2005 NFL Draft Grades and Re-Grades
NFC Re-Grades

This page is dedicated to my 2005 NFL Draft Grades and Re-Grades for the NFC. The latter is basically going back three years and re-grading how every team fared in the 2005 NFL Draft. The new analysis is in red, while all the old stuff has been preserved.

Here are my 2005 NFL Draft Grades and Re-Grades: AFC.

Grade given on 5/1/05: A
Grade given on 6/3/08: A+

Good Moves: All of Dallas’ picks were solid. Defensive ends DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears bring size and strength to Bill Parcells’ defense. Chris Canty, a talented defensive end with an injury problem, will be a solid contributor in 2006. Marion Barber III provides insurance if Julius Jones gets injured. Kevin Burnett was a good outside linebacker to take in the second round. Offensive tackle Rob Petitti was a great selection in the sixth round.

Bad Moves: Dallas failed to draft a wide receiver or a cornerback.

June 3, 2008 Update: The Cowboys easily had one of the best classes in the 2005 NFL Draft. In the first round alone, they landed two defensive starters, one of whom is a Pro Bowler, in DeMarcus Ware (No. 11 overall) and Marcus Spears (No. 20 overall). And the kicker is, neither of those two players was their most impressive pick. That would go to the fourth-rounder they used on Marion Barber. What a steal.

Two other later selections have become starters on the defensive line. Chris Canty (4th round) and Jay Ratliff (7th round) have become important members of Dallas’ stop unit … However, not every pick the Cowboys utilized turned out great. Second-rounder Kevin Burnett has been a marginal reserve, but never lived up to expectations … Rob Petitti (6th round), now with the Rams, hasn’t been much of a factor in this league … Justin Beriault (5th round) isn’t in the league anymore.

As I said, Dallas hit the jackpot with this draft. Oddly enough, the two positions I felt they should have addressed – receiver and cornerback – is what they needed help with this year.

Potential 2005 Starters: DE/OLB DeMarcus Ware, DE Marcus Spears, OLB Kevin Burnett, OT Rob Petitti.

Grade given on 5/1/05: B
Grade given on 6/3/08: A

Good Moves: The Giants didn’t have many picks, but they made a couple of good moves. Cornerback Corey Webster will be a decent nickel back in 2005. Defensive end Justin Tuck provides much-needed depth behind Michael Strahan, while Brandon Jacobs will spell Tiki Barber for a few plays.

Bad Moves: There were better defensive ends than Eric Moore in the sixth round.

June 3, 2008 Update: I gave the Giants a B because they had just four picks. Big mistake. Three of those selections all made huge contributions to their Super Bowl run.

The player who had the most impact last year was Justin Tuck, a third-round steal who has become one of the better defensive linemen in all of football … Everyone knows what Brandon Jacobs brings to the table, and New York managed to snag him in the fourth round … Corey Webster (2nd round) isn’t a starter, but he stepped up his game when it mattered most.

The only pick of New York’s that I didn’t like was Eric Moore (6th round). Moore played sparingly with the Rams last year.

Potential 2005 Starters: None.

Grade given on 5/1/05: A-
Grade given on 6/3/08: B

Good Moves: Mike Patterson is a solid defensive tackle, who will replace Corey Simon on the defensive line. The selection of Reggie Brown, a talented wide receiver, marks the end of the ugly Freddie Mitchell era in Philadelphia. I have no problem with the selection of OLB Matt McCoy, but Darryl Blackstock was available. Safety Sean Considine was a great fourth-round pick, and will be a great player for the Eagles in the future. Philadelphia was also successful in the fifth round, drafting DE Trent Cole and G Scott Young.

Bad Moves: It was too early to take OT Todd Herremans in the fourth round. I didn’t agree with the Eagles’ seventh-round selections.

June 3, 2008 Update: The Eagles had a good mix of hits and busts in this class, but when you compare their draft to what some other teams did (keep scrolling), you have to say that they did pretty well for themselves. Mike Patterson (No. 31 overall) has been a force at defensive tackle for Philadelphia, although he has had some recent off-the-field issues. Philadelphia’s other great pick was Trent Cole in the fifth round. After an eight-sack campaign in 2006, Cole had 13 last season.

The jury’s still out on Reggie Brown (second round). Brown showed a lot of promise his rookie year, but has never had more than 816 receiving yards in his career. Brown, now 27, must step up if the Eagles can’t trade Lito Sheppard for a top-notch wideout … Philadelphia’s other second-rounder, linebacker Matt McCoy, was a horrendous selection. He’s barely hanging on to a job in Tampa Bay … The same could be said about Ryan Moats (3rd round). Moats had 278 rushing yards as a rookie, but has only compiled 69 since.

