Upon Further Review

As the three day extravaganza came to a close yesterday, and Mr. Irrelevant (Timothy Toone) was being drafted by the Lions, Mel Kiper started doling out his top prospects for next year. Mel will probably have a "Big Board" on Monday and a mock draft, projecting where people will draft and who they will draft, out by Friday. There's a lot of football to be played on both the college and professional level before then, so I'm going to look at what the teams did over the last three days to make their teams better. Beings as though I am an MBA student, I decided to grade out all of the teams' drafts on a nice normal distribution (if you are unfamiliar: linky), something I am intimately familiar with.

Top of the Class: Seattle Seahawks (A+)

As much as I would rather not give Pete Carroll credit, I loved pretty much everything they did in this draft. It helps to have two first round picks, but you have to use them well. They replaced franchise LT Walter Jones with the best tackle in the draft in Russell Okung and followed up at pick 14 with a great value in Earl Thomas, a versatile safety who has corner-like cover skills. I like the ball skills and value of Golden Tate in the second round, as well as the value picks of Walter Thurmond (CB, 4th), Kam Chancellor (S, 5th), and Anthony McCoy (TE, 6th). They were also able to do a pick swap that cost them practically nothing to get LenDale White, a bruising goal line running back, and traded a 5th round pick for Leon Washington, a lightning quick running back and return man coming off of injury. Overall, loved this draft.

Other Top Performers: Baltimore Ravens (A), Carolina Panthers (A), San Francisco 49ers (A), and Cincinnati Bengals (A-)

Baltimore Ravens (A) - They wanted Dez Bryant in the first round at 25 but the Cowboys jumped ahead of them at 24 and picked him. Unfazed, Ozzie Newsome traded back with the Broncos (who picked Tebow) and got 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round picks - great deal. What did they do with their later picks? In the second round they drafted two first round talents, and great fits for their defense in DE/OLB Sergio Kindle and NT Terrence Cody. Between Cody and Haloti Ngata, the buffet table should be empty and the opposing offensive line occupied. I liked their next two picks as well in TEs Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, which should provide some nice targets for Joe Flacco in the middle of the field.

Carolina Panthers (A) - The Panthers thought about trading up in the 2nd round but didn't want to pay the price, and they were still able to get their guy in QB Jimmy Clausen, thought to be a top ten pick. For a team that needs a quarterback, this couldn't have played out better. I also like the picks of Brandon Lafell (WR, 3rd), Eric Norwood (OLB, 4th), Greg Hardy (DE, 6th), and David Gettis (WR, 6th). They gave up a 2nd round next year to draft QB/WR Armanti Edwards in the 3rd round, an intriguing prospect, but a high price. Overall though, I thought they had great value and I thing Hardy really has a chance to be a tremendous steal in the 6th if he stays healthy.

San Francisco 49ers (A) - They sured up the line with Anthony Davis (OT, no. 11) and Mike Iupati (OG, no. 17), both good value picks - I admittedly like building with the lines. They got a punishing safety with first round talent in the second in Taylor Mays, a nasty linebacker in the third in Navorro Bowman, and a bruising running back that I think has real potential to contribute in Anthony Dixon in the 6th round.

Cincinnati Bengals (A-) - I really like the Bengals draft but I am a little hesitant as they continue to draft some character issue players. Jermaine Gresham, the best tight end in the draft, will be a great weapon for Carson Palmer. They also got great values in terms of talent in Carlos Dunlap (DE, 2nd), Jordan Shipley (WR, 3rd), Geno Atkins (DT, 4th), Roddrick Muckelroy (ILB, 4th), and Dezmon Briscoe (WR, 6th). Dunlap was a top ten pick before he ran into some issues this past year and people started questioning his desire on the field, and Briscoe was likely a middle round pick but his attitude came into question causing him to slip. If they can keep their talents in line, it's a great draft.

Not fantastic, but really solid:

Detroit Lions (B+) - They may actually building something here. Obvioulsy love the Suh pick at no. 2, but also liked the defensive back help with Amari Spievey in the 3rd and offensive line help with OT Jason Fox in the 4th.

New England Patriots (B+) - Bill Belichik continues to do what he does. Trade down and acquire picks. They picked twelve times and law of averages says that a good number of those are bound to pan out. I liked their tight end picks Rob Gronkowski (2nd) and Aron Hernandez (4th), receiver Taylor Price (3rd), and defensive standouts Devin McCourty (1st) and Brandon Spikes (2nd).

Arizona Cardinals (B) - I really liked what they did defensively in getting the drafts top nose tackle, Dan Williams, as well as linebackers Daryl Washington (2nd) and O'Brien Schofield (4th). I also like the potential of small school picks Andre Roberts (WR, 3rd) and John Skelton (QB, 5th).

Dallas Cowboys (B) - Didn't have a whole lot of picks in the draft but I really like what they did in trading up to grab the top wide receiver in Dez Bryant at no. 24, especially because he was likely off the board at no. 25. I think they also got good value with Sean Lee (ILB, 2nd), Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (CB, 4th), and Sam Young (OT, 6th).

Kansas City Chiefs (B) - They didn't draft necessarily to needs but got some great values and athletes. They needed an offensive tackle but I absolutely thought Eric Berry was the right pick at no. 5, a Ed Reed type safety who will make a difference on the back end of the secondary.

New Orleans (B) - Solid picks throughout but really got value in finding tackle Charles Brown at the back end of the second round and great athlete with a high ceiling in tight end Jimmy Graham at the end of the third.

Oakland Raiders (B) - Strange to think they had a good draft, but they waited to get their combine babies until the third day and got starters in Rolando McClain (ILB) in the first and Lamar Houston (DT) in the second. They were able to get Bruce Campbell, mentioned in a pre-draft blog, in the 4th. Their most notable move was trading a 4th round pick next year for Jason Campbell, a good move to get a quarterback.

Philadelphia Eagles (B) - Did their best to act like the Patriots, moving back and accumulating picks. They were able to get difference makers in Brandon Graham (DE, 1st) and Nate Allen (S, 2nd), and values late.

Tennessee Titans (B) - They got the top defensive end in the draft in Derrick Morgan at no. 16 and I liked Damian Williams (WR) and Rennie Curan (LB) in the third round. I also like that they grabbed Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle in the 6th round, a great kid that should be given a chance.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (B) - They improved the middle of their defense in the first and second round in drafting defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price, both who were first round talents who will likely start. Wide Receivers Arrelious Benn (2nd) and Mike Williams provide help for Josh Freeman on offense, both having the potential to start.

Cleveland Browns (B-) - Downgraded a little because I thought they overdrafted in some cases, but they also made some very good picks. I liked CB Joe Haden in the first, but I thought Earl Thomas was a better value at no. 7. In turn, they then drafted safety T.J. Ward in the early second round, when he was probably a third or fourth round player. They did, however, get Colt McCoy in the 3rd, safety Larry Asante (I'm biased) in the 5th, and Carlton Mitchell (WR) in the 6th. Mitchell may have been my favorite pick in their draft.

Well, that's the top 50% of the draft. If you didn't read about your team in this blog, you'll have to check in for part 2 to see what I didn't like about your team's draft.