NFL draft report card: Grading all 32 teams
Giants, Ravens scored best, while the Raiders were baffling, again
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Grade: D
After trading out of its only first-day pick, Dallas focused on upgrading at linebacker. Fast but undersized small-schooler Jason Willliams isn't a great fit for a 3-4 scheme and Texas Tech DE Brandon Williams, who the Cowboys will try at outside 'backer, lacks the up-field burst for the transition. DeAngelo Smith is a fine free safety prospect, but using him there would force Ken Hamlin to strong safety, where Hamlin's poor tackling would be a liability. Nick Folk is already an excellent field-goal kicker; David Buehler was a wasted pick. Stephen McGee was never a good college QB; why would he succeed in the pros? Getting gifted press corner Mike Mickens in the seventh kept this draft from getting an F, even when factoring in the Roy Williams trade.
New York Giants
Grade: A+
GM Jerry Reese stuck to his value board throughout. LB Clint Sintim would’ve fit better in a 3-4 scheme, but Reese could afford the luxury pick because his roster is so loaded. Failing to land Braylon Edwards was a bit disappointing, but Hakeem Nicks comes from a pro-style offense, offers terrific hands and route running, and may be the draft's most NFL-ready wideout. OT William Beatty was a projected first-round pick and robbery at No. 60. Small-school receiver Ramses Barden is a long-term project, but has a Plaxico Burress-like body. TE Travis Beckum is a poor man's Kellen Winslow. Late-round DBs Stoney Woodson and DeAngelo Wright are long shots for roster spots, but RB Andre Brown and QB Rhett Bomar will add healthy competition at skill positions.
Philadelphia Eagles
Grade: B
The Eagles picked big names on day one, but had to trade up for Jeremy Maclin and he won’t start over Kevin Curtis or DeSean Jackson. Maclin comes from a spread offense and may only help on returns initially. To think LeSean McCoy will eventually replace Brian Westbrook is a stretch. McCoy has a lot of work to do as a pass blocker and inside runner. Philadelphia would’ve been better off with Chris Wells. Cornelius Ingram may need more ACL surgery and probably won't help in 2009. However, CB Macho Harris can tackle and make plays. He fits well as a nickel corner, especially if Sheldon Brown is traded. Brandon Gibson has the skill set to play in coach Andy Reid's West Coast offense and is more insurance for unhappy WR Reggie Brown. This was a strong draft when considering the Jason Peters and Ellis Hobbs trades, but the early hype about Maclin and McCoy is a little too much.
Washington Redskins
Grade: B
The 'Skins were in love with Brian Orakpo. After day one, GM Vinny Cerrato admitted he even considered trading up for the Nagurski Award winner. Most mocks had Orakpo in the top 10; Washington got a gift at No. 13. Third-round CB Kevin Barnes is underrated after missing much of 2008 with a bad shoulder, but is a willing hitter and runs like the wind. LBs Cody Glenn and Robert Henson may only play special teams, but speedster receiver Marko Mitchell was worth a seventh-round flier. Idaho TE Eddie Williams figures to move to fullback, where incumbent starter Mike Sellers is unhappy with his contract.
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
Grade: B+
The Bears traded their first-round pick for Jay Cutler and moved out of round two after Cleveland took Brian Robiskie. GM Jerry Angelo went on a tear with his next four picks, landing four straight dynamic talents. DT Jarron Gilbert was easily the best player drafted on day two and WR Juaquin Iglesias is a pro-ready route runner. RB-turned-DE Henry Melton possesses rare athleticism and upside. CB D.J. Moore's lack of elite speed is less of a problem in Chicago's Cover-2 defense. The Bears won't count on much from late-rounders Derek Kinder, Al Afalava, or Lance Louis, but Ohio State LB Marcus Freeman is the perfect backup for Lance Briggs and WR Johnny Knox has speed to burn.
