MVN - Most Valuable Network

NFL Draft Recap and Grades

Teams are ranked by Process Points, and then are given a subjective grade on their entire draft haul.

1. Seattle Seahawks (12) – Traded back to grab a top five defensive end in Lawrence Jackson.  Traded up in the second round to land John Carlson.  Excellent first day, but not a whole lot of prospects from the second day.  Justin Forsett could be a steal at Running Back.  Grade: B+
2. Kansas City Chiefs (12) — The only blemish on the day for Kansas City was being forced to trade up two picks to land Branden Albert, but those picks really didn’t hurt them.  Dorsey is a stud, but the quality of this draft will be defined by the careers of Albert, and corner Brandon Flowers.  Grand Valley State’s Brandon Carr could be a steal in the fifth round, he has tremendous ball skills.  Jamaal Charles might be good enough to succeed the rapidly aging Larry Johnson.  Grade: A
3. Atlanta Falcons (12) — Obviously, it’s Matt Ryan’s career that will determine the quality of this draft.  He’s really not a franchise Quarterback, and though we gave Atlanta the process points for nabbing him, it’s not earning them a top grade.  Sam Baker was a necessary pick, but it was a trade made out of desperation.  He should be a good one though.  Curtis Lofton was a solid pick, but the rest of the draft lacks serious prospects.  Grade:  C+
4. Miami Dolphins (11) — It’s not a common occurance that the team with the top pick has the best draft, simply because it’s hard to get good value on any of their picks.  Jake Long was exactly what they needed at the top, but the Phillip Merling pick made their draft.  He will be the key cog in their 3-4.  This draft would not have been an A unless they landed a franchise Quarterback, and Chad Henne is the franchise Quarterback of the Dolphins, though John Beck will get the first shot.  Lex Hilliard was a runner who was a great value in the 6th round.  Grade: A
5. New Orleans Saints (10) — The best value trade of the day, or at the very least the second best, had the Saints trading up to number 7 overall at a very reasonable price to nab a top five player in Sedrick Ellis.  They added Tracy Porter in the second, a good player at a need position, and then didn’t pick again until the 5th, when they stole DeMario Pressley and Carl Nicks.  Only 5 picks, but great value on all of them.  Grade: A-
6. New York Jets (10) — It was a bit of a surprise that they went up to get Dustin Keller, but Vernon Gholston and Keller give them a great first round haul.  Erik Ainge could compete for the QB position, if he can stay healthy.  Grade: B+
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (10) — When in doubt, add pass rushers.  It was probably not a good idea to trade up for Derrick Harvey at No. 8, but once they had the pick, Harvey was as good a selection as any.  Jacksonville then intelligently traded back up into the second round for Quentin Groves, a great value pick.  That was pretty much it for them on the day, but they addressed their most critical need twice over with pass rushers from the SEC.  Grade: B-
8. Green Bay Packers (8) — Last year, describing the draft of the Cleveland Browns, I mentioned that dynasties are born out of stupidity of the opponent.  Cleveland nabbed the most polished, and arguably best QB in the draft in Brady Quinn with the 22nd pick that year.  I guess it’s fitting then that the Packers acquired the most polished and arguably best Quarterback in this draft, Brian Brohm, with a pick they got from the Browns.  Brohm is the new franchise quarterback of the Packers, but Jordy Nelson and Patrick Lee make this a heck of a second round for the Pack.  After the second, there wasn’t a whole lot there in their draft, but the franchise QB and possible number one receiver earn the Packers a top grade.  Grade: A-
9. Buffalo Bills (8) — Landed help on the outsides with Leodis McKelvin and James Hardy with two solid day one selections, and then really made some reaches on the second day.  RB Xavier Omon could turn out to be a great change of pace runner for Marshawn Lynch.  Grade:  B-
