Draft Grades

4/25/2005 by Kyle Trembley. Let him know what you think! Email him...

The biggest weekend of the NFL off-season is over, and fans are dying to know whom the biggest winners and losers are. Is grading the draft the day after it happens accurate? No, but it’s still worth trying. In doing the grades, I’m relying primarily on the value of the players at the spot they were picked, and their value to the team that picked them. Personal opinion on specific players is of course mixed in, and I know Titans and Vikings fans won’t be happy. Still, all draft talk right now is subjective, and it’s pointless to assume that every guy is going to play up to his potential. Anyway, below are my grades, take them as you will.

1. Baltimore Ravens – A+
22. Mark Clayton, WR Oklahoma
53. Dan Cody, DE Oklahoma
64. Adam Terry, OT Syracuse
124. Jason Brown, C North Carolina
158. Justin Green, FB Montana
213. Derek Anderson, QB Oregon State
234. Mike Smith, LB Texas Tech

The Ravens organization knows what it is doing. Baltimore simply owned this draft, holding steady when they needed to and moving up to grab an absolute steal in Adam Terry. Clayton is a perfect complimentary receiver, and while I’m not going to call him the best receiver in the draft like some of the ESPN guys did, he’s great value at 22. I’ll take him over Williamson any day. Then the Ravens came back in round 2 with Dan Cody, who was overrated when Kiper had him as the #5 overall player but a huge steal at the 53rd pick. He’ll start right away at defensive end in the Ravens’ new 4-3 scheme. As mentioned, Terry could’ve been a late first round selection, and is universally higher rated than Michael Roos (taken a full round ahead of him). Jason Brown was one of the three best centers in this draft, and could start immediately too. Justin Green was unquestionably the best fullback, and will also start. Do you see a trend here? Baltimore filled needs while still getting wonderful value with every single selection. My hat is off to Ozzie Newsome, who managed to significantly improve his team—both now and for the future—while taking virtually no risks.

2. Dallas Cowboys – A
11. Demarcus Ware, OLB Troy State
20. Marcus Spears, DE LSU
42. Kevin Burnett, LB Tennessee
109. Marion Barber III, RB Minnesota
132. Chris Canty, DE Virginia
208. Justin Beriault S Ball State
209. Rob Petitti, OT Pittsburgh
224. Jay Ratliff, DE Auburn

I’ll believe the Lawrence Taylor comparisons when I see them, but Demarcus Ware looks like a darn good football player nonetheless. Spears was my favorite player in this draft, and he’s a steal at 20. He’s an absolutely perfect end for the 3-4, and brings instant credibility to the line. Burnett will start immediately at linebacker, and Canty is a very worthwhile day two risk. Petitti is a steal in the seventh. When you’re talking about a team that wants to win now, you can’t do much better than adding 3 sure-thing starters and 2 high-upside projects. The only thing that keeps this draft from A+ status is Barber instead of a receiver at 109. Still, a brilliant job of drafting by Jerry Jones and Bill Parcells; this defense is set to be real scary real soon.

3. Arizona Cardinals - A
8. Antrel Rolle, CB Miami
44. J.J. Arrington, RB Cal
75. Eric Green, CB Virginia Tech
95. Darryl Blackstock, LB Virginia
111. Elton Brown, OG Virginia
168. Lance Mitchell, LB Oklahoma
226. LeRon McCoy, WR Indiana (PA)

Just a fantastic draft for the fightin’ Denny Greens; they filled needs and got value. Rolle should be a great pro corner; and if for some reason it doesn’t work out, he can move to free safety easily. The selection of Arrington gives the Cards a starting running back without having to give up L.J. Shelton (as rumored in the Travis Henry deal). Eric Green will be the nickel-back and is a quality selection in round 3. Blackstock is an absolute steal, and his big play ability could transform this defense. Lance Mitchell had a top 10 draft grade 2 years ago before suffering a serious leg injury. Finally, Elton Brown is the best guard in this draft, and getting him in the 4th round may have been the best value of any pick. I love everything about this draft, and the Cardinals will compete for the NFC West in 2005 and beyond if Kurt Warner can do ANYTHING with the talent around him.

