AFC SOUTH GRADES

AFC South

Houston Texans – Grade A The Texans did a good job addressing some defensive needs. Not sure moving to a 3-4 is the best way to highlight Mario Williams at defensive end but the Linebacker Combo of Barwin, Cushing, Reed and Ryans could be fearsome.

1. JJ Watt – Watt could be a great defensive end in a 3-4 or 4-3. He’s big, strong, athletic and has a great motor and he’ll be playing opposite one of the best in Mario Williams. A few seasons ago a similar player came out of Miami in Calais Campbell. But Houston had a need at OT. This year they give Mario help on the other side. They do still need a NT. (Shaun Rogers ?).
2. Brooks Reed – OLB – a high motor guy who thinks he’s Clay Matthews in round 2 doesn’t sound like a bad thing. Reed is a classic football player. He could use a bit more speed but he has the football IQ and motor to make a huge impact in a 3-4.

2a. Best Pick - Brandon Harris – CB – Miami – Harris had trouble with Big Wrs and sometime didn’t make the impact expected of his physical skills. Those physical skills put him in the first round on many mocks and he has the hips to be a much more natural cover man than the guys drafted ahead of him in Rd 1. With Houston having so many issues stopping the pass the improved pass rush and the addition of Harris are huge.

4. Rashad Carmichael – CB – Carmichael is under-rated. Virginia Tech puts these tough scrappy corners out all the time, Brandon Flowers being the last. Carmichael could be a surprise starter and allow some of the Texans listed CB to move over and play Safety. He’s as good as Glover Quinn or Kareem Jackson.
5. Shiloh Keo – S – Idaho. There’s nothing about Keo that says he’ll be an NFL starter. His squatty build makes him look more like a undersized LB than a Safety but he’s a scrappy football player and the direction of this Texans draft has been to take football players. He’ll probably earn a roster spot on specials and be hard to keep off the field.

5a. Tyler Yates – QB – UNC – Yates grew at the position every year at UNC. He hasn’t been a great QB and UNC had some pretty good skill position help for him. Not sure how he factors in. He could be a nice developmental QB but the Texans need a veteran back-up ready to step in if Schaub goes down and not a developmental guy. Still it’s never a bad idea to grab a QB to develop late.

7. Derek Newton – OT – Newton has very similar size and physical traits to the rest of the Texans OL. He’s a small school guy but he moves his feet better than probably 60 percent of the OL drafted ahead of him and offers more size and strength than another 60 percent. This is a very good developmental choice who could eventually surprise.

7a. Cheta Ozougwu- LB – Rice – Played End at Rice. Moved Laterally very well at the combine. Doesn’t understand football but has all the other traits of an inside linebacker in the 3-4.

Indianapolis Colts – A- When you have Peyton Manning going O-line back to back can’t be a bad idea. Somewhere in the draft a QB to groom may have been a good idea too. Don’t forget getting Collie, Clark and Gonzalez is like 3 more picks for the offense.

1. Anthony Castonzo – OT – Boston College – seems like an ideal fit – 4 year starter. Midwestern boy with good size and a very big brain. Give Castonzo time in practive against the likes of Mathis and Freeney and he’ll come up with an algorithm for stopping speed rushers. He also has enough size and strength to help recharge the run-game.
2. Best Pick Ben Ijalana- OT-OG – Villanove – Ijalana’s school probably cost him a first round choice. He’s bigger and meaner than say a Pouncey but hasn’t been coached up as much. He also has 36 inch arms which say tackle. Play him at G and enjoy the nasty streak.
3. Drake Nevis – DT – LSU – Nevis was probably the number 1 tackle on the Indy board. No one besides Nick Fairley fit the scheme nearly as well. Small, Quick and Strong enough he’ll definitely be a factor in the rotation.
4. Delone Carter – RB – Syracuse – Carter is what Mike Hart was supposed to be, a short back with power who can disappear in the muck up front and pick up 5 yards at time. He’s a very nice fit in a rotation with Joseph Addai who has been banged up but can do a bit of everything and Donald Brown who only seems to want to run outside. He’d be a best pick in this spot if it weren’t for Ijalana.

6.Chris Rucker – CB – Michigan State – Rucker has some nice physical tools but he looks more like a safety in the colts scheme and plays more like a CB. He’ll help on specials if he makes the team and could develop down the line into a player similar to Aaron Francisco but he has to learn – his problem is recognition and not physical traits and in round 6 that’s a pretty good player.

Jacksonville Jaguars – Grade C No D-line help and some reaches at DB.

1. Blaine Gabbert – Not a fan. Gabbert played in a Quarterback friendly system and while he has a lot of tools he has a lot to learn as well. David Garrard is the perfect QB to have the young QB learn behind but Trent Edwards and Luke McCown both have some ability they (because they didn’t get first round hype) have never been allowed to showcase. Still Gabbert has some of the it factor – and a QB with the tools to be a pro-bowler can never be viewed as a failed pick.

3. Best Pick – Will Rackley – G – Lehigh – Vince Manuwai is getting a bit long in the tooth and so much of the offense in Jacksonville is run-related drafted a player with a chance to be the best guard in this draft makes perfect sense. You also have the factor of protecting the newly found face of the team at QB.
4. Cecil Shorts – Mount Union – WR – Shorts is a different player than former Mount Union start Pierre Garcon. He’s a small school guy. He’s not a blazer. He’s not very big. But and this is a huge but he always seems to be the best player on the field and the guy that’s in the right spot. 4^th round may have been a reach but it’s a good reach.

4a. Chris Prosinski – S- Wyoming – Prosinski is a smart player with good size and surprising athleticism. Good traits. He plays the run better than the pass which could be a problem in the gunslinging AFC south and while most considered S to be a trouble spot in Jacksonville – Sean Considine, Courtney Greene and Don Carey are similar players to Prosinski. That makes this pick a tad questionable.

