Draft Grades

First things first, Lloyd's mock draft beat mine, but with as bad as we both did I wouldn't say either of us is terribly proud. There was a lot of maneuvering by teams and a few big surprises. With a draft this deep teams had very different boards and grades for players. So without further ado, here are the 2010 draft grades for every team.

Arizona Cardinals: A-
Best Pick: Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee
Worst Pick: Andre Roberts, WR, Citadel
The Cardinals had a very solid draft, with Roberts being the worst pick but not really being a bad pick. They probably could have had a better player here and waited to get Roberts, but they know what they want in the position and should develop him. Williams was a steal at 26, and Skelton might end up being the best pick they made.

Atlanta Falcons: C-
Best Pick: Dominique Franks, CB, Oklahoma
Worst Pick: Corey Peters, DT, Kentucky
I was really less than impressed with the Falcons draft. Weatherspoon was a good but not great pick, but not a great value at 19. After that I didn't like a single pick till Franks, then they got a good slot WR in Meier. They took guards with consecutive picks, but really needed to get better value when players were falling.

Baltimore Ravens: A+
Best Pick: Sergio Kindle, OLB/DE, Texas
Worst Pick: Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon
One of the best drafts hands down. They were able to trade down and still get a bunch of solid players. Kindle in the 2nd is a steal, and with Suggs to teach him, he could definitely develop into the best pass rusher in the draft. Put Cody on that D-line on first and second down and let him clog up. Dickson is the worst pick only because they got a better player in Pitta the next round and didn't need to take him that high.

Buffalo Bills: B
Best Pick: Marcus Easley, WR, UConn
Worst Pick: Alex Carrington, DE, Arkansas St
With Colt McCoy still sitting there at 72 you choose Alex Carrington? I'm alright with them passing on Clausen because I think he's a bum, but this team desperately needed a QB before the 7th round. They had their pick of McCoy, Pike, Lefevour, Skelton, or any other player. However, they got a group strong players in Troup, Wang, and Moats that should help their 3-4 transition.

Carolina Panthers: B-
Best Pick: Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
Worst Pick: Armanti Edwards, WR/QB, Appalachian St
I won't put Clausen as the worst pick because they were able to get him in the 2nd round at a much better value, even though I still think he's a 5th rounder. Pike is one of my favorite QBs because of his size and toughness. Edwards is gonna take a long time to develop as a third round pick, and even though he beat Michigan, the adjustment from 1-AA to the NFL will be tough. Still I hope he succeeds. Norwood and Hardy could be good, and if Hardy plays like his sophomore and junior years, he could be a steal in the 6th.

Chicago Bears: D-
Best Pick: Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern
Worst Pick: Joshua Moore, CB, Kansas St
The Bears somehow managed to not have a single pick until the 3rd round in the deepest draft since probably 1983. They got Major Wright, who is a good player, but had they had some other picks they could have had someone like Taylor Mays or Chad Jones. Wootton was a good pick in the 4th, but will struggle to see the field with Julius Peppers there. I'm not a big fan of Joshua Moore, and with so many other CBs available I'm curious as to what the Bears saw.

Cincinnati Bengals: B+
Best Pick: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Worst Pick: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Love Gresham to the Bengals. I think they had a pretty solid draft all around, and found so good steals. I just don't like that they spent a second rounder on Carlos Dunlap, who fits as a 3-4 DE more than a 4-3 DE, and the Bengals play a 4-3 defense. Brandon Ghee late in the 3rd could play very well in nickel, and keep an eye on Rod Muckelroy. He isn't a great athlete, but he plays hard and makes plays.

Cleveland Browns: C
Best Pick: Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Worst Pick: T.J. Ward, S, Oregon
Who is T.J. Ward? After Jarius Byrd and Patrick Chung came out, I didn't think I'd see another safety drafted this high from Oregon. From the little bit I know about him, he doesn't play the pass well, and has injury issues. What exactly jumps out about him. In the box safeties are really 1 or 2 down players, and when you draft that high in the 2nd, do you really want that kind of player? Haden was an underrated pick after a bad combine. Still, the tape shows a guy who isn't afraid to jump the route or hit a RB. He's the closest player to Champ Bailey I've seen in terms of the ability to play both pass and run. Colt McCoy could develop here, but boy there isn't a worse place to go for a rookie QB. Poor guy doesn't stand a chance.

