Seattle Seahawks

Will 9 wins be enough to win NFC West?

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:47:18 -0800

Over the past three seasons, the division winners of the NFC West have had mediocre records entering the playoffs. In 2006, the Seahawks entered the playoffs with a 9-7 record. The following year, the Seahawks made it back with a 10-6 record. Last year, the Cardinals made it with a 9-7 record.

Obviously, it looks like that the division is really winnable. Unlike divisions like the NFC East, a 9-7 record could win the division.

However, even though the last three years have been filled with mediocre division winners, could the competition be a little tougher this season?

The Cardinals will definitely be a challenge. After almost winning Super Bowl XLIII, the Cardinals look like they haven't missed a step this off-season. They retained Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald looks to be a bigger beast than ever before. The team still might not be with Anquan Boldin, but their running game has gotten stronger.

The Cardinals have gone through some coaching changes, but overall, they are the team to beat. Can the Cardinals produce another 9-win season?

The other team that I feel the 49ers have to watch out for are the Seahawks. A healthy Matt Hasselbeck, running game and defense could make it tougher for the 49ers.

Remember that Hasselbeck didn't play for a good portion of last season. With Jim Mora, Jr. now as the head coach, the Hawks will definitely preach defense. Rookie LB Aaron Curry would be a beast if all the hype around him meets up top the expectations.

The Hawks also signed free agent stud TJ Houshmandzadeh. The 49ers will have their hands full trying to cover him.

I don't know if the Seahawks can finish 9-7, but they are no pushover team. They can definitely decide the fate of the 49ers' quest to win the division.

The 49ers might need 10 wins to take the division crown. And 10 wins is a minimum. Last year, the Cardinals showed their resilience and managed through the playoffs despite falling into the playoffs. For the 49ers, they can't afford anything like that. I know that Mike Singletary won't allow them to slack off.

But in this division where it more than likely will be between the Cardinals and 49ers, they might end up having to win games outside of the division to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. They might end up splitting a lot of in-division games.

Nine wins might not be enough. It has in the past, but the division has gotten a little tougher. Ten wins might be enough, but let's hope that the 49ers just keep winning.

Raiders coaching staff creating a buzz

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:49:33 -0800

I have been pleasantly surprised with the moves the Raiders have made in the coaching staff this offseason, whether that be the many coaching additions or the additions by subtraction -- Rob-Ryan.

But little did I know, and certainly little did I expect, they would generate such a positive response from around the sports world.

We are all extremely quick to point out those media outlets that spew negative press about the Raiders, or what we call "Raider haters." So now that I have been taken aback by the good press in regards to the Raider coaching staff, it is only proper that we take notice of that as well.

NFL Top 10: Most Valuable Seattle Seahawks

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:50:00 -0500

Playing in the NFC West, it's easy to forget that the Seattle Seahawks have enjoyed their strongest run in team history over the last six years or so, but they have been one of the NFL's eight most successful franchises of this decade. Looking at this roster, a lot of top level talent is still there, but not on the side of the ball that you would think.

During the Mike Holmgren years, the Seahawks built their identity around offense. Names like Hasselbeck, Alexander, Hutchinson, and Jones typified the type of unit the Seahawks were. But now that Jim Mora holds the keys to the franchise, it's fitting that the Seahawks will remain competitive around their defense, which is fittingly where all the star power on this team can be found. NFL Top 10 demonstrates:

10) DT Brandon Mebane
Pound for pound, Mebane is the Seahawks' most effective interior lineman. He was not a highly touted prospect coming out of Cal, but he has made a name for himself locally, and he plays bigger than his size, which considering that he's listed at 309, is nothing to shrug off. Mebane totaled 5.5 sacks last year, and is only 24 years of age. His best days are likely in the near future.