5. Rod Isaac – CB – Middle Tennessee State University – The jags love small school defensive backs. Isaac has nice size, good speed, but needs to work on his footwork and hands. He could end up being a great pick. He could also end up behind the 4 small school Cbs already on the Jags roster. There’s a problem with having 3 of the 4 being developmental and a 4^th being added.

Tennessee Titans Overall Grade B A pass rusher is still a big need maybe Derrick Morgan will return and develop.

1. Jake Locker – QB- Washington – Locker has the most upside combined with character of any QB in this draft. Period. He’s been in a pro system. He’s tough. He didn’t have a ton of tools at Washington but stayed 4 years even though he may have been drafted higher coming out last year. The guy is a leader and that’s what you want most from a QB. He won’t be asked to be the savior in Tennessee and he has tools there and that may be the reason he becomes Offensive Rookie of the Year.
2. Akeem Ayers – LB – UCLA – Ayers seems to be a Strong Side linebacker in a 4-3. He’s supposed to be this totally dynamic player but it doesn’t seem to show up on tape. He’s aggressive and athletic but that seems to show up when he wants it too. The guy has a ton of potential but…that’s a spot where you don’t want a but. Gerald McGrath and Tim Shaw and maybe even Bailey and Allred are better football players at this point and so is fellow draftee Colin McCarthy so Ayers better wake up.
3. Jurrell Casey – DT – USC – Casey is described as a short quick high motor player but he didn’t seem continuously motivated at USC. If he is motivated he could remind of Chris Zorich or current NFL player Derek Landri – those guys never had their motivation questioned – maybe having it questioned with wake this guy up. He can be very good but he can also be covered by size and just give up.
4. Best Pick – Colin McCarthy – LB – Miami – McCarthy has a bit of an injury history but he’s a pure football player with enough athleticism to line up at any spot in a 4-3 linebacking corps. He’s a football player. That’s a good thing. If you put McCarthy’s football sense and hustle in Ayers body you’d have a pro-bowler.

4a. Jamie Harper – is a big back who runs a little high but has good speed, good hands and some wiggle. He’ll be more of a complement too Chris Johnson than a change of pace. He provides solid depth while reminding of a Matt Forte.

5. Karl Klug – DT – Iowa – like McCarthy Klug is an old-school football player. He isn’t big but he is tough and his motor is always on. Tennessee has a lot of similarly built players on the DL and if they wake up and play as hard as Klug some of them could be very good and that would make it hard for Klug to maintain a roster spot.
6. Byron Stingily – OT – Louisville – good speed and good feet but he’s been noted as a pass protector. The titans could have used the help more inside on the o-line and with their make-up a run blocker. With David Steward and Michael Roos outside Stingily will have time to learn in a perfect scenario he always stewart to kick inside down the road.
7. Zack Clayton – DT – Auburn – Another high motor football player and a guy that played for Tracey Rocker at Auburn. Clayton has surprising athleticism good strength and could play some outside. He’s a high effort guy like Klug but he was well behind Senderrick Marks (a titans disappointment) at Auburn.

7a. Tommie Campbell – S – Cal PA – Campbell played as a 203 lb linebacker at a small school. He ran a 4.31 and a 4.33 forty at a couple of all-star games. Campbell used to play at pitt along side Darrell Revis but left due to poor academic progress. He then got asked to leave Edinboro of PA for skipping classes. After 2 years working as a janitor Campbell got a last chance with Cal PA – he may really appreciate this opportunity. He has the athleticism to really help anyone – now he has to work. It’s a loaded Defensive Backfield in Tennessee but this guy has amazing athletic ability and could surprise if his heads on straight. A very interesting pick – this guy was player of the year in the Pittsburgh area – that’s a football hotbed.

AFC North Draft Grades

Baltimore Ravens – Overall  Grade – B+ almost an A

1. Best Pick - Jimmy Smith – DB- Contrary to popular belief the Ravens don’t have issues with talent in the Defensive Backfield  guys like Josh Wilson, Tom Zbikowski, Haruki Nakumura,  Chris Carr, and Lardarius Webb are better than they are given credit for.  So Smith is a luxury with a body type that will probably be better suited to safety. Where he can grow into the position learning from Ed Reed who has brought up retirement a few times.  It would be a shame to see Reed go but if he does the Ravens now have a hole card. He’s the best pick because  of Ray Lewis anyone else drafts him and there would be questions about his attitude. 
2. Torrey Smith – WR – a lot of people had Smith as a 1^st round WR.  The ravens got quality in the 2^nd round that would have been a reach in round 1.  He didn’t time as fast as listed and doesn’t run the greatest routes but he was featured in college and was the go to  guy in the crunch.  He’s a want the ball guy.  And he’s good enough to push one of the old WR out the door and become a player maker with Anquan Bolden done the road. 
3. Jah Reid – OT – Reid’s a bit of a stretch but he’s got that RT body thing down.  He’s built like Jared Gaither so if Gaither holds out, or has more back trouble  Reid seems more ready to step in than last years reach in Ramon Harewood.  He could also pair with Harewood  or a couple of others listed as tackles to form a pretty imposing right side of the line. 
4. Tandon Doss – WR – Doss doesn’t have the speed or quickness that a Smith has but he runs solid routes, understands the soft spots in a zone  and catches everything. In round 4 that’s a very good skill set. 
5. Chykie Brown  -  DB – He’ll have to beat out Fabian Washington, or Cary Williams or Domonique Foxworth to make the club but the odds are he will. 

5a. Pernell McPhee – DE – Not sure how he makes the team.  Maybe over a Prescott  Burgess or he can stay if Kindle can’t come back or you could point him at Dannell Ellerbe or Cory Redding.  McPhee will compete for a roster spot and when you’re a good team drafting in the 6^th round that’s all you can ask.