Detroit Lions
Grade: C
The Lions overpaid for Matthew Stafford, but got three players on day one that will start for a long time. TE Brandon Pettigrew is a huge upgrade over incumbent Michael Gaines. Louis Delmas, a prototypical free safety, was Detroit’s best value pick. WR Derrick Williams will immediately push Ronald Curry for snaps in the slot. DeAndre Levy isn't an option to replace Cody Spencer at middle linebacker, however, and GM Martin Mayhew seemed to throw in the towel after nose tackle prospect Sammie Lee Hill. OLB Zack Follett and RB Aaron Brown will only help on special teams, Lydon Murtha is too stiff to play left tackle and too soft to play right tackle, and TE Dan Gronkowski's game lacks pizzazz in all areas.
Green Bay Packers
Grade: B-
GM Ted Thompson put need ahead of his usual best player available approach, but it paid off on day one. While Michael Crabtree was atop Green Bay's board at No. 9, B.J. Raji is still a top-five talent and offered much better value for a team changing to a 3-4 defense. Raji never should've gotten by Kansas City, Cleveland, or Oakland. Clay Matthews had the best 10-yard split of any rush linebacker prospect at the Combine and will threaten for the team lead in sacks right away. However, T.J. Lang is too developmental and small to solve the Packers' right tackle woes, and they didn't need another fullback behind Korey Hall and John Kuhn, but still took Quinn Johnson. Johnson offers nothing as a receiver or ball carrier. South Carolina OT Jamon Meredith will probably be tried at guard initially. S/CB Brandon Underwood and LB Brad Jones were strictly special teams selections.
Minnesota Vikings
Grade: A-
Percy Harvin’s character concerns aside, Minnesota couldn't have done much better on the first day. The Vikes were targeting Phil Loadholt as early as No. 22, so getting him at 54 was outstanding value. He and Harvin both will make sizable first-year impacts. Georgia CB Asher Allen needed another year in school, but offers starting potential down the road. He plays with swagger and protects the team in case Antoine Winfield exits after his 2009 contract year. Jasper Brinkley might have been the hardest-hitting linebacker in the draft and will produce on special teams. S Jamarca Sanford probably won't make the roster, but the Vikings continue to draft well and appear headed for Super Bowl contention.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
Grade: C-
GM Thomas Dimitroff addressed needs with DT Peria Jerry in round one and SS William Moore in the second. But Moore wasn’t the best player available at No. 55, and Atlanta still has a weakness at outside linebacker. San Jose State CB Christopher Owens won't challenge hard for Chris Houston or Chevis Jackson’s starting jobs, and Furman CB William Middleton is even less ready to play. While Lawrence Sidbury can rush the passer and was a value in the fourth, UNC's Garrett Reynolds is limited to right tackle and Virginia Tech DT Vance Walker lacks the athleticism for Atlanta's one-gap scheme. It's hard to knock Dimitroff after his outstanding first season at the Falcons’ helm, but this draft was unimpressive on paper.
Carolina Panthers
Grade: D+
Carolina surrendered its 2010 first-round pick to trade up for DE Everette Brown. A similar move paid off with Jeff Otah last year and Brown was a top-20 talent, but GM Marty Hurney gave up too much. Brown only projects as a third-down rusher in the Panthers' 4-3 scheme. The team plans to use Sherrod Martin at nickel corner, where he'll be stretched after playing mostly safety at Troy. Other than his size, there's little to like about Georgia DT Corvey Irvin. That pick proved that Carolina underestimated its interior defensive line need. RB Mike Goodson was a luxury selection at No. 111 and G Duke Robinson has a history of weight issues. CB Captain Munnerlyn is too small and slow to be an NFL player.