9) OT Sean Locklear
Locklear was moved to tackle as a rookie third round draft pick back in 2004, made the starting lineup by his season season and was a huge piece of the 2005 NFC Champions' offensive puzzle. Since 2006, injuries have prevented Locklear from climbing this list, as he's missed 9 games in the last three years. The Seahawks, reportedly, want to make him a Left Tackle after Walter Jones retires, but right now, they've got a pretty good bookend thing going on the OL.

8) DE Patrick Kerney
Just two years ago, Patrick Kerney had 14.5 sacks and was a first team all pro. Last year, he was on IR by Halloween. With that said, Kerney is only 32 years of age, and he's averaged just under 8 sacks a year for his career. His sack rate is better than that of 5 time pro bowler Mark Gastineau, who called it a career at Kerney's age. So, when his name comes up for Hall of Fame consideration in about eight years, how he finishes his career could very well get him over the top. The Seahawks are remarkably good at acquiring this level of talent when their value is at an all time low. It's why they have won.

7) QB Matt Hasselbeck
Just two years ago, Matt Hasselbeck was a pro bowler who threw for nearly 4,000 yards with no running game. For Hasselbeck, decline will certainly come in the form of sustained bouts with injury. Because for his career, Matt Hasselbeck has been to three pro bowls; he's 3/3 in seasons in which he has started 16 games, and 0/7 in seasons where he has started 14 or fewer games. Hasselbeck will be 34 this season, which puts him right at the age at which a primary Hasselbeck comparable, Rich Gannon, started his remarkable streak of pro bowl play in Oakland 10 years ago. Gannon started every game for his team between 1999 and 2002. Simply put, if Hasselbeck doesn't take too many hits, and he can stay on the field, he's still one of the best players in football. If the injuries start piling up, he might be out of the game by this time next year. Do not bet against a return to the pro bowl this year.

6) OT Walter Jones
Jones doesn't have many years left, and his on the field production declined for the first time last season as he missed four games, his most ever in a single season. Jones has been neither injury prone nor injury resistant over his career, although his age will make that trend towards injury prone as his career winds down. Speaking purely about this upcoming season, I see no reason to believe that Jones can no longer handle being a LT in the NFL. His streak of 8-consecutive pro bowls will be dependent on the success of the offense as a whole this year, but Jones, 35, has at least this one season left in him. He's still among the top half of LTs in the game.

5) LB Lofa Tatupu
I think a lot of league outsiders and even a handful of Seattle fans would have put Tatupu at one or two, but his level of play last year was not up to par with the rest of his career. That's not good, considering he was in the first year of a long extension. He was often tight in his coverage mechanics, and less effective against the run than normal, although his teammates should shoulder some of that blame. Tatupu needs a rebound year as much as any player in the NFL.

4) CB Marcus Trufant
Trufant's down season last year was significantly less "down" compared to some of the better publicized Seahawks, but Trufant remains a borderline top ten cornerback in the NFL. He's roughly on par with Dallas' Terence Newman, who made the No. 10 spot on NFL Top 10's look at the best corners in the NFL. So he comes with a lot of value. Trufant is never going to become a shut down corner, but he has justified his first round pick status from 2003, and he's had a remarkably consistent career: always out on the field, and usually quite productive. He'll have more than one INT in 2009, and with a better option playing across the field, his productivity should return.

3) WR TJ Houshmandzadeh
The prize of the free agency class for the Seahawks, Houshmandzadeh fills a huge hole on the Seattle roster, whose WR postition has evolved from a bunch of guys who can't catch the ball to a bunch of guys who are kept off the field often by freak injuries. Houshmandzadeh is no freak, but what he is: a very dependable No. 1 receiver, should make the Seahawks' offense far less inconsistent than it has performed in the past. This signing makes the Hawks a better team, pure and simple.

2) TE John Carlson
The one thing the Seahawks appear to be lacking is top end talent, and some would question whether or not a tight end can fix that, but John Carlson is well on his way to not just stardom at his position, but dare I say, becoming the next Tony Gonzalez. He was a steal in the second round, had as good a rookie season as anyone did, and brings versatility and many skills to the Seattle offense.

