2008 NFL Draft Grades: The AFC

The 2008 NFL Draft Winners and Losers: THE AFC DRAFT REVIEW
By Rick Weaver: Carolina Panthers NFL Columnist

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS "A+"
WINNER
The Kansas City Chiefs had multiple needs going into draft day and they had 13 picks to work with. Thanks to a deal with the Minnesota Vikings the Chiefs traded away pro-bowl defensive end Jared Allen and received the Vikings 1st round, 17th pick overall and they got both of the Vikings 3rd round picks, plus the teams swapped their draft positions in the 6th round. Allen was statistically the best defensive end in the NFL last year with 15 1/2 sacks while playing in only 14 games. Allen was one of the bright spots on a team that was reportedly "rebuilding" last season. Allen had made rumblings about being unhappy in Kansas City as he had "issues" with the team's management. The Chiefs already had an unhappy fan base after posting just 4 wins last season and trading their "best" player only made matters worse. If General Manager, Carl Peterson, was wanting to re-build his team it looked as if he decided to "blow" the team up first when he made the Allen trade. It is hard to understand why a team would trade, arguably, the best defensive player in the NFL. However, for the Chiefs to keep building their team with quality players and not wind up with major salary cap issues it made it virtually impossible for the Allen to remain on the Chiefs' roster. Going into the draft Carl Peterson and Herm Edwards knew they needed strength on both sides of the line, in the defensive backfield and on the offensive side of the ball. When it was the Chiefs turn to make their first pick Glenn Dorsey was still available and the Chiefs could not wait to select him to help strengthen their defensive line. Many scouts had Dorsey rated as the top player in college football until he suffered a sprained knee, due to a illegal chop block, during LSU's 30-24 victory over Auburn. Then, just 10 picks later, the Chiefs addressed the offensive line and drafted, Branden Albert, who was one of the top rated offensive guards in the draft, who they think can even play tackle. In the second round the Chiefs got hard hitting cornerback Brandon Flowers. Flowers was one of the best corners in college football last season and was thought by many to be the hardest hitter in all of college football. Flower's punishing style of play comes as a result of his incredible work effort, football smarts and ball skills. Had it not been for a mediocre 4.55 forty time, Flowers may well have been a first round pick. The next player of note the Chiefs took was Texas speedy running back Jamaal Charles.

With Priest Holmes now out of the fold in Kansas City, the Chiefs' running game is currently held down by Larry Johnson and Kolby Smith. Jamaal Charles was the fourth fastest running back at the combine and his only weakness seems to be a lack of upper body strength. His 6-1, 205 pound frame looks more like that of a sprinters frame than that of a running back. Charles actually is a sprinter as he was a track and field standout at Texas. The four-time All-American posted a personal-best 10.26 second, 100-meter dash time and won "The Big Twelve Conference Championship" as a freshman. Charles will likely be the fastest player the Chiefs have and he may, just possibly, be the guy who can fill the big shoes of former KC standout, Priest Holmes.

The rest of the Chiefs' picks were guys who may add some overall depth to the team's roster. With the Chiefs getting this many potential "difference makers" in the draft it makes their draft day efforts an easy one to grade. On the day of the draft the Chiefs, quite likely, filled many of their needs with some of the best players in college football. The Chiefs' draft was very successful from a talent standpoint. Chiefs fans will know soon enough if early round picks were worth the price. If these players do "pan out" and are able to compete in the NFL, then KC may not only be re-building, but they may now be on their to winning football games this season. The best effort on draft day was put forth by the Kansas City Chiefs.

1 5 Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
1 15 Branden Albert G/T Virginia
2 35 Brandon Flowers CB Virginia Tech
3 73 Jamaal Charles RB Texas
3 76 Brad Cottam TE Tennessee
3 82 DaJuan Morgan S North Carolina State
4 105 Will Franklin WR Missouri
5 140 Brandon Carr CB Grand Valley State
6 170 Barry Richardson T Clemson
6 182 Kevin Robinson WR Utah State
7 210 Brian Johnston DE Gardner-Webb
7 239 Mike Merritt TE Central Florida

PITTSBURGH STEELERS:"A"
WINNER
Everyone needs a little luck sometimes and the Steelers happened to get a little of that luck on draft day. The Steelers went into the draft with a few holes to fill. Since Jerome Bettis retired, Najeh Davenport has been fairly solid as a short yardage back but he has not been the "new" Jerome Bettis. However, the Steelers did not win the Superbowl being just "fairly solid." When it was the Steelers' turn to pick in the first round they had to be grinning ear-to-ear because Rashard Mendehall was still on the board. Mendenhall was still available due to multiple factors. One of those factors was that Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones had been so enamored with Arkansas running back Felix Jones, that he disregarded his draft board and let Mendenhall slip away. Felix Jones, like Jerry, is a Razorback alumni and that seemed to be enough to keep the Cowboys happy. Whether he can fill Julius Jones position is yet to seen. Another reason Mendenhall was still around for the Steelers was because the Detroit Lions decided to first draft an offensive lineman, Gosder Cherilus, before drafting a running back and finally the Carolina Panthers, where Mendenhall had been rumored to go, saw more value in Oregon's Jonathan Stewart and chose Stewart leaving Mendenhall available for the Steelers.

