April 27, 200818 yr Here is my opinion on the first day: Miami Dolphins 1. Jake Long, T, Michigan 2. Philip Merling, DE, Clemson 2. Chad Henne, QB, Michigan Analysis: I like what the Dolphins did today. They get a big left tackle to anchor their line for the future, a solid DE who will challenge for playing time and maybe a future starter at QB. Grade: A St. Louis Rams 1. Chris Long, DE, Virginia 2. Donnie Avery, WR, Houston Analysis: I think Long will be a good defensive end for a long time, but I don't like the second round pick. Not with Jackson, Sweed etc. still on the board. Grade: B Atlanta Falcons 1. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College 1. Sam Baker, OT, USC 2. Curtis Lofton, LB, Oklahoma Analysis: Pretty solid draft, although I think they could have traded down a few spots ands till got Ryan. Maybe no one offered them a good deal. I like the Baker pick, even though it might have been a reach. It seems like a lot of teams wanted a tackle, so they probably felt they needed to reach to get him. Also like the Lofton pick. Grade: B+ Oakland Raiders 1. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas Analysis: McFadden is a great athlete and should help out that terrible Oakland offense. They will need some help on the offensive line though IMO. Grade: B+ Kansas City Chiefs 1. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU 1. Branden Albert, G, Virginia 2. Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech Analysis: Very very good way to start the draft. Dorsey and Albert are great first round picks and Flowers should be a good corner. Impressive day for KC. Grade: A+ New York Jets 1. Vernon Gholston, LB, Ohio State 1. Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue Analysis: I'm not a huge Gholston fan. McShay said he was about the 15th best player in the draft. I think they really wanted McFadden but obviously did not want to trade up and get him. Not a great first day IMO. Grade: C+ New Orleans Saints 1. Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC 2. Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana Analysis: They fill a need with a good DT in Ellis. Also got help in the defensive backfield with Porter. Pretty solid day. Grade: B+ Jacksonville Jaguars 1. Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida 2. Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn Analysis: Pretty solid draft here. They may have reached a bit for Harvey, but I think they felt like the Bengals were going to pick him. That's why they traded up to snag him. I thought Groves would go a bit earlier. Grade: B+ Cincinnati Bengals 1. Keith Rivers, LB, USC 2. Jerome Simpson, WR, Coastal Carolina Analysis: I like the Rivers pick. He will help them immediately IMO. The Jerome Simpson pick is questionable at best. Why take him over Sweed, Kelly or Jackson? He could turn out to be great, but I think they reached for him. Grade: B- New England Patriots 1. Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee 2. Terrence Wheatley, CB, Colorado Analysis: They traded down once, but I think they still reached for Mayo. He fills a need for them though. I've read that Wheatley has a long hsitory of injuries. Grade: B- Buffalo Bills 1. Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy 2. James Hardy, WR, Indiana Analysis: They get a really good corner and a big wide receiver. Solid first day for Buffalo. Grade: A Denver Broncos 1. Ryan Clady, OT, Boise state 2. Eddie Royal, WR, Virginia Tech Analysis: I had them picking Clady in my mock and I think Royal is going to be really good. I expected Royal to last a little longer in the draft though. Grade: B+ Carolina Panthers 1. Jonathon Stewart, RB, Oregon 1. Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh Analysis: They traded a lot to get Otah. I hope they end up being a good team so Philly doesn't get a high pick next year. Solid first day though with Stewart being a good running back and Otah one of the top tackles in the draft. Grade: A
April 27, 200818 yr Kansas City will look at this draft in a few years and say "Wow, we sure did turn it around that year." That is, if they can get a reliable QB in an upcoming draft.
