NFL Draft Grades 2011: AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore corner situation last year held back what could have been another excellent defense.  Also, it’s probably what stopped them from making the Super Bowl.  With their top pick, the Ravens made a big splash by drafting the mega-talented Jimmy Smith (CB, Colorado).  There were off the field concerns about him, but I don’t usually buy into that stuff, especially not with Ray Lewis leading the locker room.  Athletically Smith is on the level of Patrick Peterson, the undisputed best prospect in the draft.  At 6’2”, 210 pounds, Smith runs a 4.42 40-yard dash.  With the speed to stay with any receiver, Smith also is a physical corner that tackles very well.  He is an instant impact player for the Baltimore defense at a huge area of need.

In the next round the Ravens addressed their second-biggest need with a player that could have gone in the first round.  Maryland’s Torrey Smith is a talented, speedy receiver that can complement the bruising possession man Anquan Boldin.  Finally Baltimore’s offense feels complete: a good quarterback in Joe Flacco, a great running back in Ray Rice, and a bevy of wideouts, which now includes a true deep threat.  Productive last year and with good size at 6’1”, 205 pounds, Torrey Smith can run by many NFL corners and will be a perfect fit for Flacco’s great deep ball.

Central Florida offensive tackle Jah Reid was drafted because Jared Gaither may be out the door in free agency this year.  At 6’7” and 330 pounds, he has a great frame for the tackle position and won’t be moved by bull rushes.  Reid needs to work on mechanics, but he has the talent for the position.  In a year or two he may be ready to start.

If Torrey Smith was their deep threat, Tandon Doss (WR, Indiana) was their possession receiver in this draft.  Doss is a big target—6’2”, 200 pounds—who lacks top-end speed but has great hands and likes to go over the middle.

In the fifth round Baltimore nabbed another cover man from Texas (How many damn corners does Texas have?) Chykie Brown.  Fast, agile, and smooth, Brown is a really talented in coverage, but he tends to get overpowered by bigger receivers.  He could be a great fit as a nickel corner.

The Ravens also took a sixth round flyer on Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor.  Who knows what he will be?

I love the pick of Jimmy Smith, a Pro Bowl talent.  Torrey Smith fits a big-time need as a deep threat and is a solid receiver overall.  Reid is a talented offensive tackle that fits a need, but he won’t be ready for a while.  Providing Flacco help to truly thrive is hugely important, so adding a second receiver, Doss, was a nice strategy.  In addition to Jimmy Smith, Brown can help in coverage right away too.  The Ravens’ biggest needs were targets for Flacco and help in the secondary, and they got four players that can all help right away, so I loved their draft.

The quarterback, running back, offensive line, and front seven are very good.  If this rookie class can come in and do what I think they can, they could push Baltimore to a championship.

Grade: A

Cincinnati Bengals

Carson Palmer is not walking through that door, and to me, I’m not sure why the Bengals are holding on to him like grim death.  His best days are behind him, and if Cincinnati can get value for him, trading him seems like a good move.  I know trades can’t be made right now, but the Bengals have repeatedly stated that they will not trade Palmer.

More on that situation in a second, but now onto their first pick, Georgia wideout AJ Green.  Comparisons to Calvin Johnson are not unfounded; he’s a spectacular leaper with great size at 6’4” and 211 pounds.  Though not currently overly physical, Green could add ten pounds of muscle to his long frame without losing much speed, which he has plenty of, running a 4.4 40-yard dash.  He makes an immediate impact as a deep threat and red zone target.

In the second round, the Bengals picked a guy I can’t quite wrap my head around: Andy Dalton (QB, TCU).  The best way I can describe him is that he has first round smarts and fourth round skills.  He’s accurate without a huge arm, but he can make most NFL throws.  In addition, he’s smallish for a quarterback, just 6’2” and 215 pounds.  But hey, Drew Brees is 6’ tall and is among the top-5 quarterbacks in the league.

All of the negatives about Dalton worry me because they remind me of Alex Smith.  Dalton will probably be the starter from Day One, and though his arm isn’t a howitzer, he’s smart enough to pick up an NFL system rapidly.  He struggles getting the ball deep downfield and does not have tremendous mobility.  Plus, he came from a spread offense at TCU, which typically does not prepare quarterbacks for NFL success.

Dalton signals a revamping of the culture in Bengals football, and I don’t mean this to sound like coded bigotry.  Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco—both unlikely to return to the team—aren’t thugs at all; they’re mostly decent guys but they incessantly crave attention.  They distract from the task at hand: winning football games.

In the third round the Bengals addressed their need for a pass rush threat by getting a great athlete in Nevada’s Dontay Mach.  Probably destined to be a situational player, with 4.4 flat speed and a 245-pound frame, Mach has the all physical skills to get to the quarterback.

Clint Boling (OG, Georgia) was a solid pick in the fourth round.  After starting four years in SEC—you know how much I like that—he’ll come in ready for a physical pounding.  Though not a great athlete for the position, Boling is the type of guy who could start this year and be solid, though he may never be great.

A really talented free safety from West Virginia, Robert Sands, came to the Bengals in the fifth.  A 6’4”, 217-pound thumper, sometimes Sands tries to lay people out too much and misses tackles.  He has good speed, and his length is an advantage in breaking up jump balls.

In the sixth round the Bengals nabbed (gasp) a white receiver from Stanford, Ryan Whalen.  Though not a good athlete, Whalen is strong with good hands and should be able to get off the line.  His ceiling is a solid possession receiver, and his basement is not making the team.

