Because I'm so behind...

Yes, I said I'd give a preview of all positions, but it's not happening! I'm already waist deep in notes from the massive amount of games I have watched so far this season. Therefore I will be abandoning this effort, so the next thing you will see is full blown coverage of the season.

And Tom, I'll have to dig through the free agent offensive linemen to see what the Bears can do. I have to agree, it's probably the best option for an upgrade because it's a long wait before the first pick of the Bear's 2010 draft. What I don't want to see though is another 34 year old past their prime, future Hall of Fame OT.

Linebackers

Mychal Sisson, OLB, Colorado State- Sisson is only a Sophomore, so he has two years left before he’s eligible for the draft. He’s a big reason that this Rams defense is on the come and should be good this year and next. He needs to get bigger and stronger, but that’s easy enough since he will have the time to do so. He has good speed and instincts, and could develop into a very effective 3-4 style rush OLB.

Ricky Brewer, ILB, Colorado State- Brewer plays next to Sisson in the CSU 3-4 hybrid defense. Brewer is a year older and not quite as naturally athletic as Sisson but he has very good instincts. This is a position that is in vogue in the league right now, and a lot of the prominent guys in the league currently are getting up in age. If he can show improvement, his stock should go up considerably based on team needs.

Darryl Sharpton, MLB, Miami- Sharpton is one of my favorite returning LBs this year. Out of the LBs I watched last year, there were times where Sharpton really jumped out and he made you notice his skills. His only downfall is that he would disappear for as many plays as he stood out for. If he can become more consistent this year, he will move his stock up very high and I could see him pushing the late first or early second round range based on the closing speed, blitzing ability, and tackling skills he showed on film.

Sean Spencer, OLB, Miami- Spencer looked unreal last year as a true Freshman, and I expect big things from him in the next two years. If he can get bigger and stronger yet maintain his elite level speed he can be a sure fire first rounder. He’s very instinctive for such a young player as well and that is what impressed me the most. With Sharpton and Spencer, this Miami defense could be very good once again this year.

Sean Witherspoon, OLB, Missouri- Missouri lost a lot of talent in this past year’s draft, so Witherspoon is really going to have to step up as he will no doubt be seeing a good amount of game plans designed to take him out of the game. I’m not a huge fan of Witherspoon as his instincts are not where they should be for a player his age. Having said this, his athletic ability is top notch. He’s a perfect fit as a WLB in a Cover-2 style defense because he’s at his best when he’s allowed to run and flow freely to the ball. He’s not great in coverage, but it’s something he can show this year. If he can tighten these few things up, he has the athletic talent of a first rounder.

Mark Herzlich, OLB, Boston College- I’m adding Herzlich even though I know he will be out all season while battling a rare form of bone cancer. More than anything, I wish him the best of luck and hope he wins this battle so he can return to the field of play at some point. Looking at it from the business end of the draft, Herzlich will need to prove he can be a strong and healthy player when he returns next year. The only knock I had on him was that he struggled to shed blocks with his hands, but other than that he’s a complete OLB who can do everything well (rushes the passer well, is a very good coverage linebacker, and he shows great hustle).

Greg Jones, MLB, Michigan State- Jones is a pure 4-3 MLB and showed great instincts and athleticism last year. He needs to be a bit stouter at the point of attack as he is a bit undersized for the position, but if he can show the ability to take on blocks, shed them, and make tackles he should be considered a high round prospect (first to high third).

Sean Lee, MLB, Penn State- I was excited to see Lee improve last year, but he suffered a torn knee ligament in Spring and missed the season. He has played outside and inside and I think he is best fit inside. If he can show that the season off did not affect his speed or ability to change directions, he should be in good shape to push his stock further up into first day recognition. He has good instincts and should look even better now with a very good OLB next to him.

Navarro Bowman, OLB, Penn State- ‘Linebacker U’ should hold that tradition up for at least this year with both Lee and Bowman on the same defense When the season is over, Bowman may be the most highly regarded of the PSU LB prospects since LaVarr Arrington. Bowman is extremely fast, very powerful, and makes game changing plays. His instincts are a bit behind this part of his game, but he makes up for that by being able to get back into position to make plays using his athletic ability. He should have a big year now that Lee is back to help stop the run up the middle.

Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama- This will be McClain’s true Junior year and I fully expect him to declare for the draft. He’s started since day one of his Freshman year and he showed the potential to be a future first rounder even as early as that point. McClain is just a very good linebacker and is an ideal fit in the 3-4. He’s extremely instinctive and has such good field awareness that he seems to be a step ahead of everyone else on the field. It helps having a giant nose tackle in front of him keeping him clean, but his technique is very consistent in shedding blockers and making plays. This Bama defense is absolutely loaded with talent so McClain should shine this year. He’s a first rounder without a doubt in my opinion.

Stevenson Sylvester, OLB, Utah- Sylvester took over Utah’s bowl game last year and pretty much single handedly beat the Crimson Tide with several game changing plays. I’m very interested to see if this will carry over this season, especially since most offensive coordinators will have seen the same things I did and will game plan around his skills. If he can continue to stand out, he will be very highly regarded for his versatility and ability to rush the passer, tackle, and cover. I really like Sylvester and hope he has another solid year so more people will recognize his talent.

Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas- Kindle is a bit of a hybrid as he also played some down DE opposite last year’s first rounder Brian Orakpo. He will be a perfect fit as a rush OLB in a 3-4 as he has decent ability to drop into coverage and he can definitely bring heat in the pass rush. I’m most interested in seeing how he opens up his hips in coverage and if he can stay with RBs or TEs in man defense. I already know he can rush the passer very well.

Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina- I’m a bit surprised Norwood didn’t come out last year as he would have been a second or third round pick at worst. Norwood is a lot like Kindle in that he is excellent coming forward toward the ball and rushing the passer. He’s a big OLB with good speed and is probably versatile enough to play SLB in a 4-3 or OLB in a 3-4. he should have a very good year, even though he will not be surrounded by a lot of other talent to take double teams away. If he can still shine, his stock should move into the first round range.

Brandon Spikes, MLB, Florida- I seemed to be the only person glad to see Spikes come back for his Senior year. A lot of other draft experts were much higher on him than I was, but I still think he has potential to be very good. His instincts were no where near his physical ability after watching him play the past two years, especially for someone who has been a starter as long as he has. If he can show a better awareness for tracking the play earlier, read his keys, and continue to use his physical skills, he could be unstoppable. If he can put it all together, he will more than likely be a top half of the first round type of player.

Offensive Line

Russell Okung, Oklahoma State- Okung is probably one of the two-three highest rated returning OT’s, but I’m still looking for a good bit of improvement from him before I’m sold that he’s a sure fire first rounder. He has the size and feet to play on the left side in the NFL, but he had poor technique and consistency last year. Plus he seemed to get driven off the ball a bit too much because he had the tendency to get too high in his stance. Those are all minor things that can be worked on with some effort and coaching, so he may very well turn in a strong Senior year. This is a good Cowboys team, so Okung will get some time in the national spotlight.

Ciron Black, LSU- Black is very experienced but I’m not sold that he can be an NFL LT. He has struggled against speed rushers his past two years, and I don’t know if he will ever get quicker feet. If he can improve his kick step, he might work out, but more than likely will need to move to the right side. I’m just not too high on Black, but he’s a very experienced starter with potential to start in the NFL at RT or OG.

Trent Williams, Oklahoma- The only flaw in Williams’ game is that he can be a bit sloppy with his technique, but otherwise he is my favorite returning player at the position. The most important thing for me to watch with Williams will be how he handles the move from RT to LT. He did a good job on the right side last year, and proved that he is solid in both the pass and run game. He will face faster guys on the left side, so if he can handle that, I think he’s definitely a top 10 pick. If he does not handle the speed rush well, I still think he’s a first rounder as a RT.

John Jerry, Mississippi- Jerry was one of the better RTs I saw last year, so I’m excited to see what he will do this year with Michael Oher gone. I would guess they will move him to LT this year, but I’m not sure that will be the right decision. Jerry is a big, mauling run blocker who I think will be very good at the same position in the NFL. With a very strong team returning, it will be interesting to see if Jerry can stand out with all of the other talent.

Zane Beadles, Utah- This is a name you probably have not come across on other draft websites. I liked what I saw in Beadles last year, and the Utes will have their hands full with a tougher 2009 schedule after going unbeaten in 2008. Beadles had some of the best feet and pass blocking technique from all of the film I watched last year, and that is ultimately what will help push him up draft charts. If he can show he’s gotten stronger in the run game, and hold his own against the speed rush, I would not be surprised to see his name a lot more come post season time.

Sam Young, Notre Dame- Young is a four year starter and a definite RT. He was tried out at LT for a year, and the experiment did not work as he was not quick enough to stop the speed rushers. I still think that Young has shown enough improvement over his four years to warrant a late first or early second round grade. Being that he is strictly a RT, this may push his value a bit, but he’s still someone capable of starting right away at the next level.

Sergio Render, Virginia Tech- Render is the only interior offensive lineman I have listed as I just didn’t see many center or guard prospects that stood out in this draft class. Render is a solid all around player, and will prove his draft worth in week one against mammoth Alabama NT Terrance Cody.

Tight Ends

Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma- It’s a shame that Gresham will miss the entire 2009 season after having knee surgery last week. I thought Gresham would have been a top 15 pick in last year’s draft, and had he shown even a slight improvement in his blocking this year, he would have been a sure fire top 10 pick. He has an ideal size/speed ratio for the position, and he’s an incredible athlete. He’s built like a basketball player and almost uses his body like a power forward to gain position on the defender and get to jump balls. Gresham will have to hope he’s ready in time for the post season all-star games and the combine, as a lot will be riding on performing well at these. I think regardless of missing the season, as long as he checks out medically, he’s a sure fire first rounder. But he will definitely lose some money more than likely.

