Draft Bulletin

Draft Grades

	Arizona Cardinals	Grade
		B
		B

	1. Patrick Peterson CB LSU
	2. Ryan Williams RB Virginia Tech
	3. Rob Housler TE Florida Atlantic
	4. Sam Acho OLB Texas
	5. Anthony Sherman FB Connecticut
	6. Quan Sturdivant ILB North Carolina
	6. David Carter DE UCLA
	7. Demarco Sampson WR San Diego St

The Cardinals did the right thing drafting Peterson. He was the best player available and doesn't have the risk the QBs have. They will have a strong CB duo with DRC and him. Williams is a good RB when healthy but they recently drafted Beanie Wells. Housler has really good speed but isn't a good blocker, so it will be interesting to see how they use him. I would have liked to see a OL or LB somewhere in round 2 or 3. Acho in round 4 was a great pick who was a little underrated. Sherman was an interesting pick. He is a solid player but I thought it might have been a round early and it wasn't a position I thought they would address. Sturdivant was a steal in round 6. I was really surprised he was still available. Carter was a decent selection but there were a couple players I liked better at that spot. Sampson was a good 7th round selection. He is a solid WR but hasn't been able to stay healthy.


	Atlanta Falcons	Grade
		C
		C

	1. Julio Jones WR Alabama
	3. Akeem Dent MLB Georgia
	5. Jacquizz Rodgers RB Oregon St
	6. Matt Bosher P Miami (Fla)
	7. Andrew Jackson G Fresno St
	7. Cliff Matthews DE South Carolina

I like the idea of giving Matt Ryan another weapon. The addition of Jones will make this offense really tough to stop. However, they really gave up too much for a player that has been injury prone throughout his career. They better win it all in order to justify this move. Dent is a player that I was lukewarm on but might fit this system well. I was shocked that Rodgers was still available in round 5. This is a steal that will add another dimension to their already potent offense. I am not a fan of Bosher but with the kickoff rule change he might offer something as a kickoff guy because he does have a fairly strong leg. Jackson and Matthews were both players that I thought were a little overrated but in the 7th round are decent value.


	Baltimore Ravens	Grade
		B+
		B+

	1. Jimmy Smith CB Colorado
	2. Torrey Smith WR Maryland
	3. Jah Reid T Central Florida
	4. Tandon Doss WR Indiana
	5. Chykie Brown CB Texas
	5. Pernell McPhee DE Mississippi St
	6. Tyrod Taylor QB Virginia Tech
	7. Anthony Allen RB Georgia Tech

They got super talented CB Jimmy Smith late in the 1st round. He carries some risk but is worth it late in round 1. He also fills the need for a bigger CB. Torrey Smith was really good value at the bottom of round 2 and gives them the speed that they sorely miss. They also added Doss to the receiving unit who was a steal. I am not a huge Reid fan but I am in the minority there. They did do a good job moving up to get him. They didn't give up much and it was very likely that he wouldn't have been available if they had stayed where they were. Brown and McPhee were good values and help address needs. Taylor is a developmental QB in the Troy Smith mold but better. I am not a fan of Allen and thought there were a number of better RBs available but he has size and speed and it was the 7th round.


	Buffalo Bills	Grade
		B
		B

	1. Marcell Dareus DE Alabama
	2. Aaron Williams CB Texas
	3. Kelvin Sheppard ILB LSU
	4. Da'Norris Searcy S North Carolina
	4. Chris Hairston T Clemson
	5. Johnny White RB North Carolina
	6. Chris White ILB Mississippi St
	7. Justin Rogers CB Richmond
	7. Michael Jasper NT Bethel (TN)

This isn't the most exciting draft but it is pretty solid. Dareus was the right pick and will significantly upgrade their defense. This defense really struggled against the run and they did a solid job addressing that with not only Dareus but also with the ILBs Sheppard and Chris White. Sheppard has good size and was decent value. I think that White is underrated and was really good value in the 6th round. This will also help move Danny Batton back to OLB which might be a better fit. Williams was a little bit of a surprise but was decent value. I thought that they might look at some of the 3-4 OLB prospects instead. Searcy is a big S who is versatile. He can help against the run and protect against Donte Whitner possibly leaving. He was really good value. I like Hairston as a G but they drafted him as a T. Once again I don't feel like they have resolved the T position. I thought that Johnny White was a little bit of a reach but they were looking for a bigger back to pair with Spiller and there weren't a lot available in the middle of the draft. Rogers was a good pick in the 7th round. He can add some depth. Jasper is an athletic and huge OL who will get an opportunity to make it as a NT.