AJ Green is an immense talent, one of the most surefire prospects in the draft, who with Owens and Ochocinco out the door, fills a huge need.  Dalton was probably the best choice available in the second round since Palmer has to be replaced, and if nothing else, he will be a solid starter in this league.  Also consider the smarts and leadership he brings to the locker room.  Moch certainly has the physical skills to become a feared pass rusher, but coming from Nevada we’ll have to see how he fares against much stronger competition.  Boling is a pick I love because I think you’re getting a steady starter for the next 5-10 years, not great, but a guy you don’t worry about, unlike Andre Smith.  Sands has big-time potential at safety but plays wild, and Whalen may or may not make the squad.  They filled needs, got one of the best players in the draft, and brought in solid people like Boling and Dalton, so I think Cincy did pretty well for themselves.

Grade: B+

Cleveland Browns

The Browns only won five games last year, but they were a tough out for most everyone they played.  Not overly stocked with talent, they were gritty and had a formula that showed promise.

I think not picking a quarterback was the best thing they did this draft.  With no guaranteed passing prospects available, they were right to give Colt McCoy another year to progress.

With their first pick they drafted the jettisoned Shaun Rogers’ replacement, Baylor nose guard Phil Taylor.  A monster against the run that can occupy two blockers, the 6’4”, 340-pound Taylor still needs to learn the game and get better technique-wise, but he has the ability to be a dominant force.

Pittsburgh’s Jabal Sheard played more defensive end in college, but he’s clearly going to transition to 3-4 outside linebacker in Cleveland.  He has great athleticism, running a 4.68 40-yard dash, and has good size at 6’3” and 265 pounds.  Sheard’s 9 sacks last year in college showed superb pass rush ability.

I felt that Greg Little (WR, North Carolina) was a reach late in the second round, but he does possess tremendous size at 6’3” and 230 pounds.  For such a large frame, running a 4.51 40 is plenty fast, but this guy has a lot to learn and needs to really refine his game.  A big-time talent, it’s a 50/50 proposition if he pans out, and he probably won’t be ready to make an impact this year.

USC’s Jordan Cameron is a very talented tight end to get in the fourth round.  He has soft hands, 4.5 speed, and runs good routes, and he can help right away as a middle of the field target.

The versatile Owen Marecic was a half back and full back at Stanford and was another Cleveland's fourth round picks.  This talented player will make an instant impact as a lead blocker, a receiver, and running back.

They really bolstered their front seven with Taylor and Sheard, which I loved.  Little was a reach, but in the second round he was a decent pick considering his potential ceiling as a dominant, physical force.  Or he could be an athlete that can’t figure out the game and we'll never hear from again.  Cameron will help McCoy right away as a security blanket in the red zone/middle of the field.  He also has some explosive, deep threat ability for a tight end.  Marecic is the type of player you love because he can help in so many ways—running, blocking, receiving, special teams—and he’s smart.

The only thing I thought the Browns needed to do was get even more help for McCoy, though Cameron and Little are guys with big potential.  The Browns have a good offensive line, running game, and spent high picks on the secondary last year.  So clearly skilled receivers and front seven help was the order of the day, and they addressed those needs very well.

Grade: A-

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh doesn’t have a ton of weaknesses; that’s fairly obvious considering they are the defending AFC Champs.

With their first pick they get a guy in Cameron Heyward (DL, Ohio State) who fits in perfectly with their 3-4 scheme.  Pittsburgh is strong but aging along their defensive front, and Heyward adds a dynamic talent that can enter the rotation immediately.

Offensive line may have been a bigger need, but they may get better at that spot just by getting healthy.  Plus, they addressed the line with their second round pick.  Florida tackle Marcus Gilbert is an absolute mammoth that played a ton in college and has the talent to start immediately.  If nothing else, he will be a good backup right away and can develop into a good starter down the road.

With their next pick, the Steelers continued to address their top needs by grabbing the Texas cornerback Curtis Brown.  Exposed by the Packer passing game in the Super Bowl, upgrading the Pittsburgh secondary was a high priority.   Sticky in man coverage, Brown is a talented player who could have gone in the second round.  He has a lot to learn though, foremost how to tackle.

The Citadel’s Cortez Allen, another corner, was a reach even in the fourth, but he does address the corner need.  We just will have to wait to see if he pans out.

Nabbing outside linebacker Chris Carter in the fifth round was a steal; he should have gone in the third round.  In Carter the Steelers drafted a raw, talented athlete to develop and eventually replace James Harrison.  Who better to learn under than Harrison and Lamar Woodley for a young pass rusher? 

Overall I like that the Steelers went strictly for addressing needs.  They probably could have used some help at the skill positions (particularly a replacement for aging Hines Ward) but they upgraded their defensive and offensive lines with their first two picks.  They also added two corners to what was a weak coverage unit last year, and I think at least Curtis Brown can make an instant impact.  Carter was a big talent to get in the fifth that can be groomed to continue the tradition of pass rushing linebackers in the Steel City.  The Steelers aren’t far away from winning it all again, so what they needed to do was get players that can instantly improve their few weaknesses, and that’s just what they did.

Grade: B

--from @AdamHocking

The Vest: Villain or Victim?

Jim Tressel is going through media hell right now, and though he broke the rules, I don’t really think he deserves all the blame he’s getting.  Yes he lied, and cheated, and covered up for his prized athletes.  In this instance when we usually ask who’s to blame, the obvious answer is Tressel.  But is Tressel an exception?  Is he a wicked or devious man, or is he a product of a broken system?  I tend towards the latter.

I’m not here the toss accusations at specific people or programs, but I’m here to state the obvious fact that most of sports fans know in their collective gut.  Ohio State is not the only program cheating.  In fact, if Ohio State weren’t cheating, it would be one of the only major programs that isn’t.  We’ve seen the likes of USC, Auburn, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida at the very least implicated for NCAA violations in basketball, football or both just in the last few years.

Are we really to believe that the handful of programs I just mentioned are the only ones cheating?  These programs, that all happen to be enormous revenue generators for their respective schools, are the exceptions to the rule and that most major programs adhere strictly to NCAA rules at all times?

