STEELERS – The Steelers went into the Draft without a whole lot of needs. They got a nice piece to their 3-4 in DE Ziggy Hood. He should be able to contribute early in his career. They also got a nice offensive guard in round 3 in Wisconsin’s Kraig Urbik. He is a tough as nails blocker who has Steeler written all over him. Other picks that stood out were 3rd round CB Keenan Lewis who has a good combination of size and speed. And 7th round C A.Q. Shipley is another hard nosed blocker who will fit in nicely in Pittsburgh. GRADE: B
RAVENS – The Ravens traded up in round 1 and selected Michael Oher who was on the board much longer than most thought. They then selected Paul Kruger in the 2nd and he should help their pass rush immediately. The Ravens failed to address their biggest need which was landing a big receiver to help out Joe Flacco, but they did get some quality players in this draft. GRADE: C+
BENGALS – The Bengals had one of the best drafts in the entire league. They got the big offensive tackle they needed in Andre Smith with their first pick. They then got a gift in the 2nd when Rey Mauluaga fell into their laps. Their good fortune continued as their next two picks were DE Michael Johnson and TE Chase Coffman. If these picks pan out, the Bengals have built a strong foundation for their future on both sides of the ball. GRADE: A+
BROWNS – The Browns moved up and down and all around during the draft. They passed on elite talent to get some good players. Alex Mack will anchor their offensive line for the next decade. They got two nice receivers in round 2 with Robiskie and Massaquoi. They reached a little with OLB David Veikune in the 2nd and while he will provide some heat off the edge they could have used one more pass rusher early. A good draft but could have been better. GRADE: C
AFC EAST
PATRIOTS – The Pats traded out of the first picked up some picks for next year and still got some great talent in this draft. Patrick Chung is a versatile safety who will fit well in their system. Darius Butler was a great value at pick 41, and he adds some much needed youth to their group of corners. Ron Brace is a big run stuffer who will get some time at nose tackle. Sebastian Vollmer probably came off the board a round early but he is huge and has a very high ceiling. They got a potential steal in the third with pot smoking WR Brandon Tate, who can help in their return game from day one. None of their later picks really stand out but they don’t need to.
GRADE: A-
DOLPHINS – The Phins shored up their secondary in this draft by rolling the dice on Vontae Davis in round 1, and then landing the underappreciated Sean Smith in round 2. They took Pat White in round 2, and some applaud the move, but he isn’t going to grow into the #1 receiver they need. 3rd round receiver Patrick Turner has talent but was a reach, as was fourth round receiver Brian Hartline. They got a potential steal in 5th round safety Chris Clemons. Overall the Phins shored up one area of weakness (the secondary) but still have a hole at WR.
GRADE: C+
JETS – The Jets boldly traded up and got the franchise QB they needed so badly in Mark Sanchez. He will probably start for them in September. They also got aggressive in day 2 trading up and getting RB Shonn Greene. Greene will be the thunder to Neon Leon’s lightning and could send Thomas Jones out of town. They also made a nice pick in round 6 in versatile offensive lineman Matt Slauson. He can play guard or tackle and will add some quality depth.
GRADE: B+
BILLS – The Bills had a very solid draft. They took Maybin over Orakpo and time will tell if that was the right decision, regardless he does fill a major need on their defesnse. With their other first rounder they took versatile G/C Eric Wood. In the 2nd they added more quality players with CB Jairus Byrd, and G Andy Levitre. They also got a huge steal with TE Shawn Nelson in round 4, he fills a huge hole for them and could earn the starting job as early as this season. Their later round picks were all good values as well. Very good draft but they still have a gaping hole at the left tackle spot which was once occupied by Jason Peters.
GRADE: B+
AFC SOUTH
TITANS – The Titans finally bit the bullet and took a receiver in round 1. Britt has good size and speed and could become the no. 1 receiver they haven’t had since the days of Derrick Mason. Marks was a decent pick at the end of round 2, and TE Jared Cook was a steal in round 3. Kropog was solid pick in round 4, and Ringer was a good value in the 5th. Overall a very good draft for the Titans.
GRADE: B
COLTS – The Colts passed on a receiver in round 1 to take a RB in Donald Brown. He is a great pass catcher and will help give Addai some relief. They shored up the middle of their defensive line by taking two quality d-tackles in Moala and Taylor. They also got a nice receiver in the 4th with Austin Collie he could really flourish in the colts system coming out of the slot. They did reach in the 3rd with CB Jerraud Powers, he is talented but is very undersized.
GRADE: B
TEXANS – The Texans went defense early and landed some quality players. Cushing will start right from the start and should make an immediate impact. Barwin might take a little longer to groom since he is pretty raw but in time will provide much pressure off the edge opposite Super Mario. They landed a nice center in round 3 with Antoine Caldwell. They also got good value with their next two picks as TEs Anthony Hill and the versatile James Casey are both good pass catchers.
GRADE: B+
JAGUARS – The Jags decided to upgrade their offensive line this draft and they definitely accomplished that goal. Monroe was a great pick at no. 8 overall, and Britton was a great value in the early 2nd round. Those two will bookend their offensive line for the next decade. They did follow those two picks with two very gross reaches in the third but bounced back nicely with the two receivers they landed in round 4 and 5, Mike Thomas and Jarrett Dillard. 7th round RB Rashad Jennings was also a great value.
GRADE: B-
AFC WEST
CHARGERS – The Chargers passed on Michael Oher with their first pick to take pass rushing OLB Larry English. He is a talented player but was probably taken a few spots early. They upgraded the interior of their offensive line and got a great back in round 4 in the underrated Gartrell Johnson. Their last 3 picks were all great values, with safety Kevin Ellison being the best value in round 6.
GRADE: C
BRONCOS – The Broncos wheeled and dealed throughout the entire draft and got some pretty solid players. Knowshon Moreno was the best back in the draft and should rack up plenty of yards his rookie year. One year wonder Robert Ayers was the next pick and some love him and he should help their terrible defense. They did trade next year’s first to move up and get Alphonso Smith in the 2nd who is undersized but is a huge playmaker. Their next two picks were reaches with McBath and blocking TE Richard Quinn both in round 2. None of their other picks were real impressive but McDaniels will make 6th round QB Tom Brandstater his pet project.
GRADE: B-
RAIDERS – Al Davis needs to keep his crusty ass out of the war room. Heyward Bey should not have been the first WR taken and it will come back to haunt them. If they were set on Bey they should have traded down, instead they reached and got no value at that pick. In fact they got no value with their next two picks as well. Mitchell was a huge reach at the early part of round 2 as was 3rd round DE Matt Shaughnessy. Florida WR Louis Murphy was a nice 4th round pick as was their 6th round pick DE Stryker Sulak whose name totally rocks.
GRADE: F
CHIEFS – The Chiefs surprised many when they took DE Tyson Jackson with the third overall pick. He fits their system but doesn’t have the talent to justify him being picked that early. DT Alex Magee was an okay pick in the third, and CB Donald Washington was a good value in the 4th. 7th round RB Javarris Williams is a tough physical runner who could very well make the team.
GRADE: C-