Dallas Cowboys: A-
Best Pick: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St
Worst Pick: Jamar Wall, CB, Texas Tech
Dez Bryant is a beast, and if they can keep him out of trouble, they just got one of the 5 best players in the draft at 27. I really liked their first 3 picks. Sean Lee will be a good ILB in their scheme and should pile up tackles year after year. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah has size, speed, and agility that showed at the combine, and could really turn into a great pro. (Even though WCU WR Mike Washington, my former neighbor, put up 5 catches for 87 yards and 2 TDs vs him) Jamar Wall is the worst pick, but in the 6th round that's not really deal, which is why the Cowboys got a high grade. They would have gotten an A or A+ with more picks, but 6 won't cut it when 3 of them are in rounds 6 and 7.

Denver Broncos: C-
Best Pick: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Worst Pick: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
As you can tell, there is some indecision about the stunning first round pick of Tim Tebow by the Broncos. I love that it will bring such a positive influence into the locker room, along with a winning attitude and a desire for the game. I have trouble dealing with the fact that the 25th overall pick probably won't play for at least 2 years. Josh McDaniels has a pair of balls on him. Anyone willing to assume they have the job security to develop a player this early in the job without winning anything has some serious belief in themselves. I'm not a huge Demaryius Thomas fan, or a fan of only taking one defensive player before the seventh round. We still need a linebacker, but the Perrish Cox and Syd'Quan Thompson picks are solid. Eric Decker could develop really nicely into a number 2 receiver. Also, got the J.D. Walton pick right, which makes me happy.

Detroit Lions: B-
Best Pick: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Worst Pick: Jason Fox, OT, Miami(FL)
The Lions get an A+ for their first 3 picks on Suh, Best, and Spievey, but a D for the rest of them. I'm not a big Jason Fox fan, as Jason Worilds was able to soundly handle him in their games. They could have found a better value for OT there, and needed to find a better pass blocker to protect Stafford. Suh is the best player in the draft by far, and the Lions had to take him. He should make the defensive line one of the best in the NFL.

Green Bay Packers: B+
Best Pick: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Worst Pick: Mike Neal, DT, Purdue
The Packers had the fortune of having one of the top OTs in the draft free fall all the way to them at 23. They snatched him up, and should be able to find a place for him to start immediately. He should eventually develop into at worst a good RT, and at best a Pro Bowl LT. I thought they missed on taking Neal when Terrence Cody was there and picked right after him. I don't know if they plan to move him to DE in the 3-4, or if they think he can really be a NT, but I don't see him. I like Burnett and Quarless, and will be interested to see James Starks development behind Grant. I think he could be a fantasy sleeper this year.

Houston Texans: B
Best Pick: Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pittsburgh
Worst Pick: Earl Mitchell, DT, Arizona
Thought the Texans addressed their biggest need in the first round with Kareem Jackson and found a good zone blocking RB in Ben Tate in the second. I thought they could have waited on a DT considering they have other needs. Dickerson is a fantastic athlete that should really help improve their already great offense. I thought they needed to find a safety in the draft and they didn't. Their picks were pretty good, but they could have filled other needs.

Indianapolis Colts: C
Best Pick: Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
Worst Pick: Jacques McClendon, OG, Tennessee
The Colts got some good players in their first 3 picks, but then really dropped off after that. Hughes should learn from Freeney, Angerer could fit into the Tampa 2 well, and Thomas should find a role early on in nickel. I just thought that even though they were a Super Bowl team, they really needed some help on the O-Line earlier in the draft and failed to grab anyone. They always seem to find one or two gems, so I'm probably wrong.

Jacksonville Jaguars: F
Best Pick: Austen Lane, DE, Murray St
Worst Pick, Tyson Alualu, DT/DE, California
The worst draft in the NFL this season belongs to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The only redeeming pick is Austen Lane, a potential late second/early third rounder that they got in the fifth round. Tyson Alualu went way too high, as did the rest of their picks. I don't think more than 3 of their picks will be on the roster after next season. Whoever is making the decisions in this organization needs to be fired.

Kansas City Chiefs: B+
Best Pick: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Worst Pick: Dexter McCluster, RB/WR/RS, Ole Miss
Scott Pioli made the right choice by going with Eric Berry over any OT or any other position here. He is the 2nd best player in this draft behind Suh, and should be one of the top safeties in the league within 2 years. McCluster is the worst pick only because there is no need for him here. They have 2 good backs in Charles and Jones, so why use an early second round pick on a returner, and then take another returner in Javier Arenas next. The rest of the picks are solid, so they may be putting the pieces together.

