Baltimore Ravens:

Baltimore once again showed why they are one of the top teams in the league each year. They had another brilliant draft, trading out of the first round and recouping the picks they lost in their trade for Anquan Boldin. In the 2nd round the Ravens took a pair of very talented players, both of whom are perfect fits for Baltimore. OLB Sergio Kindle is a tenacious pass rusher and benefits by slipping some to the Ravens. Now instead of being one of the top guys on a bad team, Kindle can have the time to develop into a great player. He should find plenty of freedom playing along with all the starts the Ravens have on D. Baltimore’s second 2nd round pick, will do a great job in opening up holes for Kindle and the rest of the linebackers. Nose tackle Terrence Cody is a perfect fit in Baltimore. They have the depth that he won’t have to be an every down player, also his presence next to Ngata along the front line should give the Ravens a devastating run defense. After filling their defensive needs, the Ravens loaded up on pass catchers drafting tight ends in the 3rd and 4th rounds (thanks to the Tim Tebow deal) and a receiver in the 5th round. Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson are good complimentary tight ends. Dickson is the stronger, faster and more athletic one. While Pitta has great hands and instincts. Both should be immediate contributors, giving Joe Flacco one of the best arsenals in the league. Fifth round pick David Reed, was one of my favorite players in this draft and I expect him to emerge as the successor to Derrick Mason. The Ravens also added a solid DT/DE in Arthur Jones in the 5th round. He will move to end in the 3-4, but has a lot of potential. While the Ravens didn’t draft one of their bigger needs (cornerback), they added another fantastic class. When you factor in Boldin to this mix, Baltimore gets a very strong Grade A+.

Cincinnati Bengals:

The Bengals did a great job of filling their two biggest needs going into this draft, defense and pass catchers. The Bengals landed the top tight end in this draft with their first round selection of Jermaine Gresham. Gresham should give the Bengals passing game the jolt they needed last season. He has all the talent and skill to develop into an elite tight end in the NFL. In the 3rd round the Bengals grabbed Jordan Shipley who should help on special teams and as a slot receiver. He might never be a game breaker, but Shipley filled a big need for Cincinnati. Late in the draft the Bengals got great value by adding receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who was projected to go earlier in the draft. He has excellent size and speed and could develop into a starter. On defense the Bengals added four good prospects, who all have starting potential. 2nd rounder DE Carlos Dunlap, could develop into a top notch defensive end if he ever gets his mental game figured out. Cornerback Brandon Ghee was excellent value for the Bengals in the 3rd round, as were DT Geno Atkins and LB Roderick Muckelroy in the 4th round. All three of whom should be solid rotational players as rookies. The Bengals didn’t address their needs at safety, but filled every other position. While a lot of this draft is based on potential, I think the Bengals made some excellent selections. Grade B+

Cleveland Browns:

The Browns had a mixed bag with this draft. They traded away some picks to acquire Sheldon Brown and Chris Gocong and got some nice prospects, but they didn’t fill all of their needs. Joe Haden I thought was a interesting pick, since they had just acquired Sheldon Brown. Even if they do move Brown to safety, the Browns missed out on a chance to trade up for Eric Berry, who would have filled a major need for Cleveland. Considering the fact that the Browns used both their 2nd round pick and 5th round pick on safeties, it is safe to say Cleveland still was looking to upgrade the position. While I think Ward is a solid prospect and Asante offered them nice value in the 5th round, them combined don’t equal Berry, whom I think was the best player in this entire draft. For me, Ward was a bit of an overdraft and it would have made more sense to either trade back to the middle of the round or just outright select Jimmy Clausen with that pick. While they did eventually get their quarterback in the 3rd round, Clausen I feel will be ready sooner and has more upside. Trading up for Hardesty in the 2nd round was a bit of a surprise as well. While I like him as a player, they gave up a good bit to get him (picks that would have made more sense, plus others towards a deal for Berry). I did like both WR Carlton Mitchell and DE Clifton Geathers in the 6th round. I feel both have big upsides and should find roles on the Browns. Overall it seemed like a strange draft for Cleveland, where they addressed the majority of their needs but seemingly at the wrong times with the wrong players. There grade will remain high because of the addition of Brown and the talent they acquired, but I don’t know if this draft can put them back into contention. Grade B-

Pittsburgh Steelers:

The Steelers had a very good all-around draft, with the only question mark coming at the lack of drafting a corner early (they did trade for Bryant McFadden, so that did help and is weighted in this grade). Overall I loved their picks of Pouncey and Scott along the offensive line. Both players have nice upside and were good values for where they were drafted. Pouncey should start from day one in Pittsburgh and help solidify that unit. The Steelers addressed their skilled positions well, by adding a pair of receivers and a power back. WR Emmanuel Sanders in the 3rd round, offers good value and could work his way into the rotation. 6th rounder Antonio Brown, I thought was pretty underrated and should develop into a solid player, as well as helping early on in the return game. At running back the Steelers added Jonathan Dwyer, a bruising back out of Georgia Tech. A Dwyer-Mendenhall backfield should be very formidable, and Dwyer was excellent value in the 6th round. On defense the Steelers drafted 3 linebackers, one defensive end, and a corner. Most of those were depth picks but I believe the two rush linebackers they added should give them value. I’m actually higher on 4th rounder Thaddeus Gibson than 2nd rounder Jason Worilds. In fact I think Pittsburgh missed a golden opportunity with their Worilds pick. There were a number of trades at the end of that 2nd round, and if Pittsburgh had moved back they could have gotten additional picks, but also would have been able to grab one of the corners before they were all drafted at the top of Round 3. To me Worilds is more of a 3rd or 4th round prospect, and while he might fit in Pittsburgh I think he could be a bust as well. Gibson was excellent value for the 4th round, and should well continue the tradition of Pittsburgh sack masters at some point in his career. Overall I really liked what the Steelers did, but would have probably rather seen them trade back to the end of the 2nd round and grab a corner over Worilds. Other than that though I don’t have any real complaints or issues about this draft. Grade A-