New Orleans Saints
Grade: C-
GM Mickey Loomis wisely used his only Day 1 pick on the draft’s best defensive back, though Malcolm Jenkins' position is unclear. Early indications are that Jenkins will play corner, but his 4.5 wheels could be exposed by intra-division speed receivers Steve Smith, Antonio Bryant, and Roddy White. New Orleans's bigger need is at free safety. Oversized Wake Forest DB Chip Vaughn has poor ball skills and is only a special teamer. Stanley Arnoux can hit, but lacks the range replace outside linebacker Scott Shanle, who is a liability in New Orleans' defense. Drafting Thomas Morstead all but forces him into the lineup. The Saints didn't have many picks to start out, but they could've used them better.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Grade: C+
The Bucs gave up on last year’s fifth-round pick, QB Josh Johnson, by dealing up for Josh Freeman. And they definitely didn’t have to trade up for the developmental passer. The Broncos were sitting at No. 18 and Freeman wasn’t their target, but Bucs GM Mark Dominik still jumped up for the move. The Bucs rebounded by snaring big-bodied defensive linemen Roy Miller and Kyle Moore. Both fit beautifully into new coordinator Jim Bates' system. Xavier Fulton is coming off shoulder surgery, but could help at guard down the road. Sammie Stroughter should correct the error Tampa made with Dexter Jackson in last year's second round. Coach Raheem Morris knows the Western Michigan coaching staff well and must've seen something in sixth-round CB E.J. Biggers.
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Grade: B
The Cards wanted a speed complement for Tim Hightower at No. 31 and did better than they ever could’ve imagined. Chris Wells, who cracked 4.4 at Pro Day, is Ken Whisenhunt’s new Jerome Bettis. UConn DE Cody Brown was a reach at No. 63, but could push to start at outside linebacker when Chike Okeafor’s contract expires in 2010. Rashad Johnson, who learned under Nick Saban at Alabama, is a pro-ready free safety and LSU G/T Herman Johnson was a value pick in round five. Small-school CB Greg Toler is a project, though, and tiny RB LaRod Stephens-Howling is unlikely to have a career. Most importantly, Anquan Boldin is still a Cardinal.
San Francisco 49ers
Grade: C
Michael Crabtree was the No. 1 player overall on several teams’ value boards and a steal at 10th overall. But the Niners' draft fell swiftly from there. Glen Coffee was productive in 2008, but benefited from D-I's best offensive line and his legs are too skinny. LB Scott McKillop got run over at the Senior Bowl. QB Nate Davis probably is only practice squad material at this point, and TE Bear Pascoe lacks the athleticism to be more than a blocking specialist. LSU safety Curtis Taylor was underrated after an injury-marred senior season, but DL Ricky Jean-Francois has always been overrated. One pick doesn't make a draft.
Seattle Seahawks
Grade: C-
Aaron Curry was arguably the draft’s best defender, but strong-side linebackers don’t typically make overwhelming impacts in 4-3 defenses. Eugene Monroe would’ve been a better pick, and GM Tim Ruskell will live to regret passing on Mark Sanchez. Max Unger may only be a versatile reserve in year one, and Deon Butler could also struggle for playing time behind T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch, and Nate Burleson. Rutgers' Mike Teel will never resemble a starting-caliber pro quarterback. Highly athletic TE Cameron Morrah was a value in the seventh and gives OC Greg Knapp a legitimate vertical threat behind John Carlson. Still, Seattle is coming off a 4-12 season and out of this class only Curry is sure to play extensively in 2009.
St. Louis Rams
Grade: C
The Rams passed on Rey Maualuga for James Laurinaitis in round two. Laurinaitis will be a solid presence up the middle, but Maualuga had more upside. St. Louis forced itself to draft Jason Smith at No. 2 by cutting Orlando Pace. Pace will start on Jay Cutler’s blind side this season. Iowa CB Bradley Fletcher offers good length and was a standout in pre-draft events. He fills a hole, but the Rams needed more pass rushers to make new coach Steve Spagnuolo's blitz-happy defense work. DT Dorell Scott will help as a wave player, but they are counting too heavily on brittle 34-year-old Leonard Little. Chris Ogbonnaya isn't an upgrade over any of St. Louis' current backup tailbacks and D-IAA QB Keith Null lacks the arm and athleticism to develop into more than a No. 3 passer.
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