6. Tyrod Taylor – QB – Taylor makes us think WB. He’s accuracy is just a bit far off as a QB.  But he’s fast and he’s quick and he’s exciting with the ball in his hands. He also seems pretty grounded.  So maybe he’s the next Michael Robinson. He isn’t the next Michael Vick.  Maybe the next Jim Jensen.  Maybe the first Tyrod Taylor Wildcat  QB.
7. Anthony Allen- RB – he runs a little high but there isn’t a lot of tread on the tires and he’s a very nice  potential complement to Ray Rice who runs a little low.  Allen picks up some of Rice’s traits and he’s a steal.

Cincinnati Bengals – Overall Grade – B- it’s not that the bengals draft poorly it’s just they always seem to be surprised by issues like the possible retirement of their QB.

1. Best Pick – AJ Green – the 2^nd best WR in the draft is very good but at 4 you should get a very good player.  Realistically,   the Bengals don’t have many holes (they’ve drafted pretty well athlete wise but haven’t gotten much out of the players  output wise).  Green will be replacing T.O. who had a nice year last year. 

2. Andy Dalton – QB – TCU- There is nothing wrong with Dalton. Nice size. Pretty good arm. Freshman All-America.  Has a couple bowl game MVP awards. He can manage a game.  Doesn’t make mistakes. There’s nothing wrong with Andy Dalton but he dropped to the 2^nd round because people draft on potential ,  sometimes potential is a 40 time sometimes it’s the jersey you wear,  sometimes it’s how far you throw the ball.  Dalton can play.  And he isn’t all about Dalton.

3. Dontay Moch- LB- Nevada – the Bengals always seem to be adding an amazing athlete around this spot.  He’s not a football player yet.  But what an Athlete.

4. Clint Boling – OG – Boling is a little small for the G spot and a lot small for RT and not quick enough to play LT.  He’s a game competitor but  there may have been more talented G’s available.  Funny, in the 3^rd round the bengals take an athlete with great measurables who isn’t yet a football player and in the 4^th round they take a football player  who might get stronger and build his measurables.

5 .  Robert Sands – S – Sands is big but he isn’t an in the box guy.  He’s not going to cover quick little slot Wrs and his range in CF may be ok but his change of direction doesn’t seem fantastic.  He seems destined for special teams.  Even if he is 6’0” like the bengals say and not 6’4” like the mountaineers say

6. Ryan Whalen – WR -  Nothing against Whalen but this doesn’t look like the team for him.  And Since it’s Ohio maybe OSU guy Dane Sanzenbacher would have had a better chance.  Shipley is pretty much the same guy and had a nice rookie year and more speed. Quan Cosby is a special teams guy.  And if Caldwell and Simpson come back with Green it’s a very crowded WR spot. Just the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong team.

7. Korey Lindsey- CB – Southern Illinois – Reaching for a small school player in round 7 makes since.  And a CB with decent size  and speed.  He was a buck buchanon award finalist. MVC first team but he’s also been injured ,  can play sloppy and soft and will be joining a team with some pretty good corners hoping for comeback years.  Still the Bengals could groom the kid.

7. Jay Finley- RB – Finley is solid.  He follows his blocks. He does his job.  That could be enough to earn a job. Some of it depends on who comes back. 

Cleveland Browns – Overall grade C some people are calling this draft an A but the Browns had a lot of what they drafted.  That  means the transition is as much about personalities as it is play.  That downgrades this draft which is very solid in terms of talent.

1. Phil Taylor – DT- it wasn’t long ago that the Browns let Shaun Rogers go because they were switching to the 4-3.  Then they drafted Shaun Rogers.  The difference is the past few seasons you could tell Rogers was playing hard but playing hard for seasons hasn’t seemed to be stylish for Taylor. Jauron can find a way to use him.  He’s clever like that but Rogers has more pass rush ability and keeping big shaun would have meant you could spend this pick on something else. 
2. Jabaal Sheard – DE – Pittsburgh, Sheard is a little undersize d. He’s supposed to be an edge rusher but he’s not that fast. He’s combative against the run.  There’s nothing wrong with him but look at some of the film on Browns OLB (converted from end) Marcus Bernard.  These guys are the same player.  With two big Nts maybe the browns can afford to play without a base end but you’re asking a lot of Jauron. Or you’re cutting a player  in Bernard who really deserves a shot. 

2a.  Best Pick - Greg Little – WR – this may be one of the drafts best picks.  Little was the 3^rd WR on our board.  He’s big. He’s strong. He has great hands.  He knows what to do after the catch.  He’s a bigger faster Hakeem Nicks and he’s exactly what a west coast offense with a small armed QB needs- a guy to run slants make some yards after catch and use his body to be between the ball and the defender.  Funny if you stretch Josh Cribbs a little he’d be a very similar player to Little.

4. Jordan Cameron – TE – Cameron never started .  He’s a tall thin cross between a WR and a TE.  Has anybody seen Evan Moore ?  And Moore was more productive in college  and has learned a lot in regard to being an NFL player.  Yes, Cameron ran very nice times at the combine which makes you wonder all the more where he’d been the past 4 years. 
5. Buster Skrine – CB – Skrine should be in the rotation in Cleveland .  That may make him look like a great 5^th round choice but really it’s as much about personnel turnover and creating turnovers.  Skrine will be competing with  Michael Adams, Sheldon Brown, DeAngelo Smith, and someday Eric Wright. Some of those guys are Mangini acquisitions this team seems to be preparing to move those.
6. Jason Pinkston – OL – He had 41 starts and got a lot of yards for D. Lewis.  He’s a pretty good athlete for a big man.  He could probably beat out say,  Floyd Womack,  if he had a solid pre-season to get accustomed to the offense and change in the speed of the game.
7. Eric Hagg – DB- Nebraska, as a seventh round choice Hagg has the size, the speed and the experience in coverage to become the perfect complement to  TJ Ward. 

