NFL Draft Breakdown

The draft has come and gone and now it is time to see which teams made smart moves and which teams might have taken gambles that may or may not pay off. The anticipation was high again this year especially with the draft debuting in primetime. The top quarterback and a pair defensive tackles led off the draft as expected and it ended with the Detroit Lions selecting a wide receiver as the last pick. Obviously some teams had good drafts and other had okay to poor drafts. Time to break down each team and how they fared this past weekend.

NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals: They took DT Dan Williams with their first pick and he will slide in perfectly in the middle of their defensive line and give them a big body to slow down runners like Steven Jackson and Frank Gore in their division. They also picked up a linebacker and wide receiver with their next two picks and fill a couple holes there. Taking QB John Skelton was also a nice pickup with the departure of QB Kurt Warner. GRADE: B+

San Francisco 49ers: They had two first round picks and used them perfectly. They needed to fix their offensive line to give QB Alex Smith more protection and HB Frank Gore more room to gash up and down the field. They took OT Anthony Davis with one pick and OG Mike Iupati with the other pick. Both can plug in now and be difference makers. Speaking of which, they took S Taylor Mays, who fell due to some on and off the field issues. If you plays up to his capability, he is a hard hitting safety who is can also at times be a pass defender. They made a couple other filler picks to give depth to various areas. For a team on the rise, they had a great few days. GRADE: A

Seattle Seahawks: They have a new coach and a new regime is starting to take shape. And they were armed with two first round picks that hit home runs with. They took OT Russell Okung to replace retiring OT Walter Jones. Okung can be a similar player for them for a dozen years. They then took S Earl Thomas who upgrades their secondary greatly. And added WR Golden Tate to fix their receiving corps problem. In his first draft back in the NFL, Pete Carroll made big moves to put his team in position to be competitive again. He made a couple trades as well. GRADE: A+

St. Louis Rams
After speculation of what they would do with the top pick, they went with QB Sam Bradford in hopes that he will become their franchise quarterback. He looks like he is healthy or on the road to being as good as he ever was. They then took OT Roger Saffold to be a key blocker for Bradford and solve some of their offensive line woes and took WR Mardy Gilyard to solve their lack of a receiving corps. They didn't address their defense enough, but they did upgrade their offensive and that should do enough to improve the team next year. GRADE: B

NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears: The Jay Cutler trade forced the Bears to have to wait until the 3rd Round to make their first pick. With that pick, they took S Major Wright. Wright is a nice pick in terms of their need at that position. They took hometown boy QB Dan LeFevour later in the draft and he could compete to back up Cutler. They were certainly limited with picks and thus didn't have a fantastic draft. GRADE: C

Detroit Lions: They got their franchise quarterback last year with Matthew Staffold and were in one of the best spots this year as they were guaranteed one of the excellent defensive tackles. They hit the jackpot as both were available at #2 and they took Ndamukong Suh, who will be a versatile big body for them for many years and fixes their defense to some degree. They traded to get back in the first round for HB Jahvid Best, who can be a dual threat in their offense. They can take another step towards competing next year based on these picks. GRADE: B+

Green Bay Packers: They made a few nice picks beginning with their first choice, OT Bryan Bulaga. He can give them depth at the position and be a successor to one of the two tackles. They got a couple bodies for their defense, but no one that has starter potential. They missed filling a couple holes. GRADE: C+

Minnesota Vikings: They traded out of the first round, but that didn't prevent them from making a few big picks. They got CB Chris Cook and HB Toby Gerhart in the 2nd Round. Cook can be a key player in the defensive back field and Gerhart will replace Chester Taylor as a run/pass threat and someone to give Adrian Peterson some reps off. A bit of a draft steal was DE Everson Griffen in the 4th Round as he could have gone anywhere from late 1st to 2nd Round. He gives them another passing rushing threat on their line. GRADE: B+

NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys: Not wanting to let another big play receiver slip away from them, they traded up to grab WR Dez Bryant who fell to the latter part of the first round. His ability was top 10 in this draft, but question marks around him led to his drop. He has number 1 receiver capability and will certainly give Tony Romo another big play receiver to team with Miles Austin and pick up Roy Williams' slack. They took LB Sean Lee and he will boost their linebacker corps. He can do a lot of things and make their defense that was deadly last December even better. That added a couple good backups as well. GRADE: B+

New York Giants: Not surprisingly they took a few defensive players to start off their draft this year with DE Jason Pierre-Paul as their first pick. He is a speedy and strong defensive end that can give them continual depth there. They also got DT Linval Joseph to add to that defensive line, which was their strength when they had a top defense. GRADE: B

Philadelphia Eagles: Once again this year, Andy Reid piled up a lot of draft picks in order to give his team a lot of options and potential for depth. They took LB Brandon Graham with their first pick and he can be a DeMarcus Ware/Terrell Suggs type of player in that blitzing defense. They took QB Mike Kafka, which allows them to have an additional quarterback option with the departure of Donovan McNabb and WR Riley Cooper can be another receiving option who was a key player for QB Tim Tebow at Florida. GRADE: B

Washington Redskins: They did not make too great picks outside of their top pick, OT Trent Williams. But they usually don't enter the draft with too many picks and the same was the case this year. Williams gives them a stable force on that offensive line for Donovan McNabb. GRADE: C+

NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons: They took LB Sean Weatherspoon with their first pick and gives them a good player in the linebacker corps who at times had weaknesses last year. They didn't really address too many other need areas and had an okay draft. GRADE: C

