In a draft year when the trades became a huge storyline, they also factor into my grades. It's a question of value. If a team traded up a number of spots to get a player that can really help it, it should be rewarded for getting the player -- but you have to consider both the cost, and whether that guy may have been available later on. It's not just about the player, it's about the board.
Was aggressiveness misplaced? Was patience rewarded?
So keep that in mind as you go through the grades for this year. There were plenty of teams that got guys I think can help them, but their ability to maximize value matters too.
It's been a fun year. I go into this weekend knowing that I've spent a year (or more) learning everything about these prospects, and where and why they'll fit with teams, but also knowing that the opinions can and will be wrong because of the nature of this sport. But I also like to think I'm a tough enough grader that the toughest of graders -- you, the fans -- can relate. And if it was a tough year, well, the first Big Board for 2011 is just days away.
Seattle Seahawks
Summary: Pete Carroll and the new Seahawks regime came out of the gates with a bang. Impact players early, value later, and some trades thrown in. And they were patient! Russell Okung lands in their laps at No. 6, Earl Thomas is there at No. 14. Golden Tate is still there at No. 60. All three can help the team not in a few years, but immediately. A swap netted the team LenDale White, who isn't remarkable, but it cost them nothing. Then, Seattle parlayed a fifth-rounder into Leon Washington. No team outside of possibly Detroit added impact players the way Seattle has.
Draft grade: A
Baltimore Ravens
Summary: For top grades, it's a contrast in styles. Seattle had high picks and got great fits, then waited and got Golden Tate. Baltimore traded down and still loaded up on talent all over the place. In Round 2, they got both Sergio Kindle and Terrence Cody, a pair of guys who could have landed in the first round. They get a pair of fantastic tight end prospects in Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, continuing a promise to both buy and draft options for Joe Flacco. Love the Arthur Jones pick, a one-time Big Board guy who fell to the fifth round, mostly because of health issues. Even in the sixth, the Ravens got Ramon Harewood, a small-college tackle prospect who has a chance to develop.
Draft grade: A
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Summary: Tampa had a great draft. They get arguably the best all-around talent in the draft in Gerald McCoy, then, in a move reminiscent of what San Francisco decided to do along the offensive line, they nabbed Brian Price early in the second round with the hope they could get the wide receiver they needed a little later. Price and McCoy should complement each other well. That receiver turned out to be Arrelious Benn with the No. 39 pick, and he can be a good one. By the fourth round, when Tampa landed Mike Williams with the 101st overall pick, they had four guys I've had on the Big Board at some point. Myron Lewis at corner is another solid pick. The story for Tampa is they drastically improved arguably their two weakest position groups. Productive draft.
Draft grade: B+
Philadelphia Eagles
Summary: The Eagles were positioned well to take advantage of a deep draft, and they did, piling up seven productive picks between the third and fifth rounds. But Philly started well too. In Brandon Graham they have a potential Rookie of the Year on defense. They filled a need at safety with Nate Allen, and I like Trevard Lindley in the fourth. He has second-round ability. Ricky Sapp may be a tweener, but getting a guy who can get to the quarterback like he can in the fifth round is good value. He could be a solid situational pass-rusher early in his career. Riley Cooper is quicker than many people think to go with above-average size.
Draft grade: B+
Arizona Cardinals
Summary: The Cardinals could have a good grade for their first round alone, patiently waiting as Dan Williams fell right to them. He's a supreme nose tackle, and will be enjoyed both by his linemates and the linebackers running free behind him. Perfect pick at a late-first-round stage. Daryl Washington lacks size, but he's a freak athlete who can get to the quarterback. Andre Roberts is a sleeper, and could've gone earlier than late-third. A pick I love is O'Brien Schofield. Coming off an injury, he's essentially a redshirt as a rookie, but the kid can become a top-flight pass-rusher. Love the bet they made there.
