Draft grades for all NFL teams (1 Viewer)

[Bracie Smathers]

Yeah I know, how can you grade a draft, so soon afterwards. Its obvious that were are all into the NFL so we would like to try and figure out the context of each team's individual draft and rate it against the other teams to see how our favorite team did. So take that Peter King, nah.

How I grade.

1 TALENT acquired - The point of the draft is simple, get more and better talent than your competition so the logical starting point is TALENT acquired.

2 Value of where the player was taken - open for debate but self explanatory

3 Fit for scheme - self explanatory but I'm not an expert on each team's scheme so I'm sure others can explain how a player fits or doesn't fit a particular scheme.

4 Compensation given up/gained - self explanatory

5 Potential synergy player adds to rest of team - open for interpretation so I'm open for feedback

So a blue-chip talent starts out rating an A. If he was taken where he should then no change to grade but if he was a reach the grade would go down or if he were a value then the grade would go up. Unless the guy is a really bad fit then no change on fit for scheme. Compensation is self explanatory and synergy is open for interpretation so I would like constructive feedback to make convincing arguments to tweak the grades.

Here are the top ten team grades, more to follow:

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 1 (1) Cam Newton QB Auburn

3 1 (65) Terrell McClain DT South Florida

3 33 (97) * Sione Fua DT Stanford

4 1 (98) Brandon Hogan CB West Virginia

5 1 (132) Kealoha Pilares WR Hawaii

6 1 (166) Lawrence Wilson OLB Connecticut

6 38 (203) * Zack Williams G Washington State

7 43 (244) * Lee Ziemba T Auburn

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Newton is an A talent, he’s got the size, arm, athleticism, and we won two national championships at the two colleges that he played at so he’s a proven winner. Sure there are questions but he has undeniable talent. He rates the first pick of the draft. He doesn’t adhere to any scheme so he’s not a perfect fir for scheme. He has the ability to get much more out of the Panther offense than Jimmy Clausen so he has the potential to synergize the QB position. A

No second round pick, given up for a dud WR and that drives down the final grade.

DT Terrell McCLain, a lower tier talent but decent value where he went off the board. Should fit scheme and help out Panther D-Line. C+

None of the lower drafted players leap out to raise the final grade of B-.

DENVER BRONCOS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 2 (2) Von Miller OLB Texas A&M

2 13 (45) Rahim Moore S UCLA

2 14 (46) Orlando Franklin G Miami-Fl

3 3 (67) Nate Irving OLB North Carolina State

4 11 (108) Quinton Carter S Oklahoma

4 32 (129) Julius Thomas TE Portland State

6 24 (189) Mike Mohamed ILB California

7 1 (204) Virgil Green TE Nevada

7 46 (247) * Jeremy Beal DE Oklahoma

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Stud LV Von Miller with top pick is an A talent and rates second pick. Can fit any scheme. Should synergize the Broncos weak pass rush especially with Elvis Dumervill. A+

Rahim Moore is a solid talent and he got taken where he should have gone off the board. He fits scheme and fits in with the older talent of the Bronco secondary but the Broncos had a screaming need at DT and passed on Marcell Dareus at the top of the draft. It appeared they had a clear shot at Marvin Austin who went seven picks later. The Broncos apparently stuck with their board but they lost a chance at far greater synergy in passing up Austin who would have also been a solid value and fit the scheme. Moore still rates and A grade.

Franklin is a solid, talent, value, and need, He’ll fit scheme but once again they passed on Austin with back-to-back picks. You would have thought they could have strayed on one of those picks as Austin went six picks after Franklin but Franklin still rates an A.

None of the lower picks would move the final grade of A because all picks are solid talents and were taken where they should have been and all fit scheme and fill needs even if the greatest need wasn’t addressed the Broncos

BUFFALO BILLS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 3 (3) Marcell Dareus DT Alabama

2 2 (34) Aaron Williams CB Texas

3 4 (68) Kelvin Sheppard ILB LSU

4 3 (100) Da'Norris Searcy S North Carolina

4 25 (122) Chris Hairston T Clemson

5 2 (133) Johnny White RB North Carolina

6 4 (169) Chris White ILB Mississippi State

7 3 (206) Justin Rogers CB Richmond

7 44 (245) * Michael Jasper DT Tennessee-Martin

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Love Dareus, top talent, rates selection, fits scheme, provides synergy, A. Aaron Williams is a corner despite what some think and he rates a solid A across the board.

Shep is solid and Da’Norris Searcy looks like a steal. Nice draft A.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 4 (4) A.J. Green WR Georgia

2 3 (35) Andy Dalton QB TCU

3 2 (66) Dontay Moch OLB Nevada

4 4 (101) Clint Boling T Georgia

5 3 (134) Robert Sands S West Virginia

6 2 (167) Ryan Whalen WR Stanford

7 4 (207) Korey Lindsey CB Southern Illinois

7 45 (246) * Jay Finley RB Baylor

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

A.J. Green is one of the elite talents of this draft A+. Andy Dalton may not have the strongest arm but in a draft where others paid a premium for a QB the Bengals held tight and didn’t flinch and still got the guy they wanted at the place in the draft that they wanted. They didn’t take Gabbert and bypass Green at the top of the draft and filled huge needs on the team. A+

Moch and Boling are solid and bargains where they went. Final grade A+

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 5 (5) Patrick Peterson CB LSU

2 6 (38) Ryan Williams RB Virginia Tech

3 5 (69) Rob Housler TE Florida Atlantic

4 6 (103) Sam Acho DE Texas

5 5 (136) Anthony Sherman FB Connecticut

6 6 (171) Quan Sturdivant ILB North Carolina

6 19 (184) David Carter DT UCLA

7 48 (249) * DeMarco Sampson WR San Diego State

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Cards got one of the elite talents in Peterson, A+ Huge talent and value in Ryan Williams, A+. I love Acho and this draft. Final grade A+

ATLANTA FALCONS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 6 (6) Julio Jones WR Alabama

3 27 (91) Akeem Dent ILB Georgia

5 14 (145) Jacquizz Rodgers RB Oregon State

6 27 (192) Matt Bosher P Miami-Fl

7 7 (210) Andrew Jackson G Fresno State

7 28 (230) Cliff Matthews DE South Carolina

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Julio is a stud and went where he should and fits scheme and provides huge synergy but the problem is the cost of moving up to acquire him, that cancels out much at the very least one full letter grade and considering the Falcons gave up their first rounder next year the price could go up even higher so factoring in everything we give the Jones selection a B- pick down from a solid A.

No second round selection.

Dent, eh C+.

Jac Rogers is a nice addition but not much but we’ll award the Falcons a half letter grade higher for making such a balzy move for a final grade of a B.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 7 (7) Aldon Smith DE Missouri

2 4 (36) Colin Kaepernick QB Nevada

3 16 (80) Chris Culliver S South Carolina

4 18 (115) Kendall Hunter RB Oklahoma State

5 32 (163) Daniel Kilgore G Appalachian State

6 17 (182) Ronald Johnson WR USC

6 25 (190) Colin Jones S TCU

7 8 (211) Bruce Miller OLB UCF

7 38 (239) * Mike Person T Montana State

7 49 (250) * Curtis Holcomb CB Florida A&M

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

I actually like the Smith pick and really like the idea of him as an OLB/DE. I am not sure Robert Quinn would have been as good a fit so I really like this move A.

Kap rates an A.

Later pick of Kendall Hunter stands out. Final grade A.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 8 (8) Jake Locker QB Washington

2 7 (39) Akeem Ayers OLB UCLA

3 13 (77) Jurrell Casey DT USC

4 12 (109) Colin McCarthy OLB Miami-Fl

4 33 (130) * Jamie Harper RB Clemson

5 11 (142) Karl Klug DE Iowa

6 10 (175) Byron Stingily T Louisville

7 9 (212) Zach Clayton DT Auburn

7 50 (251) * Tommie Campbell S California (PA)

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Locker at eight is tough to swallow, especially passing on Gabbert, C.

I like Akeem Ayers and feel he was a bargain where he went off the board. Guys like this who play well but may not be as speedy tend to thrive in the NFL, A.

Casey is a great value in the third A.

Final grade B+ based on potential upside of Locker and value of later picks.

DALLAS COWBOYS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 9 (9) Tyron Smith T USC

2 8 (40) Bruce Carter OLB North Carolina

3 7 (71) DeMarco Murray RB Oklahoma

4 13 (110) David Arkin G Missouri State

5 12 (143) Josh Thomas CB Buffalo

6 11 (176) Dwayne Harris WR East Carolina

7 18 (220) Shaun Chapas FB Georgia

7 51 (252) * Bill Nagy G Wisconsin

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

They like the twenty year old’s upside, decent but not great fit, B.

Carter is a year away, B-.

I like Murray but he’s a C+ talent for final grade of B-.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 10 (10) Blaine Gabbert QB Missouri

3 12 (76) Will Rackley G Lehigh

4 17 (114) Cecil Shorts WR Mount Union

4 24 (121) Chris Prosinski S Wyoming

5 16 (147) Rod Issac CB Middle Tennessee

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

If Gabby hits then an A+ but of right now a B+.

No second round pick, used to move up for Blaine so knock down grade of Gabbert to B-.

Rackley is a solid value but not enough to raise final grade of B-.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Next ten teams

HOUSTON TEXANS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 11 (11) J.J. Watt DE Wisconsin

2 10 (42) Brooks Reed DE Arizona

2 28 (60) Brandon Harris CB Miami-Fl

4 30 (127) Rashad Carmichael CB Virginia Tech

5 13 (144) Shiloh Keo S Idaho

5 21 (152) T.J. Yates QB North Carolina

7 12 (214) Derek Newton T Arkansas State

7 53 (254) * Cheta Ozougwu OLB Rice

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Watt is solid and fits scheme, good but not great talent, B. I love the upside of Brooks Reed as a pass rushing OLB, great fit for scheme. B+.

Brandon Harris is a solid value where he went off board, B+. Final Grade B+

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 12 (12) Christian Ponder QB Florida State

2 11 (43) Kyle Rudolph TE Notre Dame

4 9 (106) Christian Ballard DT Iowa

5 8 (139) Brandon Burton CB Utah

6 3 (168) DeMarcus Love G Arkansas

6 5 (170) Mistral Raymond S South Florida

6 7 (172) Brandon Fusco C Slippery Rock

6 35 (200) * Ross Homan ILB Ohio State

7 13 (215) D'Aundre Reed DE Arizona

7 35 (236) * Stephen Burton WR West Texas A&M

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Ponder wasn’t a top QB talent and really didn’t rate where he went off the board C.

Rudolph is solid and rated where he went and may have even been a bargain B+.

Ballard is a solid talent and was a huge bargain where he went A and the Vikes may have gotten another bargain in Love to bump up final grade to B-.

