Draft Grades

RANK

TEAM

GRADE

COMMENT

1

Cleveland Browns

A+

It’s rare when a team can acquire two top-5 picks in the same draft, especially when one of those players is a franchise quarterback.   In addition to OT Joe Thomas and QB Brady Quinn, the Browns drafted another top prospect in CB Eric Wright.  All three players addressed major needs.   

2

Oakland Raiders

A

With 11 picks, including No. 1 overall, Oakland was bound to receive a high grade.  QB JaMarcus Russell, TE Zach Miller, WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, and RB Michael Bush should give the Raiders’ anemic offense a much-needed lift.  On the downside, they didn’t do much to help their porous offensive line.  

3

San Francisco 49ers

A

In addition to acquiring a veteran No. 1 wideout (Darrell Jackson) for a fourth-round pick, the Niners selected four top-notch prospects in LB Patrick Willis, OT Joe Staley, WR Jason Hill, and DT Ray McDonald.  The 49ers’ only mistake was not adequately addressing the DE position.

4

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A

The Bucs’ first five picks were very solid, including top pick, Gaines Adams, the best pass-rushing DE in the draft.  However, they didn’t get any help at DT and WR. 

5

Atlanta Falcons

A

The Falcons did not grab any household names, but they did a great job in acquiring a lot of talent with their 11 picks.  They addressed their two biggest needs with DE Jamaal Anderson (8th overall) and guard Justin Blalock (39).  

6

Minnesota Vikings

A-

RB Adrian Peterson doesn’t address a primary need, but he was one of the most gifted players in this draft.  Sidney Rice and Aundrae Allison  should boost the team’s depleted receiving corps, and CB Marcus McCauley was a third-round steal. 

7

Buffalo Bills

B+

The Bills addressed two of their biggest needs with talented prospects – RB Marshawn Lynch and OLB  Paul Posluszny.  QB Trent Edwards was a good value pick late in the third round, but the team had more pressing needs at other positions. 

8

New York Giants

B+

The Giants had a solid draft from top to bottom, and they addressed many of their needs.  WR Steve Smith was a good value pick at No. 51, but I am surprised that they didn’t opt for a running back instead. 

9

Carolina Panthers

B+

LB Jon Beason filled a primary need, but I thought he was a bit of reach in the first round.  The Panthers got very good value with their next three picks, but they inexplicably ignored their needs at TE and safety. 

10

Green Bay Packers

B

With 11 picks, the Packers grabbed a number of promising players.  However, they may not have adequately addressed their offensive needs with the selections of RB Brandon Jackson, RB DeShawn Wynn, and TE Clark Harris. 

11

Jacksonville Jaguars

B

The Jags did a nice job of filling their holes in the secondary and at linebacker with the selections of CB/S Reggie Nelson, OLB Justin Durant, and S Josh Gattis (a fifth-round steal).  However, they failed to get much-needed help at DE. 

12

Miami Dolphins

B

I absolutely hated the decision to take WR Ted Ginn over Quinn in the first round.  The Dolphins did, however, come away with five solid prospects.  If second-round QB John Beck is a keeper, the Fish will look like geniuses. 

13

Arizona Cardinals

B

The Cards had just five picks, but they filled two major holes with promising giants – OT Levi Brown (6-6, 323) and DT Alan Branch (6-6, 325).  Also, TE Ben Patrick was a seventh-round steal. 

14

New Orleans Saints

B-

The Saints addressed two major needs with the selections of WR Robert Meachem (27th overall) and CB Usama Young (66).  New Orleans also got good value in the fourth round with RB Antonio Pittman, but considering the team’s depth at RB and weaknesses at LB and DT, the pick seems like a waste.     

15

Dallas Cowboys

B-

DE/LB Anthony Spencer was one of the best edge rushers in this draft.  OTs James Marten and Doug Free should supply quality depth for the offensive line, and CB Courtney Brown may turn out to be one of the biggest steals in this draft.  On the downside, the Cowboys did nothing to address their needs at WR and DT. 

