1. Indianapolis Colts - QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
This was a no-brainer. Luck is the best QB prospect since Elway and he will live up to the hype.
Grade: A+
2. Washington Redskins - QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor
I'm not as big on RG3 as others, but if he throws first, runs second, he will be in the league for quite some time. The cost of 2 first round picks may be a little steep though.
Grade: A-
3. Cleveland Browns - RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
The Browns gave up 3 picks to move up 1 spot to secure Richardson. I'm not sure they wouldn't have been better off taking Blackmon and going for a RB in Round 2, but they need playmakers. They aren't going to find playmakers with those 4th-7th round picks and Richardson is a beast.
Grade: A-
4. Minnesota Vikings - OT Matt Kalil, USC
The Vikings maneuvered the draft perfectly. They got 3 additional picks and still got the guy they were going to take anyway. Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Ndamakong Suh, etc. . . they needed to protect Ponder from the pass rushing beasts in the NFC North.
Grade: A
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
Blackmon is the type of guy that doesn't need single coverage to make plays. He's a T.O. caliber receiver and will immediately make that offense better, assuming their QB can get the ball to him.
Grade: A
6. Dallas Cowboys - CB Morris Claiborne, LSU
The Cowboys gave up a 2nd round pick to get Claiborne. I absolutely love Claiborne, but I love 2nd round picks more. I think they overpaid to move up, so that knocks their grade down.
Grade: B+
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - S Mark Barron, Alabama
I know this guy's draft value kept rising, but I think that it was more of a product of scarcity at the safety position than talent-related. They did manage to get a 4th round pick, but they should've stayed at #5 and taken Claiborne.
Grade: C
8. Miami Dolphins - QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
I know they have ties to this guy and really like him, but they made a mistake. It seems to happen far too often, but teams get so desperate to find that franchise QB that they overlook glaring flaws. Brandon Weeden would've gotten a better grade here,
Grade: D-
9. Carolina Panthers - ILB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
Kuechly may be one of the more underrated players in the draft. That likely is because he's not a flashy guy who plays at a position that rarely has "sexy" picks. Fletcher Cox would've been a great choice here as well, but the Panthers got a guy that is just as safe a pick.
Grade: A
10. Buffalo Bills - CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
Gilmore is a solid pick for the Bills. The Bills had a solid defense and Gilmore will make them even better. If they target offensive line and get another receiver tomorrow, they will be a team to watch in 2012.
Grade: B+
11. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Dontari Poe, Memphis
When it comes to defensive line, I don't take any stock in combine results. The best attribute for a defensive lineman is a high motor, which unfortunately is not measured at the combine. Poe just didn't show up in game film, which for a guy with his numbers means he doesn't have the motor needed at that position. Fletcher Cox was hands down the better choice here.
Grade: C-
12. Philadelphia Eagles - DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State
There isn't much to say about this pick, which is a good thing. The Eagles moved up to get a guy that really shouldn't have been there at #12. Cox was my top defensive lineman in the draft.
Grade: A
13. Arizona Cardinal - WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
I will start by saying that I don't believe Floyd should've gone this high. I think he will struggle against top corners in the NFL, but with that being said, he is going to succeed early in his career because he won't be facing any team's best corner with Larry Fitzgerald on the other side. I don't like the player, but the pick actually works for them.
Grade: B
14. St. Louis Rams - DT Michael Brockers, LSU
I mentioned earlier how much I love 2nd round picks. The fact that the Rams ultimately moved from #2 to #14 and got two 2nd round picks and first round picks in 2013 and 2014 is astonishing. They could have taken anyone at this spot and have gotten a good a grade, but on top of those picks they got a solid defensive lineman with a high ceiling.
Grade: A+
15. Seattle Seahawks - OLB Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
I liked Irvin's upside, but in the late 2nd or 3rd round, not the middle of the 1st. Many described Irvin as the best pass rush specialist in the draft, which I can't argue, but he also has some baggage. Seattle simply reached way too far for a guy they probably could have gotten in the 2nd round. When so many teams were willing to trade up, they just did a poor job of draft management.
Grade: F
16. New York Jets - DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina
I already made it known that I have an issue with any defensive lineman that has his motor questioned. The knock on Coples is exactly that. People question his motor and accuse him of taking plays off. I really can't overlook that, even for the most athletically talented of players.
