Quick Shots from Around the League

After a three-and-a-half month hiatus, I'm hungry for some damn football, and after watching my one-win Jets enter the race for Darren McFadden, I think it's time for me to think about other matters.

1. Adrian Peterson's dominance of the league yesterday, today, and every day for the next umpteen years.
Just how good is Adrian Peterson? Well, in only eleven games this season, he's the #2 rusher (1200 yards) in the NFL by a difference of 17 yards... did I mention that he's played in 2 less games and has 108 less carries than the #1 rusher, Willie Parker (1217 yards)? Oh, and don't forget he also has 10 touchdowns, which is 8 more than the Parker. In league totals, he's the #3 TD leader with 10, behind only LaDainian Tomlison with 12 TD in 13 games, and Joseph Addai with 11 TD in 12 games.
Now, that's only his statistics. If we delve a bit deeper into the subject, we will see, simply by glimpsing at game tape, that he is the most talented RB in the NFL. It needs no further words. Delving even deeper into the subject, we look at the talent surrounding Peterson on the Vikings. Not only does he have arguably the best offensive line in the NFL that has an average age of 28.2, with the oldest member being C Matt Birk at 31 (yes, 28.2! which means it will be together for a very long time), but he also has a young and physically gifted QB playing right in front of him, not to mention young potential-filled WRs that can stretch the field.
When you're the most talented runner in the NFL, you play behind the best offensive line in the NFL, and your entire supporting cast, including that OL, is young, then you've got a helluva bright future. Peterson has been, by far, the best RB in the league this season and he will only continue to dominate in the future.

2. Attention: NFL Teams... COLLEGE IS FOR PLAYERS, NOT COACHES!
If college coaches were meant to coach in the NFL, there would be an Annual Coaches Selection Meeting, as well as the already-established Annual Players Selection Meeting. Simply put, college coaches are not meant to coach at the professional level and NFL teams need to realize this fast, before it becomes an epidemic. There is currently only one head coach in the NFL that has gone directly from coaching in college to head coach in the NFL, and that's Lane Kiffin, whom is 4-9 with the Oakland Raiders in a bad AFC West. Guys like Kiffin, Nick Saban, and Bobby Petrino are proving that college and the NFL are too different, not only for players, but for coaches as well. Are there a bunch of NFL-grown coaches who suck as well? Of course, but the only thing they're proving is that some guys are just incompetent. The college-grown ones, on the other hand, are a whole category in that group of incompetence.

3. Reggie who? Casserly's all giggidy.
Mario Williams is sure looking like a stud now, isn't he? After a slow start to his rookie season followed by a nice second-half, Williams has played quite well this season. With 9.5 sacks added to his resume, all while attracting extra attention and lining up next to another great pass-rusher in Amobi Okoye (5.5 sacks), also all while lining up in front of a terrible secondary that doesn't exactly give him a lot of time to get to the QB, Williams is proving to be the superior player of the two from the top in 2006: him and Reggie Bush, who has, in simple terms, sucked.

Power Rankings & Predictions

Power Rankings
Updated August 28th, 2007

32. Kansas City Chiefs
It sounds odd to say this now-a-days, but the Chiefs are a team with a crappy head coach, a crappy offensive line, and a crappy QB situation. Despite what Herman Edwards has said, the Trent Green situation was indeed a distraction, but is now taken care of. Now that it's been decided that Brodie Croyle will lead the Chiefs, will he be able to handle the pressure and play at a high level? I think not. Will Edwards run RB Larry Johnson into the record books yet again, advancing him past 500 carries in one season? It doesn't look like it anymore, since a Johnson holdout seems imminent. The defense hasn't really improved much at all this offseason, and overall, the team has regressed. We may very well see this team holding the #1 overall pick next April.

31. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons' problems start at QB, where, even though Michael Vick has never been that great, there is a ridiculous hole. Will the team have to rely on Joey Harrington to lead the way this season? If so, you can expect the team to regress, all in thanks to Vick's dirty habits of animal cruelty. Get your head out of your ass, Michael. And keep your ass out of training camp so you don't hurt your team any more than you already have. I don't really like what this team is doing on offense. The receiving core (save for TE Alge Crumpler) is terrible and the offensive line is still trying to fit into Bobby Petrino's power-running philosophy. As for the defense, the Falcons did indeed make a fantastic addition of DE Jamaal Anderson in the draft, who will dramatically help the team in terms of run defense, and should develop into a fine pass-rusher. In the end, I'm not a fan of Bobby Petrino as a NFL head coach and I think this will be another failed college-turned-pro experiment.

30. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins' prayers have been answered with the acquisition of Trent Green. John Beck figures to be the team's future, but I personally feel he's extremely overrated and won't do anything this season. Miami is also thin at RB, where Ronnie Brown hasn't exactly stood out and Lorenzo Booker is merely a third-down back at best. The coaching staff would like to think they have a solid receving core, but Ted Ginn and Chris Chambers (though he used to) won't strike fear into the NFL, and Marty Booker was their best option last season. The offensive line is also extremely weak. The defense is still very good, but very old. Joey Porter was a great signing, but outside of that, the defense is no different than it was last year.

29. Cleveland Browns
The Browns look good on paper, but they did last year as well. Despite the addition of OT Joe Thomas, the Browns' offensive line still has a lot of work to do, especially on the interior. QB Brady Quinn was a fantastic addition, but he likely won't have much of an impact in his rookie season. Even though they added RB Jamal Lewis, the Browns really didn't add any playmakers to the team. The Secondary looks good on paper, but it will have to stay healthy. The front-seven will be a problem, as the defensive line is suspect at best and the LB core is just average.

28. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders' defense isn't all it's hyped up to be, and although they had time to mature this offseason, the offense didn't get any better and still needs a lot of work. There's an extremely lame QB competition and a depleted WR core. JaMarcus Russell will probably start by mid-season due to Al Davis' lack of patience, and the group that once seemed promising is now lead by an aging Jerry Porter and... Mike Williams. The offensive line is still in shambles, with no clear-cut starting LT. The two groups that actually have a chance to succeed are the RB and TE cores, where RBs LaMont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes, and Michael Bush and TEs Zach Miller and Courtney Anderson look very good on paper.

27. Minnesota Vikings
If it weren't for the Vikings' QB situation, they'd be much higher, but neither Tarvaris Jackson nor Brooks Bollinger can be a legitimate starter in this league and the RB duo of Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson simply cannot carry this offense alone. The Vikings are once again going into the season without a real pass-rushing threat, though LB Chad Greenway is coming back from injury and should have a good season.

26. New York Giants
How could a 2006 playoff team be so bad? Lots of reasons. Tom Caughlin stinks as a head coach, Eli Manning has yet to prove anything as a quarterback, there is no clear-cut answer at both running back and left tackle, Mathais Kiwanuka is moving to OLB, and there's no real presence at neither the Nose nor Under-tackle position.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I'm definitely a fan of the Jeff Garcia addition at QB, and I'm not afraid to acknowledge the talent that this team really has, but from what we've seen in recent years, John Gruden just can't seem to coach-up this team. I feel that the Bucs have the potential to have a breakout year this season, but with questions surrounding both the offensive line and the overall age of the defense, it will be difficult for this team to advance. DE Gaines Adams should be a nice addition, but LB Cato June will only hurt this team.

