Team By Team Draft Grades

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Dallas… The Cowboys came to the 2005 draft hoping to find some bodies to allow them to switch to the 3-4 defense favored by head coach Bill Parcells. Not only did the Cowboys find some bodies, they loaded up on some outstanding potential including explosive edge rushing OLB Demarcus Ware, selected with the 11th pick overall, versatile LB Kevin Burnett, a second rounder who can play both inside and out, and prototype 3-4 DEs Marcus Spears and Chris Canty, selected in the 1st and 4th rounds respectively. Indeed, Canty, whom the Cowboys acquired – ironically – after a trade with division rival Philadelphia, could be one of the drafts bigger steals if he can stya healthy. The only concerns we have are that Spears, taken 20th overall, has been known to take plays off, and may not be overly happy doing a lot of the grunt work taking on double-teams that is the lot of a 3-4 down lineman. There are also concerns about Canty’s durability as he has struggled to finish out seasons. Meanwhile, for a change of pace, the Cowboys added RB Marion Barber in the 4th round. The versatile Barber, who can also return kicks, should be a useful complement to emerging star RB Julius Jones, while DE Jay Ratliff, another potential 3-4 DE could surprise out of the 7th round… Preliminary grade: A

 

Minnesota… No team did more to change its character this past off-season than the Vikings who sent star WR Randy Moss to Oakland and rebuilt its defense with the addition of several quality veteran free agents in the months prior to the draft. And few teams did more to help turn themselves into legitimate contenders at this year’s draft than Minnesota. WR Troy Williamson, selected 7th overall with the pick acquired from the Raiders, won’t replace Moss, but his speed will keep opposing defenses honest even if he never actually catches a pass. Meanwhile, DE Erasmus Jones selected with the Vikings other #1 pick, would have been another top ten pick if it hadn’t been for injuries and will help the pass rush even if he doesn’t start. Meanwhile, OT Marcus Johnson and CB Dustin Fox, selected in the second and third rounds respectively, were value picks, while RB Ciatrick Fason, in the 4th, and DT C.J. Mosely in the 6th, could both be steals. The athletic Fox, who can play corner or FS, in particular, could have an immediate impact, while the addition of Fason could allow the Vikings to trade one of their veteran backs for a future pick or two. For his part, Mosely posted some impressive sack numbers in college and should be a useful backup to incumbent starters Kevin and Pat Williams on the interior of the defensive front. Indeed, the only blotch on the Vikings’ record was the fact that they were beaten to Ohio State PK Mike Nugent when the Jets leap-frogged them to take the former Buckeye in the late second round… Preliminary grade: A

 

Arizona… an excellent weekend overall for the Cardinals even though they missed out on one of the top three RBs with the 8th pick overall, but settled for a nice consolation prize in CB Antrel Rolle who will bring some instant physicality to the Arizona secondary. The Cardinals also had a great third round when they picked up another solid CB prospect in Eric Green, along with OLB Darryl Blackstock, both of whom were legitimate second round talents. Indeed, Blackstock was thought to have been a dark horse candidate to go late in the first round. The Cardinals also hope they got a steal in the 4th round when they took OG Elton Brown of Virginia. Once thought to be the top OG in the draft, Brown’s stock plummeted because of a knee injury that kept him from working out meaningfully prior to the draft. Same for steady 5th round LB Lance Mitchell who plays much faster than he runs, while 7th round WR Leron McCoy is s sleeper with special speed. Meanwhile, as advertised, the Cardinals got their RB in the second round when they chose California slasher J.J. Arrington, although he represents something of a drop-off from the top three guys at the position; the Cardinals, though, are hoping Arrington turns into this year’s Julius Jones, a 2004 second rounder who had a terrific year in Dallas last fall ...Preliminary grade: A

 

San Diego… One of the fascinating storylines of the 2005 season and beyond will be comparing the development of Chargers’ pair of first rounders with those of Dallas. Indeed, the two teams’ picks – a pass-rushing OLB followed by a rugged 3-4 type DE – very much mirrored each other with the Cowboys taking OLB Demarcus Ware and DE Marcus Spears, while the Chargers selected OLB Shawne Merriman – one pick after Dallas took Ware – and DT Luis Castillo who projects to one of the DE spots in the Chargers’s 3-4 scheme. Both were outstanding picks, although Castillo comes with a little cloud after he admitted using steroids, ostensibly to help a nagging elbow injury to heal. In the end, the Chargers may be quite happy that he did, otherwise he very well might not have been available to them at the 28th pick. Meanwhile, 2nd round WR Vincent Jackson gives the Chargers’ QB another big target, while 4th RB Darren Sproles will make a fine change of pace back relieving LaDainian Tomlinson; indeed, defenders on more than team may actually prefer to against the perennial Pro Bowler Tomlinson than the 5-5 Sproles, who may bring new meaning to the term elusiveness on a football field, on the theory that you can’t catch what you can’t see. The Chargers also did a nice job upgrading its sometimes suspect offensive line, adding OT Wesley Britt, OG Wes Sims and C Scott Mruczkowski in the 5th through 7th rounds. Britt, for example, has the athletic skills to ultimately develop into a decent LT, while the 320-pound Mruczkowski is as rugged as they come… Preliminary grade: A