AFC East:

Buffalo Bills:

I think the Bills did a lot of good things to help their defense. Both their 2nd round pick Torell Troup (NT) and 3rd round pick Alex Carrington (DE) should immeadiately help their front 3 as they transition to a 3-4 defense. The Bills added a couple of pass rushers in 6 round, and both Arthur Moats and Danny Batten have a chance to be effective starters. Troup might have been a bit of an overdraft, but nose tackle was a significant need. The real problem with the Bills draft is what they did on offense, or what they didn’t do. With the 9th overall pick the Bills selected C.J. Spiller, the dynamic running, receiving, returning back out of Clemson. Spiller does everything, except the two things the Bills need the most, throwing the ball and blocking for those who do. And after Fred Jackson’s performance last season, Spiller doesn’t figure to get a ton of carries/catches. The 9th overall selection was a lot to spend on a third down back/return man. While the Bills added O-linemen Ed Wang and Kyle Calloway later, and got decent value where they selected them, that isn’t enough to address one of the worst offensive lines in football. Grabbing QB Levi Brown late gives you a little upside, but the Bills consistently passed on high rated quarterback prospects, guys who do actually project to be starters. For me the Bills didn’t fill needs or get enough high upside players. Grade D+

Miami Dolphins:

The Dolphins didn’t have a sexy draft, with the exception of the trade for Brandon Marshall, who does very much weigh into this grade (well 50-60% of Marshall, since they gave up a pick next year). With Marshall in the fold, Miami was able to trade back in the 1st round, add some more picks, and still get the guy they wanted DE Jared Odrick. Odrick is a perfect fit for the 3-4 end position and should generate a decent pass rush from that slot. Miami then grabbed a couple of solid linebackers, in 2nd rounder OLB Koa Misi and 4th rounder A.J. Edds, both have starting upside and should help immediately on special teams. Misi, especially should develop into an excellent starter and pass rusher. In between the two LB’s the Dolphins selected their lone offensive player (not counting Marshall) in guard John Jerry. Jerry is a very solid prospect, who helps give the Dolphins one of the deepest offensive lines in the league. There is a ton of potential with this unit’s backups, which will go a long way in helping the offense move the ball. Miami did pick up Reshad Jones in the 5th round. He is a bit raw as a safety, but has the talent and athleticism to develop into a starter at either safety spot. Grade B+

New England Patriots:

The Patriots went up and down this draft at will, which of course surprised no one since they do it every year. What’s even better is they even were able to start setting the table for next season, by trading a 3rd round pick for a 2nd rounder next season. Even with giving up a 3rd rounder, the Patriots still ended up with 12 draft picks including 5 in the top 3 rounds. The Patriots bolstered their defense early by adding CB Devin McCourty in the 1st round, OLB Jermaine Cunningham and ILB Brandon Spikes in the 2nd round. All three players should find an immediate home in New England, and while none might be a full-time starter in year one, they will all contribute. On offense the Patriots did a great job finding weapons for Tom Brady, by adding a pair of pass catching tight ends (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez) and a very promising receiver (Taylor Price). Late in the draft New England picked depth picks across the offensive and defensive lines, in addition to a backup quarterback Zac Robinson. Overall this was a very solid and deep draft for the Patriots, and the only complaint might be that they didn’t address the offensive or defensive lines earlier, since they are razor thin at both positions. Grade B+

New York Jets:

The Jets only ended up with 4 picks but they made the most out of them. It is even more impressive considering they were able to trade for Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes using draft picks, giving Mark Sanchez all the weapons he needs to be successful. CB Kyle Wilson was an absolute steal at the bottom of the first round, and gives New York the best corners in the league. With an improved pass rush, the Jets defense should go from dominate to unstoppable. Adding Vlad Ducasse and Joe McKnight, both should be solid players and Ducasse should be a full time starter from day one. The only thing I don’t like about the Jets draft is that Ducasse and McKnight both only replace holes that the Jets created over the weekend, and aren’t a huge upgrade. While they are younger and cheaper than the players they are replacing, I’m not sure if they will be better this next season, which is troubling since the Jets are built to win the Super Bowl. I was shocked with how little they got in return for Leon Washington, one of the better 3rd down backs in the league. Overall I liked the Jets draft and I think they got solid value, but I don’t love the corresponding moves New York made. Grade B

Check back throughout the day as the rest of the divisions are posted!