24. Detroit Lions
The Lions are another team that just looks spectacular on paper but has yet to translate it to the field. WR Calvin Johnson could absolutely have an immediate impact on the offense as well as OG Edwin Mulitalo and RB Tatum Bell, and the team added some nice players to help the defense, like DEs Dewayne White and Ikaika Alama-Francis. The future also looks bright with QB Drew Stanton waiting in the wings, and if the team has yet to improve by midseason, we could realistically see him filling in for Jon Kitna.

23. Washington Redskins
The Redskins are coming into this season as a team that could really surprise people and compete for the playoffs, or once again disappoint and pick in the top-10 next April. S LaRon Landry will have an immediate impact playing next to S Sean Taylor, and, despite its age, the LB core has improved. There are indeed two areas that will need help this season, though, as the defensive line is terrible and the offensive line lost a big player in Derrick Dockery. QB Jason Campbell looks very promising. He finished off last season pretty well and looks to ride that momentum into this season. With all the weapons he has, he better produce, or the Redskins will be looking to draft a QB in next year's QB-friendly draft.

22. Houston Texans
The Texans made a mistake taking such a gamble on QB Matt Schaub, so until he can prove to be a quality starter, the Texans are still bottom-dwellers. The defense looks improved. DE Mario Williams should have a breakout year and DT Amobi Okoye will certainly help. RB Ahman Green was added, as well as OT Jordan Black, so the offense is certainly improved a little, but not by much.

21. Buffalo Bills
The Bills made a bunch of questionable moves this offseason. Despite signing OG Derrick Dockery, the run game has a long ways to go before becoming a threat. RB Marshawn Lynch looks to have a big rookie year. QB J.P. Losman improved consiberably as the year progressed last season and should only get better. The defense took a huge hit in the offseason as well, as both LB Takeo Spikes and CB Nate Clements, though inevitabley, both departed, while the only real addition was LB Paul Posluszny. In the end, this team would be higher if not for the coaching staff.

20. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are going to be a very exciting team to watch this year. They still have their great receiving threats in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, and QB Matt Leinart is entering his second year as the starter. The Cardinals drafted OT Levi Brown in an attempt to solidify their offensive line, so we'll have to see how quickly he can adapt. The offense could be spectacular. But what will the Cardinals do on defense? The defense is awful, but new head coach Ken Whisenhunt will be implementing a lot of 3-4 and that could really hurt some offenses, even though the team isn't quite ready for the switch, personell-wise. If the defense can unexpecte dly improve this season, the Cardinals should make a strong playoff run.

19. San Francisco 49ers
I'm getting pretty sick and tired of this whole 49er love-fest going on around the NFL. Since when did this team become good? QB Alex Smith never really showed signs of greatness. Maybe solidness, but not greatness. And it was obviously helped by the presence of Norv Turner, who has since departed. The offensive line is good, but not great. The receiving core is pretty terrible. RB Frank Gore is one of the best running backs in the NFL, but the last time I checked, the defense was dead-last in points allowed, the defensive line was ancient, and the secondary was just not very good. The LB core has talent, but until the defensive line improves, it won't be able to perform. The only reason this team is this high is their potential. The 49ers have a lot of talent, but until Mike Nolan can prove his mastery and Alex Smith proves he's worthy of the starting job, this team will be as average as one can get.

18. Tennessee Titans
The Titans will be riding on QB Vince Young's back once again this season, but now that the NFL is ready for him, it'll be tough for the Madden cover boy to have the same success as he had last season. RB Chris Brown is back to help a struggling RB core, but the receiving core is still weak and the defense had a lot of trouble last season in terms of points allowed. If this team wants to make the playoffs, Vince Young needs to improve as a pocket passer and the defense will have to do a better job.

17. Carolina Panthers
After a disappointing season, the Panthers look to come back in a big way. Can QB Jake Delhomme settle himself in as the starting quarterback, or will the young David Carr steal the job from udner his feet? I happen to think the latter is a very likely situation late in the year if the Panthers are struggling, and in the end, Carr will be a better option for the starting position. The additions of LB Jon Beason and C Ryan Kalil should significantly improve this team immediately.

16. Green Bay Packers
Simply put: The Packers will go as far as QB Brett Favre takes them. Rookie RB Brandon Jackson will have a lot of pressure on him to carry the load this season, becasue he'll likely be the starter for the bulk of the season. WRs Donald Driver and Greg Jennings look to have another impressive year as a duo, but once again, that is if Favre can get them the ball. The defense looks like it could be great, with LBs Nick Barnett and AJ Hawk playing behind DE Aaron Kampman and DT Justin Harrell.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have bringing about a youth movement on defense and that can only help. One extremely underrated draft move that the Jaguars made was bringing in DE/OLB Brian Smith out of Missouri. Smith looks to be a situational pass-rusher that could single-handedly win a lot of 3rd downs for the Jaguars defense, thus getting the ball back to the offense. Watch out for this guy. The defense as a whole is still fantastic, lead by DTs John Henderson and Marcus Stroud. How will the offense bode? WR Matt Jones looks to have a breakout 3rd year, like most young receivers do. Will QB Byron Leftwich survive the whole season completely healthy? Will he even make the team?

14. Seattle Seahawks
The 'Hawks seem to have taken a big hit after losing OG Steve Hutchinson, but will they bounce back? Injuries really derailed this team last season, and that rarely happens twice in-a-row. RB Shaun Alexander should have a solid season and that will allow QB Matt Hasselbeck to bounce back and have another great season. The draft class should have a big impact. CB Josh Wilson and DT Brandon Mebane both have the chance to be impact players this season.

13. New York Jets
After a very successful year under Eric Mangini last season, the Jets look to build on their momentum for 2007. Leading the Jets' offseason moves was RB Thomas Jones, acquired from the Bears. Jones looks to be the feature back in New York, though he'll be splitting some touches with Leon Washington. Kenyon Coleman hopes to fill in a huge whole at DE, where Kimo von Oelhoffen was terrible last season. CB Darrelle Revis was added to bolster a bad secondary and David Harris adds fantastic depth and a likely starter at ILB. OG Pete Kendall might be on the chopping block after letting his distate with his contract be known, so they'll need a replacement.

12. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys do have one thing to look forward to: Wade Phillips' defense. Now that Bill Parcells is out of the picture, the Cowboys' defense will be a much more agressive, more physical defense. Attack mode will be on all game. You can definitely expect huge numbers from DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, two huge pass-rushers coming off the edge from that scary 3-4 defense. However, I'm still not digging the offense. I like the RB and WR situations, and the offensive line is okay, but can offensive coordinator Jason Garrett pull it off? Will QB Tony Romo rebound from a tough five-game stretch at the end of last season and play well? I think not.

11. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles' season depends on the health of QB Donovan McNabb. If he can stay healthy throughout the year, they should be one of the better teams in the NFC. If not, they have noone behind him who can carry the team like he can. Kevin Kolb isn't an option for this season and AJ Feeley is just another guy.

10. New Orleans Saints
The Saints jumped onto the scene last year with one of the league's most potent offenses. The offense only improved this offseason after adding WR Robert Meachem and TE Eric Johnson. The Defense is also vastly improved after adding CB Jason David and LB Brian Simmons. And with a whole offseason for Reggie Bush to adjust (he was a real late bloomer last year), this team will be as good as ever.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers
If there's one team I'm gonna follow more than any other this year, it's the Steelers. I'm a huge fan of head coach Mike Tomlin and I believe he'll be the next man in the short, but prosperous line of Steelers head coaches. The Steelers really had an excellent draft, with LB Lawrence Timmons ready to have an impact rookie season. QB Ben Roethlisberger looks to have a comeback and RB Willie Parker should be as good as ever. There's really not much to say about this extremely well-rounded team, and I expect them back in the playoff hunt.