 

Tampa Bay… The Buccaneers’ weekend was right out of the how-to manual of drafting. They got the impact guy they wanted in the first round in RB Carnell Williams, who has the potential to be another Barry Sanders, and then filled holes with solid picks right through the draft, starting with LB Barrett Ruud in the second, TE Alex Smith and OT Chris Colmer in the 3rd and OG Dan Buenning in the 4th. And the Buccaneers who passed on WR Mike Williams in the opening round, ended up with a couple of possible late steals at receiver in Larry Brackins in the 5th and J.R. Russell in the 7th. Same story for DT Anthony Bryant, taken all the way down in the 6th round, as well as DBs Donte Nicholson and Hamsa Abdullah who came in the 5th and 7th rounds…Preliminary grade: A

 

Detroit… Detroit continued its recent run of solid drafts, snapping up USC Mike Williams when he dropped to the 10th pick. And the answer to the question what do the Lions do with three good young receivers as Williams joins Roy Williams and Charles Rogers, the team’s past two #1s in what could be a crowded receiver: put them all on the field and make the other teams cover them if they can. The Lions then went back to the national champions in the second round, moving up a few notches to grab DE Shaun Cody in the second round; Cody is a bit of a tweener DE/DT, but should help the pass rush; so should pass rush specialists Bill Swancutt and Jonathan Goddard brought in the late rounds. CB Stanley Wilson was also a solid pick in the 3rd round. Taking QB Dan Orlovksy in the 5th, though, may produce as much talk as the other picks combined in Detroit. It will certainly be interpreted as a shot across the bow of the good ship Harrington; indeed, the Lions maybe needed to add a developmental QB at some point, but with embattled incumbent starter Joey Harrington and veteran Jeff Garcia taking all the snaps in Detroit a 5th s\round pick on a player like Orlovsky seems awfully early. ... Preliminary grade: A-

 

Cleveland … New Browns’ GM was known for his solid, steady as she goes drafts in Baltimore and he brought that steady hand on the tiller to Cleveland war room this weekend. When the Browns didn’t get the offer they wanted to move out of the 3rd spot, they sat tight and took WR Braylon Edwards, arguably the top prospect overall in the 2005 draft. The Browns were also pleasantly surprised to find QB Charlie Frye still on the board early in the third round; he’ll fit in nicely in a learning role behind Trent Dilfer. The Browns also added some useful speed to the secondary in FS Brodney Pool and CB Antonio Perkins in the 2nd and 4th rounds, respectively. On the other hand, the Browns really needed to upgrade along both the offensive and defensive lines, but didn’t do much there, although tweener DE David McMillan, a 5th rounder, could help the pass rush… Preliminary grade: A-

 

Pittsburgh: There must be a sign in the Steelers’ war room that reads “they also serve who stand and wait!’ Last year, for example, the Steelers sat tight with the 11th pick overall where they quite happily chose QB Ben Roethlisberger, who of, course, went on to run away with rookie of the years honors in the NFL this past season. After going 15-1 under Roethlisberger’s leadership this season, the Steelers only had the 30th pick overall this year, but must have had that sense of deja vue all over again when star Virginia junior TE Heath Miller was still on the board at that spot. Miller has been compared to the likes of Tony Gonzales and Jeremy Shockey in terms of athleticism and receiving skills, but dropped to the bottom of the opening round because he was unable to workout this winter while recovering from a sports hernia injury. The Steelers also hope they found a replacement for the departed Plaxico Burress when they selected angular WR Fred Gibson in the 4th round. The 6-4 Gibson has the potential to be as good as any receiver in the 2005 draft class, but was plagued by lapses in concentration in college. As such, he may be a perfect replacement for the departed Burress. Meanwhile, CB Bryant McFadden, a physical cover corner was a solid 2nd round pick, however, OT Trai Essex taken in the 3rd may have been a reach. Pittsburgh, though, did get another offensive lineman with a Steelers’ mindset when they selected 345-pound Chris Kemoeatu deep in the 6th round. Kemoeatu is as rugged as they come, but has had some off-field, as well as on-field problems. Temple OLB Rian Wallace, a big-play specialist taken in the 5th round, was also a nice pickup… Preliminary grade: A-

 

New Orleans… Credit to the Saints for making a couple of bold moves to come up with the players they wanted. First, the Saints traded up three spots in the opening round, in the process, leap-frogging Carolina so they could grab Oklahoma OT Jammal Brown, the guy they had targeted from the outset of the draft. While a case could be made, that having moved up to the 13th spot, the Saints could just have easily have added one of several top defenders still available at that point such as LB Derrick Johnson, DT Travis Johnson, or FS Thomas Davis and then held out for one of the 2006 drafts’ elite OTs, however, Brown will bring some needed athleticism and aggression to the Saints’ offensive line. The Saints’ draft, though, will most likely be remembered for the 5th round selection of physically-talented, but oft-troubled former Florida State QB Adrian McPherson. Without the off-field troubles – he pleaded no contest to theft charges and was also associated with gambling allegations a couple of years back - McPherson might very well have rated very near the top of the draft board this year. As it was, McPherson was an intriguing pick for a franchise that needed a boost to help it finally get over the .500 hump. Meanwhile, FS Josh Bullocks and LB Adam Fincher, the Saints’ second and third round picks, respectively, will bring some much needed speed to the defense, while rugged DT Jason Jefferson, a 6th round pick, and 7th round DE Jimmy Verdon, both hard-working types, should be useful reserves up front. WR Chase Lyman, though, may have been a reach in the 4th round; the rangy Lyman has talent, but was never able to stay on the field at California.... Preliminary grade: A-