1) LB Aaron Curry
A guy who has never played a down at No. 1? Well, we don't really know just how good Curry can be for the Seattle Seahawks, but I'll go this far: If the 4-3 defense has any sort of future in the NFL, it's name is Aaron Curry. Right now, I look at Lance Briggs or Keith Bulluck as the prototype for 4-3 OLB, but they are a combined 62 years old. Curry is just 22, and I'd say that he's the one player the Seahawks can ill-afford to lose this year in the middle of a playoff run. He's going to be expected to make an immediate impact, but this defense is a perfect scheme fit for him. He's going to be dominant, sooner as opposed to later.

How Anquan Boldin will affect 49ers, NFC West

Wed, 27 May 2009 10:05:47 -0800

As some of you have heard, Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin has given agent Drew Rosenhaus the boot. After failing to secure a new contract or a trade from the Conference Champions, Boldin now will try to find a new agent to help him with his desire to get out of Arizona.

This should be interesting seeing that Boldin looks extremely serious about finding a new home as soon as possible. Since the Cardinals haven't budged in giving Boldin a new contract (whereas they've loaded lots of money for teammates Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner), Boldin's desire to be traded could come true soon.

And if Boldin does end up on the go, the NFC West title might just be a little bit easier to attain-- at least that's what it would look like on paper.

The Cardinals rode the success of a great offense last year to make it all the way the Super Bowl. The team featured three 1,000-yard receiving wide outs and the blossoming of Fitzgerald have allowed the Cardinals to become contenders to win the division title again this year. But with Boldin out out the picture, defenses can focus more on Fitzgerald. And I don't think Steve Breaston can match up to what Boldin has been for the Cardinals all his career.

With Boldin's departure more likely to happen, the rest of the division will surely be happy about the impending trade. This move could and should put the Cardinals back to middle of the pack and the division title for them is not a shoe-in as some people have predicted.

The Seahawks and 49ers are clear contenders for the division title as well. The Hawks, if they have a healthy Matt Hasselbeck, could put up a lot of points-- especially with newly acquired TJ Houshmandzadeh. The running game could very well be as effective with Julius Jones' style of running. The defense for the Seahawks has always been solid and I would expect rookie LB Aaron Curry to be a beast.

As the Boldin trade holds on longer and longer, the best the Cardinals might get in return could just be future draft picks. With no immediate impact for the Cardinals, the 49ers should definitely take advantage of the opportunity.

After signing veteran cornerback Dre Bly, I would expect him to win the starting job and play alongside Nate Clements. That isn't a bad secondary. Michael Lewis has always been a solid tackler and free safety Dashon Goldson has looked very good in the OTA sessions.

For the two games the 49ers will have against the Cardinals, the 49ers secondary will have their hands full. Last season, the 49ers held the Cardinals wide receivers in check. The receivers still had solid games, but none of the catches burned the 49ers. ~~The teams split the two games~~. The Cards swept the series. (My mistake, I was thinking 2007 for some reason).

This year, the Cardinals might have to fix up their pass attack with Boldin likely out of the picture. I actually believe that the 49ers secondary could be stronger than last year. The 49ers defense played much better down the stretch last year and I hope that they can continue that going into this season.

If the 49ers can win four or five of their division games, they are giving themselves a great opportunity to take the division crown. And with Boldin playing somewhere else, the road to sweeping the Cardinals might just be a little easier.

At least that what it would look like on paper. The Cardinals can still become a dangerous offense the 49ers still have a lot to do in terms of gelling on offense. But there could be a better chance for the 49ers to take the division title if Boldin does eventually get traded.s

Holmgren wants return to NFL; 49ers a possibilty in 2010?

Tue, 12 May 2009 10:21:45 -0800

This rumor is a few days old, but it got me thinking already about next year and the team's front office. Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported that former Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren has already contemplated a return to the NFL.

Holmgren left the Seahawks after this past season to take a break from coaching. Apparently the break will be over in 2010.

