For a total of 15 hours and 15 minutes, 32 NFL teams spent the last two days selecting new players to join their organizations. It all began on Saturday with the expected pick of Georgia QB, Matthew Stafford, and came to a close on Sunday evening with the selection of Mr. Irrelevant, South Carolina kicker, Ryan Succop. Now that the lights in Radio City have dimmed, scouts and front office personnel are choosing to sleep in a bit later this week, the fans are no longer shouting at the top of their lungs and dreams have come true, the grading of the 2009 NFL draft can begin.
1. Arizona Cardinals– Although the Cardinals rejected the seemingly too low offer for a trad for WR Anquan Boldin, they still made out with a great draft. Running back, Chris “Beanie” Wells, fell to the Cardinals with the No. 31 overall pick. Wells is an outstanding inside runner. It was reported on nfl.com that the Cards are expected to cut veteran running back, Edgerrin James, so Wells will likely split carries with Tim Hightower. The Cardinals also got great value from safety Rashad Johnson and cornerback Gregory Toler. Grade B
2. Atlanta Falcons– With an outstanding draft in 2008, everyone expected a repeat for second year General Manager, Thomas Dimitroff, and second year head coach, Mike Smith. The Falcons did not disappoint. Because of the signing of TE Tony Gonzalez two days prior to the draft, the Falcons were able to completely focus on their needs. Their needs were primarily on defense and they addressed all of them. Their first selection of DT Peria Jerry was a great choice because he will fit in seamlessly with Smith’s 3-technique. William Moore will be greatly beneficial to the secondary if he can learn to play cover and so long as he remains healthy. The Falcons should be big-time contenders for the title this season. Grade B+
3. Baltimore Ravens– The Ravens unexpectedly traded up to nab offensive tackle, Michael Oher. Linebacker, Paul Kruger was a great value for the Ravens system in the second round. His pass rushing ability will definitely fit in the Ravens defensive technique. I question the pick of cornerback Lardarius Webb. He is a good tackler, but his small size is of concern when he is expected to go against the larger receivers in the NFL. Grade B
4. Buffalo Bills– Defensive end Aaron Maybin was a perfect selection to take the Bills’ defense to another level. He will be a great pass rusher for the team. I like the choices of center, Eric Wood, and guard, Andrew Levitre. This helps out the offensive line, but I am still confused about the fact that the Bills did not address one of their largest needs…offensive tackle. They chose a great tight end in Shawn Nelson, but with eight picks (half of which were on day 1), they had many great options for an offensive tackle. Grade B-
5. Carolina Panthers– I like the choice of defensive end Everette Brown, but I feel as if the Panthers gave up too much (a first round 2010 pick) for the choice. Sherrod Martin was a good choice and Duke Robinson was a steal in the fifth round. Grade B-
6. Chicago Bears– With the acquisition of Jay Cutler, the Bears had already improved the team before the draft began. They had no picks on day 1, but made up for it on day 2 by selecting Jarron Gilbert and Juaquin Iglesias. Gilbert has the potential to be a great DT and Iglesias could turn out to be a good target for Cutler. Either way, the Bears won before the draft began. Grade B+
7. Cincinnati Bengals– Offensive tackle Andre Smith, MLB Rey Maualuga, TE Chase Coffman, and DE Michael Johnson…need I say more? The Bengals used the majority of their picks to fill needs while also getting value. They added great talents that were much needed on both sides of the ball. Grade A
8. Cleveland Browns– The Browns picked up some extra picks and players by trading down during the first round. With the 21st overall pick they took center, Alex Mack. I am not excited about the pick, but it was a need and he was the best on the board. The one pick that everyone seems to be excited about is WR Brian Robiske. He is a great talent who will likely only get better in the NFL. Grade C
9. Dallas Cowboys– I don’t even know where to begin. This was a disappointing draft for America’s team. The one pick that the ‘Boys had on day one they traded it. That could have been fine, but some of the moves that Jerry Jones made were questionable. They got depth, but nothing that could make a major impact this season. I like the choices of QB Stephen McGee and S Michael Hamlin. Current Cowboys kicker, Nick Folk, is probably just as confused as I am about the choice to draft PK David Buehler. I am unable to find their logic in most of their picks. Grade D
