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Draft anaylysis from three years ago (1 Viewer)

Bracie Smathers

Footballguy
Many have stated that you can't possibly look at a draft for three years to really get a good grasp on what happened so lets go back three years to the 2009 NFL draft and look at that class.

The first round, the first ten picks.

2009

Round 1

1. 1 Matthew Stafford Lions QB Georgia

Huge talent but contanstly injured. If he can stay healthy he would rate the top pick and make the Lions a legit contender. Still up in the air due to injuries.

2. 2 Jason Smith Rams T Baylor

Seems to have disapeared from radar. Someone can fill me in on how Smith has done. Last I heard I think he was moved to RT and that isn't good if true.

3. 3 Tyson Jackson Chiefs DE Louisiana State

Another one I have lost track of.

4. 4 Aaron Curry Seahawks LB Wake Forest

Just not as impactful as you would expect from a top-four LBer. He tested off the charts but he hasn't fufilled his draft status.

5. 5 Mark Sanchez Jets QB USC

He's done OK, not great. He was very young and immature coming into the league. The hot-dog incident, the booger incident, the photo shoot on the beach, but he has steered playoff teams so far he's on track to continue to grow and mature.

6. 6 Andre Smith Bengals T Alabama

Another OT who seems to have vanished.

7. 7 Darrius Heyward-Bey Raiders WR Maryland

Ewww.

8. 8 Eugene Monroe Jaguars T Virginia

Monroe has started but I'm not sure if it was him or their second round pick who has done better but at least they are getting starts from this pick.

9. 9 B.J. Raji Packers DT Boston College

It took him a year but he really has come on strong.

10. 10 Michael Crabtree 49ers WR Texas Tech

The diva sticker has stuck but he's been really good.

-----

Take a look and comment on those to-ten picks and we'll continue just to the second round, not all seven rounds so we can begin to see just how few of these picks truly make an impact.

- Next ten picks coming -

 
I love these looks at drafts a few years after the fact. A lot of grades right after drafts contain mostly As and Bs, but when you look at them later on there are a lot more Cs and Ds...

 
- con't -

Nest ten picks---

11 11 Aaron Maybin Bills DE Penn State

Looks like a bust.

12 12 Knowshon Moreno Broncos RB Georgia

Hasn’t been worth his draft status.

13 13 Brian Orakpo Redskins LB Texas

Has had an instant impact as a pass rusher and a great value.

14 14 Malcolm Jenkins Saints DB Ohio State

Had injury issues and moved from CB to FS and seems to have found a home. Not great impact but good solid player with upside still untapped.

15 15 Brian Cushing Texans LB USC

Looked like a generational player. Started out with huge impact but PEDs were the root of his impact. Got busted and hasn’t been the same so it appears the PEDs had more to do with his impact than true God given talent.

16 16 Larry English Chargers LB Northern Illinois

Gimp puppy hasn’t been able to find the field.

17 17 Josh Freeman Buccaneers QB Kansas State

WOW! Love this guy. Huge impact. I’m excited to see how his career goes but so far huge impact at the position that allows for the most impact.

18 18 Robert Ayers Broncos DE Tennessee

Ewww maybe the move back to where he puts his hand in the dirt will help out his career.

19 19 Jeremy Maclin Eagles WR Missouri

Great pick, huge impact.

20 20 Brandon Pettigrew Lions TE Oklahoma State

Injuries but when he’s seen the field he’s performed well.

 
Last twelve picks of the first round

21 21 Alex Mack Browns C California

Started from day-one and has been solid.

22 22 Percy Harvin Vikings WR Florida

Nice talent but the migraines and missed games has effected his impact.

23 23 Michael Oher Ravens T Mississippi

OK but probably not as good as the hype but he’s been starting and they’ve gotten decent value from this pick.

24 24 Peria Jerry Falcons DT Mississippi

Not sure how he’s done so I haven’t noticed an impact from this pick.

25 25 Vontae Davis Dolphins DB Illinois

See above.

26 26 Clay Matthews Packers LB USC

SOTD and probably the steal of the last ten drafts put together. His dad was one of my all-time favorite players and I’m sure Clay the 3rd is the fav or many fans of today. Tough to trump Josh Freeman but so far Clay is the best pick of the draft.

27 27 Donald Brown Colts RB Connecticut

Oww, tough to put anyone next to Clay but Don just hasn’t done it.

28 28 Eric Wood Bills C Louisville

He’s started at G and I believe he’s done well.

29 29 Hakeem Nicks Giants WR North Carolina

Great pick, big impact, excellent value this late.

30 30 Kenny Britt Titans WR Rutgers

Has started to come on but has had issues. Tons of upside if he gets his act together.

31 31 Chris Wells Cardinals RB Ohio State

Showed some promise but quickly fading.

32 32 Ziggy Hood Steelers DT Missouri

A rookie defender on the Steelers typically will be sat for a year since LeBaugh is old school and he has the luxury of sitting rookies so Zig took some time but he’s starting to get his shot and he’s doing well

 
Many have stated that you can't possibly look at a draft for three years to really get a good grasp on what happened so lets go back three years to the 2009 NFL draft and look at that class.

The first round, the first ten picks.

2009

Round 1

1. 1 Matthew Stafford Lions QB Georgia

Huge talent but contanstly injured. If he can stay healthy he would rate the top pick and make the Lions a legit contender. Still up in the air due to injuries.

2. 2 Jason Smith Rams T Baylor

Seems to have disapeared from radar. Someone can fill me in on how Smith has done. Last I heard I think he was moved to RT and that isn't good if true.

3. 3 Tyson Jackson Chiefs DE Louisiana State

Another one I have lost track of.

4. 4 Aaron Curry Seahawks LB Wake Forest

Just not as impactful as you would expect from a top-four LBer. He tested off the charts but he hasn't fufilled his draft status.

5. 5 Mark Sanchez Jets QB USC

He's done OK, not great. He was very young and immature coming into the league. The hot-dog incident, the booger incident, the photo shoot on the beach, but he has steered playoff teams so far he's on track to continue to grow and mature.

6. 6 Andre Smith Bengals T Alabama

Another OT who seems to have vanished.

7. 7 Darrius Heyward-Bey Raiders WR Maryland

Ewww.

8. 8 Eugene Monroe Jaguars T Virginia

Monroe has started but I'm not sure if it was him or their second round pick who has done better but at least they are getting starts from this pick.

9. 9 B.J. Raji Packers DT Boston College

It took him a year but he really has come on strong.

10. 10 Michael Crabtree 49ers WR Texas Tech

The diva sticker has stuck but he's been really good.

-----

Take a look and comment on those to-ten picks and we'll continue just to the second round, not all seven rounds so we can begin to see just how few of these picks truly make an impact.

- Next ten picks coming -
You have a MUCH broader definition of really good than I do.
 
Second Round

First ten picks --

2 1 33 Louis Delmas Lions DB Western Michigan

Started out hot but got injured and haven’t noticed too much of him since.