The idea for Holmgren is that he might want to return to coaching or work some position in the front office. For next year's coaching carousel, he joins Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden as other Super Bowl winning head coaches on the market.

Maybe coaching isn't for him after all. He might want to enjoy some behind the scenes work in the front office. That's where the 49ers come in.

It would be nice for Holmgren to return to San Francisco (his hometown) and his start of his NFL career. From 1986-1991, Holmgren molded the 49ers offense into a powerhouse. After working as a quarterback coach under Bill Walsh, Holmgren took over the offense under George Seifert. I must say that winning two Super Bowls in that time period while coaching Joe Montana and Steve Young must have been pretty nice for him.

A return to San Francisco as part of the front office will definitely be welcomed. Unlike in Seattle where Holmgren tried to balance general manager and head coach at the same time, Holmgren could focus on one. Unless something major happens, Holmgren could be well suited to be the new general manager. But current general manager Scot McCloughan is still banking on this season to prove that his draft picks and his contract decisions will work out.

It's still too far ahead to think about Mike Holmgren's destination in 2010. Between now and then, he could change his mind and stay at home with his family. Or maybe if he does want to return, he wants to do it as a coach. There are a lot of things that have to factor in and it's way too soon to tell.

But let's say Holmgren has a chance to work for the 49ers again, I would like to see it if it makes sense for the team.

Which NFC West WR will break out this year?

Fri, 08 May 2009 01:27:46 -0800

Mike Sando of ESPN compiled this chart of all wide receivers in the NFC West. On the list, he listed them in order of receptions from the 2008 season.

Three of the top four were Cardinals (Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston). The other receiver (TJ Houshmandzadeh) didn't even play in the NFC West last year.

Isaac Bruce placed fifth on the list with 61 catches. From 10-12 was Jason Hill, Arnaz Battle and Josh Morgan. This is an interesting list that helps us compare the receivers from the division. Brandon Jones placed seventh on the list with his totals from the Titans.

Sando also took into account the rookies on the team and listed Michael Crabtree as the top rookie on the list.

In providing the goods and bads of the list, this is what Sando had to say about Morgan's chances of success this year:

Josh Morgan, 49ers. For some reason, I thought he caught more than 20 passes last season.

And this is what he had to say about Jason Hill's downfall from Michael Crabtree:

Jason Hill, 49ers. Crabtree's addition could mean fewer chances for Hill, particularly if the 49ers become more run-oriented.

From this list, I can agree with Sando in that Crabtree's role might take away a lot from Hill. And with Morgan being the biggest wild card on the roster, he might be the third option at receiver along with Crabtree and Bruce.

My prediction for the team is almost the same as Sando. I think Bruce will lead the team in receptions once again and could possibly just end up with about 50 catches. Crabtree and Morgan could end up getting about 40 catches each. However, I still don't know how much this offense will operate, so maybe there might be more catches to go around.

Jones should get around 40 as well, depending on how he will be used also.

At least for the 49ers, they have a lot of receivers that they can evenly split with. There isn't once standout receiver that will put up huge numbers. But there are enough out there that can make this offense work.

Vernon Davis is third best TE in the West?

Wed, 06 May 2009 01:47:46 -0800

Mike Sando took a look at the NFC West tight ends and predicted that Vernon Davis is the third best receiver out there.

Ahead of Davis is Seattle's John Carlson and St. Louis' Randy McMichael. Carlson was a great asset to a struggling Seahawks offense and McMichael has had a steady career.

Davis has been nothing but a blocking tight end with little to no opportunities to shine as a receiver. The problem I have with this list is that Sando doesn't factor in what Davis has done with his opportunities to catch.

Of course, he can only take what he sees and we haven't seen much of Davis. Davis is physically gifted to be the best tight end in the division. Carlson had a great rookie year with 55 catches and if given the right opportunity, I am sure Davis can reach that amount or even higher.

Right now, I do think that Carlson has earned his #1 spot, but Davis should be a close second with a chance at #1 if the 49ers offense gives him the opportunity to catch.