8. Cincinnati Bengals
Can the Bengals rebound from a disappointing season? QB Carson Palmer is finally 100% for a full offseason and the secondary should be improved with the addition of CB Leon Hall, as the pair of Johnathan Joseph and he should be one of the better duos in the league. Unfortunately for the Bengals, their LB core has pretty much been wiped off the face of the Earth, as Brian Simmons left in free agency and they'll be depending on a young Ahmad Brooks to start at MLB. They also lost one of the better OGs in the NFL this offseason when Eric Steinbach left for Cleveland. In the end, the Bengals are still a very talented team, especially on offense, but many of the fundamental pieces are missing (OG, DT, OLB) and it doesn't seem like they've built for the 2008 season.

7. Chicago Bears
The Bears will take a huge hit this season if Lance Briggs doesn't play. That, plus the fact the defensive line might be suffering a couple of losses (Tank Johnson, Alex Brown), could lead to a rough year for the defense. Regardless, they're still one of the best teams in the NFC and have the best special teams in the league, and if Rex Grossman can turn it around, they could still be an elite team.

6. Indianapolis Colts
The defending champions lost some key parts of their team this offseason. In free agency, the Colts lost CBs Nick Harper and Jason David, WR Brandon Stokely, RB Dominic Rhodes, and LB Cato June. To injuries, the Colts lost DT Anthony McFarland. To retirement, they lost OT Tarik Glenn. All of these players, with the exception of Stokely, were starters last season. Obviously they feel they can live without Rhodes and Stokely, as RB Joseph Addai seems more than competent and they drafted WR Anthony Gonzalez in the first round of the draft, but the defense still looks extremely week, even worse than last year.

5. Baltimore Ravens
The success of this team will be in the hands of newly-acquired RB Willis McGahee. Whether or not he was worth what the Ravens gave for him is still up in the air, but if he works out well, the Ravens could be the best team in the league. They already have the best defense in the NFL, so there are no questions to be answered there.

4. St. Louis Rams
The Rams had a great offseason and that should only add to the talent they already have on this team. DL Adam Carriker will provide great versatility and depth along the whole defensive line, and RB Brian Leonard will provide a great Yin to RB Steven Jackson's Yang and could be a quality insurance policy. They also added WR Drew Bennett, DE James Hall, and TE Randy McMichael, and with the already-explosive offense lead by Jackson, QB Marc Bulger, and WR Torry Holt, the Rams have one of the most talented teams in the NFL.

3. San Diego Chargers
On paper this is still probably the best team in the NFL, but I really hate the coaching move made in the offseason and I really think it will hurt the franchise. Otherwise, the team only improved in the offseason, so Norv Turner won't doom them quite yet. I'll give them another year, but two or three seasons from now, they'll be out of the playoffs.

2. New England Patriots
Second only to the Broncos, the Patriots had a fantastic offseason. They completely revamped the receiving core, adding Randy Moss, Dante Stallworth, and Wes Welker. RB Laurence Maroneuy's health is a concern. On defense they added LB Adailus Thomas and S Brandon Meriweather, adding strength to two positions that were really hurting last season. In the end they still have the Brady-Belichick combination, and that makes them one of the elite teams regardless.

1. Denver Broncos
It's really tough to find an argument against the Broncos. CB Champ Bailey already shuts down an entire portion of the field, but with the addition of Dre' Bly, the Broncos' secondary will be virtually impenetrable. Although they lost Al Wilson, D.J. Williams will likely be moving to MLB. The Broncos added two pass-rushers in the draft in DEs Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, and if they can perform well, the defense will be among the best in the league. On offense the Broncos made a big upgrade with RB Travis Henry and added two fantastic players in TE Daniel Graham and WR Brandon Stokely. With so many weapons for QB Jay Cutler, it's hard to see him struggling.

Playoff Predictions
*Note - The teams below are listed by seedings.

AFC Playoffs
1. New England Patriots
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Denver Broncos
5. San Diego Chargers
6. Cincinnati Bengals
Just Miss: Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars

NFC Playoffs
1. St. Louis Rams
2. Chicago Bears
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Dallas Cowboys
6. Seattle Seahawks
Just Miss: Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl XLII
Denver Broncos vs St. Louis Rams
Denver Broncos Win

Fantastic Fives

Running Backs
1. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
Not much to say about LT besides the fact that he's the best RB in the league in a feature back system. Tomlinson should, once again, be a 2,000+ all-purpose yard back, leading the league in touchdowns.
2. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams
Jackson burst into the scene last season with the explosive Rams offense. He's an all-around back that's gonna run and catch all over the field. If it weren't for the Rams' addition of Brian Leonard, Jackson might be #1.
3. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
The feauture back in a run-happy offense, Gore looks to have another standout year. With Norv Turner out of the equation, Alex Smith will need all the ground help he can get, and Gore is the one that will provide.
4. Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
Johnson racks up a lot of carries, but not enough yards to go with them. Will Herman Edwards pull a Curtis Martin on him and literally run him onto the IR? We'll see. Johnson's a safe choice, but won't be in a couple of years.
5. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles' offense revolves around Westbrook. Even though they don't run the ball much, he's usually their best receiver and runs extremely well when called upon. The arrival of Tony Hunt could challenge this, but it shouldn't.
Wildcard: Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants
Jackson is a very risky pick. He's got the talent and potential to be a top-5 fantasy player, but we don't know enough about him.

Quarterbacks
1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Manning is still the QB king of fantasy football, and noone can challenge it. Anthony Gonzalez will only help him more this season.
2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Brees had an MVP season last year, and although he didn't actually win the award, it's clear that he was indeed the most valuable player. Either way, there's too much talent around him to be anything less than spectacular.
3. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
Rivers had a nice year, and with a full offseaosn to take it all in and mature, he should only be better this season. There's even more talent around him this year than there was last year, so he should be golden.
4. Marc Bulger, St. Louis Rams
Year in and year out, Bulger is one of the best signal-callers in the league, and with so much talent around him, it shouldn't be any different.
5. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals
Palmer did well last season and should only improve this year with a full, healthy offseason.
Wildcard: Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles
Injuries have plagued his career. When healthy, he's the best fantasy QB in the league. But can he stay healthy?

Wide Receivers
1. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts
Harrison is the best receiver in the NFL and is, once again, the best fantasy option out there.
2. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals
The man beat a horse in a race. How could you not pick him?
3. Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams
His knee may be ailing, but his production is always high.
4. Roy Williams, Detroit Lions
Calvin Johnson should only help his production.
5. Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills
He's an explosive playmaker for the Bills and JP Losman is only improving.
Wildcard: Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys
Will his attitude get in the way? Let's hope not (if he's on our team).

Tight Ends
1. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers
Year-in and year-out, he's always the best.
2. Kellen Winslow, Cleveland Browns
Looks to have another standout season.
3. Benjamin Watson, New England Patriots
May finally be the full-time starter now that Daniel Graham is gone.
4. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs
Always productive, but will that drop on a run-happy offense?
5. Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens
With Willis McGahee now in the picture, he may be getting a lot less looks.
Wildcard: Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers
Always a threat to take it long, but will Alex Smith regress and harm the rest of the team?