 

Oakland… Of course, the Raiders’ real final draft grade has to include Randy Moss whom they acquired from Minnesota with the 7th pick. He may play hard every down; plus he can be a huge distraction and gets under his temmates skin, but the fact is that Moss may be the best player in the league and was steal for a single first rounder. Even without Moss factored in, though, the Raiders did okay, adding two of the draft’s fastest players in CBs Fabian Washington with their top two picks this year. Both can scoot, with sub 4.3 40 clockings, but still have to prove they have the instincts and toughness to go with the speed. Meanwhile, QB Andrew Walter, a perfect fit in the Raiders’ vertical passing game, was a nice pick in the 3rd round, as was LB Kirk Morrison who isn’t real fast, but can find the ball. And, of course, who else but Oakland, which always seems to find a home for otherwise recalcitrant players, would take a chance on DT Anttaj Hawthorne in the 6th round; Hawthorne was at least a solid second-round prospect before testing positive for Josh Gordon at the combine this winter Preliminary grade: A- (with Moss included)

 

Baltimore: We’ll never know whether the Ravens would have pulled the trigger and selected Arkansas WR Matt Jones, with the 22nd pick overall, however, they never had the chance as the former QB-turned-WR was selected one pick earlier by Jacksonville. The Ravens, though, got a nice consolation prize with Oklahoma WR Mark Clayton still on the board when they made their first pick. Clayton isn’t all that big, but may have been the quickest receiver in the 2005 draft field; he’s also scary when he gets his hands on the ball and should combine with newly-signed veteran WR Derrick Mason to finally give the Ravens a dynamic set of go-to receivers. The Ravens may have also lucked out in the second round when another former Sooner, DE Dan Cody, dropped to their second round pick, the 53rd overall. The Ravens, in fact, had a pair of solid second round picks when they traded up with New England and grabbed massive Syracuse OT Adam Terry with the final pick in the round. Meanwhile, C Jason Brown, taken in the 4th round, adds another big body to the Ravens’ offensive front which needs some young legs. Oregon State QB Derek Anderson, though, may have been the Ravens’ most intriguing selection. Anderson, a 6th rounder, won’t play for awhile, but has the size and arm strength to develop into an option down the road if incumbent starter Kyle Boller continues to struggle... Preliminary grade: B+

 

Jacksonville… You just knew it was only a matter of time before pulled the trigger on the enormous physical potential of Arkansas QB-turned-WR Matt Jones. It was just a bit of a surprise that it was Jacksonville. Not that the Jaguars didn’t have a major need at receiver, however, after last year’s failed gamble when they reached for WR Reggie Williams with the 9th pick overall, the Jaguars were more expected to go for a more established player such as Oklahoma’s Mark Clayton if they went with a receiver. It says here, however, that no one should be surprised if the 6-6, 242-pound Jones who blew people away when he ran the 40 in under 4.4 seconds at the combine, isn’t ultimately the best player to come out of this year’s draft. And maybe as a reward for that gutsy move, the Jaguars were able to snatch up OT Khalif Barnes when he slid all the way to Jacksonville’s second round pick, the 52nd overall. Barnes may have been the most athletic offensive lineman in this year’s draft, plus he played with a mean streak at Washington, just not often enough as he tended to lose his concentration on the job at end. The Jaguars went on to make solid selections in the next three rounds, taking CB Scott Starks in the 3rd, RB Alvin Pearman in the 4th and DB Gerald Sensabaugh in the 5th. All should contribute early on as useful reserves. Pearman, in particular, could be a nice complimentary back supporting incumbent starter Fred Taylor; while he’ll likely never be a feature back in his own right, Pearman is an excellent receiver, plus a good kick returner. Indeed, with the addition of Pearman, along with WR Chad Owens, one of the country’s better punt returners, in the 6th round, the Jaguars may have done as much to solidify their special teams as any team this past weekend... Preliminary grade: A-

 

Carolina… The Panthers got one of the draft’s big hitters when they selected Thomas Davis of Georgia with the 14th pick overall in Saturday’s opening round. The big question in Carolina, though, is whether Davis will do his hitting as a safety or a LB. Davis played FS in college and, even though he’s almost 225 pounds, would seem best suited to the position, but the Panthers announced the pick at the draft as a LB and appear determined to try him initially at that position. Drafting a player at one position, but projecting him to another, however, is always tricky, especially that early in the draft, but there is no question that Davis has the potential to make plays wherever he lines up. The rest of the weekend, the Panthers pretty much stuck to the script. Later in the draft’s first day, for example, they selected RB Eric Shelton in the second round and OG Evan Mathis and DT Atiyyah Ellison in the third; all were good value at those spots and filled a need. The Panthers, though, raised a few eyebrows when they selected Louisville QB Stefon Lefors in the 4th. Lefors was one of the most productive QBs in college football last year, but is short at barely 6-0 and lacks the great arm strength; he’s smart, though, is very mobile and has a quick accurate. Meanwhile MLB Adam Seward and DE Jovan Haye in the 5th and 6th rounds, respectively, were excellent second day picks in a solid second day of selections.... Preliminary grade: A-

