NFL post-draft grades and overview
Here's a layout of each teams picks and how i thought they did.
NY Jets
Rd.1 pick 5: Mark Sanchez-QB USC (A)
Rd. 3 pick 1: Shonn Greene-RB Iowa (B)
Rd. 6 pick 20: Matt Slauson-G Nebraska (C-)
How they did: I'll give the Jets a C here at the most. They got their QB of the future in Sanchez, which they needed. But they had to trade some picks and 3 guys (2 depth players) to do it. I liked Greene's selection as well. But they failed to address the WR position and they are now thin at DE. It should be pound the rock and play defense for the Jets this year. They did make a nice splash in FA and trades that they could be a playoff team this season, but this draft really hinges on Sanchez and if he's even just average this draft grade will drop a lot.
New England Patriots
Rd. 2 pick 2: Patrick Chung-SS Oregon (B+)
Rd. 2 pick 8: Ron Brace-NT Boston College (A)
Rd. 2 pick 9: Darius Butler-CB Uconn (A)
Rd. 2 pick 26: Sebastien Vollmer-T Houston (B-)
Rd. 3 pick 19: Brandon Tate-WR North Carolina (B)
Rd. 3 pick 33: Tyrone McKenzie-OLB S.Florida (B-)
Rd. 4 pick 23: Rich Ohrnberger-G Penn st (A-)
Rd. 5 pick 34: George Bussey-T Louisville (C+)
Rd. 6 pick 25: Jake Ingram-LS Hawaii (B)
Rd. 6 pick 34: Myron Pryor-DE Kentucky (A)
Rd. 7 pick 23: Julian Edelman-QB Kent st (C)
Rd. 7 pick 25: Darryl Richard-DE Ga Tech (B+)
how they did: The Patriots were very solid, i'll give them an A-. They addressed needs at SS and added depth at D-line which was needed. They also traded CB Ellis Hobbs to Philly for 2 picks next year. They added some O-line depth as well and a return specialist and reserve WR in Tate. The only thing that prevented them from having a perfect draft was the fact they did not upgrade the Linebacking core with a young stud pass rusher. Still one of the best drafts out there.
Buffalo Bills
Rd.1 pick 11: Aaron Maybin-DE Penn st (B+)
Rd.1 pick 28: Eric Wood-C Louisville (B+)
Rd.2 pick 10: Jairus Byrd-CB/FS Oregon (B+)
Rd.2 pick 19: Andy Levitre-G/T Oregon st (A)
Rd.4 pick 21: Shawn Nelson-TE Southern Miss (A)
Rd.5 pick 11: Nic Harris-OLB/SS Oklahoma (B)
Rd.6 pick 10: Cary Harris-CB USC (C)
Rd.7 pick 11: Ellis Lankster-CB West Virginia (C+)
how they did: The Bills also turned in a good solid draft, i'll give them a B. They addressed Guard and possibly Tackle needs along with a pass rusher in Maybin. I liked Nelson the TE and Harris the OLB as nice value picks. Only thing they didn't address is a great Tackle that they needed when Peters was traded so that line could experience some growing pains this season. I really like the Bills chances to get to the playoffs this year.
Miami Dolphins
Rd.1 pick 29: Vontae Davis-CB Illinois (B+)
Rd.2 pick 12: Pat White-WR/QB West Virginia (B-)
Rd.2 pick 29: Sean Smith-CB/FS Utah (A-)
Rd.3 pick 23: Patrick Turner-WR USC (C)
Rd.4 pick 8: Brian Hartline-WR Ohio st (D+)
Rd. 5 pick 25: John Nalbone-TE Monmouth (C+)
Rd.5 pick 29: Chris Clemons-FS Clemson (B)
Rd.6 pick 8: Andrew Gardner-T Ga Tech (B-)
Rd. 7 pick 5: JD Folsom-LB Weber st (C-)
how they did: I don't really like the Dolphins draft, i'll give it around a C-. Davis and Smith fit needs, but the jury is out on Davis if he can not be a tool, if he isn't it will be a decent draft. White was good for what the Dolphins do, but they needed bigtime WR's and Hartline and Turner were chosen way too early and shouldn't amount to much in my opinion. Clemons was a good value pick and Gardner provides depth. The Dolphins didn't get a pass rusher to compliment Porter on the outside like they probably should have. As for next year, I don't look for the Dolphins to repeat as divison champs and probably not even to the playoffs, but they are on the right track: they're just going to need more players.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Rd.1 pick 32: Evander Hood-DT Missouri (B-)
Rd.3 pick 15: Kraig Urbik-G Wisconsin (B)
Rd.3 pick 20: Mike Wallace-WR Ole Miss (B)
Rd.3 pick 32: Keenan Lewis-CB Oregon st (B)
Rd.5 pick 32: Joe Burnett-CB C.Florida (C)
Rd.5 pick 33: Frank Summers-RB UNLV (C)
Rd.6 pick 32: Ra'Shon Harris-DE/DT Oregon (B-)
Rd.7 pick 17: A.Q Shipley-C Penn st (B+)
Rd.7 pick 32: David Johnson-TE Arkansas st (D+)
how they did: The Steelers really showed why their competitive every year, a solid B or B-. Not crazy about Hood only because they used a 1st rounder who's out of position but it is a need. Urbik, Wallace, Lewis , and Burnett all fit needs and should be very solid. Shipley had great value and fit a need as a 7th rounder. Only position they missed out on was a possible FS replacement for Ryan Clark, who's 30 and likely out after this coming year, but it's nothing major. Steelers once again should be favorites in their division and have a shot at a repeat.