After the Steelers made their first pick they looked to get the best possible wide receiver. Although Ben Roethlisberger wanted a tall wide receiver there were just not any worthy of a first round pick so the Steelers were left in a situation where Mendenhall was the obvious choice, meaning a receiver would have to wait. However, only 30 picks later the Steelers got Ben Roethlisberger that big wide receiver he had asked for. They did not get just any receiver, they got a potential star when they took Limas Sweed. Sweed had been originally projected to be drafted ahead of fellow receiver Devin Thomas and Sweed was even thought of as a possible first round pick, until a wrist injury sidelined him for part of senior season at Texas. The Steelers got great value with this pick. Another pick to keep your eyes on was the pick up of Oregon's quarterback Dennis Dixon in the 5th round. Dixon was a Heisman candidate and had his Oregon team ranked 2nd in the nation midway through the '07 season. Dixon was on a record setting pace in 2007 until a game versus Arizona State when he came out with an unspecified leg injury. Dixon rested his leg and just two weeks later he was cleared to play. Dixon returned to face the Arizona Wildcats. He was having another very good game and seemed to 100% healthy and had made a 39 yard run then a few plays later, Dixon's left knee, very graphically, gave way and he tore his ACL. The injuries ended any of Dixon's Heisman hopes and also ended any also chances Dixon had of being drafted in the 1st or 2nd round. ACL tears can be very tricky and many athletes do come back and are basically just as productive as they were prior to the injury, however there is no guarantee that will be the case. That "no guarantee" surrounding Dixon gave the Steelers the chance to draft him where they did. If Steeler Head Coach Mike Tomlinson can find the right place for Dixon the Steelers may have found one of the draft's biggest bargains. The Steeler did have a little luck in this draft, but you have to give them credit for being sharp enough to take full advantage of the players who were left and for being able to see the value in the players they had to chose from. Time will tell but the Steelers may possibly have drafted two or even 3 future stars in this draft and that is not an easy thing to do. Easy grade here, the Steelers get an "A" and if they have some luck and they may find themselves having one of the strongest draft classes in years.

1 23 Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
2 53 Limas Sweed WR Texas
3 88 Bruce Davis DE UCLA
4 130 Tony Hills T Texas
5 156 Dennis Dixon QB Oregon
6 188 Mike Humpal LB Iowa
6 194 Ryan Mundy S West Virginia

BALTIMORE RAVENS: "A-"
WINNER
The Ravens were faced with the retirement of Steve McNair and the organization had seemed to have already addressed the quarterback situation. Kyle Boller and Troy Smith were once looked on as the possible, future quarterbacks in Baltimore. However, somewhere along the way the Ravens' "brass" figured that neither Boller nor Smith possessed the tools needed to be their "franchise" quarterbacks. Enter Delaware's Joe Flacco. The Ravens were very impressed by Joe Flacco's 6-6 frame and his "prototype" build as well as his incredible arm strength. But the Ravens were also extremely impressed with the intelligence Flacco displayed. The Ravens sent the top quarterbacks they liked, in this draft, a Ravens playbook to study. When the Ravens met with Flacco he displayed more overall knowledge about the Raven's system than any of the other quarterbacks did and he was able to translate the playbook in detail. Now, Flacco was not cheap as the Ravens had to go deep into their bag of draft picks to complete the deal with the Texans, giving the Texans their 26th, 89th and 173rd picks, but if Flacco can someday step in and do what he seems to be capable of, then the costs will have been a bargain. The Ravens also made a nice move and picked up Ray Rice. Rice is a 5-8 200 pound running back from Rutgers. He is basically the same size as Maurice Jones Drew. Whether Rice will be able to produce the way Jones-Drew has is yet to be seen. Rice is a fast running and hard hitting back capable of making big plays. He is also a hard worker who rushed for 2012 yards as a senior and also had 24 touchdowns and 25 receptions. Rice has good enough hands to be a receiving threat out of the backfield and should be a nice compliment to Willis McGahee. A review of Rice and his gameday film gives one the inkling he may be a playmaker in the NFL. Speaking of running backs, Allen Patrick was a steal in the 7th round, if it wasn't for nagging injuries in 2007 he would have likely been a 2nd or 3rd round selection. The Ravens also picked up a Tim Zbikowski. Zbikowski, a Notre Dame safety, is as tough as they come. He has been a boxer for many years and has fought, since age nine, in the Golden Gloves. Zbikowski actually became a professional boxer in 2006 and in his first fight, in Madison Square Garden, he knocked out his opponent in 49 seconds . His boxing skills have occasionally translated to the gridiron in the form of being an aggressive and truly hard hitting player. He could be a solid addition to the Raven's special teams and may find his way onto the field in some other situations. However, Zbikowski has a bit of catching up to do to get his skill level in line with what is needed to be a performer in the NFL. Baltimore realized they had made a mistake taking Kyle Boller in the first round in the 2003 draft yet they did not hesitate in trading picks and doing what they had to do to get another quarterback in the first round this year to try and correct their previous error. Ozzie Newsome has never ducked responsibility for a draft pick and he did what he thought was right here and it looks like a solid decision. Remember, Newsome is the same guy who drafted Ray Lewis, Adalius Thomas and Jamal Lewis (who gained over 1000 yards in his rookie season and a few seasons later came within 39 yards of breaking Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record) that is some very worthy company. Newsome has earned the right to have a 1st round miss every 10 years or so. However, on paper, this years early picks all look to be hits.