Miami Dolphins: A-
Best Pick: Koa Misi, OLB, Utah
Worst Pick: Nolan Carroll, CB, Maryland
I liked the Dolphins first 4 picks to go along with Reshad Jones in the fifth round. I wasn't blown away by the Odrick pick because I'd like to see him in the 4-3, but I know I'm the minority there. John Jerry should be a perfect Parcells lineman who will slide into guard and likely start right away. Misi will immediately come in and provide a pass rush that left with Porter and Taylor.

Minnesota Vikings: C-
Best Pick: Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
Worst Pick: Chris Cook, CB, Virginia
I was less than impressed with the Vikings draft when they were in a position to really set themselves up for continued success. The didn't bother to take a QB, even though they had plenty of opportunity to do so. Guys like Pike, Lefevour, and Robinson were all available in the sixth round, but they took Joe Webb, who projects as a WR more than a QB. I like the Gerhart, Griffin, and Webb picks, but didn't like any others. Chris Cook got drafted way too high based on his combine performance. I don't think he'll do much of anything.

New England Patriots: A-
Best Pick: Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
Worst Pick: Jermaine Cunningham, DE/OLB, Florida
With 12 total picks the Patriots just reloaded their team with solid players and some players likely to start right away. Gronkowski is one of my favorites in the draft, and McCourty fits the Patriot mold of shorter, athletic CBs with good ball skills. The rest of the picks are very good players, including Taylor Price, who could really be a great WR in the league. I didn't think Cunningham was that good, and going in the second round was a stretch. Spikes is slow, but so was Jerod Mayo, and we saw how that worked out for them. So maybe they can put those two together for a top ILB duo.

New Orleans Saints: B
Best Pick: Charles Brown, OT, USC
Worst Pick: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida St
Loved every pick in their draft except Patrick Robinson, and you really can't get above a B unless you nail your first round pick. They could have used a LB/DE like Sergio Kindle, but decided to take another CB high in the draft. Jimmy Graham was one of my sleeper picks, and now having 2 Miami(FL) TEs on their team they should be able to give Brees more targets. Charles Brown should provide extra depth on the line, and at the end of the second round he was a huge steal.

New York Giants: B-
Best Pick: Chad Jones, S, LSU
Worst Pick: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, USF
Another DE to the Giants? This pick really confused me considering they have Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, and Kiwanuka. He has some character issues on top of being a project and a poor run defender. His skills are undeniable, but he has a long way to go before he is more than a pass rusher. I love Chad Jones, and think he can start even in that strong secondary. Linval Joseph is a good player who really moved up draft boards towards the end of the process. He should contribute a lot, and possibly start by season's end. The rest of the draft is alright, nothing special, but they did get bench press king Mitch Petrus, who put up 45 reps of 225 at the combine.

New York Jets: C+
Best Pick: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise St
Worst Pick: Joe McKnight, RB, USC
The Jets clearly valued their board over need with the picks they made. Kyle Wilson was an absolute steal at pick 29 as was Vlad Ducasse at 61. McKnight will fill the hole Leon Washington left, but I don't believe he's quite as good at his best as Washington. John Conner was the best FB in the draft and should see the field in heavy packages early for the Jets. With only 4 picks like the Bears, it's tough to give them a good grade in such a deep draft.

Oakland Raiders: B+
Best Pick: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
Worst Pick: Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson
I am convinced Al Davis was locked out of the war room until the third day. They made the right pick in McClain, got good value from Houston, and got a potential book-end tackle in Veldheer. They took Bruce Campbell like everyone thought, but not until the fourth round where the tape said he should go. Jacoby Ford is just a poor man's Darrius Heyward-Bey, which is not a good thing. They really did a better job than I expected.

Philadelphia Eagles: A-
Best Pick: Nate Allen, S, USF
Worst Pick: Mike Kafka, QB, Northwestern
With 13 picks the Eagles really found a way to move around and still get a ton of talented players. Graham is a fantastic player that will make an impact quickly on the D-line. Nate Allen is a smart, instinctive player who will probably start on day 1 for the Eagles. They really went after smart, high motor guys in the draft. I think taking Kafka in the fourth was dumb, possibly shaking the confidence of newly appointed starter Kevin Kolb by having someone breathing down his neck. Their seventh round was easily the best of anyone in the draft with Chaney, Owens, and Coleman.

Pittsburgh Steelers: C
Best Pick: Antonio Brown, WR, CMU
Worst Pick: Emmanuel Sanders, WR, SMU
How did the Steelers take Sanders in the third and Brown in sixth? It seems like it should be reversed. Pouncey was a good pick for a team that will need to run for the first 6 games this season without Roethlisberger. I would have a higher grade for them if they didn't draft 3 OLB on a team with stars at the position already. They have no place to put all these guys. Dwyer could be the perfect compliment to Mendenhall and my guy Worilds should help out somewhere.