Cleveland Browns
Rd.1 pick 21: Alex Mack-C California (A)
Rd.2 pick 4: Brian Robiskie-WR Ohio st (A)
Rd.2 pick 18: Mohamad Massaquoi-WR Georgia (C)
Rd.2 pick 20: David Veikune-DE/OLB Hawaii (C+)
Rd.4 pick 4: Kaluka Maiava-OLB USC (B-)
Rd.6 pick 4: Don Carey-CB Norfolk st (B)
Rd.6 pick 18: Coye Francies-CB San Jose st (B-)
Rd.6 pick 22: James Davis-RB Clemson (B-)
how they did: The Browns had a very good draft, i'll give it a B/B+. Mack and Robiskie were bigtime picks (need + value). Veikune and Massaquoi went a little early for my liking but that's it. Solid late round picks like Carey and Davis fill good needs for Cleveland. They got Abram Elam from the Jets for a SS and got a good looking young QB in Ratliff as well. Browns getting better and could make some noise this year.
Cinncinati Bengals
Rd.1 pick 6: Andre Smith-T Alabama (B)
Rd.2 pick 6: Rey Maualuga-ILB USC (A-)
Rd.3 pick 6: Michael Johnson-DE Ga Tech (A)
Rd.3 pick 34: Chase Coffman-TE Missouri (B)
Rd.4 pick 6: Johnathan Luigs-C Arkansas (A-)
Rd.5 pick 6: Kevin Huber-P Cinncinati (C+)
Rd.6 pick 6: Morgan Trent-CB Michigan (B+)
Rd.6 pick 36: Bernard Scott-RB Albeline Christian (C-)
Rd.7 pick 6: Fui Vakapuna-FB BYU (C+)
Rd.7 pick 40: Clinton McDonald-DE/DT Memphis (B)
Rd.7 pick 43: Freddie Brown-WR (D)
how they did: Not really sure how much praise they got from the experts, but the Bengals really deserve it, B draft. I (and everyone else) always make fun of the Bengals and Mike Brown and his ineptitude but he took care of all his needs this year, good for him. Smith, Maualuga, Johnson, Coffman, and Luigs all fit needs and had good value in the spots they were picked. They got their FB and McDonald had great value in the 7th round. Only minus is they still have the often-arrested Cedric Benson as their RB. The Bengals got deeper is this draft and could flirt around .500 in my eyes.
Baltimore Ravens
Rd.1 pick 23: Michael Oher-T Ole Miss (A)
Rd.2 pick 25: Paul Kruger-DE Utah (B)
Rd.3 pick 24: Lardarius Webb-CB Nicholls st (C-)
Rd.5 pick 1: Jason Phillips-ILB TCU (B)
Rd.5 pick 13: Davon Drew-TE East Carolina (B-)
Rd.6 pick 12: Cedric Peerman-RB Virginia (B+)
how they did: The Ravens didn't do horribly, i'll give them an average C+. Oher was a bigtime pick to take over at RT and Kruger, Phillips, and Drew all fit needs. Peerman was a great value pick in round 6. Still, the Ravens didn't do a thing to their WR corps to help Flacco. Mason is very old and Clayton is an average starter. There's not much depth behind them either. I look for the Ravens to make another playoff run possibly, but they may not be an elite team yet.