 

Miami… Despite some tempting offers to trade down, the Dolphins stuck to their guns and selected Auburn RB Ronnie Brown with the second pick overall to begin the Nick Saban era in South Florida. Brown is a big, powerful back with explosive speed who should quickly make Dolphin fans forget Ricky What’s-his-name. And just for good measure, Brown is also a superb pass receiver coming out of the backfield. The Dolphins also hope that they were able to take advantage of a couple of draft day mistakes by the rest of the league when they selected Iowa DE Matt Roth in the middle of the second round and Florida MLB Channing Crowder early in the third. Roth had been considered a lock to go in the opening round, while Crowder was a possibility for the opening round, however, a couple of bad knees dropped him all the way to the 3rd. If healthy, though, Crowder will make a nice partner for Zach Thomas, a very similar style of player, in the middle of the Dolphins’ new 3-4 defensive scheme, while Roth gives the team some additional pass rush options. What the Dolphins really needed big-time, however, was help just about everywhere on offense, but other than Brown didn’t get much, although big 5th round OT Anthony Alabi could fit in at RT sometime down the road..Preliminary grade: B+-

 

Philadelphia: Heading into the draft with 13 picks, the Eagles were expected to do a lot of wheeling dealing, however, for the most part, Philadelphia stuck to the script. In fact, in the only deal of note they made, the Eagles actually gave division-rival Dallas their 4th round pick in a complicated trade that also involved a flip of 2006 picks which allowed the Cowboys to move up and grab highly rated Virginia DE Chris Canty. When they did pick, however, the Eagles generally got good value at positions of need, although they do not necessarily appear to have added any stars. DT Mike Patterson, taken with the second last pick in the opening round pick, for example, has exceptional quickness and a non-stop motor, and will be a nice insurance package if the Eagles can’t patch things up with incumbent starters Corey Simon and Hollis Thomas. However, at only 6-1 and barely 290 pounds, Patterson will have to work hard to avoid being engulfed at the point of attack by opposition offensive lines. The Eagles’ two second round selections - WR Reggie Brown and LB Matt McCoy - were also both solid picks, as was the selection of RB Ryan Moats in the 3rd. Moats, though, may not be big enough to be that every-down feature back the Eagles had reportedly been looking for in case Brian Westbrook bolts for free agency next winter. The Eagles also had a solid day featuring athletic FS Sean Considine and rising developmental OT Todd Herremans taken with their two 4th round picks, while heady LB David Bergeron could be something of a 7th round steal, especially with the 252nd pick… Preliminary grade: B+

 

San Francisco… After dithering for almost three months, the new 49ers’ front office finally got their man, or did they? Indeed, there are reports that even after selecting Utah QB Alex Smith first overall, the 49ers held out hopes of dealing him if another team with a top 5 pick had selected California QB Aaron Rodgers. In the end, though, Smith has the smarts, athleticism and flair to a worthy successor to Montana and Young, but it might take him a while to get there. The 49ers, though, may have eased the way for Smith, especially if he is forced to start right away by taking OG David Baas in the second round and OT Adam Snyder in the 3rd, though, the latter may not have been worth a trade up. The rugged Baas, in particular, could be a fixture on the 49ers offensive front for the next decade. Meanwhile, the 49ers raised some eyebrows when they selected oft-injured Miami RB Frank Gore with the opening pick in the third round. Gore certainly has the talent to star in the league some day, but we wonder if a team with as many holes as the 49ers really needed to gamble that Gore would be the second coming of Willis McGahee; indeed, Gore has had two major surgeries, struggles to keep his weight down, and may not have quite the passion for the game as most other Hurricanes' prospects. In fact, the 49ers did at lot of gambling for a team in a major rebuilding phase, but hope they got a steal in the 7th round in speedy CB Daven Holly, while 5th round DT Ronald Fields should add some bulk to an undersized defensive front… Preliminary grade: B+

 

 

Houston… The Texans made two key moves to upgrade their defensive unit. First, Houston shipped a couple of first day picks to Oakland in order to acquire veteran CB Philip Buchanon in the days leading up to the draft. If he keeps his head in the game – Buchanon was very inconsistent the past couple of years with the Raiders – he should combine with last year’s #1 pick, CB Dunta Robinson, the GBN Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2004, to give the Texans one of the better pair of cover corners in the league. Houston then recouped one of the picks sent to Oakland when they moved down three spots in the opening round, but still got DT Travis Johnson, the top interior defensive lineman in the 2005 draft. Johnson was a pure 4-3 DT at Florida State, but has the quickness and explosion off the ball to be a dominating 3-4 DE, if he keeps his head in the game. Johnson was known to take plays off, but if he goes all out like he did in 2004 for the Seminoles, Johnson will be a nice upgrade for the increasingly creaky Houston defensive front. The Texans, though, may not have gotten a lot more out of their 2005 draft. RB Vernand Morency, taken in the 3rd round, will get a shot to displace Dominick Davis as the Texans’ feature back, but Morency is in many ways a very similar back to Davis in that he’s a tough north-south runner with a burst, but lacks real moves. Morency also has had some knee problems in the past. Meanwhile, WR Jerome Mathis, one of the fastest players in the draft, was a nice 4th round pick, though, he remains something of a developmental prospect... Preliminary grade: B+