Defenses
1. Baltimore Ravens
Nobody tops them, especially in points allowed.
2. New England Patriots
Second best defense in terms of points allowed last season.
3. Chicago Bears
Third best defense in terms of points allowed last season. See a trend here?
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
Fourth best defense in terms of points allowed last season.
5. Miami Dolphins
Fifth best defense in terms of points allowed last season.
Wildcard: New York Jets
Sixth best defense in terms of points allowed last season.

NFL Draft - Grading the Picks

These draftees are now NFL'ers.

With their new rookie classes ready to get to training camp, let's take a look at how each team did in last weekend's draft.

Oakland Raiders - A
The Raiders made an okay pick with Russell in round one. QB is by far a huge need for them, and now it's filled, but when all is said and done, Russell was simply not the best player in the draft. In round two the Raiders took the best TE in the draft (though many will disagree), Zach Miller, a threat in both the ground and passing game, as he is a great blocker and a solid receiver. In round three the Raiders stole Quentin Moses, a DE with top-5 potential that fell due to a case of senioritis. Another great pick was RB Michael Bush, who could turn out to be the steal of the draft if he's healthy. Johnnie Lee Higgins, picked one slot ahead of Bush, is a solid WR with huge Randy Moss-like potential. DE Jay Richardson is another potential steal. Although the team did end up drafting completely average players in OT Mario Henderson, CB John Bowie, and S Eric Frampton, they came out of the weekend with a very solid draft in a very weak class.

Detroit Lions - A
"Another WR?" you ask? "So what!?" I say. WR Calvin Johnson is the far-and-away best player in the draft and possibly the greatest prospect of all time. Both Roy Williams and Mike Furrey will be great compliments to him, and with second round pick QB Drew Stanton throwing them the ball in a year or two, this will continue to be one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. Ikaika Alama-Francis is a very good player, but was only decent value at the end of round two. He'll likely play the UT position for the Lions' Tampa-2 defense. One pick that almost moved this draft down to a B+ was S Gerald Alexander in the second round, which was just a terrible pick, as he likely would've been available well into the 4th or 5th round. CB A.J. Davis and OG Manuel Ramirez in round four were both solid value for positions of need for the Lions. OLB Johnny Baldwin is a player that fits the scheme and has potential, and CB Ramzee Robinson, Mr. Irrelevant, was solid value.

Cleveland Browns - A+
With possibly the best draft in the league, which is rare to say for Cleveland, the Browns made way with an absolute heist, in drafting two top-5 players in a span of twenty picks! OT Joe Thomas looks to be the cornerstone LT they so desperately need, and QB Brady Quinn, arguably the top steal of the draft (and my #1 ranked QB), was just ridiculous value at pick 22 and well-worth what the Browns gave up for him. In the second round, the Browns bounced back with an outstanding pick in CB Eric Wright, whose character issues are likely moot due to his fantastic behavior in Las Vegas, oh, and his absolute lock-down potential. The Browns reached for a couple of players later on, with CB Brandon McDonald likely fighting for a roster spot, but the versatile DE/DT 'tweener Melila Purcell will likely turn out to be a solid pick. Chase Pittman shows solid potential at OLB in the 3-4 defense, but Syndric Steptoe, a possible special teams threat, was just a bad pick.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - A
Wow, it looks like I'm being pretty generous so far - but these teams deserve it. You can't blame the Bucs for not ending up with Calvin Johnson, but what they did do was add a bunch of players that fit perfectly in the scheme and finally provide some youthful energy to an aging defense. DE Gaines Adams is the speedy, pass-rushing specialist they need and was decent value at the fourth pick, since many pegged him to go at the second pick. OT Aaron Sears was a fantastic pick and could really surprise people and start immediately. Don't let his triangle numbers fool you, because Sabby Piscitelli, an all-potential prospect, simply isn't a very good player, though was decent value in the late second. LB Quincy Black, a perfect fit for the scheme, was a solid pick early in the third and shows huge potential as a workout warrior. Tanard Jackson, a versatile CB/S 'tweener was an excellent pick in the fourth round. DE Greg Peterson, LB Adam Hayward, and CB Marcus Hamilton were all decent picks at best, but the Bucs made some great selections in OT Chris Denman and RB Kenneth Darby.

Arizona Cardinals - B+
Lots of people will question the Cardinals, but I happen to like what they did with their first pick. With the fifth overall pick, the Cardinals selected OT Levi Brown, who many thought to be a borderline top-10 pick. I actually like Brown more than Thomas, as I believe he has a higher ceiling, but the absolute truth is that they reached for Brown, no matter how much they liked him. I'm sure they tried to trade down, but they literally should've taken any deal they could get to move down just one or two picks. In the end, Brown is a great player that will help right away. In round two the Cardinals traded up and made, which I believe is, one of the best moves in the draft. They selected DT Alan Branch, who is easily a top-15 player in this year's crop, but fell due to some work ethic concerns. With the likely transition to the 3-4 defense, Branch is a great fit at the current 4-3 NT and the eventual 3-4 DE, though he may very well be able to play NT in the 3-4 if he can keep up his weight. In the third round the Cardinals made a bonehead pick in LB Buster Davis, a guy who might fit what they are currently trying to do, but overall is a terrible fit for the 3-4 and won't be with the team in the future. This was a need pick and shouldn't have been made, but was for the short-term. Steve Breaston will have trouble finding a roster spot, but if he can prove to be one of the top returnmen in the draft, he'll stay. TE Ben Patrick was a steal in the seventh and will provide quality depth.

Washington Redskins - B
Surprising, eh? Well, I actually like what the Redskins did. They now have possibly the best safety duo in the NFL with rookie LaRon Landry and Sean Taylor. Dallas Sartz, picked in round five, is a fantastic pick that will likely add quality depth at both OLB and SS for the 'Skins. H.B. Blades could be a steal for Washington in the sixth round, though Jordan Palmer is an extremely questionable pick, as he's not exactly the prototypical backup QB. TE Tyler Ecker raises some eyebrows, and was just a very bad pick at that point. Overall the Redskins added a future All-Pro at the S position and drafted two more players that will provide quality depth at multiple positions. I didn't like the fact that they completely disregarded the trenches, and that may come back and bite them in the ass.

Minnesota Vikings - A+
What a fantastic draft. Their first six picks could all realistically challenge the vets for starting spots in the 2007 season. RB Adrian Peterson was fantastic value and easily the BPA (best player available) and will have a ball running to the left for the next few years. Sidney Rice, a WR that's a huge threat in the red zone with his outstanding leaping ability, was a great pick in terms of both value and need, something we seldom see. CB Marcus McCauley is another player that suffered from senioritis, but realistically, he has top-10 potential and could turn out to be a huge steal. Brian Robison is a physical freak at DE and could really help the Vikings' struggling pass rush. Aundrae Allison, another steal, is a WR with huge deep-threat potential. Finally, Rufus Alexander was once a highly-regarded player and it's really unsure why he fell so far. Tyler Thigpen was a decent pick, as the team is looking for depth at QB, but there were better ones available. Chandler Williams will have trouble making the final roster, but was a decent pick for depth at a huge need. In the end the Vikings made their young QB Tarvaris Jackson a very happy man and could realistically have the best rookie class in the NFL.