Draft grade: B+
Detroit Lions
Summary: You can't dock Detroit just because it had the biggest no-brainer pick in the whole draft. Ndamukong Suh, combined with Detroit's offseason additions to the line, makes that a position of strength for Detroit. It's hard to fathom that Detroit wouldn't be markedly improved on defense in 2010. Jahvid Best is a game-changer, and should help Matthew Stafford. He's also the kind of player who doesn't need a huge hole to hit a home run for that offense. Amari Spievey is a nice addition in a secondary that needs help, and Jason Fox can help them. I like Detroit's draft at least for the fact that you can see impact soon for a team that needs it.
Draft grade: B+
Pittsburgh Steelers
Summary: What the Steelers did had some subtlety, and you have to consider their system and needs when you evaluate it. Smart to take Maurkice Pouncey and shore up the interior of that offensive line. The Steelers targeted athletic OLB types like Jason Worilds, Thaddeus Gibson and Stevenson Sylvester. The Steelers like to develop these guys in their 3-4, but in the meantime, those are the guys who can help shore up what was a disastrous special teams unit in 2009. A trade with Arizona to reclaim Bryant McFadden probably pleased fans. Not an amazing draft, but Pittsburgh got the type of guys they like. Don't sleep on Jonathan Dwyer, the last player taken in the draft who at one time cracked the Big Board. He'll be coming to camp with a lot to prove.
Draft grade: B
Houston Texans
Summary: Pick a position group and the Texans took a stab at finding a good player there. They got a solid corner to replace Dunta Robinson with Kareem Jackson at No. 19. A predictable, solid pick. Ben Tate looks even better as a value at No. 58 considering Minnesota traded up to get Toby Gerhart at No. 51, and given the struggles to hang onto the ball by Houston rushers last year, he figures to get a great look. Then there's players with promise all over. Darryl Sharpton could get a look on the inside of the 3-4 at linebacker, and Trindon Holliday could be the next Dante Hall. Even Dorin Dickerson way down at No. 227 has promise at tight end if he can add strength. Nothing amazing, but plenty of promise.
Draft grade: B
San Diego Chargers
Summary: San Diego definitely got their guy in Ryan Mathews. The question is whether they needed to get all the way up to No. 12 to get him. But again, you have to find someone to trade with, and Miami was a logical trading partner as a team trying hard to move down. They didn't have a lot of picks, but I liked the Chargers getting a great value in Cam Thomas in the fifth, and Darrell Stuckey has a chance to be a good starter in this league. Donald Butler, an inside linebacker, has good athleticism for the position, and has a chance to become the starter eventually.
Draft grade: B
New York Jets
Summary: We can at least say the Jets got better in their secondary. Kyle Wilson is a guy some people thought could crack the top 15 picks. Now you can intensify the blitz knowing Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Wilson are back there looking to pick off errant passes. The trade up for Joe McKnight adds a dimension to the backfield and also has familiarity with Mark Sanchez. McKnight's durability is a question, but his pass-catching skills can help that offense. Vladimir Ducasse could become a starter and John Conner is the draft's best fullback. Just four picks, but zero misses.
Draft grade: B
San Francisco 49ers
Summary: Give San Francisco credit. Early on in the draft it had a chance to get better in a couple of places and decided to get a lot better in one. But consider the trickle-down effect: By taking Anthony Davis, the left tackle with the highest upside in the draft -- emphasis on "upside" -- and then a lock to be a good NFL guard in Mike Iupati, the Niners are a better running team right now. The passing game suddenly seems better as well. Taylor Mays at No. 49 is a good value selection, and the kid will be motivated, but I think we're past pretending he was a steal because of his size-speed combination. His tape fell really flat. Navorro Bowman has size questions, but he's better than No. 91 overall.
Draft grade: B
New York Giants
Summary: Good draft. I like the bet they're making on Jason Pierre-Paul. If you have a chance to take a star at that point, and it won't kill you in the meantime because you have some depth, it's a shot you can take. Beyond that, Linval Joseph could be a steal. A really active player at his size. Giants fans may not know Phillip Dillard, but as inside linebackers go, he has excellent range and could develop into a really good one. At No. 117 overall, that's a nice get.