4. Philadelphia Eagles - A
31. Mike Patterson, DT USC
35. Reggie Brown, WR Georgia
63. Matt McCoy, LB San Diego State
77. Ryan Moats, RB Louisiana Tech
102. Sean Considine, S Iowa
126. Todd Herremans, OT Saginaw Valley State
146. Trent Cole, LB Cincinnati
172. Scott Young, OG BYU
211. Calvin Armstrong, OT Washington State
247. Keyonta Marshall, DT Grand Valley State
252. David Bergeron, LB Stanford

Has anybody ever run the second day of the draft better than Andy Reid? He orchestrated this draft beautifully from the first pick to the last, and got some real nice value. Patterson would not play well in 75% of NFL defenses, but he fits the Eagles’ perfectly. The scheme will allow him to do what he does best: be active and cause havoc in the backfield. Reggie Brown is a great fit also, and he allows the Eagles the flexibility to finally rid themselves of Freddie Mitchell. McCoy and Considine were very productive in college, and if nothing else will be special teams demons. McCoy could also replace locally-hated linebacker Mark Simoneau. Moats allows the team flexibility in whether they want to trade for Travis Henry or not. Even guys like Trent Cole and Scott Young have big time upside with relatively little risk at where they were taken. Great job by Andy Reid in finding players that can contribute; a lot of teams picking much higher would’ve killed for a draft with this kind of value.

5. San Diego Chargers – A-
12. Shawne Merriman, OLB Maryland
28. Luis Castillo, DT Northwestern
61. Vincent Jackson, WR Northern Colorado
130. Darren Sproles, RB Kansas State
164. Wesley Britt, OT Alabama
177. Wes Sims, OG Oklahoma
242. Scott Mruczkowski, C Bowling Green

The big winners of day two, San Diego got value with nearly every pick they had. Merriman is the exact player this team needed to energize the defense, and the pressure he provides will help the secondary more than any cornerback every could. Vincent Jackson is an intriguing player that will be allowed to develop behind veteran guys like Keenan McCardell and Eric Parker. Darren Sproles was just a brilliant pickup in the fourth round. He’ll be the team’s primary return man and third down back, and his explosiveness immediately improves this offense. Wesley Britt fell out of the second round after breaking his leg at the combine, but he’ll be allowed to develop behind Roman Oben. The only questionable choice is Luis Castillo, who was taken about 20 picks higher than he should have been. Still, he’s going to start from day one for the Chargers, and he completes a monstrous defensive line. People call him a bad character guy because of the steroid issue at the combine, but he was an academic All American and described by his teammates and coaches as a leader. Shaun Cody may have been a better selection, but if you’re a 12-4 team and you get a sure starter in the draft, you’re doing pretty darn well. He drops the draft from an A to an A-, but San Diego still did a great job overall.

6. Cincinnati Bengals – A-
17. David Pollack, DE Georgia
48. Odell Thurman, LB Georgia
83. Chris Henry, WR West Virginia
119. Eric Ghiaciuc, C Central Michigan
153. Adam Kieft, OT Central Michigan
190. Tab Perry, WR UCLA
233. Jonathan Fanene, DE Utah

What a turnaround Marvin Lewis is leading in Cincinnati. Every pick makes sense, and the team filled big time needs with Pollack and Thurman. For a team that needed guys who could get to the quarterback, those players are perfect fits. Character-challenged receiver Chris Henry will find a home in Cincy, where he can learn behind Chad Johnson if he’s willing. He’s real nice value in the third, and could be the steal of this draft. Chiaciuc is a very nice selection in the fourth; he’s the type of guy that makes you wonder what the Seahawks were doing taking a center in the first round. I can’t give Marvin Lewis enough credit for turning this perennial doormat into an up-and-coming contender through great drafts like this one.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers – A-
30. Heath Miller, TE Virginia
62. Bryant McFadden, CB Florida State
93. Trai Essex, OT Northwestern
131. Fred Gibson, WR Georgia
166. Rian Wallace, LB Temple
204. Chris Kemoeatu, OG Utah
228. Shaun Nua, DE BYU
244. Noah Herron, RB Northwestern

It still confuses me how a guy like Heath Miller falls to pick 30. Are the injury concerns really that big of a deal? Oh well, Bill Cowher has to be thrilled to add the best tight end in this draft to his already-strong offense. Miller is very reminiscent of Jason Witten, and will settle in as Big Ben’s #2 target behind Hines Ward. In a year or two, the #3 target may very well be Fred Gibson, who is great value in the fourth round. McFadden fills a need and fits the tough Steelers image. This was just a super solid draft for Pittsburgh, with Miller being the best pick and potential rookie of the year.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – A-
5. Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, RB Auburn
36. Barrett Ruud, LB Nebraska
71. Alex Smith, TE Stanford
91. Chris Colmer, OT NC State
107. Dan Buenning, OG Wisconsin
141. Donte Nicholson, S Oklahoma
155. Larry Brackins, WR Pearl River
178. Anthony Bryant, DT Alabama
221. Rick Razzano, FB Ole Miss
225. Paris Warren, WR Utah
231. Harnza Abdullah, S Washington State
253. J.R. Russell, WR Louisville