1 18 Joe Flacco QB Delaware
2 55 Ray Rice RB Rutgers
3 71 Tavares Gooden LB Miami (Fla.)
3 86 Tom Zbikowski S Notre Dame
3 99 Oniel Cousins G Texas-El Paso
4 106 Marcus Smith WR New Mexico
4 133 David Hale T Weber State
6 206 Haruki Nakamura S Cincinnati
7 215 Justin Harper WR Virginia Tech
7 240 Allen Patrick RB Oklahoma

MIAMI DOLPHINS: "B+"
WINNER
Let the Bill Parcells era begin. I would venture to say that half of those watching the draft coverage could not have told you who the Miami Dolphins new head coach was, but they could sure tell you who the man making the decisions was, he was the one the NFL and ESPN cameras followed every time the Miami Dolphins had its' name mentioned. Well, Tony Sparano is the Dolphin's new coach but Parcells, " the Tuna" is the one in control of the Dolphins. Fans in Miami knew things would be different. Just how different? Only Parcells knew that. One thing Parcells knew was that he had to work the contract out with the Dolphin's potential, overall first pick, Jake Long, well before the draft ever took place. Parcells already had enough to do to have to spend time worrying about finding himself in a Oakland Raiders versus Jamarcus Russell contract dispute situation. That move cost the Raiders any real benefit from Russell's services last season and Parcells had seen the handwriting on the wall, either get the Jake Long deal done or he would not select long was his edict to Long's agent. The deal was completed and as soon as it was taken care of Parcells moved on to the next need or soon to be need, a defensive end. Jason Taylor was offered up as trade possibility to multiple teams but there were no takers for the 33 year old sack expert. Jason Taylor has been publicly "snubbed" by Parcells and now it seems Taylor has found himself on the wrong side of the Tuna. The Phillip Merling pick was made, partially, in anticipation of replacing Taylor when and if any deal can be worked out. Many around Dolphins' football thought John Beck may just have been the future quarterback in Miami except for Bill Parcells and he is the only one who had an opinion that really mattered. Parcells did like Chad Henne and Henne may now be the Dolphins future quarterback after being selected in the 2nd round. Also, added were Kendall Langford, to add depth at the defensive end position. With all of the defensive ends chosen, it looks like Jason Taylor, who has had success on "Dancing with the stars," may have just danced his way out of Bill Parcells good graces. Parcells even closed out the Dolphins 2008 draft with? You guessed it...another defensive end, taken with their last pick. We have been hearing all about how Parcells wanted to buy the "groceries". Well, this time it looks as if he bought a whole cart full of defensive ends. The big question now is "can Parcells stay out of coach, Tony Sparano's kitchen?" Only time will tell, but it looks as if the Dolphins have a few new starters who will take the field this season. Once again, a very solid draft day for Miami.

1 1 Jake Long T Michigan
2 32 Phillip Merling DE Clemson
2 57 Chad Henne QB Michigan
3 66 Kendall Langford DE Hampton
4 110 Shawn Murphy G Utah State
6 176 Jalen Parmele RB Toledo
6 195 Donald Thomas G Connecticut
6 204 Lex Hilliard RB Montana
7 245 Lionel Dotson DE Arizona