DETROIT LIONS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 13 (13) Nick Fairley DT Auburn

2 12 (44) Titus Young WR Boise State

2 25 (57) Mikel LeShoure RB Illinois

5 26 (157) Doug Hogue OLB Syracuse

7 6 (209) Johnny Culbreath T South Carolina State

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Sick talent and bargain with Fairley A+.

Decent value in Young B, add good bargain in LeShhoure A-. Final grade A.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 14 (14) Robert Quinn DE North Carolina

2 15 (47) Lance Kendricks TE Wisconsin

3 14 (78) Austin Pettis WR Boise State

4 15 (112) Greg Salas WR Hawaii

5 27 (158) Jermale Hines S Ohio State

7 14 (216) Mikail Baker S Baylor

7 26 (228) Jabara Williams OLB Stephen F. Austin

7 27 (229) Jonathan Nelson S Oklahoma

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Robert Quinn in a 4-3 and taken where he was is an A+.

Kendriscks is solid B and the double dipping at WR means probably one will hit so B. Would love to bump up final grade higher but B+.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 15 (15) Mike Pouncey G Florida

2 30 (62) Daniel Thomas RB Kansas State

4 14 (111) Edmund Gates WR Abilene Christian

6 9 (174) Charles Clay FB Tulsa

7 30 (231) Frank Kearse DT Alabama A&M

7 34 (235) * Jimmy Wilson CB Montana

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Pouncey is solid and fits need but not a great value C+.

Daniel is solid and a decent value and fits need B.

I like Gates B but not much to change final grade of C+.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 16 (16) Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue

2 9 (41) Jarvis Jenkins DT Clemson

3 15 (79) Leonard Hankerson WR Miami-Fl

4 8 (105) Roy Helu RB Nebraska

5 15 (146) DeJon Gomes CB Nebraska

5 24 (155) Niles Paul WR Nebraska

6 12 (177) Evan Royster RB Penn State

6 13 (178) Aldrick Robinson WR SMU

7 11 (213) Brandyn Thompson CB Boise State

7 15 (217) Maurice Hurt G Florida

7 22 (224) Markus White DE Florida State

7 52 (253) * Chris Neild DT West Virginia

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

I love Kerrigan and that Shanny didn’t panic and go for a second-tier QB. Kerrigan should blow up playing opposite Orakpo and I absolutely love that they moved down and got extras A+ selection.

Jenkins is solid and fits need B+.

I really like Hank A, add in Helu and the wheeling/dealing and this is an A+ draft IMHO.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 17 (17) Nate Solder T Colorado

2 1 (33) Ras-I Dowling CB Virginia

2 24 (56) Shane Vereen RB California

3 9 (73) Stevan Ridley RB LSU

3 10 (74) Ryan Mallett QB Arkansas

5 7 (138) Marcus Cannon G TCU

5 28 (159) Lee Smith TE Marshall

6 29 (194) Markell Carter LB Central Arkansas

7 17 (219) Malcolm Williams CB TCU

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Solder is ok but the Pats gave up Richard Seymour for a few years on this pick Solder on one side of the scale and Seymour on the other cancel each out out, no grade.

Trade out of first round for second and future first next year but they could have gotten Mark Ingram, hmmmn, no grade.

Ras is ok but a gimp puppy and a reach C. Vereen is another reach C- and Ridley is a major reach F especially when you consider the Pats could have gotten Ingram and went with two jokers. I love Mallett but something is wrong with him to fall so far in a draft when teams were reaching at the top. He won’t see the field for at least five years pending injuries so it seem like a waste since no other team liked him so the logic that the Pats will develop and trade him doesn’t make sense since no-one wanted him. Horrible draft grade gets bumped up from an F with the nice trade with the Raiders for the future second rounder and the extra first next year but no sugar coating this one, the emperor wears no cloths. Bill Belichick has officially jumped the shark on this draft , final grade D+.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 18 (18) Corey Liuget DE Illinois

2 18 (50) Marcus Gilchrist S Clemson

2 29 (61) Jonas Mouton OLB Michigan

3 18 (82) Vincent Brown WR San Diego State

3 25 (89) Shareece Wright CB USC

6 18 (183) Jordan Todman RB Connecticut

6 36 (201) * Stephen Schilling G Michigan

7 33 (234) * Andrew Gachkar OLB Missouri

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Liuget is everyone’s favorite but I feel he’s a bit overrated and not a great fit for a 3-4 C.

Gilchrist is solid not great C+ but later a mixed bag with Mouton(?) and Brown whom everyone seems to like and I also love Shareece Wright for a final grade of B-.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 19 (19) Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska

2 20 (52) Marvin Austin DT North Carolina

3 19 (83) Jerrel Jernigan WR Troy University

4 20 (117) James Brewer T Indiana

6 20 (185) Greg Jones ILB Michigan State

6 33 (198) * Tyler Sash S Iowa

6 37 (202) * Jacquian Williams LB South Florida

7 19 (221) Da'Rel Scott RB Maryland

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

I have no idea why Prince fell but he’s a blue chip talent A.

I also love Marvin Austin, A.

I have a man crush on Jernigan but he’s a B+ at most but add in James Brewer and this is a solid A draft class IMHO.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 20 (20) Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa

2 19 (51) Da'Quan Bowers DE Clemson

3 20 (84) Mason Foster OLB Washington

4 7 (104) Luke Stocker TE Tennessee

5 20 (151) Ahmad Black S Florida

6 22 (187) Allen Bradford RB USC

7 20 (222) Anthony Gaitor CB Florida International

7 37 (238) * Daniel Hardy TE Idaho

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

I really love Clayborn A then add in Bowers in the second round A+, anything else is gravy A+.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I look at Cinci much more in the D+ range...drafting WRs in the top5 for most losing franchises continues to keep them losers. They had Pamer,Ocho n a good all round offense in the past 4-5 years so if they couldn't mkae it work with those guys and keep them happy then why wlll it work now? Palmer coming out of colege vs Dalton, no comparison in favor for Palmer.

Others may see it a lot different.

 

[shortbow]

Funny to read, if you accept any of this as anything more than ramblings your doing it wrong.

Lets give everyone but two teams a B+.

The Pats draft was above average, I was pretty dissapointed they passed on ingram, to pretend that there arent goings on in the background to justify the poor picks is again stupid.

Give the Cards an A+ when they ignore their biggest leak, which if you had mentioned they already have a deal in place to fill it that would make sense but since you didnt ill assume you werent aware.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Last teams-

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 21 (21) Phil Taylor DT Baylor

2 5 (37) Jabaal Sheard DE Pittsburgh

2 27 (59) Greg Little WR North Carolina

4 5 (102) Jordan Cameron TE USC

4 27 (124) Owen Marecic FB Stanford

5 6 (137) Darryl Skrine CB Tenn-Chattanooga

5 19 (150) Jason Pinkston T Pittsburgh

7 47 (248) * Eric Hagg S Nebraska

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Phil Taylor is a C+ talent, fits but adds synergy to defensive front and ILB D’Qwell Jackson who now has two huge bodies shielding him so he should produce huge stats and finally make it thru a season without landing on IR. B-.

I love Jabaal Sheard, perfect fit and a talent B. Greg Little is one of my favorite talents of the second round B+. Not much else from this draft but add in extra first round and fourth round picks next year for final grade of B

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 22 (22) Anthony Castonzo T Boston College

2 17 (49) Ben Ijalana G Villanova

3 23 (87) Drake Nevis DT LSU

4 22 (119) Delone Carter RB Syracuse

6 23 (188) Chris L. Rucker CB Michigan State

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Castonzo is the most ready OT prospect to plug-and-play right now. Not blue chip but solid B.

Double-dipping with Ben-I but at that poin there is a solid bargain B and I like the undersized Nevis B+ for a final grade of B

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Round Pick Player Position School

1 23 (23) Danny Watkins G Baylor

2 22 (54) Jaiquawn Jarrett S Temple

3 26 (90) Curtis Marsh CB Utah State

4 19 (116) Casey Matthews ILB Oregon

4 23 (120) Alex Henery PK Nebraska

5 18 (149) Dion Lewis RB Pittsburgh

5 30 (161) Julian Vandervelde G Iowa

6 26 (191) Jason Kelce C Cincinnati

6 28 (193) Brian Rolle OLB Ohio State

7 36 (237) * Greg Lloyd ILB Connecticut

7 39 (240) * Stanley Havili FB USC

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Watkins is solid B- but older.

Need a lil feedback on Jarrett pick so I’ll default and give it a C.

I like Marsh B- but no enough else to really bump the final grade of C+

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 24 (24) Cameron Jordan DE California

1 28 (28) Mark Ingram RB Alabama

3 8 (72) Martez Wilson OLB Illinois

3 24 (88) Johnny Patrick CB Louisville

7 24 (226) Greg Romeus DE Pittsburgh

7 42 (243) * Nate Bussey OLB Illinois

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Cam Jordan seemed a tad overrated to me so it wasn’t a shock he lasted so long in the first B-. I love Ingram and feel he’s a blue-chip talent who will energize the Saint rushing attack and help out the rest of the offense and give the defense a blow, excellent pick A+ goes down to an B+ after figuring in compensation.

Wilson and Romeus could be late round steals. Final grade B

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 25 (25) James Carpenter T Alabama

3 11 (75) John Moffitt G Wisconsin

4 2 (99) K.J. Wright OLB Mississippi State

4 10 (107) Kris Durham WR Georgia

5 23 (154) Richard Sherman CB Stanford

5 25 (156) Mark LeGree S Appalachian State

6 8 (173) Byron Maxwell CB Clemson

7 2 (205) Lazarius Levingston DE LSU

7 41 (242) * Malcolm Smith OLB USC

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

No skirting around the fact Carpenter is seen as a reach C- but Moffitt looks like a solid pick and added with Carpenter should provide synergy on the Seahawk O-Line B+. No much else stands out from this class and not addressing the QB issue leaves a final grade C+

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 26 (26) Jon Baldwin WR Pittsburgh

2 23 (55) Rodney Hudson G Florida State

3 6 (70) Justin Houston DE Georgia

3 22 (86) Allen Bailey DE Miami-Fl

4 21 (118) Jalil Brown CB Colorado

5 4 (135) Ricky Stanzi QB Iowa

5 9 (140) Gabe Miller DE Oregon State

6 34 (199) * Jerrell Powe DT Mississippi

7 21 (223) Shane Bannon FB Yale

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

I don’t believe KC was looking at Baldwin with their first round selection and he seems a bit of a reach but they did get an extra third rounder and filled a need so C+.