April 27, 200818 yr Author Chicago Bears 1. Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt 2. Matt Forte, RB, Tulane Analysis: I felt like Albert would have been a better pick, but Williams could turn out to be very good. Also thought they took Forte a little high, especially with Ray Rice on the board. Grade: B Arizona Cardinals 1. Dominque Rogers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State 2. Calais Campbell, DE, Miami FL Analysis: Very solid draft IMO. I really like both picks. Grade: A Detroit Lions 1.Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College 2.Jordan Dizon, LB, Colorado Analysis Not a good draft for the Lions. Not a surprise either. Grade - C- Baltimore Ravens 1. Joe Flacco, QB, Deleware 2. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers Analysis: Pretty solid draft. A lot of people like Flacco and I think Rice will be a good running back. Grade: A- Tampa Bay 1. Aquib Talib, CB, Kansas 2. Dexter Jackson, WR, Appalachian St. Analysis: I think Talib will fit in well in Tampa's cover 2 defense. Don't know much about Jackson though. Grade: B Dallas Cowboys 1. Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas 1. Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida 2. Martellus Bennett, TE, Texas A&M Analysis: Very good draft for the Boys. Jones will be a good running back and Jenkins was a steal that late. I thought he'd go much earlier. Grade: A Pittsburgh Steelers 1. Reshard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois 2. Limas Sweed, WR, Texas Analysis Pretty good draft for Pittsburgh. I do not think anyone believed Mendenhall would fall that far. Sweed will provide another weapon for Big Ben. Grade: A Tennessee 1. Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina 2. Jason Jones, DE, Eastern Michigan Analysis: I think they picked Johnson a little high. He's fast though and could be a good 3rd down back. Grade: B Houston 1. Duane Brown, OT, Virginia Tech Analysis: Terrible pick IMO. I don't know why they traded up for this guy. Grade: D San Diego 1. Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona Analysis I think Cason is a good pick and will fit in well in San Diego playing alongside Cromartie. Grade: B Seattle Seahawks 1. Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC 2. John Carlson, TE, Notre Dame Analysis: Not sure why they picked Jackson over Merling. Carlson fills a need though. Grade: B San Francisco 1.Kentwan Balmer, DT, UNC 2. Chilo Rachal, G, USC Analysis Pretty solid draft and both guys may help immediately. Grade: B+ New York Giants 1. Kenny Phillips, S, Miami FL 2. TerrellThomas, CB, USC Analysis: I like the Phillips pick. I think he has the potential to be very good. I think the Thomas pick was a bit of a reach, but he has potential too. Grade: B+ Green Bay Packers 2. Jordy Nelson, WR, Kansas State 2. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville 2. Patrick Lee, CB, Auburn Analysis: They traded down and gained a few picks but still got some solid players. Nelson adds to their depth at WR, and Brohm will challenge Rodgers for the starting spot. Lee helps out their defense and might come in on nickel or dime situations. Grade: A- Minnesota 2. Tyrell Johnson, S, Arkansas State Analysis: Johnson is one of the best safeties in the draft. It will be interesting to see if he can work his way into a starting spot with the Vikings. Grade: B Philadelphia Eagles 2. Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame 2. Desean Jackson, WR, California Analysis: Good moves made by Philly. They moved down but probably still got the guys they wanted. Jackson gives McNabb a good new weapon to use. Grade: B+ Indianapolis Colts 2. Mike Pollack, C, Arizona State Analysis: Probably just drafting for depth here. He might eventually start for them. Grade: B-
April 27, 200818 yr Author Thanks GT. Took a little more time and effort than I thought it would. I enjoyed doing it though, I love the NFL draft. Best time of the year, aside from the NFL Regular Season.
April 27, 200818 yr I spent most of my day at UC covering the Spring Game, and then when I got home had a boatload of video to sort through. Although I had to dig through a few of your biases (and no different than any other draft "expert") you did a good job on the Cliff Notes Day 1 events...
April 27, 200818 yr Author Skins? I had Washington but I deleted an entire section and forgot to add them back in. Thanks. Washington 2. Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State 2. Fred Thomas, TE, USC 2. Malcom Kelly, WR, Oklahoma Analysis: The Skins added some weapons to their passing game. They got a solid running game already, so this should help out Jason Campbell a lot. I think they did a good job trading down and gaining more picks. Grade: A-
April 27, 200818 yr Author I spent most of my day at UC covering the Spring Game, and then when I got home had a boatload of video to sort through. Although I had to dig through a few of your biases (and no different than any other draft "expert") you did a good job on the Cliff Notes Day 1 events... I tried to remove all biases, but that is difficult (especially for me).
April 27, 200818 yr The talk on the Bears board is that they could have gotten Forte later, but I'm glad they didn't take a quarterback with that 2nd round pick. God knows they need a quarterback, maybe they find one in the 3rd or 4th round. Very, very happy with the Jaguars, they addressed needs in free agency and did a solid job in the draft. Cannot wait til all the camps start.
April 27, 200818 yr Can't see how the Gals get anything higher than a C-. Pro Football Weekly projected Simpson as a 5th or 6th rounder. Most had him 3-4. Just amazing how this org. continues to folly and the fans don't either don't see it or don't care.
April 27, 200818 yr Nice job HB. Skimming throught I agree with most other than the Jets. I think they got the most athletic OLB in the draft and the best pass catching TE hard to not give that a good grade when they need both badly. They really need a WR too IMO. Chiefs+Dolphins had a great draft I thought. Jacks did a great job moving up and getting "their guys". Bucs are interesting. Talib is an oustanding talent with character questions and D. Jackson might have been a reach like the Bengals. He can burn but is a little smaller I think. I think he can return kicks too. Steelers had a really interesting draft. I don't think they could have ever thought they could land those two talents! They are both very gifted but they didn't do anything for their Oline which has been really bad. Bills had a real nice draft too thus far. Really most teams did a really good job on day one fitting needs or taking top talent. I was happy for you when Phillips slipped that far. Didn't think that would happen. Dallas fit needs well and man the Skins really jump started their offense! Most underrated day one for me... Green Bay! Really did a great job getting depth with top players. They are going to be good for years!
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