10. Denver Broncos– Running Back, Knowshon Moreno was an excellent pick for their first choice. Defensive end, Robert Ayers was also an excellent selection for the Broncos. I like the choice of CB Alphonso Smith, but I feel as though they gave up too much to acquire Smith. Grade C
11. Detroit Lions– I’ll just say that the Lions couldn’t get any worse. The selection of QB Matthew Stafford was necessary because they were unable to trade out of the top spot. I like the choice of TE Brandon Pettigrew. I also think that they got excellent player in S Louis Delmas and WR Derrick Williams. Maybe some of the other selections will prove to be gems if they turn things around this season. Grade A-
12. Green Bay Packers– The first two picks of the Packers were enough to cause some major excitement. Defensive tackle B.J. Raji and LB Clay Matthews will likely assist in enhancing the defense immediately. These are two play-makers that the Packers needed to grab. The team also addressed their needs at tackle by obtaining T.J. Lang and Jamon Meredith. The Packers had a good weekend. Grade A
13. Houston Texans– The Texans landed some quality players that will likely come in and impact the 2009 season. Linebacker, Brian Cushing was a glaring need for the Texans. The following two choices were also excellent ones with the selections of DE Connor Barwin and C Antoine Caldwell. Corner, Glover Quin has great potential, but may be better suited as a free safety in the NFL. Grade B+
14. Indianapolis Colts– The Colts picked up some assistance for Joseph Addai with RB Donald Brown, but the selection that I liked more than Brown was that of DT Fili Moala. Corner, Jerraud Powers has a great deal of potential. Grade B
15. Jacksonville Jaguars– The Jaguars had several major holes to fill. Going into the draft their offense was obviously a major concern. I am still on the fence about their selection of OTs Eugene Monroe and especially Eben Britton because they did need to veer from their old logic of picking up so-so receivers. That logic has not worked for them thus far under Coach Jack Del Rio. At any rate, they did need to solidify their offensive line after what happened last season, but they signed Tra Thomas to bandage that situation. Britton, I feel, was taken too high. They also traded up to acquire CB Derek Cox which I felt they gave up too much and took him too high. The Jags have a ton of rebuilding to do, so their choices were not bad, but they could have been better. Grade C-
16. Kansas City Chiefs- The Chiefs took Tyson Jackson with the No. 3 overall pick which seems a bit high for Jackson, but he is an great athlete and could be do well in the Chiefs’ defense. Defensiv tackle Alex Magee was another good selection, but the best value that they picked up was OT Colin Brown. Grade C
17. Miami Dolphins– Yes, I like the selection of QB Pat White, but not only because the Dolphins run the wildcat offense, but because White is a versatile, athletic and intelligent player. I first began to look more closely at him during the Senior Bowl and he also did not disappoint during the combine. White had been sneaking up on draft boards, so I believe that it was a great call for the Dolphins. I also love their first selection of CB Vontae Davis. He is a play-maker and will be a great cover-corner. Grade B
18. Minnesota Vikings– The selection of WR Percy Harvin was a good one if he can remain healthy and stay out of trouble. Harvin could help to open up the offense and take some of the pressure off of current RB Adrian Peterson. Offensive tackle Phil Loadholt was another good selection and the Vikings got a great value in ILB Jasper Brinkley. Grade C+
19. New England Patriots– With Bill Belichick running the Pats’ draft, we are rarely ever disappointed. Not only did the Pats do a great job of getting quality players at a great value, they did it without a first round pick. I am most impressed with the picks of S Patrick Chung, DT Ron Brace, and CB Darius Butler. Wide receiver, Brandon Tate, has been a controversial choice because of his off-the-field issues, but with Belichick’s no nonsense approach to the game, they should be able to keep Tate in line. Grade A-
20. New Orleans Saints– The Saints only had four picks in the draft, but they made good use of the first three by selecting CB Malcom Jenkins, S Chip Vaughn and ILB Stanley Arnoux. Grade C+
21. New York Giants– We all know that they had to address the WR position and address it they did. The Giants began the draft by selecting WR Hakeem Nicks who plays well in a pr-style offense. I also like their selections of OT William Beatty and OLB Clint Sintim. Grade B
22. New York Jets– When the Jets traded up to grab QB Mark Sanchez who was steadily moving up draft boards around the league, their draft was made. Some felt that Sanchez would be a better QB than Stafford. The Jets needed a QB and found a great one in Sanchez. They also made another good move in trading up to acquire RB Shonn Greene. These two picks alone made the draft productive for the Jets. Grade A-
