

Well, yeah, they only had five picks, but what did they really get out of them? Johnson was a necessary pick even though they may have overpaid and Sullivan is a steal where he was taken. John David Booty will not threaten Tarvaris Jackson at all if recent history is any indication. Jaymar Johnson may not even make the team, and there is still no TE. Give the Vikings a little credit for improving their OL, but even with the Jared Allen deal it's still a draft I'm nonplussed about.

Atlanta Falcons: B-

The first six picks are good players, even if Baker was a hellacious reach that Falcons fans kicked themselves over. Robert James is OK (probably a special teams stalwart) and Thomas Brown might be productive. Wilrey Fontenot is not bad but they chose the wrong team's No. 2 corner as Jonathan Zenon went undrafted. Plenty of deserved questions about Matt Ryan, and plenty of loose ends to be tied up, but we'll see where this goes.

Carolina Panthers: A-

The Panthers were probably the only NFL team whose draft got BETTER as the night went on. Otah was very pricy, but if John Fox exercises some patience he could work out real well. I expect every single member of the draft class to see significant time except Hilee Taylor, who seems like a good special teamer waiting in the wings. Connor, Barnidge, Schwartz and Bernadeau were excellent second-day selections.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B

Dre Moore and Jeremy Zuttah were excellent picks, and it could be that all of their draftees see time (even Cory Boyd, who I admittedly think was vastly overrated out of college). This team may be a mess, but they're a deeper mess now.

New Orleans Saints: B+

All of a sudden, a perennial weakness (defensive line) has become a strength, and Tracy Porter only adds to the defense's potential. Carl Nicks was also a solid pick, but Mehlhaff and Arrington should not have been drafted. It'll barely matter once the Saints roll into the regular season.

Arizona Cardinals: B-

They made two really good picks before appearing to mail in their draft until the seventh round, when they came back with the monster Brandon Keith. Don't they have about six DE/OLB tweeners on the roster now?

San Francisco 49ers: C

Kinda uninspiring draft outside of Kentwan Balmer, as Chilo Rachal may not be able to crack the starting five OL and Reggie Smith is decent depth filler. This team just has a ton of needs and they couldn't solve them all with six picks, but Balmer could go a long ways in helping things go well. What happens, though, when the 49ers find themselves 3-10 next season with more offensive questions, a very likely scenario?

Seattle Seahawks: A-

Quietly had one of the better draft days of any NFL team. Lawrence Jackson and Red Bryant will contribute right away for a DL that really struggled at times. John Carlson will go a long way toward solidifying the TE position, and Owen Schmitt is a force. They pride themselves on special teams, so they got a snapper and a kicker without reaching for either. They needed a WR badly and did not get one, and they probably could've used some secondary help, but the Seahawks did everything they needed to do to become NFC West champs once again.

St. Louis Rams: B

I laughed very hard at the Donnie Avery selection, but it's pretty hard to deny any of what the Rams did on draft day. Even Mr. Irrelevant, David Vobora of Idaho, figures to be a special teams contributor.

Buffalo Bills: B-

Had a wonderful first day, grabbing Leodis McKelvin and James Hardy without trading, and they looked like potential winners. Alas, the good fortune did not necessarily extend all the way through draft weekend, but I can imagine we'll hear from Chris Ellis, Xavier Omon and Demetrius Bell sometime soon.

Miami Dolphins: B+

Jake Long, Philip Merling and the two guards look to be potential mainstays for several years. How Henne works out is extremely up in the air, but you've always gotta have choices available. Look out for Lex Hilliard, who will probably be converted into a fullback; he had a very productive career at Montana and is a pretty powerful runner. They probably could have gotten a better player but the kid has a lot of heart.

New England Patriots: D

No, I'm not feeling one bit of this draft. The only player who I like as a positional need/value player is Shawn Crable, who will probably see significant time. The rest of this class may be summarily written off, although we'll probably still hear from a few of these guys sometime soon. And no, I'm not high on Jerod Mayo at all, but thanks for asking.

New York Jets: C

Vernon Gholston is an excellent pick, but it's entirely possible that he and Dustin Keller are the only two players sticking around after three years. They suddenly have a lot of question marks popping up at inopportune times.