DENVER BRONCOS "B+"
WINNER
Ryan Clady was probably the second best tackle in this draft and Denver wanted him badly. The Broncos took Clady with their 1st pick and were elated t o do so. The Broncos feel Clady will make an immediate contribution for the Broncos. Eddie Royal, a receiver, could also help the Broncos efforts with his 4.39 40 speed by serving on the Broncos return team. Royal was never the "go to" guy in college as he is only 5-9 and 184 pounds. Royal was basically a "role player" in the Va. Tech passing game, averaging almost 30 catches per year and 15 yards per catch. Royal reportedly bench pressed 390 pounds in college and that is a lot for a man his size. If his speed, strength and good hands can translate to the NFL then Royal may be the kind of returner the Broncos need. With enough hard work Royal could possibly play the wide receiver's position in the future. Kory Lichtensteiger looks like the kind of player who can add depth as a backup center and potentially a backup guard. He has played both positions yet seems to be a little small compared to other NFL linemen. One hidden jewel, could be Peyton Hillis taken at 227. With a name like Peyton he has to be good, right? Seriously, Hillis had almost almost 900 total yards last year, behind none other than Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Hillis also put up 49 catches for 537 yards against some of the stiffest competition in college football. Now he is a 7th round pick, I have to award Denver high marks for doing their homework here. Really, how does anyone get almost a 1,000 yards on a team with two of the most desired players in the nation getting most of the reps? He has to be good and would seem much better than a 7th round pick. With his size, soft hands and style of play look for him to possibly be used in the role of Chris Cooley. Hillis may have as much "upside" as any player the Broncos took in the draft. Josh Barret is a super fast safety, probably the fastest safety in the NFL, he ran a 4.34 forty at the NFL Combine. He was a complete steal in the 7th round, if he develops he could even step in and replace aging John Lynch this year or next.

1 12 Ryan Clady T Boise State2 4
2 Eddie Royal WR Virginia Tech
4 108 Kory Lichtensteiger C Bowling Green
4 119 Jack Williams CB Kent State
5 139 Ryan Torain RB Arizona State
5 148 Carlton Powell DT Virginia Tech
6 183 Spencer Larsen LB Arizona
7 220 Josh Barrett S Arizona State
7 227 Peyton Hillis RB Arkansas

BUFFALO BILLS: "B"
WINNER
Nate Clements is out and Leodis McKelvin should step right in and produce. Not only did the Bills get the single best cover corner in the entire draft they also got a pretty darned good return man with the same draft pick. McKelvin may just be a returner who could keep kicking teams off balance trying to account for him. Trent Edwards needed more targets, well he has one now in 6-6 wide receiver, James Hardy. A very good receiver and the best cornerback in the draft would get high marks from most looking at this draft. However, the Bills had plenty of picks left and moved on to have a solid day of plugging holes with solid picks. The Bills had a load of picks and they looked to have used them all with a purpose in mind. Chris Ellis may be a bright spot taken with the 72nd pick. At 6-4 255 Ellis is very fast and mobile. His biggest knock is that he is a bit undersized and may be better suited to play linebacker in the NFL. Reggie Corner may also be an NFL cornerback someday soon. He is 5-10 and 200 lbs. Corner has a great burst at the point of attack and he has shown himself to be able to deliver hits that make players avoid him. Corner may struggle with physical receivers but he has the speed to stay with most route runners. A very solid draft for the Bills.

1 11 Leodis McKelvin CB Troy
2 41 James Hardy WR Indiana
3 72 Chris Ellis DE Virginia Tech
4 Reggie Corner CB Akron
4 132 Derek Fine TE Kansas
5 147 Alvin Bowen LB Iowa State
6 179 Xavier Omon RB Northwest Mo. State
7 219 Demetrius Bell T Northwest (La.) State
7 224 Steve Johnson WR Kentucky
7 251 Kennard Cox CB Pittsburgh

OAKLAND RAIDERS "B"
WINNER
A lot of NFL and college football analysts knew, probably, the biggest name on the board was Darren McFadden. Well, someone was going to pick him and the Raiders seized the moment. Just take a look back into history and you will see where teams went all out to try and draft players like McFadden. Al Davis has always loved to make news and this was no exception. With a full stable of running backs Al's brother, Jerry Davis, handed Roger Goodell the index card with the name McFadden written on it. Looking back into football history there are not too many running backs who bring the kind of "buzz" that McFadden does. When these rare kind of players enter the draft you will usually see a few teams wanting to "mortgage the farm" just to have the "next big thing" on their roster ala Ricky Williams wanted by Mike Ditka and that did not work out. However a solid handful of these top running backs have gone on to become "great ones" and Darren McFadden has that chance. Al Davis and family pulled this off without giving up a single pick. That alone is almost worthy of a "B." If McFadden is able to meet his hype then he could be the next Marcus Allen and if he can really help out Jamarcus Russell when the going gets tough then this draft grade could easily change to an "A+." It should be fun seeing who really is the best back of this draft. One thing is for sure, if McFadden is a difference maker and he will certainly help sell more seats as the Raiders tour the NFL this season

1 4 Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
4 100 Tyvon Branch CB Connecticut
4 125 Arman Shields WR Richmond
6 169 Trevor Scott DE Buffalo7 22
6 Chaz Schilens WR San Diego State