Draft grade: B
Carolina Panthers
Summary: Carolina started late, but consistently got value. The debate on Jimmy Clausen started a long time ago and it won't end just because the draft is complete, but to get a guy with his skill set and upside at No. 48 is exceptional value no matter where you stand on the debate. I liked Brandon LaFell at No. 78, and Eric Norwood and Greg Hardy in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively, are both low on risk and extremely high on potential. Norwood is inconsistent, but he's looked positively dominating in some games, and Hardy drops mostly because of injury questions. Tony Pike may even develop into a chip they can move down the line.
Draft grade: B
Chicago Bears
Summary: Chicago was absent for two rounds, but tried to address needs when they entered the picture. The Bears neither reached nor got amazing value in Major Wright, the Florida safety. But they needed a safety, and Wright has a real chance to fill that void. Corey Wootton wasn't 100 percent in 2009 after coming off a bad knee injury, and could be a camp surprise. A decent pick. Overall, like any team stuck outside the top two rounds, the Bears were hard-pressed to find impact talent, but they were resourceful given their limitations. (The late add of a local quarterback never hurts.)
Draft grade: B
New England Patriots
Summary: New England once again took a surgical, long-range approach to the draft, getting some good talent, but also positioning themselves for a haul in 2011. You have to factor that into the analysis. But they made some picks I liked this year as well. Devin McCourty has the chance to be very good. They add a potential big-time talent in Rob Gronkowski, but his back issues pose a risk. Brandon Spikes is a guy whose tape is better than the measurements, but Bill Belichick has succeeded with those guys for years. Taylor Price should develop.
Draft grade: B-
Dallas Cowboys
Summary: The question for Dallas fans shouldn't be about the talent of the players the Cowboys picked up early. The Boys traded up for Dez Bryant -- in that case they slipped in just ahead of Baltimore, where Bryant would have been a huge score -- and did the same for Sean Lee, a likely replacement at some point for Keith Brooking. But unless they do something in the interim, the Cowboys will head into camp with Doug Free as the best left tackle on the roster, and while the team likes Free's potential, Tony Romo's blindside protection is still a concern. getting Akwasi Owusu-Ansah in Round 4 I liked. He could make the transition to safety.
Draft grade: B-
Green Bay Packers
Summary: Green Bay stuck to a good plan in the first round and got an ideal fit in Bryan Bulaga. In the second and third rounds, I think they may have reached a bit with Mike Neal and Morgan Burnett. Good players, but I think in both cases there were some better options. The grade goes up a notch with the addition of James Starks so late. If he's healthy, and he should be when he arrives for camp, he could be one of those running backs whom everybody wonders how he fell so far. A really good size-speed package when he's right.
Draft grade: B-
Kansas City Chiefs
Summary: Say this for the Chiefs: They added players you'll notice. Eric Berry is an impact safety and should become a star. Let's make one last Ed Reed comparison before we close the book on this draft. Dexter McCluster early in Round 2 surprised some people -- Jamaal Charles has impressed -- but a lot of people don't realize how versatile McCluster is. Aside from his obvious rush and return skills, he has great hands and can line up in the slot. He diversifies that offense. Still, the Chiefs are no better on either the offensive or defensive line, outside of Jon Asamoah, but I felt he played better as a junior. Javier Arenas is a good little player, but not a starter.
Draft grade: B-
Tennessee Titans
Summary: Tennessee stayed patient in Round 1 and got rewarded. No other defensive end in the draft has the polish and versatility of Derrick Morgan at this stage. Morgan seamlessly balances the role of pass-rusher and run defender. The absence of a player like Kyle Vanden Bosch is no longer an issue. But Morgan is the real highlight. Damian Williams has a chance to help but speed is a question. Rennie Curran plays with a ton of heart, and I think he has a chance as a weakside backer, but he was still a slight reach. Alterraun Verner has the chance to add corner depth, and give the Titans this: between math whiz Verner and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle, they'll have the smartest secondary in football if both stick.