 

Tennessee… The Titans’ may take their draft on the road as a “Three’s Company” revival in what might be a hard show to review. Faced with major holes at CB, WR and OT the Titans took three players at each position starting with CB Pacman Jones at #6. Time will tell whether Tennessee made the right choice when they passed on potential star WRs Mike Williams and Troy Williamson to take the loquacious Jones. The Titans then added solid CB/FS Vince Fuller in the 4th and CB Reynaldo Hill in the 7th to complete what they hope will be the nucleus of a solid pass coverage unit. Having passed on the likes of Williams and Williamson, the Titans went with quantity at receiver, selecting three: Courtney Roby and Brandon Jones in the 3rd and Roydell Williams in the 4th; all three have the size and/or speed to be useful players, although none of the three looks like a go-to type receiver. They all have some speed however. The Titans also raised some eyebrows with the selection of OT Michael Roos of Eastern Washington in the second round; Roos has plenty of athletic ability, but he’s a veritable newcomer to the game who needs plenty of work. And just in case Roos doesn’t work out, the Titans also selected steady David,Stewart in the 4th and Daniel Loper in the 5th. Both are big RT prospects. Meanwhile, RB Damien Nash, also in the 5th, was a nice pick, but oft-injured TE Bo Scaife in the 6th was a bit of a head scratcher.... Preliminary grade: B

 

Chicago… The Bears’ got the guy they appear to have from the git-go in Texas RB Cedric Benson, whom they took with the fourth pick overall. Benson, who marches to the beat of his own drummer, isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s a tough, physical runner who will move the chains, especially when the winds are blowing in Chicago. The Bears also added some speed to the receiver corps in WRs Mark Bradley and Airese Currie, taken in the 2nd and 5th rounds respectively. Neither is likely to ever be a go-to type receiver, but should help complement recently signed veteran free agent Mushin Muhammad. Meanwhile, QB Kyle Orton was a more than useful addition in the 4th round to a team with real questions at the position, while FS Chris Harris, from unfashionable Louisiana-Monroe was an interesting pick in the 6th round...Preliminary grade: B

 

St. Louis:… The Rams have been one of the more unpredictable teams on draft day in recent years, however, St. Louis pretty much stuck to the script, grabbing OT Alex Barron when he slipped to them at the 19th spot overall. No question that Barron has the athletic ability to have been a top 10 pick this year, however, he dropped when teams went back to the tapes and saw a player who didn’t always play with an edge. In fact, the Rams, who generally prefer to concentrate on the skill positions at the draft, did a nice job restocking the offensive line, selecting talented, but oft-troubled former Nebraska C Richie Incognito in the 3rd round and OG Claude Terrell in the 4th. Both were solid picks, however, Incognito, who runs in the 4.9 range at over 300 pounds and is skilled enough to have played LT for the Huskers, is something of a gamble because his past off-season transgressions which ultimately got him kicked out of school. And when the Rams weren’t stockpiling offensive linemen they were loading up on defensive backs, taking CB Ronald Bartell in the second and safeties O.J. Atogwe in the 3rd and Jerome Carter in the 4th. All are athletic, however, each was also something of a reach. Howard grad Bartell, for example, is very raw, while Florida State’s Carter has the size and speed of a stud DB, but seldom played that way for the Seminoles. Meanwhile, 6th round WR Dante Ridgeway lacks the speed the Rams like, but is a skilled receiver who could surprise… Preliminary grade: B

 

Cincinnati… No player in the 2005 draft elicited more debate among NFL scouts than Georgia DE David Pollack. Some teams saw a defensive dynamo with an explosive first step and a non-stop motor, while others saw a player without great physical skills - he’s short and has only average speed – who was likely to be engulfed by big offensive tackles around the league. Count Cincinnati among the former teams as the Bengals snapped up Pollack with the 17th pick overall, despite the fact that other top DEs such as Erasmus James and Marcus Spears were still on the board. Again, time will tell. After grabbing Pollack, the Bengals then took another former Georgia Bulldog, MLB Odell Thurman, in the second round, and West Virginia WR Chris Henry in the third. Thurman is a tad undersized at just 6-0, but flies to the ball and hits a ton when he gets there, while Henry is a rangy 6-4 big-play artist. However, unlike Pollack who was one of the 2005 draft’s top character guys, both Thurman and Henry have also had more than their share of off-field troubles and will have to stay focused to impact at the next level. The Bengals then added some heft to their offensive front on the second day, selecting C Eric Ghiaciuc in the 4th round and OT Adam Keift in the 5th, although both may have been slight reach, while WR Tab Perry was a value pick in the 6th. Meanwhile, 7th round DE Jonathan Fanene, who only played one year of major college football, could be a surprise upfront... Preliminary grade: B