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: "B"
WINNER
It was a little surprising seeing a linebacker taken with the 10th pick when the Patriots seemed to need a cornerback and Leodis McKelvin just so happened to be available. But the Patriots thought they had a bigger need at linebacker. Who am I to argue with the Patriots, they did have a perfect regular season and if they felt they needed a linebacker, then they get the benefit of the doubt. They drafted Jerod Mayo with their first round pick, but there was a lot of talent left on the draft board then. Mayo was the top rated inside linebacker in the draft. The Patriots just do not draft linebackers in the first round but they did it this time. It seems the Patriot's brass, Bill Belichick, really liked Mayo and penciled him in as their first pick. Mayo could wind up being a special player if things work out for him. Mayo has to one of the best open field tacklers in the draft . Was there that much drop off in linebacking skills or could the Patriots have waited and traded back for Mayo or is Mayo just that much better than the next inside linebacker? We will see after the first few games how good Mayo is, but you have to give Belichick some room here. In the 2nd round the Patriots did get around to filling their defensive backfield needs with at least one potential starter in cornerback, Terrence Wheatley. Shawn Crable looks to be a serviceable pick. Tom Brady also got a backup to spell him in the 2nd half of the late season games, after the Patriots have already sealed up the number 1 playoff seed. Well, not really. You don't think Belichick would miss a chance to run up the score on someone do you? Not a chance. Kevin O'Connell has to be one of the luckiest guys in the draft. The little known QB was taken in the 3rd round by one of the greatest teams in football history. If things work out he will be developed behind Tom Brady and may step in when needed. What a nice teacher, coach and system to learn in. The possible bonus: Kevin O'Connell may wind up his NFL career with a few superbowl rings on his fingers from games where he did not even take the field. Tom Brady looks to have his best football still ahead of him. The Patriots are known for making average players great and turning great players into excellent players. Another solid draft for the Pats as they did address their needs.

1 10 Jerod Mayo LB Tennessee
2 62 Terrence Wheatley CB Colorado
3 78 Shawn Crable LB Michigan
3 94 Kevin O'Connell QB San Diego State
4 129 Jonathan Wilhite CB Auburn
5 153 Matthew Slater WR UCLA
6 197 Bo Rudd LB Nebraska

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS "C+"
WINNER
Safe and secure was the route here. Antoine Cason will provide cornerback depth and football savvy and will compete for a starting spot from day one and could even beat out Quintin Jammer, they might even move Jammer to safety. What he (Cason) lacks in speed he makes up for in smarts and ball skills. His dad and two cousins played in the NFL, so he has been around football enough to understand the pro game. He was the top defensive back in college football winning the coveted Jim Thorpe Award. No earth shattering trades and no mix-ups, just a sound draft day for the Chargers. Michael Turner needed to be replaced in this draft and I do not know if Jacob Hester and Marcus Thomas were the guys to do it, just yet. I sort of believed Matt Forte would have been a nice pick to fill both of the roles that Hester and Thomas can hopefully fill. Hester may find his way onto the field this season to relieve LT. Marcus Thomas has a chance to be a possible contributor as he had almost 1500 all purpose yards at UTEP last year but that was against some weaker opponents.

1 27 Antoine Cason CB Arizona
3 69 Jacob Hester RB LSU
5 166 Marcus Thomas RB Texas El-Paso
6 192 DeJuan Tribble CB Boston College
7 234 Corey Clark T Texas A&M

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS "C+"
WINNER
The Colts needed linebackers and they picked up two in this draft. Center Mike Pollack looks to be an iffy addition to the team as a possible center or even a guard, he may have been a little of a reach in the 2nd round, he just doesn't get much push in the running game and is succeptible to the bull rush. The Colts did get LB Phillip Wheeler in the 3rd round and he stands a chance to really help the Colt's cause. But the other position I would liked to have had the Colts address was the defensive end position. There were not many "quality" defensive ends left after the early rounds and that is why I think a possible trade would have been in order to get a serviceable end. We all know Dwight Freeny is coming off of an injury and though he looks to be fine now he is only one "chop block" away from watching the game from the bench again. It’s hard to question the Colts because Bill Polian has worked wonders in past drafts. Polian's success is well noted as he has put together multiple playoff winning teams in both conferences and that is no easy task.The Colts get a C+ for addressing the linebacker's position.