Draft grade: C+
St. Louis Rams
Summary: There's no way around the fact that this draft will come down to whether Sam Bradford becomes a star. I certainly think he has that kind of talent, but there's good reason to believe it shouldn't be right away. Bradford has to convert to a pro style system, and as smart and accurate as he is, let's just be realistic given the recent history of shotgun quarterbacks coming to the NFL. I don't mind the Rodger Saffold pick, but he's likely headed to the right side. Mardy Gilyard has some value, but the bigger issue with this draft is this: Every other team in the NFC West got better this weekend, and it's hard to know if St. Louis really did.
Draft grade: C+
Oakland Raiders
Summary: There was a sense that Oakland may have reached slightly to take Rolando McClain, but framed against the backdrop of a draft in which they also got a physical talent like Bruce Campbell well into Round 4, Oakland improved upon last year. McClain fits a need -- the team reinforced that by trading Kirk Morrison -- and is ready to play. Oddly, speed has been a question (which doesn't fit the Al Davis mantra) with McClain, but I love his instincts. The Raiders definitely fit their profile with Campbell and then wideout Jacoby Ford, the fastest player in the draft. The issue with Ford is it's straight-line speed. Even Jared "Edwin" Veldheer is a workout warrior. The late addition of Jason Campbell via trade is a decent move, but this is the Raiders -- a guy who failed elsewhere seems like a good upgrade. Something's wrong with this picture.
Draft grade: C+
Buffalo Bills
Summary: Buffalo surprised me with its pick at No. 9. This is a team that has to get better up front, and it opted to go with C.J. Spiller instead. Spiller is, along with Jahvid Best, the best home run threat in the draft, and will undoubtedly help that offense. But the Bills reached on Torell Troup, who has to develop. Alex Carrington, who could get backup duty, is another slight reach in the third round. Then a wide receiver pick (Marcus Easley) left the Bills looking for a long shot breakthough at tackle. Edward Wang of Virginia Tech has a chance, but outside of Spiller, it's hard to see where Buffalo got much better.
Draft grade: C+
New Orleans Saints
Summary: New Orleans made an attempt at need picks but didn't get a lot. Blame a lot of that on where the Saints were picking from. Super Bowl winners rarely get high grades for drafts. Patrick Robinson is a tough corner who provides starts or depth immediately. Then the Saints got Charles Brown with the last pick in the second round, a fair value. Centers will never go high, but Matt Tennant is one of the best the draft had to offer. Jimmy Graham could be a good developmental tight end from a school that's produced some good ones. Not a flashy draft, but the Saints didn't have many options.
Draft grade: C
Cincinnati Bengals
Summary: Everywhere you look on the Cincy draft board, you see players you assumed would go much higher. Maybe no team outside of Baltimore did so much given its position. At No. 21, the Bengals got the draft's best tight end. At No. 60, they got a significant talent in Carlos Dunlap, a guy at one time considered a lock for the top 10. Problem is he rarely played like it, off-field issues aside. Poor Brandon Ghee was the last guy in the green room, which means most of us thought he could be at least a second-round pick. The Bengals nabbed him at No. 96. Roddrick Muckelroy is a decent pick at No. 131, and I also like the Dezmon Briscoe pick late in the sixth round.
Draft grade: C
Cleveland Browns
Summary: The Browns addressed a pressing need with the selection of Joe Haden at No. 7, and his 40 time aside, Haden is a fluid, physical cover corner who should start immediately and addresses a weakness. Cleveland clearly liked T.J. Ward, but could have gotten him later than No. 37. Montario Hardesty could be a really good back, but he's also been hurt, and again, it didn't seem necessary to trade up for him. My other question is both he and later safety pick Larry Asante are box safeties. But let's not forget to mention the big name and, yes, a great value pick, Colt McCoy at No. 85. Ironic that Cleveland got a guy that late who I thought they could have grabbed at No. 38. Carlton Mitchell can flat-out fly, and could be a late sleeper.
