By Sascha Bartels
Published: April 28, 2008 PrintEmail
AFC East:
As
they seem to do every year, the Bills started with the secondary,
picking McKelvin in the first round, and the appropriately named Reggie
Corner in the fourth. McGee, Youboty and Greer man the corner right
now, and I'm sure McKelvin will fit right in with them, while taking
some of the return duties from McGee. To most everyone's surprise, the
Bills passed on a receiver, as did every team in the first round for
the first time in the history of the draft. Picking up James Hardy,
possibly the best receiver in the draft, turned out to be a steal. I am
not in love with the pick of Ellis in the third round. Late on Sunday,
the Bills drafted some depth, of which the one I liked the most is
NWMSU's running back Xavier Omon, and tight end Derek Fine. Overall,
it's a good draft that won't put them in trouble, but not spectacular.
Only McKelvin and Hardy look like bona fide starters, along with Fine
eventually.
C+
The
Dolphins basically did pretty much everything right. They waited, and
good things happened to them around every turn. First off, Long was the
right pick, even if come of the other top tier draftees seemed
flashier. Getting Merling, and later Langford to fall to them was great
for Miami, as they could be the starting bookends for the defense by
2009. Getting Henne in there to compete with Beck was also a nice pick.
Parmele can end up spelling Brown when needed, and Dotson and Hilliard
could bloom into starters. Overall, they seemed to find good talent at
every pick.
A-
New
England was penalized a first, but had San Francisco's to play with. A
smart move backwards after Gholston got drafted helped them land Jerod
Mayo, probably the guy they were targeting from the get-go. The defense
got younger quickly, as the Pats picked up three OLB's and two corners
in the draft. I am a bit surprised they did not look for any offensive
line help, but all the players they drafted can end up on the roster. I
specifically like the Crable pick and the Wilhite pick, and I think
O'Connell will be the Brady backup they've been looking for.
B
While
the Jets missed out on McFadden, they're not crying about the
acquisition of Gholston, the best pass rusher in the draft. The
accolades pretty much end there. I don't like Dustin Keller, and would
have taken him no earlier than midway through the third round, much
less traded up to get him in the first. Eric Ainge pick was too soon,
there were better quality QB's still around.
D
AFC North:
The
first 5 picks were top notch, the second 5 were not so much. Baltimore
picked up one of the more talented QB's in the draft in Flacco, though
personally I would have picked Brohm. Ray Rice provides great relief
for McGahee, and Gooden, Zbikowski and Cousins were all good need
picks, and provided nice value at their spots. The late picks, nothing
really stands out there, Nakamure can at least return kicks, and Harper
may end up steal in the 7th round. Again, great first half, but
mediocre second half.
B-
Cincinnati
made a lot of great moves, but also a couple of questionable ones.
Keith Rivers will quickly become the defensive leader, in is my early
favorite for rookie of the year. Simpson was picked too early for my
liking, but while he and Caldwell won't let anyone forget Chad Johnson
and Chris Henry anytime soon, they will help the offense stay fairly
potent. The pick of Pat Sims in the third is wonderful, as I could have
seen him go to Cincinnati in the second. Anthony Collins is a great
talent, and should Levi Jones really leave town soon, he will fill the
void. Then came what may have been the strangest pick of the draft.
Jason Shirley certainly has the talent to belong where he is, but some
major character issues should have led the Bengals to stay away from
him. After that, not much left for the Bengals, except I think Urrutia
has the chance to develop into a nice role player.
B+
Cleveland's
draft came in February, when they traded away their draft for defensive
line help. As far as what the Browns found on the weekend, well, it
wasn't half bad. Bell, Rucker, Rubin and Hubbard could all fill
positions of need sooner rather than later. Obviously, with no picks
before 104, there is nothing flashy and no sure thing to be found, but
still a decent draft.
C+
Pittsburgh
probably baffled many by taking Mendenhall in the first. While he
doesn't fill a position of much need, he was certainly the best player
left on the board. Limas Sweed fills Ben's need for a tall receiver,
and Bruce Davis has Steeler written all over him. Tony Hills was the
only offensive lineman the Steelers found in the draft, and while he's
a good one, was it enough. Not for me.