2 59 Mike Pollak C Arizona State
3 93 Philip Wheeler LB Georgia Tech
4 127 Jacon Tamme TE Kentucky
5 161 Marcus Howard LB Georgia
6 196 Tom Santi TE Virginia
6 201 Steve Justice C Wake Forest
6 202 Mike Hart RB Michigan6 20
5 Pierre Garcon WR Mount Union
7 236 Jamey Richard C Buffalo


HOUSTON TEXANS "C"
RUNNER UP
It looks like the Texans used this draft to try and add immediate protection for their quarterback. The only problem seems to be Duane Brown may have been a slight reach at the 26th pick. With the run on tackles they had little choice, some were very high on Brown and thought he possibly could be a potential starter with enough work. The Texans really needed a solid running back going forward. Their run game can best be described as "mature" if you look at their core runners. Ahman Green, Ron Dayne, and Chris Brown. On the other end of the running back experience spectrum is Darius Walker, Chris Taylor, Arliss Beach and now Steven Slaton . The Texans took speedy Steven Slaton in the 3rd round . It looks like the Texans may still have a challenge getting two solid running backs out of their entire group. Slaton may be special player someday, but he is in a crowded pool with guys who they have already "been there, done that." If the Texans think Ron Dayne posting 700 yards and Ahman Green and Chris Brown combining for 800 yards is a formula to win then I feel they are lost. They have to get as good as the Colts, Titans and the Jaguars in order to win their division and each one of those teams have one thing in common. They all have one or two, very good, top shelf running backs. The Texans passed up CB Justin King when they took Slaton and King possibly could have helped the Texans in the defensive backfield. Frank Okam seems to have a great upside as a defensive tackle, he just needs to make football a priority and get his weight down. He ballooned up to 340 after the season. The Texans goal was to build a team to beat the Colts. Did they succeed? Not this year, but we really won’t know until December. Perhaps a trade up to get a really good running back would have been nice here. This is a tough situation as the Texans have put together a nice defense but their offense lags behind. Now, unless Ron Dayne and Ahman Green can stay 100% healthy and if either Steven Slaton or Chris Brown can step up and be a top producer and gain 1000 yards then the Texans may have a chance but it is just a little hard to see the Texans having the kind of success needed to compete in their division..

1 26 Duane Brown T Virginia Tech
3 79 Antwaun Molden CB Eastern Kentucky
3 89 Steve Slaton RB West Virginia
4 118 Xavier Adibi LB Virginia Tech
5 151 Frank Okam DT Texas
6 173 Dominique Barber S Minnesota
7 223 Alex Brink QB Washington State

CINNCINATI BENGALS: "C"
RUNNER UP
The Bengals needed a linebacker and got Keith Rivers. Rivers is a nice pick. They needed to fill the position as the Bengals lost Landon Johnson. However, they also needed a defensive tackle. They took Pat Sims, but Sims just did not have the same upside as Sedrick Ellis. Either Jerome Simpson or Andre Caldwell might be able to replace Chris Henry and possibly help out if Chad Johnson cannot get things worked out with the team. A trade up to pick Sedrick Ellis would have been nice here and could gotten the Bengals a little more bang for their buck. The Bengals also got Corey Lynch. Lynch is the safety who blocked the field goal to seal Appalachian State's victory over Michigan. Lynch was not even invited to the combine, however he has the NCAA record for broken up passes. At 6-0 206 pounds Lynch likes contact and has some of the same traits as another former NFL player named Lynch (John Lynch) once had. All-in-all the Bengals had a pretty decent draft and they did beef up their receiving corps just in case things go bad with Johnson.

1 9 Keith Rivers LB Southern California
2 46 Jerome Simpson WR Coastal Carolina
3 77 Pat Sims DT Auburn
3 97 Andre Caldwell WR Florida
4 112 Anthony Collins T Kansas
5 145 Jason Shirley DT Fresno State
6 177 Corey Lynch S Appalachian State
6 207 Matt Sherry TE Villanova
7 244 Angelo Craig DE Cincinnati
7 246 Mario Urrutia WR Louisville

CLEVELAND BROWNS: "C-"
LOSER
The Brown's draft was not that big as they traded their first pick to Dallas last year for Brady Quinn to sit on the bench, however they made moves in free agency and seemed to do well for themselves. The team had no day one picks and they did not even get involved into the draft until the fourth round. Their day two picks look more like projects but that is what happens when you are still paying for Brady Quinn. A bright spot may be Martin Rucker. He may just be a "real" ball player. Rucker, at 6-6 he looks like he is a strong tight end. Last year's draft is still hurting the Browns but their free agency efforts helped keep them in the "mix" for the coming season. With the additions of Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams on the defensive line and with Donte Stallworth added to their wide receiver grouping the Browns may be tougher than they have been in quite a while. But their draft day will not be what got them there if they make it.

4 104 Beau Bell LB UNLV
4 111 Martin Rucker TE Missouri
6 190 Ahtyba Rubin DT Iowa State
6 191 Paul Hubbard WR Wisconsin
7 231 Alex Hall CB St. Augustine

NEW YORK JETS "C-"
LOSER
The Jets draft was the "Good, the Bad and the Ugly" Yes, the Jets got Vernon Gholston ( the Good) but that seemed like a natural choice. But then they needed a wide receiver and what did they do? They waited until the 171st pick (the Bad) pick to get a receiver. Then this is where it all gets messy. The traded up to get tight end Dustin Keller. Keller is a wideout turned tight end and he is small for that position. He looks to lack the blocking skills needed in the run game, but his speed will present all kinds of mismatches for defenses. The trade up for a player that is probably not your top need is the "Ugly" in this equation. An early round quarterback would have been nice here, but the Jets must think Kellen Clemmens is their man. QB Erik Ainge was a nice pick in the 5th round and could evetualy get some playing time. The hope for Jets fans? Is, that Chris Jenkins will catch fire and teach Vernon Gholston the pro game and show him what it takes to be successful. If that happens the Jets could be one of the harder teams to rush against in the AFC. Just not a very exciting set of picks here with the exception of Gholston.