1. They ended up with only 6 players, and only one of which was in the top 100 picks.

2. I don’t buy into this whole thing where I should be happy that we gave up our 2nd round pick for McNabb, and that he is the best 2nd round value in the draft. Yeah maybe if this was 5 years ago. For one thing we also gave up a pick next year, so McNabb will be our ‘third round pick’ then as well. Also that is only taking in consideration what McNabb does this year, since that is all we traded for, because even if we sign him to an extension, we would have had the chance to sign him as a free agent next year if we really wanted him. McNabb this year might be better then most of these 2nd round picks (I would not bet on all of them), but next year, and going forward I don’t know if we can make the same claim. Also, remember the 37th overall pick has more value than just the players that were available there. Given the Skins needs and the depth of this draft, they could have traded down (even multiple times) and gotten extra picks. If they traded just to the middle of the round they could have gotten Jimmy Clausen, who apparently the Skins thought well enough that they considered him with the 4th overall pick, plus the additional draft picks. If they traded even further back to the end of the 2nd round, they could have gotten quality offensive linemen like Ducasse or Charles Brown. Either would have filled a huge need.

3. They got nothing in return for Jason Campbell. I know it shouldn’t be evaluated with this draft, because the Campbell deal didn’t involve any picks in this draft, but that is exactly why I dislike it. How do you not get picks for 2 years, for an above average starter? Campbell is a steal for Oakland, especially since he agreed to add another year on his contract (where is that with Donovan???).

4. They didn’t trade any of their other impending unrestricted free agents (McIntosh or Rogers). This is just awful, these guys maybe weren’t going to net 1st or 2nd rounders, but they should have been able to get a solid return (though probably needed to make the trade ahead of time). Now Washington will lose both of these players next year for nothing (unless some other trade during the season is worked out, but I wouldn’t hold my breath). Even if the Skins do make the playoffs this season I don’t think it will be because of McIntosh and Rogers. Washington would have been well served to increase their depth by moving these two players.

5. They kept Fred Davis. I know Davis isn’t really on the trade block, but he should have been. Whether you could have worked out a trade for Baltimore’s Jared Gaither or just a mid-2nd rounder it would have been worth it. I know people may assert I’m overvaluing Davis, but he showed enough to be a starting TE in this league. Unfortunately the Skins already have one in Cooley. It doesn’t make sense to me that the Skins have two starting quality TE’s, but only one starting quality OT (Trent Williams). Whether you got Gaither in return or picks, the Skins could have filled needs by sacrificing their lone luxury.

6. Why are we drafting Perry Riley? Riley is a solid player, but he doesn’t seem spectacular and not ever really considered to be a top prospect. Not bad, but not great isn’t what I’m looking for with our 2nd overall pick in the 4 round. Especially since so many guys had fallen in the draft. Grabbing a player with upside at a need, like Bruce Campbell would have made sense. Or even trading back in the round and picking up an extra selection or 2.

7. Why aren’t we signing better named undrafted free agents? The Skins only had 6 picks, but as of now don’t have a very impressive undrafted free agent class. Sure these guys are all shots in the dark. But given the Skins need adding some DB’s, more RB’s and a young quarterback (Jevan Snead, Bill Stull) would have been like having a couple extra 7th round picks. I don’t know what the deal is, but I can’t imagine the Skins would be turned down because of a lack of opportunity.

All-in-all I was very disappointed that they had so few picks to start, and they weren’t really able to add that many more. This is a pretty old team, with a lot of current holes, Washington needed some reinforcements but was unable to really help any area but the offensive line (and it still isn’t complete). Overall I give them a Grade of D+ and that includes all the players that were acquired with their picks.

(QB) Jason Campbell traded to the Oakland Raiders:

The Washington Redskins traded Jason Campbell to the Oakland Raiders for a fourth round pick in 2012. It looks like Campbell will have a good shot at starting for the Raiders considering he will be competing against one of the worst quarterbacks in the league in JaMarcus Russell.

Seattle Seahawks trade for (RB) LenDale White:

Pete Carroll brought in a former USC Trojan in running back LenDale White, and he gave up a fourth and sixth round pick to get him. The Seahawks also acquired defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson in the deal.

It is interesting to consider the value of White and Vickerson compared to Jason Campbell – a starting quarterback. White, a lower-tier starting running back, and Vickerson, a player that may not even make the final roster, equal greater value than Campbell, an average to slightly below average starting quarterback. Not to mention, Campbell was traded for a future fourth rounder. When comparing these deals, the value associated with each player does not add up.

Oakland Raiders select (WR) Jacoby Ford (108)

This is a hilariously typical pick for the Oakland Raiders. It seems like every year the Raiders front office (Al Davis) falls in love with some track star that should not be in the NFL. Darrius Heyward-Bey was taken seventh overall by the Raiders a year ago, and he contributed nine total catches this past season. They found this year’s version of Heywar-Bey in the sixth round – expect similar production. Picks such as these have rendered the Oakland Raiders irrelevant for the last seven years.

New York Jets select (RB) Joe McKnight (112):

This is a surprising pick. The Jets signed LaDanian Tomlinson this past off-season to couple with upstart Shonn Greene. McKnight will be joining an already crowded backfield, and he does not exactly add a new dimension to the offense. McKnight has considerable upside as a late round pick, but I did not see him going to the Jets.

Chicago Bears select (QB) Dan LeFevour (Pick 181) and Carolina Panthers select Tony Pike (204):

Both of these late round picks were intriguing quarterback selections. Chicago took LeFevour to ostensibly add depth behind Jay Cutler, and Carolina selected Pike as perhaps a backup plan behind Jimmy Clausen and Matt Moore. I think LeFevour will end up being the better pro – he played around less talent, he is a better overall athlete, and he was a starter since his freshman year at Central Michigan.