10. Philadelphia Eagles (8) — Andy Reid and Co. have got this day one drafting thing down to a science.  Trade down, trade down again, and pile up draft picks, then land a first round quality defensive lineman in Trevor Laws, a pure steal, and a good value receiver in Cal’s DeSean Jackson.  Their second day work though has never been particularly special, and the selection of Jack Ikegwuonu is a bit perplexing, and reeks of desperation.  Nice selections on the line with Guards Mike Gibson and Mike McGlynn though.  Grade: B+
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (8) — Nothing fancy from the Steelers here, who sat tight, and filled some minor offensive needs with a pair of day one steals in Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed.  Ben Roethlisberger may be the happiest guy in the world, but the Steelers’ weakness is still the offensive line, and the only lineman added was Tony Hills from Texas in the 4th.  Bruce Davis is a very underrated defensive player, and Dick Lebeau will find somewhere to play him.  Grade: B+
12. St. Louis Rams  (8) –  They landed MVN’s top player at No. 2 overall, Chris Long.  Donnie Avery is a great pick.  Even if he doesn’t end up justifying being the first WR taken, he is still very, very good.  Another great pick in John Greco in the third round.  Stole Justin King and Roy Scheuning on day two.  Grade: A-
13. New York Giants (8) — Kenny Phillips is a great replacement for the departed Gibril Wilson.  If Terrell Thomas was a reach at all, then Mario Manningham was a terrific steal.  Andre Woodson could be a franchise Quarterback for some team.  Maybe the other New York team.  Grade:  B-
14. San Francisco 49ers (8) — Whenever the 49ers don’t have a top ten pick, they do great!  Chilo Rachal and Kentwan Balmer were great value picks, and will be keys for the 49ers lines for a long time.  Cody Wallace was a steal in the fourth round.  Reggie Smith will be the key to this draft, if he can fine a niche on that defense, this will be a great class.  Grade: B
15. Dallas Cowboys (8) — The Cowboys nearly mucked up the first round, but saved themselves by landing Mike Jenkins.  Martellius Bennett is a nice choice as a 2nd TE, and helps the offense more than a 4th receiver would.  Felix Jones was a poor pick with Mendenhall still around, and they cost themselves a lot of late round picks for the trade to take Jenkins, and the 2nd day was lackluster.  Grade: C
16. Arizona Cardinals (8) — Dominique Rogers Cromartie was a fantastic blend of value and need at the No. 16 spot.  Calais Campbell was a risk in the second round, but its a risk a team like the Cardinals, who are strong on the D-Line, can afford.  Early Doucet provides excellent value as a third receiver to this team.  Grade: B+
17. Houston Texans (7) – Smart trade down set this draft off on a good foot.  Duane Brown may have been a reach, but he’s a guy I really like, and he can be the franchise LT for the Texans.  Antuwan Molden fills a critical need at corner.  Steve Slaton is a wonderful value running back in the third round.  A few intriguing late rounders in Xavier Adabi, and Frank Okam.  Grade: B
18. Detroit Lions (7) — I like the Gosder Cherilus selection for the Lions, it’s a far cry from the Matt Millen who would have taken Jeff Otah strictly on reputation.  Jordon Dizon was a reach, as well as was Kevin Smith.  Andre Fluellen and Cliff Avril are pieces the Lions can use on the defensive line, but neither has a great projection.  Nothing much after that.  Grade: C-
19. Baltimore Ravens (7) — Traded down intelligently, then up foolishly for Joe Flacco, who isn’t really a franchise QB.  Traded down again in the second round, landing much needed RB help in Ray Rice.  Tom Zbikowski and Oniel Cousins are both major steals in round three.  Justin Harper from Virginia Tech has steal potential.  Grade: B-
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7) — Grabbed Aqib Talib in the first round, who seems like a fit for the cover-two system.  Traded down in the second round, but then reached on App. St. WR Dexter Jackson.  The Bucs had a great second day, landing Jeremy Zuttah, Dre Moore, Geno Hayes, and a nice QB prospect in Josh Johnson.  Grade: B
21. San Diego Chargers (5) — Antoine Cason was a great pick, a huge steal, but he’s also really the only prospect the Chargers came out with.  A lot of that has to do with the Chris Chambers trade though.  Grade:  C+