Both of Philadelphia’s fourth-rounders start for the team. Fans don’t like Sean Considine, but he’s currently penciled in at strong safety. Todd Herremans, meanwhile, has been a reliable left guard for the team … Unfortunately, the other offensive linemen Andy Reid drafted, Scott Young (5th round) and Calvin Armstrong (6th), have been busts. The latter isn’t playing in the NFL anymore … Armstrong isn’t the only ex-NFL player the Eagles drafted in 2005; neither of the team’s seventh-rounders – Keyonta Marshall and David Bergeron – are in the league.

Potential 2005 Starters: DT Mike Patterson, OLB Matt McCoy.

Grade given on 5/1/05: C+
Grade given on 6/3/08: C-

Good Moves: The Redskins took CB Carlos Rogers, who will replace Fred Smoot. Jason Campbell could be the best quarterback in this draft class. He could start this upcoming season. Robert McCune was a decent fifth-round selection.

Bad Moves: Washington failed to upgrade their defensive line. Their fourth-round pick of Manny White Jr. did not make any sense.

June 3, 2008 Update: The Redskins were one of the few teams with multiple first-round draft choices, though it should be noted that they mortgaged their future by trading up for Jason Campbell (No. 25 overall). The jury’s still out on Campbell. At times, he has shown flashes of brilliance. Other times, he’s been mediocre. Campbell has to put it together soon, especially after fans saw Todd Collins lead their team into the playoffs. The other No. 1 selection was Carlos Rogers, the ninth overall pick. Rogers has been a solid corner in his career, but tore his ACL and MCL in late October. He’s going to miss some time in 2008.

Washington’s other picks have failed. Fourth-round running back Manny White has retired already … Robert McCune (5th round) is buried on Baltimore’s depth chart and probably won’t make the team … Jared Newberry (6th round) can’t make an NFL squad … Meanwhile, Nehemiah Broughton (7th round) is still on Washington’s roster, though he has yet to play a regular season game.

Potential 2005 Starters: QB Jason Campbell, MLB Robert McCune, CB Carlos Rogers.



Grade given on 5/1/05: A+
Grade given on 6/3/08: C

Good Moves: Perhaps the Bears should have taken Mike Williams, but Cedric Benson will prove to be the best Chicago running back since Walter Payton. Wide receiver Mark Bradley was an excellent choice in the second round. Kyle Orton and wide receiver Airese Currie were great picks on day two.

Bad Moves: None. Chicago had one of the best drafts this year.

June 3, 2008 Update: I guess the Bears shouldn’t have taken Mike Williams, though Cedric Benson (No. 4 overall) hasn’t been much better. Benson spent so much energy prior to the daft trying to prove he wasn’t Ricky Williams that he forgot to focus on how to be a good football player. When Benson cried on Draft Day, I thought the Bears were getting a dedicated player who cared about winning. Unfortunately for the team, I don’t think Benson is going to be catching Walter Payton in the record books anytime soon … Mark Bradley was not an excellent choice in the second round. In three years, he has never caught more than 18 passes or accumulated more than 282 yards … The other receiver the Bears drafted, Airese Currie (5th round) is no longer in the league.

Kyle Orton (4th round) played pretty well as a rookie, and is currently slated to be Chicago’s starting quarterback going into the 2008 season. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. He’s an efficient game-manager, but he has no arm strength and cannot be asked to win a game … The Bears’ best draft pick in this class was the sixth-round selection they used on Chris Harris. Harris started for the Panthers in 2007 and played well, as the team awarded him with a 5-year, $13.3 million deal … Rod Wilson (7th round) doesn’t get much playing time behind Brian Urlacher, but he’s a solid special-teamer.

Thanks to a couple of solid late-round picks, Chicago didn’t completely bomb like some other teams in this draft. However, Benson’s futility forced the Bears to utilize a high pick on a running back in 2008, when they could have used that selection on a quarterback.

Potential 2005 Starters: RB Cedric Benson, WR Mark Bradley.

Grade given on 5/1/05: C-
Grade given on 6/3/08: B-

Good Moves: The Packers had a tough choice to make in the first round: draft a talented successor to Brett Favre, or improve their woeful defense. They chose the latter. Green Bay has a bright future with Rodgers who should have been the first pick, but their present is bleak. Center Junius Coston and WR Craig Bragg were excellent choices in the fifth- and sixth-rounds, respectively.

Bad Moves: Green Bay did not address their woeful front seven until the fourth round. Cornerback Nick Collins and wide receiver Terrence Murphy, both taken in the second round, were fourth-round prospects, at best. None of Green Bay’s other picks made any sense. If they passed up on Rodgers in the first round, the Packers would have an F.

June 3, 2008 Update: My biggest gripe with Green Bay’s draft is that they basically said “screw you” to the present when they drafted Aaron Rodgers. They had to do it though; Rodgers was way too much value to pass up at No. 24 overall. Rodgers’ outstanding performance against the Cowboys in late November should have Green Bay fans optimistic about the future and a bit puzzled as to why GM Ted Thompson drafted Brian Brohm in April. If Rodgers doesn’t pan out for whatever reason, Green Bay’s best pick in this class was the second-rounder it used on Nick Collins, who played extremely well at free safety last season. However, the same can’t be said about many of the team’s other choices, though Junius Coston (5th round) played pretty well at left guard before getting hurt.