Pittsburgh Steelers select (RB) Jonathan Dwyer (188):

This is what the Pittsburgh Steelers do: they are very conservative in free agency and they stockpile talent come draft day. Dwyer is another example of a solid late-round draft selection, and he adds to what will be a very solid draft class for the Steelers.

Tennessee Titans select (S) Myron Rolle (207):

Rolle has to be one of the most unique people in the draft. He is a former Rhode’s Scholar, and he has been out of football over the past year. There are plenty of question marks as to his potential as a safety in the NFL, but he was a third-team All-American as a junior. Rolle is also dedicated to becoming a neurologist, which has led some front offices to question his dedication to football.

Most of the big names have already been called in the 2010 NFL Draft, but there are still a number of solid player available that could immediately contribute to an NFL team. Below are some of the players that could have easily been selected in an earlier round and could be major surprises in the NFL.

One of the first names that comes to mind would be Everson Griffen, a defensive end from Southern Cal. Griffen, on many boards, was seen as a first round pick. Apparently the New England Patriots nearly selected him at no. 89 before they traded away their pick to the Carolina Panthers. It would not be a surprise to hear that Everson Griffen is the first name called in the fourth round.

Another player that could be a solid immediate contributor is Bruce Campbell (OL) from the University of Maryland. Campbell could have easily gone in the third round, and some had him projected as a first rounder, but his inexperience has held back his superb draft workouts. I strongly expect the Washington Redskins to take a long, hard look at Campbell with the fourth pick of the round.

Ricky Sapp (OLB) from Clemson is another name that has fallen quite a long way. Sapp, just days ago, was considered an early second round pick, but he is still available in the fourth round. Prior to the draft, Sapp was expected to be at least a third rounder, so he should be a steal for any team picking in the fourth round. Expect him to go early.

Al Woods (DT) from Louisiana State could have also gone a round or two earlier. He had excellent pre-draft workouts, and he recently met with the New Orleans Saints before the draft. The Saints could make a move to acquire him, but it seems unlikely considering that they have the second to last pick in the round. It will be interesting to see where Woods ends up.

Finally, Joe McKnight looks like a major wild card in the fourth round. It is hard to project where he will end up, but he could have more upside than just about anyone this year. McKnight has been surrounded by controversy since he was recruited to Southern Cal, and that recruiting process was saturated with rumors of him receiving monetary benefits from agents and former players. That past baggage and the fact that he is substantially undersized for an NFL running back has strongly weakened his draft stock. McKnight was one of the most heralded athletes in the country coming out of high school, though, and he showed flashes of excellence during his short stay at USC, so McKnight could end up as one of the biggest surprises of the 2010 Draft.

By Guest Blogger Geoff Newolet:

Below are some of the more interesting picks of the second and third round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Second Round Recap:

(4) Kansas City Chiefs select Dexter McCluster (RB) Ole Miss:

This is an interesting pick considering that Jamaal Charles emerged last season as a legitimate starter at running back for the Chiefs – and let’s not forget the signing of Thomas Jones this past off season. It will be interesting to see how McCluster fits in as he will most likely be the third option in the backfield. He could end up playing a Percy Harvin type role as a dynamic threat rushing and receiving. He could also be used returning kicks. Ultimately, it looks like McCluster will add another dimension to the offense, and it looks like the Chief’s offense is shaping up to be a potentially solid unit.

(11) Baltimore Ravens select Sergio Kindle (OLB) Texas:

This is an odd pick for a multitude of reasons: the Ravens had much bigger needs at TE and CB, and Kindle is a huge gamble. Kindle has had multiple knee operations, and questions have been raised about his character. This looks like a dicey pick for the Ravens, and it screams boom or bust.

(16) Carolina Panthers select Jimmy Clausen (QB) Notre Dame:

This looks like a good pick for the Panthers. There are a number of different opinions of Clausen, his abilities, and his ego, but in terms of sheer value, it looks like the Panthers selected a player that was pegged to go much earlier. They also had an obvious need at quarterback with essentially no one on the roster that is extensively NFL tested. I could definitely see Clausen winning the starting job in camp unless John Fox decides that he should sit and learn for a season.

(19) Minnesota Vikings select Toby Gerhart (RB) Stanford:

This was a pretty surprising pick considering who Gerhart will be playing behind – Adrian Peterson. Yes, the Vikings have lost Chester Taylor to the Chicago Bears this off-season, but the Vikings gave away their third rounder to move eleven spots to select a third down back. More importantly, running back simply was not a position of serious need. Quarterback and offensive lineman are still position yet to be addressed, which makes this pick an oddity.

Third Round Recap:

(7) Green Bay Packers selects Morgan Burnett (S) Georgia Tech:

This is an interesting pick mainly because of how far Morgan Burnett has fallen. For much of the mock draft process he was slated as a mid to late first round pick. He was also a multi-year All-American for Georgia Tech. He reminds me a bit of Mike Doss of a few years back. Doss was arguably the best safety in the nation for the Ohio State Buckeyes for multiple seasons, but he fell to the second round of the draft. He ended up playing six sub-par seasons before being cut by the Cincinnati Bengals. It seems like Burnett is in a similar situation where his collegiate success is what is driving his draft selection, but his draft workouts would lead one to believe that his is not NFL material.