Atlanta Falcons - A
To be honest I thought this team would make an attempt to trade up for Adrian Peterson, but in the end, they came out of the first round with, who I believe is, the best DE in the draft. Excellent at stopping the run and a pretty good pass-rusher, Jamaal Anderson was a very good pick at eight and was great value. The Falcons' second round was even more impressive, drafting the road-grader RT/OG 'tweener Justin Blalock to help the power running game and CB Chris Houston, who many believed that, after dominating the combine, would be a first round selection. The rest of the draft picks, besides a few that I'll get into in a second, were all very questionable picks. WR Laurent Robinson doesn't offer much as a first day pick, LB Stephen Nicholas, though versatile, just doesn't have much upside, TE Martrez Milner, though decent value, just wasn't the BPA and isn't a need, and DT Trey Lewis is a late bloomer that lacks upside. In the sixth round, the Falcons took David Irons, a CB that really helped himself in the offseason, Doug Datish, a versatile OL that can play C or OG, but doesn't really fit the power-running scheme, and S Darren Stone, a sleeper with huge upside that could be a steal. Jason Snelling is an interesting player and well-worth the pick in the seventh round as a RB/FB 'tweener that fits the power-running scheme, a low-risk/high-reward pick.

Miami Dolphins - F
I don't care who the hell was higher on their board, you simply don't pass on a possible franchise QB in Brady Quinn at the ninth pick for Ted Ginn Jr., who not only wasn't the BPA, but wasn't even the best WR available. Yeah, Coach Cameron, you want speed. I hope you enjoy your multi-million dollar investment risking his life on all those punt and kick returns. The rest of the draft was filled with bad, bad picks. QB John Beck is overrated and C Samson Satele was a huge reach and a total need pick after Ryan Kalil was taken a pick before him. RB Lorenzo Booker and DT Paul Soliai were good, solid picks with good, solid value, but the Dolphins' draft had nothing else to show for it.

Houston Texans - A
I really like what the Texans did with this draft. With their first pick they continued to add a dominating presence. Amobi Okoye has the potential to be one of the best UTs in the NFL and will compliment Mario Williams extremely well, that is, if he's as mature as we all think. Jacoby Jones was a pretty good pick in the third round, as the Texans needed more depth at WR and Jones is a player with all the potential in the world. Fred Bennett in the fourth round was an absolute heist and could turn into a great CB for the Texans. Brandon Harrison is an interesting sleeper at safety and could surprise. I like the OL picks of OT Brandon Frye and OG Kasey Studdard late in the draft. They were pretty good value picks and could excel in the Zone Blocking Scheme. Zach Diles in the seventh should add quality depth at LB. Overall, the Texans had a better draft than people will give them credit for. They added a ton of great talent to the defense and were still able to give QB Matt Schaub yet another target.

San Francisco 49ers - A+
New England fans are hoping that the 49ers bomb the season so they can get the #1 pick in 2008, but with yet another strong draft for the 49ers, that doesn't look too likely. LB Patrick Willis was the BPA at the 11th pick and also filled a huge need for the 'Niners. Then they traded-up back into round one for OT Joe Staley, a player who could end up being a cornerstone LT that they need. Jason Hill was a huge steal in the third round and could legitimately give the 49ers a #1 receiver, something they've been looking for for quite a while. Ray McDonald in the third round is a solid pick. A productive DT/DE 'tweener, McDonald projects to DE for the 49ers' 3-4 defense, though he could slide in to UT in the 4-3 formation. Jay Moore is a solid pick in round four and will make the move to OLB for the 'Niners. Dashon Goldson is a sleeper at S and was a decent pick in the fourth, though they could have done better. Joe Cohen was the potential to be a prominent NT in the 3-4 and was worth the risk in the fourth round. Tarrell Brown has some huge character concerns, but if he can stay out of trouble, he could end up being the steal of the draft. Thomas Clayton in the seventh is a decent pick that might be able to make the team and provide insurance for Frank Gore.

Buffalo Bills - B+
After a dismal offseason, the Bills somewhat rebounded in the draft by picking up a bunch of quality players. RB Marshawn Lynch was taken with the twelfth pick, and although that could be a bit early for him, nobody will complain if he can put up 1,000 yards this season. In the second round the Bills absolutely stole LB Paul Posluszny, who should turn out to be a fantastic player in the Bills' defense. In the third the Bills got highly-touted QB Trent Edwards, who many felt was an early second round pick. Edwards provides solid insurance for J.P. Losman and could eventually push him for the starting spot. Dwayne Wright is a questionable pick in the fourth round, but could end up being a solid player in the Bills' running back-by-committee. John Wendling was an absolute steal in the sixth round and will provide excellent depth at safety. Derek Schouman is a questionable pick, but the player has lots of versatility and could be a valuable roster spot in the H-Back role. DE C.J. Ah You is a decent player but is great value late in the 7th round.

St. Louis Rams - A
The Rams are a team that really benefitted from having an early pick in a weak class, and I think I'm starting to notice a trend: Teams with early picks in this draft just drafted very, very well. Back to the Rams: In the first they swooped up the versatile Adam Carriker, who will likely be moving anywhere from LDE to right RDE to UT for the Rams. Carriker is spectacular against the run and should develop into a nice pass rusher. Brian Leonard, the versatile RB/FB/H-Back, in the second round probably surprised many people but was an amazing pick nonetheless. The 1-2 punch of Steven Jackson and Brian Leonard should be a deadly force to reckon with in the defense-weak NFC West. CB Jonathan Wade was a solid pick in the third round. A track star on the gridiron, Wade really surprised people and played extremely well at the Senior Bowl. The rest of the Rams' picks were solid but unspectacular. Dustin Frye should provide good depth and a possible future starter at the center position as does Ken Shackleford at OT. Clifton Ryan and Keith Jackson should provide great depth in the middle of the DL to help the Rams stop the run and Derek Stanley is the flyer everybody looks for at the end of the draft.

New York Jets - A
The Jets surprised everybody by trading up twice in the first two rounds, but it was well worth it for the players they got. In the first round they traded a handful of picks for the best CB in the draft, Darrelle Revis. Revis has potential to be the lockdown corner the Jets are looking for and also adds a threat as a punt returner. In the second they traded up again for David Harris, who many thought would go, at the latest, in the late first round, but fell to the mid-second. Harris looks to step-in right away and start at ILB in the Jets' 3-4 defense. New York didn't have another pick until the sixth round but made it work by taking the fast-rising OT Jake Bender, who looks to be somewhat of a project but a solid prospect at either LT or RT. To finish it off the Jets selected the quick, shifty WR Chansi Stuckey, who looks to bring competition to the PR game and has a chance to play in the slot. The Jets only had four picks, but got two instant starters and two very nice players later on.

Pittsburgh Steelers - B+
This grade would be higher if they didn't make a certain move that I'll get into in a second. The Mike Tomlin era started with Lawrence Timmons, a great LB with seemingly limitless upside that looks to be a fixture in the Tampa-2 for years. In the second round the Steelers took LaMarr Woodley, an extremely productive DE that would make a lot of sense if the Steelers were staying with the 3-4 (OLB), but doesn't really seem like the prototypical edge rusher you want in the Tampa-2. Maybe he's a short-term pick? Oh, but that's not the questionable pick. Next up is Matt Spaeth, who could've gone much higher if not for injuries. He and Heath Miller could make some very scary 2-TE sets. Here's what bugs me: the Steelers then rolled the dice on Dan Sepulveda. Who is he? Yep, that's right. A Punter. Yeah, he's left-footed. Yeah, he was easily the best punter in the nation. But no, no, no, you simply don't waste draft picks on punters. This team needed more quality picks. Later in the fourth the Steelers went back to the Tampa-2 draft philosophy and selected Ryan McBean, a player who looks like could be a force at UT. Next up is Cameron Stephenson, a project at OG but could turn out to be a very productive player. William Gay was a bit of a reach at CB, but this late in the draft, it doesn't make much of a difference. The Steelers finished off with WR Dallas Baker, a steal late in the seventh round.