2 34 Patrick Chung Patriots DB Oregon

Took a year but he started to break out last year but still has upside.

3 35 James Laurinaitis Rams LB Ohio State

Great pick, big impact from day-one. Some nicks but very good pick.

4 36 Brian Robiskie Browns WR Ohio State

Not much impact but book hasn’t closed yet. Shurmur’s WC offense gives hope but not much impact here.

5 37 Alphonso Smith Broncos DB Wake Forest

Already cut, huge bust.

6 38 Rey Maualuga Bengals LB USC

Solid two-down situational player but never lived up to the hype.

7 39 Eben Britton Jaguars T Arizona

Bookend to their first round pick.

8 40 Ron Brace Patriots DT Boston College

Haven’t noticed this guy so not much impact.

9 41 Darius Butler Patriots DB Connecticut

Another BB pick who hasn’t had impact.

10 42 Jairus Byrd Bills DB Oregon

Started out red-hot but he also got injured and has sorta drifted.

-- Comment since the Patriots had three of the top-ten picks of the second round and that is unprecedented in NFL draft history --

They didn’t’ accomplish much with those picks if you consider that only one-of-three has hit and Chung is still getting yanked in games but at the time people were falling all over themselves about how BB schooled the rest of the league. Caution is the word. Then consider the Ron Brace pick gave BB the idea of trading away Richard Seymour and Brace hasn’t produced anything like Seymour but at the time people were saying BB had schooled the Raiders on that deal since it was thought that he got a top-ten or even a top-five pick which eventually turned into the 17th pick (OT Nate Solder) from this year's draft.

We know what the Raiders got but it will take awhile to see what the Patriots got from Solder. So far the Raiders have gotten production so they are clearly ahead right now.

 
10. 10 Michael Crabtree 49ers WR Texas Tech

The diva sticker has stuck but he's been really good.

.

.

.

29 29 Hakeem Nicks Giants WR North Carolina

Great pick, big impact, excellent value this late.

30 30 Kenny Britt Titans WR Rutgers

Has started to come on but has had issues. Tons of upside if he gets his act together.
If Crabtree has been "really good" as the #10 pick, then the other 2 must have been the best draft picks of all time, considering their greater success and MUCH later picks than Crabtree.Nicks and Britt both have top-15 PPG WR seasons under their belts already. Crabtree? Not so much.

 
Second round con't -

11 43 Everette Brown Panthers DE Florida State

Haven’t really followed this pick so I don’t know but they still have hope.

12 44 Pat White Dolphins QB West Virginia

Wildcat didn’t turn out how they anticipated.

13 45 Clint Sintim Giants LB Virginia

Not sure if he’s starting or not.

14 46 Connor Barwin Texans DE Cincinnati

Their have been reports of him starting but haven’t heard huge impact.

15 47 Michael Mitchell Raiders DB Ohio

Got blasted on draft day for this pick. Haven’t heard much about him since.

16 48 Darcel McBath Broncos DB Texas Tech

Another McDaniel pick but at least he’s still on the team, I think.

17 49 Max Unger Seahawks C Oregon

I’m pretty sure he’s starting but not sure how has done.

18 50 Mohammed Massoquoi Browns WR Georgia

He’s starting but will probably be replaced by Greg Little. Not horrible but not making impact.

19 51 Andy Levitre Bills G Oregon State

Good pick starting at guard from what I had heard.

20 52 David Veikune Browns DE Hawaii

Major busto, never made impact before getting cut.

 
Hey thread starter, can tell you me how many months have passed since May of '09 to May of '11, as well as confirm how many months are in a year? Thanks. :D

But good work though.

 
10. 10 Michael Crabtree 49ers WR Texas Tech

The diva sticker has stuck but he's been really good.

.

.

.

29 29 Hakeem Nicks Giants WR North Carolina

Great pick, big impact, excellent value this late.

30 30 Kenny Britt Titans WR Rutgers

Has started to come on but has had issues. Tons of upside if he gets his act together.
If Crabtree has been "really good" as the #10 pick, then the other 2 must have been the best draft picks of all time, considering their greater success and MUCH later picks than Crabtree.Nicks and Britt both have top-15 PPG WR seasons under their belts already. Crabtree? Not so much.
This was a good group of WRs when you look down the list of (not even mentioned yet) Collie, Knox, Wallace so maybe in hindsight drafting Crabtree 10th wasn't brilliant but what're you gonna do.
 
Final part of the second round from 2009

Rest of the second round

21 53 LeSean McCoy Eagles RB Pittsburgh

Big impact for where he was selected in the draft.

22 54 Phil Loadholt Vikings T Oklahoma

He’s starting but he’s not as good as some believe, slow footed and not a great pass protector.

23 55 William Moore Falcons DB Missouri

Starting and doing well from what I have heard.

24 56 Fili Moala Colts DT USC

I liked this pick at the time but not sure how the kid has done but since I don’t know he’s probably been quiet.

25 57 Paul Kruger Ravens DE Utah

One of those injured guys who is always on the brink of busting out, err at least claimed by the club but so far not much.

26 58 Sebastian Vollmer Patriots T Houston

Starter but since they took another OT in the first I’m not sure if the Pats want him starting.

27 59 Sherrod Martin Panthers DB Troy

Don’t have a clue about this guy, I got nothing.

28 60 William Beatty Giants T Connecticut

Again its getting into the lower part of the second round so the talent is dropping off so I have no clue about this guy.

29 61 Sean Smith Dolphins DB Utah

Once again another guy I have no idea about.

30 62 Sen'Derrick Marks Titans DT Auburn

Again another guy who I just don’t know about.

31 63 Cody Brown Cardinals LB Connecticut

Once again another guy whom I have no clue about so I have to guess he’s not had an impact and he could have been cut for all I know.

32 64 Richard Quinn Broncos TE North Carolina

Related to first round DE Robert Quinn but this guy is nothing more than a blocking TE and hasn’t made a splash and probably will never make a name for himself in the NFL.

===================

So taking a look back you can see that few make a huge impact but the Pakers had one hell of a draft in getting the STOD and a solid staring BIG MAN. Its really tough to find BIG MEN like B.J. Raji so even if his stats don’t show much he is making a big impact. Its no wonder they won the SB last year.

So when taking a look at this year’s draft just keep the thought in the back of your mind that if you get ONE solid TALENTED starter who makes IMPACT that based on just ONE guy your draft can be considered a success. See Josh Freeman from this draft. He makes the Bucs draft a success because he’s a QB which by definition is the position that can make the most impact so a young QB who blows up, like Freeman, can make an entire draft.

I graded this draft and gave out high grades based on what we know at THIS TIME which is basically nothing other than high expectations since teams don’t draft based off of lowest expectations. Any team who took a QB has potential to hit but the odds are low that they will actually hit based on long-term draft analysis.

