Denver Broncos

The Broncos had the NFL’s 2^nd worst rush defense.  They lacked playmakers in their front seven to help Elvis Dumervil disrupt opposing offenses.  They allowed an absurd 154.6 yards per game on the ground and despite breakout seasons from a variety of offensive players… the Broncos were unable to finish better than 4-12.  This staggering disappointment for a team averaging 21.5 points and 348.9 yards per game on offense led to the firing of head coach Josh McDaniels, who really gave this team a boost in his first couple seasons.  Unfortunately, each season ended with a meltdown and no playoff appearance, so now John Fox is going to try his hand at running this Broncos franchise. Denver held the third overall draft pick and went with the best pure-pass rusher that this draft had to offer.  Von Miller is almost a sure-fire success at the NFL level and while it is hard to criticize the pick at all, I fully expected them to take Marcell Dareus to fix their issues with the running game.  This however, is not the way John Fox operates.  When he arrived in Carolina, he drafted Julius Peppers to build his defense around.  This is the role that Miller will fill in the John Fox scheme and we should expect him to flourish.  The Broncos ended up with two 2^nd round picks as well, taking Rahim Moore (FS) and Orlando Franklin (OL).  Moore is a great player and a good value where he was selected, but I do not feel that the need in the secondary was great enough to warrant this pick.  Taking Miller in the first meant this pick needed to be spent on the defensive line and no DL was taken by Denver until round 7.  At the end of the day, the Broncos got players that will contribute, but they did a poor job of matching picks with needs.  I would not expect to see a winning football team in Denver next season, since they are still unlikely to be able to stop the run.  I would also expect to see some long-time Broncos leave the team once the lock out is lifted as the Broncos try to rebuild under their new coach.

My Grade: B-

Kansas City Chiefs

The 2010 season was a breakout year for the entire Chiefs organization.  They led the league in rushing with a two-headed attack of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, with Dwayne Bowe finally being a playmaker and finishing the season with 15 touchdowns (just 3 behind the league’s leader, Arian Foster).  Going into this draft, the Chiefs needed to get impact players who could make a difference immediately. They managed to do that.  They drafted Jonathan Baldwin late in the first round to be a compliment to Bowe, as he was the only viable receiving threat they had at the receiver position.  Baldwin is 6’4’’, 228 lbs. and has incredible athletic ability for someone of that size.  The biggest knock on him thus far has been consistency, but if Haley and the Chiefs were able to get Dwayne Bowe’s act together, Baldwin should be able to benefit greatly from what this organization has to teach him.  Round two led to the selection of Rodney Hudson, a strong, intense interior offensive lineman.  This is really the last drastic need on offense for the Chiefs, who are now ready to go as far as Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel can take them.  With two picks in round three, the Chiefs finally addressed the defensive side of the ball.  With the 70^th overall pick, the Chiefs took Justin Houston, a very talented pass rusher from the OLB spot.  He slid primarily due to character issues, but the third round was clearly a steal for a player with this amount of pure talent.  I am very big on this draft for the Chiefs, who stayed disciplined and followed their draft board to get the players that will help them try and repeat as division champions.

B+

Oakland Raiders

I have to keep telling myself to just grade the draft here, due to how absurd the firing of Tom Cable was to me.  Admittedly, the Raiders are a franchise that demands success immediately… but they got it.  The drafting of JaMarcus Russell turned the Raiders into a punch line for a few seasons, but without him Cable took a fairly mediocre team and swept this division with it.  Playoffs or not, this was an impressive feat and makes you almost a shoe-in for a playoff run the next season.  Cable built the team to win in the AFC West and it did, so why get rid of him?  See, here I go again… back to the draft!  In round two Oakland got themselves a tough interior lineman to open up holes between the tackles for Darren McFadden when they took Stefan Wisniewski.  In the third round Al Davis did what he does, drafted a speedster with incredible physical attributes.  Defensive back Demarcus Van Dyke was among the fastest defensive backs at the combine and surely got Al Davis’ attention there.  This pick makes sense, because of the unpredictable nature of the Nnamdi Asomugha contract and the lockout combined.  I expect Asomugha to leave the team and there to be a big hole in the Raider secondary as a result.  Hopefully Van Dyke isn’t too much of a developmental prospect, because he could be needed right away.  The Raiders did not have a round 1 pick, but even so, they did very little to help themselves immediately… apart from drafting Wisniewski.