Green Bay Packers - A
An A? Yeah, don't be too shocked. Justin Harrell was the consensus #1 DT in the nation until injuries plagued his season, so if he really is 100% healthy, he might even be a steal at pick sixteen even though he was lower on many 'expert' boards. In the second round the Packers struck gold, trading down and still getting the RB they were likely targeting, Brandon Jackson. Jackson is a tough, physical runner that will surprise for the Packers and have a very successful season. WR James Jones was a huge reach in the third, but they made up for it later in the same round with S Aaron Rouse. Rouse comes from a program that produces tons of great DBs and was a steal late in the third. His versatility will be valuable for the Packers. In the beginning of day two the Packers took one of the best athletes in the draft, versatile OL Allen Barbre, who will provide fantastic depth and a possible starter at guard, even with the solid play of their two rookies from last season. Their next two picks, WR David Clowney and LB Korey Hall won't have much of an impact this season, but LB Desmond Bishop could end up being one of the top steals of the draft. Even though I'm not a fan of drafting kickers, PK Mason Crosby was excellent value in the sixth round. To finish it off, the Packers took RB Deshawn Wynn, a powerful runner, and TE Clark Harris, a big, reliable target that excels in the short passing game. Overall, the Packers really built for the short term on defense and for the long term on offense, but had a great draft nonetheless and look to have one of the better NFC teams in the near future.

Denver Broncos - C
This grade would be much higher if the Broncos didn't sacrifice so much character for talent, but from a pure talent standpoint, they could've easily had an A. But with the Goodell era in full-force you really have to question a couple of these picks. In the first round the Broncos traded up for Jarvis Moss, an explosive pass-rusher that will start right away at the DE position. But wait, there's more. Adding even more sacks to their foreseeable total, the Broncos selected Tim Crowder. Crowder was once considered to be a potential top-20 pick, but fell hard after having a disappointing season. He moved back up into the second thanks to some fantastic offseason workouts, and was a great pick at this point. Moss and Crowder should make a deadly pass-rushing tandem for the Broncos, though beware of Moss' injury concerns, as he has many. In the third round the Broncos nabbed Ryan Harris, a quick OT that fits the Zone Blocking Scheme perfectly, but may have been a reach here. The draft really falls apart with their fourth and final pick: DT Marcus Thomas. Back at Florida, Thomas was suspended for three games in 2006 thanks to a failed drug test, only to be later kicked off the team altogether after yet another positive test and a failure to live up to the terms set forth as a condition of his reinstatement. Although he is a great talent that will further improve their defensive line (along with their first two picks), he's a troublemaker and will have to be kept a close eye on.

Cincinnati Bengals - B
The Bengals really hit it off in the first three rounds. Leon Hall was a fantastic pick that should give the team one of the best CB duos in the NFL, with Hall paired with Johnathan Joseph. In the second round they took a player that will give them a very scary RB duo with Kenny Irons taking some pressure off of Rudi Johnson. In the third round they took a big-time sleeper in S Marvin White. After that their draft really broke down with a handful of bad picks. Jeff Rowe is a decent player that should serve as a nice backup to QB Carson Palmer, but there were better players on the board. The same can be said for DT Matt Toeaina. Their last two picks were okay, but nothing special. OG Dan Santucci provides limited upside while S Nedu Ndukwe, who was decent value in the seventh round, just isn't that good of a player. In the end I absolutely love what the Bengals did in the first two rounds, especially the Leon Hall pick.

Tennessee Titans - C+
The Titans' draft wasn't as bad as everyone is making it out to be. Michael Griffin is an extremely versatile DB that should help the defense immediately. The real bone to pick here is in the second round where the Titans selected RB Chris Henry. This move was clearly made out of desperation as the team couldn't land a deal for Michael Turner. This was really a terrible pick and is competing with Ted Ginn for the "worst pick in the draft" award. Paul Williams was a pretty nice pick in the third round. He's got great potential and fills a big need for the team. C Leroy Harris was a pretty bad pick in the fourth round. Many thought of him as a sleeper, but in the end he just isn't good enough to justify that high of a pick. Chris Davis is another WR with nice potential, but was taken at least a round too early. DT Antonio Johnson was easily the best pick for the Titans. Johnson has great potential as a space-eating run stuffer that will likely be the future replacement for Albert Haynesworth. WR Joel Filani simply wasn't a very good pick in the sixth as he doesn't project will in the NFL, though Jacob Ford, a fast-rising DE, made up for it later in the same round. Ford is a deadly pass rush specialist that could work his way into a solid rotation. Ryan Smith doesn't exactly fill the need at CB and was a clearly a need pick. The Titans did well in the seventh round, stealing OT Mike Otto. The Titans really needed depth in the secondary and backfield, and although they certainly got bodies, they didn't exactly get quality players.

New York Giants - C+
The Giants' draft is being pretty overrated by a lot of people. They picked a couple of solid players, but really only made one impressive pick. In the first round New York selected Aaron Ross, an extremely raw CB that will have a hard time transitioning in the NFL. He's got nice speed and agility, but it will only be apparent in his punt returns, which I still don't feel will have much of an impact for the G-Men. In the second round the Giants took another overrated player in Steve Smith, an incredibly average WR that will, at best, become an incredibly average #2 receiver. Their next two picks were a bit better. Jay Alford is a solid DT prospect that fills a big need for the Giants and Zak DeOssie, a fast-rising, small school prospect, looks to provide some depth LB. The problem with these two picks, however, is that they were both taken about a round too early and will likely have a very tough time cracking the starting lineup. TE Kevin Boss is another small school sleeper that a lot of people have recently fallen in love with but really doesn't offer much in the blocking aspect of the TE position and doesn't really fit what they need. The Giants didn't address the OL until the sixth round, when they made their best pick. Adam Koets, a great athlete at the OT position, looks to compete early for the starting LT job with virtually no one there to challenge him. Koets is a great technician and moves extremely well, but to become a better player at the next level, he'll have to develop more strength and more of a mean streak. The Giants then made two decent second round selections, with S Michael Johnson falling into their laps, who could end up being a steal, and RB Ahmad Bradshaw, who had a disappointing offseason, but doesn't really seem like the RB they'll need to compliment Brandon Jacobs if he even makes the team.