So this is another way to keep in the back of your mind when looking at drafts. Its not just about the immediate film study and interviews and testing/post season games etc. Its also about the long-term harsh reality that so few of these guys really make a big impact and even three years is not a true look at how these guys will eventually turn out. See Aarron Rodgers who didn’t see the field for four years so the book isn’t closed on guys who haven’t blown up yet and others who looked like studs may fade away.

 
10. 10 Michael Crabtree 49ers WR Texas Tech

The diva sticker has stuck but he's been really good.

.

.

.

29 29 Hakeem Nicks Giants WR North Carolina

Great pick, big impact, excellent value this late.

30 30 Kenny Britt Titans WR Rutgers

Has started to come on but has had issues. Tons of upside if he gets his act together.
If Crabtree has been "really good" as the #10 pick, then the other 2 must have been the best draft picks of all time, considering their greater success and MUCH later picks than Crabtree.Nicks and Britt both have top-15 PPG WR seasons under their belts already. Crabtree? Not so much.
Mike Crabtree is a #1 WR and he came in with that sort of talent and performed well out of the gate after his holdout. Teams got book on him and he cooled off but I haven't written him off since he missed half of his rookie season and he's had Alex Smith as his QB.I still see the underlying talent so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt till he shows he hasn't been held back by his QB situation. Steve Smith from Carolina is a heck of a lot better than he showed last year with Jimmy Clausen so WRs can been significantly impacted by poor QB play IMHO.

 
You have to go more than just 2 rounds to look at a draft.

Starting in the 3rd round, you have the following picks which I consider to have "Worked out"

3.65 - Shonn Greene, NYJ RB. Has definitely shown a lot, and has room to improve even more.

3.76 - DeAndre Levy, DET LB. Starting MLB.

3.84 - Mike Wallace, PIT WR. One of the best picks of the draft. Has done more in his 2 years than any WR in this draft aside from maybe Nicks.

4.107 - Mike Thomas, JAX WR. Another starting WR from the 4th round.

4.108 - Brian Hartline, MIA WR. Has put up decent stats, but I don't know if he will keep his starting job.

4.111 - Mike Goodson, CAR RB. Great KR last season, and had a stretch of nice games while handed the starting role. Should be #2 this season if DeAngelo is gone.

4.124 - Louis Murphy, OAK WR. Has looked better than their #7 overall WR pick.

4.127 - Austin Collie, IND WR. If not for the concussions, would be in the discussion for top overall WR in this draft.

5.140 - Johnnie Knox, CHI WR. Yet another starting WR from this draft.

5.173 - Javon Ringer, TEN RB. Backup to CJ, but if he went down, Ringer would have some nice games.

7.232 - Julian Edelman, NEP WR. Had some success his rookie season - definitely better than your average 7th rounder.

7.250 - Rashad Jennings, JAX RB. Looked great in relief of MJD.

undrafted - Arian Foster, HOU RB. Possibly the best player from this draft (fantasy-wise).

 
Basically, if 2008 was the year to get a great RB, then 2009 was the year to get a great WR,

Nicks

Wallace

Collie

Crabtree

Knox

Thomas

Murphy.

 
You have to go more than just 2 rounds to look at a draft.

Starting in the 3rd round, you have the following picks which I consider to have "Worked out"

3.65 - Shonn Greene, NYJ RB. Has definitely shown a lot, and has room to improve even more.

3.76 - DeAndre Levy, DET LB. Starting MLB.

3.84 - Mike Wallace, PIT WR. One of the best picks of the draft. Has done more in his 2 years than any WR in this draft aside from maybe Nicks.

4.107 - Mike Thomas, JAX WR. Another starting WR from the 4th round.

4.108 - Brian Hartline, MIA WR. Has put up decent stats, but I don't know if he will keep his starting job.

4.111 - Mike Goodson, CAR RB. Great KR last season, and had a stretch of nice games while handed the starting role. Should be #2 this season if DeAngelo is gone.

4.124 - Louis Murphy, OAK WR. Has looked better than their #7 overall WR pick.

4.127 - Austin Collie, IND WR. If not for the concussions, would be in the discussion for top overall WR in this draft.

5.140 - Johnnie Knox, CHI WR. Yet another starting WR from this draft.

5.173 - Javon Ringer, TEN RB. Backup to CJ, but if he went down, Ringer would have some nice games.

7.232 - Julian Edelman, NEP WR. Had some success his rookie season - definitely better than your average 7th rounder.

7.250 - Rashad Jennings, JAX RB. Looked great in relief of MJD.

undrafted - Arian Foster, HOU RB. Possibly the best player from this draft (fantasy-wise).
The reason I put in every single pick for the first and second rounds is to give the proper CONTEXT. To show the busts right next to the studs and to show the many-many-many so-so picks who haven't distinguished themselves as either busts or studs.The above is a cherry-picked list of guys who have had some impact out of the many-many-many later round picks of the final five rounds and it is misleading since it doesn't provide the proper CONTEXT.

Too many people who do not know proper CONTEXT will look at a cherry-picked list without realizing the many-many-many guys who did nothing or got injured or who never got a legit shot to start and prove themselves or who were poor fits for a system or who were impacted by poor supporting cast etc et el.

I am not about to recount every pick of the draft and don't expect you or anyone else to either but getting a snapshot of just the first two rounds provides some semblence of CONTEXT and just getting a taste of proper context helps to get handle on expectations of this 2011 draft class and I will say that too many people overlook the impact of the first two rounds and overestimate the impact from later rounds.

Far more impact potentially comes from the top of the draft as you would expect but to see it laid out is always a good idea especially right after a draft when many have visions of late round sleepers blowing up and providing impact.

You can bet that a 'handful' of prospects will blow up but the harsh reality is that it will only be a small percentage.

 
A look at the Jaguars 2009 draft, the first under current GM Gene Smith:

Eugene Monroe (Starting LT) (1st Round)

Eben Britton (Starting RT)(2nd Round)

Terrance Knighton (Starting DT) This guy is playing at a very high level(3rd Round)

Derek Cox (Starting CB)(3rd round) Traded the 2010 2nd round pick to get him.

Mike Thomas (Starting WR)(4th Round) Looks like a steal.

Jarred Dillard (Wr)Still on team, has battled injuries.(5th Round)

Zach Miller (TE) Still on team, has made some big plays for the Jags when given the chance. (6th round)

Rashad Jennings (RB) Solid back up to MJD who has looked pretty good when called upon. (7Th Round)

Tiquan Underwood (WR) Still on team, like Dillard can't stay healthy. (7th)

So 5 starters with a couple standout selections and all are still on the team. :thumbup:

 
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The reason I put in every single pick for the first and second rounds is to give the proper CONTEXT. To show the busts right next to the studs and to show the many-many-many so-so picks who haven't distinguished themselves as either busts or studs.
And to correctly analyze a draft from only two years ago is impossible without looking at the full picture either. So your attempt is an exercise in futility, in my opinion. The post by the Jags guy is MUCH more informative and I think what you are looking for. Going team by team would be the best possible strategy for looking at the successes and failures from the draft.And almost half your posts are something like "I don't know much about this guy", so you are pretty much cherry-picking yourself, even in only the first 2 rounds... :boxing:
 
29 29 Hakeem Nicks Giants WR North Carolina

Great pick, big impact, excellent value this late. Been even better than I hoped.

