Grading the NFL draft
By Bob LeGere
Daily Herald Sports Writer
NFC North
Bears: TE Greg Olson (31) looks like the physically gifted pass catcher they?ve been seeking for decades. He should make the passing game better in a hurry. DE wasn?t a need, although it was impossible to ignore the big-play production of Dan Bazuin (62). RB Garrett Wolfe was a reach at 93, but he has rare speed and quickness and is a home run threat. LB Michael Okwo (94) should contribute right away on special teams, but he?s probably not the next Lance Briggs. OG Josh Beekman (130) is a tough, limited-area athlete. Kevin Payne (167) is a hard-hitting, in-the-box S.
Grade: C-plus
Lions: Went back to WR in the first round for the fourth time in five years, but this one (Calvin Johnson, No. 2) was the consensus top player in the draft. QB Drew Stanton (43) could soon replace starter Jon Kitna. Athletic DE Ikaika Alama-Francis (58) has great size-speed combo and addressed a need; he is a project, although one with great potential. DB Gerald Alexander (61) played S last season after three years at CB and could be a perfect fit. CB A.J. Davis (105) is undersized but has cover ability to challenge for a nickel spot soon.
Grade: B
Packers: Needed big-time RB right now, but with Marshawn Lynch gone reached for DT Justin Harrell (16), who has some injury concerns but should start soon. Got their RB at 63 in Brandon Jackson, who wasn?t very productive as a one-year starter at Nebraska and doesn?t have great speed, but he showed run skills and pass-catching ability. Gave Brett Favre another potential weapon with possession WR James Jones (78), who has good size but mediocre speed. They needed a S and got a huge one in 6-4, 223-pound Aaron Rouse at 89, who can be a factor in the box vs. the run.
Grade: C
Vikings: RB Adrian Peterson at 7 is a huge steal if he stays healthy. He could have the greatest impact of any offensive rookie. Desperate for a No. 1 WR, but it?ll be awhile before raw sophomore Sidney Rice (44) develops into that role, if ever. CB Marcus McCauley was graded higher than 72 on many boards and could be a steal because of his tremendous size-speed combo and potential, and they needed someone to replace released Fred Smoot. Recent first-round DE?s Erasmus James and Kenechi Udeze haven?t worked out, so they added Brian Robison (102), an undersized edge rusher.
Grade: A-minus
NFC East
Cowboys: Traded down four spots and might have reached for Purdue?s DE Anthony Spencer at 26, but he could be the ideal rush-linebacker in their 3-4 scheme. OT James Marten at No. 67 could be a great bargain if he can play OLT, but ORT is more likely. QB Isaiah Stanback (103) is an elite athlete who could play any of several positions but is a project at all of them. NIU OT Doug Free was a steal at 122.
Grade: B-minus
Giants: CB Aaron Ross (20) addressed an area of need and brings added value as a standout PR. WR Steve Smith (51) gives QB Eli Manning another needed target and could be a better pro than more highly touted USC teammate Dwayne Jarrett. DT Jay Alford (81) provides much-needed help. Big, athletic LB Zak DeOssie (116) is a legacy ? they had to take him ? but he could be a steal at an area of need. Ignored OL need.
Grade: C
Eagles: Traded out of the first round and then made the worst pick of the first day, taking Houston QB Kevin Kolb (36), a product of the system. DE doesn?t appear to be a need, but they selected Victor Abiamiri (57), who has tools but didn?t use them effectively. Big, physical LB Stewart Bradley (87) will help shore up run defense if he stays healthy. Looking for a big RB, they got one with Tony Hunt (90), a bruiser and a workhorse.
Grade: D
Redskins: LaRon Landry (6), brings exceptional range and hitting ability and will team with Sean Taylor to give them awesome safety tandem. Having traded away picks without getting much in return (a No. 3 for T.J. Duckett), they didn?t select again until LB Dallas Sartz (143), a project with potential. LB H.B. Blades lacks size and speed but could make it on toughness, instincts and intangibles. Didn?t get any help on OL or DL, which they needed.
Grade: D
NFC South
Falcons: At No. 8 they got DE Jamaal Anderson, a bigger version of pass-rushing Patrick Kerney, who departed via free agency. New coach Bobby Petrino wanted more powerful OLs, and he got one in Justin Blalock (39). Moved up to 41 and added speedy CB Chris Houston, who might only be a nickel guy but helps a horrid pass defense. ISU?s big, fast Laurent Robinson (75) provides needed WR help but must improve inconsistent hands.
Grade: B
Panthers: Needing MLB help, they were able to get Jon Beason 25th, an undersized big hitter, even after trading down 11 spots and adding picks. WR wasn?t a need, but they may have gotten a bargain with USC?s Dwayne Jarrett at 45. C Ryan Kalil was a tremendous bargain at 59; he should be an immediate starter and a longtime fixture. DE Charles Johnson (83) is a high-motor, effort guy but lacks size and isn?t a great pass rusher.