Jacksonville Jaguars - B
What the Jaguars did best in this draft was wheel 'n' deal around the draft board while getting some of the players they coveted. In the first round they traded down and still got the player everyone knew they loved - Reggie Nelson. Nelson is a high-flying, hard-hitting center fielder at safety and will surely add a strong presence in the secondary. Continuing the strategy of building from the inside-out, the Jaguars took Justin Durant in round two, who can likely play any LB position for them, but currently projects to the inside. Next up was Mike Walker, a fan-favorite WR that really rose up draft boards after proving his health. I think he was a bit of a reach in the third round, but should be a solid pick nonetheless. One thing I really didn't like about the Jaguars' draft was their next move, selecting P Adam Podlesh. Podlesh does come from that ridiculous Maryland strength and conditioning program, which gives him an extremely powerful leg and enough speed to cover his own punts, but it's not like he'll be asked to do that anyway. Despite this poor move the Jaguars bounced right back with a bit of a surprise pick, but one we all expected anyway. This pick was Brian Smith, the versatile DE/LB prospect that looks to be a pass-rushing specialist. What Smith brings to the Jaguars is a deadly edge-rusher that had first round potential if not for his broken hip bone. It will be interesting to see how the Jaguars use him. The Jags' next few picks were solid, getting OG Uche Nwaneri, S Josh Gattis, a huge steal at that point in the draft, and DT Derek Landri. Landri is an interesting prospect but will have a lot of trouble finding playing time with those great Jacksonville DTs. The Jags finished off with three insignificant picks that likely won't get passed training camp with WR John Broussard, OT Andrew Carnahan, and LB Chad Nkang, who has a pretty high ceiling.

Kansas City Chiefs - D
At first glance this draft seems like a great one, but for a team that has such a huge problem along the offensive line, they really did a terrible job to fix it. In the first round the Chiefs passed on Joe Staley for WR Dwayne Bowe. Bowe is a great prospect that excels in his downfield blocking, so he should be a great fit for KC's scheme. In the next two rounds the Chiefs decided to bolster the defensive line, adding versatile DT/DE 'tweener Turk McBride and DT DeMarcus Tyler, who is a stout run-stuffer in the middle of the line. Later in the fifth round the Chiefs added Kolby Smith, the backup/replacement for Michael Bush back at Louisville who shows tons of potential. Next up was a terrible pick, failing to address the offensive line yet again and going for PK Justin Medlock. I've already gone over my stance on drafting kickers and punters, so let's not get into that. FINALLY in the sixth round the Chiefs picked an offensive lineman. Herbet Taylor, a project at best at the OT position, might've been a breath of fresh air for Chiefs fans at first, but this player just isn't very good and will have a tough time translating his game to the NFL level with crucial problems at both size and strength. He'll be a backup at best. To finish off the draft, the Chiefs disregard the offensive line again and take TE Michael Allan. This wasn't a terrible pick, since he was probably a huge steal at that point, but the failure to address the offensive line throughout this draft will prove to be detrimental this season.

New England Patriots - C
I really didn't like what the Patriots did in the draft, but if you factor in the fact that they got an extra first round pick for next year's ridiculously loaded draft from a team that will likely pick in the top-15, along with the acquisition of Randy Moss, their draft at least deserves a C. To be honest, the Patriots only made two good picks on Saturday. In the first round they took Brandon Meriweather, the explosive safety that loves to hit hard and get the ball. In the fourth round, the Patriots stole Kareem Brown, a DT that will make the switch to DE in the Patriots' 3-4. Brown adds great depth to an already fantastic defensive line and will help the Pats stop the run. New England's next seven picks were just terrible, with the exception of seventh round LB Oscar Lua. Lua has a thick figure and is very stout at the point of attack. The guy just knows how to shed blocks and make plays at the line of scrimmage, something the Patriots had problems doing last season. He should add great depth and a possible future starter on the inside in the Patriots' 3-4.

Carolina Panthers - A+
Ouch. The NFC South is crapping its pants right now after the Panthers absolutely killed on draft weekend. After trading back in the first round, the Panthers were able to get the player they targeted - Jon Beason. Beason is an extremely athletic LB that should start immediately and is my early pick for defensive rookie of the year. He'll likely move inside for Carolina. In the second round the Panthers stole the free-falling Dwayne Jarrett, a big, sure-handed WR that will be a great possession target for any QB under center. Later in the second the Panthers, once again, made off with a heist after stealing the best center in the draft, Ryan Kalil. He could be the day one starter. The Panthers made off like bandits when they made yet another huge move, drafting DE Charles Johnson all the way in the third round. A need or not, Johnson was clearly the BPA. Johnson should have an immediate impact on the defensive line, either in a rotation across from Julius Peppers or as a backup. Clearly an attempt to relieve DeAngelo Williams from his return duties, as they plan to use him on the ground more often, the Panthers drafted return specialist Ryne Williams. They then added depth to the TE position by taking Dante Rosario, a weapon in the passing game and on special teams coverage. To finish off the draft the Panthers made two more steals, getting LB Tim Shaw, who will likely play outside, and sleeper CB C.J. Wilson.

Dallas Cowboys - A
Yeah, they took a kicker, but the rest of the draft was pretty spectacular. In the first round the Cowboys first traded out, gathering a first round pick in 2008 that will likely be in the top-10, but then traded back in, keeping their picks in 2008, and selected Anthony Spencer, a pass rushing specialist that should be a terror across from DeMarcus Ware. We could be looking at the best OLB duo in the NFL. In the third and fourth rounds, the Cowboys opted to solidify their offensive line by adding depth and possible starters in OT James Marten and OT Doug Free. The two will likely compete for the starting LT spot with Leonard Davis. Also in the fourth round the Cowboys took the versatile Isaiah Stanback, a Brad Smith-like player who played QB in college but will move to a hybrid WR/RB role in the NFL. He'll take a few years to develop, but will be a special weapon even in his rookie year. In the sixth round, the Cowboys took... ugh... a kicker, but a good kicker, Nick Folk. They then reached for FB Deon Anderson, who excels in run blocking but will likely be a special teams specialist. Their next pick was Courtney Brown, a fast-rising player who is a freak of an athlete, but will take a while to develop. I really loved that pick and think it will turn out to be a great one. To finish it off, they took another CB prospect in Alan Ball. Ball is a pretty decent athlete, but if he's able to add some more weight, he'll likely be moved to strong safety. Overall this was a pretty darn good draft, though I would've liked to see them add a developmental QB in the sixth or seventh round.

New Orleans Saints - B
Eh. That's all that really can be said about this draft. Some good picks, a couple of bad picks. In the first round the Saints selected Robert Meachem, the speedy WR that will be a great deep threat for the Saints and should compliment their already great receiving group. Meachem has excellent size and knows how to use it in the open field, but he'll have to develop more of a mean streak when beating the jam at the line. In the third round the Saints took Usama Young, a fantastic athlete at the CB position that should provide good depth. I think they reached for Young, but his pure athleticism was too hard to pass on. Later in the third round the Saints took Andy Alleman, a great athlete along the offensive line that should develop into a solid guard. The Saints' first fourth round pick was fantastic, taking RB Antonio Pittman, a strong, physical runner (despite his size) who will compliment Reggie Bush extremely well. I know you're thinking, "wait, what about Deuce McAllister?" well the draft is about taking the BPA, and Pittman was clearly just that. If Deuce ever goes down with an injury or is forced out of New Orleans, you'll appreciate this pick just as much as I do. The Saints' next two picks were very questionable. Jerome Bushrod is an OT with great athleticism but poor strength. I don't see him as anything more than a versatile backup at both OT and OG. It's hard to teach a waist-bender how to be a knee-bender. Their next pick was David Jones, another CB prospect, that, to be honest, I just don't know much about. Seems like a project player at best. LB Marvin Mitchell was a fantastic pick in the seventh round. He should be able to step-in right away and be a nice two-down thumper in the middle.