13 45 Clint Sintim Giants LB Virginia

Not sure if he’s starting or not. Nope, not starting so far, lost the starting job to Keith Bullock last season, his lack of development is wearing thin with the team. Maybe they should see if he can be a DE. Reese says he needs to "grow up".

28 60 William Beatty Giants T Connecticut

Again its getting into the lower part of the second round so the talent is dropping off so I have no clue about this guy. The team still likes him, they had hoped he would have won the LT job his 2nd season. There seems to be a little disappointment in that but not nearly as much as with Sintim.

 
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A look at the Raiders 2009 draft. Darrius Heyward Bey seems to be all that anyone remembers. However, this was a good draft for the Raiders regardless of that unfortunate first pick.

Round 1: Darrius Heyward Bey - WR - Maryland

First round bust, another Al Davis embarrassment. Lacks instincts and probably will never be an average NFL receiver.

Round 2: Mike Mitchell S Ohio

Roundly panned pick, but Mitchell has improved vastly and has become an enforcer over the middle.

Round 3: Matt Shaughnessy DE Wisconsin

Perhaps the best pick of this draft, Anchors the right defensive end spot and is effective against the run holding the edge, while providing plenty of pressure on the pocket and destroying QBs.

Round 4: Louis Murphy WR Florida.

Another good pick. Murphy has flashed some great potential and is becoming a polished vet.

Round 4: Slade Norris OLB Oregon State - No longer on team.

Round 5 pick: traded away

Round 6: Stryker Sulak LB Missouri - No longer on team.

Round 6: Brandon Myers TE Iowa

Another gem! Myers has done a fine job as #2 TE, and on special teams blocking a key kick in the first game against San Diego.

From that draft, we got a solid starting DE, WR, and reserve TE, and S. Not a bad haul. Yet everyone focuses on DHBust.

 
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The reason I put in every single pick for the first and second rounds is to give the proper CONTEXT. To show the busts right next to the studs and to show the many-many-many so-so picks who haven't distinguished themselves as either busts or studs.
And to correctly analyze a draft from only two years ago is impossible without looking at the full picture either. So your attempt is an exercise in futility, in my opinion. The post by the Jags guy is MUCH more informative and I think what you are looking for. Going team by team would be the best possible strategy for looking at the successes and failures from the draft.

And almost half your posts are something like "I don't know much about this guy", so you are pretty much cherry-picking yourself, even in only the first 2 rounds... :boxing:
Your list is by definition cherry picking where you cherry-picked out the best of the bunch and left the rotten fruit and that is fine but it doesn't provide prope context.I wasn't about to go thru every pick and don't expect anyone to so the G-Man fan gave a picture of his team but without being able to compare/contrast and stack it up against all of the other teams it is also out of context. From looking at the top-two rounds in their entiretly we can understand the context of the Hakeem Nicks pick and how much impact he has had.

I don't know all picks and all players and you certainly don't.

I was looking for input like this from netnalp to get a clearer picture of players taken in the first two rounds.

Posted Today, 11:14 AM

29 29 Hakeem Nicks Giants WR North Carolina

Great pick, big impact, excellent value this late. Been even better than I hoped.

13 45 Clint Sintim Giants LB Virginia

Not sure if he’s starting or not. Nope, not starting so far, lost the starting job to Keith Bullock last season, his lack of development is wearing thin with the team. Maybe they should see if he can be a DE. Reese says he needs to "grow up".

28 60 William Beatty Giants T Connecticut

Again its getting into the lower part of the second round so the talent is dropping off so I have no clue about this guy. The team still likes him, they had hoped he would have won the LT job his 2nd season. There seems to be a little disappointment in that but not nearly as much as with Sintim.

If I don't know then I see nothing wrong about asking for feedback.

The above is really good feedback and helps to get a clearer picture of impact from a draft.

I don't mind you cherry picking players but my intention was to point out the harsh realities of the draft and how few make it and the proper context is crucial for showing the realities of the draft especially right after a draft when the expectations run high.

Everyone has a great draft in April/May but things change when the pads come on. :banned:

 
A look at the Raiders 2009 draft. Darrius Heyward Bey seems to be all that anyone remembers. However, this was a good draft for the Raiders regardless of that unfortunate first pick.Round 1: Darrius Heyward Bey - WR - MarylandFirst round bust, another Al Davis embarrassment. Lacks instincts and probably will never be an average NFL receiver. From that draft, we got a solid starting DE, WR, and reserve TE, and S. Not a bad haul. Yet everyone focuses on DHBust.
Still too early to write DHB off, IMO. After a horrible rookie year he at times looked like an actual NFL WR last year. He's a hard worker and I think he can overcome his catching problems, but it may not be until he's out of Oakland. After seeing what Brandon Lloyd did last year it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he's a very good receiver in a few years.
 
A look at the Raiders 2009 draft. Darrius Heyward Bey seems to be all that anyone remembers. However, this was a good draft for the Raiders regardless of that unfortunate first pick.Round 1: Darrius Heyward Bey - WR - MarylandFirst round bust, another Al Davis embarrassment. Lacks instincts and probably will never be an average NFL receiver. From that draft, we got a solid starting DE, WR, and reserve TE, and S. Not a bad haul. Yet everyone focuses on DHBust.
Still too early to write DHB off, IMO. After a horrible rookie year he at times looked like an actual NFL WR last year. He's a hard worker and I think he can overcome his catching problems, but it may not be until he's out of Oakland. After seeing what Brandon Lloyd did last year it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he's a very good receiver in a few years.
Yeah, it's too early, but man, I'd trade him for Raji or Orakpo right now. Oh, god, or Nicks too.
 
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The reason I put in every single pick for the first and second rounds is to give the proper CONTEXT. To show the busts right next to the studs and to show the many-many-many so-so picks who haven't distinguished themselves as either busts or studs.
And to correctly analyze a draft from only two years ago is impossible without looking at the full picture either. So your attempt is an exercise in futility, in my opinion. The post by the Jags guy is MUCH more informative and I think what you are looking for. Going team by team would be the best possible strategy for looking at the successes and failures from the draft.And almost half your posts are something like "I don't know much about this guy", so you are pretty much cherry-picking yourself, even in only the first 2 rounds... :boxing:
his post was informative i thought. i dont expect the guy to know about every single player esp at lower profile positions and teams. maybe some others can fill in those blanks.
 
http://bleacherrepor...erry-reese-2007

2011 NFL Draft: Analyzing New York Giants Drafts Under Jerry Reese, 2007

By Jeff Shull (Giants Featured Columnist) on April 9, 2011

This will be the first of four slideshows that will analyze each draft pick under the Jerry Reese era, the Giants general manager who took over after the 2006 season.