Dennis Pitta, BYU- Pitta is a bit undersized and is more along the lines of the recent string of pass catching TEs. He’s got some good skills in this area though, and he would fit nicely into a team like Indy that lets their TE’s find soft spots in the defense. If he can show decent enough blocking, it may help to push him up into consideration within the first three rounds.

Rob Gronkowski, Arizona- Gronkowski may be the player that will benefit the most from Gresham getting hurt. He’s more of a throwback TE similar to Brandon Pettigrew from last year, who went to the Lions in the first round. He is a good blocker, has good size, and is a reliable pass catcher. He’s not a game changer in the passing game, but he doesn’t have to be. He’s just a very well rounded player at the position, and I could see his stock going up drastically this year as he won’t have many peers with Gresham out.

Wide Receivers

Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State- Bryant is built like the prototypical number one WR in the NFL. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he can jump, and he is a great return man to boot. My only minor problem with him is that he doesn’t catch the ball consistently away from his framework. If he can show improvement in this area, and it’s a very minor area, I think he will come out early and could be one of the top 15 picks in the draft. He’s definitely a difference maker at this position.

Philip Livas, Louisiana Tech- Livas is a bit of a sleeper. He’s only a Junior, so he technically has two more years to play, but he is a playmaker, he’s not a true WR, as he plays in the slot, in some wildcat formations, and some end around running plays. Livas is undersized and plays against lower competition, but he’s a guy that will be a very valuable pick for a team willing to take a chance on a tweener guy who will start off as a return specialist and potentially contribute out of the slot. He’s very fast, and you can’t teach speed.

Brandon LaFell, LSU- I was very glad to see LaFell pull his name out of the draft last year. He wasn’t ready to go, and probably would have slipped a lot lower than some though (second round or so). LaFell needs to show more consistency from play to play in his route running and effort. He had a tendency to dog it a bit on plays going away from him. If he can improve on these small points, he’s going to be very close to Bryant as the top WR in this draft. He has all of the physical tools you want; he just needs to match consistent effort with his natural talent. That extra year of seasoning could make a difference in millions of dollars come draft day.

Jacoby Ford, Clemson- What I liked best about Ford was his ability to get off the jam, and his speed to gain separation from that point. This is an often overlooked trait in college WRs, and it’s the one thing that causes many to fail right away in the NFL. It doesn’t matter how great a route runner a guy is, or how fast he can run, if he can’t get off the line right away he’s done for in the NFL. He’s probably not a high pick, but I think he will be a very good value pick sleeper come draft day.

Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati- The only thing working against Gilyard is his physical stature. He’s a bit shorter and lighter than you want on a perimeter receiver, but Steve Smith has shown you can still excel in the NFL if you are undersized. If Gilyard continues to show he can gain separation from the bigger CBs with his quickness, it will go a long way to prove to me that he’s worthy of a first day pick. His ability to return kicks helps his value a great deal as well.

AJ Green, Georgia- Only a true Sophomore, it’s hard to believe Green has two more years to develop. If he can stay healthy, he’s going to be a top 10 pick in the draft. Like Bryant, he has all of the physical tools of a top shelf NFL WR. What will be interesting to watch with Green is how many touches he will get with a new QB being broken in (after Stafford departed to the Lions in the 2009 draft).

Julio Jones, Alabama- Everything I said about Green applies to Jones as well. Jones needs to continue to mature physically and stay healthy. If he does that, he could be the next Calvin Johnson or Brandon Marshall (minus the domestic abuse).

Jordan Shipley, Texas- I love Shipley, but he will probably slip on draft day. He’s almost a clone of Wes Welker. He’s not the big and physical type of outside receiver like Bryant/Jones/Green, but he’s a precise route runner with great quickness in and out of his cuts. He’s a smart receiver, and has great field awareness and vision. His return ability is top notch as well. If I’m running a team’s front office, I hope other teams pass on him and I get a great deal in the third round or onward.

Damian Williams, USC- I’m very weary of USC receivers based on their track records of producing recently once they have made it to the NFL. I think that may stop with Williams. He was overshadowed last year on a supremely talented team, and I think he will shine this year (even if they run the football a lot with their stable of top notch backs). He might be in contention for the top three overall WR spots with another solid year.

Running Backs

Like most years, this is a position where you don’t see many Senior prospects. Most young guys know this position is the hardest to stick around at in the NFL, so I don’t blame most for leaving early. There are some very good prospects at this position though, and at least one who has the ability to be a top shelf NFL back.

Jahvid Best, California- Best was definitely one of the better running back prospects I saw last year, and even if he maintains the level from last year, he’s definitely the top prospect at the position. There isn’t much to not like about Best. He has great vision, he cuts and gets to top speed immediately, and he runs bigger than he is by keeping his pads low on contact. The only thing that will hurt him is that he has a history of injuries. I wouldn’t think twice about taking him in the top half of the draft though as he’s an explosive playmaker that can change a game with one touch of the ball.

Josh Adams, Wake Forest- Adams is probably a name you won’t hear much other than on this blog as I like what I see in him. He’s undersized, but another year may have allowed him to put some bulk on. He has great long speed, good short area quickness, and excellent vision. Like I mentioned for Riley Skinner, this team’s success will fall heavily on their shoulders seeing as the majority of their defense graduated. So Adams will get his time to shine.

Noel Devine, West Virginia- Devine is a lot like Best. He’s extremely explosive, but he’s a bit undersized and has had some injury problems. Steve Slaton has shown us smaller backs can carry the load at the next level, so Devine should benefit from this factor. He has one of the best accelerations I have seen in a running back, which is what will push him into the top two rounds of the draft.

Da’rel Scott, Maryland- Scott is someone I want to pay close attention to this year. In what little game film I saw, he was very explosive and flat out ran away from defenders. He also ran with good between the tackles power, which a lot of these top RBs haven’t shown enough of. That reason alone may help push his value up.

Trindon Holliday, LSU- To call Holliday just a running back is a disservice to the young man. He’s a flex type player who can catch the ball as a receiver and is dangerous on returns. I don’t see Holliday as anything more than a late round pick for his return ability, but he’s one of the most dangerous players at this position. He has world class track speed, and it translates to the field as well. He’s too small to be worked much into a rotation in the backfield in the NFL, but he could have a Hester like impact returning kicks and punts. He’s fun to watch though, as he can break a long one any time he touches the ball.

Charles Scott, LSU- Scott is the every down bell cow back for the Tigers. He isn’t special, but he’s consistent. He’s a good between the tackles runner who won’t break away from anyone. That’s still valuable to NFL teams especially for short yardage situations.

Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech- I’m going to be paying a lot of attention to Dwyer this year. I haven’t been as impressed with him as others seem to be. But maybe I’m missing something, or just ignoring him for the large part due to my utter disdain of the triple option offense. Even if his numbers are inflated due to this, he has very good size and speed to match, which make him a candidate for the first or second rounds.

CJ Spiller, Clemson- I have no idea why Spiller came back as he was NFL ready last year. I just hope he stays healthy, as he’s a difference maker who I would take in the first two rounds without question. He has home run speed, can hit the corner consistently and run away from people, and he’s a great kick returner. I don’t think he has much else to prove to be honest, so here’s hoping he stays healthy as I think he will push Best and Dwyer for the top back in the draft.

Joe McKnight, USC- McKnight is the poor man’s Reggie Bush, in that he has a sick burst but he does not like to get hit. He also suffers from playing in a three man rotation with two other very talented backs. McKnight’s speed is what will have teams drafting him higher than he should go, but I don’t think he’s a first round prospect at this time.

CJ Gable, USC- I prefer Gable to McKnight as he’s more of an every down running back. It will be interesting to see which back steps up, and also to see if any of the always talented incoming Freshmen will take some carries away from the veterans.

DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma- Murray gets hurt by the primary shotgun formation the Sooners run, but he’s an incredibly talented running back. He may have the best hands of any of the draft eligible backs, and he has great quickness and speed as well. Durability is again a question with him as he is a bit slender and runs a bit too upright for my tastes. He has talent though, and with more and more teams in the NFL emphasizing the pass game with the running backs, his stock should move up this year if he can stay healthy.

Mikell Simpson, Virginia- Simpson may be the only bright spot on this subpar Virginia team. They’ve lost a lot of talent to the NFL over the past few years, and it’s going to show a lot this year. Simpson has shown flashes over the past two years I have watched him, but like Murray, he’s a bit slender in the legs and is prone to injury. This will affect his draft status, but I like his ability to play a compliment role and hit long runs when he gets his chances.

Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, Florida- Both backs are very similar, so that is why they are listed together. Usually you will see compliment backs like Holliday and Scott on LSU, but the Gators are all about speed. Both backs are a bit too small for my liking, but both have incredible speed to the outside and can break long runs. Staying healthy will be the key for these two as they are not built to handle a great deal of pounding. With Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy gone, I expect to see a lot more focus on the run game, so these two guys should get their chances to shine.

Quarterbacks

This is shaping up to be an excellent draft for depth and talent at the QB position. Headlined by who I think is the best player overall in college football in Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, this should be one of the deepest positions come draft day with at least three QBs that should go in the first round.

Sam Bradford, Oklahoma- Bradford would have been the first overall pick in the draft had he come out last year (in my opinion). Apparently Bradford used the extra time in college to put another 15 pounds on and his arm is even stronger now. If he can showcase this, and maintain his top shelf accuracy, he’s a no brainer for the first pick (unless it’s a team picking first that already has a young QB in place). Bradford will be put to the test this year as 4/5ths of his starting OL graduated, and his top two WRs as well, so if he stands out once again it’s because he is just that good.