Pittsburgh Steelers – B-  nothing to get excited about but everything fits. A WR would have been a nice addition. 

1. Cam Heyward -  With guys like Hoke, Smith, Kiesel getting up there in years this and not DB was probably the steelers biggest need. Heyward is a true 5 technique tackle who should play a long time in the steel city. Just a big tough guy. A steeler type. 
2. Marcus Gilbert – is huge and he can get sloppy and look a little lazy at times.  In other words he’s very similar to Flozell Adams and Max Starks and in Pittsburgh’s case that’s grooming a player for a position  held by and old guy not drafting what you have.  The difference is subtle but it’s based in continuity, scheme and coaching.
3. Best Pick – Curtis Brown – DB – Brown was the best press corner at Texas and maybe in the big 12 – he stayed on the outside guy while Aaron Williams moved in on the slot.  He could start over an incumbent at worst he makes the roster, excels at specials and on the nickel and dime packages and learns to be a starter. 
4. Cortez Allen – CB – this guy is big enough to move to S.  And as a Safety he has very good range.  That’s getting more important in Pittsburgh because Troy Polumalu is starting wear down and may have to get a haircut.  Still Polumalu is the key to the steelers- with him they’re a superbowl  team without him they probably miss the playoffs. Allen will help.
5. Chris Carter – LB- Undersized Converted Defensive end with surprising strength who plays hard.  Sounds like a typical Steeler LB.  Which really sucks for the rest of the league.  He’s just a piece here. 
6. Keith Williams – OG – Nebraska – a big solid run blocker who got high praise for his work ethic.  Sounds like a steeler.
7. Baron Batch – RB- Mewelde Moore was the change of pace guy.  He’s not bad but Batch may offer more change and a quicker pace.  A nice pick

AFC East Draft Grades

Buffalo Bills – Overall Grade : C, a safe a draft as there is.

Buffalo’s draft was safe.  Which is different than previous bills drafts. There is a heavy ACC feel and you can credit Chan Gailey for that, but the ACC wasn’t the most powerful conference out there. 

1. Marcell Dareus,  Darius will be playing end in a 3-4.  The position is not flashy nor exciting . It is about consistency and freeing up the rush linebackers. Which the bills don’t have.  Yes, Dareus was the right choice at  3.  But this team needs a real 3-4 outside linebacker that can bring some heat  or that 3-4 end doesn’t translate to much.
2. Aaron Williams.  Donte Whitner, Jairus Byrd and back-ups George Wilson and Byron Scott played well enough at S. Who know what they would have done with a pass rush.  Williams can play. He’s a good player but part of this is evaluating based on need and player availability and there isn’t a huge need in Buffalo unless they’re planning on losing pieces,  and planning on losing pieces isn’t much different than planning on losing. 
3. Kelvin Sheppard.  He’s a linebacker from a prime time school but he looks more like a Mike than a speedy pass rush type.  Of the linebackers left on the draft board many of them are similar hgt, wgt, speed athletes  so that’s bad. Throw in that Buffalo’s Inside backers made a ton of tackles and that’s worse.  Taking a risk on an OLB would have made some since by now because the team is relying on Aaron Maybin and no one wants to do that.
4. DaNorris Searcy. Safety. We’ve gone over this.  And Searcy looks like a big in the box Safety.  And the big in the box safety has been going as well as the brontosaur  of late.  He’s a good player though. He’ll be a valued special teamer but in the fourth getting a valued special teamer isn’t that special.

4a.  Chris Hairston. This picks makes sense.  The browns need help at both tackles and

      the large bodied Hairston could play the right side and may even develop for the left

      someday.

5. Johnny White.  White is a tough hard nosed runner who can catch out of the      backfield.  Nothing wrong with that.  But they have Spiller and Jackson which makes this pick look like they are preparing to lose one of them and we’ve discussed that.
6. Chris White . Inside Linebacker again ? there no depth there so the pick isn’t a bad one but it is a bad one when you throw in Kelvin Sheppard in round 3.
7. Justin Rogers.  CB- finally some risk.  Rogers may turn out he’s sloppy and undersized but he’s quick and the Bills have been solid at picking Cbs up in the draft.

7a.  Michael Jasper.  Sometimes you see the shiny object  and you reach. Jasper coud be  a nearly 400lb nose tackle.  That idea  works great in theory  but the last time we saw a nearly 400lb NFL player Mike Williams was getting chased out of Buffalo.

Miami Dolphins – Overall Grade:  C-, another team planning to lose.

1,  Mike Pouncey  - may be the best OL in the draft but it seems the dolphins want to play him at C and his position looks more like G.  The dolphins also had bigger holes to fill than the line which was really an issue of health as much as an issue of quality.  So now they’re even better and beefier up front but still have other issues. In defense of the dolphins management they would have been reaching for any of the exciting players out there.

2. Daniel Thomas – Thomas runs too high but so does former 2^nd round pick Matt Forte.  Thomas also catches the ball out of the backfield well.  He can play.  Last year he was more productive that Mark Ingram (but so was Alabama backfield mate Trent Richardson) .  This is a pick by a team that’s planning on losing either Ronnie Brown or Rickey Williams or Both and you have to measure Thomas’ success against  what they give up – if it’s both Thomas really needs to pan out.

4. Edmond Gates – One of the fastest players in the draft he could take the cover off the defense and open things up underneath for a quick little slot guy like Bess.  He also  would make Safeties stay back for the running game.  This a great developmental pick for the position.

6. Charles Clay – Clay was so effective his team decided to find a way to get him on the field.  It wouldn’t be surprising  if he does it again at the next level.  He’s a little slow. He’s a little puffy. But he does everything well ,  except block.  He can learn and remember the post about split backs ? With Clay and Thomas the size, speed ratios are perfect for just that. 

7. Frank Kearse – Prototype size for a 5 technique who could grow into a nose tackle worth a shot when you play a 3-4 those players are hard to find. 

