2009 NFL Draft… Grades
You know that feeling after Christmas comes and goes, and you’re just having fun with your gifts? Thats feeling I have right now. Being a Giants fan, I’m just relishing in the idea of all these draft picks contributing to another Giants postseason run. Thats right people. Get used to hearing “Manning to Hicks” for the next few seasons. But enough about my team, I want to talk to about all the teams and how they did in this year’s draft. My grades are always fair. In my eyes, if a team met every need, then thats at least a C depending on the quality of the players at the position of need. For example, the Raiders needed a strong safety in the second round and took someone that should not have been selected until the 5th round. That kind of stuff gets you an F, whereas the Browns very shrewdly traded down three times to get Alex Mack, a position of need. So here we go. Let the grading begin.
Arizona Cardinals – The Cards really didn’t address all their needs and could have drafted an outside linebacker or two. I don’t know if they really needed to take two defensive backs in the third and fourth rounds. Chris Wells is a great pickup at 31 and he’ll be a good replacement for Edgerrin James. C-
Atlanta Falcons – Mike Smith knows defense and he did a great job in the draft securing players that the team really needed. Peria Jerry was a great pickup along the defensive line and William Moore should add some depth to the secondary. B
Baltimore Ravens – Ozzie Newsome doesn’t like to address his team’s needs in the draft so its hard to judge what he’s been able to do in the draft. I would’ve liked him to take a wide receiver because Derrick Mason is getting up there in age and their other receivers aren’t really gamebreakers. Michael Oher is a great player with a great story, and they got great value in Cedric Peerman in the sixth round. B-
Buffalo Bills – The Bills had a lot of needs and they didn’t address them all. I liked the fact that they got Aaron Maybin and traded back into the first round to take Eric Wood but what I like the most is that they drafted Nic Harris, who could become a very good linebacker with the right coaching. They could have taken a running back because Marshawn Lynch is suspended for the first three games of the season. C+
Carolina Panthers – The Panthers didn’t address their need at backup quarterback and they need depth at wide receiver but for a team without a first round pick, I thought they did well. They got great value in the fourth and fifth rounds by taking Mike Goodson from Texas A&M and Duke Robinson from Oklahoma (who happens to be related to Smokey Robinson). C+
Chicago Bears – I really like what the Bears did in the draft because they didn’t have a day one pick at all. Juaquin Iglesias is one of the best route runners in college football, Marcus Freeman is very versatile and DJ Moore is an above average defensive back. B+
Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals got a little lucky but took advantage of everyone passing on Rey Maualuga. Rey Rey is going to be good playing alongside his former Trojan teammate, Keith Rivers. I think Andre Smith is a better run blocker but will pick up the slack quickly. Outside of Chase Coffman, I don’t think any of their other picks will have huge impacts for a while. B-
Cleveland Browns – The Browns had a smart draft. They didn’t address all their needs, but they tried to and they got some smart players. Kaluka Maiava flew under the radar at USC with all their linebackers and he comes from a great pedigree. His uncle is The Rock. Brian Robiskie and Mohammed Massaquoi were solid picks at wide receiver, which leads me to believe the Browns are still trying to trade Braylon Edwards. B+
Dallas Cowboys – I hate Dallas as much any other team but I have to admit, they draft well. A lot of their starters have been drafted in the later rounds including Tashard Choice, Marion Barber, Patrick Crayton, just to name a few. We may not be able to name a lot of the guys they drafted (all of whom were taken in the 3rd round or later) but they met all their needs and I wouldn’t be surprised if those players turned out to be important parts of the Cowboys organization. A
Denver Broncos – I will continue to say it. The Broncos are stupid for taking Knowshon Moreno. They didn’t even need a running back but they took one anyway. What they needed was a pass rusher and they let Everette Brown pass by them several times. They didn’t address their needs at safety and on special teams. I will give them credit for Alphonso Smith, Robert Ayers and Kenny McKinley, but not too much credit. C-
Detroit Lions – Its hard not to like what the Lions did. I don’t think the Brandon Pettigrew pick was smart, but they don’t really have a threat at tight end. I would have gone with a pass rusher in that spot. Derrick Williams wasa good pickup and he should have some success the way other young receivers have had in Denver. B
Green Bay Packers – The Packers didn’t have too many needs but they went above and beyond expectations. BJ Raji was a no-brainer but trading back into the first round to take Clay Matthews was very smart. Matthews comes from a strong football background and could be a cornerstone for that franchise for years. B+
Houston Texans – I understand why the Texans wouldn’t want to take a running back early on, but to not take one at all bothers me because they do need someone to split carries with Steve Slaton. Also they aren’t very deep at wide receiver and they didn’t take one. C-
Indianapolis Colts – The Colts needed a linebacker and didn’t take one. Donald Brown was a good pick up but Rey Maualuga was there and he doesn’t really fit into that Tony Dungy style of defense but Jim Caldwell is calling the shots now. Fili Moala was also a solid pick because it gives them a different look up the middle on defense. Moala could help free up some blockers from Freeney and Mathis. B-
Jacksonville Jaguars – For a team that seemed to be interested in taking Mark Sanchez, they didn’t address any need at quarterback. I also like the value they’d be getting from Tiquan Underwood from Rutgers. Not too many people hear about him because of Kenny Britt but he’s talented. C