C+
AFC South:
Houston,
quietly, found several players who will fill roles in a hurry. While
Brown may have been a bit of a reach, the Texans were able to trade
backwards for him, and ended up with Slaton with the other pick they
received from Baltimore. Molden and Okam can both become very good
pros, and Adibi should flourish in DeMeco Ryan's wake. Barber and Brink
may contribute in the future.
B
Indy
didn't pick until late on Saturday, and when they did, they went for
substance over style, with Pollak. That theme continued on Sunday,
where they picked up football players all day. Philip Wheeler may start
soon, and Justice, Hart and Garcon were all great picks, especially
where they were taken. Another solid showing by the Colts.
B+
Apparently
the topic of the day is, did the Jaguars pay too much to trade up and
grab Harvey? I didn't think he was worth a top 10 pick, but I do think
he was unquestionable the third best end in the draft, and the first
two went 2nd and 6th. Quentin Groves is a good pick, who could become
an outside linebacker for Jacksonville, and I think their best pick of
the day was that of Williams. Getting a back like Chauncey Washington
in the 7th can't hurt any either.
B
I
think Tennessee may just have had the worst draft in the NFL. While
Johnson has great speed, picking him in the first was not necessary,
and he doesn't fill an obvious need either. Stevens is a very good
blocker, but the Titans really didn't do anything to provide young with
more play making receivers, with the notable exception of Hawkins, nor
did they draft any protection. In what universe was Jason Jones the
54th best player in this year's draft?
D-
AFC West:
Denver
also didn't do anything real flashy, but did help themselves quite a
bit. In Clady, they get the 2nd best tackle in the draft, and Royal
will help the receiving core from day one. I also very much like the
picks of Torain, Powell and Larsen. Lichtensteiner may have been a bit
of a reach, but could be tailor made for Denver's blocking scheme.
B
Kansas
City could not have had themselves a better draft if they wanted to.
Glenn Dorsey is the best defensive player in the draft, and Brandon
Albert is, at the very least, the best guard to be drafted in years.
Flowers is a nice fit for the defense, Charles fills the need for
someone to spell Johnson, and Morgan is, for my money, the best safety
in the class. So that means, by my count, that the Chiefs grabbed the
best player in the draft at three different positions, what more can
you ask for? Carr, Cottam, Richardson and the rest of the draft class
all help fill out depth. The only knock on them is not finding more
help for the offensive line, but it was too good a draft to gripe over.
A
You
certainly can't blame Oakland for drafting the weapon that is Darren
McFadden. But, with Justin Fargas, LaMont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes and
Michael Bush all already on the roster, it now becomes a question of
who goes, and any team looking for depth at RB, should be able to get
them on the cheap from Oakland, specifically Bush who has to still
provide value for a team. Tyvon Branch should quickly become a nice
nickel complement to Asomugha and Hall. I can't say I like the rest of
their draft though.
C+
San
Diego didn't pick often, but when they did, they usually made me
wonder. Antoine Cason is a great talent, but may be too good to be a
nickel in San Diego. DeJuan Tribble makes a lot more sense in that
role. Hester will be a handful to bring down, and provides a little
relief for LT, the everything back, and Sproles, the speedster. Of
course, the same can be said of Thomas. Corey Clark needs some
development, and does not fill the immediate need the Chargers have at
tackle.
D
NFC East:
Dallas
got good talent at every spot. I'm not sure why they needed two running
backs, but I suppose Choice is insurance in case Barber doesn't re-sign
next year. Mike Jenkins will make an immediate contribution at CB, with
or without Jones, and Scandrick is a special teams stud. If Dallas
makes a move putting Henry at safety, and Jones doesn't get reinstated,
the the Cowboys remain in good shape at the position. Martellus Bennett
can be good blocking complement in two TE formations, and Eric Walden
could develop into a decent rotation guy. Jones and Barber could be a
deadly force.
B+
The
first 2 choices should be good at catching errant passes, as the front
four forces them. Manningham is good value in the fourth, and with
fellow Michigan alum Toomer there to show him the ropes, could develop
into a force opposite Burress. Goff and Kehl should fit the defensive
scheme nicely, and Woodson, will be Eli's backup by next year, count on
it. Solid draft for the champs.