Of course not.  The axe fell on USC yesterday (though Pete Carroll got out the back door in time), Tressel today, and it will be someone else tomorrow.  NCAA rules will to continue to be broken not because Tressel and other coaches are bad men, but because they want to keep their jobs, and to do so means winning games at all costs.

Like baseball players during the steroid era, these coaches have a decision to make: Be clean and let my competition pass me by and let my career slip away, or cheat and stay competitive while running the risk of getting caught down the line.  Most people in any line of work will cheat if it means keeping their career versus losing it.  What’s a little recruiting violation if it means beating Michigan?

Continuing the baseball analogy, cheating doesn’t necessarily guarantee success or entirely diminish accomplishments.  Here are some names listed on the infamous Mitchell Report, implicating those MLB players that were found to have used performance enhancing drugs: Bart Miadich, Adam Piatt, Matt Herges, Chad Allen, Howie Clark.  Not exactly Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa (all in the report too), huh?  So when everyone cheats—or most everyone at any rate—it levels the playing field.

Even if cheating weren’t going on in college football, Florida, Ohio State, Alabama, and USC would still be atop the mountain because they are the name-brand schools where players want to go.  No matter what, they would still beat the living daylights out of Youngstown State, Tennessee Tech, and the like.  But when Florida starts to cheat, Ohio State has to cheat to keep pace.  Tressel didn’t lie to the NCAA because he thought, “Jeez, if we don’t have Terelle Pryor I’m not sure we can beat Akron.”  He lied because, “I can’t win a conference championship, let alone a national title, without my best players.”

It’s just as when McGwire started to juice, Sosa had to get on that sauce too.  It’s not so he can hit Steve Woodard (also on the Mitchell Report) but so he can keep pace with Big Mac and jack 60 home runs.

Greatness is greatness, and when everyone cheats great just becomes greater.  Barry Bonds may have jumped from 34 to 49 to 73 home runs when he started juicing, but he was great prior to drugs and simply greater afterwards.

Every major program is paying players, talking through agents, and simply doing things they should not be doing according to NCAA rules.  But to get outraged at a single man for doing what his profession has essentially forced upon him and his coaching brethren is ridiculous.  The problem isn’t with one man, it’s systemic, and until the system changes, we will continue to see coaches and programs demonized for doing what they must: dance with the devil.

--from @AdamHocking

(image from flickr.com)

NFL Draft Grades 2011: AFC East

Buffalo Bills

The Bills were bad last year, which usually means a changing of the guard at quarterback is in order.  However, incumbent starter Ryan Fitzpatrick had a pretty solid 2010 with an 82 passer rating.  And with no surefire quarterback prospects in this draft, I think staying with Fitzpatrick for at least one more year is the best strategy.

The Bills were dead last stopping the run, so adding the beast Marcel Dareus was a great move with their first pick.  Alabama’s Dareus excelled in the rough and tumble SEC, is a great athlete for his size, and appears to be the strongest player on the field at all times.  At 6’3”, 320 pounds, Dareus is the ideal anchor against the run, and with the Bills playing both 3-4 and 4-3, Dareus provides tremendous versatility.  When you watch a game, Dareus is one of the few players that jumps off the screen.

In the second round the Bills made a slightly curious pick, though they got a quality player.  Aaron Williams (DB, Texas) can play corner or safety and is a talented, physical player.  It’s just that the Bills’ secondary is probably the strength of their team; they ranked 3rd in the league defending the pass in 2010.  Still, the defense was Buffalo’s problem last year, and after getting Dareus, I can’t punish them too much for adding another quality player to that side of the ball.

The pick I really like came in the third round, the linebacker Kelvin Sheppard out of LSU.  With stopping the run such an issue, the Bills added two guys in Dareus and Sheppard that should help turn things around fast.  Sheppard is big at 250 pounds and has good speed and overall athleticism, able to get back and cover tight ends.  He was a leader on his college team.

Management must be expecting to lose some of their secondary, because in the fourth round Buffalo again addressed the area, netting Da’Norris Searcy (SS, North Carolina).  The 223-pound Searcy has the size to be an impact player against the run and enough speed and agility to be solid in coverage.  He had an incredible 27 bench press reps at the combine.

In the late fourth round the Bills did something that probably should have been addressed earlier; they picked an offensive lineman.  Chris Hairston from Clemson is a huge man at 6’6” and 325 pounds with great strength and solid athleticism, but he was never a true standout in college.

The Bills may have gotten a solid halfback in the fifth, taking a good, natural runner in UNC’s Johnny White.

In the sixth and seventh rounds the Bills continued to stockpile defensive players.

I always like when a team heads into a draft with a theme like Buffalo clearly did.  They went defense early and often, getting physical players from big-time programs.  Dareus should be a star, Williams should help right away, and Sheppard could start from Day 1 as well. Searcy is a talented player that might take some time learning the league, but he could develop into a thumper at strong safety.  Hairston was a high-upside pick who hasn’t shown that he’s an NFL starter just yet.   White complements an already talented backfield.  The only thing I would say is that the offense needed some major help but didn’t get it in this draft.  I understand though; teams can only do so much with their picks, and Buffalo completely revamped their defense in this draft.

Grade: B+

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins had major needs entering this draft, and I’m not sure they addressed enough of them.  They simply didn’t have the number of picks to restock completely, but they did a solid job of adding good players at positions of need.

I like Miami’s first pick, Mike Pouncey (OL, Florida).  He’s an excellent athlete who can play center or guard, and the Dolphins desperately need more talent in the middle of their offensive line.

In the second round Miami got Kansas State runner Daniel Thomas, who fits the theme of this draft: physicality.  Thomas is a bruising 230 pounds, and with Ronnie Brown constantly injured, was a good pick.