2009 NFL Draft Recap Show - Grades of All 32 Teams

Mon, 04 May 2009 16:51:20 +0000

NFLDraft101.com's Chris Maier and Dan Wernery recap the 2009 NFL Draft in this special 2 hour NFL Draft recap edition of the Blitz.

During the show we discuss the big stories from the draft including the Mark Sanchez Trade and the ESPN and NFLN Draft coverage. We then breakdown the drafts of all 32 teams (division by division) and give our grades.

At the end we recap with our Winners and Losers.

Show Timeline:
Stories of the Draft: 0:00
AFC Draft Recap and Grades: 18:20
NFC Draft Recap and Grades: 68:35

Lastly, after four years and 150+ shows The Blitz is going to take a vacation for the summer to recharge our batteries and reformat the show. It has been great talking with our fans during the past 4 seasons and we look forward to re-launching a show in the fall.

Feel free to send any questions or comments to me at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

2009 NFL Draft Grades - All 32 Teams

Fri, 01 May 2009 21:04:02 +0000

After talking about speculation regarding the draft for weeks TV and radio commentators often wrap up their draft coverage by griping about why grades are a foolish endeavor to feed our need for instant gratification. They are correct when they say you can't truly grade a draft for three years but they rarely follow it up by grading the 2006 draft (hint: anybody can tell you how a team did three years later). Enough of my babbling. After writing mock drafts, profiles, articles and rankings for the last six months, I just want to do grades because I want to know how well I did three years from now (hint: I was wrong about the 2008 Falcons draft. Really wrong) plus its fun so here goes in grade order:

(click on the team name for pick by pick analysis of the entire team and access to each players profile)

Grade: A

Philadelphia Eagles - Tremendous draft for Andy Reid and company. First, they filled their biggest need (LT) trading the 28th overall pick (and change) for LT Jason Peters. They followed it up on draft day, by getting Andy Reid to drink from the skill position kool-aid by adding the #2 wide receiver in Jeremy Maclin and the draft's best Brian Westbrook clone in LeSean McCoy. TE Cornelius Ingram could also be a great 5th round value.

Grade: A-

Cincinnati Bengals - A potentially franchise altering draft for the Bengals. As usual the Bengals stood pat but managed to avoid the reaches of previous drafts. Andre Smith is a gamble at #6 but he has talent and fills the team's top need. MLB Rey Maualuga is a defensive difference maker in round 2. Michael Johnson would have been a huge gamble in round 1 but is top pass rushing talent well worth the risk in round 3. TE Chase Coffman, C Jonathan Luigs and P Kevin Huber will all be given the opportunity to contribute early as well. This grade gets an asterisk because for all its talent it remains a bit on the high risk/high reward side. Seattle Seahawks - Added two top talents in LB Aaron Curry and C Max Unger plus they gained a 2010 1st round pick in the process. Also made three nice value picks in round 7 in DE/LB Nick Reed, S Courtney Greene and TE Cameron Morrah.

Grade: B+

Chicago Bears - The Bears ranked among the winners of the draft after trading for QB Jay Cutler but also managed to add good value on draft day despite not having a first round pick. Third rounders DT Jarron Gilbert and WR Juaquin Iglesias filled needs while 4th round CB/S DJ Moore was one of the best value picks in the entire draft.

Indianapolis Colts - No team builds its team through the draft better than Indianapolis and its 2009 class is no different. Joseph Addai's struggles showed they need another running back and Donald Brown is a tremendous fit for their offense. They were in desperate need for help at defensive tackle and added two possible starters in Fili Moala and Terrence Taylor. Like Donald Brown, WR Austin Collie is a great scheme fit.

Grade: B

Atlanta Falcons - They filled top offensive need when they traded a 2010 2nd rounder TE Tony Gonzalez allowing them to fill needs at DT and S with the early selections of DT Peria Jerry and S William Moore. Defensive end Lawrence Sidbury is a high upside 4th rounder but cornerbacks Christopher Owens and Williams Middleton were questionable selections.