	Carolina Panthers	Grade
		B-
		B-

	1. Cam Newton QB Auburn
	3. Terrell McClain DT South Florida
	3. Sione Fua DT Stanford
	4. Brandon Hogan CB West Virginia
	5. Kealoha Pilares WR Hawaii
	6. Lawrence Wilson OLB Connecticut
	6. Zach Williams G/C Washington St
	7. Lee Ziemba T Auburn

The Panthers get credit for filling a bunch of needs but most of their picks are a little questionable. I don't like the Newton pick. He has a ton of upside but he isn't going to get time to develop and he doesn't have any receiving help. They desperately needed help at DT. I really like McClain and think he was a 3rd round pick but was a little surprised that they picked him with Jurrell Casey and Drake Nevis still available. I thought the 3rd round was early for Fua but it would have been a risk to wait until the 5th round. Still, I thought there were better WRs and TEs available in that spot. I also thought that Hogan was a reach. He has ability but is a big risk and I felt there were as talented CBs available without the risk. Pilares was a decent pick but isn't the go to guy that the team needs. Wilson and Williams aren't players I am overly excited about but were decent value. Wilson has athleticism and Williams has versatility. Players with those ability make sense in round 6. Ziemba was a real good pick. I was surprised he was still available at the end of the draft.


	Chicago Bears	Grade
		B-
		B-

	1. Gabe Carimi T Wisconsin
	2. Stephen Paea DT Oregon St
	3. Chris Conte S California
	5. Nathan Enderle QB Idaho
	6. J.T. Thomas LB West Virginia

The Bears really needed OL help and were happy to see some Ts slide. Carimi will help but I fear that they may have two RTs and no LTs. I am not convinced that J'Marcus Webb or Carimi can play the left side effectively which still puts Cutler at risk. I love the move to trade up and get Paea. They didn't give up much to do it and Paea is a steal at that spot in the 2nd round and he fits their defense perfectly. Conte is an intriguing prospect but was a reach. They obviously liked and targeted Enderle and Thomas. I am not the biggest fan of Enderle but he does have potential and if anyone can get it out of him it is Martz. He was a reach and couldn't have been selected in round 6 which would have given them the opportunity to draft Greg Jones, Mike Mohamed or D.J. Smith in round 5, all of which are better prospects than Thomas. That being said, Thomas wasn't a bad gamble with their last pick there in round 6.








	Cincinnati Bengals	Grade
		B+
		B+

	1. A.J. Green WR Georgia
	2. Andy Dalton QB TCU
	3. Dontay Moch OLB Nevada
	4. Clint Boling G Georgia
	5. Robert Sands S West Virginia
	6. Ryan Whalen WR Stanford
	7. Korey Lindsey CB Southern Illinois
	7. Jay Finley RB Baylor

The Bengals got one of the best players in the draft in Green. He is a dominant player. To protect against the loss of Carson Palmer they were fortunate that Dalton was still available. Moch has elite speed and will help on special teams while he develops. He should be able to help as a situational pass rusher. Boling was really good value and fills a need. Sands has potential and was solid value in round 5. Lindsey was really good value in round 7. Whalen and Finley was decent picks although I thought there were better options available.








	Cleveland Browns	Grade
		A-
		A-

	1. Phil Taylor DT Baylor
	2. Jabaal Sheard DE Pittsburgh
	2. Greg Little WR North Carolina
	4. Jordan Cameron TE USC
	4. Owen Marecic FB Stanford
	5. Buster Skrine CB Chattanooga
	5. Jason Pinkston G/T Pittsburgh
	7. Eric Hagg S Nebraska

I was surprised that they passed on the opportunity to draft Julio Jones but they got good to great value in their trade down. This is an organization on the rise. They have had a couple strong drafts in a row and have added picks to next year's draft. I thought that they overpaid to move up and get Taylor but there was a chance that he might not have gotten to them. Taylor is a risk but the duo of Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin will really make it tough for teams to run inside. Sheard was a solid pick and will help the pass rush. There wasn't really any other good option outside gambling on Da'Quan Bowers that fit their scheme. Brooks Reed was a possibility but wasn't a good fit. I really like the potential of Little. He could develop into the big, physical go to guy that they need. I thought that they might go with Leonard Hankerson but have no problem with Little over him. The rest of their picks were all really good value. They paid a lot to move up to get Pinkston but he was a steal at that spot in the draft. Marecic and Hillis in the same backfield is really intriguing. Cameron gives Colt McCoy another athletic option in the pass game. Skrine and Hagg add depth to a secondary that needed it.