D+

San Diego Chargers

For a team that is a contender EVERY year, sometimes missing the playoffs is a good thing.  With the 18^th overall pick, the Chargers made one of the better first round selections when they took Corey Liuget from Illinois.  He is 6’2’’ 298 lbs and is going to be an effective run-stopper in this league.  The thing that really sets him apart as an interior d-lineman is his ability to contribute on pass rushing scenarios as well.  Liuget is a factor on all 4 downs and should anchor the front seven of San Diego for years to come.  Round two saw the Chargers pick twice and to my surprise both picks were also on the defensive side of the ball.  The Chargers added Marcus Gilchrist (DB) and Jonas Mouton (LB) to the roster with expectations that each will contribute on special teams.  I think Gilchrist has a chance to make the field on defense immediately however in nickel and dime packages and potentially even at safety, should there be any injuries through the course of the season.  Mouton has exceptional speed for a man his size and should immediately see the field on kickoff and kick return teams, but with the level the Charger defense played at last season, I just can’t see him playing a significant role on the defensive side of the ball for a little while. I was surprised to see no receivers taken by San Diego this year, but I guess the Special Teams was really what doomed them and Phillip Rivers will find SOMEONE to catch passes (Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson sound good enough?).  Not a great draft in my opinion, but they didn’t need to have one, they are still Super Bowl contenders next season.

My Grade: C+

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Houston Texans

The Texans made what I believe to be a critical error in the first round when they passed on Prince Amukamara with their 11^th overall pick.  This is not at all a slight on JJ Watt, who will be a successful defensive end in Wade Phillips’ new scheme. The Texans allowed 4,280 yards through the air last season, just 261 yards off of the record for worst in NFL history.  Amukamara is a shut down corner that has proven to be consistent and durable over his two seasons as a starting corner back in Nebraska.  His list of accomplishments includes being a 2010 First-Team All-American and 2010 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. I do not think an acceptable solution for such a terrible secondary is to upgrade the pass rush and rely on 3^rd and 4^th round selections (Brandon Harris and Rashad Carmichael) to become a starting CB in Peyton Manning’s division. Again, time will show that Watt and 2^nd round pick Brooks Reed are quality players along the front 7 and will provide an effective and highly disruptive pass rush for many years.  But, for this season, apart from signing Nnamdi Asomugha in free agency (whenever that occurs), the Texans are going to continue to allow too many big plays for their offense to compete with. And it should go without saying that for THIS franchise, this draft will be judged on the impact it has on making the Texans making the post season next year.

My Grade: D+

Indianapolis Colts

This was a solid draft for the Colts, nothing flashy… but with their first pick they took Anthony Castonzo (6’7’’ 311 lbs) to be a bookend left tackle for the remainder of Peyton Manning’s career and likely the start of the next guy’s too.  This is a smart choice for Bill Polian and the Colts considering there was a slight disturbance in the timing of the Colts’ offense this past season.  I thought the Colts would attack the wide receiver and/or running back positions as Reggie Wayne and Joseph Addai’s careers start to rapidly deteriorate, but Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie(if he can stay healthy)  and Donald Brown will have to suffice until then…  But, mostly because in round two Peyton’s offensive line got another new bookend tackle for the right side in 6’4’’ 317 lb. Ben Ijalana.  Ben will take a little time to reach his full potential, but for now he will provide depth to the tackle position and should allow for Manning to let his pass routes develop and stay on his feet until retirement.   The rest of the Colts’ picks were mostly unexciting, I was not a big fan of 4^th round pick Delone Carter, RB from Syracuse, but he is likely to see at least a little playing time in the rotation since Donald Brown, Joseph Addai and Javarris James all made the field last season.  Bottom line here is the Colts did not need much to remain divisional favorites and they got it, with the only exception being a ball hawk for their secondary… but free agency could still solve that problem.  I am not so sure they can make another playoff run without a trusted running back to run the ball, but Manning can fill a lot of gaps and he sure knows how to demand the most from his teammate.