Baltimore Ravens: B

Yes, Joe Flacco and Ray Rice were massive reaches. But forgive Baltimore, as they went deep in this draft and grabbed guys like Tom Zbikowski, Allen Patrick and O'Neil Cousins, as well as a potential steal in Haruki Nakamura, an outstanding special teams player and intelligent safety.

Cincinnati Bengals: C+

I'll refer you to the Bengals board if you want detailed feedback.

Cleveland Browns: B+

Turned in one of the most impressive draft weekends despite not having a pick in the first three rounds. Ahtyba Rubin should never have lasted that long and could be the best of all of them. No wonder Cleveland is enjoying a bit of a renaissance.

Pittsburgh Steelers: B+

The Steelers threw the playbook out the window when the draft went the way it did, and they can't be sad about grabbing Rashard Mendenhall, Limas Sweed, Dennis Dixon and Tony Hills out from under some teams. But their best pick in the whole draft may have been Bruce Davis in the third round; Davis was a DE and quarterback terror at UCLA who projects as an OLB in the NFL. He was a major sleeper in my opinion and the right team snatched him up. He could be a stud in a very short amount of time.

Houston Texans: C

Duane Brown was a huge reach IMO, but you can't do too much better than Houston in terms of needed depth. I definitely don't agree with some of their selections but they had a nice draft day.

Indianapolis Colts: B+

With Jeff Saturday now a Raven, the Colts drafted three centers, including the best one of the class in Mike Pollak. Talk about healthy competition. The oddest one out probably becomes a backup G, and Philip Wheeler, Mike Hart and Pierre Garcon should all see significant time. Not a bad draft for a team without a first-rounder.

Jacksonville Jaguars: B

Love it or hate it, the Jags went for the jugular and may have hit it sooner than we all think. This draft is really made, however, by the selections of Trae Williams and Chauncey Washington, who were each drafted about a round later than they should have been.

Tennessee Titans: D

Somewhere, far off in the distance, J.Kim starts screaming...

Denver Broncos: B

They probably should have paid more attention to the defense but what a haul they got on offense! Ryan Clady is a future stud, Kory Lichtensteiger has a big future, Eddie Royal and Peyton Hillis should really help, and Josh Barrett was a nice late-rounder. The biggest coup of the Broncos' draft was Arizona State RB Ryan Torain, who very few Broncos fans have ever heard of. He will be Denver's next 1,000-yard rusher.

Oakland Raiders: C-

They had five picks, they took some nice players, but they're still pretty dreadful and the players don't fill needs. We'll see how this goes.

Kansas City Chiefs: A

They did well for themselves, from Glenn Dorsey to Bryan Johnston. Not a hugely questionable pick out of the entire bunch, and while they might not win so many games they should show strides.

San Diego Chargers: D

This may surprise, but I am not at all a fan of the Chargers' draft day. Antoine Cason was IMO a third-rounder at best and a reach at 27th overall. Trading up to grab Jacob Hester (costing them a 2009 2nd-rounder) was a very questionable decision as well. DeJuan Tribble may end up being their best draft pick, but given what little San Diego needed it's startling how little they actually came away with.

[Bleeding Green]

You really like the Panthers draft? What a waste. How can you make that trade with the Eagles?

I'm ecstatic about the Patriots draft. They move down, get extra picks, trade a 3rd rounder for a second-rounder next year. Great value and they fill serious needs at linebacker, in the secondary and get a couple really great additions to special teams.

How can you draft Joe Flacco 18th overall and still get a B grade?

[CJ_18]

Antoine Cason a 3rd rounder at best??

What's so 3rd-round about him?

[Icness]

Consider the two players taken with the picks the Panthers traded for Jeff Otah: Tyrell Johnson and Mike McGlynn. That is a ready-to-start safety and a road-grading G who projects as a real nice 6th OL. The Panthers sorely need those exact things--unless Otah is the 6th OL, which he might be next year. They also gave away next year's 1st for him. That's more than what the Browns gave up to get Quinn and what the Colts gave up to get Ugoh combined. Simply a horrible trade unless Otah is the next Jackie Slater, which he isn't.