Judging by the team's ability to stay mildly successful over the past four seasons, winning a championship in Reese's first season with several contributing rookies, you'd have to believe his overall drafting ability has been very good.

He has made some mistakes here and there, as any GM will, but in my mind Reese has been one of the best in the business and the Giants are lucky to have him running the organization.

The series will start with that first magical season in 2007.

(P.S. The grades will be a bit more lenient in the later rounds considering it's hard to find good players in those rounds)

Round 1: Aaron Ross CB

Aaron Ross has not lived up to his potential, but in those first two seasons he was a solid contributor.

During his rookie season he showed flashes of brilliance, but it was an otherwise inconsistent season. The highlight of his season was intercepting a pass and returning it to the house against the cross town rival Jets; the play sealed the victory for Big Blue.

He stepped up in the playoffs, like the entire defense did, and looked like he would take the next step in 2008. In that season he showed signs of improvement, but was still not living up to the hype. He had three interceptions and one return TD in each of his first two years.

In 2009 he suffered a setback with a hamstring injury and has never fully recovered. He has since been replaced in the starting lineup by Terrell Thomas and only plays in passing situations.

He is a solid player, but has definitely not lived up to his first round status.

Grade: C+

Round 2: Steve Smith WR

Smith has been an incredible weapon for Eli Manning since joining the team. The Giants went seamlessly from Amani Toomer to Steve Smith as a reliable third down security blanket for Manning, and Smith has been even better than Amani at times.

He set the franchise record with 107 receptions in 2009, and his absence in seven games in 2010 was definitely noticeable.

There really isn't much else to say, this was a home run pick.

Grade: A+

Round 3: Jay Alford DT

Most famous for the play pictured when he sacked Tom Brady on their last attempt to score in the Super Bowl, Jay Alford was a up and coming player the Giants were very excited about.

Until an ACL injury kept him out of the entire 2009 season, which was supposed to be a breakout year for Alford.

The Giants drafted Linvel Joseph in the 2010 draft and it seemed like Alford's days might be numbered. Well that was the case as they released him right before the end of training camp. He wasn't a free agent long as the Raiders signed him before the 2010 season opener.

Alford did have a nice season as a backup in 2008, appearing in all 16 games and getting 2.5 sacks, but has not amounted to anything after his injury.

He played four games for the Raiders and had only two tackles, they cut him in the middle of the season and he is now a member of the Seahawks.

Hopefully he finds his way back to full strength, the Giants had very high hopes for him.

Grade: C-

Round 4: Zak DeOssie LB

Zak DeOssie hasn't really amounted to anything more than just an outstanding special teams player at this point. He is on the kickoff team and he is the long snapper for punts and field goals.

He made the Pro Bowl in 2010 as a long snapper.

Grade: C+

Round 5: Kevin Boss TE

Kevin Boss stepped up his rookie season when the Giants lost Jeremy Shockey to a broken leg. He has been a very solid player and improved drastically as a blocker over the year.

He is one of the more underrated tight ends in the NFL and, in my opinion, needs to be a bigger part of the offense.

Although he only had one catch in the Super Bowl, it was a memorable 45-yard completion down the seam to set up the Giants' first touchdown.

He stepped up big time during the 2010 season when the Giants were losing receivers to injury left and right. He had a huge game-winning touchdown catch late in the fourth against the Jaguars.

Underrated at this point, but still has the potential to be one of the best in the league if the Giants feed him the ball more.

Grade A

Round 6: Adam Koets OL

Adam Koets was drafted as a tackle, but never made a name for himself until the 2010 season when Shaun O'Hara went out with an injury after the third game of the season.

Ironically, the Giants offensive line started blocking better and the run game got going when Koets replaced O'Hara.

Koets started at center for five games in a row, and the Giants were 5-0 in that span, averaging 174 yards per game on the ground.

Unfortunately, he went out with a torn ACL in the Seahawks game and missed the rest of the season. Nevertheless, he proved his worth and looks like the future at center for the Giants.

Grade: B

Round 7: Michael Johnson SS

Michael Johnson had a decent season in 2008 as the Giants starting safety, but a terrible 2009 season forced the Giants to make an upgrade and bring in Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant.

The result was Johnson only playing two games in the 2010 season. He will likely not be resigned this year as he is an unrestricted free agent.

Grade: C-

Round 7: Ahmad Bradshaw RB

Ahmad Bradshaw emerged as the Giants backup behind Brandon Jacobs late in the 2007 season. His 88-yard touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills secured a playoff spot, and his hard running style gave the Giants a spark plug on offense.

I don't think anyone will forget when he made a hard run in the Super Bowl and carried Vince Wilfork's big behind about five yards down field. It was a thing of beauty.

He took a back seat to Derrick Ward in the 2008 season, but was still very much a part of the offense as the third back in a terrific tandem self titled "Earth, Wind, and Fire"

Fast forward to the 2010 season, when he was given the starting role for the first time. He responded by having the best season of his career with 1235 yards and eight touchdowns, while still splitting time with Brandon Jacobs.

He lost his starting job midway through the season due to fumbling issues, but kept right on chugging along and was still his dominant self.

For the value, this was the best pick of Jerry Reese's career to this point.

Grade: A+

Average Grade?

I made a number system to average out the grade, with A+ having a number value of 12 and F having a number value of 0. For example, A+ = 12, A = 11, and A- = 10.

The 2007 draft gets an average grade of a little under a B (63 points for eight players).

2008



Round 1: Kenny Phillips, Safety

It's hard to imagine how much of a stud this guy would be if he didn't suffer from an arthritic knee condition in 2009 that kept him out for the last 11 games of the season. He was actually out for three games prior to that, but the news came after the 5-0 start.

Phillips came in in 2008 and eventually won the starting safety job as a rookie and had a better than expected season. The dynamic athlete from "The U" showed great instincts for the ball and proved he can come in the box and stop the run.

He looked like he was going to be one of the best safeties in the league in the very near future. Then, 2009 happened.

After the Giants started 5-0, they got crushing news when Phillips was lost for the season with the aforementioned knee injury. They were never the same with C.C. Brown (aka Can't Cover) in the lineup.

Fast forward to the 2010 season. The Giants brought in Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant, both proven safeties, and drafted Chad Jones in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Kenny Phillips knew he had something to prove.

He played the entire season with a chip on his shoulder and finished with 77 tackles and an interception while sharing the safety duties with Rolle and Grant.

He wasn't completely healthy, but he showed improvement.

This was a very good pick, and the Giants got one of the best players in the first round that year despite picking 31st.