Draft grade: C
Indianapolis Colts
Summary: The fun in this draft is seeing what great player Bill Polian will pull out of the 30 percent of his picks that fall after No. 238 overall. At the top, the Colts did well to land Jerry Hughes, a productive pass-rusher who will only refine his craft learning from two of the best. I thought Pat Angerer was a reach in Round 2 -- I think he still could have been around even at that No. 94 slot where Indy picked Kevin Thomas. In Thomas, they take a risk because he's simply never been healthy. In general, nothing flashy, just Hughes then depth picks on a roster with little room to add. But I'm never going to believe Polian won't prove me wrong on at least one these guys.
Draft grade: C
Miami Dolphins
Summary: This draft for me is really Jared Odrick and the rest. Odrick can be a really good player, another active, disruptive tackle in a draft full of them. Koa Misi could be good, but not right away because he'll need to spend a little time transitioning from defensive end to outside linebacker. After that, I thought the Dolphins reached a couple of times. Perhaps Nolan Carroll can recover to become a pretty good player.
Draft grade: C-
Denver Broncos
Summary: I liked the Demaryius Thomas pick, but the three picks (net two picks) for Tim Tebow was a serious leap of faith for a guy who's not as ready to play in the NFL as several other quarterbacks drafted behind him. I respect Denver's conviction, but its sense of draft board value has to be called into serious question. I think anybody can see that. Zane Beadles is a tackle who has to shift positions, J.D. Walton could start at center eventually, and Perrish Cox is a good value late if he stays focused on football, but Denver isn't much better for next year with these additions after falling apart late. We can regrade this one in a few years, and I hope it's better then for as much as I think about the quarterback they drafted.
Draft grade: C-
Washington Redskins
Summary: I projected Washington to take Trent Williams with that No. 4 pick, but while I think Williams is likely the most talented offensive lineman in the draft, and should be able to go back to the left side effectively, I felt Okung was the safer pick. He was the guy most likely to take that left tackle position and solidify it from Day 1. Washington didn't pick again until No. 103, and maybe picked up some linebacking and special teams depth. If Williams isn't really good, and early, this could be an empty draft.
Draft grade: C-
Minnesota Vikings
Summary: This draft just didn't impress me. After trading down, the Vikings got a guy in Chris Cook who has the chance to help them, but he also is a guy who rose late, impressing at the Senior Bowl. Can he deliver that kind of performance every week? I think the trade to move up and grab Toby Gerhart was odd, partially because there were some other good backs on the board, and also because while most think Gerhart will be able to catch the ball, it was never really his game. He's a true pounding running back. Everson Griffen looks like a value, but he is extremely inconsistent.
Draft grade: C-
Atlanta Falcons
Summary: Sean Weatherspoon is a good outside linebacker and has the strength and size to start and be productive in this league, but after that, it's a lot of wishful thinking. Corey Peters was a slight reach on my board even at 83 and has a ways to go to improve his skills. Joseph Hawley has a chance to develop, but a pair of guards and no tight end or even a shot at a defensive end surprises me. I don't see an improved football team.
Draft grade: C-
Jacksonville Jaguars
Summary: A disappointing draft. I don't knock the pick of Tyson Alualu at No. 10 because Alualu doesn't have promise. This is a draft -- it's not just about the player. To take a guy you could conceivably get 15 to 25 slots later, you're cheating yourself not just out of sixth- and seventh-round guys, but potentially a late second- or third-rounder. You have to know not just the pick, but the relative value. D'Anthony Smith has some promise as a penetrating defensive tackle, but bottom line, the Jags have just one pick I had in my Top 100 players. That was Alualu.
Draft grade: D
XI Wiki
Originally Posted by Tyche
I'm assuming that the apparently is sarcasm. Unless he's serious in which case being so influenced by one person is for shame.
Meh. Let's check Mel's grades from the ghost of Browns drafts past:
I still dont get that shit.
