The first ever primetime NFL Draft came and passed with flying colors. The highest rated draft in any sport’s history was completed over 3 full days and captivated the sports world. We’ve gone over the big stories and surprising picks, and it’s time to give out grades to every team.
As always, at this time it’s impossible to tell how successful each team’s draft class will be. When evaluating a team’s draft, we give out grades just based on how well the franchise chose their players in terms of value and need. It will be a good 3 or 4 years before we can even begin to fully analyze the success of this NFL Draft. But it’s always fun to hand out grades based on how good we THINK each team’s class will be.
I gave out grades based on how each team gained talent, filled needs, and acquired/lost extra picks in this draft or future drafts. Here’s my evaluation of the drafts of all 16 teams of the NFC:
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NFC East -
COWBOYS: A-
Was there any possible better fit for WR Dez Bryant than the Cowboys? The explosive receiver will be given every opportunity to prove himself on the field with Dallas. He should make a major impact in year 1 as a playmaker that won’t be relied on too heavily or have much pressure put on him, with all the other big names and solid WR’s on the team. There is potential disaster with this relationship, but it’s also a potential game-changer. ILB Sean Lee was another great fit in round 2. Lee is going to be a solid player, and Dallas needed to add youth at the position. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is a tough name to say, but a tougher player on the field. The 4th round pick is a speedy safety with upside. Notre Dame tackle Sam Young was a 6th round selection that could be the backup RT immediately. Overall, I really like this draft. Bryant and Lee should make immediate impacts and eventually become very good players. Dallas cemented themselves as a Super Bowl contender next season.
GIANTS: B
It was well documented that the Giants wanted to land McClain or Spiller at number 15. Both guys were gone before pick 10, but GM Jerry Reese did not panic. Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul was a wonderful pick at 15, a typical Giants kind of pick that they can develop into an explosive pass-rusher. Pierre-Paul can definitely turn into the kind of player Osi Umenyiora was, but it’s going to take time, and a tremendous work ethic. The Giants went with DT Linval Joseph in round 2 over selecting Sean Lee, Brandon Spikes, or another ILB on the board. As of now, I’m skeptical of that decision. They picked up LB Phillip Dillard in round 4, but I thought it would have been smarter to select Lee in round 2 and go after the tackle in the 4th. Chad Jones is a physical safety that was a very solid 3rd round pick, and New York added Matt Dodge to replace the retiring punter Jeff Feagles. Chad Jones can contribute immediately, but the development of raw talents Pierre-Paul and Joseph will determine the success of this draft. I definitely like this class’s upside. Failure to address running back was an issue for me, as was the passing on a second round linebacker.
EAGLES: B
Very active on draft day, Philadelphia wound up selecting the most players (13) in this draft after they were through wheeling and dealing. The Eagles made an awful lot of picks, but it was a mixed bag of good value picks and poor selections. I’m not very high on OLB Brandon Graham, who Philadelphia traded up 11 spots to draft at #13 in round 1. Although he has good upside as a pass rusher, he went 30 picks higher than LB Sergio Kindle, and they both have a similar skill set. Safety Nate Allen was a very nice addition in round 2. But they could have chosen top safety Earl Thomas at 13 and gone elsewhere in round 2. They added 2 other rush ends, so Graham could have been expendable. They’re hoping he turns into a true sack specialist. Former Tim Tebow target Riley Cooper was scooped up in round 5, and he should make the team. DE Ricky Sapp was another solid late-round selection. But with 13 picks, including the 13th overall, I thought there was potential for more here. Philadelphia reached on a couple of guys in rounds 3 and 4, including a QB and TE, which are not need positions. This draft was a “B” for all the pieces they acquired, but it could have been better.
REDSKINS: C+
Washington chose left tackle Trent Williams with the 4th overall pick, then didn’t select another player for 2 days. Williams is apparently a better fit for Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme, but I thought Russell Okung was the better franchise tackle prospect. When it comes to locking down the LT spot, I think you go with the best potential long-term cog, and Okung might have been it. The Redskins added 2 more zone-blocking linemen in late rounds, and chose LSU linebacker Perry Riley in round 4. They lacked picks from the McNabb trade, but giving Donovan a left tackle was important. I think Washington could have done better. They didn’t draft a QB for the future. They kind of just drafted on the thinking that McNabb is going to be playing at a Pro Bowl level for years, and Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme will work to perfection. They should have looked to add some impact talent in the process, but instead stuck to the system. They have to hope it works out.
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NFC North -
LIONS: A-
You’ve got to like what Detroit did in this draft. Ndamukong Suh is a perfect fit for Jim Schwartz’s defense and adds a credible run-stopper to this awful unit. Trading up for RB Jahvid Best in the late first-round was an interesting move. I really liked it, given Best’s upside as a game-changing back. His durability is the question mark, but it won’t be the end of the world if he doesn’t stay on the field. Detroit has other halfback options. It will, however, be a great pick if he pans out. 3rd rounder Amari Spievey is a physical cornerback that will play immediately in the nickel. Jason Fox is a versatile offensive lineman that can play guard or tackle. The Lions did a very good job at getting players that can play immediately and make them a more talented team. Best might be the X-factor that decides the success of this draft, while they have to just hope Suh is not a bust. I’m fairly certain that he will be worth the #2 overall pick.