Great draft for the Bucs. Cadillac is the premier back this team so desperately needed, and he opens up a whole new dimension for this offense. Ruud is a hard-nosed high-effort linebacker, thus making him a very safe pick. Smith can stretch the field from the TE position and is great value in round 3. Colmer is a bit of a project at tackle, but has big upside. The incredible amount of day two guys will yield at least one gem, which could very well be Donte Nicholson. He dropped a lot after the combine, but he’s a quality football player at a position the Bucs could use. Every pick in the draft makes sense, and Jon Gruden has to be thrilled that he got the cornerstone of his offense in Cadillac.

9. Miami Dolphins – B+
2. Ronnie Brown, RB Auburn
46. Matt Roth, DE Iowa
70. Channing Crowder, LB Florida
104. Travis Daniels, CB LSU
162. Anthony Alabi, OT TCU
216. Kevin Vickerson, DT Michigan State

Nobody got 3 bigger names than the Dolphins, as all were projected in the first round by a good portion of mock drafts. Brown is the best back in this draft, and while I’m a little worried that Miami will overwork him from day one, he’s still a fine selection. It’s clear that there was just no market for trades in the first round this year, so I can’t fault Miami for not trading down. While the selection of Roth likely spells the end of Jason Taylor in Miami, he’s a perfect fit for the 3-4 defense. Crowder might not be a great fit, but any time a guy with his talent is on the board in the third round, he’s worth a pick. Miami will not have a hard time utilizing him. The day two picks are unspectacular, but Nick Saban knows college talent better than I. Very nice draft for the Dolphins, and it’ll go a long way toward rebuilding that franchise.

10. Houston Texans - B
16. Travis Johnson, DT Florida State
73. Vernand Morency, RB Oklahoma State
114. Jerome Mathis, WR Hampton
151. Drew Hodgdon, C Arizona State
188. Ceandris Brown, S Louisiana-Lafayette
227. Kenneth Pettway, LB Grambling

While left tackle is an ever-present need, Travis Johnson is a much safer pick here than Alex Barron would have been. Johnson has the versatility to play wherever on the line the Texans want him to, and he’ll join Jason Babin as the primary disruptive forces on this defense. In Morency the team gets a guy who could very well challenge inconsistent Domanick Davis for the starting job. Jerome Mathis, Mel Kiper’s annual small school sleeper, will stretch the field from the slot position. Houston didn’t get great value with any of these picks, but they made no mistakes and definitely helped themselves for next year and beyond.

11. Chicago Bears – B
4. Cedric Benson, RB Texas
39. Mark Bradley, WR Oklahoma
106. Kyle Orton, QB Purdue
140. Airese Currie, WR Clemson
181. Chris Harris, FS Louisiana-Monroe
220. Rodriques Wilson, SS South Carolina

Chicago did an admirable job with their picks by grabbing some fine skill position players. While Benson isn’t as big of an upgrade over Thomas Jones as, say, Mike Williams would have been over their #2 WR, this is a team that wants to rely on its running back, and Jones could not have handled that. Benson is the ideal workhorse back for this offense and will carry the load from the first game. The question is long-term durability, because Benson has taken such a beating already. In Bradley, the Bears get a receiver who could start immediately, though I’m not as high on him as the ESPN crew. Chicago added much-needed athleticism at that position, either way. Orton and Currie are also nice day two picks with plenty of upside. Solid draft for the Bears.

12. San Francisco 49ers – B-
1. Alex Smith, QB Utah
33. David Baas, OG Michigan
65. Frank Gore, RB Miami
94. Adam Snyder, OG Oregon
137. Ronald Fields, DT Mississippi State
174. Rasheed Marshall, WR West Virginia
205. Derrick Johnson, CB Washington
215. Daven Holly, CB Cincinnati
248. Patrick Estes, TE Virginia
249. Billy Bajema, TE Oklahoma State

The Niners managed to hold strong and take the best player for them with the first pick despite the perception of a potential contract squabble (which Alex Smith has since put to rest). After hearing Mel Kiper call Smith the “smartest player to ever go from college to the NFL” for the 45th time, I finally started to buy into it, and I really like his long-term chances in San Fran. The rest of the picks are all equally solid. They didn’t get any big time steals or spectacular value, but these are players that will help the team immediately and in the future. Baas is the most NFL-ready interior lineman in this draft and will start right away, and Snyder has a good chance to do so too. Gore is a big question because of his health, but he might push Kevan Barlow. The only issue is that they did little to help their defense, but the bigger concern is keeping the new quarterback alive anyway. Mike Nolan delivered a much-needed quality draft for the Niners.