Baltimore Ravens - Year in and year out, Ozzie Newsome and his staff do an excellent job of reading the draft.   This year they traded up for OT Michael Oher and fill a need along the offensive line. DE Paul Kruger is one of the best all-around (and most underrated) defensive ends in the draft and should be a nice pass rushing complement to Terrell Suggs. CB Lardarius Webb, ILB Jason Phillips and RB Cedric Peerman were all nice selections as well. The only thing missing was a wide receiver.

Cleveland Browns - Failed to find a taker for WR Braylon Edwards but showed creativity in trading out of the #5 spot and trading down two more times in round one to add picks. C Alex Mack was a surprise but follows the blueprint Mangini used in New York. WR Brian Robiskie has the skills to contribute quickly as a possession receiver.   WR Mohommed Massaquoi and DE David Veikune were questionable 2nd rounders. Their 6th rounders (Don Carey, Coye Francies and James Davis were nice values. Don't underestimate the value of the players they acquired in traded as DE Kenyon Coleman and S Abram Elam fill needs while Brett Ratliff could be a darkhorse candidate in the QB derby.

Green Bay Packers - Getting NT BJ Raji at #9 was a gift for a Packers team making a transition to a 3-4 defense. OLB Clay Matthews is more solid than spectacular outside but his effort and coverage skills will earn him a starting job. TJ Lang and Jamon Meredith are good day two prospects for a team in need of replacing its tackles in the near future.

Houston Texans - Filled needs early with LB Brian Cushing, DE Connor Barwin and C Antoine Caldwell. Also, added nice value late including safeties Glover Quin and Troy Nolan plus TEs Anthony Hill and James Casey.

Minnesota Vikings - Pushed aside character to select WR/KR Percy Harvin whose addition to the offense should open things up a little for RB Adrian Peterson and take pressure off their questionable quarterbacks. Right tackle Phil Loadholt fills a major need as did the selection of cover corner Asher Allen. 5th rounder Jasper Brinkley could a 5th round steal if his knee is healthy and he keeps his weight in check.

New York Giants - While WR Hakeem Nicks is compared to Anquan Boldin, the Giants would have been better off with the real thing (or Braylon Edwards). Overall the Giants added a lot of receiving talent in Nicks, Ramses Barden and Travis Beckum. Each of whom is a tall red zone target. OT William Beatty could be their left tackle of the future and RB Andre Brown should challenge for Derrick Ward's carries. OLB Clint Sintim is not a good fit for a 4-3 (just like fellow Virginia linebackers Darryl Blackstock and Ahmad Brooks weren't).

Tennessee Titans - Added the best route runner in the draft with Kenny Britt who combined with 3rd round TE Jared Cook should enhance the passing game and red zone efficiency. DT Sen Derrick Marks adds depth and penetration ability to their Haynesworth-less defensive line. CB Ryan Mouton, LB Gerald McRath, G/T Troy Kropog and RB Javon Ringer were solid selections as well.

Grade B-:

New England Patriots - While everyone praises the Patriots for how well they have traded down and accumulated picks during the past three drafts, they fail to mention how poorly the Pats have done outside of round 1 the past two years. Adding two 2010 2nd round picks was nice but considering they had five day one picks entering the draft I expected more. The Patriots did add some nice developmental players in NT Ron Brace, S Patrick Chung, CB/PR Darius Butler, and OLB Tyrone McKenzie. OT Sebastian Vollmer was a surprise 2nd rounder but he was the sleeper lineman in the draft and has left tackle potential. WR/KR Brandon Tate is a nice talent but is further proof that the Patriots don't value character anymore than other teams. The failure to land a 3-4 rush linebacker was a surprise in a draft deep at the position.

