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Thumbs up and thumbs down… Of course it takes several years for a draft class to fully prove itself making post-draft grades rather meaningless, however, its hard not to look at what the different teams did around the league and not be more impressed with what some teams versus others.
Heading the list of teams that deserve a thumbs up on first blush is Kansas City which had LSU DT Glenn Dorsey, who more than one team had rated as the best player overall in the 2008 draft class, drop into their laps at the 5th pick and then moved up a couple of spots later in the opening round to nab rugged Virginia G/T Branden Albert, the guy the Chiefs just may have taken had Dorsey not been on the board. The Chiefs also got a potentially useful player in the second round in Virginia Tech CB Brandon Flowers. And the Chiefs have a chance to really nail it with a total of 9 more picks in Sunday‘s 5 rounds.
Other teams (in no particular order) getting two unofficial thumbs up include:
Philadelphia: The Eagles traded out of the first round acquiring an extra 1st rounder in 2009, but still got a couple of very good prospects in Notre Dame DT Trevor Laws and Cal WR/KR DeSean Jackson late in the second round.
Buffalo: The Bills sat tight and got the top CB in this year’s draft in Troy’ Leodis McKelvin and then snapped up 6-6 Indiana WR James Hardy in the second.
Arizona: Speaking of ’we never thought the guy would be there moments,’ the Cardinals qualified when they filled a huge hole with Tennessee State CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who has tremendous upside and then got a very interesting prospec in Miami DE Calais Campbell in the second.
Minnesota: The Vikings’ draft will be remembered most for the trade to acquire Pro Bowl DE Jared Allen, but Minnesota also get a very good defensive prospect with their only pick so far this weekend when they selected emerging Arkansas State safety Tyrell Johnson in the second round.
Meanwhile, again in no particular order, we also liked what Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Washington were able to accomplish on Saturday with ther opening two round selections.
On the other hand teams, again in no particular order, that left us scratching our heads just a tad included:
Houston: No one can fault Texans for asking ’for this we waited 364 days!’ after the Texans appeared to reach big-time for Virginia Tech OT Duane Brown late in the first round with their only pick on Saturday.
Seattle: Neither of DE Lawrence Jackson nor TE John Carlson, the Seahawks’ first and second round picks respectively are particularly great athletes and don’t appear to offer much upside, although both give an honest effort.
Atlanta: QB Matt Ryan, OT Sam Baker and MLB Curtis Lofton make a nice first day haul but figure the Falcons had to be expecting more after going into the draft with four of the first 48 picks. Like the Texans, the Falcons got caught at the end of the run on OTs in the opening round and may have reached for Baker who cost them an extra pick to boot.
Detroit: In moving down three spots the Lions passed on the chance to take G/T Branden Albert, possibly the second best OL prospect in this draft, and ended up with Gosder Cherilus, who wasn’t. And MLB Jordan Dizon likely went at least a round early in the second.
Baltimore: Does the still-good but aging Ravens’ defense have the time to wait for QB Joe Flacco to develop. And did the Ravens really have to go all the way to the 18th pick (from the 26th after starting out at #8) to get Flacco. Meanwhile, Ray Rice is a nice player, but its hard to see where he addresses anything remotely resembling a Ravens’ need.
Heading the list of teams that deserve a thumbs up on first blush is Kansas City which had LSU DT Glenn Dorsey, who more than one team had rated as the best player overall in the 2008 draft class, drop into their laps at the 5th pick and then moved up a couple of spots later in the opening round to nab rugged Virginia G/T Branden Albert, the guy the Chiefs just may have taken had Dorsey not been on the board. The Chiefs also got a potentially useful player in the second round in Virginia Tech CB Brandon Flowers. And the Chiefs have a chance to really nail it with a total of 9 more picks in Sunday‘s 5 rounds.
Other teams (in no particular order) getting two unofficial thumbs up include:
Philadelphia: The Eagles traded out of the first round acquiring an extra 1st rounder in 2009, but still got a couple of very good prospects in Notre Dame DT Trevor Laws and Cal WR/KR DeSean Jackson late in the second round.
Buffalo: The Bills sat tight and got the top CB in this year’s draft in Troy’ Leodis McKelvin and then snapped up 6-6 Indiana WR James Hardy in the second.
Arizona: Speaking of ’we never thought the guy would be there moments,’ the Cardinals qualified when they filled a huge hole with Tennessee State CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who has tremendous upside and then got a very interesting prospec in Miami DE Calais Campbell in the second.
Minnesota: The Vikings’ draft will be remembered most for the trade to acquire Pro Bowl DE Jared Allen, but Minnesota also get a very good defensive prospect with their only pick so far this weekend when they selected emerging Arkansas State safety Tyrell Johnson in the second round.
Meanwhile, again in no particular order, we also liked what Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Washington were able to accomplish on Saturday with ther opening two round selections.
On the other hand teams, again in no particular order, that left us scratching our heads just a tad included:
Houston: No one can fault Texans for asking ’for this we waited 364 days!’ after the Texans appeared to reach big-time for Virginia Tech OT Duane Brown late in the first round with their only pick on Saturday.
Seattle: Neither of DE Lawrence Jackson nor TE John Carlson, the Seahawks’ first and second round picks respectively are particularly great athletes and don’t appear to offer much upside, although both give an honest effort.
Atlanta: QB Matt Ryan, OT Sam Baker and MLB Curtis Lofton make a nice first day haul but figure the Falcons had to be expecting more after going into the draft with four of the first 48 picks. Like the Texans, the Falcons got caught at the end of the run on OTs in the opening round and may have reached for Baker who cost them an extra pick to boot.
Detroit: In moving down three spots the Lions passed on the chance to take G/T Branden Albert, possibly the second best OL prospect in this draft, and ended up with Gosder Cherilus, who wasn’t. And MLB Jordan Dizon likely went at least a round early in the second.
Baltimore: Does the still-good but aging Ravens’ defense have the time to wait for QB Joe Flacco to develop. And did the Ravens really have to go all the way to the 18th pick (from the 26th after starting out at #8) to get Flacco. Meanwhile, Ray Rice is a nice player, but its hard to see where he addresses anything remotely resembling a Ravens’ need.
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