(20) Cincinnati Bengals select Jordan Shipley (WR) Texas:

Jordan Shipley, also a huge collegiate success, is in my opinion one of the biggest sleepers in the draft. He lacks game breaking speed, but he’s a big body and he finds a way to get open. He reminds me of Marquis Colston in that he does not have the best measurables but he has a great sense of the game, and he finds a way to be successful.

(21) Cleveland Browns select Colt McCoy (QB) Texas:

This was not a huge surprise at this point in the draft. McCoy was seen as a third rounder from the beginning, and the Browns have a glaring need at quarterback. At this point we can only hope the McCoy isn’t thrown to the wolves too soon in his career. A year or two on the bench would do a lot of good.

(25) Carolina Panthers select Armanti Edwards (WR) Appalachian State:

This has been a surprising draft for the Panthers, and Armanti Edwards is probably a bigger surprise selection than Clausen or Brandon LaFell. Edwards was a dual-threat quarterback for D-IAA Appalachain State, and he is projected as a wide receiver in the NFL. This is a risky pick, and most scouts, coaches and pundits would agree that Edwards was grossly over drafted. I would go as far as to say that Edwards has been the most over drafted second only to Tim Tebow at this point. There simply is very little indication that Edwards will be able to make the transition from quarterback to wide receiver – or from Division-IAA to the NFL. I’m not sure anyone other than the Panthers had Edwards slated as a third round pick.

Other notes:

- Chris Cook (UVA) was selected two spots out of the first round. He was nearly one of five other University of Virginia players to be selected in the first round of the draft during the Al Groh Era. Of those five, four were top-fifteen picks, and UVA has also had a number of other players selected in the first day of the draft (Matt Schaub, Elton Brown, Clint Sintim, etc). The shocking part about these figures is that Al Groh averaged 6.5 wins per season over 9 years while continually pumping out premium NFL talent. I’m not sure if any other programs can compete with this.

- The Oakland Raiders selected Jared Veldheer (OL) from Hillsdale College in the third round. Veldheer became the first player selected from Hillsdale College in 30 years – Nate Johnson was selected in 1980.

1. Jimmy Clausen QB

2. Sergio Kindle OLB/DE

3. Everson Griffin DE

4. Bruce Campbell OT

5. Taylor Mays SS

6. Charles Brown OT

7. Brian Price DT

8. Carlos Dunlap DE

9. Roger Saffold OT

1o. Toby Gerhart RB

11. Nate Allen FS

12. Chris Cook CB/FS

13. Perrish Cox CB

14. Darryl Washington OLB

15. Sean Lee MLB

16. Valdimir Ducasse G

17. Golden Tate WR

18. Jon Asomoah G

19. Damien Williams WR

20. Donald Butler MLB

21. Lamar Houston DT

22. Terrence Cody NT

23. Rob Gronkowski TE

24. Arrelious Benn WR

25. Dexter McCluster RB

1. St. Louis Rams- QB Sam Bradford- The Rams got their ‘franchise’ quarterback, and while I think there are some questions regarding Bradford, he does make sense in St. Louis. The Rams desperately needed a quarterback and now have a top prospect to groom. Grade: B+

2. Detroit Lions- DT Ndamukong Suh- I think the Lions got an exceptional player in Suh. He is a stout run defender and can still get after the quarterback. He will make everyone else on the Lions defense better, just by his presence on the interior. Grade: A+

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- DT Gerald McCoy- McCoy and the Bucs were pretty much made for each other, he is a pass rushing defensive tackle and the Bucs need all the help they can get in that department. Grade A+

4. Washington Redskins- OT Trent Williams- The Redskins did address their biggest need which for them is quite surprising, but they also might have reached a little bit for Williams. The Redskins weren’t able to trade back and stockpile picks in this deep draft, which I think is going to hurt them down the line. For more in depth analysis about why the Redskins need to trade down, check out my blog on the subject. Grade B

5. Kansas City Chiefs- S Eric Berry- Berry might be the best overall player in this draft, and looks like an instant star. Not only that, Kansas City filled one of their biggest needs. Grade A+

6. Seattle Seahawks- OT Russell Okung- Seattle stays right where they are and land quite possibly the top offensive tackle in the draft. They still have serious questions at QB and RB, but answered the call as to who will protect them. He might not be at that elite level as say Walter Jones, but Okung is a very good tackle. Grade A

7. Cleveland Browns- CB Joe Haden- The Browns get the top corner available in this draft, but did just watch their biggest need free safety (Berry) go off the board two picks ahead of them. Haden should develop quickly into a frontline starter, and has the tools to be a Pro Bowl caliber corner. Grade A-

8. Oakland Raiders- MLB Rolando McClain- The Raiders probably jumped the gun on McClain a bit early, but he is a very productive middle linebacker. The biggest issue with him is he doesn’t fill an immediate need. Considering the Raiders recent draft history this pick should be an A++, but I will say a solid Grade B