In fourth rounder Edmund Gates, Miami might have drafted the next Ted Ginn, or they may have gotten a steal.   Out of Abilene Christian, the thing that pops is his speed: a 4.31 40-yard dash.  Perhaps he can provide the deep threat opposite the massive and imposing possession receiver Brandon Marshall.  If he can, then Chad Henne could improve dramatically.  Henne has a great downfield arm, and has needed a player that to lift the lid off of the defense and to open things up underneath.  Gates has good ball skills and strength, but he is raw in running routes.

In the sixth round the Dolphins picked up Charles Clay (TE/FB, Tulsa) who is a versatile player and a decent athlete who could fill multiple positions.

The first two picks should work out in tandem.  Pouncey can play right away and bring physicality to the Dolphin run game.  Thomas may be running strong behind Pouncey for the next 5-7 years; he’s a talented back that can wear down defenses.  Then adding the speedster Gates should help the Dolphins be a more dangerous vertical passing team.  Additionally, all of the first three selections should help Henne.  If he can’t succeed with a talented new center, another good running back, and a certified deep threat, then he’s not the guy.

Grade: B-

New England Patriots

It just isn’t fair.  They go 14-2 and then have a seemingly endless supply of draft picks the following year.   Without many needs, the Patriots could essentially pick whoever they wanted whenever they wanted.

The Patriots spent their first round selection on Nate Solder, once considered the best offensive tackle in his class, but a guy that had slid a little right before the draft.  Still, New England gets a tremendous pass protector with a huge frame and potential to be a truly elite offensive lineman.  He is the heir apparent to Matt Light on the left side.

New England addressed another big need with the top pick in the second round, adding the physical cornerback from Virginia, Ras-I Dowling.  Dowling is big and fast; the 6’1”, 200-pound corner runs a 4.40 40-yard dash.  Plus, he’s a smart player who started for a long time in college and should be solid immediately in the Patriot secondary.

Late second round pick Shane Vareen (RB, California) was a taken a little high for my taste, but he is a versatile player that bolsters a position of some need.  Though Danny Woodhead is a fine player, I’m not sure he’s the yearly answer as a feature back.  Vareen is a compact and strong runner who can catch the ball out of the backfield and has nice open field moves.  He should get some carries right off the bat and help improve a so-so Patriots running game.

I don’t really understand the Pats’ next pick in the third round, another running back in LSU’s Stevan Ridley.  I believe adding Vareen was a more than adequate move to jolt the running game, but with so many picks to play with, perhaps the Patriots just took a guy they liked.  The 225 pounder with an attacking running style can add another element to the New England offense and gives them perhaps the deepest stable of running backs in the NFL (Woodhead, BenJarvis Green-Ellis, Vareen, and now Ridley).

With the very next selection the Patriots did something some loved and others hated: Ryan Mallet.  And I loved it.  If he doesn’t work out, so what?  He’s a third round pick on a championship-level team; it won’t really be a big deal if he can’t be Brady’s successor.  And if he does work out, then the Patriots are geniuses yet again.  Mallett has the best arm of any quarterback drafted this year.  The knock on him is his work ethic and attitude toward the game. Sitting behind Brady for two or three years ought to help Mallett dial in and maximize his physical gifts.  And if Mallett doesn’t turn out to be the Patriots’ guy, he could be juicy trade bait, like we’re currently seeing with Kevin Kolb.

The fifth round saw the Patriots add mammoth TCU guard Marcus Cannon, who fits well with the physical theme New England seemed to be going for in this draft.  Cannon was, to some, a second round talent.  At 6’5” and 360 pounds, Cannon is unbelievably big, but he also shows surprising athleticism playing tackle in college.  If he can learn to play guard, he could be dominant, and that’s not something you can say about most fifth round picks.

The thing to keep in mind with this draft is that New England had a huge rookie class last year and is still developing those players.  They have so many young bodies that needs really disappear, and taking the most talented prospects becomes the smart strategy.  Solder will be a star if he stays healthy and gets stronger, Dowling has all the physical gifts to be a good corner, and the combo of Vareen/Ridley totally reshapes the running back situation.  Mallett was a flyer, a luxury pick with a huge ceiling and not much of a cost coming in the third round.  Cannon was a steal in the fifth.

Overall I love how the Patriots drafted for talent.  Their draft class has as much potential as any teams’.  The only thing I thought they missed was adding more depth to the defensive line.  They maybe could have looked at taking a dynamic wideout as well, but I’m nitpicking at this point.

Grade: A-

New York Jets

Even with limited picks, the Jets still addressed major needs.  The front line of the Jets’ 3-4 was unspectacular last year, especially after Kris Jenkins went down with yet another injury.  Jenkins is probably done as an elite player.  The linebacking corps and secondary are very strong for New York, and the offense is stocked with young talent, so finding impact players on the defensive line was the top priority in this draft.

The Jets hit big in the first round with Temple defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson.  At 6’4” and 315 pounds, Wilkerson has the size and strength to play any position on the defensive line, but he will likely spend most of his time at defensive end.  Very athletic for his size, Wilkerson has the ability to take on two blockers and could be a dominant run defender.  Physically, he’s ready to compete with NFL offensive linemen.

In the third round the Jets took a chance on a small school player in Kenrick Elllis, a defensive tackle from Hampton.  The enormous 6’5”, 350-pound Ellis plays with a violent demeanor and fires off the snap.  He has the prototype height to block quarterbacks’ line of vision and the prototype girth to take on multiple blockers.  Plus, he’s scary quick for a man of his size.  With all the talent to excel, Ellis simply has to prove he can transition from a small school to the bright lights of New York and the NFL.

In the fourth round the Jets added another player to their running back rotation, Louisville’s Bilal Powell.  He’s not huge, but at 210 pounds and with a physical running style, he can be a punishing back in stretches.  After underwhelming his first three collegiate years, Powell ran for over 1,400 yards last year.

I like the pick of Jeremy Kerley (WR, TCU) in the fifth round.  He’s a smart player that played in a pass-oriented offense in college.  I think mentally will be ready to contribute right away.  He seems to be a perfect fit in the slot.