13. Kansas City Chiefs – B-
15. Derrick Johnson, OLB Texas
99. Dustin Colquitt, P Tennessee
116. Craphonso Thorpe, WR Florida State
138. Boomer Grigsby, LB Illinois State
147. Alphonso Hodge, CB Miami (Ohio)
187. Will Svitek, OT Stanford
199. Khari Long, DE Baylor
229. James Kilian, QB Tulsa
238. Jeremy Parquet, OT Southern Miss

I love the Derrick Johnson pick. This guy would’ve been a top 5 pick last year if he had come out, yet teams somehow demoted him on their draft boards because he stayed in school another year. It’s not like he got worse! Yes he runs around blocks, but that’s nothing that can’t be fixed by coaching. All credibility gained by that pick was lost in the third round, however. I actually don’t have a problem with taking a punter that high, but I do have a problem with taking a BAD punter there. Colquitt was inconsistent in college and at the combine, and I’m not sure he can even make Kansas City’s roster. If your punter hits three 60 yard punts and one 10 yard punt, guess what? He’s cut. I like Craphonso Thorpe in the fourth round; given the Chiefs’ weak receiving corps, he could be starting in a year. Overall a good draft, but significantly brought down by the Colquitt pick.

14. Carolina Panthers – B-
14. Thomas Davis, OLB Georgia
54. Eric Shelton, RB Louisville
79. Evan Mathis, OG Alabama
89. Atiyyah Ellison, DT Missouri
121. Stefan Lefors, QB Louisville
149. Adam Seward, LB UNLV
169. Geoff Hangartner, C Texas A&M
171. Ben Emanuel, S UCLA
189. Jovan Haye, DE Vanderbilt
207. Joe Berger, OT Michigan State

I thought for sure the Panthers were taking Derrick Johnson in round one, but I’ve got no problem with Thomas Davis. He’s a bit of a risk since they’re likely moving him to outside linebacker, but he’ll still be able to pressure opposing quarterbacks. I like the idea of taking a running back in round two, but I don’t think Shelton is anything special. His teammate Lefors is the same type of player as Jake Delhomme, and a nice selection. I really like Jovan Haye in the sixth; he’s raw, but will contribute as a third down rusher. The Panthers didn’t do anything special on draft day, but they got decent value and filled some needs.

15. Cleveland Browns – B-
3. Braylon Edwards, WR Michigan
34. Brodney Pool, S Oklahoma
67. Charlie Frye, QB Akron
103. Antonio Perkins, CB Oklahoma
139. David McMillan, DE Kansas
176. Nick Speegle, OLB New Mexico
203. Andrew Hoffman, DT Virginia
217. Jon Dunn, OT Virginia Tech

I don’t like Edwards’ chances in Cleveland, where he’ll have a shaky quarterback throwing to him, no run support, and often be playing in poor conditions. The pick also has to upset Kellen Winslow, who most likely had himself under the impression that he was to be the centerpiece of this offense. Building an offense around a WR and TE with very little at QB and RB seems like a recipe for disaster. I like the other picks a lot more; the team needed talent on defense, and it gets that with Pool. Frye is fantastic value in the early third round, and he could very well see action as a rookie. Overall a pretty good day one followed up with an unimpressive day two. Perkins might be good, but there are plenty of questions about his health. The rest are non-impact players. Still an above average draft, despite the concerns I have about Edwards.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars – B-
21. Matt Jones, WR Arkansas
52. Khalif Barnes, OT Washington
87. Scott Starks, CB Wisconsin
127. Alvin Pearman, RB Virginia
157. Gerald Sensabaugh, S North Carolina
185. Chad Owens, WR Hawaii
194. Pat Thomas, LB NC State
237. Chris Roberson, CB Eastern Michigan

People are blasting this team for the Matt Jones pick, and while I don’t like Jones’ chances, I can’t criticize too much. The 21 spot was the worst position to be drafting this year, and nobody they drafted in round one would’ve provided any sort of value. Therefore, I can see the logic behind taking Jones. Either way, the round two pick of Khalif Barnes was brilliant, as many people had Jacksonville taking him with their first pick. If they had taken Barnes in the first and Jones in the second, would anyone be complaining? Starks is a bit of a reach in the third round, but the next three picks will all contribute immediately. Overall, this is a high risk/high reward draft, but given where the Jags were drafting, I can’t fault them for it.