 

Atlanta… The Falcons almost snuck up on people during this year’s opening round. WR Roddy White, for example, was not necessarily the player most observers had penciled in for the Falcons when they made their opening round pick, however, on reflection the pick made eminent sense. White was one of the fastest receivers in the draft; he’s also at his most dangerous with the ball in his hands and should give Michael Vick and the Atlanta offense another weapon, though, he still needs some seasoning at the position. Meanwhile, DT Jonathan Babineaux, the Falcons’ second round pick, isn’t very big – he’s under 290 pounds – but he is very quick with a non-stop motor who should nicely complement some of bigger, slower current Atlanta DTs. And more than one head nodded in approval when the Falcons selected OLB Jordan Beck, a small school sleeper from Cal-Poly in the 3rd. Beck isn’t yet a household name, but has nice size, and even nicer sub-4.5 speed, although, he too will need some development time. Those same approving nods, though, turned to quizzical head scratches in the 4th round when the Falcons selected Florida State DE Chauncey Davis, two full rounds ahead of his more highly rated former Seminoles’ teammate Eric Moore. Impact, 5th round OLB Michael Boley and underrated DT Darrell Shropshire in the 7th round, though, were solid selections on the defensive side of the ball. .Meanwhile, OT Frank Omiyale was a decent developmental pick in the 5th round, but is another new Falcon who may take some time to get up to speed, while 6th round RB DeAndra Cobb could help on kickoff returns... Preliminary grade: B

 

New York Giants… With only four picks in this year’s draft thanks to last April’s deal to acquire QB Eli Manning, the Giants weren’t expecting much help from their 2005 draft, however, the team has to quietly pleased with the haul it did accumulate. Picking 43rd overall, the Giants chose LSU CB Corey Webster over Notre Dame DE Justin Tuck, but got the latter too when he was still on the board when they made their 3rd round selection. Both Webster and Tuck played like 1st rounders in 2003 – Webster had 7 interceptions for the second straight year, while Tuck piled up 13.5 sacks – but injuries slowed their 2004 seasons, as well as their ultimate draft grades. If healthy, though, both could be steals. The Giants also hope they put the ‘thunder’ back in the ‘thunder and lightning’ when they selected 265-pound Southern Illinois RB Brandon Jacobs in the 4th round to pair with incumbent starter Tiki Barber, while there only other pick, Eric Moore, another DE, seemed a tad redundant in the 6t round… Preliminary grade: B

 

New York Jets: The Jets may not have gotten great value when they sent their #1 pick to Oakland, however, the AFC New Yorkers may have ended up with a 1st round quality player just the same. Indeed, the Jets were able to select CB Justin Miller, who may very well have been the Jets’ selection with their original 1st round pick if he hadn’t gotten himself into a scrape with police in the days leading up to the draft, with the second of their two second round picks. And while we don’t normally subscribe to the notion of drafting kickers, especially early in the proceedings, the Jets’ selection of Ohio State PK Mike Nugent with the second round pick acquired in the deal with the Raiders, in the process beating Minnesota to the former Buckeye kicker, may ultimately be judged as one of the draft’s more astute moves. Meanwhile, DT Sione Pouha and FS Kerry Rhodes, the Jets 3rd round and 4th round picks, respectively, may have both been reaches. Pouha is a huge presence who will take up a lot of space lined up next to 2003 first rounder Dewayne Robinson, but is a little stiff and doesn’t make many plays upfield, while Rhodes has a nose for the ball, but isn’t very physical; indeed, why the Jets traded up several spots to select the former Louisville defender was a bit of a poser. On the other hand, the Jets’ late round picks – SS Andre Maddox in 5th, and RB Cedric Houston and TE Joel Dreesen in the 6th, were solid value picks… Preliminary grade: B-

 

Green Bay… And question whether the Packers should use their #1 pick on a future replacement for ageing Brett Favre, or to reload on defense, went out the window when California junior QB Aaron Rodgers dropped all the way to the 24th spot. Having stolen the heir apparent at QB, the Packers appeared to be primed to load up on some immediate help on defense for Favre’s last few kicks at the can starting with their pair of second round picks. If that was the goal, then another small school DB (Nick Collins) and a WR (Terrance Murphy) both likely missed the mark, although the speedy Murphy was at least a value pick at that point. The Packers, though, did appear to get some help on defense with the addition of underrated FS Marviel Underwood, who can run, and hybrid DE/OLB Brady Poppinga, in the 4th; it’s not clear, though, where the latter fits in the Packers’ 4-3 scheme. The rest of the Packers’ draft had a hit and miss quality with WR Craig Bragg a nice 6th round pick, although a tad redundant given the earlier selection of Murphy for an already deep receiver unit, while CB Micheal Hawkins, who has reported 4.3 speed, but hasn’t played much the past couple of years, a boom or bust type in the 5th round. ..Preliminary grade: B-

 