Grade: A
Saints: Got value at No. 27 with big, fast WR Robert Meacham, a nice addition to last year?s seventh-round steal, WR Marques Colston. Needing playmakers on defense, went for DB Usama Young at 66, a four-year starter who could play CB and S and contribute immediately on special teams. Akron OG Andy Alleman at 88 provides depth for a solid but not spectacular unit. Why take RB Antonio Pittman at 107 when you?ve got Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister?
Grade: C-minus
Buccaneers: With Calvin Johnson gone, they got best pass rusher in DE Gaines Adams (4). Took OG Arron Sears (35) to shore up mediocre o-line. SS Sabby Piscitelli (64) fills a need and has excellent size and is solid in coverage and as a ball athlete. LB Quincy Black (68) is an ideal fit for their scheme because of his speed, range and athleticism. Waited until 106 to add CB help with Tanard Jackson, whose skills fit the Cover 2.
Grade: B
NFC West
Cardinals: With Joe Thomas gone two picks earlier, took next-best OT in Levi Brown (5), although he might not be athletic enough to replace departed Leonard Davis on left side. Wanting to get bigger on the DL, they took 324-pound DT Alan Branch (33), who fell out of the first round but could be a steal if motivated. LB Buster Davis (69) lacks height (5-feet-9) but is productive and a tremendous competitor. Failed to get CB help or DE depth.
Grade: C-minus.
Rams: DT is weak and DE isn?t a lot better, so they took Adam Carriker (13), who has enough size and athleticism to upgrade either position. Rutgers RB Brian Leonard (52) probably projects to FB, although he could be an effective change-of-pace runner to standout Steven Jackson. CB Jonathan Wade (84) has tremendous speed and athleticism but still looks like a track guy playing football, although he could develop. C Dustin Fry (139) addressed a need.
Grade: C
49ers: Needed more LBs for new 3-4 scheme and got most talented one in draft at No. 11 with Patrick Willis, who has the speed to go sideline to sideline. With an OL situation that is shaky at best, traded up to 29 to get super-athletic OT Joe Staley. WR Jason Hill (76) has tremendous speed and could be big-play threat immediately. Florida DE Ray McDonald could be a steal at 97.
Grade: B-plus
Seahawks: Without a pick until 55 and in need of a play-making S, they tabbed CB Josh Wilson, whose speed and lack of height might translate to a nickel CB role. Needing DTs with bulk to stop the run, used 85th pick for stout Brandon Mebane, who could be an excellent run stuffer but not much else. DE Baraka Atkins (120) shows much better talent than effort. OG Mansfield Wrotto (124) is a project who played DL until senior season.
Grade: C-minus
AFC East
Bills: Needed a CB to replace Nate Clements. However, with their pick of CBs, they reached for RB Marshawn Lynch at 12 to replace Willis McGahee. Went for overkill with RB Dwayne Wright, who could be a FB, at 111. Another big need was at LB, and they got a bargain with Paul Posluszny at 34. Stanford?s Trent Edwards was a great value at 92, but the Bills already have three QBs, including young starter J.P. Losman. Pass-catching TE, DT or MLB would have helped more.
Grade: C
Dolphins: Had more urgent needs than WR but still reached for game-breaking Ted Ginn Jr. at 9, who still is rehabbing a foot injury, although he does fill a glaring need for a RS. After passing on Brady Quinn in Round 1, they came back to get their QB in BYU?s John Beck at 40. Powerful OG Samson Satele (60) could immediately replace released Jeno James. With Ronnie Brown at RB, they didn?t need Lorenzo Booker at 71, although he could be an effective change of pace and third-down complement.
Grade: C-minus
Patriots: Secondary needed upgrade, and they tabbed S Brandon Meriweather at 24, a sure-fire, first-round talent who dropped on some draft boards because of character concerns. Traded out of the No. 28 spot and didn?t get another pick until the fourth round, when they took DT Kareem Brown at 127. He?s a talented but underachieving player who came on as a senior. Gave up a fourth-rounder for Raiders WR Randy Moss a former Pro Bowler who could regain that form with Tom Brady delivering the ball.
Grade: B, including Moss
Jets: Cover CB was the biggest need, so they traded up 11 spots to take Darrelle Revis (14), who shot up some charts late as the top corner because he?s big and physical enough to support vs. the run. Big, physical LB David Harris at 47 looks like a good value, and his size fits coach Eric Mangini?s scheme and complements a unit that needed more bulk. Didn?t pick again until No. 177, when they got OT Jacob Bender, a project from Nicholls State.
Grade: C-plus
AFC North
Ravens: OL was a concern even with aging OLT Jon Ogden returning, so they grabbed the consensus top OG in Ben Grubbs at 29. Went back to O-line at 86 for Marshall Yanda, a limited-area mauler who projects to OG. They had bigger needs but spent their second pick (No. 74) on skinny, inexperienced, overage WR Yamon Figurs, who is a project but one of the fastest players in the draft and could be a special-teams stud if he avoids injury. Added LB reinforcement with Antwan Barnes at 134 and got their new FB at 137 with Le?Ron McClain.