Hudson is a solid pick B and Justin Houston could be a major steal A. Bailey went about where he should B- and I like Stanzi and where he went for a final grade of B-

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 27 (27) Jimmy Smith CB Colorado

2 26 (58) Torrey Smith WR Maryland

3 21 (85) Jah Reid T UCF

4 26 (123) Tandon Doss WR Indiana

5 33 (164) * Chykie Brown CB Texas

5 34 (165) * Pernell McPhee DE Mississippi State

6 15 (180) Tyrod Taylor QB Virginia Tech

7 23 (225) Anthony Allen RB Georgia Tech

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Great bargain and top talent with considerable risk in J. Smith A-. T. Smith is a solid value where he went as is Jah Reid and Tandon Moss seems lke a steal. Final grade A-

CHICAGO BEARS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 29 (29) Gabe Carimi T Wisconsin

2 21 (53) Stephen Paea DT Oregon State

3 29 (93) Chris Conte S California

5 29 (160) Nathan Enderle QB Idaho

6 30 (195) J.T. Thomas OLB West Virginia

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Gift in Carimi B+. Another one placed under the tree in Paea B. A bit thin on picks but decent talent B

NEW YORK JETS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 30 (30) Muhammad Wilkerson DT Temple

3 30 (94) Kenrick Ellis DT Hampton

4 29 (126) Bilal Powell RB Louisville

5 22 (153) Jeremy Kerley WR TCU

7 5 (208) Greg McElroy QB Alabama

7 25 (227) Scotty McKnight WR Colorado

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

I like Wilkerson and like the fit and love the double-dipping with Kendrick Ellis and feel he’s a steal in the third but no second-round pick so B- for the top two picks.

I love what the Jets got later in the draft with McElroy and McKnight. B-

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 31 (31) Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State

2 31 (63) Marcus Gilbert T Florida

3 31 (95) Curtis Brown CB Texas

4 31 (128) Cortez Allen CB Citadel

5 31 (162) Chris Carter OLB Fresno State

6 31 (196) Keith Williams G Nebraska

7 31 (232) Baron Batch RB Texas Tech

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Heyward, solid pick and fits perfectly B. Gilbert is a talent but I don’t like the idea of a bid slow footed OT trying to buy time for Big Ben who holds it too long trying to extend plays. I like the kid but Ben will make him look bad on passing plays B-. Brown is solid. Nice draft, final grade B-.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Round Pick Player Position School

1 32 (32) Derek Sherrod T Mississippi State

2 32 (64) Randall Cobb WR Kentucky

3 32 (96) Alex Green RB Hawaii

4 34 (131) * Davon House CB New Mexico State

5 10 (141) D.J. Williams TE Arkansas

6 14 (179) Caleb Schlauderaff G Utah

6 21 (186) D.J. Smith OLB Appalachian State

6 32 (197) Ricky Elmore DE Arizona

7 16 (218) Ryan Taylor TE North Carolina

7 32 (233) Lawrence Guy DT Arizona State

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

So-so talent in Sherrod but perfect fit on Pack who now have stacked edges B. Cobb seems unfair going to Pack B. Alex Green also fits C+ bump up final grade with Davon House selection for fnal grade of B.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Round Pick Player Position School

2 16 (48) Stefen Wisniewski C Penn State

3 17 (81) DeMarcus Van Dyke CB Miami-Fl

3 28 (92) Joseph Barksdale T LSU

4 16 (113) Chimdi Chekwa CB Ohio State

4 28 (125) Taiwan Jones RB Eastern Washington

5 17 (148) Denarius Moore WR Tennessee

6 16 (181) Richard Gordon TE Miami-Fl

7 40 (241) * David Ausberry WR USC

* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pick

Start out with Richard Seymour for two years so they start out with an A. Wisnieski was one of my favorites even if he did get taken too high C+. Van Dyke is a Raider pick, not mine C-. Barksdale looks solid but no bump fro Jones because the Raiders have too many RBs as it stands right now. B- due to Seymour trade.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I look at Cinci much more in the D+ range...drafting WRs in the top5 for most losing franchises continues to keep them losers. They had Pamer,Ocho n a good all round offense in the past 4-5 years so if they couldn't mkae it work with those guys and keep them happy then why wlll it work now? Palmer coming out of colege vs Dalton, no comparison in favor for Palmer. Others may see it a lot different.

Their is no question that they got one of the blue chip talented WRs to come out in years and they want to part ways wich Ocho and already have with TO. Jerome Simpson isn't a legit #1 WR right now and may never be. Based on that alone A.J. is a blue-chip talent at an area of need. Add him to Gresham and the rest of the Bengal wideouts and he ascends to the top and provides synergy to that group.Now if you look at losing Ocho compared to using a top pick on A.J. then I can definitely see that logic where A.J.'s talent gets canceled out on losing Ocho and the same would apply to Carson Palmer but the Bengals still may be able to dish away both Ocho and Palmer and get younger and potentially better at both positions.Sure their is a trade-off on keeping both Ocho and Palmer and then adding to different positions but its time to part ways with both of them and get the best they can for their carcasses.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

Nice work here Bracie!

Well done.

I agree with your grade of B- for the Oakland Raiders. However disagree about having too many RB's. You just can't have too many. Especially since M. Bush isn't locked up for the long term. The Raiders draft isn't going to be as impactful as last year, simply because the team doesn't have as many holes to fill as last year. I give you props for recognizing that big Rich Seymour was part of the haul of this year's draft. Many draft graders are conveniently forgeting this.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Funny to read, if you accept any of this as anything more than ramblings your doing it wrong.Lets give everyone but two teams a B+.The Pats draft was above average, I was pretty dissapointed they passed on ingram, to pretend that there arent goings on in the background to justify the poor picks is again stupid. Give the Cards an A+ when they ignore their biggest leak, which if you had mentioned they already have a deal in place to fill it that would make sense but since you didnt ill assume you werent aware.

The Pats gave up Seymour and got Solder. That pick didn't materialize out of thin air as people seem to think. Its a wash and the loss of Seymour cost the Pats last year IMHO because they had to go with Gerard Warren, a waiver wire pickup who gives a half-butt effort, instead of Seymour. They passed on Igram and got two guys who don't rate compared to him. Sure the Pats picked up an extra first next year but that was basicaly their first this year and they blew the extra second on a RB who isn't as good as Ingram. No one wants to see Mallett taking snaps anytime soon and he most likely won't so no value.I love the trade with the Raiders but not when they are a Super Bowl contending team who has a few needs to address and a Hall of Fame QB who is slowly entering the last part of his career.Belichick has gotten way too much luv, the Pats draft rates the worst grade.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Nice work here Bracie! Well done.I agree with your grade of B- for the Oakland Raiders. However disagree about having too many RB's. You just can't have too many. Especially since M. Bush isn't locked up for the long term. The Raiders draft isn't going to be as impactful as last year, simply because the team doesn't have as many holes to fill as last year. I give you props for recognizing that big Rich Seymour was part of the haul of this year's draft. Many draft graders are conveniently forgeting this.

Start out with McFadden and add in Bush then I'm a huge Marcel Reese fan myself. Only one guy can carry the rock so unless they are going to pull off a trade they will end up cutting someone and then the guy they got would be a wash. Once they open things up and players can be traded and free agents signed then we'll know more but right now they are loaded at RB and it would be awfully tough for a late round RB to break into getting any carries or even be utilized as a third down back IMHO.

 

[JHuber77]

Funny to read, if you accept any of this as anything more than ramblings your doing it wrong.Lets give everyone but two teams a B+.The Pats draft was above average, I was pretty dissapointed they passed on ingram, to pretend that there arent goings on in the background to justify the poor picks is again stupid. Give the Cards an A+ when they ignore their biggest leak, which if you had mentioned they already have a deal in place to fill it that would make sense but since you didnt ill assume you werent aware.

The Pats gave up Seymour and got Solder. That pick didn't materialize out of thin air as people seem to think. Its a wash and the loss of Seymour cost the Pats last year IMHO because they had to go with Gerard Warren, a waiver wire pickup who gives a half-butt effort, instead of Seymour. They passed on Igram and got two guys who don't rate compared to him. Sure the Pats picked up an extra first next year but that was basicaly their first this year and they blew the extra second on a RB who isn't as good as Ingram. No one wants to see Mallett taking snaps anytime soon and he most likely won't so no value.I love the trade with the Raiders but not when they are a Super Bowl contending team who has a few needs to address and a Hall of Fame QB who is slowly entering the last part of his career.Belichick has gotten way too much luv, the Pats draft rates the worst grade.

They picked up Vereen because he was their highest rated pass blocker RB. It seemed to me early on that the Pats were trying to get better at protecting Brady which makes alot of sense.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

Start out with McFadden and add in Bush then I'm a huge Marcel Reese fan myself. Only one guy can carry the rock so unless they are going to pull off a trade they will end up cutting someone and then the guy they got would be a wash. Once they open things up and players can be traded and free agents signed then we'll know more but right now they are loaded at RB and it would be awfully tough for a late round RB to break into getting any carries or even be utilized as a third down back IMHO.

This situation is more fluid than it seems. Yes, the Raiders are stacked at RB. But things change quickly. Taiwan ran in the 4.2 to 4.3 range, with great body control. Draftninks are comparing him to Chris Johnson and Jamaal Charles. Yes, that is over the top speculation, but in the late 4th round, that could be a steal. The kind of steal that allows you to trade a Michael Bush for a good draft pick or other need position. At that point in the draft, the only player I was hoping for was Marcus Cannon, but when a later report described the rigorous ordeal he'll have to go through, I was glad we took Taiwan Jones. I see nothing but upside here. What he does is replace Michael Bennett (remember him?), and maybe takes over kick return duties from Jacoby Ford so that he can concentrate on being a stud receiver.

 

[Phlash]

This is mind boggling.

B+ for the Panthers? They took 2 average DTs early, a guy with bust written all over him in Cam Newton, and took an average slot receiver in the fifth. They get a B+? That draft was terrible for them.

The Falcons blew their whole draft load (and future first rounder) on one player and managed to get only one defensive player worth mentioning and they get a B. You first say you rate on value, adjust your rating, but boost it because "it was ballsy". No, that's just not forward thinking.

Patriots filled a huge need (OT) since Light is pretty much done and Kazcur is terrible, get a great CB to spot next to McCourty, and stock up on very good RBs (Woodhead & BJGE look better than they are given how good the line is) while getting even more future value and get a D+? Mallet was projected as a first rounder and they got him mid 3rd rounder. Is that not value? Are you even using your own rating system or something?

The Eagles reloaded at every position of need on their team and now they have a C+? They need the offensive lineman. They've needed better play on the D. So improving your team in areas where improvement is needed makes your rating worse? That makes no sense.

Cardinals... how do you give that draft an A+. The two positions they need, WR and QB, they completely ignore (unless you consider their last pick "paying attention" to the need).

 

[MDSkinner]

Funny to read, if you accept any of this as anything more than ramblings your doing it wrong.Lets give everyone but two teams a B+.The Pats draft was above average, I was pretty dissapointed they passed on ingram, to pretend that there arent goings on in the background to justify the poor picks is again stupid. Give the Cards an A+ when they ignore their biggest leak, which if you had mentioned they already have a deal in place to fill it that would make sense but since you didnt ill assume you werent aware.