Carolina Panthers: They didn't have a pick to midway through the 2nd Round, but QB Jimmy Clausen fell into their lap. He had 1st Round talent and gives the Panthers a franchise quality quarterback. They took another quarterback, Tony Pike, later in the draft to give them solid depth at the position. They also picked up defensive players and a couple good receivers including Brandon LaFell. Not bad considering. GRADE: B

New Orleans Saints: Drafting after a Super Bowl victory usually means you might not give the best players. They did well to add depth at CB and OT with a couple picks, but didn't really address some holes they might have had during a "super" year. GRADE: C+

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: They needed to upgrade their defensive line and did so with their first two picks. They got DTs Gerald McCoy and Brian Price with their first two picks. Both will start right away and McCoy has a Warren Sapp like capability for this team. They also addressed the wide receiving position with two solid pick ups. They picked up a few more players for their defense and look to be a more competitive team. GRADE: B+

AFC WEST
Denver Broncos: They needed to replace WR Brandon Marshall and did so with their first pick with drafting WR Demaryius Thomas. They passed on Dez Bryant in favor of a more team first guy despite Bryant being the better player. Then they drafted QB Tim Tebow a few picks later, which surprised many as a couple other quarterbacks were available. A couple other decent picks. Time will tell if Tebow works out better than some might think. GRADE: B

Kansas City Chiefs: They got S Eric Berry with their first pick. He was possibly the best available player this year and puts another good piece on their young defense. They added HB Dexter McCluster who can be a running back or a returner for the Chiefs. A couple other good pickups for needed areas including CB Javier Arenas who can help their secondary. GRADE: B+

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders had a pretty good draft this year as they took LB Rolando McClain with their top pick and he will be an instant playmaker for their defense. They also picked up DT Lamarr Houston to give them another piece to an improving defense. OT Bruce Campbell fell to the 4th Round where the Raiders took him. He could have gone higher, but there are a lot of questions around his talent and he fits the mold of the Raiders' draft strategy in recent years. GRADE: B

San Diego Chargers: They moved up to grab HB Ryan Mathews to fill the hole left by LaDanian Tomlinson. He can be a similar player for them. They got a few other guys to add depth and improve need areas. GRADE: B

AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens: They traded out of the 1st Round, but got two guys in the 2nd that have 1st Round talent. LB Sergio Kindle and DT Terrence Cody are immediate impact players for them. Kindle can learn from Ray Lewis and Cody gives them another big body in the middle of their defensive line. They got a couple tight ends to give them more depth and extra options for QB Joe Flacco. GRADE: B+

Cincinnati Bengals: They took a few guys with their first few picks who have big upside if they play up to their ability and make minor improvements. Between TE Jermaine Gresham, DE Carlos Dunlap, and WR Jordan Shipley. They gain two weapons for their offense and a potential playmaker for their improved defense if he stays out of trouble. They had a couple other good picks to improve certain areas. GRADE: B+

Cleveland Browns: They upgraded their secondary with CB Joe Haden and S T.J. Ward. Both very good players. They lucked out with QB Colt McCoy slipping into the 3rd Round and they grabbed him up and will be their starter of the future. They also got HB Montario Hardestry, who has some good upside and could be plugged into their backfield and make an impact. GRADE: B+

Pittsburgh Steelers: They didn't make any rash decisions despite problems at QB and WR going into the draft. They picked up their type of guys throughout the draft including C Maurkice Pouncey with their first pick and will be versatile and crucial to their offensive line that was starting to looked banged up last year. GRADE: C+

AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills: They got themselves a big time playmaker in HB C.J. Spiller, who can be a rusher and returner for them. Outside of that, they didn't get too many quality guys, but added some depth. GRADE: C+

Miami Dolphins: They addressed their defense with getting DT Jared Odrick and DE Koa Misi. Both can be important role players in their defense. They added a few more guys for depth, but no one special. GRADE: B

New England Patriots: They enjoy the draft and acquired the most picks and used them fairly wisely. They got CB Devin McCourty with their first pick and he will be an impact player in their defensive backfield. They got a couple of good tight ends and also picked up LB Brandon Spikes who can do some damage for them. GRADE: B+

New York Jets: They didn't have many picks, but used them very wisely. They got CB Kyle Wilson, who could have went earlier than the late 1st Round. OT Vlad Ducasse can be a big player on their offensive line that was one of the best last year. They got a couple of running backs to round out of their draft. GRADE: B

AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans: The Texans addressed holes at CB and HB with their first two picks getting CB Kareem Jackson and HB Ben Tate. Both will help improve both areas. WR Trindon Holliday was a good late pickup to be a special teams ace. GRADE: B

Indianapolis Colts: Grabbing DE Jerry Hughes at the end of the 1st Round was an ideal pickup as he fits their undersized defense that can go full speed ahead with a high motor. They picked and chose a few other good players. GRADE: B

Jacksonville Jaguars: They upgraded their defensive line. They reached a bit with getting DT Tyson Alualu in the top ten of the draft. He is a very good player, but not that as good as he was picked. They had an okay draft overall. GRADE: C+

Tennessee Titans: Getting DE Derrick Morgan will improve their defensive line that took a step back without DT Albert Haynesworth. They picked WR Damian Williams next and will be a nice receiver for QB Vince Young. They drafted S Myron Rolle late in the draft and he adds character and good enough play for their backfield and team. GRADE: B

The draft had its moves and big picks. Some surprises and a lot of drama at times. The Seahawks and 49ers had the two best drafts with a few teams also have very solid drafts. There are a few early candidates for rookies of the year and time will tell how some gambles might pay off. And we also will see a few franchise players starting their all pro careers this fall.