B
At
first it seemed like they didn't want to pick, but once they decided to
join the fun, they ran with it. Everyone they got in the first four
rounds should eventually fill a need, with Laws and Jackson doing so
sooner rather than later. I'm not sure the team needed to draft three
tackles, but I do like the selections of Mays and Ikegwuono.
B-
All
I can say is, WHAT? Ok, I understand Washington was looking to add a
receiver, and I can't argue with drafting Thomas where they did. But
two receivers and a tight end in round 2, when there were clearly other
areas of concern? Then they draft a punter despite a strong year by
Frost. Justin Tryon could develop into a nice corner, and I like
Horton, but overall, only Devin Thomas looks like a sure thing here.
D-
NFC North:
The
Bears never once drafted someone to at least push Grossman for the QB
spot. They did, however, find someone who will protect his QB nicely in
Williams, and someone to hand the ball off to in Forte. I don't think
Benson or Forte will ever become a dominant force for them though. The
Earl Bennett and Kellen Davis picks are solid. It seems like the rest
of the draft is a case of “throw it against the wall and see what
sticks”. Nothing overly impressive.
C-
I
really like what the Lions did, and then the fifth round started.
Anyway, the Gosder Cherilus pick is a good one, as he will immediately
solidify the tackles. Dizon may have been picked a little high, but he
and Avril bring immediate help to the defense, while Fluellen will
provide rotation depth on the line right away. The trade up for Kevin
Smith was very nice, as they ended up with one of the best talents at
the position, and a guy extremely excited to be in Detroit (how often
do you see that). After that, the only pick I like is Caleb Campbell,
and I am rooting for the Army boy. I'll go ahead and assume his moral
character is just slightly better than that of competitor Dwight Smith.
B
One
worry they haven't had for the last 2 decades, who's the quarterback?
Now, they have four, with Brohm and Flynn joining Rodgers and Nall.
Brohm should have enough to take the backup role, and is my favorite to
start the season in 2009. More immediately, Nelson will provide
whoever's throwing yet another awesome target. Finley will try to make
the basketball to tight-end transition that Gates made famous, and
Patrick Lee is an immediate nickel back. A good draft for now, but
especially for the future.
B-
I
can't see where the Vikings made too many mistakes. Obviously, the
trade for Allen not only provides Minnesota with their most pressing
need, they fill it with an established 26 year old who's on of the best
in the game, they're far ahead of where they would be with unknown
commodities like Merling. Johnson is a good safety understudy to
Sharper, and the Booty pick will have to light a fire under Jackson.
Not too much I can say about the other three picks, but those three
players alone make this a great day in Minnesota.
A-
NFC South:
As
much as I want to say Matt Ryan doesn't deserve the #3 slot in the
draft, at least the Falcons got what they wanted, and apparently saw
more value in him than Dorsey. Sam Baker looks like a reach, but he's a
good player and will help protect the new franchise nicely. Chevis
Jackson is a decent pick, but there was better talent available. Curtis
Lofton is a nice pick and will help right away. After that they
generally took players who I believe are inferior to other players
still available.
C+
I
like the pick of Stewart, but I have yet to see why the Panthers would
have such a pressing need for a running back. Williams looks like a
more than capable starter to me. Jeff Otah was another of the hundreds
of tackles that went in the first two rounds. What looked to most like
too high a selection, probably wasn't. Godfrey is a good corner, and
Connor looks like a great fit in the Carolina scheme. Barnidge will be
an NFL tight end, and Hayden provides good value. Bernadeau is a good
guard, especially taken in the 7th round.
B
The
Saints didn't quite make it into the Glenn Dorsey neighborhood, but did
move up enough to take Sedrick Ellis out of the Bengals' hands. The
Porter pick in the 2nd round was also very good for them. Following
that up with the selection of Pressley, plus their earlier free agent
finds, and the defense will be good enough to help preserve leads the
offense provides. Arrington may be a nice find, and they did get a
kicker, but I don't know if Mehlhaff has an NFL leg. Overall, I think
the Saints may be the most improved team this off-season.