Taking a chance on Greg McElroy in the seventh was a smart move.  Mentally he’s as sharp as quarterbacks come, and while his physical skills aren’t mind-blowing, McElroy can hold his own.  To me he projects as an ideal #2 who will add a tremendous presence to the locker room and will be like another coach on the roster.  That’s pretty good value for the seventh round.

Taking defensive linemen with their top two picks was the best thing the Jets could have done; it was by far their biggest need.  Wilkerson should be a solid player immediately and could be very good down the road.  Ellis has huge potential and talent-wise was a steal in the third round, but he has a lot to prove at the next level.  Powell and Kerley were both productive college players that aren’t physically overwhelming but should be contributors.  The Jets can’t be sold that LaDanian Tomlinson has much left in the tank, and wideouts Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards are free agents.  With that in mind, Powell and Kerley were smart picks.  Finally, I can’t help but love getting such a solid individual in McElroy in the seventh round.

Grade: B

--from Adam

NFL Draft Grades 2011: AFC West

Denver Broncos

 
Von Miller is about as sure of a prospect as there was in this draft, and he meets a big need, so I loved the pick.  Miller and the returning sack master, Elvis Dumervil, could give the Broncos an elite pass rush in 2011.
 

Denver spent two second round picks on guys that should come in and start immediately.  UCLA's Rahim Moore was the best safety in the draft and helps replenish an aging Bronco secondary.  With the very next pick in the second round, Denver took Orlando Franklin (OL, Miami), a very physical, athletic player that will probably play guard with Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris already locking down Denver’s tackle positions.  Franklin improves an already solid line.
 

Nate Irving was a solid third round pick who can play inside or outside linebacker.  Though not a great athlete, Irving is a smart, versatile player and a sound tackler.
 

Getting Quinton Carter in the fourth round was highway robbery.  The Oklahoma safety was the second best at his position behind Moore, who Denver took in the second round.  Moore and Carter should start next to each other for years and form a very good tandem.
 

In the later rounds the Broncos took flyers on two project tight ends, Nevada’s Virgil Green and Portland State’s Julius Thomas.  Both are big, fast, and talented players who played at small schools and will require a lot of development.
 

Miller should be a Pro Bowler, and Moore, Franklin, and Carter should all be capable NFL starters.  Irving may develop into a starter as well.  Denver drafted pretty well all around: one star, three or four potential starters, and two sleeper tight ends with big-time potential.  Their defense was horrible last year, and they added four guys that should play this next year and contribute, though I wish they would have done more to address their defensive line. 
 

Grade: A-
 

Kansas City Chiefs
 

The Chiefs overachieved last year.  They rode a strong running game, good special teams, smart quarterback play, and a decent defense to a 10-6 record.  Still, I think everyone knew this wasn’t a championship-caliber team; it was a well-coached group that needed a little more talent to reach the mountaintop.
 

With their first pick the Chiefs certainly got a huge talent, but the question is did they also get a huge headache?  Pittsburgh wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin is 6’5”, 230 pounds, runs a sub-4.5 40, has a huge vertical leap, and may be the best receiver in this draft at going up for jump balls.  Baldwin has the skills to be a Randy Moss-type deep threat and red zone option.
 

The Moss comparison is also apt with mental and off the field questions surrounding Baldwin.  He takes plays off, pouts when he doesn’t get the ball, and has been arrested.  Basically he’s a guy you have to worry about motivating and keeping on the straight and narrow.  I personally think “character issues” are overrated, and once a guy becomes a pro, he sees how hard he needs to work to succeed in the league.  In my personal opinion, Baldwin will be an impact player immediately to round out a talented group of skill players that includes Jamaal Charles, Thomas Jones, Dwayne Bowe, Dexter McCluster, and Tony Moeaki.
 

The Chiefs hit the jackpot next pick drafting for an absolute need and getting good value.  Kansas City found a replacement for 37-year-old Casey Wiegmann in the talented Florida State center, Rodney Hudson.  Perhaps slightly undersized, Hudson is strong, athletic, technically sound, and committed to the game.  I think he is a starter in a year or two, a good if not great NFL player.
 

In the third round the Chiefs got a great value and addressed a big need in linebacker Justin Houston from Georgia.  Houston is a good but not elite athlete that is a natural pass rusher, who will eventually complement incumbent sack master Tamba Hali.
 

Allen Bailey (DE, Miami) was another good pick in the third round.  A terrific athlete for being 6’3” and 285 pounds, Bailey is ready for the NFL right now and fits Romeo Crennel’s 3-4.  The Chiefs have invested a ton of high picks in their defensive line recently, and without a great return, Bailey is good enough to come in and challenge or replace Tyson Jackson or Glenn Dorsey.
 

Ricky Stanzi was an interesting pick in the fifth round.  He has a solid arm and won a lot of games at Iowa, but he’s not talented enough to start in the NFL.  I think he will develop into a proficient backup that can come in and win a couple games when the starter gets hurt.
 

Jalil Brown (CB, Colorado) was a solid pick in the fourth.  A bit of a project but potential starter, Brown is big, fast enough, and plays with physicality.
 

Baldwin is a big risk to some, but a big reward in my opinion.  He takes their offense to another level of dangerous.  Hudson was the perfect combination of need and getting top talent in the second round.  Houston and Bailey were both steals in the third round.  Both could play this year, and both have big time potential.  Jalil Brown should be an eventual contributor to the secondary.  I think the Chiefs offense got much more explosive, and the defense has taken a step toward being a top ten unit because of this draft.
 

Grade: B+
 

Oakland Raiders
 

I like their first pick, spending a second rounder on Penn State center Stefen Wisniewski.  A solid player with good bloodlines, he may never be great, but he’s strong, is a worker, and loves the game.  He will be a starter in the league, and probably soon, but I just don’t know if he’ll ever make a Pro Bowl.
 