17. New York Giants – B-
43. Corey Webster, CB LSU
74. Justin Tuck, DE Notre Dame
110. Brandon Jacobs, RB Southern Illinois
186. Eric Moore, DE Florida State

Grading drafts like this is tough, because the Giants didn’t have much to work with, yet they did a real good job with what they had. Not including the three top 10 corners, Webster was the best on the board. He’s a steal considering that he was taken behind guys like Stanford Routt. Tuck was projected by many to go in the first round, and he’ll help the Giants’ anemic pass rush right away. I don’t like the Jacobs pick; clearly the Giants miss Ron Dayne. At least they didn’t use too high of a pick on him. Moore is a pass rusher that should contribute on that weak Giants’ line. Overall I like the players they Giants took, even if they didn’t get many of them.

18. Detroit Lions – C+
10. Mike Williams, WR USC
37. Shaun Cody, DT USC
72. Stanley Wilson, CB Stanford
145. Dan Orlovsky, QB Uconn
184. Bill Swancutt, DE Oregon State
206. Jonathan Goddard, DE Marshall

Wow. Of all the teams we thought Mike Williams could go to, Detroit was not even on the radar. I guess he’s good value at the 10 spot, but he provides little immediate benefit to Detroit. The pick also has to rub Charles Rogers the wrong way; but there are rumors that he has done a terrible job in his rehab. The Lions absolutely saved themselves with Shaun Cody in the second, because he immediately fills their biggest need. They also snagged everybody’s favorite sleeper, Bill Swancutt, on day two. The Williams pick is baffling, but the rest of the Lions’ draft is one of the best.

19. Atlanta Falcons – C+
27. Roddy White, WR UAB
59. Jonathan Babineaux, DT Iowa
90. Jordan Beck, LB Cal Poly
128. Chauncey Davis, DE Florida State
160. Michael Boley, LB Southern Miss
163. Frank Omiyale, OT Tennessee Tech
201. Deandra Cobb, RB Michigan State
241. Darrell Shropshire, DT South Carolina

Not exactly an exciting draft, but Atlanta did a solid job. The quest to find Vick a real weapon continues with White, who was pretty good value in the late first. Babineaux can get to the quarterback, though it might take a while for him to contribute. Beck and Davis were reaches, but Boley could very well turn into a better player than both. Not too much to talk about with Atlanta. None of these guys look like stars, but they got a couple of nice players.

20. New York Jets – C+
47. Mike Nugent, K Ohio State
57. Justin Miller, CB Clemson
88. Sione Pouha, DT Utah
123. Kerry Rhodes, S Louisville
161. Andre Maddox, S NC State
182. Cedric Houston, RB Tennessee
198. Joel Dreessen, TE Colorado State
240. Harry Williams, WR Tuskegee

Chiefs take note: if you’re going to draft a special teams guy on day one, make sure you get a good one. If the Jets had Nugent last season, they’d have been the ones getting spanked by the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. That alone warrants the second round pick. As an added bonus, fellow second round pick Justin Miller will replace Santana Moss as the team’s primary returner, and eventually Donnie Abraham as a starting cornerback. Pouha adds depth to a D-line that lost Jason Ferguson. The rest of the players are unlikely to contribute. I like these picks, but the fact that the Jets traded out of a spot where they could have picked up Heath Miller is a bit disconcerting.

21. New Orleans Saints - C
13. Jammal Brown, OT Oklahoma
40. Josh Bullocks, FS Nebraska
82. Alfred Fincher, LB Connecticut
118. Chase Lyman, WR Cal
152. Adrian McPherson, QB Florida State
193. Jason Jefferson, DT Wisconsin
232. Jimmy Verdon, DT Arizona State

Not a big fan of this draft, but the Saints didn’t do terribly. As un-sexy as it is to draft a lineman in round one, Brown is a sure thing to start from day one and be a solid player. However, the next three picks are just bad. There’s no value in any of those selections, and none should contribute very much. McPherson is one of the more interesting picks in the draft, and it’s possible he’ll replace Aaron Brooks in a year or two. He’s the only good value pick in this draft, and saves it from a worse grade.