The Pats gave up Seymour and got Solder. That pick didn't materialize out of thin air as people seem to think. Its a wash and the loss of Seymour cost the Pats last year IMHO because they had to go with Gerard Warren, a waiver wire pickup who gives a half-butt effort, instead of Seymour. They passed on Igram and got two guys who don't rate compared to him. Sure the Pats picked up an extra first next year but that was basicaly their first this year and they blew the extra second on a RB who isn't as good as Ingram. No one wants to see Mallett taking snaps anytime soon and he most likely won't so no value.I love the trade with the Raiders but not when they are a Super Bowl contending team who has a few needs to address and a Hall of Fame QB who is slowly entering the last part of his career.Belichick has gotten way too much luv, the Pats draft rates the worst grade.

I honestly think Bellicheck does not get enough love and I am very much NOT a Patriots fan. His draft addresses the needs that they have and then stockpiles high picks for the following years. It is not as if they were an 8-8 team this last year and needed a complete overhaul. Quite the opposite and they built depth (as they always do) and built redundancy plans for the future (as they always do). It may not look like a stellar draft today, but I doubt that they suffer as a team for it and I would guess that the picks they did make will mostly pan out or be traded in the future for value. That is the New England way, and it seems they have it down to an exact science.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

This is mind boggling.B+ for the Panthers? They took 2 average DTs early, a guy with bust written all over him in Cam Newton, and took an average slot receiver in the fifth. They get a B+? That draft was terrible for them.The Falcons blew their whole draft load (and future first rounder) on one player and managed to get only one defensive player worth mentioning and they get a B. You first say you rate on value, adjust your rating, but boost it because "it was ballsy". No, that's just not forward thinking.Patriots filled a huge need (OT) since Light is pretty much done and Kazcur is terrible, get a great CB to spot next to McCourty, and stock up on very good RBs (Woodhead & BJGE look better than they are given how good the line is) while getting even more future value and get a D+? Mallet was projected as a first rounder and they got him mid 3rd rounder. Is that not value? Are you even using your own rating system or something?The Eagles reloaded at every position of need on their team and now they have a C+? They need the offensive lineman. They've needed better play on the D. So improving your team in areas where improvement is needed makes your rating worse? That makes no sense.Cardinals... how do you give that draft an A+. The two positions they need, WR and QB, they completely ignore (unless you consider their last pick "paying attention" to the need).

The Panthers were selecting in the top-ten and had the best shot with the first pick to acquire talent so they would automatically start out with a greater chance at a higher grade than anyone selecting in the top-ten but they tied for the lowest grade of the top-ten teams with a B- grade not B+.Here are the just the teams and the grades.1. CAROLINA PANTHERS B-2. DENVER BRONCOS A3. BUFFALO BILLS A4. CINCINNATI BENGALS A+5. ARIZONA CARDINALS A+6. ATLANTA FALCONS B7. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS A8. TENNESSEE TITANS B+9. DALLAS COWBOYS B-10. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS B-11. HOUSTON TEXANS B+12. MINNESOTA VIKINGS B-13. DETROIT LIONS A14. ST. LOUIS RAMS B+15. MIAMI DOLPHINS C+16. WASHINGTON REDSKINS A+17. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS D+18. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS B-19. NEW YORK GIANTS A20. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS A+21. CLEVELAND BROWNS B22. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS B23. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES C+24. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS B25. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS C+26. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS B-27. BALTIMORE RAVENS A-28. CHICAGO BEARS B29. NEW YORK JETS B-30. PITTSBURGH STEELERS B-31. GREEN BAY PACKERS B32. OAKLAND RAIDERS B-Trades and steals tended to push lower grades higher whereas reaches dropped grades at the top. You would expect teams in the top-five to get A+ like the Cards and Bengals but the moves made by Washington and still picking up a blue chip pass rusher and avoiding the pratfall of one of the teams who reached for a QB pushed up Washington's grade. The Bucs getting both Clayborn AND Bowers adding to their top two picks, both DTs, from last year. Gives excellent value at an area of need with huge synergistic value.The Falcons did not blow their entire draft. Julio Jones looks like a young Anquan Boldin with speed. They are on the last legs of Anthony Gonzalez and Roddy White will turn 30 so Julio is a great pick for a 13-3 team. If they hadn't made the move who would they have gotten at 27? No pass rushing DEs at that stage of the draft. They would have had to settle for a second-tier O-lineman and that is what their front office has stated. Big price and they took a hit but got the guy they wanted and they are a legit SB contending team so it makes sense for a team guided by a Belichick deciple to make a bold move to push them over the top.The Cards got a CB who many are saying is like Charles Woodson. He's huge with more ball skills and return ability. He's going to be a monster. Ryan Williams was a bargain and should be solid for years. Housler is solid and Acho fits perfectly in their scheme and I think he's a sleeper. Its been widely rumored they have a deal in place with a veteran QB and may make a deal for Kolb. Their draft was an A+ IMHO.I've already addressed the Pats.The Eagles got a great 26 year old starting guard and a solid second-tier center prospect. With Alex Mack and Maurquice Pouncey coming in and blowing up the last two years the bar for rookie centers has been raised significantly. Hudson was taken in the second round so he catches some slack but he's got an uphill battle for him to be mentioned with either Mack or Pouncey. And come to think of it, Marsh was a reach in the third round.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Funny to read, if you accept any of this as anything more than ramblings your doing it wrong.Lets give everyone but two teams a B+.The Pats draft was above average, I was pretty dissapointed they passed on ingram, to pretend that there arent goings on in the background to justify the poor picks is again stupid. Give the Cards an A+ when they ignore their biggest leak, which if you had mentioned they already have a deal in place to fill it that would make sense but since you didnt ill assume you werent aware.

The Pats gave up Seymour and got Solder. That pick didn't materialize out of thin air as people seem to think. Its a wash and the loss of Seymour cost the Pats last year IMHO because they had to go with Gerard Warren, a waiver wire pickup who gives a half-butt effort, instead of Seymour. They passed on Igram and got two guys who don't rate compared to him. Sure the Pats picked up an extra first next year but that was basicaly their first this year and they blew the extra second on a RB who isn't as good as Ingram. No one wants to see Mallett taking snaps anytime soon and he most likely won't so no value.I love the trade with the Raiders but not when they are a Super Bowl contending team who has a few needs to address and a Hall of Fame QB who is slowly entering the last part of his career.Belichick has gotten way too much luv, the Pats draft rates the worst grade.

I honestly think Bellicheck does not get enough love and I am very much NOT a Patriots fan. His draft addresses the needs that they have and then stockpiles high picks for the following years. It is not as if they were an 8-8 team this last year and needed a complete overhaul. Quite the opposite and they built depth (as they always do) and built redundancy plans for the future (as they always do). It may not look like a stellar draft today, but I doubt that they suffer as a team for it and I would guess that the picks they did make will mostly pan out or be traded in the future for value. That is the New England way, and it seems they have it down to an exact science.

I've been a huge fan of Belichick for over twenty years AS A COACH. His GM skills are hit-miss. This year he has been getting rave reviews by the National media for his draft but it doesn't rate anything but the lowet grade IMHO and I've explained why in detail.I don't fall for giving a guy who I like the benefit of doubt when he's done a poor job.Great coach but he lost Hall of Fame talent WR Randy Moss and did nothing to replace him. He bypassed on a Heisman Trophy winning RB who can do-it-all and traded away a franchise DT and still hasn't replaced him. Many Pat beat writers and Pat fans were saying pass rushing OLB/DE was the biggest need for the Pats and when you consider the last time they won a SB was when they had Willie McGhinnest and haven't won since and they've lost Bruschi and Vrable and others and in this draft they could have made a move up to land a Robert Quinn or a Ryan Kerrigan. Or he could have moved up and gotten Julio Jones since he had AMPLE ammunition to make that deal but instead he moved down and he got so little talent that he earned the lowest grade from this draft IMHO.

 

[Breesisdaman]

The Saints land two top 15 players in the first round and you give them a B? the bottom half of their draft wasnt too shabby either. Personally I think this may turn out to be the best A+ draft in Saints history when all is said and done.

 

[Kit Fisto]

Funny to read, if you accept any of this as anything more than ramblings your doing it wrong.Lets give everyone but two teams a B+.The Pats draft was above average, I was pretty dissapointed they passed on ingram, to pretend that there arent goings on in the background to justify the poor picks is again stupid. Give the Cards an A+ when they ignore their biggest leak, which if you had mentioned they already have a deal in place to fill it that would make sense but since you didnt ill assume you werent aware.

The Pats gave up Seymour and got Solder. That pick didn't materialize out of thin air as people seem to think. Its a wash and the loss of Seymour cost the Pats last year IMHO because they had to go with Gerard Warren, a waiver wire pickup who gives a half-butt effort, instead of Seymour. They passed on Igram and got two guys who don't rate compared to him. Sure the Pats picked up an extra first next year but that was basicaly their first this year and they blew the extra second on a RB who isn't as good as Ingram. No one wants to see Mallett taking snaps anytime soon and he most likely won't so no value.I love the trade with the Raiders but not when they are a Super Bowl contending team who has a few needs to address and a Hall of Fame QB who is slowly entering the last part of his career.Belichick has gotten way too much luv, the Pats draft rates the worst grade.

I honestly think Bellicheck does not get enough love and I am very much NOT a Patriots fan. His draft addresses the needs that they have and then stockpiles high picks for the following years. It is not as if they were an 8-8 team this last year and needed a complete overhaul. Quite the opposite and they built depth (as they always do) and built redundancy plans for the future (as they always do). It may not look like a stellar draft today, but I doubt that they suffer as a team for it and I would guess that the picks they did make will mostly pan out or be traded in the future for value. That is the New England way, and it seems they have it down to an exact science.

I've been a huge fan of Belichick for over twenty years AS A COACH. His GM skills are hit-miss. This year he has been getting rave reviews by the National media for his draft but it doesn't rate anything but the lowet grade IMHO and I've explained why in detail.I don't fall for giving a guy who I like the benefit of doubt when he's done a poor job.Great coach but he lost Hall of Fame talent WR Randy Moss and did nothing to replace him. He bypassed on a Heisman Trophy winning RB who can do-it-all and traded away a franchise DT and still hasn't replaced him. Many Pat beat writers and Pat fans were saying pass rushing OLB/DE was the biggest need for the Pats and when you consider the last time they won a SB was when they had Willie McGhinnest and haven't won since and they've lost Bruschi and Vrable and others and in this draft they could have made a move up to land a Robert Quinn or a Ryan Kerrigan. Or he could have moved up and gotten Julio Jones since he had AMPLE ammunition to make that deal but instead he moved down and he got so little talent that he earned the lowest grade from this draft IMHO.

In year's past, message boarders have also complained/laughed about the Pats drafting less-than-sexy picks like Devin McCourty, Logan Mankins, and even Richard Seymour! You can't grade drafts until 2-3 years out.Everybody whiffs, drafting is an inexact science. Half of this year's first rounders will bust, guaranteed. In the meantime, I'll hold Belichick's opinions a little higher than yours, sorry. Tell will tell.