1 6 Vernon Gholston DE/LB Ohio State
1 30 Dustin Keller TE Purdue
4 113 Dwight Lowery CB San Jose State
5 162 Erik Ainge QB Tennessee
6 171 Marcus Henry WR Kansas
7 211 Nate Garner T Arkansas

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS "D+"
LOSER
The Jaguars had a tricky decision to make in this draft. To trade away their first pick for Jason Taylor or not? Some Jacksonville faithful felt the Taylor trade was a done deal. Taylor has been as consistent as anyone, at defensive end, over the past seven years he has averaged 12 sacks per year and he has not missed a game. Now, he (Taylor) will be 34 years old on Sept. 1. Taylor, is coming off a season where he had 11 sacks and played exceptional football. Although the 6-6, 255 pound Taylor is nearing 34, he still believes he has a lot of solid football left "in his tank." The truth is, Taylor has given us no reason to doubt him or his good health. The Jaguars have a strong run game with Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor firmly in place. They have a decent receiving group, anchored by Dennis Northcutt and a very productive quarterback in David Garrard. Defensively the Jags need a stronger secondary, some help on the interior line and their defensive end position needed to be formally addressed. So, why not just applaud the Jaguars for their trade that allowed them to get their 2 defensive end picks and move on? Well, I believe the Jags had a chance to really do something more with their 1st pick and it did not have a thing to do with picking a player in the draft. In my opinion, the Jaguars have a window of opportunity that looks to be open for a short period of time. A window that may allow them to advance deep into the playoffs and maybe further. That is, if they can develop a great pass rush. The pass rush is a must have.

Ask New England how New York beat them in the superbowl. It was not with Eli Manning throwing for 5 or 6 touchdowns nor was it a 200 yard rushing effort by Brandon Jacobs. It was, in large part, the defensive ends flying around Tom Brady's head on almost every pass play that did it. Look at the Colts and what it takes to shake them up. It takes a pass rush putting hands on Peyton Manning to slow them down. This is where Jacksonville comes into the picture. They needed a sure bet to come in and be an excellent pass rusher, this year if they really wanted a solid chance at winning the AFC. Who was the best pass rusher available? In my opinion, once Jared Allen was gone it was a player from Florida...Miami, Florida that is and he is no from the "U"...He is a veteran, ex pro-bowler who also moonlights on "Dancing with the Stars." Fred Taylor is only one year younger that Jason Taylor and Fred Taylor was re-signed last year. Fred Taylor is a lso an intergal part of the Jaguars offense. That strong one-two punch of Taylor and Jones-Drew will not last forever. At best, Taylor (Fred Taylor) may effective another 3 years or even less. So, why not go after a proven player like Jason Taylor who can fill your major void and be a difference maker now, and maybe for 2 to 3 years, while that 'window of opportunity" is open. The NFL is a fickle place to work if you are a head coach. A few bad years and you are gone. Miss the playoffs a few times or get knocked out of the 1st round a few times in a row and you are out of a job. I think the Jaguars should have pulled the trade trigger, ponied up the money, got Jason Taylor and then drafted Quentin Groves as insurance and for the future. It seemed like an easy enough deal.

At least Jacksonville could have been set up for a solid 2 year run and they would have had a legitimate shot at being a top contender in the AFC. Now, Jacksonville seems to have placed all of their hopes of success on Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves becoming stars. Jason Taylor had 11.0 sacks last year. It would stand to reason that Harvey and Groves need to combine to produce at least 11 sacks this year in order to vindicate the decision to draft them. To put 11 sacks in perspective, Julius Peppers had 12 sacks in his rookie season and he was a "beast", but he started in only 12 games. I do not believe either of these guys will be as good as "the rookie" Julius Peppers was. But hey, surprises are always welcome.