9. Buffalo Bills- RB C.J. Spiller- Definitely a big surprise here, Buffalo had one of the better running games last year, led by Fred Jackson. And while Spiller can be a weapon out of the backfield, I don’t know if taking away too many touches from Jackson to give to Spiller is a good thing.   Spiller can replace Jackson in the return game, but the 9th overall pick is a high price to pay for a return man/3rd down back. The Bills ignored much bigger needs along the offensive line, on defense, and at the quarterback position. Grade C

10. Jacksonville Jaguars- DT/DE Tyson Alualu- If Spiller was a big surprise, Alualu in the top 10 is HUGE. While I like him as a player and say that he has a borderline first round grade, I would never agree with him being a top 10 pick. For me there is nothing he does exceptionally, and defensive end was a much bigger need for the Jags. Grade D+

11. San Francisco 49ers (from Denver)- OT Anthony Davis- I’m not sure the 49ers really had to move up, but they secured their man here and shouldn’t be disappointed. Davis could develop into a stud blocker and should help make the entire offense better. Grade A

12. San Diego Chargers (from Miami)- RB Ryan Mathews- The Chargers paid a big price to move up, but I believe it was worth it for Mathews. He is the best running back in this class, and should help the Chargers offense tremendously. San Diego will have to find another way to fill their needs, but took care of their biggest one. Grade B+

13. Philadelphia Eagles (from Denver)- DE Brandon Graham- Graham is a relentless pass rusher, who gives the Eagles excellent book end, defensive ends. It seems a bit odd they took him before Morgan, but Graham is a great player in his own right. Grade B+

14. Seattle Seahawks- S Earl Thomas- Seattle should be ecstatic with this pick, they filled another top need and got a player that no one would have questioned had they taken at number 6. Thomas is a top notch free safety prospect and should develop into an elite ball hawking FS for the Seahawks. Grade A

15. New York Giants- DE Jason Pierre-Paul- Pierre-Paul is a high boom or bust prospect. He does make a lot of sense in New York, because with their depth, they won’t have to rush him in the line-up. Still surprising they took him over the more complete Derrick Morgan, but Pierre-Paul was well worth the 15th pick. Grade A-

16. Tennessee Titans- DE Derrick Morgan- For me Morgan was the best overall defensive player not named Berry, Suh or McCoy, making him a complete steal for the Titans at 16. Morgan should be a huge boost to their pass rush, and just an all-around great defensive end. Grade A+

17. San Francisco 49ers- G Mike Iupati- While San Francisco could have gone for a bigger need at OLB or CB, but I think they made the right pick with Iupati, who should be a stud. Now with Davis and Iupati, the 49ers should have one of the best offensive lines, and consequently one of the best running games. Grade A

18. Pittsburgh Steelers- C/G Maurkice Pouncey- The Steelers had one of the worst offensive lines in the league last season, so any help was needed. Pouncey might be a big of an over draft and it will be interesting to see what the Steelers do with incumbent center Justin Hartwig, whom is under contract for 3 more years. One of the two will need to kick to guard, which isn’t their best position. Overall, it is still an upgrade for Pittsburgh, one that should really help their offense. Grade B

19. Atlanta Falcons- OLB Sean Weatherspoon- Weatherspoon is a great pick up by Falcons as he is one of the most underrated players in this entire draft class. He is an excellent leader and should start from day one for the Falcons. Atlanta filled a big need here, and did so with a great player. Grade A

20. Houston Texans- CB Kareem Jackson- The Texans needed a running back, but smartly filled their 2nd biggest need at CB with this spot. Jackson should be a very good starting corner for Houston this year. Grade B

21. Cincinnati Bengals- TE Jermaine Gresham- The Bengals added another elite weapon to their arsenal, which should make Carson Palmer very happy. He fills a big need for Cincinnati and has the upside to be an elite tight end in the league. Grade B+

22. Denver Broncos (from New England)- WR Demaryius Thomas- Denver traded up a few slots to ensure they got Thomas, who in my opinion is the best receiver in this draft. He has the upside to easily replace Brandon Marshall, and should be a top receiver by his sophomore season. Grade B+

23. Green Bay Packers- OT Bryan Bulaga- The Packers lucked out here, they got quite possibly the 2nd best tackle in the draft with the 23rd overall pick. Green Bay needs to keep Aaron Rodgers upright if they hope to win, and Bulaga should quickly develop into his blindside protector. Rodgers and the Packers have to be very happy with this selection. Grade A

24. Dallas Cowboys (from New England)- WR Dez Bryant- And the world makes sense again, the Cowboys end up with Dez Bryant, the talented, but questionable receiving prospect. Overall I think this is a solid spot for him, he doesn’t have to be a number one in Dallas, and has a very good quarterback throwing the ball to him. I would expect Bryant to reach his potential as a top number 2 receiver in big-D. Grade B-

25. Denver Broncos (from Baltimore)- QB Tim Tebow- Overall Tebow isn’t a first round prospect, so this trade is a head scratcher, but Denver made a bold move here. It is likely that another team might have grabbed Tebow early in the 2nd round, so the Broncos got their man, but I’m not sure this is the best situation for Tebow. I actually am a believer in Tebow as a quarterback, I just believe that he will need 2-3 years (at least) to reach his full potential. For me he shouldn’t have been a 1st round pick, with that long of a gestation period. I don’t like him in Denver, because Kyle Orton is only under contract for next season, and I just don’t see Tebow being ready. Denver will either rush Tebow, which will hurt his development or need to sign another quarterback to hold down the fort. Neither scenario makes sense for the Broncos or Tebow. Grade C