San Diego Chargers: B-
Best Pick: Cam Thomas, DT, UNC
Worst Pick: Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno St
Matthews goes down as the worst pick because of where he was taken, not because of his ability. He was a late first round talent that got taken 12th because of some fear that he wouldn't last. However this was a deep RB class, and taking a RB later and another player at their spot would have been smarter. I really like Donald Butler and Cam Thomas to improve their weakening defense. Butler is athletic just like Phillips and Merriman, and Thomas is the prototype of a NT who could develop with some coaching. The rest of the draft is a little blah.

San Francisco 49ers: B
Best Pick: Taylor Mays, S, USC
Worst Pick: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
I have made no bones about my love of Taylor Mays. He got fortunate to go play for a guy like Mike Singletary, who will bring out the best in him. Pairing a big hitter like Mays with a playmaker like Goldson will be a solid group. A lot of people liked this draft more than I did, but I just don't think Davis will be as good as the 11th pick in the draft. Especially with the work ethic issues he might not have been worth moving up to get. Iupati will be a stud so long as he doesn't move out to tackle. He grabs too much and will get called for holding trying to catch up to faster DEs. Bowman will help compliment the defense, and Anthony Dixon saves this draft because he's my favorite RB of the group.

Seattle Seahawks: A
Best Pick: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St
Worst Pick: E.J. Wilson, DE, UNC
The Seahawks really had a great draft, getting Okung with the 6th pick was a nice treat, and having Thomas there at 14 was even nicer. Then a stud WR in Golden Tate falls to them in the second, where they probably couldn't have been happier to see him. They took some risks with Anthony McCoy, but only with a sixth rounder (any idiot who tests positive for marijuana at the combine, the biggest job interview of their life, needs a serious mental evaluation). Dexter Davis could come in and help with pass rushing at DE in 3rd down, which is nice from a seventh rounder. This draft is really made with the first 3 picks and depth later.

St. Louis Rams: B+
Best Pick: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Worst Pick: Hall Davis, DE, ULL
Bradford was the pick for a team desperately in need of a QB since Kurt Warner left. They can build around him for the years to come. Without the injury he might have been an even easier selection, but was still easily the best QB in the draft. I really liked Jerome Murphy in the third round as well. Along with Bradford they also got my 11th best player in George Selvie in the seventh round. I know I definitely had him higher than everyone else, but he plays the pass and run effectively, and I would have preferred to see him play OLB in a 3-4, but his motor should earn him a spot this season. Their worst pick could have been any number of guys from rounds five to seven that likely won't contribute at all.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B-
Best Pick: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
Worst Pick: Mike Williams, WR, Syracuse
The Bucs had an easy decision to make at number 3 overall with McCoy on the board. He is the closest thing to Warren Sapp that has come out since Sapp himself. I like the players after McCoy that the Bucs got, but not necessarily for them in particular. They took back to back DTs and will sink a lot of money into the position, but I had Price as a first round grade, so I can't complain that they got him in the second. Benn is not my favorite WR, but he is a big, strong target for Josh Freeman. Mike Williams is a bad pick for this young team because he just quit on his college team. He has some bad character issues, and bringing that presence into the locker room could cause a mutiny (pun intended). Watson and Grimm should be nice special teamers from the get go.

Tennessee Titans: C+
Best Pick: Damian Williams, WR, USC
Worst Pick: Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
The Titans had a very strange draft. They took Derrick Morgan, who seems to be the perfect fit for their defense, and then got Damian Williams, who should help Vince Young and be a productive player. They also got Rennie Curran, an overachieving LB who will find a way to play somehow. Then they pick a so-so CB, and throw away picks on Rusty Smith, Marc Mariani and David Howard. Myron Rolle will be interesting to see in the Titans defense, where I think he will be able to compete for a job. I still wonder if he will be in football shape in time to make an impact. I thought the Titans could have done a much better job than they did.

Washington Redskins: D
Best Pick: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
Worst Pick: Anyone else
The Redskins are allergic to holding on to their higher picks in the draft. Like the Bears and Jets before them they screw themselves out of the best draft in years. While the Skins had more picks than both, they only had 1 pick in the first 3 rounds. They had a first, fourth, sixth, and 3 seventh round picks. That's not enough to grow this team. Williams should fit well in Shanahan's scheme, but other than that Perry Riley and maybe Selvish Capers are the only players with legit shots at being on the 2011 roster. Not the worst draft, but one of them.