 

[saintfool]

The Saints land two top 15 players in the first round and you give them a B? the bottom half of their draft wasnt too shabby either. Personally I think this may turn out to be the best A+ draft in Saints history when all is said and done.

to be fair, it cost the saints two first round picks and a second rounder for those two players.i hear what you are saying but king has a point too.

 

[Phlash]

Trades and steals tended to push lower grades higher whereas reaches dropped grades at the top.I've already addressed the Pats.

I don't see how that can be the worst draft in the league according to your rating system if trades are at all important. They continue to turn their lower picks into higher value.

 

[Breesisdaman]

The Saints land two top 15 players in the first round and you give them a B? the bottom half of their draft wasnt too shabby either. Personally I think this may turn out to be the best A+ draft in Saints history when all is said and done.

to be fair, it cost the saints two first round picks and a second rounder for those two players.i hear what you are saying but king has a point too.

Actually it cost them a second rounder to swap 1st round picks with New England. Our 1st next year for their 28th pick this year plus our 2nd rounder this year. Not that bad really to get ahold of Ingram when you have a need at RB.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

The Saints land two top 15 players in the first round and you give them a B? the bottom half of their draft wasnt too shabby either. Personally I think this may turn out to be the best A+ draft in Saints history when all is said and done.

to be fair, it cost the saints two first round picks and a second rounder for those two players.i hear what you are saying but king has a point too.

Actually it cost them a second rounder to swap 1st round picks with New England. Our 1st next year for their 28th pick this year plus our 2nd rounder this year. Not that bad really to get ahold of Ingram when you have a need at RB.

The price for a talented yet unproven RB of surrendering a first and second round draft picks is pretty significant if you consider what sort of veteran proven RB they may have acqired for that same package. Just off the top of my head if the Saints put together a package of lessor draft picks I would guess they could get, Maurice Jones-Drew or Peyton Hillis, or for the same package they might have a shot at Arian Foster.RB value in the league is fairly low at this time so it seemed like a gamble or even a premium to pay out for an unproven, yet very talented, guy like Mark Ingram.I like him so I think they will get a high value but they might have gotten a near even value for less or possibly more for the same package if they made an offer for a veteran RB.

 

[Breesisdaman]

The Saints did not surrender a 1st. Why do people keep saying that? Even Bloom says it. The Saints picked twice in round one in 2011 because they got a first in exchange from the Patriots. The Saints traded for equal value there and it is my personal homeristic opinion that the Pats got the 32nd pick in next years draft in exchange for their 28th pick in this years draft. I certainly do not see the Saints doing worse this season than last year (If there is a season) The Saints only lost a 2nd rounder which is still significant but for Ingram it was worth it. Unproven yes but so was every other rookie RB that ever entered the league- Even Adrian Peterson.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

The Saints did not surrender a 1st. Why do people keep saying that? Even Bloom says it. The Saints picked twice in round one in 2011 because they got a first in exchange from the Patriots. The Saints traded for equal value there and it is my personal homeristic opinion that the Pats got the 32nd pick in next years draft in exchange for their 28th pick in this years draft. I certainly do not see the Saints doing worse this season than last year (If there is a season) The Saints only lost a 2nd rounder which is still significant but for Ingram it was worth it. Unproven yes but so was every other rookie RB that ever entered the league- Even Adrian Peterson.

They surrendered the right to draft next year without the pre-knowledge of what players would be available to them or how their needs would change over the course of the next year and it is possible that they will not be selecting so low in the draft.Bloom is correct in that they USED their 2012 first round draft pick a year early just as it is correct to say that the Oakland Raiders USED their 2011 first round draft pick on Richard Seymour and have already gotten two years of use out of him.The extra benefit of having a first round draft pick is having it to use for a trade of a proven veteran and so the Saints also surrendered that right in addition to using it this year and giving up their second round draft selection this year.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Funny to read, if you accept any of this as anything more than ramblings your doing it wrong.Lets give everyone but two teams a B+.The Pats draft was above average, I was pretty dissapointed they passed on ingram, to pretend that there arent goings on in the background to justify the poor picks is again stupid. Give the Cards an A+ when they ignore their biggest leak, which if you had mentioned they already have a deal in place to fill it that would make sense but since you didnt ill assume you werent aware.

The Pats gave up Seymour and got Solder. That pick didn't materialize out of thin air as people seem to think. Its a wash and the loss of Seymour cost the Pats last year IMHO because they had to go with Gerard Warren, a waiver wire pickup who gives a half-butt effort, instead of Seymour. They passed on Igram and got two guys who don't rate compared to him. Sure the Pats picked up an extra first next year but that was basicaly their first this year and they blew the extra second on a RB who isn't as good as Ingram. No one wants to see Mallett taking snaps anytime soon and he most likely won't so no value.I love the trade with the Raiders but not when they are a Super Bowl contending team who has a few needs to address and a Hall of Fame QB who is slowly entering the last part of his career.Belichick has gotten way too much luv, the Pats draft rates the worst grade.

I honestly think Bellicheck does not get enough love and I am very much NOT a Patriots fan. His draft addresses the needs that they have and then stockpiles high picks for the following years. It is not as if they were an 8-8 team this last year and needed a complete overhaul. Quite the opposite and they built depth (as they always do) and built redundancy plans for the future (as they always do). It may not look like a stellar draft today, but I doubt that they suffer as a team for it and I would guess that the picks they did make will mostly pan out or be traded in the future for value. That is the New England way, and it seems they have it down to an exact science.

I've been a huge fan of Belichick for over twenty years AS A COACH. His GM skills are hit-miss. This year he has been getting rave reviews by the National media for his draft but it doesn't rate anything but the lowet grade IMHO and I've explained why in detail.I don't fall for giving a guy who I like the benefit of doubt when he's done a poor job.Great coach but he lost Hall of Fame talent WR Randy Moss and did nothing to replace him. He bypassed on a Heisman Trophy winning RB who can do-it-all and traded away a franchise DT and still hasn't replaced him. Many Pat beat writers and Pat fans were saying pass rushing OLB/DE was the biggest need for the Pats and when you consider the last time they won a SB was when they had Willie McGhinnest and haven't won since and they've lost Bruschi and Vrable and others and in this draft they could have made a move up to land a Robert Quinn or a Ryan Kerrigan. Or he could have moved up and gotten Julio Jones since he had AMPLE ammunition to make that deal but instead he moved down and he got so little talent that he earned the lowest grade from this draft IMHO.

So it doesn't matter if they don't think that Ingram or Quinn/Kerrigan didn't fit what they are trying to do in NE? Maybe they feel as though they can address the front 7 in FA or they will be fine with a couple players coming back Cunningham getting a year under his belt, etc.. I love threads like this, but yes they are pointless for so many reasons:1. We are not at the interviews/in the scouting meetings2. FA hasn't happened yet (maybe it doesn't)3. None of these guys have played yet, and the Pats never seem to get the big name/flashy guys anywayetc, etc...

 

[Breesisdaman]

The Saints did not surrender a 1st. Why do people keep saying that? Even Bloom says it. The Saints picked twice in round one in 2011 because they got a first in exchange from the Patriots. The Saints traded for equal value there and it is my personal homeristic opinion that the Pats got the 32nd pick in next years draft in exchange for their 28th pick in this years draft. I certainly do not see the Saints doing worse this season than last year (If there is a season) The Saints only lost a 2nd rounder which is still significant but for Ingram it was worth it. Unproven yes but so was every other rookie RB that ever entered the league- Even Adrian Peterson.

They surrendered the right to draft next year without the pre-knowledge of what players would be available to them or how their needs would change over the course of the next year and it is possible that they will not be selecting so low in the draft.Bloom is correct in that they USED their 2012 first round draft pick a year early just as it is correct to say that the Oakland Raiders USED their 2011 first round draft pick on Richard Seymour and have already gotten two years of use out of him.The extra benefit of having a first round draft pick is having it to use for a trade of a proven veteran and so the Saints also surrendered that right in addition to using it this year and giving up their second round draft selection this year.

Well it is true that the best way to judge a draft is 3 years after the fact. There is too much speculation on who got the better end of the deal. The Patriots really could have used Ingram as well. They could have used Greg Jennings when they traded that pick away to Green Bay and they could have used Clay Mathews last year when they traded that pick. Thing is we dont really see with accuracy how things pan out until later. Ingram was by far the best RB selected in this years draft and I feel pretty confident that when 2012 rolls around they wont regret swapping out of the 2012 pick in order to land him. FA RB's are not a sure bet. Even guys like Deangelo Williams who have had stellar careers have wear on the tires and are already fighting decline. I hardly think any team would give up a #1 for him even as good as he is and besides that If you going to pay a big contract you are better landing a young stud who will be carrying the load for your team for at least the next 4-5 years. Again I am speculating because I do not know what lies ahead for Ingram but no more speculating than getting a RB through Free Agency. We saw the Titans land a stud WR last year in Randy Moss or Miami with Brandon Marshall but then the Jets get LT who looks great. Who knew? but how much longer can an LT or DWill keep it going? What is the real value long term? Sometimes the draft is a better option if you are thinking long term production at a position that is quick to learn like RB.

 

[David Yudkin]

Different strokes for differnet folks, as they say.

But to clarify about the Pats situation, NE WOULD NOT have had a happy go lucky Pro Bowl Richard Seymour instead of the draft pick they used this year. Seymour's contract would have been up, he several times had grumbled about his contract in the past, and he could easily have held out or refused the franchised tag (if they even placed it on him). Seymour at the end of his time in NE was not the dominant force he was early on. His play picked up some in OAK, but his last few years in NE were marked by a decrease in his play and a number of injuries. Good for him that he picked things back up in OAK, but I think it would be very unlikely he would have still been in NE and/or IMO he would have been a slightly above average DLman if he stuck around (in addition to being an unhappy camper).

People always bash what NE does in the draft, yet they continue to have solid seasons (even if they haven't won a title in a while). Remember, there's still free agency and trading to occur, so it's best to judge the team that takes the field during the season not the one that is a work in progress before hand.