	Dallas Cowboys	Grade
		B
		B

	1. Tyron Smith T USC
	2. Bruce Carter ILB North Carolina
	3. Demarco Murray RB Oklahoma
	4. David Arkin G Missouri St
	5. Josh Thomas CB Buffalo
	6. Dwayne Harris WR East Carolina
	7. Shaun Chapas FB Georgia
	7. Bill Nagy C Wisconsin

The Cowboys really wanted to upgrade their OL. I felt like Smith was a little bit of a reach but now they have someone with potential to match with Doug Free. I am a big fan of and like the selection of Arkin. It will take him a little time to develop but he could be a good one. I love Carter but was a little surprised they took him, especially with Rahim Moore still available. The pick of Murray was a surprise due to the fact that it wasn't a huge need. It was decent value though. I like Thomas and thought that he was underrated. Harris was really good value in the 6th. He can be a solid possession receiver. Chapas and Nagy are decent values but I am not real high on either one.


	Denver Broncos	Grade
		B
		B

	1. Von Miller OLB Arkansas
	2. Rahim Moore S UCLA
	2. Orlando Franklin T/G Miami (Fla)
	3. Nate Irving LB North Carolina St
	4. Quinton Carter S Oklahoma
	4. Julius Thomas TE Portland St
	6. Mike Mohamed LB California
	7. Virgil Green TE Nevada
	7. Jeremy Beal DE Oklahoma

I love Miller but feel that he is a better fit for a 3-4 system. He can play at a good level in a 4-3 but you aren't getting the full benefit of his abilities. I thought that Dareus was a better fit and filled a huge need, one that didn't get fulfilled. They continued to remake the LB position with Irving and Mohamed. Both are versatile. I was surprised that Irving went before Martez Wilson but I like Irving and thought he was underrated. Mohamed was good value. They did a good job trading down and getting the top S in the draft, Moore. The pick of Carter was a little surprising but they wanted to improve the depth. This organization has drafted a ton of Ss in recent years. I like Franklin as a G but he will start out at T. I am not sold on him as a T. I love the TE picks of Thomas and Green. Thomas is a sleeper and Green was a steal in round 7. All year I thought that Beal was overrated but getting him in the 7th round wasn't bad.













	Detroit Lions	Grade
		A
		A

	1. Nick Fairley DT Auburn
	2. Titus Young WR Boise St
	2. Mikel Leshoure RB Illinois
	5. Doug Hogue OLB Syracuse
	7. Johnny Culbreath T South Carolina St

They had a tremendous player fall in their lap and that didn't flinch. The combination of Fairley and Ndamukong Suh could be a dominant force for many years. They lacked depth at WR and score a good one in Young who will be able to line up in the slot and really stretch defenses. They did a great job trading up to steal Leshoure. They got good value in the trade and got a great player to pair up with Jahvid Best. Hogue was good value at a position of huge need. Culbreath was a decent gamble in the 7th round.









	Green Bay Packers	Grade
		A
		A

	1. Derek Sherrod T Mississippi St
	2. Randall Cobb WR Kentucky
	3. Alex Green RB Hawaii
	4. Davon House CB New Mexico St
	5. D.J. Williams TE Arkansas
	6. Caleb Schlauderaff G Utah
	6. D.J. Smith ILB Appalachian St
	6. Ricky Elmore OLB Arizona
	7. Ryan Taylor TE North Carolina
	7. Lawrence Guy DE Arizona St

The Packers were fortunate to have Sherrod fall in their lap. Now they can keep Bryan Bulaga at RT and they have a young duo with potential. Cobb was really good value at the end of round 2 and gives them a dynamic player who fixes their return game in addition to providing a speed receiver. Green was decent value. House and Williams were both really good value. Both could have gone a round earlier at least. Schlauderaff, Smith, Elmore and Taylor were all decent value picks. Smith was a little underrated and Elmore could contribute outside. Guy was an absolute steal and with their situation at DE, he might contribute sooner rather than later.









	Houston Texans	Grade
		A
		A

	1. J.J. Watt DE Wisconsin
	2. Brooks Reed OLB Arizona
	2. Brandon Harris CB Miami (Fla)
	4. Rashad Carmichael CB Virginia Tech
	5. Shiloh Keo S Idaho
	5. T.J. Yates QB North Carolina