My Grade: A-

Jacksonville Jaguars

I am on record as not being a David Garrard fan; I have called him an average player and said that each year with him at QB is one of abandoned potential for the Jags.  This seems harsh, but it has proven to be true again and again.  So to me, the decision to move up and take Blaine Gabbert with the 9^th overall pick was a solid one.  You cannot compete with Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub by continuing to stick by a guy that has trouble winning in big games.  Average won’t cut it anymore and since Gabbert was the consensus top-qb for most analysts and teams, the fact that the Jags were able to take him as the third overall QB in the draft could prove to be a steal.  With the Jags’ 2^nd pick (which was in round 3), they took William Rackley out of Lehigh University, a small school in Pennsylvania. Rackley was a dominant tackle in college, with his limited competition.  But, in the pros he will likely transition to an interior lineman and his strong fundamentals and work ethic should prove enough to make for a smooth transition. The last pick I want to discuss was yet another small-school standout, Cecil Shorts from Mount Union.  Shorts went with the 17^th pick of the 4^th round and is a very adept route runner with great hands.  I worry some about his speed after only run a 4.59 40 yard dash at the combine, but the quickness he showed in the 3-cone drill leaves me with little doubt he will be able to create separation and get open for some big plays down the field.  It will take a little time before he might be able to compete as a number one wide receiver, but he could prove to be a difference maker right away in an offense that needs a consistent receiver.

My Grade: B

Tennessee Titans

This years’ draft was entertaining and different than any other year due to free agency not occurring until afterwards… Each team varied up its strategy, but few made a move as head-scratching as when the Titans selected Jake Locker with the 8^th overall pick.  Blaine Gabbert was still on the board and a much more complete prospect at the QB position.  Tennessee is fresh coming off of a bad experience with a mobile quarterback and selected another one with an accuracy problem.  Locker excels with his intangibles, such as leadership and work ethic, but if he was the one the Titans were targeting, why not trade back and wait for Gabbert to come off the board before you reach on a player that would likely have stayed on the board for 10-15 picks? There was only one pick made by Tennessee that I really liked and that was when they took Akeem Ayers in round 2.  Ayers is 6’3’’ 254 lbs and will join the rotation of defensive ends for the Titans.  His size coupled with his burst speed could turn him into a dominant edge rusher from the 3-4, but I think of him more as a first and second down run stuffer with enough versatility to still be a threat should the opposing offense drop back to pass.  I am not sure he can become a 4 down player, but time will tell as the Titans need a couple seasons to rebuild around their new franchise QB.  The third and fourth round picks were focused on stuffing the run with the addition of 6’1’’ 300 lb. Jurrell Casey at DT and 6’1’’ 238 lb. Colin McCarthy to play ILB.  I am not wild about either prospect, but they each have a fast motor and McCarthy should be able to contribute immediately on special teams.

My Grade: C-

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Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore is in a difficult spot as a franchise and this year’s draft was pivotal.  The Ravens’ have elite talent on offense for the first time in a while, but they lacked one weapon last year, a deep threat.  Anquan Boldin was a great acquisition for the Ravens offense, but without a speedy vertical threat on the outside to stretch the field and a draw safety help over the top, he was just being double covered and prevented from impacting the game the way they had hoped.  Torrey Smith was drafted in the 2^nd round to be that weapon and at 6’1’’ 204 lbs he is explosive enough to get the job done as well as contribute in the return game.  In round 1, Jimmy Smith was drafted to join the Ravens’ experienced and veteran-led defense.  He will have ample time to perfect his craft with players like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to show him the ropes as well as being talented enough to start contributing immediately.  Baltimore made significant improvements, but the entire success of this draft is up to whether or not Torrey Smith or Tandon Doss (another speedy WR taken in round 4) is able to stretch the field and give the offense the vertical threat it needs to be both well-balanced and explosive.