Colt McCoy, Texas- McCoy has all of the makings of a first round pick and eventual franchise QB, but he does have areas to improve upon. I’ll be looking right away to see if McCoy has advanced in looking off defenders, and to see if the extra year in the weight room has helped improve his arm strength. He should be right in the thick of the Heisman race, and he’s one of the best leaders at the position in all of college football. If he plays at the same level as last year, I still think he merits a first round grade. If he improves, then he’s probably pushed himself to the top half of the draft.

Jevan Sneed, Ole Miss- Sneed was a guy last year who I really liked, and now seems to be the hottest commodity for some of the ESPN draft guys. He has all of the physical attributes of a number one overall pick, and he has the gunslinger mentality of a Jay Cutler. Like Cutler in college though, he needs to work on his decision making. If he can show the ability to mature and know when to take a sack or throw a ball away, this will go along way in proving that he’s worthy to be considered with the likes of Bradford for the number one overall pick. He’s very close, and I will be watching intently to see if my read of him from last year was correct or not.

Riley Skinner, Wake Forest- I don’t think Skinner is a starting caliber quarterback, but he intrigues me as a quality backup. He is not consistent enough in his decision making, so that has to improve this year for him to be even considered near the back half of the draft. This Wake Forest team lost a lot of defensive talent, so Skinner is really going to have to come through this year if the Demon Deacons want to have a shot. In the ACC.

Max Hall, BYU- I’m not a big fan of Hall, as I think he’s nothing more than a Graham, Harrell/Chase Daniel type of system QB. He has the chance to prove me wrong though, as he has proven to be a solid leader and an accurate passer. I just think his height and throwing motion will be what pushes him down come draft day. Still, someone to watch especially in the first game of their season against powerhouse Oklahoma.

Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan- It’s funny how Kiper was saying at the draft last year that he would be a potential first rounder in this year’s draft, and now nothing. I don’t think he will ever be anything more than a back up or third stringer in the NFL. He’s a poor man’s Tim Tebow, and that’s not necessarily a good thing as I don’t consider Tim Tebow to be an NFL caliber QB. He will have hype; I just won’t be buying into it unless he really shows something dramatically different to what I saw the past two years.

Daryl Clark, Penn State- I don’t think Clark will be a NFL QB, but I think he will make a team in some capacity. Whether it’s to run the wildcat or play WR, he has physical ability and speed. This team is basically starting over with a whole new set of WRs, so Clark definitely has the chance to show talent evaluators if he’s the real deal or not. I expect his defense to be the real deal, which is why the Nittany Lions will be contenders.

Russell Wilson, NC State- Wilson was one of two true Freshman QBs who really impressed me last year. He has the arm and the feet to be very good, but he’s short. If he can play above his height, he will have some real notoriety heading into his first year of draft eligibility in 2011.

Jordan Jefferson, LSU- LSU will go as far as the Sophomore can lead them. I like him more than Wilson, as he has the physical attributes of an NFL caliber QB. He has some talent around him, and if he can shine this year, he’s probably one of the two favorites for the Heisman and the first pick in the draft in 2011.

Terrell Prior, Ohio State- Prior is an amazing athlete, but not a QB at this point in his career. He will only be a true Sophomore, so he has time, but he has to show some improvement in the passing game. There is no questioning his running ability, which is right up there as some of the best I have seen since Vick in college, but his arm, accuracy and decision making all need major work. He will prove it best in week two against a tough USC team.

Tim Tebow, Florida- Tebow might very well go down as the greatest college football player of all time. That does not make him an automatic NFL star though. There have been others like him in the past that just did not transition to the next level, like Charlie Ward of Florida State and Tommie Frazier or Eric Crouch of Nebraska. He will make a team in some capacity; I just don’t see it as a QB. There has been a lot of noise this off season about how the Gators have brought in a new QBs coach who was at Michigan when Tom Brady was there to help Tebow bring his throwing motion up to be more over the top (and not the unorthodox side arm motion he has had to date). I will be the first to say that I don’t think this will matter at all. His throwing motion is only part of the problem I have with him. His run first mentality is where it becomes an issue. The league is showing more and more now that the classic pocket passer who can make their reads and get the throw out on time is the one who will lead your team to a championship. So while I think he is a great player, and an even better human being, I just don’t think he will ever play anything more than a gimmick QB in the NFL. I’d love to see him move to safety or h-back, as he is tough and athletic enough to get on the field and contribute in the NFL.

Tim Hiller, Eastern Michigan- I have seen very little of Hillier, but he’s a player to take note of this season. He has the physical attributes of an NFL QB; it’s just his experience against lower competition that will hurt him. Keep an eye out for him and remember his name as I think he will be a hot commodity come draft time.

Todd Reesing, Kansas- Reesing is a system QB who is very successful and experienced, but far too short to ever be an NFL QB. I expect him to put up huge numbers this year, but I don’t expect him to be drafted.

Players to watch in 2009

Now that the 2009 college football season has gotten underway, here is a breakdown by position of the players I will be paying special attention to this year. There are several teams stacked with NFL grade talent as well, so I highly recommend watching as many games of the following teams as possible:

Oklahoma, Florida, USC, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas, Penn State, and Oklahoma State

There are others I have probably missed, but those are the teams right off the top of my head that I know have several players who merit first day draft grades.

AFC South

Jacksonville Jaguars

I’m a big fan of the last two drafts by the Jags. Granted, they massively underachieved expectations last year, but they are building thing from the foundation up. Last year their first two picks were spent on brining in impact pass rushers, and this year it was spent on bringing in bookend pass blockers. This OL was not good last year, so I expect Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton to both fight for playing time right away. I think this is a very good combination of tackles as well, seeing as Monroe is a prototypical LT and Britton fits very well on the right side in the mold of a young John Tait. I cannot stress enough the importance of the OL and DL in continued success for a team, and these last two drafts have set the Jags up nicely to compete for some time now. The rest of the draft was a mixed bag though. Terrance Knighton out of Temple is a good run stuffing DT, which this defense needed, but I think he would have been available much later than the third. Same goes for William and Mary CB Derek Cox. Yes, it was a position of need for this team, but this seemed like a reach to me. Jacksonville got back on track by picking up Mike Thomas in the 4th. I loved Thomas tenacity and route running skills. Yes, he’s undersized and will probably have to play strictly in the slot due to this, but he can be a prolific slot receiver in the NFL. Plus he has the ability to return punts and kicks. With so many recent misses at the WR position via the draft for this team, I actually think they finally hit on one. Tiquan Underwood was underrated as a WR as well, and was definitely worth a shot in the 7th. My only concern is he is a lot like Thomas, so I only see the one making the team. Rashad Jennings of Liberty slipped a lot further than I thought. He was one of the very few impressive big backs in the draft, so I thought someone would have taken him for short yardage purposes sooner than the 7th. But their loss is Jacksonville’s gain and I think he will make the team. I don’t think he will ever be more than a goal line and short yardage back though, as his talent as a runner is not as impressive as his physical numbers would indicate. Overall, not a bad draft for the Jag. I would full expect them to now work hard in the next draft on WR or CB.

Indianapolis Colts

With the love fest I gave to the AFC East front office guys, I need to also pay my respects to one of the long time great personnel men in Bill Polian. He has kept the Colts in the playoffs for almost an entire decade, all the while being hamstrung by the overwhelming cap space eaten up by all of the talent on this offense. The Colts always do a great job of filling needs via the draft, developing the player, then having a back up plan once that player gets to a point where his contract is up and they cannot afford him anymore. I think even I was surprised to see the Colts take a running back in the first round, but Donald Brown in a fantastic fit for this offense. He is a great one cut runner, which is critical in a zone blocking run offense, and he has very good hands catching the ball out of the backfield. This pick screams value over need, which I cannot argue with. New head coach Jim Caldwell, even though he was previously the defensive coordinator, wants to change the defensive line around and get a bit bigger up the middle. USC DT Fili Moala is a very good undertackle prospect, and worthy of the second round pick. Fourth rounder Terrance Taylor of Michigan is the beefy run stopper that this defense has needed, and he should see a good amount of playing time on running downs. The Colts also picked a QB who I thought looked great last year, and struggled in his senior year in Purdue’s Curtis Painter. If Indy can pull out the junior year Painter, I think the Colts may have found the long term back up and potential replacement for Manning once he decides to hang it up. It’s a great pick for a 6th rounder.

Tennessee Titans

Last year’s draft surprised me last year, as Tennessee made some slight reaches. Most thought the Titans were stupid for getting yet another running back in the first round in Chris Johnson, but he proved all of the ‘experts’ wrong. The Titans have never been known for their strength at the WR position, and they have not done much to really address this. That changed this year with first round pick Kenny Britt of Rutgers. I don’t think Britt will contribute right away as he needs to refine his route running and catching with his hands. What he can do is provide a physical presence for blocking in the run game, and he can jump so I expect a lot of red zone jump balls to be thrown his way. Auburn DT Sen’Derrick Marks will fit right into the defensive tackle rotation and provides them with a good interior pass rush. Getting Jared Cook in the third round was straight up larceny. I was one of the few who weren’t as high on Cook due to the fact that he is really only a pass catcher at this point in his career. Having said that though, he was easily the best pass catching TE in the entire draft and should have gone in the second round. The Titans love to utilize the TE, so I expect Cook to get into the line up and see some solid playing time. Fellow third rounder Ryan Mouton of Hawaii is a very physical corner, which is exactly the type of player this defense requires. In what I felt was their best pick, the Titans got one of my absolute favorite LBs in Southern Miss’s Gerald McRath. McRath played ILB in college, but I think he’s versatile and fast enough to play any of the three LB positions. I think that he will eventually be a top end starting LB within the next three years. The fact that Javon Ringer fell to the 5th round was a bit of a surprise, but the bigger surprise is that Tennessee picked him. They already have three running backs that were 3rd round picks or above (Johnson, LenDale White, and Chris Henry), so I have no idea why they went for Ringer. I really like Ringer, even though I understand team’s hesitancy in picking him due to the heavy amount of carries and wear his legs took in college. Maybe this signals the end for White, who will be a free agent after this season. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with the Titans draft. They are a well coached team, and they have added some essential pieces in this draft to stay relevant for the next few years.