23. Oakland Raiders– Al Davis (owner of the Raiders) and Jerry Jones (owner of the Cowboys) are beginning to make people feel as though their assessment of these guys over the past few years are accurate. I didn’t mind the first round selection of WR Darius Heyward-Bey although it has been controversial because both Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin were still available. Heyward-Bey will allow QB Jamarcus Russell to best utilize his strong arm. I question the remainder of the Raiders’ picks especially their round two selection of S Michael Mitchell. I don’t understand it at all, but maybe Davis is returning to his aggressive, yet successful days of drafting. I did like the selection of WR Louis Murphy. Grade D
24. Philadelphia Eagles– The Eagles got it right. All of it. They not only obtained extra protection for QB Donovan McNabb on the offensive line before the draft, they somehow watched WR Jeremy Maclin continue to fall in the draft and snatched him up. This gives McNabb an awesome wide-out threat. I also loved the picks of RB LeSean McCoy and TE Cornelius Ingram. Their offense will be a force this season. Grade A+
25. Pittsburgh Steelers– The Steelers did not have many needs and they failed to aggressively address the needs on the offensive line, but they did have a decent draft. Their first selection of DT Evander “Ziggy” Hood was the most notable. The selections of WR Mike Wallace and CB Joe Burnett were also decent calls. Grade B
26. St. Louis Rams– Offensive tackle Jason Smith was a good pick in the first round although OT Eugene Monroe was available. It was a close call. I liked their second round choice of ILB James Laurinaitis more. There was not too much that was spectacular about the Rams’ drafting, but they did a decent job. Their choices won’t work any miracles for the team this season. Grade B-
27. San Diego Chargers- Defensive end, Larry English went extremely high. Many teams viewed English as a second round selection, but the Chargers took him 16th overall. They did need to grab a good DE with Shawne Merriman in the last year of his contract. Taking OG Louis Vasquez in the third round was a good selection, but their were no outstanding choices for the chargers this year. Grade C
28. San Francisco 49ers- They got lucky. They were able to get the most talked about player of the draft, WR Michael Crabtree. He must be recovering well from his surgery. Crabtree is a big name, but I am concerned about his health as well as his ability to transition into the NFL. He appears to be a great route runner on film, but I haven’t seen him going up against the type of safeties or corners that he will be against in the NFL. If he can transition well at such a young age, this will be a major plus for the 49ers. I like the selection of RB Glen Coffee to assist Frank Gore. I also really like TE Bear Pascoe. He is a more of a blocking TE, but his size and strength are impressive. Grade B-
29. Seattle Seahawks– Although I like the LB Aaorn Curry a great deal, I wonder why they Hawks passed on QB Mark Sanchez. Curry will help out the D a great deal, but the Hawks decided to remove the franchise tag that was placed on OLB Leroy Hill and will receive no compensation for him now. This was an odd move, but a move that I loved was the selection of OC/OG Max Unger in the second round. Grade B-
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- I don’t understand why the Bucs traded up to select Josh Freeman. I also feel that they should have been more focused on their defensive needs with that pick. They did obtain DT Roy Miller and DE Kyle Moore which were solid choices. Grade C-
31. Tennessee Titans– I like the selections of WR Kenny Britt, DT Sen’Derrick Marks, and TE Jared Cook, but I don’t love them. I feel that the Titans could have selected a better WR in the first round and I also believe that they gave up too much to obtain Cook. Marks should be a good call for the Titans if he get stronger. Grade C
32. Washington Redskins– The three big name QBs in the NFC East had better hope that their offensive lines are prepared because the Redskins chose Brian Orakpo with their first pick. Orakpo alone can be a difference maker to this team. They didn’t too much else with their selections, but Orakpo is major. Grade C
Overall, I would say that teams did a good job in the draft this year. Many (not all) teams aimed for need and value which looks good as of right now, but we must all keep in mind that these are initial reactions to the draft and at the earliest the most relevant grades can be given after the 2009 season ends. In three years we will be able to determine which players wer