PACKERS: B-
Iowa offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga was a potential top-10 talent in this draft, but slipped all the way to 23 for Green Bay. The Packers are a perfect fit for the monstrous Bulaga, who has a great work ethic and can play right away. Second round defensive tackle Mike Neal appears to be a reach. There were way better tackle prospects on the board. Safety Morgan Burnett was a solid 3rd-round selection, and then they added another zone-blocking offensive tackle. DE C.J. Wilson was one of the better 7th round picks out there. Overall, you have to like this draft, but there’s not a ton of upside. Bulaga should be a dependable tackle, but he dropped because he lacked the upside and athleticism of other o-line prospects. And Mike Neal has a good motor but does not possess the superior strength and athleticism that some other tackles did. The Packers did just fine and got a good player in round 1, but this will not be a big-name draft.
VIKINGS: C
DE Everson Griffen in round 4 was the best pick of this draft. He had 1st-round written all over him just a year ago. The Vikings traded out of the first round to select CB Chris Cook in the early 2nd, but that was a little high for him. The Vikings might have been better suited staying at pick 30 and selecting Patrick Robinson, the corner who went #32. Minnesota selected Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart in round 2, which does not seem like a great fit. He doesn’t do any of the things well that the departed Chester Taylor did. He does provide a change of pace from Adrian Peterson, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. Several late round picks were used on need positions, such as guard, linebacker, and tight end. Overall, there’s nothing special about this draft, and it has the potential to not produce a single impact player. But I stay with the “C” grade because Cook and Gerhart were at need positions, and Griffen was a great pick in round 4.
BEARS: C-
The Bears were crippled in this draft from the Jay Cutler trade. They didn’t make a pick until round 3, where they made a nice selection with Florida safety Major Wright. They also added versatile QB Dan LeFevour later on, and DE Corey Wootton appears to be a great value in round 4. He was hurt in 2009 but has the pass-rushing skills to develop into an impact player, if healthy. Chicago didn’t have the assets to do very much in this draft, and they didn’t end up with any sure selections. That could be worthy of a “D”. But I do think Major Wright will contribute at safety, and Wootton has the potential to be a good pick. Dan LeFevour won more games as a starter at Central Michigan than any player in the history of the conference, but his skills don’t translate well to the NFL. Of course, they’re hoping that Jay Cutler is the franchise quarterback anyway. The Bears get by with a C-.
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NFC South -
BUCCANEERS: A
Tampa Bay receives my second-highest grade in the NFC. The Bucs did a fantastic job in this draft grabbing potential star players. Gerald McCoy at the 3rd overall pick has a chance to be a special player. He has a higher upside than Ndamukong Suh because he is a better athlete with quicker feet and poses true matchup problems. Second round defensive tackle Brian Price seems strange because he plays the same position, but Price was a first-round talent without question. These two will form a scary young interior defensive line, and I love that line of thinking. WR Arrellious Benn is another guy with first-round talent that slipped to round 2. He will be a playmaker for Josh Freeman. Mike Williams was another WR selection, and he can be a deep threat. Comes with some character issues though. Cornerback Myron Lewis was another solid selection. They added a linebacker and safety in late rounds. All around, this draft was one of the best in the league. They didn’t worry about filling every need, and instead focused on becoming superior in certain areas. Two top talent defensive tackles will help this team dramatically in the next few years, and the scrappy offensive attack got a lot more dynamic with 2 playmaking receivers. This was an “A” draft.
SAINTS: B
The Super Bowl champs got a very solid player at pick 32 with cornerback Patrick Robinson. He fits in very well with New Orleans’ playmaking secondary. OT Charles Brown was another good pick in round 2. Brown was considered a fringe first rounder, and he seems like the left tackle of the future. TE Jimmy Graham is a former Miami basketball player that the Saints hope can develop into the Antonio Gates mold. I love all 3 of these picks. Unfortunately, none of them came at need positions. The Saints are just fine at LT, TE, and CB. They needed linebackers and did not address the position. They truly drafted like Super Bowl champions that could select luxury guys. I give them a “B” for the talent they acquired, but they could regret missing out on need positions.
PANTHERS: B-
Carolina did not have a first round pick, but drafted some big upside guys. They ended Jimmy Clausen’s epic fall by drafting the Notre Dame quarterback in round 2. Tony Pike is another QB they drafted later on. Either one could become the QB of the future. Adding big name pass-rushers Greg Hardy and Eric Norwood could work out well. However, they traded away a future 2nd round pick for QB-turned-WR Armanti Edwards. Edwards gained fame during Appalachian State’s upset of Michigan in 2008, but he has no business being drafted at a 2nd round value. They added a better WR, Brandon LaFell, in round 3 as well. All of the Panthers’ selections are real talented guys. But I’m not sure they had much of a plan in the draft. The reason why they lacked a 1st round pick this year was because they impulsively traded for a player in last year’s draft. They did the same this year with a 2nd rounder next year that they will likely regret. I like the talent of this class enough to give them a B-, but there’s potential for this draft to become a big waste of moves.