22. Chicago Bears (5) — The Bears filled a huge hole with Chris Williams in the first round, and it may have been the best value pick after Glenn Dorsey in the first round.  However, Matt Forte was a poor pick considering how deep the RB class was, and the fact that Chicago passed on not one, but two franchise Quarterbacks.  Now, they will get to face Brian Brohm for the next ten years.  Marcus Harrison was a steal though.  Grade: C+
23. New England Patriots (5) — This wasn’t a very Patriot-like draft at all.  They filled their critical needs, not by quality, but by picking at the positions (CB and LB) many times over until they ran out of picks.  Jerod Mayo was a reach.  Terrence Wheatley could end up being a reach.  Perhaps the only good value of the draft was Shawn Crable in the third round.  Grade: C-
24. Carolina Panthers (5) — Carolina was a mess.  Jonathon Stewart was a huge reach at a position of lesser need.  The Panthers got all of their 5 process points on the Jeff Otah selection, but that would cost them next year’s 1st rounder, and they were done for the day.  Dan Connor and Charles Godfrey look to be good values, but don’t make up for the mess of a weekend Carolina put together.  Grade: D+
25. Denver Broncos (5) — Ryan Clady should give the Broncos at least an option among the offensive line, but Clady may not be good enough for left tackle.  Eddy Royal is a punt returner/slot receiver type, not a dynamic player or a good second round value.  Spencer Larson, Peyton Hillis, and Josh Barrett are all names that could make for day two steals.  Grade: C
26. Indianapolis Colts (3) — The Colts didn’t have a lot of work to do this weekend, but clearly made interior offensive line their focus.  They landed good values in Centers Mike Pollak and Steve Justice.  Phillip Wheeler might start for them at linebacker some day.  Grade:  C
27. Minnesota Vikings (3) — Tyrell Johnson was a great value, but he doesn’t really fill a need for the Vikings.  They didn’t pick again until round five, when they added USC QB John David Booty.  Unimpressive haul, but that’s to be expected when you deal your entire draft for Jared Allen.  Grade: D
28. Cincinnati Bengals (3) — Keith Rivers will help, but the Bengals should have been working harder to trade down than they appeared to be.  Pat Sims and Anthony Collins were both nice picks, but Jerome Simpson may not turn out to be the WR they need to replace the departed Chris Henry.  Grade: D+
29. Tennessee Titans (3) –  I do really like Craig Stevens at TE, but TE was not a need position for the Titans at all, and Jason Jones in the second round might help…but no one is really sure about him.  Chris Johnson may have a long career, but I don’t think he will ever justify being the 24th pick.  Not much help here.  Grade: F
30. Washington Redskins (2) — This isn’t a bad draft for Washington, but their methodology was a bit hazy the whole way through.  Had they snagged Trevor Laws instead of Devin Thomas, this could have been a great draft.  The Redskins get a lower grade for not properly addressing their defense when the value was proper.  They certainly filled their WR and TE needs for the future though with Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis.  Chad Rhinehart and Justin Tryon fill critical needs on day two.  Grade:  C-
31. Oakland Raiders (0) — This wasn’t a bad draft for Al Davis, but it should have been better.  In my opinion, Glenn Dorsey would have been the correct pick at number four, and now, the Kansas City Chiefs have an “A” draft grade.  Darren McFadden fits with the Raiders’ strategy of drafting for the right now, and Tyvon Branch was a total steal in the 4th round.  That was it for the Raiders on the day though, and the small haul gets a small grade.  Grade: D+
32. Cleveland Browns (0) –The Browns didn’t do anything until round four, when they traded up for Beau Bell.  Martin Rucker makes little sense for a team already with Kellen Winslow, and Bell’s the only guy who is a lock to make the roster.  Grade: F

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 11:46 pm and is filed under 2008 NFL Draft. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.