22. St. Louis Rams - C
19. Alex Barron, OT Florida State
50. Ronald Bartell, CB Howard
66. Oshiomogho Atogwe, S Stanford
81. Richie Incognito, C Nebraska
117. Jerome Carter, S Florida State
134. Claude Terrell, OG New Mexico
144. Jerome Collins, TE Notre Dame
192. Dante Ridgeway, WR Ball State
210. Reggie Hodges, P Ball State
250. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB Harvard
251. Madison Hedgecock, FB North Carolina

St. Louis had plenty of picks, but as usual Mike Martz squandered most of them. I like Alex Barron at the 19 spot, but he’ll have to move to right tackle, which adds another potential failing point for a player with a ton of questions about him already. His low-effort demeanor fits the Rams’ image, I guess. Bartell and Atogwe won’t help for at least a year. Incognito has some character issues, but may eventually turn into a good player. The rest are unspectacular, but I do like Dante Ridgeway in the later rounds. Not a great draft by any means for the Rams, but at least they didn’t take Ryan Pickett (former first rounder) again.

23. New England Patriots - C
32. Logan Mankins, OG Fresno State
84. Ellis Hobbs, CB Iowa State
100. Nick Kaczur, OG Toledo
133. James Sanders, S Fresno State
170. Ryan Claridge, LB UNLV
230. Matt Cassel, QB USC
255. Andy Stokes, TE William-Penn

There’s a point at which you have to say: value be damned, the Patriots know what they’re doing. The top two picks were taken more than a full round ahead of where they should have been, but if Brandon Gorin can start every game on the line and Earthwind Moreland can play at corner, then why not these guys? Sanders will be the heir-apparent to Rodney Harrison, and Claridge will get plenty of playing time in that New England linebacker rotation. In terms of value this draft is an F, but down the road I bet more players contribute from this draft than from any other. It’s good to be the Patriots.

24. Green Bay Packers - C
24. Aaron Rodgers, QB Cal
51. Nick Collins, DB Bethune-Cookman
58. Terrence Murphy, WR Texas A&M
115. Marviel Underwood, S San Diego State
125. Brady Poppings, LB BYU
143. Junius Coston, C North Carolina A&T
167. Michael Hawkins, CB Oklahoma
180. Mike Montgomery, DT Texas A&M
195. Craig Bragg, WR UCLA
245. Kurt Campbell, CB Albany
246. William Whitticker, OG Michigan State

I question the Aaron Rodgers pick, but I’m not factoring that into the overall grade. He was great value at 24, and I certainly understand the logic behind taking him. The other picks are backed by no such logic, however. Collins was about the sixth best corner on the board at the time he was taken, Murphy is a nothing-player at a position Green Bay is already good at, and the rest of the guys follow suit. Why did it take the team so long to address the defensive front 7? Day two picks Coston and Montgomery may contribute in a year or two, but overall the Packers just did nothing to help themselves for the upcoming year. Can’t grade them lower than a C for getting what could be their quarterback of the future, but a real bland draft for the Packers otherwise.

25. Indianapolis Colts – C-
29. Marlin Jackson, CB Michigan
60. Kelvin Hayden, CB Illinois
92. Vincent Burns, DE Kentucky
129. Dylan Gandy, OG Texas Tech
135. Matt Giordano, S Cal
148. Jonathan Welsh, DE Wisconsin
165. Robert Hunt, C North Dakota State
173. Tyjuan Hagler, LB Cincinnati
202. Dave Rayner, K Michigan State
243. Anthony Davis, RB Wisconsin

Right idea, wrong players. Jackson is a fine pickup in the late first round, and his versatility will help the Colts right away. Still, the team could’ve used Shaun Cody a lot more. The rest of the guys are questionable at best. I could never see Hayden outplaying either of the Colts’ current starting corners, and that’s not saying much. Indy went off the board to take Burns, who is unlikely to contribute much this year. The rest of the draft is completely devoid of value. Overall, the Colts did very little to help themselves in 2005, or any other year for that matter.

26. Minnesota Vikings – C-
7. Troy Williamson, WR South Carolina
18. Erasmus James, DE Wisconsin
49. Marcus Johnson, OT Ole Miss
80. Dustin Fox, CB Ohio State
112. Ciatrick Fason, RB Florida
191. C.J. Mosley, DT Missouri
219. Adrian Ward, CB UTEP