Houston Texans

The Texans seem to be the chic pick for the past two years as the team that will surprise. I don’t think you can call them a surprise anymore. The Texans have done a great job in the draft over the past 4-5 years, and I think they will start to really push to the front of the line in the NFC South. Mario Williams is a bona fide superstar at DE, and teams game plan against him. The hard part of that is that the Texans have not had a presence on the other side of Williams to make teams pay for doubling him up. Their first two picks in the draft will make teams pay for running away from Williams. Brian Cushing is a great, well rounded SLB. He can rush the passer, he can drop into coverage, and he attacks the line to set the edge against the run. Playing next to a Pro Bowl middle linebacker in Demeco Ryans will only make Cushing that much more effective. The versatile DE/TE/OLB Connor Barwin of Cincinnati was a great value pick in the second round, and he can provide the companion pass rush to Williams that I think will help him push for defensive player of the year honors. Barwin will see a lot of single team blocks, but he’s also going to need some coaching on proper technique seeing as he’s only played DE for one season. Antoine Caldwell was an All American OC at Alabama, and he’s the tough inside run blocking presence this OL is still lacking. I think Caldwell will start right away. I was surprised to see the Texans go with back to back TE’s, but both are different types of players. Anthony Hill of NC State is a blocking TE who will compliment Pro Bowl TE Owen Daniels. James Casey of Rice is a lot like Daniels and I could see both on the field at the same time to help exploit matchups. Rice is versatile and is a good enough athlete to play an H-back role, a slot receiver role, and a traditional inline TE role as well. He was an unreal value in the 5th. This is a draft class that I see paying big dividends right away for Houston, and I expect them to take the next step this season and start to push for a playoff spot.

AFC East

New England Patriots

As much as I am not a big fan of the way Bill Belichick purports himself at times, I have to respect and admire his talent evaluation skills. He’s one of the few head coaches who really understands and appreciates the draft process. He has a great grasp of the value of where he is picking and he knows exactly what type of player fits into his mold on offense and defense. In fact, I think this year’s draft proves to me that it was always Belichick that made the main calls in the past years drafts (and not former player personnel chief Scott Pioli, who is now GM for the Chiefs). The Patriots had some very specific needs, and I think they filled a few of them with players who might have a shot immediately. Oregon SS Patrick Chung has been a favorite of mine for the past two years, and I think he’s the perfect fit into this defense. He brings a Rodney Harrison like toughness in the run game, he’s a fierce hitter that you have to respect if you are a wide receiver going over the middle, and he’s fluid enough to turn and run in deep coverage. When the dust of the preseason settles, I think Chung will be the starting SS for this team. I was surprised to see New England also go after Boston College NT Ron Brace in the early second, but after seeing the off season acrimony in the Vince Wilfork contract extension negotiations, it makes perfect sense. True 3-4 NTs are extremely difficult to find, especially ones who can make a difference. It is the key component to running a successful 3-4 defense. Brace at the very worst gives them someone to rotate in with Wilfork to keep them both fresh, and best he gives them someone they can throw in as his long term replacement should they get sick of his demands and trade him or watch him walk in free agency. With the amount of deals the Patriots pull off, and the number of teams wanting to move to 3-4 defenses, I could see Belichick getting a decent first round pick and possibly more in return for Wilfork. At least that’s an option with Brace in the fold. Darius Butler slid a lot further than I thought he would, but he went to the team that I thought would fit his skills best. He’s a great all around corner, but he reminds me of Ty Law. He’s very physical, he’s a very good cover corner, and he’s great in the run game. There is a lot of youth at CB on this Patriots team, so Butler has the physical tools to be right there and earn a starting job despite his lack of experience. Houston RT Sebastian Vollmer was a bit of a surprise as a second round pick, but I really liked his upside. He’s still learning the nuances of playing offensive line as he’s fairly new to competitive football (he’s originally from Germany), so he’s not going to be rushed into playing time. If Vollmer can pick things up quickly though, he has the physical ability to be a very good right tackle in the NFL. Both Brandon Tate and Tyrone McKenzie were almost red shirt draft picks. Both have knee injuries and will likely not play this year, but both had physical talents that would have warranted a higher draft grade than the third round they were chosen in. New England is obviously a very talented team, so they can afford this luxury and take advantage of the long term depth and benefit they will get once these players are healthy next year. Penn State offensive tackle Rich Ohrnberger is probably a step too slow to play tackle, but the Patriots like to pull their guards a lot and he has the short area quickness to be very good at this (so I envision he will be played there). I also liked the 7th round selection of Georgia Tech DT Darryl Richard. He’s a good run defender and can hold blockers up at the line of scrimmage as a DE in this defense. He’s not a dependable starter, but I could see him making this team as a first line back up. Overall this was a very impressive draft, and that does not even take into account that with the maneuvering on draft day this year, the Patriots have set themselves up to reap massive benefits in the 2010 NFL draft (which as I have said already, is LOADED with talent).

Miami Dolphins

If I’m on the Belichick train, then I need to pay respect to who was the original conductor and that’s Bill Parcells. Yes, he’s not technically the GM, but do not believe for one second that the decisions aren’t made without his advice. No matter where Parcells has gone, he has always left a team loaded with depth and talent. It’s surprising that the turn around was so quick in Miami though. It’s started with their OL last year, and this year was focusing on the secondary. First round CB Vontae Davis of IL could potentially be the best corner to come out of this draft. The only thing Davis needs is good coaching and consistency. He’ll get that in the NFL, and with a demanding head coach in Tony Sparano, he’ll have to be consistent if he wants to start. Backing this up with Utah CB Sean Smith not only provides insurance should Davis not step up right away; it also makes a former weakness a strength. Smith is exactly the type of player Parcells covets so I am not surprised at all that he picked him, I’m just surprised that he fell all the way to the second round. If Smith has trouble fitting at corner, he is versatile enough to play safety as well. The head scratcher was picking Pat White in the second round. I get that they love to run the wildcat, but I just think that getting a QB who you want to run this for you that early is a waste. White would have been there from round three onward, and I just don’t see him ever being anything more than a mid level backup at best. Wide receivers Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline are very different receivers, but I think both will have a chance at getting a decent amount of playing time. This is a weak position, and the Dolphins opted out of chasing free agents, so they could use the depth. Turner is a tall, physical, receiver who Parcells always has on his team. He’s got work to do before he can be considered a consistent starter, but he should prove useful in the red zone at least. Hartline made a mistake coming out early, but I think he found a good spot here. He’s a good slot receiver, and he won’t be asked to do too much right away. I see him being a poor man’s Wes Welker in time. Safety Chris Clemons in the fifth was a good value as well, although I don’t expect that he will fight for a starting job. Overall, this wasn’t as impactful of a draft as last year’s was, but it’s another step in the right direction.

New York Jets

Umm, this is short. Mark Sanchez, Shonn Greene, Matt Slauson. Yep, that’s it! I can’t fault the Jets for being aggressive and going after Sanchez, as he has the potential to be a very solid starting QB. He doesn’t have a great team of wideouts to throw to, but they are adequate enough and the running game and solid TE (Dustin Keller) are enough to give him a chance. Shonn Greene is a great compliment back to this already very talented backfield. Although Thomas Jones had an outstanding year last season, he’s hitting that dreaded wall that all 30+ year old RBs get to. It’s just a matter of time before time catches up with his legs, and it’s time to go. Greene gives the Jets the straight line battering ram type of running back that will compliment scat back Leon Washington very well. Grabbing Matt Slauson in the 6th was a great pick up, as he can definitely be a solid back up and potentially push for playing time. It’s obviously light on quantity, but this was about as good as the quality could get for where the picks were.

Buffalo Bills

I’m a bit confused by the Bills draft. Not only did they trade away a franchise left tackle, which is something you should NEVER get rid of by the way, but they did not replace him at all. It’s a shame as well seeing as there were solid players available to fit this need as well. The Bills have talent, but I’m not sure if they will take that next step because of this. Aaron Maybin is a high risk high reward player, and I just don’t think he was worth the 11th overall pick. Yes, he has great first step quickness, but I just don’t think speed alone is going to make him a double digit sack guy in the NFL. To me, this may have been as bad of a reach as Heyward-Bey at #7. Eric Wood is versatile enough to play center and guard, but I just wasn’t as high on him as everyone else seemed to be. Once again, a tackle would have been the better value here. Jairus Byrd in the second round was a very solid pick though. He’s a tenacious cover corner, and he has some of the best ball skills of any defense back that was in this draft. Plus Byrd’s dad is the CB coach for the Bears, so he’s got great technique. He’s able to play safety as well, so I see Byrd making it on the field come hell or high water. Andy Levitre can’t play tackle, so he’ll play guard in the NFL, and he’ll get pushed around if he has to start right away. Another questionable pick, but the good news starts from here. The Bills hit on some very underrated players in the 4th round onward. Getting Shawn Nelson in the 4th was an absolute steal and I think he will be the starting TE come opening day. He’s a dangerous offensive weapon, and in a few years, we may be talking about him being one of the better players at his position in the AFC. Nic Harris will make the transition to WLB in the NFL, and I think he has a good chance to be very successful at this position as well. Cary Harris has questionable long speed, but he’s a tough corner and I could see him making this roster. Ellis Lankster is even tougher, and I think he’s the kind of guy you have to fight to keep off the field.

AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals

I never thought I would see a day where I could honestly say the Bengals walked away from Draft Day with what I consider the best overall draft class. This is a team that is notorious for not spending money on their scouting department, but they’ve managed to walk away with a very talented group of players. Andre Smith made an awful lot of wrong moves before the draft and shot down a lot of draft boards due to his behavior. And while I think this may have been a bit high for him to go, I won’t argue with it either. He’s a very good overall tackle prospect and can play right away at RT and eventually move over to protect Carson Palmer’s blindside. Now only if he could sign a contract and get into camp! The fact that Rey Maualuga fell all the way to the 38th pick in the draft is completely beyond me. He is one of the better physical, traditional 4-3 MLB’s I have seen in a while and I felt he was worthy of a top 15 pick. I have no idea why so many teams passed on him, but there must have been some concern. As I said previously though, an awful lot of teams are going to pay for that decision. Maualuga should start from day one and this team desperately needs a physical inside presence to set the tone in the run game. To then turn around and be able to grab Michael Johnson in the third was bordering on insanity. Yes, I was one of the people who said Johnson was overhyped due to his athletic potential and not his production. But he was easily worth a shot in the second round at the very least, even if he was used strictly as a pass rusher at first. Johnson should be in the rotation at DE right away, and this is a team desperate for pass rushing help, so I think he will also help turn this defense around drastically. Getting one of my personal favorite TE’s over the past few years in Chase Coffman in the third was a steal as well. Yes, he has issues with staying healthy, but if he does stay healthy he is far and away the best offensive weapon at the position that the Bengals may have ever had. He will definitely contribute in the passing game right away. It didn’t stop there though as Jonathan Luigs provides good depth at center, and was a great value in the fourth. Kevin Huber was the best punter in this draft (and one of the better punters I’ve seen come out in some time), and getting him in the fifth was a coup. Morgan Trent isn’t a great corner, but he will provide depth and again was a good value. Fui Vakapuna is a big RB who will probably move to FB for the Bengals and is a solid all around athlete for the position. A player that I really liked, undertackle Clinton McDonald of Memphis, was a downright steal in the 7th. He may need some time, but I really like his pass rush ability from the interior. He’s not an every down player as he doesn’t have the bulk to hold up, but he’s a good rotational option for passing downs. All in all, this was an outstanding draft and it may be enough to help the Bengals get over the top and save Marvin Lewis’ job this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers draft was not exciting or ‘sexy’ at all, but it just fit the mold of what they do year-in and year-out. Their veteran scouting department knows the type of player this team looks for, and they stick to that blue print very tightly. Ziggy Hood was a very nice pick at the end of the first round, as he was one of the fastest rising prospects going in to draft day. I have to admit that I didn’t think he’d be a great fit as a 3-4 DE, but he has the ability to play it and play it well. This was a major need for the team, and instead of reaching for a center like Max Unger, they went with the value in Hood. Snagging Kraig Urbik in the third also fills a big need. He will push for playing time and is a typical Steelers offensive lineman. He’s a big body that is nasty, tough, and good in the run game. Mike Wallace was a nice sleeper WR that I think can make some noise as a pro. He’s a bit undersized, so he may have to be used out of the slot to begin with, but he has game breaking speed and good hands. He can return punts and kicks which is a huge plus for a team that needs more bodies in this area. Other than that, only one other pick caught my attention and that’s 7th round center A.Q. Shipley of Penn State. I’m very concerned about his short arms, but it’s a bit easier to mask at the center position. It’s a no risk pick in the end because he could very well be the starting center for the next ten years, or if the arm length issue is a problem, it was only a late 7th round pick so it’s not hard to swallow if he’s cut.

Baltimore Ravens

Ozzie Newsome is the GM I most respect in the league, with the Charger’s AJ Smith close behind. He knows the game inside and out, he knows this team and its identity, and he knows the value of the draft extremely well. Other than the Kyle Boller fiasco of a few years ago (which I have to admit I was all about Boller as well going in to the draft), Newsome has really not missed on many draft picks what so ever. This year is no exception, and I think part of it has to do with a bit of luck as well. If you would have asked me going in to the draft if I thought Michael Oher would have fallen to the 23rd pick in the draft, I would have laughed in your face. I’m pretty confident in stating that Oher will start on the right side immediately and will make 22 teams in the NFL very upset that they passed on him. He could play LT, and I think that may be his best spot, but Jaired Gaither is going no where soon as he’s an absolute beast that not many people even know about (who by the way was another absolute steal that Ozzie got in the supplemental draft for what I believe was a 4th or 5th round pick). It didn’t stop with Oher though as the Ravens lucked out and had Paul Kruger fall to them as well. He was a bit of a ‘tweener player who didn’t quite fit at DE or rush OLB, which is EXACTLY the kind of player the Ravens find every year in the draft and they end up developing into monsters. Look no further than Jarrett Johnson if you want to see what Paul Kruger will end up doing for this team. He’s a very similar player who they will bring along slowly and he will eventually be a force for them as a hybrid outside defender. Lardarius Webb is a very athletic corner who was really only lacking in big time experience. With the slim depth at this position, I would assume he will see a good amount of reps right away. Getting MLB Jason Phillips in the 5th was another steal. I thought Phillips would be gone in the late 3rd round more than likely as he fit very well into a 3-4 defense. He gives Baltimore the flexibility to run more 3-4 looks as he will fit with Tarvaris Gooden for the back up spot behind Ray Lewis (and he gives them the ability to continue this look once Ray retires as well). Davon Drew of East Carolina was one another TE I really liked. He’s a very good pass catcher, and is a bigger guy, but needs to work on matching his blocking skills to that size. In any case, he’s solid depth at a position where injuries have killed the Ravens in the past. Cedric Peerman was underrated by most experts due to his injury history and his history of fumbles. For a 6th round pick though, he’s worth the risk. He can return as well so I wouldn’t be surprised if he sticks on the active roster as well. Overall another masterful job by one of the draft’s best talent evaluators.

Cleveland Browns

And here is where we come back down to Earth a bit. I won’t argue too much with the Brown’s draft as I like some parts of it, I just think that they got too little in return for letting the Jets move up to draft Sanchez. Why Mangini wants more former Jets retreads I do not understand. It’s like Shannahan a few years back with taking the Brown’s castoffs in Denver. Some players just aren’t good enough, and no change of scenery will fix that. I can see wanting players familiar with your system, but it didn’t work then so it won’t work now. New blood via the draft would have been a much better way to go. I cannot argue one bit with Alex Mack in the first though. You all know by now that I love Mack, and I think he will be a Pro Bowler in a very short period of time. If they can all stay healthy, the Browns may have the best LT/LG/OC combination in all of football. Cleveland needed WR depth as well, but taking both Brian Robiskie AND Mohamed Massaquoi in the second round may have been a bit overzealous. I like both players but I think the Browns would have been better off addressing the defense instead of taking Massaquoi. Now, if Braylon Edwards leaves after this season, then my thoughts on this become a moot point because they will need all the talent they can get. David Veikune as a late second rounder was also very puzzling. He’s changing positions from DE to OLB, and I think he has the talent to do this, but there were other defenders on the board that I think would have been better fits than Veikune. He’s only going to be asked to help in the pass rush right away, so I don’t think the return on investment adds up. I really liked Kaluka Maiava out of USC, and I think he suffered from playing behind three first round LBs (yes, Maualuga went in the second, but he should have been a first). He’s versatile enough to play inside or outside in this defense and he’s going to be a great special teams player no matter what. Besides Mack, he was the best value the Browns got on draft day. The other media experts really liked Coye Francis (CB out of San Jose State), but I wasn’t impressed with what I saw. He’s tall, physical, and good on the jam but he’s too stiff to turn and run with guys. If they play him up on the line all the time then he will do just fine. If they ask him to play off zone coverage, he may struggle. At the end of the say, he’s a 6th rounder so it doesn’t matter that much. I did not like James Davis at Clemson at all, but he’s gone to the perfect team to prove himself. The RB depth on the Browns is perilously thin, so he’ll get a shot to make this team and get some touches. In fact, I’m really surprised they did not address this position earlier in the draft.

AFC West

Oakland Raiders

I don’t know why I am even giving this team column space as Al Davis will run this team into the ground until he’s there himself. Why hire front office personnel if you are going to override them and pick guys who you like (mostly based on their 40 times). There just was not enough upside in Darrius Heyward-Bey to warrant picking him before Crabtree. He’s got great speed, and it stops there. He’s a raw route runner and he still fights off the ball a bit when catching outside his frame. Vampire Al could have traded down about eight spots and still gotten Heyward-Bey, but he didn’t and that’s why the Raiders will continue to draft in the top ten until he turns over the operations to actual football people who reside in the current date and time (and not the 1970s). Michael Mitchell was yet another example of this, and could have been the biggest head scratcher of the entire draft. Yes, I will buy that the Bears were interested, but I would also say that even though I do not trust Angelo I trust him to know that Mitchell could have been had any time from the third round on. Even if Mitchell ends up starting, he will have to play at a Pro Bowl level to justify why he was picked that high in the second when plenty of other worthy candidates were on the board. The only thing that keeps me from completely panning this draft was the selection of Louis Murphy in the 4th round. That was a very good value, and he should see the field early with the lack of WR depth on this team. I also won’t fault the Matt Shaughnessy pick either, as he can be a solid base 4-3 DE, but not as a third rounder. Poor is all I can say about this draft class until Al’s personal choices prove otherwise.