B+
Let
me make myself clear. I do not question Talib's talent, I think he may
have been the best corner in the draft. But I don't know if he's the
guy best suited for Tampa's scheme, and with Mike Jenkins and Antoine
Cason available, I think each is a better choice. Dexter Jackson could
keep the Bucs' string of seasons with a kick return TD intact, but I
don't know how much he contributes in the passing game. After that, it
gets much better. Zuttah is a versatile lineman who'll provide
immediate depth, Moore is a very talented DT, Geno Hayes will add
strength at linebacker and Johnson has a great chance to eventually
become this team's starting QB.
C+
NFC West:
Arizona
helped fill a lot of holes this weekend, starting with Cromartie and
Campbell. I don't think Hightower is the guy they're looking for, so RB
probably now becomes next year's top priority. Early Doucet will be a
good replacement for Bryant Johnson, and won't leave the Cardinals
without insurance in case Boldin finds greener pastures. I am a fan of
Brandon Keith, and Russ Grimm should have a good time getting him into
the lineup.
B
Some
good finds, and a great start with Long, but not overly impressive. No
matter who wants to argue with it, Donnie Avery was not the most
talented receiver in this draft, and is a huge reach at the top of
round 2. Greco and Schuening are terrific picks, and Justin King can
certainly become a player. Keenan Burton, in my opinion, was another
reach, but not too bad of one. I heard one analyst claim how St. Louis
is good at developing receivers, but I'm pretty sure that credit goes
to Martz, not the current regime.
C-
Not
a spectacular draft, but they got decent value at every pick. Balmer is
a good DT, who may even end up at DE with his length, and Rachal is a
very good guard. It seems like every time a guard comes off the board
early it's considered a bad pick, but the Niners won't regret theirs. I
do like the pick of Josh Morgan, but thought the offense, with as bad
as it was last year, could have used more than just Bryant Johnson.
Cody Wallace is a nice pick, and could become the teams' center of the
future.
C
I
think instead of Jackson, a defensive tackle may have made more sense,
but the pick of Bryant later on makes up for it somewhat. I don't think
the John Carlson pick is a good one, as there were definitely better
TE's still available. Then they draft a pair of Schnitt's, with the
fullback Owen a solid replacement for Mack Strong. I commend them for
the Tyler Schnitt pick. Considering the majority of your 6th rounders
don't make an impact, spending the pick on a quality snapper makes all
the sense in the world to me. In Coutu I think they got a very good
kicker.
As
they seem to do every year, the Bills started with the secondary,
picking McKelvin in the first round, and the appropriately named Reggie
Corner in the fourth. McGee, Youboty and Greer man the corner right
now, and I'm sure McKelvin will fit right in with them, while taking
some of the return duties from McGee. To most everyone's surprise, the
Bills passed on a receiver, as did every team in the first round for
the first time in the history of the draft. Picking up James Hardy,
possibly the best receiver in the draft, turned out to be a steal. I am
not in love with the pick of Ellis in the third round. Late on Sunday,
the Bills drafted some depth, of which the one I liked the most is
NWMSU's running back Xavier Omon, and tight end Derek Fine. Overall,
it's a good draft that won't put them in trouble, but not spectacular.
Only McKelvin and Hardy look like bona fide starters, along with Fine
eventually. 
The
Dolphins basically did pretty much everything right. They waited, and
good things happened to them around every turn. First off, Long was the
right pick, even if come of the other top tier draftees seemed
flashier. Getting Merling, and later Langford to fall to them was great
for Miami, as they could be the starting bookends for the defense by
2009. Getting Henne in there to compete with Beck was also a nice pick.
Parmele can end up spelling Brown when needed, and Dotson and Hilliard
could bloom into starters. Overall, they seemed to find good talent at
every pick.
New
England was penalized a first, but had San Francisco's to play with. A
smart move backwards after Gholston got drafted helped them land Jerod
Mayo, probably the guy they were targeting from the get-go. The defense
got younger quickly, as the Pats picked up three OLB's and two corners
in the draft. I am a bit surprised they did not look for any offensive
line help, but all the players they drafted can end up on the roster. I
specifically like the Crable pick and the Wilhite pick, and I think
O'Connell will be the Brady backup they've been looking for.