Grade: A- (would be A+ if not for the injury)



Round 2: Terrell Thomas, Cornerback

Not many expected the Giants to take a cornerback so early in the 2008 draft when they had Corey Webster and Aaron Ross both coming off good seasons, but the pick turned out to be gold.

Thomas has been one of the more underrated corners in the NFL in his career. Teams often stay away from Corey Webster, and Thomas has done a terrific job handling all the attention from opposing offenses.

He finished the 2010 season with 101 tackles, 21 passes defended and five interceptions. He could have made the Pro Bowl were it not for some elite candidates beating him out for the small number of spots.

I imagine he could make the Pro Bowl some time in the future, but for now, he'll have to settle for being someone that all Giants fan know is a great asset to the defense.

Grade: A



Round 3: Mario Manningham, Wide Receiver

Mario Manningham had a lot of critics coming out of college that said he didn't have the necessary skills to be a productive wide receiver in the NFL.

Fast forward to 2010 and he is a part of one of the best wide receiving corps in the entire NFL. Manningham was called upon this season and stepped up in a big way.

At times when both Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith were sidelined with injuries, the Giants looked to Manningham to carry his weight.

He did that and then some.

He also proved to be a strong home run threat with two of the biggest plays in Eli Manning's career. The two hooked up for 87 and 92 yard touchdown throws in consecutive weeks.

In games that Steve Smith missed, Manningham led the Giants in receiving four of the seven games. In total he had 60 catches, 944 yards, and nine touchdowns, improving on his 2009 season.

He seemed to fix some of the dropping issues he had which allowed Eli to trust him more; that went a long way to developing a chemistry between the two.

Manningham could be a starter on just about every other team in the NFL, it's such a great weapon to have as the third option.

Grade: A

Round 4: Bryan Kehl, Outside Linebacker

Bryan Kehl is another player the Giants had high hopes for but couldn't find room for on the roster. He was a fantastic special teams player and often came in the game in relief of starters.

He was a blue collar hard worker and was expected to get a shot at the starting outside linebacker position, but the Giants signed Keith Bulluck and had to start him somewhere, so Kehl missed his shot.

After the first game of the season, Kevin Boss suffered a concussion and was forced to miss the following game. The Giants were forced to sign Bear Pascoe off the practice squad and cut Kehl to make room for him.

His former defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, did not waste any time, and the Rams picked him up.

He never amounted to anything more than a special teams producer, unfortunately, so I can't give the pick a good grade.

Grade: C

Round 5: Jonathan Goff, Linebacker

Nobody expected Jonathan Goff to be able to replace Antonio Pierce as the team's starting middle linebacker. Nobody.

While he may never be the emotional leader that Pierce was, he definitely looked like he has the potential to be just as good as Pierce was as a defender.

He had as many tackles as Pierce did in his first season with the Giants—80—and proved to be just as good stopping the run. In every game you could count on Goff making at least one solo tackle behind the line of scrimmage.

He definitely made an impact on the Giants this season and allows them to focus this year's draft on other positions. People killed the Giants for not taking a middle linebacker last year—they obviously knew something we didn't.

He still has to prove he can be consistent with his production—last year was his first full year with significant playing time.

Grade: B

Round 6: Andre Woodson, Quarterback

The Giants drafted Andre Woodson after he had a stellar career with the Kentucky Wildcats. However, the Giants didn't ever really give him an opportunity to prove himself, and he was cut by the team in September of 2009.

He spent his entire first year on the practice squad and was signed by the Redskins in 2009 but cut that November.

He has since returned to school to finish his degree and enter the world of coaching.

Grade: D (Would be F, but this is a sixth round pick; can't expect to find Adam Koets in every sixth round)



Round 6: Robert Henderson, Defensive End

Robert Henderson came out of Southern Mississippi with little promise of making the Giants roster, considering they had Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Dave Tollefson and Mathias Kiwanuka as the current defensive ends.

He never made the roster, as he was cut before the season opener in 2008.

Average Grade?

So, I decided that my way of averaging the draft sucks. The way I did it before evaluates each pick evenly and just averages out each grade per player. That doesn't work when I get four starters from this draft out of seven players and the average grade comes out to a C.

From now on, this is going to be an objective process.

Overall Grade: A-

I give this draft a A- because while they did find three starters and a wide receiver that pretty much is a starter, they also used three picks on guys that essentially amounted to nothing.

It's a good thing they "wasted" those picks on late middle to late round selections, because then it's not as devastating.

 
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Pretty cool. I'm not going to do this but I wonder what kind of value there would be to regrading each year for the last 5 drafts? It might help support putting faith in the players drafted by the highest graded teams?

 
Second Round

First ten picks --

2 1 33 Louis Delmas Lions DB Western Michigan

Started out hot but got injured and haven’t noticed too much of him since.

2 34 Patrick Chung Patriots DB Oregon

Took a year but he started to break out last year but still has upside.

3 35 James Laurinaitis Rams LB Ohio State

Great pick, big impact from day-one. Some nicks but very good pick.

4 36 Brian Robiskie Browns WR Ohio State

Not much impact but book hasn’t closed yet. Shurmur’s WC offense gives hope but not much impact here.

5 37 Alphonso Smith Broncos DB Wake Forest

Already cut, huge bust.

6 38 Rey Maualuga Bengals LB USC

Solid two-down situational player but never lived up to the hype.

7 39 Eben Britton Jaguars T Arizona

Bookend to their first round pick.

8 40 Ron Brace Patriots DT Boston College

Haven’t noticed this guy so not much impact.

9 41 Darius Butler Patriots DB Connecticut

Another BB pick who hasn’t had impact.

10 42 Jairus Byrd Bills DB Oregon

Started out red-hot but he also got injured and has sorta drifted.

-- Comment since the Patriots had three of the top-ten picks of the second round and that is unprecedented in NFL draft history --

They didn’t’ accomplish much with those picks if you consider that only one-of-three has hit and Chung is still getting yanked in games but at the time people were falling all over themselves about how BB schooled the rest of the league. Caution is the word. Then consider the Ron Brace pick gave BB the idea of trading away Richard Seymour and Brace hasn’t produced anything like Seymour but at the time people were saying BB had schooled the Raiders on that deal since it was thought that he got a top-ten or even a top-five pick which eventually turned into the 17th pick (OT Nate Solder) from this year's draft.

We know what the Raiders got but it will take awhile to see what the Patriots got from Solder. So far the Raiders have gotten production so they are clearly ahead right now.
Don't forget the Patriots traded out of the Clay Matthews spot as well.
 
Vonte Davis CB Miami Dolphins = STUD

Crabtree - not living up to his draft status at all. Maybe he breaks out this season?