Washington… The Redskins started out strong when they selected Auburn CB Carlos Rogers with the 9th pick overall, but the rest of the Washington draft appeared to go south in a hurry. QB Jason Campbell could eventually turn out to be a fine pro, but the Redskins appear to need to settle on someone at the spot and fix other holes rather than further muddying the QB waters. Not to mention they paid a huge price to get the 25th pick to in order to select get Campbell. And two FBs among four second day picks didn’t make sense either, although both Manual White and Nehemiah Broughton can also work at RB. Meanwhile, vet LB Robert McCune is a nice story with a chiselled body, but he’s already 26 and lacks prototype instincts… Preliminary grade: B-

 

Denver… The usually stoic Denver organization has been all over the place this off-season, starting with the odd effort to rebuild its defensive front this winter by importing the heart and soul of Cleveland’s 32nd rated defensive line. And the Broncos were back at it this past weekend when they made the most controversial selection of the day – and maybe of the 2000s – selecting enigmatic former Ohio State RB Maurice Clarett with the final pick of the first day of the draft. As perhaps the 2005 draft’s biggest wild card – in a draft full of wild cards - who knows whether Clarett would have even been taken somewhere on the second day, given all his past troubles, not to mention borderline awful workouts this winter, although its likely he would have dropped a ways if the Broncos hadn’t selected him. However, the Broncos obviously went back to the tapes of Clarett’s freshman year when he almost single-handedly led the Buckeyes to the national title, rushing for 1,200 yards in just 9 games against stacked defenses. And what the Broncos would have seen is a back who won’t break the big play – he also likely won’t contribute much as a receiver – but a 230-pounder who ran with power inside with the vision and quickness to bounce it outside. The question regarding Clarett is how much the past two years have taken out of him and whether he still wants to pay the price to be a pro RB; if he does the Broncos could have themselves something of a coup. The rest of the Broncos’ draft was devoted pretty much to upgrading the team speed at CB as they selected Darrent Williams in the second round and Karl Paymah and Domonique Foxworth in the 3rd. All three can run and could contribute early. Meanwhile, C Chris Myers, who can also play OG, is a Broncos’ type offensive lineman and was a nice pickup in the 6th round. And, of course, by trading away their #1 pick this year for Washington’s top pick next year, the Broncos put themselves in a position to be a real player at the potentially-loaded 2006 draft… Preliminary grade: B-

 

Kansas City… The Chiefs lucked out when former Texas LB Derrick Johnson was still available when Kansas City went on the clock with the 15th pick overall. Some teams had backed off Johnson because he isn’t always that strong at the point of attack, however, it says here he was still one of, if not the best defensive player in the 2005 draft, with that rare ability for a LB to play like a safety in coverage. The beleaguered Chiefs’ defense should also get a huge boost with the addition of veteran CB Patrick Surtain who was acquired from Miami in a late pre-draft trade. For the Chiefs to really get back into contention, though, the defense likely needed more, in fact, a lot more from this year’s draft, but didn’t get much. The Chiefs had only one other first-day pick – they sent their second rounder to Miami for Surtain - and used it to select a punter (Dustin Colquitt), while their 4th rounder went for speedy, but brittle WR Cro Thorpe. A pair of 5th rounders, MLB Boomer Grigsby and CB Alphonso Hodge, another speedster who lacks top instincts, were value picks, but its likely a case of too little, too late for one of the league’s worst units. Ironically, the Chiefs also took Will Svitek, a big, athletic DE in the 6th round, but will convert him to OT… Preliminary grade: C+

 

Buffalo… Bills’ officials were feeling very good about themselves this weekend with just about everyone commenting that if J.P. Losman, whom Buffalo gave away their top pick in the 2005 in order to acquire last April, were in this year’s draft he’d be the #1 player selected. Maybe the Bills were feeling a little too good about themselves, because they didn’t appear to make much out of the picks they did have this year. Indeed, Buffalo, which needed help big time on both the offensive and defensive lines, settled on a smallish WR (Roscoe Parrish), who likely won’t be more than the Bills’ #3 receiver for quite some time, with their second round pick, while TE Kevin Everett fills a need with the Bills’ other top TEs all injured, but may have been a reach in the third round. The Bills at least were able to address the offensive line on the second day, selecting C Duke Preston in the 4th round and versatile OG Justin Geisinger in the 6th, although the former may also have been a reach at that point. Meanwhile, 5th round CB Eric King and 7th round RB Lionel Gates could be useful reserves… Preliminary grade: C+

 

Indianapolis… The Colts, who seemed to go out of their way to select quick, but undersized players the past few drafts, appeared to have finally noticed that the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC runs through New England and Pittsburgh, two big, physical football teams, when they selected big, physical CBs Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Haydon with their first and second round picks, respectively. They’ll both nicely complement the Colts’ safety smurf patrol, though, Haydon, who may have been a bit of a reach that early, could take some time to develop. The rest of the weekend, however, the Colts got back to ‘their’ board, which, to say the least, is unique to the NFL. The selection of undersized Kentucky DE Vinnie Burns with their 3rd round pick, for example, may have been the first day’s oddest pick. Burns does have a non-stop motor, and a neat nick-name (‘Sweet pea’), but at barely over 6-0 he’s short, has only average speed (4.85-4.90), and wasn’t overly productive in college posting just 4.5 career sacks. Where Burns will fit in with the Colts, except perhaps as another situational pass rusher, something they already have in numbers, is a mystery, but it’s hard to envision him as the complimentary DE opposite Dwight Freeeny the Colts were looking for heading into the draft. Indeed, there were hints out of the Colts’ camp that they actually might want Burns to put on 25-30 pounds and become a Warren Sapp type DT. Whatever, Burns appears to have been the opening rounds biggest reach. And the Colts stayed small pretty much throughout the second day, topping it off with the selection of 5-7 RB Anthony Davis, who could be a steal, if he can stay healthy, in the 7th round. The Colts also added a couple of athletic interior offensive linemen in OG/C Dylan Gandy and C Rob Hunt in the 4th and 5th rounds, but neither is much over 300 pounds, while 4th round FS Matt Giordano was the smallest safety selected this weekend, although he may actually feel like a giant lined up with other Colts’ safeties like Bob Sanders and Mike Doss... Preliminary grade: C