 

[HellToupee]

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Round Pick Player Position School1 17 (17) Nate Solder T Colorado2 1 (33) Ras-I Dowling CB Virginia2 24 (56) Shane Vereen RB California3 9 (73) Stevan Ridley RB LSU3 10 (74) Ryan Mallett QB Arkansas5 7 (138) Marcus Cannon G TCU5 28 (159) Lee Smith TE Marshall6 29 (194) Markell Carter LB Central Arkansas7 17 (219) Malcolm Williams CB TCU* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pickSolder is ok but the Pats gave up Richard Seymour for a few years on this pick Solder on one side of the scale and Seymour on the other cancel each out out, no grade.Trade out of first round for second and future first next year but they could have gotten Mark Ingram, hmmmn, no grade.Ras is ok but a gimp puppy and a reach C. Vereen is another reach C- and Ridley is a major reach F especially when you consider the Pats could have gotten Ingram and went with two jokers. I love Mallett but something is wrong with him to fall so far in a draft when teams were reaching at the top. He won’t see the field for at least five years pending injuries so it seem like a waste since no other team liked him so the logic that the Pats will develop and trade him doesn’t make sense since no-one wanted him. Horrible draft grade gets bumped up from an F with the nice trade with the Raiders for the future second rounder and the extra first next year but no sugar coating this one, the emperor wears no cloths. Bill Belichick has officially jumped the shark on this draft , final grade D+.

at the very least I see 2 starting OLs , a starting DB & a lottery ticket in Mallet. I have no idea why they passed on DE/OLB but its far from a D+

 

[cr8f]

I like the Packers draft especially Cobb solidifying the return game.

 

[Devine Intervention]

Funny to read, if you accept any of this as anything more than ramblings your doing it wrong.Lets give everyone but two teams a B+.The Pats draft was above average, I was pretty dissapointed they passed on ingram, to pretend that there arent goings on in the background to justify the poor picks is again stupid. Give the Cards an A+ when they ignore their biggest leak, which if you had mentioned they already have a deal in place to fill it that would make sense but since you didnt ill assume you werent aware.

The Pats gave up Seymour and got Solder. That pick didn't materialize out of thin air as people seem to think. Its a wash and the loss of Seymour cost the Pats last year IMHO because they had to go with Gerard Warren, a waiver wire pickup who gives a half-butt effort, instead of Seymour. They passed on Igram and got two guys who don't rate compared to him. Sure the Pats picked up an extra first next year but that was basicaly their first this year and they blew the extra second on a RB who isn't as good as Ingram. No one wants to see Mallett taking snaps anytime soon and he most likely won't so no value.I love the trade with the Raiders but not when they are a Super Bowl contending team who has a few needs to address and a Hall of Fame QB who is slowly entering the last part of his career.Belichick has gotten way too much luv, the Pats draft rates the worst grade.

I honestly think Bellicheck does not get enough love and I am very much NOT a Patriots fan. His draft addresses the needs that they have and then stockpiles high picks for the following years. It is not as if they were an 8-8 team this last year and needed a complete overhaul. Quite the opposite and they built depth (as they always do) and built redundancy plans for the future (as they always do). It may not look like a stellar draft today, but I doubt that they suffer as a team for it and I would guess that the picks they did make will mostly pan out or be traded in the future for value. That is the New England way, and it seems they have it down to an exact science.

I've been a huge fan of Belichick for over twenty years AS A COACH. His GM skills are hit-miss. This year he has been getting rave reviews by the National media for his draft but it doesn't rate anything but the lowet grade IMHO and I've explained why in detail.I don't fall for giving a guy who I like the benefit of doubt when he's done a poor job.Great coach but he lost Hall of Fame talent WR Randy Moss and did nothing to replace him. He bypassed on a Heisman Trophy winning RB who can do-it-all and traded away a franchise DT and still hasn't replaced him. Many Pat beat writers and Pat fans were saying pass rushing OLB/DE was the biggest need for the Pats and when you consider the last time they won a SB was when they had Willie McGhinnest and haven't won since and they've lost Bruschi and Vrable and others and in this draft they could have made a move up to land a Robert Quinn or a Ryan Kerrigan. Or he could have moved up and gotten Julio Jones since he had AMPLE ammunition to make that deal but instead he moved down and he got so little talent that he earned the lowest grade from this draft IMHO.

In year's past, message boarders have also complained/laughed about the Pats drafting less-than-sexy picks like Devin McCourty, Logan Mankins, and even Richard Seymour! You can't grade drafts until 2-3 years out.Everybody whiffs, drafting is an inexact science. Half of this year's first rounders will bust, guaranteed. In the meantime, I'll hold Belichick's opinions a little higher than yours, sorry. Tell will tell.

Nice way to pick out 3 of the past decade, I can also pick alot of bust players for them. And I dont know why everyone is always praising the patriots and their draft. They are always trading down and trading out for what?? They have a very questionable defense, no pass rush and did nothing about it. I think Belichick has over thought himself once again. And to say they got 2 starting OLs, starting CB, etc is just insane. In that case the Bills got a starting OL, two starting DLs, a starting LB, CB and SS. Just because Belichick drafted them doesnt turn them into starters. They got a starting OL, possibly a starting CB and the rest are situational players, late round flyers and back ups. Im not seeing anything great out of this draft.

 

[HellToupee]

Funny to read, if you accept any of this as anything more than ramblings your doing it wrong.Lets give everyone but two teams a B+.The Pats draft was above average, I was pretty dissapointed they passed on ingram, to pretend that there arent goings on in the background to justify the poor picks is again stupid. Give the Cards an A+ when they ignore their biggest leak, which if you had mentioned they already have a deal in place to fill it that would make sense but since you didnt ill assume you werent aware.

The Pats gave up Seymour and got Solder. That pick didn't materialize out of thin air as people seem to think. Its a wash and the loss of Seymour cost the Pats last year IMHO because they had to go with Gerard Warren, a waiver wire pickup who gives a half-butt effort, instead of Seymour. They passed on Igram and got two guys who don't rate compared to him. Sure the Pats picked up an extra first next year but that was basicaly their first this year and they blew the extra second on a RB who isn't as good as Ingram. No one wants to see Mallett taking snaps anytime soon and he most likely won't so no value.I love the trade with the Raiders but not when they are a Super Bowl contending team who has a few needs to address and a Hall of Fame QB who is slowly entering the last part of his career.Belichick has gotten way too much luv, the Pats draft rates the worst grade.

I honestly think Bellicheck does not get enough love and I am very much NOT a Patriots fan. His draft addresses the needs that they have and then stockpiles high picks for the following years. It is not as if they were an 8-8 team this last year and needed a complete overhaul. Quite the opposite and they built depth (as they always do) and built redundancy plans for the future (as they always do). It may not look like a stellar draft today, but I doubt that they suffer as a team for it and I would guess that the picks they did make will mostly pan out or be traded in the future for value. That is the New England way, and it seems they have it down to an exact science.

I've been a huge fan of Belichick for over twenty years AS A COACH. His GM skills are hit-miss. This year he has been getting rave reviews by the National media for his draft but it doesn't rate anything but the lowet grade IMHO and I've explained why in detail.I don't fall for giving a guy who I like the benefit of doubt when he's done a poor job.Great coach but he lost Hall of Fame talent WR Randy Moss and did nothing to replace him. He bypassed on a Heisman Trophy winning RB who can do-it-all and traded away a franchise DT and still hasn't replaced him. Many Pat beat writers and Pat fans were saying pass rushing OLB/DE was the biggest need for the Pats and when you consider the last time they won a SB was when they had Willie McGhinnest and haven't won since and they've lost Bruschi and Vrable and others and in this draft they could have made a move up to land a Robert Quinn or a Ryan Kerrigan. Or he could have moved up and gotten Julio Jones since he had AMPLE ammunition to make that deal but instead he moved down and he got so little talent that he earned the lowest grade from this draft IMHO.

In year's past, message boarders have also complained/laughed about the Pats drafting less-than-sexy picks like Devin McCourty, Logan Mankins, and even Richard Seymour! You can't grade drafts until 2-3 years out.Everybody whiffs, drafting is an inexact science. Half of this year's first rounders will bust, guaranteed. In the meantime, I'll hold Belichick's opinions a little higher than yours, sorry. Tell will tell.

Nice way to pick out 3 of the past decade, I can also pick alot of bust players for them. And I dont know why everyone is always praising the patriots and their draft. They are always trading down and trading out for what?? They have a very questionable defense, no pass rush and did nothing about it. I think Belichick has over thought himself once again. And to say they got 2 starting OLs, starting CB, etc is just insane. In that case the Bills got a starting OL, two starting DLs, a starting LB, CB and SS. Just because Belichick drafted them doesnt turn them into starters. They got a starting OL, possibly a starting CB and the rest are situational players, late round flyers and back ups. Im not seeing anything great out of this draft.

I hate the Patriots as well but dismissing Marcus Cannon because of his situation is silly. He is not situational player ,late round flyer or backup .

 

[Red Forman]

The Saints land two top 15 players in the first round and you give them a B? the bottom half of their draft wasnt too shabby either. Personally I think this may turn out to be the best A+ draft in Saints history when all is said and done.

You guys got super freaking lucky vs the Vikes..

 

[Devine Intervention]

Funny to read, if you accept any of this as anything more than ramblings your doing it wrong.Lets give everyone but two teams a B+.The Pats draft was above average, I was pretty dissapointed they passed on ingram, to pretend that there arent goings on in the background to justify the poor picks is again stupid. Give the Cards an A+ when they ignore their biggest leak, which if you had mentioned they already have a deal in place to fill it that would make sense but since you didnt ill assume you werent aware.

The Pats gave up Seymour and got Solder. That pick didn't materialize out of thin air as people seem to think. Its a wash and the loss of Seymour cost the Pats last year IMHO because they had to go with Gerard Warren, a waiver wire pickup who gives a half-butt effort, instead of Seymour. They passed on Igram and got two guys who don't rate compared to him. Sure the Pats picked up an extra first next year but that was basicaly their first this year and they blew the extra second on a RB who isn't as good as Ingram. No one wants to see Mallett taking snaps anytime soon and he most likely won't so no value.I love the trade with the Raiders but not when they are a Super Bowl contending team who has a few needs to address and a Hall of Fame QB who is slowly entering the last part of his career.Belichick has gotten way too much luv, the Pats draft rates the worst grade.

I honestly think Bellicheck does not get enough love and I am very much NOT a Patriots fan. His draft addresses the needs that they have and then stockpiles high picks for the following years. It is not as if they were an 8-8 team this last year and needed a complete overhaul. Quite the opposite and they built depth (as they always do) and built redundancy plans for the future (as they always do). It may not look like a stellar draft today, but I doubt that they suffer as a team for it and I would guess that the picks they did make will mostly pan out or be traded in the future for value. That is the New England way, and it seems they have it down to an exact science.

I've been a huge fan of Belichick for over twenty years AS A COACH. His GM skills are hit-miss. This year he has been getting rave reviews by the National media for his draft but it doesn't rate anything but the lowet grade IMHO and I've explained why in detail.I don't fall for giving a guy who I like the benefit of doubt when he's done a poor job.Great coach but he lost Hall of Fame talent WR Randy Moss and did nothing to replace him. He bypassed on a Heisman Trophy winning RB who can do-it-all and traded away a franchise DT and still hasn't replaced him. Many Pat beat writers and Pat fans were saying pass rushing OLB/DE was the biggest need for the Pats and when you consider the last time they won a SB was when they had Willie McGhinnest and haven't won since and they've lost Bruschi and Vrable and others and in this draft they could have made a move up to land a Robert Quinn or a Ryan Kerrigan. Or he could have moved up and gotten Julio Jones since he had AMPLE ammunition to make that deal but instead he moved down and he got so little talent that he earned the lowest grade from this draft IMHO.