Thomas Williams from USC being taken in the 5th round here seems a bit of a reach here unless you are drafting potential. He was injured for a time at USC. He started his college career as a reserve linebacker. He switched positions and played fullback in his junior year and in his senior year he was back at linebacker as a backup. Williams looks to have the skills to contribute on special teams but seems to lack the speed needed if he were to have to drop back into pass coverage. Williams is a true utility player. Playing multiple positions, he is the kind of hard hitting, versatile player that a coach likes to see. However, he is really going to have to work hard to see any action other than on the coverage teams. Trae Williams is an average, but skilled player. He is smallish in size, listed at 5-9 and he weighs 193 pds. Williams was part of the 8th best pass defending backfield in the nation last season. This is due in large part to his standout book end counterpart, Mike Jenkins. While Williams is no Mike Jenkins he does have experience and looks like a guy who may be able to make the team and actually get some playing time if learns the defense and "buys in" to Del Rio's philosophy. However, there are still questions about Williams ability to tackle and especially run tackle. Williams struggles with tackling as he tends to "grab and drag" instead of hitting with a burst of energy and knocking down a ball carrier. Williams has also been knocked for his slower clocked run times. He has had a few decent 40 yard postings yet his real speed in the 4.51 range. Williams is not a bad pick and may add depth but I think they could have addressed this need with a more elite cornerback in an earlier round
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Finally, Chauncey Washington once spoken of in the same breath as Reggie Bush and Lendale White. They all started off at USC in 2003. They were supposed to battle for the starting running back position but Washington wound up taking a back seat due to a stress fracture and he played very little. Things would get worse for Washington at USC. He was ruled academically ineligible in his 2004 and 2005 seasons. Finally, in 2006 Washington got his scholarship back and became eligibile to play again only to pull a hamstring in the pre-season. Washington was able to make it back and take the starting position back at the mid-season point and finish 2006 with 744 yards. In 2007, Washington was injured again but after missing the first game of the season but he made it back once again and Washington posted 969 yards as a senior. It seems when Washington decides to work hard, like he did in that all important senior season, he can perform. That may possibly translate into a professional career. Washington looks like he could be either a total bust or a possible future contributor. I know Pete Carroll will not just start any average Joe in his backfield so there has to be something special about Chauncey Washington. Though pick is a bit of a gamble. Jacksonville seems to have more running backs than most NFL teams have and that was even after they released Labrandon Toefield. With that said it looks like the Jaguars had their running back positions covered. But the Jaguars had to take one more running back here for some season. The upside of this pick? Possibly a very healthy, hard working and lucky Washington who learns the whole "pro" game, including becoming a good blocker, could wind up being one of those late round picks who has the potential to become a very good NFL player. However, he will have to beat out some very deserving players to make the 53 man roster.

Jacksonville seemed to have had an easier route to get to a solid pass rush. They could have taken a proven free agent and still been allowed to draft one of the defensive ends they picked and then fill the rest of their needs in the draft and they could have possibly be a competitior right out of the gate. Jack Del Rio is a defensive coach so he may enjoy crafting these draft picks into defensive standouts. It just seems like a lot of extra work.

1 8 Derrick Harvey DE Florida
2 52 Quentin Groves DE/LB Auburn
5 155 Thomas Williams LB Southern California
5 159 Trae Williams CB South Florida
7 213 Chauncey Washington RB Southern California

TENNESSEE TITANS "D+"
LOSER
The "D" given here is for DISAPPOINTMENT! We all know Chris Johnson is going to be the fastest running back in the league, but fast does not equal success? Is it like "ground hogs day" in Tennessee...The draft comes a running back is picked, the draft comes another running back is picked. I sense a pattern her. Well, Lendale White made the grade so it is not as if that was a bad pick. The problem was they really needed a wide receiver to begin with, I do not think Johnson was the player to take here, although he may be able to play in the slot and he is one heck of a pass catching threat out of the back field. One thing the Titans could have done would have been to trade that 1st round pick for a 2nd round pick coupled with a 4th and 5th pick or possibly a 2nd and 3rd round pick that would allowed them to get the best wide receiver in the draft and still pickup a solid running back. Vince Young needs targets to throw to. The Titans already picked up Alge Crumpler at the tight end position, even with Crumpler's health questions I just do not see what the need was to get Craig Stevens with a pick in the third round? I can understand the defensive end picks as they are down two ends due to free agency losses. Honestly, I could have even seen more creative trade scenarios like mult-pick trade that would have left the Titans in a position to get a good 1st round defensive end and possibly two second round receivers and one strong cornerback in the 3rd round and maybe another 5th or 6th round pick. Creative? Yes. Hard? Maybe. Impossible? No. Tennessee, next time you could be a bit more creative. Now the Titans can start worrying about trying to calm down a frustrated Vince Young. One item of interest. If the Titans could find a way to get Chris Johnson in the return game. This grade could change but it is unlikely. Just a long draft day for the Titan faithful. One last thing, I hear a receiver named Johnson, from Cincinnati, wants another team to play for.

1 24 Chris Johnson RB East Carolina
2 54 Jason Jones DT Eastern Michigan
3 85 Craig Stevens TE California
4 103 William Hayes DE Winston Salem State
4 126 Lavelle Hawkins WR California
4 134 Stanford Keglar LB Purdue
7 229 Cary Williams CB Washburn