FALCONS: C
Atlanta chose Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon in round 1, who lacks upside as a pass-rusher but will be a solid tackler and coverage linebacker for years. DT Corey Peters is another guy lacking great upside, but could make an impact immediately as a run-stopper. The Falcons certainly improved their run defense with these 2 guys. They also selected two offensive guards and conerback Dominique Franks from Oklahoma. It was a fairly boring draft for the Falcons. Weatherspoon should be a solid player, but there is not much upside anywhere in this class. They’re hoping 3rd round guard Mike Johnson turns into a starter. Atlanta is definitely building around Michael Turner and hoping Matt Ryan has enough weapons as is, because they did not help him out at all.
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NFC West -
SEAHAWKS: A+
The Seattle Seahawks get the highest grade of any team, with the only A+ draft. Seattle drafted franchise left tackle Russell Okung at 6, and scooped up playmaking safety Earl Thomas at 14. Both great picks that will be rookie starters and should have immediate impacts. Their second rounder was Notre Dame WR Golden Tate, who could be a big playmaker immediately. Cornerback Walter Thurmond was Seattle’s 4th round pick, and he has the ability to become a solid cover corner if he stays healthy. All 4 of these picks were quality and could lead to great success in the near future. The Seahawks also addressed a lacking running game by trading for RB’s LenDale White and Leon Washington. Coach Pete Carroll gets to coach White again, and he will certainly find a role for him. Carroll got another USC product, TE Anthony McCoy, in round 6. The Seahawks dramatically improved their roster for 2010, and they didn’t give up much in the process. I’m very high on Earl Thomas and Russell Okung, and Golden Tate was a good value selection at 60th overall. I don’t even know what to criticize here, other than the fact that trading for 2 veteran RB’s seemed unnecessary. The Seahawks did a fantastic job in this draft and deserve the A+.
49ERS: A-
The NFC West as a whole did a phenomenal job on draft day 2010. It does, of course, help that this division was filled with bad teams that got high picks across the board. The 49ers beefed up their offensive line with 2 beastly linemen in the top 17 picks. Anthony Davis is a monster LT prospect, and Mike Iupati is a potential All-Pro guard. While San Francisco failed to address the quarterback position, they drafted to give Alex Smith and Frank Gore much help. They have a plan and seem set on these guys as franchise players. The Niners added safety Taylor Mays in round 2, after he slipped down the board. Mays has the talent to become a star in the league, but will have to dramatically improve his cover skills. Coach Singletary will definitely motivate the talented Mays to become the best player he can. They picked up LB Navarro Bowman in round 3 and WR Kyle Williams in round 6. They traded for Ted Ginn before the draft to add an explosive special teams player. TE Nate Byham was drafted as a blocking tight end. San Francisco really improved their offensive line for both the passing game and the running game, and Taylor Mays might turn into a big playmaker for the defense. Very solid draft for the Niners.
RAMS: A-
The Rams also get an A- for the impact players they picked up in the draft. Sam Bradford was the number 1 overall pick and steps in as St. Louis’s franchise quarterback. I don’t expect him to start until late in this season, as he needs some time to mature, develop, and take NFL hits before he can be thrown into the fire. He has all the tools to become a franchise player. The Rams got him some help, too, by selecting tackle Rodger Saffold with the first pick in round 2, and WR Mardy Gilyard in round 3. Saffold might become the franchise left tackle, and Gilyard will be a productive slot receiver right away. Jerome Murphy is a physical cornerback that they got in round 3. Eugene Sims was a late-round pass-rush prospect. Overall, the Rams did a great job of executing their plan of turning #1 pick Sam Bradford into a franchise QB. Choosing a tackle and a WR to follow the #1 pick must really please the Oklahoma quarterback. The Rams may have neglected some other needs, but they needed to make this kind of move to add some direction to the franchise. They receive an A- for doing so.
CARDINALS: B+
Monster defensive tackle somehow dropped to the Cardinals at pick #26, and Arizona gets a major steal there. Versatile linebacker Daryl Washington was another guy that slipped to Arizona. Washington can play inside or outside linebacker, and was considered a first-round talent. The Cardinals traded away Bryant McFadden and failed to address the secondary in the draft, which hurts their grade. But the front 7 got a lot better, and this team is going to be physical on defense. They also traded for Kerry Rhodes to replace the departed Antrel Rolle at safety. After trading Anquan Boldin, the Cards began to replace him by drafting speedster Andre Roberts in round 3. He and Steve Breaston are similar players that will look to make plays at WR. The Cards drafted big-armed QB John Skelton to develop as a potential QB option in the future. The Cardinals really beefed up their front 7 in the first 2 rounds and added other upside players. Their entire division improved in this draft, but Arizona did not add enough sure playmakers to reach a grade of “A” like their division rivals.
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Debate, questions, and comments are welcomed. Let me know if you agree/disagree with any of these grades. Check out my grades for the AFC, as well.