While
the Jets missed out on McFadden, they're not crying about the
acquisition of Gholston, the best pass rusher in the draft. The
accolades pretty much end there. I don't like Dustin Keller, and would
have taken him no earlier than midway through the third round, much
less traded up to get him in the first. Eric Ainge pick was too soon,
there were better quality QB's still around.
The
first 5 picks were top notch, the second 5 were not so much. Baltimore
picked up one of the more talented QB's in the draft in Flacco, though
personally I would have picked Brohm. Ray Rice provides great relief
for McGahee, and Gooden, Zbikowski and Cousins were all good need
picks, and provided nice value at their spots. The late picks, nothing
really stands out there, Nakamure can at least return kicks, and Harper
may end up steal in the 7th round. Again, great first half, but
mediocre second half.
Cincinnati
made a lot of great moves, but also a couple of questionable ones.
Keith Rivers will quickly become the defensive leader, in is my early
favorite for rookie of the year. Simpson was picked too early for my
liking, but while he and Caldwell won't let anyone forget Chad Johnson
and Chris Henry anytime soon, they will help the offense stay fairly
potent. The pick of Pat Sims in the third is wonderful, as I could have
seen him go to Cincinnati in the second. Anthony Collins is a great
talent, and should Levi Jones really leave town soon, he will fill the
void. Then came what may have been the strangest pick of the draft.
Jason Shirley certainly has the talent to belong where he is, but some
major character issues should have led the Bengals to stay away from
him. After that, not much left for the Bengals, except I think Urrutia
has the chance to develop into a nice role player.
Cleveland's
draft came in February, when they traded away their draft for defensive
line help. As far as what the Browns found on the weekend, well, it
wasn't half bad. Bell, Rucker, Rubin and Hubbard could all fill
positions of need sooner rather than later. Obviously, with no picks
before 104, there is nothing flashy and no sure thing to be found, but
still a decent draft.
Pittsburgh
probably baffled many by taking Mendenhall in the first. While he
doesn't fill a position of much need, he was certainly the best player
left on the board. Limas Sweed fills Ben's need for a tall receiver,
and Bruce Davis has Steeler written all over him. Tony Hills was the
only offensive lineman the Steelers found in the draft, and while he's
a good one, was it enough. Not for me.
Houston,
quietly, found several players who will fill roles in a hurry. While
Brown may have been a bit of a reach, the Texans were able to trade
backwards for him, and ended up with Slaton with the other pick they
received from Baltimore. Molden and Okam can both become very good
pros, and Adibi should flourish in DeMeco Ryan's wake. Barber and Brink
may contribute in the future.
Indy
didn't pick until late on Saturday, and when they did, they went for
substance over style, with Pollak. That theme continued on Sunday,
where they picked up football players all day. Philip Wheeler may start
soon, and Justice, Hart and Garcon were all great picks, especially
where they were taken. Another solid showing by the Colts.
Apparently
the topic of the day is, did the Jaguars pay too much to trade up and
grab Harvey? I didn't think he was worth a top 10 pick, but I do think
he was unquestionable the third best end in the draft, and the first
two went 2nd and 6th. Quentin Groves is a good pick, who could become
an outside linebacker for Jacksonville, and I think their best pick of
the day was that of Williams. Getting a back like Chauncey Washington
in the 7th can't hurt any either.
I
think Tennessee may just have had the worst draft in the NFL. While
Johnson has great speed, picking him in the first was not necessary,
and he doesn't fill an obvious need either. Stevens is a very good
blocker, but the Titans really didn't do anything to provide young with
more play making receivers, with the notable exception of Hawkins, nor
did they draft any protection. In what universe was Jason Jones the
54th best player in this year's draft?
Denver
also didn't do anything real flashy, but did help themselves quite a
bit. In Clady, they get the 2nd best tackle in the draft, and Royal
will help the receiving core from day one. I also very much like the
picks of Torain, Powell and Larsen. Lichtensteiner may have been a bit
of a reach, but could be tailor made for Denver's blocking scheme.
Kansas
City could not have had themselves a better draft if they wanted to.
Glenn Dorsey is the best defensive player in the draft, and Brandon
Albert is, at the very least, the best guard to be drafted in years.