New York Jets - Mike Tannenbaum and the Jets are the anti-Patriots. While the Patriots accumulate picks, the Jets can't give them away fast enough. Joking aside, the Jets got their top target in Mark Sanchez in a creative package that did not include a 2010 draft pick.   Trading up to get Shonn Greene was a solid move considering Thomas Jones' age and contract situation. That said they only had 3 picks giving them just 11 selections in three years and they did not add any talent to a wide receiver position in need of a deep threat. Ultimately Mark Sanchez will make or break this draft.

St. Louis Rams - Did well in rounds 1 and 2 filling their needs for a LT and MLB with top talents Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis but their day 2 selections were nothing special.

Grade: C+

Arizona Cardinals - RB Beanie Wells fills the team's need for a power back to provide balance to the offense in round 1. 2nd rounder OLB Cody Brown could fill their pass rusher need down the road. S Rashad Johnson was a solid pickup in round 3. G Trevor Canfield could also be a nice late round pick. After years of loving the Cardinals drafts on paper, this one looks more solid than special.

Jacksonville Jaguars - They did an excellent job of filling their needs at offensive tackle with Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton. Also took the anti-Matt Jones route by selecting two undersized but true wide receivers in Mike Thomas and Jarrett Dillard in the middle rounds. Trading a 2010 2nd rounder for CB Derek Cox feels like a reach and DT Terrence Knighton is not likely the answer inside.

Miami Dolphins - Did a great job upgrading their top need by drafting big, physical corners Vontae Davis and Sean Smith. QB Pat White is a perfect fit for the wildcat who could some day press Chad Henne for the starting job. Patrick Turner was a major reach in round 3 as were several of their day two selections. I do like the pick of Brian Hartline (although a round early), he is fundamentally sound like teammate Brian Robiskie and has the look of a quality special teamer.

Grade: C

Detroit Lions - Added the best QB, TE and S in the draft in Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew and Louis Delmas but struggled to get tough in the trenches on day two. How a team allowing the 2nd most sacks in the league (52) can fail to add an offensive lineman to protect their $41 million investments until round 7 is beyond me.

Kansas City Chiefs - Scott Pioli deserves credit for acquiring Matt Casell for his 2nd rounder and getting a 2010 2nd round pick for Tony Gonzalez but had a pedestrian draft weekend with the Chiefs. Failing to trade down made him reach for DE Tyson Jackson at #3. Jackson is a good prospect but drafting a 3-4 DE in the top 5 is the same as taking a guard or center in the top 5. DE Alex Magee was a surprise in round 3 which emphasized the team's need to get tougher up front. The rest of day two was highlighted by the hope of small schoolers WR Quinton Lawrence and RB Javarris Williams and the boom/bust selection of CB Donald Washington.

New Orleans Saints - The Saints traded away most of this draft last year for Jonathan Vilma and Jeremy Shockey last year but managed to add the top secondary player in the draft in Malcolm Jenkins. The 4th round Demon Deacon duo of Chip Vaughn and Stanley Arnoux adds needed depth to the defense.

San Diego Chargers - Passing on Rey Maualuga and the running backs in round one was a bit of a surprise but some considered DE./OLB Larry English the best pass rusher in the draft. Considering Shawne Merriman is coming off of a serious knee injury and is a year away from free agency the Chargers figured it best to get another pass rusher now.   In the later rounds they added an intriquing nose tackle prospect in Vaughn Martin out of Canada and two solid offensive linemen in Louis Vasquez and Tyronne Greene. Gartrell Johnson is a poor man's Michael Turner. Failing to add an offensive tackle or middle linebacker was a surprise.

San Francisco 49ers - The wide receiver needy 49ers were thrilled to get Michael Crabtree in round one. Also received a 2010 1st round pick in exchange for their 2nd rounder which will pay dividends in the long run but hindered their ability to fill immediate needs. RB Glen Coffee was a bit of a reach in round 3 but filled a need. Best values of day 2 with LB Scott McKillop and DT Ricky Jean-Francois.