26. Arizona Cardinals- DT Dan Williams- Despite all the 3-4 teams ahead of them in need of a nose tackle, the Cardinals end up with the best one in the bunch. Williams should make that entire defense better, which it will need to be considering the off-season losses the Cards have had. Arizona filled a big need here and got a very talented player. Grade A-

27. New England Patriots- CB Devin McCourty- McCourty is a pretty good corner and while he doesn’t fill a huge need, he does make them a better unit. Grade B-

28. Miami Dolphins- DE Jared Odrick- Odrick is a classic 3-4 defensive end and should help the Dolphins in the trenches next year. He gets solid pressure from his end spot and is a stout run defender. Grade B

29. New York Jets- CB Kyle Wilson- Wilson doesn’t fill a top need for the Jets, but he was way too talented to pass up. Wilson could have gone off the board as early as the teens, so getting him at 29 for the Jets is a steal. I thought he was the 2nd best corner in this entire class. The Jets now have the best corners in the league, and should shut down opposing passing attacks. Grade A

30. Detroit Lions- RB Javid Best- A little surprising the Lions traded up for Best, but he is a talented runner. He offers almost as much upside as C.J. Spiller and Detroit got him 21 picks later. The Lions now have the makings of a decent offense, if Matt Stafford can show that he is a quality quarterback. Grade B

31. Indianapolis Colts- OLB/DE Jerry Hughes- Not really sure I understand this pick, I love Hughes as a player, but for me he is solely a rush linebacker. I think he is too small to play with his hand down, and won’t be nearly as effective. I think the Colts had bigger needs along the interior of the line or along the offensive line. Hughes is a good player, but a bad fit as an every down guy in Indy. Grade C+

32. New Orleans Saints- CB Patrick Robinson- Robinson is a good solid corner and gives the Saints good value with the 32nd pick. His presence will likely mean the end of Darren Sharper in the Big Easy, as I believe Malcolm Jenkins will shift over to FS. Grade B

In Part I we looked at what not to do, in terms of draft strategy and assembling your board. In Part II we will look at how teams should approach the draft, and make their selections. If drafting on need or my best player available don’t work, what does? In my opinion, the best strategy of running a draft is allowing the draft come to you.

Now what does that mean, ‘allowing the draft come to you’? Simply put it means not trying to force certain players or positions at your draft selections. The most dangerous thing year in year out, is falling in love with a player (BPA) or a need, and overvaluing them. The second most dangerous thing is valuing the skill positions (QB, RB, WR) higher than other positions. Instead, teams need to realize that the draft process isn’t a singular year process, and remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Too often we see teams try to get the next superstar players and go from worst to first, but the reality is while the NFL Draft can help turn franchise’s around, there is more to it than just wanting it to turn your franchise around. The other thing to remember is that you are given 7 draft picks each year (more possibly with compensatory selections). That is a gift and a way to add young talent, and there is both an immediate and long term value to those picks. Yet every year, teams give them up for pennies on the dollar (trust me I know, I’m a Redskins fan). It is not surprising that the best drafting teams are also the ones who have had sustained success in the NFL. Teams like the Patriots, Steelers, Colts and Eagles not only know how to find a star with their top pick, but also frequently find gems in the later rounds. These are the teams that understand about letting the draft come to them, and they are the model for NFL Draft success.

Now going back to my causes for concern in ‘falling in love with a player’ or ‘overvaluing skill positions’, you have to look no further than last year’s draft to see a perfect example of why you don’t do either. The Denver Broncos ended up doing both last year and it cost them dearly. After a couple of trades the Broncos ended up with two first round picks, and three second rounders, giving them 5 picks in the top 64. They should have been in complete control of that draft and ended up with a first rate class. Instead the Broncos quite possibly had the worst draft of any team last year, and it ended up costing them dearly. While no one realized it at the time, but the Broncos were a playoff caliber team last season that ended up falling just short. The reason for their success had almost nothing to do with their top 5 picks, and in fact their lack of production left Denver devoid of talent. The Broncos fell in love with Knowshon Moreno last year, who was considered the top running back in the class, and drafted him with the 12th selection despite having a major need at rush linebacker (with Orakpo and Cushing on the board) and potentially seeing issues at receiver with Brandon Marshall already known as a head case. They drafted Moreno, despite their still being plenty of depth at running back, and the position showing less and less value in recent years. Not to mention the team had also signed a couple of veteran running backs during the off-season putting the need, lower than rush linebacker.

As it turned out the Cardinals and Eagles both benefited, since they took Beanie Wells and LeSean McCoy, who have both shown more value than Moreno so far. Denver then had to fill the need at rush linebacker with their 2nd pick and reached for Robert Ayers (why they didn’t grab Clay Mathews is beyond me). Ayers was a stretch as a OLB and one year later that position still remains a significant need. Also they spent their first two 2nd round picks on a corner (that they traded this year’s 1st rounder for) and a safety. It was a fairly weak defensive backfield draft last year, and they ended up trading a 1st round pick in this year’s draft to fill a ‘need’. The problem is they still don’t know if they have their long term corner, and if they still had their 14th overall pick they would be able to draft either Joe Haden or Kyle Wilson, both of whom could be immediate starters. The Broncos last season might be the extreme example of what not to do, but show the value of seeing the whole board and not falling in love with particular needs or positions. If they had taken Orakpo with their top pick, and grabbed one of the dynamic receivers available with their 2nd first rounder (Maclin, Harvin, Nicks), as well as taken McCoy with one of their 2nd rounders, Denver would have been a playoff team last season, and be poised for a Super Bowl run this year (especially if they kept that extra 1st rounder this year).