16

Detroit Lions

B-

WR Calvin Johnson was the most gifted athlete in this draft, but the Lions had much more pressing needs at QB, DE, LB, and CB.  If QB Drew Stanton, DE Ikaika Alama-Francis, and CB A.J. Davis are better than expected, the Lions will come out of this draft smelling like roses. 

17

Kansas City Chiefs

C+

The Chiefs addressed two major weakness with their first three picks by selecting WR Dwayne Bowe and DTs Turk McBride and Tank Tyler.  However, KC failed to bolster its depleted offensive line, and allowed the Browns to jump ahead of them and take Quinn at pick No. 22. 

18

San Diego Chargers

C+

The Chargers did an excellent job of addressing their needs, especially at WR and ILB, but they failed to come away with any sure-fire prospects.

19

Denver Broncos

C+

With just four picks, its amazing that the Broncos could come away with a passing grade, but they managed to do so by making quality selections in major need areas.  Top pick, Jarvis Moss, should finally give Denver a premium pass rusher at the DE spot. 

20

Indianapolis Colts

C

WR Anthony Gonzalez and OT Tony Ugoh were solid first- and second-round picks, but the Colts’ biggest weaknesses were on the defensive side of the ball.  The team still has major concerns at CB and LB.

21

Houston Texans

C

DT Amobi Okoye was a great pick-up in the first round, but the rest of the team’s draft was mediocre.  Once again, the team didn’t adequately address its porous offensive line. 

22

Pittsburgh Steelers

C

OLB Lawrence Timmons and DE LaMarr Woodley were solid selections, but the team’s degrading offensive line wasn’t adequately addressed.

23

Philadelphia Eagles

C

The Eagles addressed all of their major needs, but they failed to come away with any sure-fire prospects.  Top pick, QB Kevin Kolb, was a major reach at No. 36, but you can’t blame the team for looking for a long-term replacement for the often-injured Donovan McNabb. 

24

St. Louis Rams

C

DE Adam Carriker was the right pick at No. 13, and FB Brian Leonard adds another weapon to the Rams’ offense.  The rest of the team’s draft was non-descript. 

25

Baltimore Ravens

C

The Ravens’ offensive line concerns were adequately addressed with the selections of Ben Grubbs and Marshal Yanda.  However, WR Yamon Figurs was a reach in the third round, and the team still has concerns at LB and DB. 

26

Tennessee Titans

C-

S Michael Griffin was a solid pick at No. 19, but it’s questionable if the Titans adequately addressed their biggest weaknesses (RB, WR, CB, and DE) with their other nine selections. 

27

Cincinnati Bengals

C-

CB Leon Hall was a great value at No. 18, as was RB Kenny Irons at No. 49.  The rest of the Bengals’ selections were very questionable, and they still have major holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball. 

28

New York Jets

C-

With just four picks, the Jets were bound to receive a low grade.  CB Darrelle Revis and ILB David Harris plugged two significant holes, but the team is still left with concerns at G, TE, DE, and DT. 

29

Washington Redskins

C-

Once again, the Redskins had a limited number of picks (5), and  S LaRon Landry appears to be the only keeper in this year’s class.  The good news is that Landry was best defender in the draft, and he filled a major need.   

30

Chicago Bears

C-

Greg Olsen, the top TE in the draft, is the only Bears’ draft pick guaranteed to make the team, and he doesn’t fill a primary need. 

31

New England Patriots

D

Having nine picks plus acquiring WR Randy Moss for a fourth-round pick would appear to be a huge windfall for the Patriots.  The team’s selections were very questionable, however.  The Pats’ best pick, Miami safety Brandon Meriweather, is best known for repeatedly stomping on several Florida International players last season.  And let’s not forget that Moss can be a locker-room cancer.

32

Seattle Seahawks

F

CB Josh Wilson was the Hawks’ best pick, and he’s far from a sure thing.  Trading WR Darrell Jackson for a fourth-round pick made a poor draft even worse.