In year's past, message boarders have also complained/laughed about the Pats drafting less-than-sexy picks like Devin McCourty, Logan Mankins, and even Richard Seymour! You can't grade drafts until 2-3 years out.Everybody whiffs, drafting is an inexact science. Half of this year's first rounders will bust, guaranteed. In the meantime, I'll hold Belichick's opinions a little higher than yours, sorry. Tell will tell.

Nice way to pick out 3 of the past decade, I can also pick alot of bust players for them. And I dont know why everyone is always praising the patriots and their draft. They are always trading down and trading out for what?? They have a very questionable defense, no pass rush and did nothing about it. I think Belichick has over thought himself once again. And to say they got 2 starting OLs, starting CB, etc is just insane. In that case the Bills got a starting OL, two starting DLs, a starting LB, CB and SS. Just because Belichick drafted them doesnt turn them into starters. They got a starting OL, possibly a starting CB and the rest are situational players, late round flyers and back ups. Im not seeing anything great out of this draft.

I hate the Patriots as well but dismissing Marcus Cannon because of his situation is silly. He is not situational player ,late round flyer or backup .

I agree about Cannon but nothing is a sure thing, esp when you start getting into the later rounds. I think Houston had a great draft. I think with Phillips is exactly what Hou needs to get to the next level and they got players to instantly fill that 3-4 defense. I think Watts and Reed are a great fit and they got some much needed defense and special teams help. Also I think Yates could end up being great value and someone who could really turn into a starting QB after sitting behind Schaub for a few years.

 

[J Andersson]

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Round Pick Player Position School1 17 (17) Nate Solder T Colorado2 1 (33) Ras-I Dowling CB Virginia2 24 (56) Shane Vereen RB California3 9 (73) Stevan Ridley RB LSU3 10 (74) Ryan Mallett QB Arkansas5 7 (138) Marcus Cannon G TCU5 28 (159) Lee Smith TE Marshall6 29 (194) Markell Carter LB Central Arkansas7 17 (219) Malcolm Williams CB TCU* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pickSolder is ok but the Pats gave up Richard Seymour for a few years on this pick Solder on one side of the scale and Seymour on the other cancel each out out, no grade.Trade out of first round for second and future first next year but they could have gotten Mark Ingram, hmmmn, no grade.Ras is ok but a gimp puppy and a reach C. Vereen is another reach C- and Ridley is a major reach F especially when you consider the Pats could have gotten Ingram and went with two jokers. I love Mallett but something is wrong with him to fall so far in a draft when teams were reaching at the top. He won’t see the field for at least five years pending injuries so it seem like a waste since no other team liked him so the logic that the Pats will develop and trade him doesn’t make sense since no-one wanted him. Horrible draft grade gets bumped up from an F with the nice trade with the Raiders for the future second rounder and the extra first next year but no sugar coating this one, the emperor wears no cloths. Bill Belichick has officially jumped the shark on this draft , final grade D+.

at the very least I see 2 starting OLs , a starting DB & a lottery ticket in Mallet. I have no idea why they passed on DE/OLB but its far from a D+

I very much agree.I was going to shut up in this thread since it is rather meaningless to evaluate a draft this early and the fact that I'm a Pats fan will make me a biased voice on unreason. In the end I couldn't. I'm going to try to be as honest as I can though.Every analyst that is forced to grade a draft overemphasize the drafting of immediate needs or not. In my eyes this was a decent draft on the outlook so far. Furthermore, one cannot forget the fact that we acquired a rd 1 and rd 2 pick for next years class (which at the early looks of it looks much stronger than this class). We didn't adress the pass rushing issue I'll give you that. And yes, we gave up Richard Seymour a while back for picks that we are now using. What many seem to forget is the fact that Seymour would have cost us a fortune to re-sign and we had other needs at the time (Wilfork, Brady). If we had kept him we would have needed a long-term plan and we would have lost one or several youngsters most likely. Also, the back-toback picks of running backs can be questioned but it wasn't like we didn't have a need to be rejuvenated at the position. I personally very much like the pick of Shane Vereen but that's not the point here.Also, please don't tell me Brooks Reed, Sam Acho, Allen Bailey etc. would have completely altered the makeup of our team or tell me that they are locks to succeed at the next level. They might and they might not. If (which admittedly at this point is a bif if) Mallett gets his act toghether he will be worth more than any of those guys any day. From a pure football perspective he fits us like a glove. It remains to be seen what will happen.Calling it a D+ though...

 

[womb]

I would like to chime in as a Pats fan. I am not interested if it looks biassed or not.

I was up to watch BB after the first day of the draft - many hours before rounds 2 & 3. Even though I am not a fan of our picks with the amount of knowledge available to me, I understand the route and love it.

To cherry pick my examples, I read many people raving about Mendenhall & Timmons today. Both those guys were drafted with a different vision than fulfillment of immediate need. Though the exact phrase may not be long-term sustainability to describe this, it is as close as I get with my limited vocabulary. I believe it is a school that BB subscribes to, and though I have a reflex against it at the day of the draft, I like it very much.

Here are 3 questions asked to BB that night which I believe to be relevant:

Q: **** Steinberg was almost always about taking the best athlete no matter what the need was. With all the picks you have the in second round, philosophically how much would you reach to find that player?

BB: I'd say philosophically, that's pretty much where I am always: try to take the player that you feel that's the best player. It's great to say ‘OK, we needed this position, so now we have a card to put up there in that spot,' but if that player isn't able to really fulfill that area or that position then you're coming back here the next year looking for the same thing again. Or it's really ‘We took him, but we really need better than that,' or ‘It wasn't quite what we want.' But I think if you find a player that's good value for your team, you can never have enough good football players. So sometimes you think you have more than what you need at a certain position, but usually that stuff works itself out one way or the other. You get an injury or two, which inevitably happens in this sport, and what looks like an extra guy that you don't need, ends up being a valuable guy. I learned that at the Giants. The second or third year I was there, we had drafted Lawrence Taylor, we had Brad Van Pelt, and I know we took Carl Banks with the second pick in the draft, and that pick was crucified. ‘What a stupid pick. Why would you take Carl Banks? What could you do with him. He's just going to sit there and watch while the other two guys play.' Carl Banks and Lawrence Taylor were really the two bookends to that defense all through the ‘80s and took us to a lot of victories and two Super Bowl championships. That was another ‘stupid pick' that looked like ‘why would you do that?' And of course that was with no free agency too, so you only had so many picks, that's how you improved your team, unless you made a trade. But that ended up being one of the best selections while I was there. Another example of that was when we took Butch Woolfolk and then followed that up with Joe Morris. And that was another ‘stupid pick' of ‘why take Joe Morris when you had already taken a running back? What are you going to do - get two balls out there and give one to each guy?' Again, Joe Morris really took us to the '86 championship. I think if you believe in your system and you believe in your grades like you said, you've studied that all year, those are the players that you have a conviction on and [you're] probably better off staying with them on draft day rather than trying to regrade a guy five minutes before you pick because of some arbitrary reason. Go with what you believe in.

Q: The trade with the Saints was kind of interesting. Obviously, they liked Mark Ingram. You have No. 33 tomorrow. Seems like a very good deal for you. Is that the proverbial good trade for both teams?

BB: Well, we thought it was a good value for the pick and we feel like there are players on the board that will give us good value at our picks that we have tomorrow. We certainly gave up something in moving back, but we felt like what we got in return for that was beneficial to the organization and the team.

Q: How important is it to have a couple of No. 1's even if they're both in the 20s or the 30s as they could be next year?

BB: Well, right. I mean, you just don't know how that's going to go. That's part of the unknown. We saw how that worked out this year and other years. We can look at that, but that's a question that we won't be able to answer. I think when you make it, you make it for the value of the pick. How important is it? I couldn't put a gauge on it. I just think that each pick you have, you have an opportunity to help your football team and in that particular place, we felt like we would be able to still help our team this year and put ourselves in position to get a quality football player next year as well.

 

[FUBAR]

Just once I want to see harsher curve on rankings. When 10 teams get an A, 2 teams a C, and one a D+, you're being too generous (although I think the Patriots deserve a better grade).

I'm not as up to speed on all the positions to do it myself, but I'd enjoy reading a breakdown that ended up being a C+ average. Something like 7 As, 7 Bs, 7 Cs, 7 Ds, 4 Es. It would take some thought and maybe someone like Bloom or Jene (or someone else with their knowledge of the prospects) to be this critical, and it would upset many fans, but it would mean more.

 

[Breesisdaman]

The Saints land two top 15 players in the first round and you give them a B? the bottom half of their draft wasnt too shabby either. Personally I think this may turn out to be the best A+ draft in Saints history when all is said and done.

You guys got super freaking lucky vs the Vikes..

What is this referring to the draft? Or the NFC Championship two years ago? . If the later then the Saints wouldnt be the first team that required some luck to win the Championship. Sometimes better teams make their own luck as opposed to making their own bad luck like say 12 men in the huddle or the careless interception from Farve. Move on man the Vikings blew it and didnt deserve it. Saints took care of business.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Round Pick Player Position School1 17 (17) Nate Solder T Colorado2 1 (33) Ras-I Dowling CB Virginia2 24 (56) Shane Vereen RB California3 9 (73) Stevan Ridley RB LSU3 10 (74) Ryan Mallett QB Arkansas5 7 (138) Marcus Cannon G TCU5 28 (159) Lee Smith TE Marshall6 29 (194) Markell Carter LB Central Arkansas7 17 (219) Malcolm Williams CB TCU* - Compensatory pick | # - Supplemental pickSolder is ok but the Pats gave up Richard Seymour for a few years on this pick Solder on one side of the scale and Seymour on the other cancel each out out, no grade.Trade out of first round for second and future first next year but they could have gotten Mark Ingram, hmmmn, no grade.Ras is ok but a gimp puppy and a reach C. Vereen is another reach C- and Ridley is a major reach F especially when you consider the Pats could have gotten Ingram and went with two jokers. I love Mallett but something is wrong with him to fall so far in a draft when teams were reaching at the top. He won’t see the field for at least five years pending injuries so it seem like a waste since no other team liked him so the logic that the Pats will develop and trade him doesn’t make sense since no-one wanted him. Horrible draft grade gets bumped up from an F with the nice trade with the Raiders for the future second rounder and the extra first next year but no sugar coating this one, the emperor wears no cloths. Bill Belichick has officially jumped the shark on this draft , final grade D+.

at the very least I see 2 starting OLs , a starting DB & a lottery ticket in Mallet. I have no idea why they passed on DE/OLB but its far from a D+

I very much agree.I was going to shut up in this thread since it is rather meaningless to evaluate a draft this early and the fact that I'm a Pats fan will make me a biased voice on unreason. In the end I couldn't. I'm going to try to be as honest as I can though.Every analyst that is forced to grade a draft overemphasize the drafting of immediate needs or not. In my eyes this was a decent draft on the outlook so far. Furthermore, one cannot forget the fact that we acquired a rd 1 and rd 2 pick for next years class (which at the early looks of it looks much stronger than this class). We didn't adress the pass rushing issue I'll give you that. And yes, we gave up Richard Seymour a while back for picks that we are now using. What many seem to forget is the fact that Seymour would have cost us a fortune to re-sign and we had other needs at the time (Wilfork, Brady). If we had kept him we would have needed a long-term plan and we would have lost one or several youngsters most likely. Also, the back-toback picks of running backs can be questioned but it wasn't like we didn't have a need to be rejuvenated at the position. I personally very much like the pick of Shane Vereen but that's not the point here.Also, please don't tell me Brooks Reed, Sam Acho, Allen Bailey etc. would have completely altered the makeup of our team or tell me that they are locks to succeed at the next level. They might and they might not. If (which admittedly at this point is a bif if) Mallett gets his act toghether he will be worth more than any of those guys any day. From a pure football perspective he fits us like a glove. It remains to be seen what will happen.Calling it a D+ though...