Grade: C-
17. Cincinnati Bengals - CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
I thought the Bengals would go offensive lineman here and target Janoris Jenkins with their second pick in round 1. I'd like to be the first to congratulate the Bengals for finally avoiding the guy with character issue. I think Kirkpatrick has the ability to become a solid corner in the NFL.
Grade: B
18. San Diego Chargers - DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
San Diego may have gotten one of the best value picks in the 1st round. Ingram will immediately improve the Chargers' defensive front. That's all I have to say about that.
Grade: A
19. Chicago Bears - OLB Shea McClellin, Boise State
I was surprised to see McClellin go this high, especially ahead of Chandler Jones. I thought McClellin would be a perfect fit for the Packers or Patriots later in the 1st round, but clearly the Bears liked him a lot. McClellin is a good pick, but the Bears passed on some better players at this spot.
Grade: C+
20. Tennessee Titans - WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
I'm not sure if Wright has thanked RG3 for getting him drafted in the 1st round, but he should. Wright is a talent, but not a 1st round talent. It is common to see a receivers' draft stock rise with his QB. If the Titans really wanted to go with a WR, they should've gone with Stephen Hill, who I had just behind Blackmon in my receiver rankings. Had Hill been in that Baylor offense last year, he would've been the top receiver in this draft.
Grade: D+
21. New England Patriots - DE Chandler Jones, Syracuse
I was disappointed when the Patriots moved up to take Jones, because I wanted my Packers to get him. Jones has gone up draft boards in the past month, but unlike many other players, he deserved to be headed in that direction. Belichick & Co. continue to make the right moves on draft day.
Grade: A
22. Cleveland Browns - QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
I had this in my mock draft and I was happy to see it happen. Weeden should not only compete with McCoy for the starting job, but he should win it. Weeden is going to be a better quarterback in the NFL than Tannehill, so clearly the Browns did well getting him at #22. If they can get him a dynamic receiver like Stephen Hill in the 2nd round, watch out for the Browns' offense.
Grade: A-
23. Detroit Lions - OT Riley Reiff, Iowa
Many people had Reiff going as high as #10 in their mocks, including yours truly. The game has gone from a running game to a passing game, but it still is won in the trenches. The Lions got a top-15 player and an offensive lineman that can step in immediately. You can never have enough offensive lineman, so when in doubt, take one. Especially when your teams' success is directly linked to keeping your quarterback healthy for the whole season.
Grade: A
24. Pittsburgh Steelers - OG David DeCastro, Stanford
Basically it's the same thing I said for the last pick. DeCastro is a guy that you can plug in immediately. He will help improve the Steelers' run game drastically.
Grade: A
25: New England Patriots - ILB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
Once again the Patriots moved up to grab a guy that probably shouldn't have still been on the board. Hightower is going to be a presence in the middle of the Patriots defense and is well worth the 4th round pick he cost.
Grade: A
26. Houston Texans - DE Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
I've seen Mercilus go in the top-10 in some mock drafts and in the 2nd round in others, but this spot seems about right. Mercilus doesn't amaze me, but I also don't see any glaring flaws. I would've taken Andre Branch or Courtney Upshaw ahead of Mercilus, but he's still a solid pick.
Grade: B
27. Cincinnati Bengals - OG Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin
Do you expect me to say anything bad about a fellow Badger? Good, because I won't. Zeitler is another solid lineman from a program that produces NFL-ready lineman on a yearly basis. Wisconsin is one of the best rushing teams in college football year in and year out, yet they haven't had a running back drafted in 5 years. This is testament to the talent of guys like Zeitler and Peter Konz, whose name you should hear called in the 2nd round.
Grade: B+
28. Green Bay Packers - DE Nick Perry, USC
The Packers got the guy I absolutely wanted them to get. I started to think Chandler Jones was a possibility, but in the end they got another solid pass-rusher from USC. The presence of Perry is going to likely double or even triple Clay Matthews' sack total in 2012. The added pressure on the quarterback will also take pressure of the secondary. I could keep going, but you get the picture.