My Grade: B+

Cincinnati Bengals

Of all the teams that drafted a QB in this year’s draft, Cincinnati got the best deal of them all.  Andy Dalton is from a spread style offense, but seems to have all the off-the-field intangibles that you want from a future franchise QB.  In the first round the Bengals also grabbed the top WR in this year’s draft. AJ Green is a very polished receiver that seems a sure thing to be success at the NFL level, but I do not think the Bengals made the right decision here.  The season before last, the Bengals were a run-first offense that gave roughly 30 carries per game to Cedric Benson.  In that season, they won the division and swept all three divisional opponents.  This is no small feat considering that Pittsburgh and Baltimore are in the division.  After that, they picked up Terrell Owens off free agency, prioritized the passing game and finished 4-12… behind the Cleveland Browns who went through three different starting QBs over the course of the season.  To me, it’s a no-brainer… run the ball.  I would have liked to see the Bengals trade the pick away (something tells me Atlanta was willing to pay a ton to trade up and take a WR) and draft an in interior offensive lineman to improve their running game.

My Grade: B-

Cleveland Browns

The Browns were one of the bigger winners in this year’s draft.  Their biggest need was a receiver for Colt McCoy to develop along side, but that was far from their only area of concern.  Cleveland had a chance for one of the premier receivers in this year’s draft but made the smart choice to trade the pick away to Atlanta. In the trade they acquired first, second and fourth round picks in this draft as well as a first and fourth round pick in next year’s draft.  So, despite missing out on an elite talent at their biggest position of need, the Browns enabled themselves to rebuild as a franchise quicker and more effectively. With their first round selection, the Browns took Phil Taylor to anchor the center of their defensive line while they transition to a 4-3 scheme.  Taylor is 6’3’’ and 334 lbs. and should make a good replacement for Shaun Rogers.  I would have thought Taylor would have been used more as a traditional NT, but he will certainly still be an effective run-stopper in his new 4-3 scheme. The Browns also had two picks in the 2^nd round and with the first they added an outside pass rusher to their d-line with Jabaal Sheard.  I expect him to start as the right defensive end immediately and be an impact player for quite some time.  The second pick of round two was the playmaking WR that they needed most of all.  They took 6’3’’ 220 lb. Greg Little.  Little showed flashes of big-time playmaking ability in his time at UNC, but was suspended for his final season.  This makes him a bit of a risk, but with risk comes the potential for great reward.  Little has the skill set to potentially be the best receiver taken in this year’s draft, even if the smart money is on AJ Green.

My Grade: A

Pittsburgh Steelers

I am hesitant to criticize a team that historically drafts phenomenally, but I am going to do it anyway.  I thought the Steelers should have drafted a defensive back early and with Aaron Williams still on the board, I really thought they would jump at the chance to take him.  Instead they took themselves a new defensive end to join the rotation of pass rushers that terrorizes opposing quarterbacks.  Cam Heyward is a 6’5’’ 294 lb monster to play in the five-technique and should flourish in this system, but they just needed someone to play cornerback much more and Williams slid much farther than I thought he would, because Prince Amukamara fell past both Houston and Detroit.  Again, in round two, the cornerback position remains unaddressed as they take Marcus Gilbert (6’6’’ 330 lbs.) who I actually like quite a bit as a developmental player.   Gilbert may end up being thrown into a starting right tackle role next season because of his size and mobility, but it will take a couple seasons before he can play on the left side, against all the best pass rushers the league has to offer. In rounds three and four the Steelers take a pair of defensive backs that will compete for time in nickel and dime formations, with Curtis Brown (6’0’’ 185lbs.) and Cortez Allen (6’1’’ 248 lbs.).  Brown is the more athletic of the two and the better for Pittsburgh’s zone scheme, he has the most potential to be a playmaker in the secondary and we should see him on the field much more than Allen.  Time will certainly show that the Steelers got quality players in this draft, but I just can’t help but feel like they need more talented players in the defensive backfield with Troy Polamalu.