I figured that Pats fans would weigh in and so I'll go further along in why I blasted New England's draft.They have a Hall of Fame QB and head coach. The coach wasn't considered a HOFer till he got his QB but that is ok because if you look at other HOF HC's they seem to have HOF QBs, Paul Brown/Otto Graham, Chuck Noll/Terry Bradshaw, Tom Landry/Stabach, Bill Walsh/Montana-Young, etc et el... Sure you can say Joe Gibbs didn't have a HOF QB and he made the HOF but the rule of having a HOF HC is that you will most likely find a HOF QB who was attached at the hip to him.Tom Brady is 34 years old. He hardly ever geta hurt but did miss an entire season so we know he's human and not bullet proof. He hasn't shown any signs of slowing down but even the most ardent Pats fan knows his best days are probably behind him especially since he's already been to four SBs and had an undefeated season and the highest point total in NFL history so their is no-where to go but down even if the end is four or five seasons down the line. POINT? The window of opportunity won't be open forever and it is in fact slowly closing on Tom Brady.The Patriots have a SB contending team RIGHT NOW. They are not perfect but with Brady and BB they are a legit contender right now but since their last SB they have lost a few pieces of the puzzle so lets look at what has been lost and not recovered.- HOF WR talent in Randy MossSure he was a pain and he was complaining about his contrat and not being appreciated just like Randy Moss has always done. Bottom line is that he was lost and not replaced.Could BB have replaced Moss in this draft? Yeah. He could have moved up like his deciple Tom Demitrov(sp?) but that was pricey so I understand him not making that sort of deal yet WR used to be a strength and now without Moss and with Welker on the last year of his contract it looks iffy at best.- Richard SeymourAn older Patriot player who produced and helped win SBs felt he was not appreciated and wanted to be paid but was given the high-hat by the Pats? I'm shocked, err maybe not. Bottom line he was traded away for a mid-range first round pick and it is obvious that BB was thinking that pick would have been much higher so on the surface that deal did not work as expected but you got Nate Solder so I see it as a wash especially since the Pats need someone like Seymour on their D-Line and they still could use someone like Seymour.Could BB have gotten a dominating D-Lineman in this draft? Unlikely because the only dominating D-Lineman who fits the Pats scheme was Dareus but he could have gotten another solid NT in Phil Taylor but it wouldn't have come close to addressing the loss of Seymour so again I don't fault him for not replacing Seymour but I do think the Nate Solder pick gets canceled out since it cost them Seymour.- pass rushersMcGhinnest, Bruschi, Vrable, and a few others. OK that happens all of the time with every team where players age and have to be replaced so I am understanting that replacing those guys is a big job. The issue is that I haven't seen BB reload his pass rush and that is puzzling to me especially when this draft had a couple of guys who would have been perfect and who he could have gotten. He's tried the FA route but the net loss of pass rush from what he had to what he has now is evident.Could they have gotten a stud blue-chip pass rusher ALA Willie McGhinnest in this draft? In my opinion yes they could.Bill was sitting on the 17th pick. The Skins moved down with the Jags at 16 and it cost them a second-round pick to move up to 10. The Jags took QB Blaine Gabbert. Had BB pulled the trigger he could have gotten DE/OLB Robert Quinn. He would have had to give up a second round pick and probably one of his third or fourth round picks but he would have Robert Quinn instead of Nate Solder.With the other first round pick instead of trading it away BB could have simply picked Heisman Trophy winning RB Mark Ingram so the picks used on RBs in the second and third rounds would have been saved or in the case I present would have been used to get a pass rusher like Robert Quinn.The Pats could have come out with the same exact draft but instead of a future #1 pick they would have OLB/DE Robert Quinn and RB Mark Ingram. They would still has Ras I and Mallett and Cannon and the extra second round deal but instead of two so-so RBs and Solder they would have Quinn.The Skins were looking to recoup the picks given up for McNabb and they moved down to 16 and they then continued to move down to acquire more picks so it makes sense that they would have taken a 2nd and 3rd to move down one more slot in the draft insead of just receiving a 2nd round pick from the Jags.I go back to the closing window of opportunity on HOF QB Tom Brady and that the clock is ticking with the SB contending Patriots. The primary reason I slam this draft is not just the lost opportunity of getting a blue-chip stud pass rushing OLB/DE in Robert Quinn and a blue-chip stud RB in Mark Ingram but AMPLIFY the lost opportunity with the Patriots due to Tom Brady window is closing and BB doesn't seem to realize the significance. Look at the net talent again, loss of Moss without replacement, loss of multiple pass rushers without replacement, loss of opportunity to acquire blue-chip stud RB won't come back but you can pick up late round O-Lineman in nearly every draft.The reason I gave the Pats a D+ is because this draft could have gotten them two blue-chip talents but BB was looking for future picks and he got them but in doing so he earned a D+ for this draft in my opinion.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Football Outsiders compliled many grades on the 2011 NFL draft and this is what they found.

It won't cut-and-paste to format here so go to the link.

I'll just put in the grades that where highest/lowest and had the largest variance but go to the link for the full article and easy to view grades of all teams.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/nfl-draft/2011/2011-nfl-draft-report-card-report

Overall Grades

Highest Draft Grades

1. Detroit Lions

GPA: 3.61

Highest Grade: A+ (Brown, Bunting)

Lowest Grade: C (Nawrocki)

Comments: After selecting Nick Fairley and adding two young playmakers in Titus Young and Mikel Leshoure, Bunting channeled the teacher in “A Christmas Story” and gave the Lions an “A++” grade. PFW’s Nawrocki was less impressed, writing that “all three enter the league with character and maturity concerns, possess boom-or-bust potential and will have to be managed closely."

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

GPA: 3.55

Highest Grade: A (Prisco, Brown, Bell, Cole, Byrne)

Lowest Grade: C+ (Caplan)

Comments: Prisco thought Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik hit it big for a third consecutive draft, addressing an ineffective pass-rush with the additions of Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers. Caplan noted that both defensive ends have medical issues and a lot to prove.

3. Cleveland Browns

GPA: 3.49

Highest Grade: A (Rang, Bell, Nawrocki, Cole)

Lowest Grade: C+ (Prisco)

Comments: In his first year at the helm of the draft, Browns general manager Tom Heckert scored high marks for pulling the trigger on a trade with the Atlanta Falcons. “The Browns got an extra first-round pick for next year, which they will need, and did a good job of building the defensive line for the conversion to a 4-3 scheme with Taylor and Sheard,” wrote Cole. CBS’ Prisco felt the “quantity over quality” was a risky approach and gave the Browns a “C+”.

... Lowest Draft Grades

32. Seattle Seahawks

GPA: 2.03

Highest Grade: B+ (Silva)

Lowest Grade: D (Brown, Caplan)

Comments: Caplan felt the Seahawks reached for their early picks, while Brown thinks the Seahawks will be “haunted” for passing on TCU quarterback Andy Dalton, who went 35th overall to the Cincinnati Bengals. Silva disagrees that first-round offensive tackle James Carpenter was a reach, and likes that the front office succeeded in its efforts to get more physical in the trenches.

t-30. Jacksonville Jaguars

GPA: 2.17

Highest Grade: B+ (Cole)

Lowest Grade: F (Byrne)

Comments: Cole applauded the aggressive approach the Jaguars took to add quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who he anticipates will win the starting job over David Garrard. Even though he thinks Gabbert has the potential to be a franchise quarterback, Byrne gave the Jaguars an “F-“, or “epic fail”, for confusing Gabbert with a shutdown cornerback. The Jaguars were one of five clubs—each of whom used an early round pick on a quarterback—to receive an “Incomplete” grade from Jarrett Bell of the USA Today.

t-30. Carolina Panthers

GPA: 2.17

Highest Grade: B (Brown)

Lowest Grade: D (Cole)

Comments: Brown liked the Panthers’ selection of quarterback Cam Newton, and thought the third-round additions of Terrell McClain and Sione Fua will improve the defensive tackle situation. Cole gave general manager Marty Hurney a “D” for the disaster potential of the Newton pick.

... Greatest Variation in Draft Grades

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

GPA: 2.17

Standard Deviation: 1.069

Highest Grade: B+ (Cole)

Lowest Grade: F (Byrne)

Comments: Five of the ten grades (Bell gave the Jaguars an “Incomplete”) were in the “B” range, so if it weren’t for the “F” from Byrne, the Jaguars might have graded out at a “B-/C+” level.

2. Chicago Bears

GPA: 2.64 (20th overall)

Standard Deviation: 0.983

Highest Grade: A- (Byrne)

Lowest Grade: F (Cole)

Comments: The Bears received mostly “B” grades, but Cole flunked the Bears for failing to follow through on their trade with the Baltimore Ravens. “No GM in the league should ever trust (Jerry) Angelo again”, writes Cole.

3. New England Patriots

GPA: 2.76 (17th overall)

Standard Deviation: 0.955

Highest Grade: A+ (Brown)

Lowest Grade: D (Caplan)

Comments: Acquiring first- and second-round picks in 2012 was enough for Brown to overlook New England passing on its most pressing need in this year’s draft. Caplan (D) and Byrne (C-) were less forgiving.

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

Go to link for full read.

 

[FUBAR]

2. Chicago Bears

GPA: 2.64 (20th overall)

Standard Deviation: 0.983

Highest Grade: A- (Byrne)

Lowest Grade: F (Cole)

Comments: The Bears received mostly "B" grades, but Cole flunked the Bears for failing to follow through on their trade with the Baltimore Ravens. "No GM in the league should ever trust (Jerry) Angelo again", writes Cole.

That's fine, but they made a trade the next day without a hitch. Not sure how much GMs should "trust" each other anyway.