Denver Broncos

I think I’m smelling a theme within the AFC West, and it smells like draft day poo. The Broncos have done nothing but take missteps since the Josh McDaniels era began. Thanks for Cutler by the way, enjoy Neckbeard’s floating ten yard outs. I would suggest buying stock in Jack Daniels, as Orton is bound to be hitting it hard after his third consecutive three INT game come week four of the regular season. With a large stable of running backs already on the roster, a suspect defense in desperate need of an influx of talent, the Broncos made the great first round pick of…Knowshon Moreno???!!! I think Moreno is a solid RB, and should be a starting caliber player, but he’s not top 15 worthy in my book. I don’t think he will hold up physically as an every down back, so why waste a pick this high on a player such as this? Or maybe McDaniels realized Orton isn’t very good and that they need to run the ball well in order for him to be even remotely successful? Denver then went and followed up the Moreno pick with an even more head scratching move with Robert Ayers of Tennessee. Ayers was a fast riser going in to the draft, even though this was based mostly off the potential he showed in his Senior year and at the Senior Bowl and not his production in college. What makes no sense to me is that I think Ayers is a really bad fit as a 3-4 rush OLB. He’s a solid 4-3 DE who can anchor against the run and get after the QB when needed, but I think he’s too stiff to be able to drop into coverage and play the OLB position. Once again, there were an incredible amount of better players on the board when this pick came around, but the Bronco’s swung and missed once again. And just when you thought the picks couldn’t get worse, the whole Seattle trade comes out of left field and makes for an even more laughable start to day one for Denver. I will say that I really liked Alphonso Smith, and I think he’s going to be a top notch cover corner for a long time in this league. I just don’t think it was worth sacrificing next year’s number one pick for him, or at least not the pick that will more than likely be higher. If the Broncos shock everyone and finish 10-6 or better, then this is a moot point, but I would be willing to bet my mortgage that 6-10 is more than likely the outcome of the 2009/10 season. Darcel McBath is a solid safety prospect, but was a reach, and Richard Quinn was a MAJOR reach for the end of the second round! If they wanted a blocking TE, they could have gotten someone like Bear Pascoe in the 4th or 5th round. The only thing that somewhat saves the Broncos were there reasonable picks on day two. Dave Bruton was a good value and provide some depth with McBath at safety. Seth Olson fits well into the zone style running game of the Broncos, so he’s a solid value as a back up. Kenny McKinley was a bit underrated coming out of South Carolina and is not a bad pick here, but I don’t think he will be a major contributor in the passing game. Here’s what I said about Tom Brandstater, the QB they picked in round: “He’s a long shot and needs work, but I can see a team taking a 6th or 7th round flier to see if they can make him the next Matt Cassel.” I find it funny that the guy who helped mold Cassel is the person who drafted him. The best value pick the Broncos made all day was 7th round OC Blake Schlueter, who will provide depth and could potentially start some day. Overall, this is a poor draft and it will look even worse come draft day 2010 when the Seahawks are getting a chance at a top prospect while the Broncos wait for the 31st pick to go on the clock so they can prepare to make their first selection of the day. See, you get what I did there?? I’m smart like that.

Kansas City Chiefs

And the ‘what were they thinking?’ train keeps on rolling! The Chiefs biggest move of the draft was trading their second round pick for QB Matt Cassel. I’m still of the opinion that he’s got more Scott Mitchell in him than Matt Hasselbeck, but the jury is out. The one thing that is certain is he will be playing behind a very inexperienced and poor OL and will have few pass catching options outside of the no doubt to be double covered Dwayne Bowe. Picking Tyson Jackson in the first with the thought to start him right away at 3-4 DE was a no brainer, but picking him third overall was brainless. I will stand by my early analysis that Jackson was heavily overrated due to the fact that he fit so well into this type of defender. He may start, but in order to live up to his immense salary cap number, he’s going to need to be an impact player. And there are very few 3-4 DE’s that I would consider as ‘impact players’ in the NFL. What is even more puzzling was the pick up of Alex Magee in the third. With Jackson joining, this team has a glut of 3-4 style DE’s so Magee was almost a wasted pick. He has some upside, and can fit this defense, but I think he would have been better off as an undertackle in a 4-3 defense. I can understand drafting for depth, but with such a poor offensive line, the Chiefs would have been much better off going with an OL here instead. In fact, the only pick that actually made a bit of sense was Mr. Irrelevant Ryan Succop. He’s got a strong leg and may even end up winning out their starting place kicker spot. I can see the Chiefs being very bad this year, and this division should be an absolute cake walk for the Chargers. If you ask me, the Scott Pioli era has not started off well at this point.

San Diego Chargers

As you will have guessed by now if you have read my coverage, I’m a big fan of the Chargers front office. They do a very good job of scouting and they have a great feel for the type of player that fits their schemes well, even if some experts consider those picks reaches. The pick of Larry English was a huge surprise to me, but I can’t say it’s a bad pick. With Shawne Merriman out last year, you could see how much this impacted the pass rush. Shaun Phillips is a very good bookend OLB, but he needs someone on the other side of him to help pull away the double team. English is a converted down DE who excels at getting to the QB, so it provides good depth and insurance should Merriman go down once again or demand too much in free agency during the off-season. What was most surprising about the English pick was that there were two guys left on the board who I thought the Chargers would be all over (Michael Oher and Rey Maualuga). But AJ Smith threw everyone a curveball and went for the glamour position in rush OLB, which makes dollars and sense. The third and fourth round picks (respectively) of guards Louis Vasquez and Tyronne Green were excellent moves. The Chargers needed an upgrade of talent and depth at this position, and I think both have potential to start (and I like Green a bit more than Vasquez). I was thrown for a loop with the pick of 4th round DT Vaughn Martin. I had to look up information on who he was, as I have seen very little game film on Western Ontario. So with that, I can’t comment on how he is as a player, but I can say he’s an incredible athlete. He put up some amazing personal workout numbers for a very big DT. He’s athletic enough to play DE but big enough to play some NT as well. It’s a typical pick for the Chargers, who are willing to draft a talented player and let them develop into an eventual starter. Gartrell Johnson is the anti-Chargers RB. He’s a big battering ram, short yardage back, which this team did not have on its roster. LT and Sproles will be the primary backs, but don’t be surprised if Johnson gets some touches here and there to wear down defenses late in the game with his physical running style. The other pick I really like is 6th rounder Kevin Ellison. He’s a touch slow for SS, and might have been a better pick as a WLB in a 4-3, but he’s a very good football player. I read an article that said Ellison was the one player who almost every USC defender picked last year as the best player on that side of the ball. Considering the beasts that played for the Trojans last year, that’s fairly lofty praise, and I think it’s worth a shot on him even if he is a step slow. He’s going to find a way to contribute and I want those guys on my team. Overall, this is another under the radar but solid draft for the steady Chargers. As mentioned above, I think the Chargers have at least a two year window to run away with the AFC West due to the lack of talent on the other teams in the division.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are quickly becoming what I consider to be one of the more solid front offices in the league. GM Rod Graves has shown to be a shrewd decision maker who, if slightly risk averse, blends needs with available talent very well. The past two first round draft picks are perfect example of this in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Beanie Wells. Both were extremely talented players, at positions of need, who slipped due to experience and injury concerns respectively. I’m definitely skeptical of Wells being able to handle the pounding of a true feature back in the NFL, but for the 31st pick overall, he was an outstanding value. Knowing now that he has gotten banged up in the preseason and is out injured doesn’t hurt this theory, but I do think he will get healthy and will be an impact player for this team. Tim Hightower will steal some carries, but they are a good 1-2 punch of bigger backs who can wear down defenses late games. Cody Brown has very good pass rush potential, and will be afforded the time to focus on just that as a rush linebacker in their modified 3-4. He was a solid value late in the second round, and they need bodies at the position as this is probably the biggest weakness on this team (lucky for them their secondary is top notch). Perhaps the biggest steal they got was Rashad Johnson in the third round. I’m not a big fan of Johnson’s, but I thought he would go a good bit higher than the late third round. He’s not a physical tackler, but he’s smart and good in coverage. The Cardinals have one of the NFL’s best SS’s in Adrian Wilson, who is a fierce tackler and blitzer, so Johnson is the perfect compliment. I would not be surprised if he’s starting by week one. Herman Johnson sliding to the fifth wasn’t that big of a surprise to me as he’s not nearly as good of an offensive lineman as his size would indicate. He does provide depth though, and with some good coaching he could potentially develop into a starting caliber OG. Seventh rounder Trevor Canfield was also a very good addition and he should battle with Johnson for one of the back up spots at guard. Overall, this is a very good draft day haul.

San Francisco 49ers

I’m still shocked that Crabtree slipped to the 10th overall pick, but I’m also not shocked at all that he is still not signed. He’s a bit too much of a diva, but then again, what WR isn’t these days? If he ever gets signed, he’s going to have one hell of a learning curve and might not contribute right away, but he will eventually be a top flight #1 WR for this team. I was a bit surprised to see a team in need of depth and talent trade their second round pick, especially seeing as Everette Brown is who the Panthers picked with this selection, as he would have been the exact type of player this defense needed. But when you consider that the 49ers will now get a first rounder in 2010, this may end up being an even better decision with the talent pool that will be available. Glen Coffee seemed to slip through the cracks a bit, but he was a nice selection in the third round and should see time with an injury prone Frank Gore in front of him. Plus he’s got good hands catching passes out of the backfield so he will probably see some third down opportunities right away. I liked Scott McKillop a bit more than others due to the fact that he’s a perfect fit as a run stuffing strong side ILB for a 3-4. To be honest, you could put me next to Patrick Willis and he’s good enough to make me productive. I don’t know if he will start right away as he does have physical limitations like a lack of straight line speed, but he is a fighter and I expect him to be in the mix. I don’t think Nate Davis will ever be an NFL QB due to his lack of height and his documented struggles with learning an NFL caliber playbook, but he’s a solid value as a 5th round developmental prospect. The two biggest steals for San Fran were 6th round TE Bear Pascoe and 7th rounder Rocky Jean-Francois. Pascoe will see time immediately as a blocking TE behind pass catching vertical threat Vernon Davis. He’s an old school brand of TE that Singletary will no doubt like. Jean-Francois is about as risk/reward as you get. When he was actually on the field at LSU, I thought he was better at times that former top ten pick Glenn Dorsey. The problem is he was suspended for academics and off the field infractions more than he played. He’s a good fit as a 3-4 DE, and for a late 7th round pick, you can’t go wrong. If he behaves you have a great rotational player who is great at blocking field goals, and if not, you can cut him and not think twice.