Everybody gives the Vikings credit for “getting the guy they wanted,” but if he isn’t a very good player, then wanting him really doesn’t matter. The fact that a player who never produced at the college level jumped Mike Williams on the Vikings’ draft board is a classic example of how teams can fall in love with a 40 time. Even if Williamson does develop, he’s still so raw that he will hardly contribute at all in 2005. It’s already clear that the media and casual Vikings fans expect him to be Randy Moss right away, and Williamson is just not that caliber of player—nobody is. Yes he can run fast, but can he change direction, run routes, consistently catch the ball, or get the off the jam at the line? Not at this point. James is a nice talent, but can he stay healthy? Not only that, but can a line with 3 pure pass rushers stop the run? Too many questions to answer for a team that people are already picking for the Super Bowl. The other picks are average, with Marcus Johnson being the best. Mike Tice is apparently in love with average running backs, as illustrated by his move to trade up for Fason. In my opinion, the Vikings did very little to help themselves make any sort of run next season, and really set the fans up for major disappointment. Of course, if you buy into Williamson being the next Moss, then clearly you’re grading this draft very differently. Only time will tell what type of pick that was.

27. Tennessee Titans – C-
6. Adam “Pacman” Jones, CB West Virginia
41. Michael Roos, OT Eastern Washington
68. Courtney Roby, WR Indiana
96. Brandon Jones, WR Oklahoma
108. Vincent Fuller, S Virginia Tech
113. David Stewart, OT Mississippi State
136. Roydell Williams, WR Tulane
142. Damien Nash, RB Missouri
150. Daniel Loper, OT Texas Tech
179. Bo Scaife, TE Texas
218. Reynaldo Hill, CB Florida

I just don’t see how this is Mort’s favorite draft. Pacman, despite his talent, is severely undersized and has a questionable attitude. Only super-physical corners can succeed at 5’9 in today’s NFL (see Antoine Winfield), and I don’t know if Pacman can be that type of player. I find it very hard to believe Tennessee could not have traded out of that pick. This draft was incredibly deep at cornerback anyway, making Jones poor value at #6. Analysts say his great kick return ability will help the Titans, but are they really going to use their #1 CB as a kick returner? It’s not a terrible pick, but it seems like they could’ve done better. Roos is a reach in the early second round, though Chris Berman convinced me that he has some upside. Roby and Jones, however, are bad picks any way you slice it, as both would be lucky to ever be #3 receivers on an NFL roster. Neither has any kind of great athletic ability, nor were they overly productive in college. Why not take a shot at a guy with real upside, like Chris Henry? It’s not like the Titans need guys that will contribute immediately. Nearly useless day one for Tennessee (considering where they were picking) followed with an unspectacular day two. Roydell Williams was the best value, but they could’ve got so much better on day one. Oh and let’s all jump off the Bo Scaife bandwagon while there’s still time, all right?

I know people are going to argue with me on this one, but take a look at what could’ve been (20/20 hindsight I know, but it’s worth looking at). Let’s say they take Mike Williams (or Troy Williamson, if you really like him) with their first pick. They could still have made the same trade down they did in the second and grabbed Corey Webster or Justin Miller, then Channing Crowder or Ray Willis in the third, and still got Stewart and Fuller in the fourth. To me, that looks a whole lot better than what they ended up with, and there was nothing stopping the Titans from doing it.

28. Oakland Raiders – D+
23. Fabian Washington, CB Nebraska
38. Stanford Routt, CB Houston
69. Andrew Walter, QB Arizona State
78. Kirk Morrison, LB San Diego State
175. Antaaj Hawthorne, DT Wisconsin
212. Ryan Riddle, DE Cal
214. Pete McMahon, OT Iowa

Al Davis has never been one for convention, but in recent years he hasn’t been one for good drafting either. The trend continues in 2005 with the Raiders selecting two highly questionable corners with their top picks. Washington is the fastest player in the draft, but his on-field performance left something to be desired to say the least. Oakland unnecessarily traded up to get him. Routt was a complete reach, and there were better corners still on the board in the fourth round. Sure these two are fast, but being an NFL cornerback is about a whole lot more than speed, and neither will be very good players anytime soon. With the impending loss of Charles Woodson, is this team really going to start two rookies? People love it when teams take quarterbacks, but I got the impression that Oakland really wanted Charlie Frye in the third round and panicked when he was taken. Walter is a project with questionable desire and decision-making skills. Morrison and Hawthorne are what save this draft from complete disaster, and both could legitimately be starting by mid-season. If you consider Randy Moss part of this draft, then bump it up to a B. Still, the team could have done a whole lot more with its remaining picks.