Kansas City Chiefs – In my mind, the Chiefs blew a chance to take a really good player in Aaron Curry. I can understand why they would want to take a pass rusher but Tyson Jackson is not a top five pick, and you don’t waste the third overall pick on a guy who’s not top five material. Jackson’s good, but not that good. If you can trade down and still get him, do it. The Chiefs also neglected to take a linebacker or a safety, two positions they needed to address. D
Miami Dolphins – The Dolphins did well, bringing in Vontae Davis late in the first round and getting Pat White in the second. The Dolphins used that Wildcat formation well and will be adding a new look with White. I also think that getting some depth at wide receiver was a good idea with Brian Hartline. I think they could have taken a defensive end to replace Vonnie Holliday, but they might be able to bring back Jason Taylor. A
Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings addressed all their needs, they brought in Percy Harvin, who can be great if he stays out of trouble. I like Jasper Brinkley, and Phil loadholt wll join his former Sooner teammate Adrian Peterson. Good draft. B+
New England Patriots – I think Patrick Chung might have been taken a little too early, but thats my only issue. Darius Butler was a solid pick and Bill Belichick always finds guys that are versatile. B+
New York Jets – The Jets were the talk of the draft. Sanchez is a great pick for them. He’s marketable, he’s a great player, and he’s a leader. I don’t know if that’s going to translate into wins, but he’ll work out. The Jets’ aggressiveness didn’t allow them to draft a wide receiver, which is what they really needed, but I like what they did to get Shonn Greene, even though it might have been a bit much. A+
New York Giants – Hakeem Nicks is a great pick. Rhett Bomar might have been unncessary but he was once one of the best high school quarterbacks in the country, and his own stupidity cost him his position at Oklahoma. He’ll develop into a very good backup. The Giants filled all their needs. Clint Sintim reminds me of Mathius Kiwanuka because he’s a linebacker that could also play on the line. William Beatty could develop into a good right tackle to eventually replace McKenzie, Ramses Barden is a project but he’s 6’6″ and Stoney Woodson got rave reviews from his old coach, Steve Spurrier. A
Oakland Raiders – I think Al Davis forgets that he owns a football team and thinks its track and field. I don’t care if Darius Heyward-Bey ran a 3.62 40 yard dash, Michael Crabtree was the best receiver in this year’s draft and they passed on him. And then to make matters worse, they drafted some safety no one knows. F
Philadelphia Eagles – I have to hand it to the Eagles. They know how to draft. They got valuable players all throughout the draft. LeSean McCoy is like another Brian Westbrook, Victor Harris is a very good defensive back and can play both corner and safety, and Cornelius Ingram could have very well been a first round pick, or at least the first tight end taken if he had been completely healthy. A+
Pittsburgh Steelers – Its hard to stay on top when a team is usually drafting in the late first round. The Steelers needed corners and receivers to replace Bryant McFadden and Nate Washington and they got guys to put in those spots. A
San Diego Chargers – The Charfers passed on a special player in Rey Maualuga but so did everyone else. Between Larry English, Demetrius Byrd, and Kevin Ellison, the Chargers had a solid draft. B
San Francisco 49ers – The Niners got the steal of the draft with Crabtree at 10. I think Nate Davis is a good pick because it gives them someone to develop if Shaun Hill goes south and Alex Smith continues to underachieve. Ricky Jean-Francois is a very good defensive tackle even though I think he should have stayed in school for another year, and Glen Coffee is another one of those Alabama running backs like Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. B+
Seattle Seahawks – Even though the Seahawks didn’t necessarily need Aaron Curry, it was a good pick and now they have a very good linebacking corps. Mike Teel was a good pickup and he’ll learn well behind Matt Hasselbeck. Max Unger can play both center and tackle, so that should be fun for the team, and Deon Butler is a speedster. B-
St. Louis Rams – Outside of Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis, the Rams draft was pretty average. C+
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Josh Freeman was what they needed but I don’t like the fact that they didn’t get anyone to replace Warrick Dunn or Derrick Brooks… not that it would be easy to do. B-
Tennessee Titans – Kenny Britt was a great pick for them, and they took another Rutgers product in Jason McCourty. I’ve seen Jared Cook in action and I like what I see from him. B
Washington Redskins – The Redskins were patient and got a steal in Brian Orakpo. He should have been a top five pick but I guess the Chiefs like Jackson better. The Browns valued a center more and traded down and it ended up becoming the perfect storm for the Skins. They address their need at linebacker and the Skins defense should be very solid. B
There were a few guys I’m surprised didn’t get drafted. Rudy Carpenter, Cullen Harper, Chase Daniel, Graham Harrel, Brian Hoyer, and John Parker Wilson are all solid quarterbacks. Some of them were Heisman candidates at one point. PJ Hill, Marlon Lucky, Ian Johnson, Brandon Ore, and Kory Sheets were very productive running backs. Lucky had a great week at the Senior Bowl. Quan Cosby, Jon Cooper, and Alex Boone are all names we’ve heard. Darry Beckwith, Dannell Ellerbe, and Worrell Williams were productive and could produce in the NFL on special teams. Kevin Ogletree was a guy I watched throughout high school and college, I really hope he gets a look and maybe signs on somewhere as undrafted free agent. Maybe all of these guys can catch on somewhere. Some of the NFL’s best players have been undrafted free agents.