My Grade: B-

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Buffalo Bills

Going into the draft the Bills had needs across their defensive front seven, namely at DE and OLB to provide a pass rush.  They also lacked a franchise QB, but with Ryan Fitzpatrick making their offense competitive at the end of last season, the Bills were firm in their stance that they did not need to reach for someone who is not going to the long-term future of the team.  Buffalo took Marcell Dareus with their third overall pick and it is a good one.  Dareus alongside pro bowl DT Kyle Williams should do wonders for the NFL’s worst rush defense. But when they went with Aaron Williams in round two, they lost their chance to get the outside pass rusher that this defense really needs.  To me the chance at a talent like Da’Quan Bowers in the 2^nd round was too good to pass up, but it looks like Donte Whiner is going to be replaced and Williams was a bargain in the 2^nd round after all.  In the third round, the Bills took a very complete ILB with Kelvin Sheppard.  He should help to further boost their run defense, but he won’t make a big impact rushing the passer on third down and that is what kept the Bills from getting an A+.

My Grade: A-

Miami Dolphins

I seem to be higher on what the Dolphins did in this year’s draft than most people are.  Many thought they were going to go after a QB, but they have been a run-first team for quite some time and I thought it was a mistake to get away from that last season.  In round one the Dolphins went with Mike Pouncey, likely to play Center and really bolster the middle of the offensive line and allow their running game to flourish once again.  Another reason why the Dolphins strayed from their traditional run-first attack was the age and durability of their backs.  Ricky Williams will be 34 by the end of this month and Ronnie Brown has been injury prone in the past.  Now Brown has just one season left before the dreaded age of 30 (at least its dreaded for RBs in the NFL) so, to solve this issue the Dolphins drafted Daniel Thomas. Thomas is physical between the tackles and has the ability to grind out the tough short yardage and goal line conversions to keep with the Dolphins’ theme of controlling the clock and pace of the game with their ground attack.  Lastly, in round 4, the Phins drafted speedster Edmond Gates to stretch the field after their running game has forced the 7^th and 8^th defenders into the box.  Bottom line, they made their team better at running the ball to keep Tom Brady and Mark Sanchez off the field and make it so that all Chad Henne has to do is manage the game.  I believe the Dolphins could potentially be in contention for a wild card spot, but that is up to Ronnie Brown’s health and Chad Henne’s game managing skills.

My Grade: B-

New England Patriots

I will never mock a team for picking up a franchise left tackle to keep Tom Brady healthy as he begins to approach the end of his career. I also can’t mock them for drafting a potential heir for Brady as he begins to approach the end of his career (sorry… can’t help myself, I just like saying that SOO much!), but I can dispute the other picks they made.  I’m certainly not a draft expert, but why are they drafting back to back running backs? If you aren’t confident enough in the first one, why did you draft him? Why not just pull the trigger on Mark Ingram if the position is that important to you?  I know they run a committee system in New England, but there is still little reason to burn two picks on such similar backs.  Lastly, I don’t think im alone in assuming that Ras-I Dowling would have been available considerably later, so since Aaron Williams was clearly not their guy, it seems to make sense for the trade-happy Bill Belichick to trade further back in the 2^nd round.  I will admit that they acquired more talent than most teams in the draft, but considering the number of picks they had in the first 3 rounds, I think they could have done MUCH better for themselves.

My Grade: C-

New York Jets

The Jets have had issues staying healthy along the defensive front and with Vernon Gholston being sent packing, the best thing the Jets could have done for their defense was exactly what they did do.  Muhammad Wilkerson is likely to play at defensive end in the Jets’ 3-4 front. Kenrick Ellis, drafted in round 2, was my top pure NT in this draft and he should hopefully provide stability at the center of Rex Ryan’s defense that Kris Jenkins was never able to provide.  After these two picks, the Jets picked only offensive players to help aid the development of Mark Sanchez and provide some depth at running back should anything happen to Shonn Greene or the aging LaDanian Tomlinson.  At the end of the day, the Jets made their football team considerably better with this draft and after making the AFC Championship in back-to-back seasons on the coat tails of their defense, they gave themselves a good chance to improve next season and make it into the Super Bowl.

My Grade: B+

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