In the third round, Al Davis went all, well, Al Davis, reaching for a potential fourth or fifth round prospect in Miami cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke.  A 6’1” corner with unreal speed, a blazing 4.25 40-yard dash at the combine, Van Dyke isn’t sound technically at all.  With the talent to be a first round pick, it’s now up to Oakland to develop him; the Raiders don’t exactly have a great track record making speed demons into real players.
 

I like the late third round selection of LSU offensive tackle Joseph Barksdale.  First, if you watch The Wire, you respect anyone with the name “Barksdale.”  Second, at 6’5” and 325 pounds, Barksdale is incredibly strong and very athletic for his size, an absolute beast.  The knock on him is his desire, but I think if coached properly, this is a late round gem.  He started 26 games in the SEC, the veritable NFL training ground, and was dominant at times.
 

In the fourth round the Raiders got another speedster, but this time they also got a proven player in Ohio State corner Chimdi Checkwa.  Checkwa is a trememdous athlete and skilled cover corner, but he isn’t going to come up and make big tackles.  He could be the heir apparent to Nhamdi Asoumgha who will likely leave as a free agent.
 

The run on speedsters continued in the late fourth round when Oakland picked Taiwan Jones, a running back from Eastern Washington that ran 4.35 40.  An absolute home run threat every time he gets the ball, Jones would be a nice complement to Darren McFadden out of the backfield, could be used as a receiver, and should certainly see time as a kick returner.
 

In the fifth round Oakland drafted Denarius Moore, receiver from Tennessee.  Moore is most known as a deep threat but also has good hands, runs nice routes, and should eventually crack his way into the receiving rotation.
 

Richard Gordon (TE, Miami) was a huge reach in the sixth, but, surprise, is a good athlete for the position.  He never played much and doesn’t really seem to understand the game, but he runs fast, which I guess is fine and dandy for Oakland. 
 

Drafting for speed is a good strategy because no gameplan can stop speed, but those speedy players also have to have good football sense and skills.  Wisniewski was a solid pick that will help the offensive line.  Van Dyke may be a star someday, or we may never hear his name again.  It all depends on how he commits and how his coaches develop him, which hasn’t been Oakland’s strength in the past.  I love the selection of Barksdale in the third, but he comes with the same “Can the Raiders get the most from this guy” question that all these picks do.  Coming from a big-time program, Checkwa is a talented corner who’ll start eventually.  Jones is an explosive running back with electric speed, but out of Eastern Washington, he’ll have a lot to learn.  Moore was a solid receiver in the fifth, and Gordon is a project player in the sixth.
 

Grade: B-
 

San Diego Chargers
 

Corey Liuget (DL, Illinois) is a really good player, and even if he wasn’t a need, I would have supported getting him at pick 18.  An athletic player that can rush the passer and is really hard to move in the run game, Liuget completes a talented front three with Antonio Garay and Luis Castillo.  That group could be dominant.
 

Clemson corner Marcus Gilchrist was a solid pick in the second round.  A bit undersized but very athletic and skilled in coverage, he’s an ideal nickel back to work on smaller slot receivers.
 

Michigan’s Jonas Mouton was a huge reach in the late second round.  San Diego had a chance to add another big-time linebacker like Justin Houston from Georgia, Martez Wilson from Illinois, Mason Foster from Washington, or Greg Jones from Michigan State, but instead took the undersized, slow-footed Mouton.
 

Vincent Brown (WR, San Diego State) was another reach in the third round.  He’s undersized and slow, running a 4.68 40-yard dash.
 

The selection of USC corner Shareece Wright gets San Diego back on the right track.  He went right about where experts thought he would and is a talented athlete that can eventually start, though he only started one year in college.
 

Stephen Schilling (OL, Michigan) and Jordan Todman (RB, UConn) were both good values in the sixth round, especially Todman.  A runner who produces in college can usually start in the NFL, and Todman was a force in the Big East.  He’s quick in and out of cuts and is a surprisingly powerful runner. 
 

I love the pick of Liuget, like the pick of Gilchrist, and then hated their next two picks.  They really could have added some top talent with six picks in the first three rounds, but I think they got just one sure-fire starter.  Todman was a nice pick in the sixth, and I appreciate that they tried to address their defense, but I just don’t think they picked the right players.
 

Grade: C-

--from Adam

NFL Draft Grades 2011: AFC South

Houston Texans

 
With the 30th-ranked defense last year, it was easy to guess how Houston would draft.  They spent their first pick on a great fit for their new look 3-4 defense in JJ Watt (DE, Wisconsin).  Big, strong, athletic, and tireless on the field, Watt will be a good starter at the very least and could be a star.
 

Arizona linebacker Brooks Reed brings a big-time pass rush to Houston.  He should start right away and bookend Mario Williams nicely.
 

In the late second round, the Texans got a starting-level corner in Brandon Harris from Miami. 
 

Rashad Carmichael was another nice addition to the secondary in the fourth round, though he won’t be ready to help out next year.  He will need a year to learn and acclimate to the NFL environment, but he is an impressive athlete.
 

I like the pick of North Carolina quarterback TJ Yates in the fifth round.  Yates basically had the world crash down around him last year with so many of his Tar Heel teammates getting suspended for the year.  Yet he played tremendously in such an impossible situation.  Yates isn’t a huge talent, but the guy has guts.  He finds ways to score and win games.  I think he may develop into a good NFL starter given enough time.
 

The Texans improved their defense as much as any team improved on any side of the ball in this year’s draft.  Houston’s pass defense was abysmal last year, but with Watt and Reed getting after the quarterback and Harris improving coverage, this defense should be dramatically better next year.  Plus, Yates was a good value in the fifth.
 