Grade: A
29. Minnesota Vikings - S Harrison Smith, Notre Dame
This guy started to grow on me after some prodding. As I mentioned earlier when discussing the Mark Barron pick, this draft is very thin at safety. The Vikings clearly knew this and used a 4th round pick to get back into the 1st round to pick up Smith. I still believe Smith would've been a late 2nd round pick in another year, but he definitely is going to bring some intelligence to the Vikings.
Grade: B
30. San Francisco 49ers - WR A.J. Jenkins, Illinois
I loved the receiver named AJ in last year's draft and he really panned out. Unfortunately, I have similar feelings for another receiver in this draft, but his name is Stephen, not AJ. I actually had Alshon Jeffery, Rueben Randle and Brian Quick all ahead of Jenkins, so clearly this was not the guy the 49ers should've taken. I pride myself in my ability to evaluate receivers early in the draft, so I have no hesitations in grading this pick poorly.
Grade: D-
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - RB Doug Martin, Boise State
I thought Martin would go the Giants at #32 and it appears they were going to go that route, so the Bucs were wise to swap 4th rounders with the Broncos to get ahead of the Giants to get Martin. Martin is a back that can do it all, opposite of what they have right now in LaGarrette Blount. The cost was right and the pick was right.
Grade: B+
32. New York Giants - RB David Wilson, Virginia Tech
I believe the Giants were planning on having their choice of Martin and Wilson at this spot. Had that been the case, they would've been wise to move back 5-10 picks. Nonetheless, they needed another running back to fill the shoes of Brandon Jacobs. I still think the Giants could've picked up another pick and still have gotten Wilson in the 2nd round, but they still did well.
Grade: B
Winners
Patriots - The Patriots know they are a few playmakers on the defensive side of the ball from winning a superbowl. They managed to get two such playmakers in the 1st round for only the cost of a 3rd round and 4th round pick. They only have two 2nd round picks left in this year's draft, but if they get a defensive back and an offensive lineman, they will have done everything they needed.
Rams - I already touched on the reason I believe the Rams were winners in the 1st round. The moved down 12 spots, and in return, received two 2nd round picks in this year's draft (giving them 3 total), a 1st round pick in the 2013 draft, and a 1st round pick in the 2014 draft. Still, they managed to get Michael Brockers. They are in very good position to be on this list again tomorrow, with those three 2nd round picks.
Losers
Seahawks - Bruce Irvin may turn out to be a solid player, but it still can't be overlooked that they could've moved back to get him or even have gotten him in the 2nd round. They passed on the chance to take Fletcher Cox, which they will regret. Pete Carroll is a great recruiter, but his draft strategy should be questioned.
Dolphins - I'm not gonna say much here, you can read my thoughts in the bust below.
Round 1 Bust
Ryan Tannehill - It's plain and simple, Tannehill isn't the next Dan Marino. Hell, he isn't even the next Chad Henne (on a good day). There is something that Kiper, McShay, Mike Sherman, and the numerous random blog writers have in common, they all evaluate upside too heavily. Tannehill is raved about for his athleticism and his size, but they have nothing to do with being a quarterback in the NFL. The quarterback position has changed drastically. You no longer can get by with a game manager, you need an elite quarterback. In the past, teams drafted quarterbacks to cultivate them into solid game managers 3 years down the road. Those guys aren't the guys that can win you a superbowl. I could go on forever here, but I'll just wait 5 years to say I told you so.
Round 1 Steal
David DeCastro/Melvin Ingram - I'm tired and want to go to bed, so this is going to be short. These 2 guys are going to contribute immediately to their teams, and unlike almost every other team in the 1st round, they didn't have to give up anything to get them. These players fell and San Diego and Pittsburgh were rewarded for the patience. I'll sum it up by reminding everyone how quickly Pittsburgh submitted their pick. That should tell you how surprised they were to see DeCastro still there at #24.
I agree with most of what you have said, but I have one loser that you didn't mention, the Cleveland Browns! What were they thinking in this draft? The Viking were going to take Kalil no matter what and convinced the Browns that somebody else was going to trade up (rumored to be the bucs, but from what I heard it wasn't true). The Browns got worked by the Vikings.
ReplyDeleteThey gave up picks 118, 139, and 211 to move up one spot when they would have been able to draft Richardson at 4 anyways. They wasted a lot of picks. That is not very smart for a team that has a lot of holes to fill.