St. Louis Rams

All I can say is that I am glad I am not a Rams fan. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of their struggles as this team is still not very good. Jason Smith was a no brainer and a great pick for this team. He should be the day one starter at LT and has potential to be a future Pro Bowler. It’s after this pick that things just don’t make sense to me. How the Rams passed up Rey Maualuga for James Laurinitis is beyond me. Laurinitis was more hype than substance, and I think it will show in the NFL. For him to be successful he needs to have big DT’s in front of him to occupy blockers, and this team does not have players like that on their roster. I think the Rams will not be the only team who will regret passing on Rey once the season concludes. I can’t argue too much with the third round selection of Bradley Fletcher either, as he’s the type of physical press corner that Spagnuolo prefers. With the lack of real playmakers at corner for this team, I could see Fletcher pushing for a lot of playing time right away. DT Dorell Scott wasn’t a bad 4th round pick as well and should play in a rotation, but he’s never going to be starting material in my opinion. The only other pick of note was seventh rounder RB Chris Ogbannaya of Texas, who I liked more than most other experts did. Once again though, he’s nothing more than a nice back up and special teams player.

Seattle Seahawks

I have to admit on draft day that I bought in to the hype that Seattle may potentially snag Mark Sanchez with the fourth overall pick. I’m very glad they didn’t, as they got arguable the best overall player available. Curry is a horse and will be an impact player right away. He’s just a terrific all around linebacker who will be a mainstay on this defense for years to come. Seattle also pulled what might have been the stupidest/smartest trade of the 2009 draft by tricking the Broncos in to giving up their 2010 first rounder for the rights to pick Alphonso Smith. I liked Smith, don’t get me wrong, but I think Denver is going to suck this year and the Seahawks are all the richer for this. I just couldn’t believe that Denver would be stupid enough to give up their pick and not the Bears pick, which is guaranteed to be lower. I understand you want to think you will be better, but they have to have realized that the odds were stacked against them making a big improvement this year and somehow finishing above the Bears in the overall standings. Then Angelo pulled his usual low risk move by trading down for volume on the early part of the second day. Getting Max Unger was huge as I thought he was a high second round pick at worst. He’s versatile and can play pretty much any of the five OL positions, but with Chris Spencer’s recent injury, he is poised to be the starting center right away. This was a great value for them, and in my opinion, worth giving up their third and fourth round picks to the Bears. Deon Butler was another very good selection as he will fit well on this WR needy team. He’s great out of the slot, and can return kicks as well. He’s going to see a lot of touches as a rookie, especially for a late third rounder. I don’t get the pick of Mike Teel, as he’s going to struggle to find a spot as a third QB. The late round picks Seattle made were very good value selections though, as Courtney Greene should be in the mix at their weak safety position, Nick Reed is a good effort guy who should find a way to stick with this team, and Cameron Morrah is a solid second TE option behind John Carlson. Overall, a very good draft considering the potential top 10 pick they will get next year (which for a team looking for a long term QB replacement, you couldn’t have gotten a better year for it).

Never fear, the Diesel Draft Analysis is here!

So I completely dropped the ball with finishing the post draft review, and I can do nothing but profusely apologize and hope you will still continue to be loyal readers. Seeing as I now have some free time, I will not only be finishing the post-draft recap but I will also do a look forward to the 2009 college football season. I mentioned it in passing last year, but I will come out and officially say that this is one of the better drafts I have seen in some time. There are more then ten players I could rattle off the top of my head who I would consider worthy of being a top ten pick in the draft, and that’s without many of the Juniors who I fully expect to leave after this year. Armed with some additional knowledge, hopefully you will all be able to enjoy the games you probably would not have watched otherwise, like Florida vs. Troy. Enough with the blabber and on to the coverage!

NFC East

New York Giants

The Giants decided to not pursue one of the veteran WR’s and instead stuck to the draft. I think this was a wise decision, even though a veteran might have paid better dividends quicker. Their draft netted them very good depth and some potential impact players.

Hakeem Nicks was one of my favorite wide receivers, even though his recent weight gain scared me. He will push for the number two WR position right away though, and he’s very NFL ready. He might not be a game breaker like Plaxico was, but he’s a more consistent player.

I’m not a huge fan of Sintim, and I think he’s out of place as a SLB in a 4-3, but he does have potential as a pass rusher. He’s not going to have to start right away, so their coaching staff can work on improving some of his deficiencies.

William Beatty needs to work on his hand placement, and he needs to get stronger, but he may be the heir apparent at LT. David Diehl is a better guard than LT, so that may be the long term plan a couple years down the line once Beatty has gotten strong enough to start.

I think Barden was a wasted pick as he will never be able to break free from NFL coverage, but Travis Beckum was a great value. He has a serious injury history, but he may end up being one of the better picks out of their entire draft.

Andre Brown was an absolute steal, and I think he’ll be the #2 back once training camp is done. He’s a bruiser like Jacobs, but he has more wiggle to hit the home run and not just run over people.

Bomar may very well end up as the permanent number two QB behind Eli.

This was quality drafting from top to bottom overall though.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles once again had a great overall draft. I like to poke fun at Andy Reid for his love of fat men, but the Eagles are one of the better teams in the NFC on a yearly basis for a reason. They know how to attack areas of need, but also have a great feel for value on players who they know will drop to when they pick.

Trading up to grab Jeremy Maclin was a great idea. I have absolutely no idea how he fell to the 19th pick (thank Al Davis Eagles fans), but he was one of the bigger steals of the first round. Philly was one of the few teams in talks for the veteran WR’s on the market, but they ended up spending less for a player that could grow into the #1 WR they have lacked since TO. At worst he will spell DeSean Jackson in the return game, plus he will contribute in the slot while he refines his route running technique.

LeSean McCoy was an absolute robbery, and he fits this offense perfectly. He’s probably the closest thing to Bryan Westbrook in this draft, and he won’t be asked to be the bell cow to begin with. He can team with Westbrook to help extend his career, while also helping him develop into the long term answer at this position.

Day two was a runaway success for the Eagles. Victor ‘Macho’ Harris is the perfect corner for this team. With Sheldon Brown bitching about his playing time and contract, they can now ship him out. Add to this the trade for New England’s Ellis Hobbs, and now the defensive backfield is really set. I’d even say that Harris could potentially move to FS if needed.

Cornelius Ingram some how slipped to the 5th round, and with minimal depth at TE, he may start right away. He’s a great receiving threat, so the McNabb is happy.

Fenuki Tupou was underrated in my opinion, and he’s the perfect fit for this team. He’s big, he has a mean streak, and he’s great in the run game. He’s the back up at RT and OG right away.

Brandon Gibson in the 6th was a great value, and I think he’ll surprise some people. WR used to be one of this team’s weaknesses, and now it’s not.

One of the best top to bottom drafts of the entire weekend.

Dallas Cowboys

Not surprisingly, non-football front office man Jerry Jones made some very questionable decisions on draft day. He loaded up with 12 picks on day two, but I don’t feel he walked away with anyone who will make a difference on this team. In fact, a good number of these guys will probably never even see the field.

Western Illinois product Jason Williams is an unreal athlete, but stifling him as an ILB in the 3-4 is taking away his best asset (his athleticism). A FS prospect like Rashad Johnson was available and would have been an instant upgrade and starter for this team.

Robert Brewster was a reach as well, especially since Duke Robinson is an overall better guard prospect already.

There were a couple picks I loved. Stephen Hodge of TCU was one of my favorite players in the draft, but he’s out of position here since he’s best fit as a WLB in a 4-3. He might play SS though, and he’s tough enough to fight for time.

John Phillips of Virginia is a good TE, and he’s instantly the number three guy. I was surprised to see him go after so many other no name TE’s did.

A 5th round pick on a kicker (David Buehler of USC) when you already have a Pro Bowl kicker on your team is about as stupid as you can get. Now, I will reserve slight judgment as Buehler is a very good athlete and is probably fast enough to contribute on special teams as something other than a kicker.

This was just a very poor draft by the Cowboys. They might rank dead last, but with12 picks (and one of them being one of my personal favorite players), they come in slightly ahead of the Raiders.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins didn’t have many picks, and I’m very surprised they didn’t go stupid and move up for Sanchez. Sitting tight was the right move, and even though it’s very un-Redskins like, they ended up with the best defensive end in the draft.

I have no idea why Orakpo went after Aaron Maybin, but playing next to Albert Haynesworth will potentially help him fight for defensive rookie of the year. In fact, if it weren’t for Maualuga, he’d be my pick for the favorite going in to the season.

CB Kevin Barnes will contribute right away and may even be the starting nickel back.

WR Marko Mitchell of Nevada was an absolute steal in the 7th was a steal, and I think he’ll contribute right away.

For most teams, coming away from the draft with three solid players would be a failure. For the Redskins, that’s success. They did not address the offensive line, which is an issue, but Orakpo was a gem.

I still think the Redskins are the worst team in the NFC East, and they could potentially be fighting for a top 15 pick in the 2010 draft.

NFC South

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers had to be crafty as they did not have a first round pick after giving this to the Eagles last year to grab RT Jeff Otah. The Panthers struck again though, and gave up yet another first round pick (next year’s) to move up in the second round this year to grab the slipping Everette Brown of Florida State. You all know how much I loved Brown, so I’m shocked he made it this far. I think he may be my early choice for defensive rookie of the year, especially with Julius Peppers on the other side. Yes, he was a bit undersized, but his assortment of pass rush moves was outstanding and I think this is where he will make enough of an impact to warrant a much higher draft status. It’s a big price to pay, but I do expect the Panthers to be in the race for a playoff spot, so it won’t be a high pick.

