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