7a.  Jimmy Wilson – CB Montana.  Wilson used to hang with Clark Kent and Lois Lane…not him. Oh,  Jimmy Wilson 2 years in prison for a murder charge then was acquitted and then suspended aftet getting back while a misdemeanor assault charge was investigated.   Seems Jimmy has a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I like the idea of giving him a chance but that wrong place at the wrong time thing is not a good precedence for a DB.

New England Patriots – B+, the picks fit the team  but a 5 technique would have been nice. 

1. Nate Solder – Solder has a better combination of size and footwork than anyone in the draft but he’s better suited to a team playing against a 4-3 front.  The wide rushing OLB;s in the east will give him some problems  and he’s not a run blocker – there’s a leverage issue when you stand 6’9” but he can protect the passer and is best suited for 3-4 guys right in his face – like they play in Indianapolis. 
2. Ras-I Dowling – If dowling is the JR year dowling the pick makes perfect sense even with McCourty, Arrington and Butler all looking pretty ok at corner during last season.  He’s also big enough to challenge Chung or Merriweather so the pick provides competition at 4 spots complaining about a sack producing OLB or some D-line help doesn’t do much good this late. But those positions need to be addressed. 

2a,  Shane Vereen – and there’s nothing wrong with this pick. Competitions for Danny Woodhead –Woodhead beats him out but  it’s an upgrade in talent from Sammy Morris. 

3. Stevan Ridley – looks and plays like Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis and he’ll fit in perfect for Fred Taylor. 

3a.  Ryan Mallett- Great Arm,  possibly the most NFL ready QB in the draft and he steps into a situation where he can learn the ropes from Tom Brady.  Learning the ropes is a good thing.  Look at Aaron Rogers or Phil Rivers or Drew Brees or Matt Hasselback or…sure it’s exciting to throw that rookie in but he’s as likely to become the next Cade McNown, Alex Smith, David Carr or Cam Newton (oops did I say that) as he is to become Rothlisberget (just handed off) or Flacco (just handed off).

5. Marcus Cannon – OG from TCU Cannon will take the year off to get his health concerns under control and then he’ll find a way to ease 350 lbs into a football jersey .  He can be very good, even outside at RT. He could be even better at G.  If he shared time which NE can afford he won’t even get tired.

5a.  Lee Smith TE – the patriots don’t need a TE.  But this guy has Bellichik all over him. Great leader. Effort guy goes over the middle two time team captain and as big as another T.  He isn’t great but he’s worth a 5. sort of .  For the pats a 5 is like the ordering the biggie fries- you don’t need it,  you probably aren’t going to use it but it’s there if you end up wanting it. 

6. Markell Carter OLB – Carter has the size speed ratio you want in an OLB.  He could be the pass rush threat the team can use up front.  Or he could not make the team.  He’s worth a sixth round pick just based on measurables. 
7. Malcolm Williams S – TCU – Williams is more in the box thumber than anyone on the pats roster he could be a vicious special teams gunner.  He could challenge some of the safeties on the team.  For  a 7 that’s nice. 

New York Jets.  Overall Grade: B,  Spend that Powell Pick on a WR and it rivals the Pats. 

1. Muhammad Wilkerson – he’s the best pass-rushing tackle in the draft and he comes to a team totally empty at defensive end. 

3.   Kendrick Ellis- favorite pick in the draft, Ellis is a monster who looks like Haloti Ngata and like Ngata has enough speed to play and end and move around like AJ Duhe.  It was against  low level competition but to get 6’5” 340 and productive in round 3 is impressive.  And Ryan figures out how to use defenders pretty well.

4. Bilal Powell is a fine player but Joe McKnight looked good. LaDanian Tomlinson looked refreshed and Shonn Green fits better as the short yardage back.  Maybe the Jets have a trade in the works with a team desperate for runners that can’t admit until the lockout is settled. 
5. Jeremy Kerley – does a bit of everything from the WR slot. Runs good routes. Has good speed. Physically he’s built like Derrick Mason.  Mason found a lot of ways to be successful perhaps  Kerley can too. 
6. Greg McElroy – Not a need but a national championship winning Q B who threw a lot to a top WR can’t be a bad choice.  Would have doubled down at WR considering the lack of depth there but you can’t  hate this pick.
7. Scotty McKnight – a childhood friend of Mark Sanchez.  So even if it’s a bad pick it isn’t a bad pick.  Then he put up pretty good stats with the buffaloes finding the end zone regularly.  And He’s actually pretty fast.  For a 7^th round pick those are good reasons.

Top 10 Picks of Rounds 2 and 3

Top 10 picks rds 2- 3

We didn’t do round 1 because when you’re in the top 30 picks every pick should have some aspect,  some something that makes it a top pick.  It doesn’t always happen but it should.  These picks went much later but all could have been in the top 32. 