Grade: A
 

Indianapolis Colts
 

Indianapolis addressed their biggest need head-on in the first round—protect Peyton Manning—by drafting stud offensive tackle Anthony Costanzo from Boston College.  Costanzo is smart, tough, durable, strong, and athletic.  He’s the perfect fit for the Indy system who will be able to step in immediately and upgrade the Colts’ protection.  The same can be said for Ben Ijalana (OL, Villanova) whom the Colts took in the second round.  Ijalana can play tackle or guard, is a great athlete, and is very strong.  He and Costanzo add a really physical dimension to an offensive line that has been lacking an identity for a while now.
 

In the third round, the Colts made one of my favorite picks in the draft.  They nabbed LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis, and in so doing finally get the physical, nasty player they’ve needed in the middle of their defense.  Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy called Nevis the best player he ever played against, even better than thirteenth overall pick Nick Fairley.
 

Delone Carter (RB, Syracuse) was a nice pick in the fifth round.  At 222 pounds and with 27 bench press reps at the combine, Carter’s physical presence should help bolster a backfield that looked average last year between Joseph Addai and Donald Brown.
 

The Colts had a limited number of picks, but they really maxed them out and did a great job of changing the identity of their team.  They got three players that should start and bring tremendous strength and physicality to their offensive and defensive lines.  Costanzo should be a star, Ijalana and Nevis should be very good starters, and Carter adds a new dimension to the backfield.
 

Grade: B+
 

Jacksonville Jaguars
 

I don’t love Blaine Gabbert, but I love that the Jags got him at the 10 spot, and I love how he fits into their franchise.  Gabbert needs time to learn an NFL system and needs to be surrounded by talent.  In Jacksonville he can sit behind David Garrard for a year or two, learn the system, and then step in only when fully ready to take over an already talented team.  The Jags have been slowly building up their offensive line, and they have a star in Maurice Jones-Drew and a young defense that is on the verge of being very good.
 

In the third round, the Jags continued to improve their offensive line by selecting Lehigh guard Will Rackley.  Rackley is a smart, strong player who was a second round talent.
 

The Jaguars’ next three picks are all small school prospects that we will have to wait and see on.  Cecil Shorts (WR, Mount Union) is a quick, explosive player but not yet strong enough to get off jams at the NFL level.  Chris Proskinski is definitely a project coming out of Wyoming.  He’s a solid athlete that wasn’t spectacular in college.
 

This draft really was about Gabbert, and I liked that pick a lot.  Still, this isn’t a team that’s one player away from being a championship contender.  They needed to do more, and while I like the pick of Rackley, they needed to add more immediate contributors in the later rounds.
 

Grade: C+

Tennessee Titans

If you love Jake Locker, picking him is fine, but the Titans didn’t need to grab him 8th overall.  They could have traded down and paid a lot less for him.  Still, that’s who the Titans wanted, and this time last year he was projected as the number one overall pick.

In the second round the Titans got a good player that could have gone in the first round, Akeem Ayers (LB, UCLA).  Ayers is not a combine freak, but he is a nice athlete with great pass rush skills who will help the Titans defense right away.

USC defensive tackle Jurrell Casey was a solid pick in the third round.  He’s a stout player with decent quickness who will be tough to move in the run game.

I really like the fourth rounder Colin McCarthy (LB, Miami).  A very good athlete with all the ability to start, and be an impact player, McCarthy just needs to get bigger to play full time in the NFL.

Jamie Harper (RB, Clemson) was a reach in the fourth round, but at 5’11” and 233 pounds he brings the physicality and a change of pace to Chris Johnson.

Fifth rounder Karl Klug was a reach, but he’s a strong, hardworking player who could make the team.  The Titans also added three developmental players in the sixth and seventh rounds.

Locker was a reach but fit a need and is a big talent; I don’t mind the pick too much.  Ayers was a good value and meets a need; I like that pick.  Casey improves the defense and can play right away, and McCarthy was a steal in the fourth.  If Harper can be a 7-10 touch per game player and be effective, he will have been a steal.

Grade: B-

--from Adam

NFL Draft Grades 2011: NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons gave up two first round picks, a second, and a fourth to move up and select Alabama receiver Julio Jones.  Julio, you better be Jerry Rice my man.  That is a ton to give up, but I’m evaluating the players Atlanta added in this particular draft and not what they may have cost themselves in the long run.

I worry about the pressure on Jones, knowing how much this franchise gave up just for him, but then I realize just what type of player he is.  Jones projects as a Pro Bowl talent at receiver.  If he can stay healthy, he comes into a team that should be a perfect fit for him: opposite All-Pro Roddy White, hall of fame tight end Tony Gonzalez carves out space in the middle, young star Matt Ryan delivers passes, and perhaps the league’s best trio of running backs in Michael Turner, Jason Snelling, and Jerious Norwood top it off.  In other words, Jones was the icing on the cake of an offense ready to explode.

In the third round Atlanta took inside linebacker Akeem Dent, who has the range to also play outside.  He’s a solid player that could start eventually.

Next, in the fifth round Atlanta selected the jitterbug Jacquizz Rogers; I really like that pick value wise.  Rogers can run between the tackles despite his 5’7” frame, and he has the perfect quickness, shiftiness, and lateral agility to be a slot receiver and kick returner.  Jones and Rodgers make this Falcons team much more explosive on offense.

Other than Jones, Dent, and Rodgers, the Falcons didn’t get much.  I guess you could say they didn’t have huge needs, but they rounded out their draft taking a sixth round kicker, and two seventh rounders on the offensive and defensive lines, respectively.  This team needed help in the pass rush department and in the secondary.  They didn’t get it.

The Falcons’ defense was decent last year, but as we saw in the 48-21 playoff torching to the Packers, it was a unit that needed improvement.  Dent is a nice player, but he does nothing dramatic to improve the Falcon defense.  They needed multiple high picks to make their defense tangibly better, and they didn’t make them.  On the bright side, the addition of Jones and Rodgers may have created the most talented offense in the league.  Perhaps Atlanta figures they aren’t far from winning a Super Bowl, and by loading up on offense, they can afford a so-so defense.  They got great talent but didn’t fill nearly enough needs.