Washington Redskins - Almost received an A for managing to get through the draft without trading any 2010 picks but common sense prevailed. Having pass rushing DE Brian Orakpo drop to them in round 1 was a pleasant surprise. Aside from CB Kevin Barnes the rest of day two felt ordinary at best.

Grade: C-

Buffalo Bills - If you give team's credit for their trade additions you have to penalize them for their trade subtractions.   The loss of Jason Peters hurt the offensive line and despite the selections of C Eric Wood and G Andy Levitre, the tackle position remains a problem. DE Aaron Maybin is a good pass rusher but is a risky pick at 11th overall due to his lack of size and experience. CB Jairus Byrd was a surprise 2nd round selection who will likely be converted to safety. On the plus side, TE Shawn Nelson's combination of receiving and willing blocking was a tremendous value in round 4.

Carolina Panthers - Traded a 2010 1st rounder for the second consecutive year but did manage to acquire undersized pass rusher Everette Brown with the pick. Developmental CB/S Sherrod Martin was not nearly as good a value later in the round. Corvey Irvin is a rotational DT at best. Added nice value with the late round picks FB Tony Fiametta, G Duke Robinson and CB Captain Munnerlyn. If you add 2008 1st rounder T Jeff Otah to the mix the grade would be as much as a letter better.

Denver Broncos - The pick of Knowshon Moreno was a smart move considering his playmaking ability and the team's shaky quarterback situation. DE Robert Ayers was a solid front seven selection for the defense. Unfortunately, he was the only front seven selection. Added much needed depth to the secondary with CB Alphonso Smith, S Darcel McBath and S David Bruton. Made two questionable trades however, giving up a 2010 1st rounder for the undersized Smith (with MLB Rey Maualuga on the board no less) and trading up to make Richard Quinn the 2nd tight end drafted (a truly baffling selection).

Pittsburgh Steelers - DT Evander Hood was an odd scheme fit in round one as he is more of a penetrating DT than a blocker occupying 3-4 DE. G Kraig Urbik is a tough Steelers type lineman. WR Mike Wallace was a 3rd round surprise whom they hope can be a deep threat and returner. CBs Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett were solid values who will compete for time. Don't be surprised if C AQ Shipley or RB/FB Frank Summers find a way to contribute. There's potential but aside from Urbik there is not much certain help.

Grade: D+

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Hopefully got their franchise QB in Josh Freeman but despite his talent he is a risky pick and they need to fight the urge to play him right away. Attempted to add talent at DT and DE with Roy Miller and Kyle Moore but both are projects. WR Sammie Stroughter could be a nice 7th round find as a slot receiver and kick returner.

Grade: D

Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys accumulated picks like crazy but did very little with them. They are bound to hit on a few guys due to the quantity but the overall talent of their selections is not overwhelming. Their best picks were likely LB Jason Williams, OLB Victor Butler and S Michael Hamlin. DE/OLB Michael Bennett is an nice pass rushing talent but he is not a good 3-4 OLB candidate. They would have been better off using their multitude of picks and trading up in round 2 rather than trading out of the first day altogether. When you add in the trade of their 1st and 3rd round picks for WR Roy Williams when Anquan Boldin and Braylon Edwards could not even command a 1st round pick the draft looks even worse.

Grade: D-

Oakland Raiders - Al Davis had a need for speed and as a result the Raiders draft turned into a "Danger Zone". Darrius Heyward-Bey was the best combination of size and speed at the wide receiver position in the draft and despite inconsistent hands and a lack of production Al Davis needed to have him at 7th overall.   If it was not for the fact of Heyward-Bey having tremendous upside to go with his risk the Raiders grade would have been an F. S Michael Mitchell created a collective "huh?" from draftniks across the globe in round two. He may also have started the wild run of must have sleeper picks across the league in round 3. He gave new meaning to last year's William Hayes pick. Round 3 also included a reach for DE Matt Shaughnessy (who is surprisingly not fast).   WR Louis Murphy and DE Stryker Sulak were solid day two values. Ironically Sulak was the fastest DE on the board when he was selected in round 6.

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.