This is a huge win for the Vikings. They needed more picks for their team and they still got the guy they wanted. They should be listed as a winner. They convinced the Browns that they may not take Kalil and that other teams wanted to trade with them...brilliant.
And that wasn't it for the Browns. They used the 22nd pick to draft Weeden because the guy they wanted was surprisingly gone. They told Colt McCoy they wouldn't take a QB in the first, which means they planned to get Kendall Wright for sure. They panicked when Wright was gone and drafted Weeden. They could of had him in the second round. Another bad value pick.
The Browns were huge losers in this draft for me. They got a great player in Richardson, and a possible QB in Weeden, but they gave up a lot to get them. They could of had Richardson at 4 and Weeden in the 2nd round.
I disagree about your thoughts on the Browns. The fact that Tampa Bay moved back into the 1st round to take Doug Martin makes me believe they did in fact contact the Vikings about moving up, but weren't willing to pay what the Browns did. I also think someone would have moved into the late 1st/early 2nd to get Weeden, so I don't think the Browns really reached for him. The Browns had 13 picks in this year's draft, so they could afford to trade away a few to secure Richardson who is going to be a dominant runner like AP. I believe Mike Holmgren knows what he is doing and the Browns definitely got a lot better. I actually have the Browns closer to winners than losers.
ReplyDeleteWell, I disagree. I think Richardson is a really good player, but that price was too steep. They used four picks to get him. Even if the Vikings traded to somebody else. The Browns possibly traded Claiborne, Akiem Hicks, Jake Bequette, and Greg Childs. That's a pretty steep price for a running back and for a team that needs help at multiple positions. They should have taken him at 4 or taken another player at 4 (Kalil, Blackmon, or Claiborne) and get three other quality players.
ReplyDeleteI like what the Rams are doing. They need to rebuild like the Browns and instead of overpaying for one guy, they are loading up on mid round picks to improve the entire roster. That's what the Browns should be doing.
The Browns gave up a 4th, 5th and 7th round pick, you listed 3 guys that will probably be gone by the time the Browns would've picked in round 5. I think we disagree on our current assessment of the Browns. The Browns already have good pieces in place OT Joe Thomas, WR Greg Little, DT Phil Taylor, DE Frostee Rucker, LB's D'qwell Jackson and Scott Fujita, CB Joe Haden, and S TJ Ward. The Browns added to that list a franchise RB and a guy in Weeden I think the Dolphins would've done better taking at #8 than Tannehill.
ReplyDeleteIf the Browns can add another WR in round 2 and either defensive line or offensive line in round 3, the Browns will become a team to watch in the next couple years. Even if the Browns got bluffed into giving the Vikings some Day 3 picks, they still got the best player in the draft outside of the QB's at 1 and 2.
Well first off, the three guys I listed are all available at those spots in Todd McShay's 7 round mock draft. So I went off of that. They may be gone earlier, but that's all speculation. McShay's mock is as good as any. So we will see what they could have got. Either way, 4th and 5th round picks are more valuable that you are talking.
ReplyDeleteYou listed 8 players. A few great and a few are still questionable as to how good they will be. A roster consists of over 40 players. So I think they have a long way to go before they can compete with the rest of the division.
And the last thing. Trent Richardson is really good, but is he more valuable than a quality left tackle, pass rusher, or wide receiver. I don't think so. He plays a position that is on the decline. He is really good and is a top 5 pick, but he is not the savior you are making him out to be that is worth multiple picks. In my opinion, good player that they overpayed for.
Trent Richardson was a good pick for the Browns for 2 reasons... He is a guy who will bring excitement to the team, and he can make the entire offense better. They may have reached for a back, but he's the back who could make a big difference immediately. Brandon Weeden's ability to be a mildly effective field general could allow the Browns to make a little noise in 2012. Richardson will bear the load and keep fans intrigued. These guys aren't inept on offense. Mohamed Massaquoi, Greg Little, and Josh Cribbs line up outside the tackles for these guys. They never did anything because they never had a leader. Brandon Weeden can be that leader. Did i mention they have the league's best tackle protecting him? I like their picks, and I like their direction. Granted they won't be contenders yet, but they are heading in the right direction...
ReplyDelete