Flowers is a nice fit for the defense, Charles fills the need for
someone to spell Johnson, and Morgan is, for my money, the best safety
in the class. So that means, by my count, that the Chiefs grabbed the
best player in the draft at three different positions, what more can
you ask for? Carr, Cottam, Richardson and the rest of the draft class
all help fill out depth. The only knock on them is not finding more
help for the offensive line, but it was too good a draft to gripe over.
You
certainly can't blame Oakland for drafting the weapon that is Darren
McFadden. But, with Justin Fargas, LaMont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes and
Michael Bush all already on the roster, it now becomes a question of
who goes, and any team looking for depth at RB, should be able to get
them on the cheap from Oakland, specifically Bush who has to still
provide value for a team. Tyvon Branch should quickly become a nice
nickel complement to Asomugha and Hall. I can't say I like the rest of
their draft though.
San
Diego didn't pick often, but when they did, they usually made me
wonder. Antoine Cason is a great talent, but may be too good to be a
nickel in San Diego. DeJuan Tribble makes a lot more sense in that
role. Hester will be a handful to bring down, and provides a little
relief for LT, the everything back, and Sproles, the speedster. Of
course, the same can be said of Thomas. Corey Clark needs some
development, and does not fill the immediate need the Chargers have at
tackle.
Dallas
got good talent at every spot. I'm not sure why they needed two running
backs, but I suppose Choice is insurance in case Barber doesn't re-sign
next year. Mike Jenkins will make an immediate contribution at CB, with
or without Jones, and Scandrick is a special teams stud. If Dallas
makes a move putting Henry at safety, and Jones doesn't get reinstated,
the the Cowboys remain in good shape at the position. Martellus Bennett
can be good blocking complement in two TE formations, and Eric Walden
could develop into a decent rotation guy. Jones and Barber could be a
deadly force.
The
first 2 choices should be good at catching errant passes, as the front
four forces them. Manningham is good value in the fourth, and with
fellow Michigan alum Toomer there to show him the ropes, could develop
into a force opposite Burress. Goff and Kehl should fit the defensive
scheme nicely, and Woodson, will be Eli's backup by next year, count on
it. Solid draft for the champs.
At
first it seemed like they didn't want to pick, but once they decided to
join the fun, they ran with it. Everyone they got in the first four
rounds should eventually fill a need, with Laws and Jackson doing so
sooner rather than later. I'm not sure the team needed to draft three
tackles, but I do like the selections of Mays and Ikegwuono.
All
I can say is, WHAT? Ok, I understand Washington was looking to add a
receiver, and I can't argue with drafting Thomas where they did. But
two receivers and a tight end in round 2, when there were clearly other
areas of concern? Then they draft a punter despite a strong year by
Frost. Justin Tryon could develop into a nice corner, and I like
Horton, but overall, only Devin Thomas looks like a sure thing here.
The
Bears never once drafted someone to at least push Grossman for the QB
spot. They did, however, find someone who will protect his QB nicely in
Williams, and someone to hand the ball off to in Forte. I don't think
Benson or Forte will ever become a dominant force for them though. The
Earl Bennett and Kellen Davis picks are solid. It seems like the rest
of the draft is a case of “throw it against the wall and see what
sticks”. Nothing overly impressive.
I
really like what the Lions did, and then the fifth round started.
Anyway, the Gosder Cherilus pick is a good one, as he will immediately
solidify the tackles. Dizon may have been picked a little high, but he
and Avril bring immediate help to the defense, while Fluellen will
provide rotation depth on the line right away. The trade up for Kevin
Smith was very nice, as they ended up with one of the best talents at
the position, and a guy extremely excited to be in Detroit (how often
do you see that). After that, the only pick I like is Caleb Campbell,
and I am rooting for the Army boy. I'll go ahead and assume his moral
character is just slightly better than that of competitor Dwight Smith.
One
worry they haven't had for the last 2 decades, who's the quarterback?
Now, they have four, with Brohm and Flynn joining Rodgers and Nall.
Brohm should have enough to take the backup role, and is my favorite to
start the season in 2009. More immediately, Nelson will provide
whoever's throwing yet another awesome target. Finley will try to make
the basketball to tight-end transition that Gates made famous, and
Patrick Lee is an immediate nickel back. A good draft for now, but
especially for the future.