1. Kendrick Ellis – NYJ- heck, there is a chance Ellis won’t even make the team but when a 3-4 team gets the opportunity to draft a guy who is 6’5” 345lbs and plays with a mean streak they should take it.  The Jets are the perfect fit. Like Haloti Ngata,  Ellis moves more like an end than a nose tackle,  he’s quick in pursuit and uses his long arms pretty well.  Meanwhile lunchpail guy Mike DeVito can’t help but remind people of Kelly Gregg and Sione Pouha and giving the line a guy like Ellis can’t hurt.
2. Martez Wilson- NO- Wilson is an incredible athlete.  He brings size and speed to a saints linebacking corps that has really been a collection of “football players”.  Word so far is he’ll play the strong side over 12 year veteran Danny Clark.  He’ll have a chip on his shoulder  and a guy with his size and speed is not someone you want to face with a chip on his shoulder. 
3. Ryan Mallett- NE- Ok, Ok, Ok,  he did drugs.  Maybe you’d like to know what drugs they were but isn’t the baseball world cheering the heroic comeback of Josh Hamilton  ? It wasn’t steroids that kept Hamilton out of baseball for a spell.  The kid has an amazing arm.  And I saw the Gruden piece,  he as much as any other QB seemed to get the football aspect.  Cam Newton didn’t seem to know which positions were on the field in a given set let alone which play to call.  Also Mallett knew his limitations,  some of the leadership guys like Christian Ponder and Andy Dalton seemed to think they had a little more arm than they do- they are still good Qbs.  But Mallett,  with that big arm,  he could be great – and now he’s with Bellichik and Brady…which means in a few years he’ll have shown enough in a late season game to bring the Patriots another bevy of picks.  I’d rather see a guy to a few drugs safely than get pulled over for a DUI. 
4. Justin Houston – KC- had issues in the middle of the defense.  Now Vrable and or Studebaker can move inside.  And Tamba Hali has a book-end OLB and Houston is a Hali clone.  The team could still use an upgrade at NT but the two LSU guys at end muck things up enough to allow Houston some real access to the QB. 
5. Greg Little – Cle- the prototype west coast offense WR in this draft,  little is bigger and stronger and more of a run after the catch guy than any other WR in this draft. He won’t run the routes of a Jones or Green or go over the top like a Baldwin but he;s a real football  player , and really can Colt McCoy make those other throws ?
6. Stefan Wisniewski – Oak- They took a C or a G to play the interior of the line!  Wisniewski moves his feet well. He’s familiar with the team.  He has enough upper body strength to get the job done and he has a big old brain.  He’s a guy that will play forever.
7. Ben Ijalana- Ind- Ijalana is learning to be a football player.  He has 36 inch arms,  and weighs in at 317lbs.  So while he’s a little bit of a developmental player (why does that get said like it’s a bad thing – good teams develop players bad teams throw them to the wolves- everyone should hope to be a developmental player)  he’s very similar in physical attributes to number 9 pick Tyron Smith except  he’s got more weight in his seat and won’t be pushed around.  Plus the best part about Ijalana’s game is he has an attitude.   Ijalana’s name probably came up some in the first round when Gabe Carimi ,  Derek Sherrod,  and even Athony Castonzo went – he has the potential to be as good as any lineman in this draft.
8. Rahim Moore – Den-  When you get the best player at his position in a draft it’s a good pick. When it fills a team  need it’s a better pick.  When that player gets to learn from a great  player it’s and even better pick. And when that player  understands the opportunity he has it’s a great pick. 
9. Brooks Reed-  Hou- Brooks Reed thinks he’s Clay Matthews Jr.  He’s a little bigger. A little slower but he’s all hustle and heart.  Houston needed another OLB in the new 3-4 and Reed as a former DE is the perfect compliment to Cushing  who is a more standard LB. 
10. Bruce Carter – DAL-  Carter may have to sit a year.  But even with that he was the best weakside LB in the draft. He’s big enough to function in Dallas 3-4 but not really a great fit for his skill set,  still when you get a top 15 talent in the middle of the 2^nd round it’s a great pick. 