29. Buffalo Bills – D+
55. Roscoe Parrish, WR Miami
86. Kevin Everett, TE Miami
122. Duke Preson, C Illinois
156. Eric King, CB Wake Forest
197. Justin Geisinger, OG Vanderbilt
236. Lionel Gates, RB Louisville

Buffalo better be praying that J.P. Losman is the next Jim Kelly, because that first round pick they gave up for him would’ve helped this draft a whole lot. For a team that just barely missed the playoffs last season, they did so little to get better it’s almost frightening. Parrish was a reach in the late second, and will not contribute at all as a receiver. If the team wanted a kick returner, why not wait another round for Darren Sproles? Everett didn’t produce much as the starting tight end for THE U, which tells you all you need to know about his NFL future. King and Geisinger will make the biggest contributions out of all the players in the Bills’ draft, and those will be minimal. Maybe teams should re-think trading future #1 picks to move up to get marginal quarterbacks? (The Redskins clearly didn’t get the memo; keep reading)

30. Seattle Seahawks - D
26. Chris Spencer, C Mississippi
45. Lofa Tatupu, LB USC
85. David Greene, QB Georgia
98. Leroy Hill, LB Clemson
105. Ray Willis, OT Florida State
159. Jeb Huckeba, OLB Arkansas
196. Tony Jackson, TE Iowa
235. Cornelius Wortham, LB Alabama
254. Doug Nienhuis, OT Oregon State

Some teams got great value and filled needs; the Seahawks did neither. The team could’ve used an offensive tackle to facilitate Floyd Womack’s move back to guard, but ended up reaching for a center. There’s a reason teams wait until the fourth round to get players at that position; it’s an easy one to fill. Tatupu, as great of an effort player as he is, just isn’t an NFL-quality linebacker. He would’ve been value in the fourth round as a special teamer and spot-starter, but in the second he’s a terrible choice. I like Greene at quarterback, but it’s not like he’s going to help the team in 2005. Seattle’s best pick was tackle Ray Willis, who could very well turn into a better player than Spencer. All in all, this is a miserable draft for a team that is hoping to compete for an NFC title.

31. Washington Redskins – D-
9. Carlos Rogers, CB Auburn
25. Jason Campbell, QB Auburn
120. Manuel White, FB UCLA
154. Robert McCune, LB Louisville
183. Jared Newberry, LB Stanford
222. Nehemiah Broughton, RB Citadel

Oh it’s ugly. Real ugly. I’ve got nothing against Carlos Rogers, but he’s a questionable top 10 pick. Is he even that much better than Fred Smoot? It’s debatable. But I’ll give Washington the benefit of the doubt on that one. Here’s the problem: the Redskins traded their first round pick next year and their third this year for Jason Campbell. Campbell had a nice senior year at Auburn, but his ability to translate his game to the NFL is questionable at best. His Wonderlic test score of 28 is significantly lower than the other perceived top quarterbacks (Smith, Rodgers, Frye), which calls into question his ability to learn a playbook and read defenses. Nobody would claim that his arm or his legs are horribly special, and you have to wonder what sort of intangibles he possesses that warrant a first round selection. Furthermore, Patrick Ramsey is still going to start in 2005, and with the team lagging way behind the rest of the NFC East this off-season, the pick they gave up will almost certainly be in the top 10. You have to wonder if the Redskins even think these things through. Aside from that, it’s highly possible that all the day two selections may get cut before they even play a game. Washington has been a miserable franchise under Daniel Snyder, and this draft continues the steep decline.

32. Denver Broncos - F
56. Darrent Williams, CB Oklahoma State
76. Karl Paymah, CB Washington State
97. Domonique Foxworth, CB Maryland
101. Maurice Clarett, RB Ohio State
200. Chris Myers, OG Miami
239. Paul Ernster, K Northern Arizona

It’s important to point out that the Broncos made a great move in acquiring the Redskins’ firstround pick next season. I’m not including that in this year’s grade, but I’ll factor it in next year. If it was factored in, then this draft is a C-.

After getting bombed into oblivion two straight years by the Colts, I can understand the team’s logic behind taking cornerbacks. However, I can’t comprehend anybody’s logic behind taking THESE cornerbacks. All were reaches, all have serious technique problems, and none will help at all during the regular season. The Broncos won’t get knocked out by Indy again, but only because they won’t be in the playoffs at all. Clarett is simply a vanity pick by Mike Shanahan, as he wants to prove that ANY running back can run for 1000 yards in his vaunted system. The pick could’ve been spent on an offensive lineman to actually help the team, but once again Shanahan’s ego got in the way. The 7th round pick used on a kicker is just Shanahan’s way of getting back at Jason Elam for getting injured a couple seasons ago. With this draft, the Broncos cement themselves as the NFL’s biggest off-season losers, and they could very well be looking at the cellar of the tough AFC West.