Grade: C

Carolina Panthers

With the number one overall pick you have to draft a potential franchise changer.  Picking first in the draft means shelling out a huge amount of money, so getting a hugely talented player that can drastically alter the fortunes of your franchise is imperative.  Normally that means taking a quarterback because that position impacts the game of football more than any other.  However you feel about Cam Newton, he was the right pick.

Newton was the biggest athletic talent in the draft.  He’s not Vince Young; he’s a better athlete, smarter person, tougher mentally, and better passer.  He’s not Tim Tebow; Newton has much better throwing mechanics, physical stature, and running ability.  What Newton is is a guy that endured a white hot spotlight amidst a college football scandal and still went 14-0 in college football’s toughest conference.  He’s cocky, but that’s what I want from my franchise quarterback.  Newton could bust—that’s always a possibility—but if he works as hard as he can on the mental and technical aspects of the game, he can be a superstar.

All that said, in picking Newton the Panthers still have a ton of needs to address and must decide what to do with last year’s second round pick Jimmy Clausen.  I’ve long been a Clausen proponent, but clearly the Panthers don’t believe in him.  

After Newton the Panthers had no second round pick but two third rounders and grabbed two defensive tackles, addressing a big need.  Terrell McClain is an All-Big East player from South Florida that is stout, and has quick feet.  The Panthers’ next third round pick, Sione Fua from Stanford, is strong, plays with a low base, and is excellent against the run.  The Panthers may not have gotten two star defensive tackles, but they certainly got players who will see the field early and be part of a rotation inside.

Next, in the fourth round the Panthers continued to build their defense by selecting Brandon Hogan, a corner from West Virginia.  He may have been a reach, but certainly corner was a need area.  He’s small but smart, quick, and smooth, perhaps an ideal nickel cover man.

Carolina reached for Hawaii’s jack of all trades, Kealoha Pilares, in the fifth round.  Many thought he might go undrafted, so going in the fifth was a surprise.  Still, if he pans out, he’s a versatile player that can play slot receiver, take handoffs, and perhaps return kicks.

In the sixth round the Panthers added another defender in linebacker Lawrence Wilson.  Though undersized and lacking great athleticism, Wilson is smart, can tackle, and covers extremely well.

This draft is all about Cam Newton.  If he pans out, it’s a huge success; if he busts, it’s an all-time failure.  I liked that they drafted four defensive players that can make the team and contribute in the later rounds, but I didn’t like that they failed to add any dynamic offensive talent to assist Newton.  I like Newton so the grade won’t be horrible, but I think they played it too safe in the rest of the draft.

Grade: C

New Orleans Saints

It’s always hard not to get carried away with a team’s draft anytime they have two first round picks.  You know both players well, have seen them play, and expect them to be starters, perhaps even big-time players.

Cameron Jordan, the defensive end from California, fits a need for the Saints, and getting him at pick 24 was probably a steal.  He was a top-15 or -20 talent who brings pass rush, versatility, and run stuffing ability to an improving defensive line.  Jordan will now join young stud Sedrick Ellis, behemoth Shaun Rogers, and pass rush specialist Will Smith to form an imposing defensive front.

When the Saints won the Super Bowl, a really underrated part of their success was their rushing attack.  They should get back to that formula with the 28th overall pick Mark Ingram.   Solid, balanced, and strong, Ingram has good burst through the hole and excellent vision.  He could start immediately.

Martez Wilson (LB, Illinois) was a really nice addition in the third round.  He’s a tremendous athlete and fits the fast and furious front seven Gregg Williams and the Saints appear to be developing.  Flanking Jonathan Vilma, Wilson has the speed to run with any tight end, rush the passer, and track down running backs.

Louisville corner Johnny Patrick may have been a slight reach in the third round, but he joins Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer, and last year’s top pick Patrick Robinson to form a really deep cornerback group.  Johnny Patrick is a smart corner who is skilled enough to contribute right away and add good depth to an already talented secondary.

After Johnny Patrick the Saints didn’t pick again until the seventh round, but I think they made huge strides with their first four picks.

Cameron Jordan can be a star, and will likely start right away.  Martez Wilson also has a great shot to start, and certainly upgrades the Saints’ linebacking corps.  Johnny Patrick simply adds depth to what is becoming a very good secondary.  These three defensive picks may vault the Saints toward having a truly elite defense.

New Orleans needs almost nothing on offense with Drew Brees, a great offensive line, and an array of talented receivers.  One thing missing was a true feature back, and I believe they got that in spades by selecting Ingram.   The Saints got better everywhere they needed to, and added at least two, maybe four, starting- to star-level players.

Grade: A-

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Just pause and think for a minute about the talent the NFC South added to their division in this draft.  Cameron Jordan, Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, Jacquizz Rogers, Cam Newton, and now the Bucs add Adrian Clayborn, Da’Quan Bowers, and Mason Foster.

Clayborn is going to be good no matter what; I just don’t know if he’ll be great.

Bowers was the steal of the draft in the mid-second round after many thought he could be the first overall pick.  There is concern about his knee, but what player in the NFL won’t have injury issues at some point?

Foster was a tremendous value in the third round.  Scouts love his range, versatility, and playmaking ability, maybe the best 4-3 outside linebacker in the draft.

Luke Stocker is a big bruising tight end from Tennessee that will bring soft hands and physical blocking to an up-and-coming Bucs offense.  Stocker was a good value in the fourth round.

Ahmad Black was nothing but productive as a safety at Florida.  He might not have the combine numbers, but he’s a darn good football player that could start down the line.

Clayborn, Bowers, Foster, Stocker, and Black are all capable of starting, and the first three mentioned could be stars.  The Bucs’ offensive line and skills positions are already young and filled with good players, so the defense was really the area of need, and they addressed it beautifully.

Grade: A

--from Adam