While we all love to hear our team drafting a franchise quarterback or a top running back/ receiver we need to realize that, it is not always the smartest move. Drafting a young quarterback is nice, but if you don’t have the pieces around him and/or rush him too early he is going to fail. Having a top running back is great, but you can find starting running backs in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounds consistently. High draft pick running backs haven’t been too successful of late with the exception of Adrian Peterson. As for receivers, they are the ultimate crap shoot, some times you get a Calvin Johnson, but as Lions fans know you can also get a Charles Rogers or Mike Williams (USC version, not this year’s Syracuse version). And the fact of the matter is talented running backs and receivers won’t matter if they don’t have the offensive line and quarterback to support them.

Teams need to realize that they can’t have it all, and if you need proof of that, remember that the Saints had the fewest draft picks last year, yet ended up winning the Super Bowl, and the team that they beat got zero production from their top two picks. Both of those teams were successful, because they had for many years forged a high-quality team, that was built to win. Teams need to give up on this idea of overvaluing certain players and positions and realize that, the only way to build a sustained winner is to draft smart and let the draft dictate who you should take not the other way around. Now I realize that seems very backwards to basically cede control to your 31 other opponents, but that is exactly what the Patriots and company do, and that is why they make the best draft day trades every year, and have tons of quality players.

These rankings are based on how a player projects as a rush linebacker in the 3-4 defense.  Players like Brandon Graham, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Ricky Sapp were covered in the defensive end rankings.

1. Jerry Hughes- Hughes is the best pure rush linebacker in this draft. His speed and athleticism is unmatched in this class. While I think he is a bad fit as a DE or 4-3 OLB, Hughes should be a dominate pass rusher coming from the 3-4. As good as Hughes is, I don’t think he will be drafted in the top 20, since he comes from TCU and didn’t face the same competition as some of the other rush linebackers.

2. Sergio Kindle- Kindle is widely considered the better player than Hughes and deservedly so since he could also fit in with some teams as a defensive end. Kindle for me has always been a bit overrated, since I consider him a boom or bust player. The talent is there, but it doesn’t always show through during gameday. Kindle also didn’t have great off-season workouts, which concerns me regrading his speed and agility.

3. Thaddeus Gibson- Gibson was a bit of a surprise when he declared back in January, but has been fairly impressive this off-season. Overall I think he will be drafted in the 3rd or 4th round, but end up being a steal of this draft. He is still a bit raw so he will likely need to be a situational pass rusher at the start of his career, but should impress with his natural athletic talents.

4. Koa Misi- Misi has been steadily moving up draft boards since his impressive Senior Bowl performance. He should solidly be in the 3rd round range now, and displays advanced pass rushing skills. Athletically he doesn’t have the same skill set as some of the other rush linebackers, but makes up for it with a high level of football smarts.

5. Eric Norwood- A lot of people have soured on Norwood this season, but he had a pretty good senior campaign, leaving me to wonder what the hang up on him is. Norwood showed good speed at the combine, and while he was below average in strength, he should be a good pass rusher at the next level. Norwood always seemed to have a nose for the ball, and put himself in sound position to make a play. Norwood always showed good pursuit angles as well, and flashes enough all-around ability to become a top-notch rush linebacker.

6. Arthur Moats- Moats has been on NFL team’s radar as a late round pick after he dominated Division 1-AA competition the past few years at JMU. A defensive end by trade, the question remained whether he could transition to OLB. Moats answered a number of those questions with a stellar combine. He has firmly moved his way up from round 6-7, to possibly as high as the 4th round. Moats could end up being a great small school sleeper in this draft.

7. Jason Worilds- Worilds was another surprising junior to declare for the NFL draft. He was coming off a weak junior campaign, but always had the talent to be a starter at the next level. While the talent is there I seriously wonder if Worilds will ever reach it. He’s had a bit of an up and down off-season, culminating with an impressive Pro Day. While his workout numbers might boost him up a round or two, I don’t think he is better than a late 4th round prospect.

8. Cameron Sheffield- Sheffield has not had the best off-season, particularly when it comes to his workout numbers, but still remains a solid mid-round prospect. While the numbers give pause, on the field Sheffield always proved to be a playmaker. While he may never be a star, he should be a solid player in the NFL.

9. George Selvie- Selvie has had a disastrous year this past season, in terms of his draft stock. A year ago Selvie was a lock Top-50 prospect (if not a sure-fire first rounder) now he may be lucky to be selected in the top 150 picks. A bad senior campaign, plus a horrible combine has left Selvie in the 5th round range.

10. O’Brien Schofield- Schofield won’t be the 10th rush linebacker drafted, and in fact might not hear his name called until the 7th round, but he has immense potential. Schofield was having a great off-season until he tore his ACL at Senior Bowl practice. At the very least any team taking Schofield will have to put him on the PUP list and may even have to resort to placing him on injured reserve. When he does return to action Schofield has immense potential and could end up being a great late round steal in this draft.