I agree about San Diego; I think Cason was a mid-2nd rounder and strictly a cover-2 guy. They're going to ask him to play nickel, but he doesn't strike me as someone with that mentality. All of their later picks are real longshots to make the team--which says as much about the talent already in place than it does the draftees. Hester fills a role as a short-yardage back and special teams guy, but they already have a roster spot burned with Kassim Osgood as a strict special teamer, and he's the best in the business.

Colts and Browns I agree with completely--both did very well for themselves with limited picks. The Browns got 4 players in my top 103, and their first pick was #104.

[UrbanLegendMD]

How can you draft Joe Flacco 18th overall and still get a B grade?

I got no comeback.

[Fatty]

jeff saturday is a raven? What?

[No. 12]

With Jeff Saturday now a Raven...

Huh?

[CBS7]

Cut Cedric Benson immediately, please.

Benson's terrible season was 75% fault of the OL and 25% Benson.

No RB would play well with that terrible excuse for an OL we put out there last season. He constantly got hit by multiple defenders in the backfield.

He's not a great runningback, but I'd still like to see how well he'd do with a decent OL. He played very well backing up Thomas Jones in 06, getting 650 yards and 6 TDs in that role.

I don't really like him, but I don't dislike him either.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Saturday retired, didn't he? I should have checked up on that information. That's my error.

With the Ravens, I look at it like this: does Flacco look better at 26 than he does at 18? A little bit, for sure. Also, lest we forget where his draft floor was projected...it's highly debatable that he would've been around at 40th overall. So while I'm not entirely enthused about the value aspect of the trades and the pick, I'm nonplussed overall. And I really do like their second day. Nakamura to me is a big get, and Zbikowski was a decent value pick.

As far as the Panthers go, I was not a huge fan of the Otah trade (did not think it was that evil, but then I kinda took the middle ground), but again, their second day absolutely ruled. It's entirely possible that at least two of the players they drafted start for them next year. Guys like Schwartz and Bernadeau could be major contributors within three years. Dan Connor will start right away and may be more productive than Dan Morgan over his career arc. I thought he was a sure first-rounder. And you all know I'm biased toward Jonathan Stewart. Basically, I feel that Carolina's offense gained a potency that will be tough to ignore this upcoming season, and I give them props for going deep.

[Bleeding Green]

But the Panthers also potentially gave up a top-10 pick for next year. That they can get starters in the second day speaks to how bad their team is overall.

[Celtics_Champs]

I didn't like what panthers did either. The trade they made is eerily similar to the pats-49ers deal of last draft. Both teams took tackles. And give up high draft choice.

[NO-KG-AI]

Spot on with the Saints, but I do like the Adrian Arrington pick, and I think he can be something, especially that late.

Nicks and Pressley are both nice boom or bust picks, hopefully Nicks becomes a quality mauler soon, and can oust the tissue soft Stinchcomb.

[Welfare Fraud]

Philadelphia Eagles: B

I'm a big fan of Laws, McGlynn, Ikegwuonu and Gibson in terms of value. I wouldn't have touched DeSean Jackson on the first day because to me he's nothing but a glorified kick returner, but he does fill a nice need in Philly. Again, not a world-beating draft, but you can see that the Eagles are taking stock of where they are this year and getting ready to pounce after the 2009 draft.

Eagles fan here.. I agree with your rating for the most part

I like the DeSean Jackson pick though, even if he is only a glorified kick returner. Not seeing Reno Mahe back there to return punts is almost worth an A+ in it self.

and I love having Carolina's 09 first

[UrbanLegendMD]

Nakamura to me is a big get

I would be surprised if he made a team at all. At best, he is a special teams player.

[FNQ]

Outside of McFadden, how did the Raiders not address needs?

We were woefully thin at WR (took 2, including a potential HR - if healthy - in round 4), a DE that we needed to take to replace Brayton/Clemons, and a potential nickelback which was our most highlighted problem last season (Stanford Routt is beyond terrible, there is no actual word for how bad he is, but if there was, he would go beyond that word as well.)

To be truthful... I'm angry we didnt trade down and try and stockpile, and thats my only real criticism. In the end, it makes sense for Al to try and protect his new QB as best as possible, and even after a good season, Fargas doesn't exactly send chills down anyone's spines.

