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Rating The Draft
Authored by Eric Galko - 28th April, 2008 - 12:10 pm
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After a hectic and somewhat shocking draft, I really feel most teams came away with what they needed. Now, it is important to note that most of these teams won’t benefit from this draft until 2-3 years from now. And, as is usual for most draft analists, I will do my best to play Crystal Ball reader and predict who had the best draft.
For a contending team, I like to see players who can help immediately in the 1st two rounds and future picks in the later rounds. For a rebuilding team, I like to see teams who draft the best players available and really try to get as many starters as possible for the future of the franchise. Finally, please note that I will be breaking down each division and how the teams in that division did on my website TheNFLHouse.com.
Best Picks
Jonathan Stewart, 13th overall pick to Carolina – Some people feel this was too much of a value pick, but the Panthers should be in a win-now mode with their LT possibly gone next season and their QB and WRs getting to the end of their best years. With Stewart, they can have a Peterson/Taylor type scenario like in Minnesota and should give this team a solid running foundation for the now and the future.
Rashard Mendenhall, 23rd overall pick to Pittsburgh – I don’t understand why more teams don’t do this, but the Steelers, 99 percent of the time, draft the best player available. They didn’t even think of taking an offensive guard or defensive line help. They saw that arguably the best running back was on the board, and they took him. Very smart, and this is the reason they are good year in and year out.
James Hardy, 41st overall to Buffalo – A steal in the middle of round 1, as he is my top ranked wide receiver in this draft. I think 5 years from now Hardy will be a star receiver in this league because of his great size, speed, and hands. With Evans and Hardy, this receiving corps went from very average to top 10 in the league in my opinion.
Chad Henne, 57th to Miami – I had they taking him in the beginning of round 2, so to get him with their latter pick is really lucky. Henne is, again, my best quarterback in this draft class. Henne has the great arm, the solid accuracy, the decent athletic ability, and the experience. Parcels has now found his future at quarterback.
Dan Connor, 74th to Carolina – Carolina just gets it. They know what they need and got a player in Connor who should have been a mid-to-late 1st round pick in the 3rd. Connor should start from Day One at inside linebacker. With him and Beason, along with the solid depth they have there, this struggling defense should really be helped.
Worst Picks
Felix Jones, 22nd to Dallas – This pick necessarily wasn’t “bad”, but with Rashard Mendenhall on the board, it wasn’t good either. Felix Jones is, at best, a situational player who is only good for 8-12 carries a game. Mendenhall would have given this team either two good running backs or leverage to let Barber go.
Chris Johnson, 24th to Tennessee – Again, this pick wasn’t horrible. Johnson is a little bit better but the exact same player as Chris Henry, last year’s 2nd round pick. They could have traded down and taken Limas Sweed or Devin Thomas and maybe still traded up to get Chris Johnson. I just don’t understand.
Donnie Avery, 33rd to St. Louis – The odds of Donnie Avery being the 1st receiver taken in this draft was about 200 to 1, and that’s asking a lot. Most people had Avery around number 6-12 in their wide receiver rankings. The Rams must have thought otherwise. With Isaac Bruce gone, a player like Devin Thomas or Limas Sweed would have been good. Or, if they wanted speed, maybe DeSean Jackson. Avery? Very doubtful he will live up to his hype now.
Jordy Nelson, 36th to Green Bay – As if the 1st wide receiver taken wasn’t bad enough. Jordy Nelson is a solid player, but to be picked over players like DeSean Jackson or Limas Sweed or even Malcolm Kelly is just stupid. The Packers could have used an offensive lineman or a corner more, but Nelson might be the 4th receiver for them.
William Hayes, 103rd to Tennessee – This is by far the most puzzling pick in this draft. He was so off the radar that when he was the pick, ESPN had no information on him, so they just basically said nothing about him stat-wise and moved on. Tennessee is lost, and they must have thought that some other team was going to take him and make them take a receiver. Ten bucks says he doesn’t make the team.
Best Drafts
3. Cleveland Browns – This may be puzzling to some as to why they are here, but they traded their 1st round pick for their future quarterback, their 2nd round pick for a very good starting defensive tackle in Corey Williams, and traded their 3rd and 5th round pick for starting nose tackle Shaun Rodgers. And in the 4th round, they got Beau Bell, arguably the best pass defending linebacker, and Martin Rucker, a solid tight end as insurance for Kellen Winslow.
2. Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs seem to let everyone know on draft day that they were rebuilding, but it shouldn’t take too long with the great players they got. I must start off by saying that they must really like Brodie Croyle as they took every need but quarterback. They got Glenn Dorsey, the 2nd coming of Warren Sapp; Brandon Albert, either left tackle or left guard for the future; Brandon Flowers, solid special teamer and 1st round potential cornerback; Jamal Charles, solid #2 back; DaJuan Morgan, arguably top 2 safety; and Brad Cottam, great blocking tight end, and much more. Great future for this team.
1. Carolina Panthers- This is either a love or a hate draft. The Panthers were in a tight spot here. They could either have packed it in and drafted for the future, or tried to win now with the pieces they have. I think they chose to win now, and it could work. They took Jonathan Stewart, who can make this running game elite; Jeff Otah, who they traded a 2nd, 4th, and next year’s 1st for and can be their left tackle of the future, right tackle for now; Charles Godfrey, providing great depth and talent at cornerback; Dan Connor, arguably a top 3 linebacker; Gary Barnidge, who can be this team’s top tight end threat; and other solid contributors.
Worst Drafts
3. San Diego – Taking Antoine Cason made some sense in round 1, but they had other needs, and after not having a pick for a while, they should have traded down to pick up a solid right tackle or safety or inside linebacker. Then they traded up in round two to take a fullback in Jacob Hester. Unless they plan on using him at running back, this was not a smart pick since he isn’t a great blocker. They took Marcus Thomas from UTEP next, who showed flashes of ability in college but should struggle to beat out Darren Sproles for the number 3 running back spot. They didn’t fill too many needs and still seem another year away from being good.
2. Detroit – The Lions traded their pick to Kansas City, and I thought it was a great move. The two best players on the board were Jeff Otah and Rashard Mendenhall, both great fits for the Lions. The Chiefs took Branden Albert, leaving both players left for Detroit. Then Arizona took a cornerback, so they still had both left. Instead, they opted for the 5th-6th best offensive tackle in Gosder Cherilus, who could be a decent right tackle but not a left. They took Jordan Dizon in the 2nd round, who I like quite a bit and fits their system, but they could have gotten him easily two rounds later. For a team on the cusp of the playoffs, they had a bad draft, like usual.
1. Tennessee – Anyone who watched the draft to its entirety (sadly like me), you were waiting and projecting which wide receiver the Titans will take in the 1st round. Chris Johnson, solid player but a backup running back in round 1,was not a good start. Then in round 2, they went with Jason Jones, who is a solid defensive end but nothing special and should struggle for playing time. Then Craig Stevens, decent tight end prospect but will be 3rd stringer for this team. Then Williams Hayes, who I already ranted about above. Then, finally, they selected Lavelle Hawkins, wide receiver from California. He is good, and they got a good value, but they should have taken at least 2 receivers with their 1st 5 picks but only took one in the whole draft. Not good.
Sleepers of the Draft
Earl Bennett, 3rd Round to Chicago – He had a great 10-yard split time at the Combine. Another notable receiver who dropped with a great 10 yard split was Anquan Boldin.
Dre Moore, 4th Round to Tampa Bay – Moore was decent at Maryland, but has the potential to really blossom in this Tampa 2 and, if motivated, is a 1st round prospect.
Jonathan Goff, 5th Round to New York – The most underrated linebacker in this draft because he is very smart and is a great tackler. Should compete for time in New York.
Ryan Torain, 5th Round to Denver – The only area keeping him from being a fridge 2nd rounder is an injury. After it’s healed, expect a 1,000-yard season in Denver.
Taylor Mehlhaff, 6th Round to New Orleans – This is a “surprising” surprising pick here, but with his leg and playing in a dome, he’s my fantasy kicker right now.
Expect the cornerbacks and the offensive tackle to be highlighted by this draft but don’t be surprised if Matt Ryan, Chad Henne, and Brian Brohm are all very good starters in this league at quarterback (I don’t like Joe Flacco). Well, as the much-anticipated draft is over, I will not know what to do with myself for about a week since I feel I lack main purpose in life. But, at least in two weeks, I can start preparing for the 2009 draft. I can hear it now…”With the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select…Tim Tebow.” Man, I just can’t wait. Only 300+ more days to go.