 
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A look at the Jaguars 2009 draft, the first under current GM Gene Smith:Eugene Monroe (Starting LT) (1st Round)Eben Britton (Starting RT)(2nd Round)Terrance Knighton (Starting DT) This guy is playing at a very high level(3rd Round)Derek Cox (Starting CB)(3rd round) Traded the 2010 2nd round pick to get him.Mike Thomas (Starting WR)(4th Round) Looks like a steal.Jarred Dillard (Wr)Still on team, has battled injuries.(5th Round)Zach Miller (TE) Still on team, has made some big plays for the Jags when given the chance. (6th round)Rashad Jennings (RB) Solid back up to MJD who has looked pretty good when called upon. (7Th Round)Tiquan Underwood (WR) Still on team, like Dillard can't stay healthy. (7th)So 5 starters with a couple standout selections and all are still on the team. :thumbup:
That's really a great draft, considering the hit rate on prospects and the need for an infusion of talent into that Jags team. If either Dillard or Underwood can shake the injury bug and produce as a WR2 next to Thomas, that's icing on the cake. Either way, their draft has to be graded a solid A. A pro bowl or two from any of those 2009 draftees vaults it to an A+ IMHO.
 
A look at the Raiders 2009 draft. Darrius Heyward Bey seems to be all that anyone remembers. However, this was a good draft for the Raiders regardless of that unfortunate first pick.Round 1: Darrius Heyward Bey - WR - MarylandFirst round bust, another Al Davis embarrassment. Lacks instincts and probably will never be an average NFL receiver. From that draft, we got a solid starting DE, WR, and reserve TE, and S. Not a bad haul. Yet everyone focuses on DHBust.
Still too early to write DHB off, IMO. After a horrible rookie year he at times looked like an actual NFL WR last year. He's a hard worker and I think he can overcome his catching problems, but it may not be until he's out of Oakland. After seeing what Brandon Lloyd did last year it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he's a very good receiver in a few years.
Yeah, it's too early, but man, I'd trade him for Raji or Orakpo right now. Oh, god, or Nicks too.
Probably Britt as well? :yes:
 
Looks like you need practice counting years. :lmao:
20112010

2009

Looks like three but I have trouble as you say.
Problem is the 2011 season hasn't occurred yet, these players have actually played 2 seasons.
2008

1 Miami Dolphins Jake Long T Michigan

2 St. Louis Rams Chris Long DE Virginia

3 Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan QB Boston College

4 Oakland Raiders Darren McFadden RB Arkansas

5 Kansas City Chiefs Glenn Dorsey DT Louisiana State

6 New York Jets Vernon Gholston LB Ohio State :yucky:

7 New Orleans Saints Sedrick Ellis DT USC

8 Jacksonville Jaguars Derrick Harvey DE Florida

9 Cincinnati Bengals Keith Rivers OLB USC

10 New England Patriots Jerod Mayo ILB Tennessee

11 Buffalo Bills Leodis McKelvin CB Troy

12 Denver Broncos Ryan Clady T Boise State

13 Carolina Panthers Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon

14 Chicago Bears Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt

15 Kansas City Chiefs Branden Albert T Virginia

16 Arizona Cardinals Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State

17 Detroit Lions Gosder Cherilus T Boston College

18 Baltimore Ravens Joe Flacco QB Delaware

19 Carolina Panthers Jeff Otah T Pittsburgh

20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aqib Talib CB Kansas

21 Atlanta Falcons Sam Baker T USC

22 Dallas Cowboys Felix Jones RB Arkansas

23 Pittsburgh Steelers Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois

24 Tennessee Titans Chris Johnson RB East Carolina

25 Dallas Cowboys Mike Jenkins CB South Florida

26 Houston Texans Duane Brown T Virginia Tech

27 San Diego Chargers Antoine Cason CB Arizona

28 Seattle Seahawks Lawrence Jackson DE USC

29 San Francisco 49ers Kentwan Balmer DE North Carolina

30 New York Jets Dustin Keller TE Purdue Green Bay moved down then took Finley in the 4th

31 New York Giants Kenny Phillips FS Miami (Fla.)

 
20081 Miami Dolphins Jake Long T Michigan2 St. Louis Rams Chris Long DE Virginia3 Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan QB Boston College4 Oakland Raiders Darren McFadden RB Arkansas5 Kansas City Chiefs Glenn Dorsey DT Louisiana State6 New York Jets Vernon Gholston LB Ohio State :yucky: 7 New Orleans Saints Sedrick Ellis DT USC8 Jacksonville Jaguars Derrick Harvey DE Florida9 Cincinnati Bengals Keith Rivers OLB USC10 New England Patriots Jerod Mayo ILB Tennessee
Pretty good top 10 IMO Chris Long hasn't quite lived up to his potential or Dad, and there are a few busts, but overall not bad at all.
 
Second Round

First ten picks --

2 1 33 Louis Delmas Lions DB Western Michigan

Started out hot but got injured and haven’t noticed too much of him since.

2 34 Patrick Chung Patriots DB Oregon

Took a year but he started to break out last year but still has upside.

3 35 James Laurinaitis Rams LB Ohio State

Great pick, big impact from day-one. Some nicks but very good pick.

4 36 Brian Robiskie Browns WR Ohio State

Not much impact but book hasn’t closed yet. Shurmur’s WC offense gives hope but not much impact here.

5 37 Alphonso Smith Broncos DB Wake Forest

Already cut, huge bust.

6 38 Rey Maualuga Bengals LB USC

Solid two-down situational player but never lived up to the hype.

7 39 Eben Britton Jaguars T Arizona

Bookend to their first round pick.

8 40 Ron Brace Patriots DT Boston College

Haven’t noticed this guy so not much impact.

9 41 Darius Butler Patriots DB Connecticut

Another BB pick who hasn’t had impact.

10 42 Jairus Byrd Bills DB Oregon

Started out red-hot but he also got injured and has sorta drifted.

-- Comment since the Patriots had three of the top-ten picks of the second round and that is unprecedented in NFL draft history --

They didn’t’ accomplish much with those picks if you consider that only one-of-three has hit and Chung is still getting yanked in games but at the time people were falling all over themselves about how BB schooled the rest of the league. Caution is the word. Then consider the Ron Brace pick gave BB the idea of trading away Richard Seymour and Brace hasn’t produced anything like Seymour but at the time people were saying BB had schooled the Raiders on that deal since it was thought that he got a top-ten or even a top-five pick which eventually turned into the 17th pick (OT Nate Solder) from this year's draft.

We know what the Raiders got but it will take awhile to see what the Patriots got from Solder. So far the Raiders have gotten production so they are clearly ahead right now.
Don't forget the Patriots traded out of the Clay Matthews spot as well.
See this is where it gets tricky when people look back with twenty-twenty hindsight and say that Team-X should have taken Player-Y and ufnortunately that happens quite a bit especially with sports writers who don't have a clue about putting things into proper context.Its too easy to Monday Morning QB or use twenty-twenty hindsight to say who a team should or shouldn't have drafted.

Basically EVERY TEAM does that and EVERY FAN and EVERY SPORTSWRITER does that on some level. The problem is exactly what the point of the thread is that their are only so-many impactful and talented prospects in every draft.