Sherrod Martin was a very smart pick as well. He’s versatile enough to play corner or free safety, and he’s got an incredibly smooth backpedal and hip turn. He might push for a starting spot right away at FS, and if not he’s the starting nickel back.

The other absolute steal of the draft was getting Duke Robinson in the 5th round. He was my top rated guard, and I just don’t understand how he fell so far. But then again, I thought Donald Thomas was the best guard last year and he slipped just as far. I expect Robinson to push for a starting job right away, and with the chip on his shoulder for falling so far, I’m willing to bet he’s the starter by the time the first game comes around.

Overall a very solid draft.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons get a so-so draft grade from me. They made three very good picks, but the other picks were just very average at best.

Peria Jerry was one of my favorite defensive linemen, and he’s a great fit for this team. If he can stay healthy, he can have a Tommie Harris like impact for this team’s pass rush.

William Moore was worth a late second rounder, even though I’m still not sure who the real Moore is (the Junior year impact player or the Senior year afterthought).

Lawrence Sidbury in the 4th round was an absolute steal! He will immediately join the three man rotation at DE and he should help improve what was a fairly poor pass rush outside of John Abraham last year.

I was surprised to see the Falcons not spend more picks on the right side of the offensive line. Garrett Reynolds is not a starter at RT, no matter what anyone tries to say. Overall though it’s not bad, not great, but not bad

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I’m not a fan of the Bucs draft outside of their third round pick.

Josh Freeman may end up being a better overall QB than Sanchez or Stafford, but he also has a lot more potential to bust as well. He’s definitely not ready to start right now, so it’s almost as if the Bucs are resigning themselves to a rebuilding stage over the next few years. To me, they would have been better off addressing defense and waiting on a QB (or letting Josh Johnson prove he can eventually be their future QB).

Roy Miller is a great pick that I liked a lot. I thought he would go lower than the third, but I had him valued that high.

Kyle Moore is a run stuffing DE with a small amount of pass rush potential. I think in this new defense, they want to have a smaller guy who pressures the QB from the weak side (Gaines Adams) and a guy to stuff the run on the strong side (Moore). So the pick makes sense even though I don’t expect Moore to be an impact player ever.

Seventh rounder Sammie Stroughter was a very good pick up, and he will make the team.

This defense needed more though, and another running back to add to the rotation would have been good as well. I see the Bucs taking a step back this year, and maybe for a few years.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints didn’t have many picks this year either after the Shockey trade from last year, so their draft grade isn’t great.

I cannot fault them on their first round pick of Malcolm Jenkins. I think he can play CB at the next level, but if I’m wrong, he can be an impact FS at worst.

Stanley Arnoux is more of a workout warrior at MLB than he is a polished football player, but I guess he fills depth and special teams potential.

Chip Vaughn was a great pick at SS and he will push for playing time right away. I liked him more than others did and I think he can be quality starter in the NFL.

NFC North

Chicago Bears

Of course I start with my beloved Bears! I think this draft starts and end with the pick up of Jay Cutler. Essentially, he’s the first and second round pick for this year. While the guys that got drafted may not be potential super-stars, all came from the third round onward. These are depth guys, who had good value for where they were picked, but if they fail then it's not a huge salary hit on all of them.
I actually thought the best comparison to Gilbert before the draft was Izzy Idonije. Long arms, a bit of a tweener DE/DT, good speed and athleticism. He's going to block at least two kicks this year, mark my words. Gilbert is depth, potential, explosive, and comes from good bloodlines (his dad and uncle both played in the NFL).

Iglesias is a solid over the middle receiver. He's similar to Rashied Davis in that he'll make his hey in the slot, and catch balls in traffic (but he’s got MUCH better hands than Davis). Good hands, just average deep speed, but good after the catch. He's the kind of receiver they needed, so it's a good pick.

Melton is a speed rusher who fits this defense perfectly. He's a lot like Mark Anderson, so I'd say good or bad, this is his last season in a Bears uniform.

Moore was a fantastic pick! He's ideal for the cover-2. He doesn't have good long speed, but he's physical and gets his hands on a lot of balls. Reminds me a lot of Vashar. He had the best technique and hips if any CB this year, at least in my opinion.

Knox is a speed burner that needs a lot of work to refine his route running. I won’t argue, but there were better players on the board here that I would have taken.

Here's what I said about Freeman before, and I think it held up well:

Marcus Freeman, OLB- Freeman is a really hard prospect to peg. He’s maddeningly inconsistent, yet the flashes of ability he shows make you want to pick him higher than you should. Some team is going to draft him higher than he should go with the thought that their coaching staff can get the most out of Freeman’s potential. There is not questioning Freeman’s athleticism, size, and speed. He’s what you ideally look for in a WLB in a 4-3 defense. The major issues with Freeman stem from his coverage ability. The minute he’s asked to flip his hips and drop into zone coverage or man up against a TE, he looks lost. Saying he’s horrible in coverage is being kind. But if it’s a run play or a blitz, he’s outstanding. I wouldn’t risk a pick on him until the 4th round, but I could see him sneaking into the 3rd round due to his potential.

Afalava and Kinder are just ‘eh’ to me. Louis intrigues me because of his size/speed ratio. The Bears announced him as a TE, because they intend to use him as a blocking TE. He came to San Diego State as a TE, but ended up playing OT then finally OG. He’s 6’3” 300+lbs and runs a 4.75. That is sickly fast for a man his size, so I can see why the Bears want to put him in as the blocking TE. It makes sense and it’s a fine point in the draft to grab a guy like that. In the end, if he can prove himself at OT or OG, then he’s depth across three positions. That’s good value for the game day roster.

Counting Cutler in there, this was one of the better drafts the Bears had. Without him, it was low risk high reward for where the players where taken.

Green Bay Packers

I absolutely hate to say this, but the Packers made some great choices in the draft. They really helped themselves, and got players that will help them move successfully to the 3-4 defense.

Part of this was being lucky enough that teams in the top either were stupid enough to pass on BJ Raji, so the Packers got the no brainer for the 9th pick. He will start right away as either their NT or the DE, and he’ll make an impact immediately.

Ted Thompson then moved up to grab Clay Matthews Jr, who will fit right in as the starting rush OLB opposite Aaron Kampmann. I love Matthews intensity and hustle, and he’ll be an excellent fit. He was a good value and worth trading up for.

I think the most underrated, but the absolute best choice, was South Carolina OT/OG Jamon Meredith. I really have no idea how he slipped to the 5th round. It makes no sense to me. He’s far too talented and versatile to not draft earlier than this, and I was really hoping the Bears would pick him up. I think this will put a chip on his shoulder, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him as their starting RT come opening day.

Overall, a very solid draft for the Packers, even though their CB situation is still a bit shallow.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings didn’t have many choices so they had to hit home runs when they could. I don’t think they did, but they potentially hit some solid doubles. A lot of their draft strategy came down to taking risks on high reward, high risk players. They better hope they turn out, or this will be a major reason why this team will take a turn downward for a few years (due to the simple lack of bodies they got).

Percy Harvin is outstanding with the ball in his hands, it’s just figuring out how they’ll do this. He’s not a natural route runner, and he’s not going to play RB with Purple Jesus back there. So while it’s a potential home run, if Tarvaris Jackson can’t find him, it’s a wash.

You all know I do not like Phil Loadholt at all, so I’m glad we’ll get to see him two times a year. Enjoy taking tickets when the Bear’s DE’s or Matthews Jr run right around you big Phil.

Asher Allen is a solid pick, and it probably the best corner they could have gotten late in the draft. He’s undersized, but so are most of the Vikings CB’s, so he fits in well.

I loved Jasper Brinkley, so I won’t fault them on this. With EJ Henderson’s inability to stay healthy, I think we’ll see a lot more of him than I would like. He’s solid, and behind those monster DT’s he’s going to crush RBs.

Detroit Lions

I wasn’t a fan of their draft after day one, but day two was not bad for the Lions. I think the Lions missed in the first round completely. I obviously did not like Stafford as the number one pick, and you all know I felt Pettigrew is nothing more than a mid level blocking TE. The fact that the Lions passed on Michael Oher still makes me shake my head. If you told me they could have gotten Stafford and Oher before the draft started, I would have said you were crazy and taken the money on that.

I can’t argue with Delmas as I think he’s going to be am outstanding safety. He’s undersized though and likes to play very physical, so that could hurt him at the next level. Even though I like him a lot, there was no way in hell I would have passed on Rey Maualuga at the top of round two like they did.

Derrick Williams is a solid slot guy and return man, so that’s a good value in the third. DeAndre Levy is better than people are giving him credit for, but they needed an MLB and not an OLB.

Sammie Lee Hill is solid and fits this team’s desire to get bigger on the DL. He’s a run stuffing DT, and nothing else, but that’s how Schwartz likes to run defense.

Aaron Brown is better than people think, Lydon Murtha is a nice developmental LT prospect, and Zack Follett is a back up.

So while I can’t say this is great, it’s not terrible either. But for picking as high as they did, I do not think that they came away with players that reflect this. Enjoy being doormats in the NFC North for at least another year Detroit!

Draft Recap

I’m going to go through, division by division and break down each team. On what my overall thoughts were, to borrow a line from Denny Green, the draft was what I thought it was. This was a very poor draft from top to bottom, and the picks reflected this. The second day of the draft was as random as could be, and to be honest, even I was burned out by the sixth round. A lot of unknown players ended up going higher than I would have anticipated, but this had everything to do with the poor depth and teams feeling they could reach for an athlete with upside rather than a proven big college player with a very low ceiling.

I expect next’s year’s draft to be outstanding, which already has me excited for the upcoming season.