Grade: B-minus
Bengals: CB and especially OLB were biggest needs, and at 18 they got Leon Hall, whom many considered the best CB in the draft. With workhorse RB Rudi Johnson and backup Chris Perry already on board, RB Kenny Irons (49) didn?t make much sense, when they needed TE, DT and S help more. But Irons may have been the third-best player at his position. Finally got S help with TCU?s Marvin White at 114, an athletic, physical in-the-box hitter who will punish ballcarriers. QB Jeff Rowe (151) is a developmental project.
Grade: C
Browns: OL shaky despite addition of UFA OG Eric Steinbach, so they took OT Joe Thomas (3), who should be a fixture for 10 years. QB also was a major question mark, so traded up to No. 22 for potential franchise QB in Brady Quinn but gave up 36th overall pick and next year?s No. 1. Needing CB help, gambled on character concern Eric Wright (53), who is raw but has tremendous talent and could be a steal if he stays clean. Without drug questions, Wright was a first-round talent despite limited experience. DL also shaky.
Grade: A
Steelers: LB Lawrence Timmons (15) is replacement for departed OLB Joey Porter, and he has versatility to excel in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. DE-LB LaMarr Woodley (46) is a productive player but a bit of a ?tweener, although he could fit as a 3-4 OLB or a 4-3 DE. Got good value with TE Matt Speath (77), a reliable possession catcher with size to function as a third OT. But they already have Heath Miller, one of the better TEs in NFL. Failed to get WR depth or shut-down CB.
Grade: C-plus
AFC South
Texans: Added another talented building block on D-line with 19-year-old DT Amobi Okoye at No. 10, to team with DE Mario Williams (last year?s No. 1 overall). Needed complementary WR to Andre Johnson and took Lane?s Jacoby Jones (73), who has been compared to Bears? Bernard Berrian and should help in return game immediately. At 123, got much-needed secondary help with Fred Bennett, a big cover CB who won?t help much in run support.
Grade: B
Colts: WR Tony Gonzalez (32), might be a better pro than teammate Ted Ginn Jr. and should be an upgrade over departed Brandon Stokley. Traded up to get Tony Ugoh, the best OT left on the board at 42. Needed help at CB, and Cal?s Daymeion Hughes (95) has great instincts and hands but marginal speed. Lack of DT depth was addressed with tough Quinn Pitcock at 98, who?s steady but unspectacular.
Grade: B-plus
Jaguars: Added extra picks by trading down four spots and took FS Reggie Nelson at 21 as insurance for injury-prone Donovin Darius. OLB Justin Durant (48) from Hampton seems like a reach considering the huge leap in level of competition he will be making. WR still a big need after high-round picks Matt Jones and Reggie Williams disappointed, so they used 79th pick on Mike Walker, who has great size and tremendous speed and emerged as a senior.
Grade: C-plus
Titans: Secondary was a huge need, especially at CB for suspended Pacman Jones. Used 19th pick for S Michael Griffin, who could convert to CB. Help at RB was a must, and they added Chris Henry (50), who has incredible size-speed ratio but had poor production at Arizona. WR was depleted, but Paul Williams (80) adds potential and tools, although he is raw and doesn?t appear to relish contact of any kind. Chris Davis (128) is a slot receiver with return ability.
Grade: B-minus
AFC West
Broncos: Pass-rushing DE was a need, so traded up four spots to 17th to take Jarvis Moss, a bit of a project with huge upside. Went back to DE at 56 for Texas? Tim Crowder, who has exceptional burst off the corner. Needed OL help, where Notre Dame?s Ryan Harris (70) might be the long-term answer at OLT if his intensity picks up. Needed DT help, too, and took talented Marcus Thomas (121), who runs hot and cold.
Grade: B
Chiefs: A No. 1 WR was key, and LSU?s Dwayne Bowe (23), is big and physical but won?t stretch the field. DT lacks talent, but undersized, scrappy Turk McBride (54) should help, although he may need to bulk up to play inside. Went back for more help there at No. 82 with boom-or-bust type Tank Tyler, who has the bulk and tremendous strength at 306 pounds to clog the middle but has the heart of the Tin Man.
Grade: C
Raiders: With first overall pick got JaMarcus Russell, the physically gifted QB of the future. Added second-best TE in draft with Zach Miler at 38. Underachieving DE Quentin Moses (65) could be an impact pass rusher or a bust. Terrible OL should get some help from Mario Henderson (91), a developmental talent with OLT potential. WR Johnnie Lee Higgins (99) was productive at UTEP and is an excellent return guy. RB Michael Bush (100) could be a bargain.
Grade: A-minus
Chargers: Needing one starter at WR, they passed on USC?s Dwayne Jarrett in favor of LSU?s Craig Davis, a blazer with very good size but some durability questions. Eric Weddle (37) could be the safety with speed they need, but they gave up a lot in trading up to get him. LB was a priority, and Anthony Waters (96) eventually could become a starter, although he missed the ?06 season with torn ACL.
Grade: C
