Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
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-.
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-.