[NO-KG-AI]

Outside of McFadden, how did the Raiders not address needs?

We were woefully thin at WR (took 2, including a potential HR - if healthy - in round 4), a DE that we needed to take to replace Brayton/Clemons, and a potential nickelback which was our most highlighted problem last season (Stanford Routt is beyond terrible, there is no actual word for how bad he is, but if there was, he would go beyond that word as well.)

To be truthful... I'm angry we didnt trade down and try and stockpile, and thats my only real criticism. In the end, it makes sense for Al to try and protect his new QB as best as possible, and even after a good season, Fargas doesn't exactly send chills down anyone's spines.

Where I'm from we call that "Jason David"

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Outside of McFadden, how did the Raiders not address needs?

We were woefully thin at WR (took 2, including a potential HR - if healthy - in round 4), a DE that we needed to take to replace Brayton/Clemons, and a potential nickelback which was our most highlighted problem last season (Stanford Routt is beyond terrible, there is no actual word for how bad he is, but if there was, he would go beyond that word as well.)

To be truthful... I'm angry we didnt trade down and try and stockpile, and thats my only real criticism. In the end, it makes sense for Al to try and protect his new QB as best as possible, and even after a good season, Fargas doesn't exactly send chills down anyone's spines.

Tyvon Branch I'm not entirely sold on; him and Antwaun Molden, now of the Texans, were real late risers, but it's decent value. I just wasn't wowed by the pick. Same with Shields, who can prove me wrong pretty quickly. I'd be lying if I said I knew who Chaz Schilens was, although a sure-handed guy like Dorien Bryant wouldn't have been a bad choice at all.

[revprodeji]

Minnesota Vikings: C+

Well, yeah, they only had five picks, but what did they really get out of them? Johnson was a necessary pick even though they may have overpaid and Sullivan is a steal where he was taken. John David Booty will not threaten Tarvaris Jackson at all if recent history is any indication. Jaymar Johnson may not even make the team, and there is still no TE. Give the Vikings a little credit for improving their OL, but even with the Jared Allen deal it's still a draft I'm nonplussed about.
.

No offense, but you are the first negative I have read about the vikings draft. So I assume you do not know the players or the vikings situation. For the millionth time. WE ARE GOOD ON TE!!!! We have Shiancoe that we signed to a beasty contract and we want to give him another year. We have Garrett Mills that we are very high on, we also have Jim Kliensauser. A very good blocking TE. None of the TE's this draft graded high enough to get considered where we were looking.

If we consider Allen then we have to give it a very high A. Being that what we gave up was draft picks for Allen then we should consider him in the fold for the draft. Thus the vikings get an A. Now, if we consider just the picks and the value we got for the picks then I would have to give it an A-

Johnson was the top safety on the vikings board, and on Kiper's board. The vikings scouts ranked him as the 17th player in the draft. Thus mid-first rd range. I was upset about not getting Brohm, but Johnson is a better talent at a bigger need. We have our safety spot locked down now for the next couple years.
Booty helps the pain of Brohm. Not only will it make a great jersey, but this is the type of system he could do very, very well in. Strong running game, good offensive line and timed patterns. I think Booty will succeed here.
Sullivan will be good depth and an understudy for Birk
Guion is a very talented developmental DT. I just have concerns about his motor.
Jaymar Johnson is not being drafted for a WR, he is being brought in to see if he can win the RS job. RS is a concern right now. It was a pick in the 6th. No big deal.

Consider then that we had a great UDFA group including Henderson, Griffin, Leman, Reynaud and others.

The vikings get either a low A or high B. We came into the draft with no "need" concern and drafted entirely BPA.

[Worm Guts]

So I assume you do not know the players or the vikings situation. For the millionth time. WE ARE GOOD ON TE!!!! We have Shiancoe that we signed to a beasty contract and we want to give him another year. We have Garrett Mills that we are very high on, we also have Jim Kliensauser. A very good blocking TE.

[Bleeding Green]

You guys have Garrett Mills?! Holy ****!

Why is it a necessity for these terrible teams like the Raiders to pick based on need. They're years away from contending. Just take the best player available and forget about it.