Baltimore Ravens - B+
Ouch, ouch, ouch. After being jumped by the 'Niners for Joe Staley, the Ravens had to settle for OG Ben Grubbs in the first round. Grubbs is a great athlete that projects to be a pulling guard in the NFL. He's got decent strength, but lacks a mean streak, something he'll have to work on. In the third round the Ravens made a couple of quality picks. Yamon Figurs looks to be a return specialist for the Ravens while the versatile Marshall Yanda will be competing for virtually every single position along the offensive line. The next four picks were solid. In the fourth round, the Ravens took LB Antwaan Barnes, who could be a decent replacement for Adalius Thomas, but will likely be placed in a rotational role. The team made a great pick later in the fourth round, taking Le'Ron McClain, a thumper at FB that will help create huge running lanes for Willis McGahee. Heisman winner QB Troy Smith was taken in the fifth round, but to be honest, I don't expect him to be with the team for long. The CFL and AFL will be dishing out all sorts of cash for him, though. It's tough to project where the Ravens see their next pick playing. Prescott Burgess is a LB that simply isn't a great fit in the 3-4 defense the Ravens run, and I think he was mainly brought in to get sent to the practice squad, where he can be great on the scout team. He may project to ILB for the Ravens, but I wouldn't bank on it.

San Diego Chargers - A
In the first round the Chargers absolutely reached for WR Craig Davis, but in the end, he'll be a great deep threat for them and will end up justifying the pick. In the second round the Chargers traded up to secure one of the most underrated player in the draft, Eric Weddle. Weddle, a S/CB 'tweener, is the only player in the history of history to shut down Calvin Johnson when Georgia Tech played Utah. That, alone, has to give him some serious consideration. In all seriousness, Weddle is a fantastic athlete and ball hawk that should start right away at safety for the Chargers. In the third round the Chargers stole Anthony Waters, who, if not for injury, would have definitely been a first round pick, and may very well be the best pure 3-4 ILB in the draft. The Chargers' next pick was TE Scott Chandler, a big, tall target who loves to go over the middle and make the big catch. He should be a fantastic compliment to Antonio Gates. In the fifth round, the Chargers took another WR with an extremely high ceiling. Legedu Naanee projects as a solid possession receiver and could have a very productive career if coached well. In the seventh round, the Chargers stole another LB, Brandon Siler. We have yet to find out why Siler fell so far, but he was outstanding value in the seventh round and should easily find a spot on the active roster.

Chicago Bears - C
With their first four picks, the Bears made four straight reaches. Greg Olsen, despite his blazing 40-yard dash, is nothing special. He's decent. He's average. He's just not a great player and that will be proven throughout his career. Everything the prototypical TE does, he does not. He can't block; he can't go over the middle. If you can't tell, I don't like Greg Olsen. The Bears then drafted for need again, selecting DE Dan Bazuin. Bazuin is a great player, but was a reach in the second round. He's not a perfect fit for Chicago's Tampa-2 defense, but he's good enough. Since the Bears are shopping Alex Brown, this pick isn't much of a surprise. Garrett Wolfe was another huge reach and just a terrible pick in general. He's not the kind of RB that can compliment Cedric Benson, and they obviously didn't bring him in to be a return specialist, since they already have the best in the NFC, and likely the best in the NFL - Devin Hester. LB Michael Okwo was their next pick, obviously another desperation pick with the whole Lance Briggs situation. Okwo was very productive at Standford, but just doesn't project well in the NFL and has extremely limited upside. The Bears finally made a good pick in the fourth round, bringing in Josh Beekman. Beekman fell out of second round consideration after having a pretty poor offseason, but Beekman's play on the field makes it very tough to pass on him. Beekman probably projects to LG for the Bears, where his great run-blocking will be used, though he'll have to get better in pass protection. The Bears made another good pick in the fifth round with sleeper S Kevin Payne. Payne will probably project to OLB for the Bears, especially if he can put on a few pounds. He's terrible in coverage but is a great in-the-box safety and is good against the run. Corey Graham, picked later in the fifth, is a great cover corner who excels in zone coverage. He's a bit of a project, but thanks to his great triangle numbers, he can easily be turned into a great player in the NFL with good coaching. This pick could turn out to be a huge steal. The Bears' next two picks were average at best and will have trouble making the team. CB Trumaine McBride will have trouble making it in the NFL due to his lack of tools, and OT Aaron Brant, despite his size, is a nobody and will, at best, become an average backup.

Indianapolis Colts - C+
In the first round the Colts reached for a need, taking the incredibly overrated WR Anthony Gonzalez. Granted, he probably wouldn't fall very far, but he just isn't good enough to justify a first round pick with so many better players on the board. He'll never be a great #2 receiver and will be stuck in the slot. He'll never be a future replacement for Marvin Harrison, and that's what they need. In the second round, the Colts traded up for Tony Ugoh, the athletic OT that looks the part and projects as a future LT. Ugoh is raw with his technique, but a good player nonetheless, and with some good coaching, he could turn into a beast. In the third round, the Colts got a couple of nice players that fell due to bad offseasons, but fit perfectly in the scheme. CB Daymeion Hughes, a terrific zone coverage corner, and DT Quinn Pitcock, a solid all-around player who can rush the passer, stop the run, and make plays in the backfield. Their next three picks, S Brannon Condren, LB Clint Session, and WR Roy Hall were all reaches, but CB Michael Coe was a steal in the fifth round and really brought the Colts' draft grade up. An outstanding athlete, Coe projects extremely well in the Tampa-2 zone coverage scheme. To finish it off, the Colts added depth to their pass rushing repertoire, selecting Keyunta Dawson, a situation pass rusher.

Philadelphia Eagles - B+
It took me a while to warm-up to this pick, and in the end, it does make a lot of sense. After the Eagles traded out of the first round, they made a pick that caused a lot of turmoil. QB Kevin Kolb looks to be the Jeff Garcia to Donovan McNabb, and then some. Kolb is insurance. If McNabb goes down, the Eagles understand they need a good, solib QB to keep the team in the hunt. They obviously feel Kolb is that type of QB. Now, the pick also brings into question McNabb's future in Philadelphia, as he only has two more real years on his contract. After that, the remaining two years are options years for the Eagles. Kolb could be the next QB in Philly. Okay, onto the rest of the draft. I absolutely loved what the Eagles did with their next four picks. Victor Abiamiri has loads of potential to be a colossal pass-rushing DE in the NFL. Stewart Bradley is a player that has everything you look for in a LB: strong, tackles well, sheds blocks, rushes the passer, versatile, and has top-of-the-line intangibles. Bradley really had a fantastic offseason and was one of my favorite players in the draft. Next up was RB Tony Hunt. Hunt will be a phenomenal compliment to Brian Westbrook for the Eagles. A big, powerful, nasty, hard-hitting RB, Hunt has everything you look for in the power aspect of the running game. The Eagles were then able to land DB C.J. Gaddis, an amazing athlete with great versatility to play either safety or cornerback. The Eagles' next couple of picks were average, taking TE Brent Celek and CB Rashad Barksdale. Don't expect anything out of these players. The Eagles were able to land a huge player, both literally and figuratively, with their final pick. RB Nate Ilaoa, an extremely powerful runner, will hopefully be a superb third down/goal line/fullback type player for the Eagles. While Hunt and Westbrook will likely share about a 65/25 split, expect Ilaoa to get a solid 10.

Seattle Seahawks - A
The 'Hawks' first three picks could all very well win starting jobs this season, if not a lot of playing time in rotational roles. CB Josh Wilson, their first pick (second round), is a physical freak with excellent too