I
can't see where the Vikings made too many mistakes. Obviously, the
trade for Allen not only provides Minnesota with their most pressing
need, they fill it with an established 26 year old who's on of the best
in the game, they're far ahead of where they would be with unknown
commodities like Merling. Johnson is a good safety understudy to
Sharper, and the Booty pick will have to light a fire under Jackson.
Not too much I can say about the other three picks, but those three
players alone make this a great day in Minnesota.
As
much as I want to say Matt Ryan doesn't deserve the #3 slot in the
draft, at least the Falcons got what they wanted, and apparently saw
more value in him than Dorsey. Sam Baker looks like a reach, but he's a
good player and will help protect the new franchise nicely. Chevis
Jackson is a decent pick, but there was better talent available. Curtis
Lofton is a nice pick and will help right away. After that they
generally took players who I believe are inferior to other players
still available.
I
like the pick of Stewart, but I have yet to see why the Panthers would
have such a pressing need for a running back. Williams looks like a
more than capable starter to me. Jeff Otah was another of the hundreds
of tackles that went in the first two rounds. What looked to most like
too high a selection, probably wasn't. Godfrey is a good corner, and
Connor looks like a great fit in the Carolina scheme. Barnidge will be
an NFL tight end, and Hayden provides good value. Bernadeau is a good
guard, especially taken in the 7th round.
The
Saints didn't quite make it into the Glenn Dorsey neighborhood, but did
move up enough to take Sedrick Ellis out of the Bengals' hands. The
Porter pick in the 2nd round was also very good for them. Following
that up with the selection of Pressley, plus their earlier free agent
finds, and the defense will be good enough to help preserve leads the
offense provides. Arrington may be a nice find, and they did get a
kicker, but I don't know if Mehlhaff has an NFL leg. Overall, I think
the Saints may be the most improved team this off-season.
Let
me make myself clear. I do not question Talib's talent, I think he may
have been the best corner in the draft. But I don't know if he's the
guy best suited for Tampa's scheme, and with Mike Jenkins and Antoine
Cason available, I think each is a better choice. Dexter Jackson could
keep the Bucs' string of seasons with a kick return TD intact, but I
don't know how much he contributes in the passing game. After that, it
gets much better. Zuttah is a versatile lineman who'll provide
immediate depth, Moore is a very talented DT, Geno Hayes will add
strength at linebacker and Johnson has a great chance to eventually
become this team's starting QB.
Arizona
helped fill a lot of holes this weekend, starting with Cromartie and
Campbell. I don't think Hightower is the guy they're looking for, so RB
probably now becomes next year's top priority. Early Doucet will be a
good replacement for Bryant Johnson, and won't leave the Cardinals
without insurance in case Boldin finds greener pastures. I am a fan of
Brandon Keith, and Russ Grimm should have a good time getting him into
the lineup.
Some
good finds, and a great start with Long, but not overly impressive. No
matter who wants to argue with it, Donnie Avery was not the most
talented receiver in this draft, and is a huge reach at the top of
round 2. Greco and Schuening are terrific picks, and Justin King can
certainly become a player. Keenan Burton, in my opinion, was another
reach, but not too bad of one. I heard one analyst claim how St. Louis
is good at developing receivers, but I'm pretty sure that credit goes
to Martz, not the current regime.
Not
a spectacular draft, but they got decent value at every pick. Balmer is
a good DT, who may even end up at DE with his length, and Rachal is a
very good guard. It seems like every time a guard comes off the board
early it's considered a bad pick, but the Niners won't regret theirs. I
do like the pick of Josh Morgan, but thought the offense, with as bad
as it was last year, could have used more than just Bryant Johnson.
Cody Wallace is a nice pick, and could become the teams' center of the
future.
I
think instead of Jackson, a defensive tackle may have made more sense,
but the pick of Bryant later on makes up for it somewhat. I don't think
the John Carlson pick is a good one, as there were definitely better
TE's still available. Then they draft a pair of Schnitt's, with the
fullback Owen a solid replacement for Mack Strong. I commend them for
the Tyler Schnitt pick. Considering the majority of your 6th rounders
don't make an impact, spending the pick on a quality snapper makes all
the sense in the world to me. In Coutu I think they got a very good
kicker.