Thoughts on Round 1

Thoughts on Round 1 –

1. Newton- say what you want but an athlete like Newton hasn’t come around since JaMarcus Russell or Vince Young .  And that’s the only thing that makes this pick questionable Russell and Young were probably available for a much lower price.  Newton has an advantage,  he’s a QB that stares down his primary – everyone should know the ball is going to Steve Smith. So he fits nicely.  He has a run blocking line and he likes to run.  He may be able to avoid being pigeonholed in Carolina like Young and Russell were as classic long ball QB’s, Newton could also be the kind of QB Mike Vick was with Atlanta and while you can argue that Vick is better with the added humility of jail time he surely wasn’t bad before the jail time.  On the other hand,  this is the NFL and you don’t win superbowls with a QB that doesn’t distribute first and think of “me” second.  Newton  may be a little too me first to ever be great.  Only time will tell.   Grade C
2. Von Miller – Miller showed a great motor he even played special teams in that all star game.  And he was everywhere.   People try to say John Fox is this or John Fox is that but Fox finds ways to use his people.  Miller covers a lot of ground at a position the Broncos need a lot of ground covered.  He’s more of a sure thing than Patrick Peterson or Marcell Dareus because Peterson has stiff hips and Dareus seems to be a 5 technique end.   B you don’t get an A drafting at 2.
3. Marcel Dareus -  At the end of the year people will look at Dareus’ stats and go “ho-hum” but it takes a while for a kid to play that 5 technique.  He could be quietly effective for years but the thing that will make him stand out is the bills ability to find a pass rushing pair of OLB’s one put right over this big guy’s shoulder.  If Buffalo does that Dareus won’t get keyed on and they may be on to something defensively.   Troup, Carrington, and Dareus have a world of potential but as long as their job description is muck thing up for the linebackers and the linebackers don’t show up they’ll look like failed picks.  C it’s the best choice but not exciting. 
4. AJ Green – If this means Carson Palmer is in the fold it’s a great  pick.  Green may not be the best WR out there it may be Julio Jones but Green is dynamic and despite the antics of Chad Ochocinco – Chad is someone a young WR can learn from,  Chad sets up Cbs reads coverages and has in the past studied film as well as any wide out around.  Give Palmer someone to throw to,  open up the defense for Benson and seriously as good as Green is reported to be you really can’t go wrong.  B –  T.O. did well  last year  so receiver isn’t really the issue but they got a player.
5. Patrick Peterson- The world had Blaine Gabbert here, but the biggest need was DL and after Dareus the next best is Fairley and he had character issues depending on who you listened to.  And Gabbert, Newton, and every other QB in this class is at least a year behind John Skelton and Max Hall – they may catch up fast but they are behind at present. The linebacking looks needy but  Miller was gone.  The OL didn’t have anyone worth taking here.  So they went with the best athlete available.   Athlete not player because Peterson may not be a CB and may still be learning to play any position.  With Toler, Rogers –Cromartie,  Rhodes,  and Wilson already on the back line maybe the best choice would have been to move down but moving down can be hard so the best athlete is sometimes the best you can do even at 5. Show the willingness to be patient with Skelton and Hall some respect – bring in a veteran to groom them and just maybe one of them could become a dominant QB one day – stranger things have happened.   C – got a great athlete but how he fits as a player is unknown. 
6. Julio Jones -  picking in the 6^th spot the perfect choice for the Browns was a WR who could run routes and play big in a west coast style offense, a guy that could go over the middle and then blow it up with run after the catch ability,  a guy to crack back and open lanes for the running game,  a guy with great hands whose deep presence would soften zones for the tight ends.  Julio Jones is all those things but the Browns traded the pick to Atlanta where Jones create a dominant receiving corps.  The only issue in that offense now is bringing the o-line back.  A- Atlanta  showed a ton of guts to go for what could be the final piece to the puzzle.
7. Aldon Smith –the Niners already had Aldon Smith in Manny Lawson but you can never have too much of a good thing.  Wait,  you say Lawson wasn’t a good thing ?  Well, maybe competition will bring out the beast in both these  guys.  C- if he’s Lawson it’s a D if he makes Lawson better it’s a B. 
8. Jake Locker – Class Act,  excellent arm,  character,  leadership,  played on a bad college team and carried it.  Locker should be a favorite QB.  He’s never had the kind of talent  edge he’ll have in Tennessee.  He should take off. He has his footwork down  more than anyone else and a running game to rely on – the most NFL ready QB in this draft – especially with weapons around him and a line in front. B- fills a need, has great potential,  fits the team. 
9. Tyron Smith- IF smith can play at 315 or 320 he’ll be the best tackle taken and a regular in pro-bowl games.  If he struggles to maintain his weight  he’ll get pushed around.  This is a reactive pick by Dallas – Philly and the Giants both play small fast ends that get up under your pads and blow past your.  So that’s 4 games against speed on two sides.  Doug Free is pretty solid but Marc Colombo, Sam Young, and Alex Barron struggle with speed .  So the pick makes sense.  But will Smith be effective in run blocking ?  At some level  a DB has to show up in Big D.  So while smith isn’t a bad choice there could have been a better one for the Cowboys.  D- as in depends on his ability to hold weight.  If he gets pushed around it’s a bust if he plays strong it could be an A. 
10. Blaine Gabbert – Jacksonville is a perfect fit. Gabbert is going to get a year to learn under the ultimate team player David Garrard.  Garrard plays well,  great,  if the kid doesn’t complain you know you have a real team first guy.  That will bode well when he’s handing off the next season.  Gabbert has all the tools and the opportunity to sit and learn ( Locker and Newton don’t get that) may make him more formidable than the others eventually.   B- perfect pick if the team has patience.
11. JJ Watt -  Big strong athletic with a great motor you couldn’t ask for, well you could ask that he be an  OLB for a 3-4 or better yet a NT or a CB and while Watt may be the perfect complement to Mario Williams NT, OLB and DB may have been better fits. As a best player available pick this one is excellent but with Amukamara or Quinn available and possibly able to compete and more needed spots it leaves a little to be desired.  B- best player  but he isn’t a great fit. 
12. Christian Ponder – Ponder fits what the Vikings do in the modified West Coast offense, he doesn’t make a ton of mistakes, he has enough arm,  and he’s football smart.  Tarvaris Jackson should be ready but this really screams Tarvaris will never be ready.  So the Vikings have to find a Quarterback. A veteran might have been better but with the labor dispute finding one may be easier this way.  The pick is solid even though  the team reached.  But Mallett’s character must be a hum-dinger because his arm is amazing and nobody seems to love him.  B- fits the team well but will probably have to start. The rush could hurt. 
13. Nick Fairley – based on athletic traits for his position Fairley might be the best player in the draft.  The list makes him sound like a Suh- clone.  One more thing Fairley and Suh are both fast- quick enough to play outside. But imagine those tow monsters crushin a single side of a line and it might make you pee a little.  Best player available and with Suh and Vandenbosch on the line with him they may have the tools to keep him motivated.  B and an A if they keep him motivated. 