 

New England: Hard to argue with a team that has won three of four Super Bowls, however, the 2005 draft probably won’t go down as one of the Patriots’ shining moments in recent years. OG Logan Mankins, the team’s #1 pick, taken with the final pick in the opening round, is very much the Patriots’ type a player: a rugged athlete who can play anywhere along the offensive line. Same story for OG Nick Kaczur, the Patriots’ 3rd round pick, who like Mankins played LT in college, but projects to OG at the next level. However, both may have gone close to a full round early. And it was the same story again for 3rd round CB Ellis Hobbs, who is very quick, but smallish. On the other hand, junior FS James Sanders lacks special speed, but is a hitter with good instincts, who was a value pick in the 4th, as was OLB Ryan Claridge in the 5th. Meanwhile, USC QB Matt Cassell was the kind of pick two-time defending Super Bowl champs can make in the 6th round; he was a career backup who played little and likely would have been available in free agency. The Patriots should be back on top on draft next year, after they acquired three mid-round picks at the 2006 draft… Preliminary grade: C

 

Seattle: The Seahawks may have filled some immediate holes with their 2005 draft, but likely fell far short of separating themselves from the rest of the pack in the NFC West. C Chris Spencer, taken with the 26th pick overall, for example, should ultimately replace aging 35-year-old incumbent starter Robby Tobeck, perhaps even sooner rather than later. However, while Spencer was a rising star in this year’s draft class, he appeared to be a reach at that point, particularly given that this was a deep year for centers and the Seahawks would have had other options at the position. Same story in the second round where MLB Lofa Tatupu was a reach, particularly with the likes of DE Matt Roth and MLB Odell Thurman still on the board; that the Seahawks actually traded up to get Tatupu was even more puzzling. And it was more of the same in the third where QB David Greene isn’t likely to play for a long time. LB Leroy Hill, the Seahawks’ other 3rd round pick, though, was a nice late first-day pickup and should contribute on defense as may DE Jeb Huckeba and LB Cornelius Wortham, taken in the 5th and 7th rounds respectively. Meanwhile, OTs Ray Willis, selected in the 4th round, Doug Nienhuis, runner-up to the “Mr. Irrelevant” award, were value picks who bring some young legs, not to mention bulk, to the offensive line… Preliminary grade: C-

 

www.gbnreport.com

[Seahawks21]

The Seahawks are DEAD LAST!!! While I agree that this could be the worst draft of all the teams, it also possibly has the upside of being one of the better. If this Spencer C comes in and shows flashes that he's gonna be a good player, and Tatupu shows some of why the Hawks traded up to get him, and David Greene has to fill in for a game or two late and plays well, this draft could be very, very good.

[spain]

The Seahawks are DEAD LAST!!!  While I agree that this could be the worst draft of all the teams, it also possibly has the upside of being one of the better.  If this Spencer C comes in and shows flashes that he's gonna be a good player, and Tatupu shows some of why the Hawks traded up to get him, and David Greene has to fill in for a game or two late and plays well, this draft could be very, very good.

 

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Monkeys might fly out of Mike Holmgrens butt too...

Edited May 1, 2005 by spain

[Big John]

I am seeing some generous grades out there, and they apparently don't want to rile up fans by giving no grade lower than a C-.

[Chargerz]

I am seeing some generous grades out there, and they apparently don't want to rile up fans by giving no grade lower than a C-.

 

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Yeah, what kind of grading scale is THAT. They can't ALL be geniuses!!!

[Seahawks21]

Yeah, what kind of grading scale is THAT. They can't ALL be geniuses!!!

 

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when you think about it, it isn't that hard to have a good draft. Fill needs or take the best player available, both of which would be considered good picks. However, when you fail to fill glaring needs, continually find yourself reaching, and draft 0 players that can immediately help, ala the Seattle Seahawks... you do deserve a grade a lot lower than a C-.

[Wolv]

They also say Carnell Williams has potential to be the next Barry Sanders

 

gbnreport gets an 'F'

[Chargerz]

Yeah, what kind of grading scale is THAT. They can't ALL be geniuses!!!

 

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when you think about it, it isn't that hard to have a good draft.  Fill needs or take the best player available, both of which would be considered good picks.  However, when you fail to fill glaring needs, continually find yourself reaching, and draft 0 players that can immediately help, ala the Seattle Seahawks... you do deserve a grade a lot lower than a C-.

 

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EXACTLY my point!!