My intention wasn't to bash New England, I didn't even realize that this was the first draft that BB used the trade-down-for-multiple-draft-picks theory or to use a metaphor of throwing halfcooked pasta against the wall to see if any stick. I thought his strategy was really smart at the time he did this in 2009 and hadn't even thought about going back to see how it had worked out. I just assumed it worked since I knew Chung was doing good but if you step back and take another long look at that draft it wasn't a real impactful strategy.

This year in the 2011 draft people were giving BB props for trading down but in my gut I felt he was making a big mistake in not getting blue-chip talent which has a better chance to provide impact.

I gave the Atlanta GM Tomas Dimitroff props for making a bold move up to get an impactful WR like Julio Jones. Dimitroff worked with Belichick in New England before taking over in Atlanta BTW. If Tom didn't move up he would have gotten a low-impact O-Lineman and he said so after the draft. That wasn't a desperation move on Dimitroff's part because Tony Gonzalez is nearing the end and Roddy White turned thirty so Julio fits both for short-term impact and for transitioning away from Gonzo and eventually turning into the Falcons #1 WR. So that move made sense on a number of fronts.

I don't know if Belichick's strategy will or won't work out but my gut felt he was making a mistake by not making a move up with all of those draft picks to try to land an impactful player or two.

On the other end of that Atlanta deal was Browns GM Tom Heckertt and he didn't sit tight after making the deal but he moved up six spots to get his big-man DT in Phil Taylor. I don't expect Taylor to make as big an impact as B.J. Raji but he'll be paired with Ahtyba Rubin so that dou should stuff the run between the tackles so alone the pick of Taylor doesn't make sense and Heckertt has been criticized for moving up for a NT type of DT instead of a penetrating three-tech 4-3 DT and for over-paying with a high third-round selection to move up only six spots but I can see how a Phil Taylor makes sense paired with Rubin and where he won't provide impact by himself but he does paired with Ahtyba Rubin.

Going back to the Clay Mathews III selection and so many teams passing him over. The Pack passed him over with their first selection in the first round and had to move back into the first to get him so props to their GM for that fantastic move. I don't blast the Pats for missing on Clay Mathews or any other team but learning from this 2009 draft it would seem that BB would have been urged onto move up and try for more impactful players since he was sitting on multiple draft picks and could have made a move or two.

I will fault him for not making any moves up to try and acquire any blue-chip talent in this draft.

 
Many have stated that you can't possibly look at a draft for three years to really get a good grasp on what happened so lets go back three years to the 2009 NFL draft and look at that class.

The first round, the first ten picks.

2009

Round 1

1. 1 Matthew Stafford Lions QB Georgia

Huge talent but contanstly injured. If he can stay healthy he would rate the top pick and make the Lions a legit contender. Still up in the air due to injuries.

2. 2 Jason Smith Rams T Baylor

Seems to have disapeared from radar. Someone can fill me in on how Smith has done. Last I heard I think he was moved to RT and that isn't good if true.

3. 3 Tyson Jackson Chiefs DE Louisiana State

Another one I have lost track of.

4. 4 Aaron Curry Seahawks LB Wake Forest

Just not as impactful as you would expect from a top-four LBer. He tested off the charts but he hasn't fufilled his draft status.

5. 5 Mark Sanchez Jets QB USC

He's done OK, not great. He was very young and immature coming into the league. The hot-dog incident, the booger incident, the photo shoot on the beach, but he has steered playoff teams so far he's on track to continue to grow and mature.

6. 6 Andre Smith Bengals T Alabama

Another OT who seems to have vanished.

7. 7 Darrius Heyward-Bey Raiders WR Maryland

Ewww.

8. 8 Eugene Monroe Jaguars T Virginia

Monroe has started but I'm not sure if it was him or their second round pick who has done better but at least they are getting starts from this pick.

9. 9 B.J. Raji Packers DT Boston College

It took him a year but he really has come on strong.

10. 10 Michael Crabtree 49ers WR Texas Tech

The diva sticker has stuck but he's been really good.

-----

Take a look and comment on those to-ten picks and we'll continue just to the second round, not all seven rounds so we can begin to see just how few of these picks truly make an impact.

- Next ten picks coming -
This would be more interesting if you had put some research into it.
 
'Donnybrook said:
On the other hand, the hate for Denver's and Oakland's draft was pretty much justified.
I posted up in reply 24 about the Raiders '09 draft. Take a look and then tell me that was a bad draft. Not just first pick, but on the whole. Raiders sudden improvement has as much to do with recent good drafts as anything.
 
'Donnybrook said:
If you want to read draft analysis from 2 years ago, you should read this. http://forums.footba...pic=466074&st=0

It is amusing how some people were predicting that Harvin and Freeman would be busts. On the other hand, the hate for Denver's and Oakland's draft was pretty much justified.
After browsing that thread, I can say there are several people that are really hoping it doesn't get bumped.
 
31 New York Giants Kenny Phillips FS Miami (Fla.)

He's been great when healthy and he was able to get back his starting job last season after missing most of the previous one. He doesn't seem to be having any issues this off-season, though without mini camps and visits to team doctors, if there are any problems the news may not come out till camps start. From what I've read, the knee is something that may need to be scoped and cleaned up every 3-5 years, but shouldn't require as extensive of a procedure he originally had. Overall I like the pick and believe he'll prove to have been a steal despite the early setbacks.

Here's an opinion of Phillips by Jeff Shull (Giants Featured Columnist) on April 9, 2011 :

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/659232-2011-nfl-draft-analyzing-new-york-giants-drafts-under-jerry-reese-2007

Round 1: Kenny Phillips, Safety 31st pick

It's hard to imagine how much of a stud this guy would be if he didn't suffer from an arthritic knee condition in 2009 that kept him out for the last 11 games of the season. He was actually out for three games prior to that, but the news came after the 5-0 start.

Phillips came in in 2008 and eventually won the starting safety job as a rookie and had a better than expected season. The dynamic athlete from "The U" showed great instincts for the ball and proved he can come in the box and stop the run.

He looked like he was going to be one of the best safeties in the league in the very near future. Then, 2009 happened.

After the Giants started 5-0, they got crushing news when Phillips was lost for the season with the aforementioned knee injury. They were never the same with C.C. Brown (aka Can't Cover) in the lineup.

Fast forward to the 2010 season. The Giants brought in Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant, both proven safeties, and drafted Chad Jones in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Kenny Phillips knew he had something to prove.

He played the entire season with a chip on his shoulder and finished with 77 tackles and an interception while sharing the safety duties with Rolle and Grant.

He wasn't completely healthy, but he showed improvement.

This was a very good pick, and the Giants got one of the best players in the first round that year despite picking 31st.

Grade: A- (would be A+ if not for the injury)

 
Has anyone pointed out that the draft under analyses is only 2 years old? These guys have only had 2 seasons of play, not three.

 

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