14. Robert Quinn – best player on the board and you know Spags knows how to use a pass rusher. Selvie showed some life as a rookie. Long and Hall were effective the Rams had bigger holes but roled the dice on a great athlete who can fill a niche in the defense they play.  B.
15. Mike Pouncey – if last year’s line was healthy you’d have a better idea if this was a need pick. RB, and QB seemed to be bigger needs – Berger,  Incognito and Jerry could have been a nice big interior and Carey and Long had talent outside so maybe they’ve given up on some of the interior guys.  But this pick may not be better than the guys already there.  C
16. Ryan Kerrigan  - the redskins may have had bigger needs but Kerrigan is a football player.  He may eventually end up inside as he learns to play LB but for now he improves the pass rush and the run defense and keeps teams from keying on Orakpo.  Seems like Shanahan is stocking up on “character” guys. B – not exciting but effective. 
17. Nate Solder – there were more exciting players available.  But Solder is a finesse LT like Matt Light who stands 4 inches taller,  has more length,  and is a really good athlete.  There is no need to rush him. He’s a physical prototype for the slot and could protect Tom Brady as long as Tom chooses to play.  B- not sexy but solid.
18. Coery Liuget -  this is the first why ? pick.  Liuget is the best under tackle available in the draft.  He’s got a great motor but at 6’2” he’s not long enough to play the outside as a 5.  He’s quick enough to get up under a G as an under tackle but the problem is SD doesn’t use a player  like that . So Why ?  Maybe SD is changing and no one knows.  B – right player for the wrong system. 
19. Prince Amukamara-  may be a better CB than Patrick Peterson.  He has a little bit of a nasty streak but gets caught with his eyes in the backfield.  The scheme seems to be a problem in NY when you don’t get to the QB there are holes everywhere.   Blame Perry Fewell as much as Webster,  Terrell and Ross or Rolle and Phillips and Grant.  This defense plays the DBs deep and the Lbs close and leaves a big soft spot in the middle.  B- Not sure how he fits but the giants don’t have a lot of holes – LB was one.  After Von Miller no one has grabbed a true LB. 
20. Adrian Clayborn – Physically he’s better than any DE on the Tampa roster right now and he basically has 1 arm. That may make him size specific but if he plays like he did as a JR at Iowa he’ll be allowed to play any where he wants.  B- fits the scheme, fits the team, fills a need but he has some issues to overcome – he’s had them a while though and dealt  with them quite well.
21. Phil Taylor – the biggest why ?  Not only because he goes 340lbs but because  the Browns are moving to a 4-3 and they took the drafts best NT.  NT usually take a while to develop.  Then there’s the question of Shuan Rogers – Rogers was quicker off the snap than Taylor will probably ever be. He showed that he was always playing hard through his work blocking kicks .  And the Browns cut him loose because theywere moving to a 4-3.  Well Taylor is more 3-4 specific than Rogers ever was (remember Rogers played some end at one pt and could have lined up at either tackle spot – when you have 3 whys – you get  a D.  Oh and Taylor may need surgery on his feet and Cleveland’s health care has been great to the browns in the past.  Maybe the Browns were moving up to take a pick for the Chargers or some other 3-4 team .  If that’s the case this is forgiveable.  But Jauron has worked well with 2 huge tackles in the past.  Oh one more why – you traded up for someone who doesn’t fit your scheme and plays the same position as the only sure starter on your line Ahtyba Rubin – and has character and health questions.  That D may be an F.
22. Anthony Castonzo – Cerebral T and former TE who wants to one day cure cancer. Seriously. Started since his freshman year . All Conference 3 times.  Best tackle at the Senior bowl. 4.0 GPA in Bio-Chemistry.  He thinks he can play LT.  Sounds like the kind of guy that can do pretty much anything so don’t bet against him.  B- and maybe an A – here’s why Castonzo  will be practicing against Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis and he’s smart if he can figure out a away to hang with them He’ll be a stud.
23. Danny Watkins – goes from being a big fish in a small pond to being a big guy on a huge line.  Watkins is tiny for Philly.  He looks like a G for a team that might want to get a little more traditional in run blocking with  LeSean McCoy and Mike Vick back there instead of huge lineman that  seem more comfy pass blocking. Having a guy that move downfield could help those guys.  C – small school guys like Injalana and Rackley and  FSU’s Hudson all look like better fits in Philly unless they are aiming Watkins at a Tackle spot . 
24. Cameron Jordan – most see a DE in a 3-4…really because he’s a little small and relies on quickness a bit much for a 5 technique.  Some saw OLB…but he’d be the slowest OLB in NFL history…Jordan can fill a bunch of needs as a rotational end.  That doesn’t usually translate to star but it can help a team to a superbowl.  B
25. James Carpenter – He’s always been a LT tackle but Okung is a better LT.  So he’s got to bump inside or over to RT.  His run blocking for a LT is very good.  Feet are pretty good .  A bit of a reach but Seattle needed athletic lineman for the Carroll system.  Carpenter is athletic. He can run block or pass block but if he ends up just being a LT he’s a wasted pick because the ‘hawks have one of those.  C on ability,  B on team need. 
26. Jon Baldwin – arguably the next receiver off the board he make Dwayne Bowe look little and also makes Bowe the quick WR in KC’s offense.  WR was a need  but this is a bit of a reach and a smaller quicker guy could be available later.  KC is the team most likely to be the reason that Cleveland moved up and it would have been a much better fit for Taylor.  But if Jon Baldwin learns to run routes as well as he uses that big body in the red zone he’ll open things up for Jamaal Charles and Dexter McCluster and make KC very dangerous.  B – the right player but maybe not the biggest need for the chiefs. 
27. Jimmy Smith – is a very good athlete. He hasn’t always been a very good CB so much so that he could have been viewed as a potential safety.  He’s played down to his level of competition.  But the Ravens are the perfect team for a guy like that – no team has more character or leadership in the locker room.  Guys like Lewis, Johnson, Gregg, never take a down off and Ed Reed is still around to cover Smith’s mistakes and teach him the ropes in the backfield.  – B maybe an A if Lewis, Reed and the rest really rub off. 
28. Mark Ingram everyone else loves Ingram but he wasn’t as good as Trent Richardson last year. He played on great Alabama teams and he’ll play on a great team in New Orleans – but Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas might really be better than Ingram.  No one will admit that though.  B- He’ll start as long as he’s healthy.
29. Gabe Carimi – a big tough RT who thinks he can play LT. The bears have huge needs all along the OL and Carimi is one of those guys who wants to be good.  He isn’t the most athletic guy in the world but for a change the Bears selected heart over athletic ability.  C- not sure if he’s a LT or a RT and the interior line may be more of a mess than the tackle spot but at least he is first and foremost a football player.
30. Muhammad Wilkerson – a big guy who will have to learn the 5 technique but he’s the best pass rushing tackle in the draft.  And he has a lot of room to develop and with the Jets he’ll get a chance to move around some and use his athleticism a nice move  long term.  B.
31. Cam Heyward – there just aren’t a lot of 5 techniques out there but Heyward is one.  The steelers seemed to have bigger needs  but that line is aging and Heyward is one of those guys that can last 10 years and fits the system.   C- not the greatest fit and not a need day one so he may not do much right away. 
32. Derrek Sherrod – Sherrod has some LT ability but he looks like Chris Williams in Chicago.  That fits better in the GB than it did in Chicago . C – fills a need but doesn’t jump off the charts. 
33.