Tennessee Titans
Rd.1 pick 30: Kenny Britt-WR Rutgers (A)
Rd.2 pick 30: Sen'Derrick Marks-DT Auburn (B)
Rd.3 pick 25: Jared Cook-TE South Carolina (B+)
Rd.4 pick 30: Gerald McRath-OLB/MLB Southern Miss (B+)
Rd.4 pick 35: Troy Kropog-T Tulane (A-)
Rd.5 pick 37: Javon Ringer-RB Michigan st (B-)
Rd.6 pick 30: Jason McCourty-CB Rutgers (B+)
Rd.6 pick 33: Dominique Edison-WR Stephan F Austin (C)
Rd.7 pick 30: Ryan Durand-G Syracuse (C)
Rd.7 pick 33: Nick Schommer-FS (D)
how they did: Very solid draft from Jeff Fisher and co. i'll give it a B+. Britt, Marks, McRath, Kropog, and McCourty all had good value and fit needs. Cook was a great value pick at late 3rd round as was Ringer. Edison was a "eh" pick. They didn't address a DE need as Kearse is getting old so that D-line will take a step back from losing Haynesworth but should still be very solid. I don't expect the Titans to drop off very much as their offense should be better next year. They're a playoff team no doubt.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Rd.1 pick 8: Eugene Monroe-T Virginia (A)
Rd.2 pick 7: Ebon Britton-T Arizona (B-)
Rd.3 pick 8: Terrance Knighton-DT Temple (C+)
Rd.3 pick 9: Derek Cox-CB (C-)
Rd.4 pick 7: Mike Thomas-WR Arizona (B)
Rd.5 pick 8: Jarrett Dillard-WR Rice (B-)
Rd.6 pick 7: Zach Miller-TE (B-)
Rd.7 pick 41: Rashad Jennings-RB Liberty (A)
Rd.7 pick 44: Tiquan Underwood-WR Rutgers (B+)
how they did: I thought the Jaguars had a rather inconsistant draft for drafting so high and having a good amount of picks, so i'll give them a B- or C+. I love Monroe and i like Britton as a player, but honestly did they need to go 2 tackles with their first 2 picks? Knighton fit a need but was picked too early as was Cox. They didn't go after a WR early so they settled for quantity in Thomas, Dillard, and Underwood, all undersized recievers. I think Jennings was an absolute steal in the 7th. The Jaguars still don't have a playoff roster in my opinion, as that defense will really have to step it up this season along with Garrard, but they got a lot better on the line for years to come.
Indianapolis Colts
Rd.1 pick 27: Donald Brown-RB Uconn (B-)
Rd.2 pick 24: Fili Moala-DT USC (B+)
Rd.3 pick 28: Jerraud Powers-CB Auburn (B-)
Rd.4 pick 27: Austin Collie-WR BYU (B)
Rd.4 pick 36: Terrance Taylor-DT Michigan (B)
Rd.6 pick 28: Curtis Painter-QB Purdue (C)
Rd.7 pick 13: Pat McAfee-P West Virginia (C+)
Rd.7 pick 27: Jaime Thomas-T Maryland (B-)
how they did: Another year, another solid draft for the Colts, i'll give them a B. I'm not crazy about Brown as a 1st rounder, i think he'll be a good player but he'll have to be a game changer for that pick to make sense for value reasons. Everyone else on the board was solid and filled a need. Painter was picked a little higher and i don't think he'll amount to a whole lot, but hell, it's not like Manning misses any games anyways and they still have Sorgi. Their D may have depth concerns and will have to step it up this year. The Colts will once again be playoff bound and may have gained the upper hand in the AFC south heading into the season. It should be 2 wars when them and the Titans square off.
Houston Texans
Rd.1 pick 15: Brian Cushing-OLB USC (B)
Rd.2 pick 14: Connor Barwin-DE/OLB Cinncinati (B+)
Rd.3 pick 13: Antoine Caldwell-C/G Alabama (B)
Rd.4 pick 12: Glover Quin-FS New Mexico (C)
Rd.4 pick 22: Anthony Hill-TE NC state (C-)
Rd.5 pick 16: James Casey-TE Rice (B-)
Rd.6 pick 15: Brice McCain-CB Utah (C+)
Rd.7 pick 14: Troy Nolan-SS Arizona st (B)
how they did: Texans did ok in this draft i'll give them a B/B-. I'm not completely sold on Cushing but he does fit a need. Barwin was a great selection. Caldwell and Casey fit needs. McCain and Nolan were solid value and need picks later. Quin and Hill were reaches for where they were picked. I would have liked the Texans to get a pure RB to backup Slaton and another WR but overall they did good. I don't think the Texans are there yet for the playoffs but they should hover around .500.
For NFC teams click here