The Packers’ other second-round choice, receiver Terrence Murphy, is no longer in the league … In addition to Murphy, Marviel Underwood (4th round), Mike Hawkins (5th round), Craig Bragg (6th round) and Will Whitticker (7th round) are currently unemployed … Brady Poppinga (4th round) was considered the weakest link of Green Bay’s linebacking corps, but he actually performed admirably in the playoffs. The Packers didn’t think so, however, as they signed Brandon Chillar this offseason … Michael Montgomery (6th round) is still on Green Bay’s roster, though he’s buried on the depth chart. Kurt Campbell (7th round) is on Tennessee’s scout team.

Potential 2005 Starters: None.

Grade given on 5/1/05: A+
Grade given on 6/3/08: F

Good Moves: Taking Mike Williams, the best player in the draft, was a great decision. All of the Lions’ draft choices were great, especially DE/DT Shaun Cody in round two, CB Stanley Wilson in round three and Bill Swancutt in round six.

Bad Moves: None. It’s difficult to find any flaws with Detroit’s draft picks.

June 3, 2008 Update: I can’t believe I gave a Matt Millen draft an A+. I should have been tested for coke, weed and heroin.

Mike Williams (No. 10 overall), the best player in the draft? Ugh. In my defense, everyone considered Williams a sure thing. No one expected him to gain 30 pounds in a year. He was definitely one of the most talented players in the draft, but he didn’t have the work ethic to put it all together … Shaun Cody (2nd round) has moved to defensive tackle, but may not make the team with the addition of Andre Fluellen.

Detroit waited until the midnight hour (Chris Berman joke) to offer a tender to Stanley Wilson. Unfortunately, the third-rounder may not make the team, as he’s buried on the depth chart … Quarterback Dan Orlovsky (5th round) hasn’t done anything of note … Sixth-round end Bill Swancutt is barely in the league. He signed with the Ravens, but I doubt he makes the squad … Jonathan Goddard (7th round) is no longer in the NFL.

As it turns out, you can easily find flaws with all of Detroit’s draft picks. I’m not sure what sort of dirt Millen has on owner William Clay Ford, but it must be pretty heavy stuff.

Potential 2005 Starters: WR Mike Williams, DE Shaun Cody.

Grade given on 5/1/05: B+
Grade given on 6/3/08: Z-

Good Moves: Defensive end Erasmus James will be a welcome addition to Minnesota’s defensive line. Offensive tackle Marcus Johnson provides much-needed depth at his position. Ciatrick Fason is a talented running back, capable of supplanting Michael Bennett and Onterrio Smith. Perhaps the Vikings’ best selection of the weekend was their sixth-round choice, DT C.J. Mosley.

Bad Moves: Minnesota struck out when they chose WR Troy Williamson over Mike Williams, the best player in this draft. Safety Dustin Fox was not a good third-round pick, especially with better safeties available like Sean Considine and Gerald Sensabaugh.

June 3, 2008 Update: Only one team can draft so terribly that they become worthy enough for the one Z- I give out in my draft grades. That squad is the Vikings.

Minnesota has just one player from this class remaining on its roster. That happens to be beleaguered right tackle Marcus Johnson (2nd round), who may not even make the team this year … The Vikings’ first choice in April 2005 was Troy Williamson (No. 7 overall), and we all know how he turned out. They just traded him this offseason to the Jaguars for a sixth-round choice. Ouch … It’s amazing that Minnesota blew this draft considering it had two first-rounders. After suffering through his barrage of injuries, the team parted ways with Erasmus James (No. 19 overall).

More futility: Dustin Fox (3rd round) is buried on Buffalo’s defensive back depth chart … C.J. Mosley (6th round) is the best player Minnesota drafted three years ago. He’s currently a backup to Shaun Ellis in New York … Ciatrick Fason (4th round) and Adrian Ward (7th round) aren’t playing in the NFL right now.

Potential 2005 Starters: WR Troy Williamson, OT Marcus Johnson, DE Erasmus James, DT C.J. Mosley.



Grade given on 5/1/05: B+
Grade given on 6/3/08: B+

Good Moves: Michael Vick has a new weapon in WR Roddy White. A better selection was the underrated DT Jonathan Babineaux in the second round. Two great second-day picks were OLB Michael Boley and DT Darrell Shropshire; the latter was a third-round prospect taken in the seventh round.

Bad Moves: A few picks didn’t make sense like: DE Chauncey Davis, OT Frank Omiyale and RB Deandra Cobb. Can you say, “reach?”

June 3, 2008 Update: I think I was pretty right on with my Falcons draft grade. Roddy White has turned out to be a really good receiver. Despite having Joey Harrington and Chris Redman under center, White still managed to catch 83 passes for 1,202 yards last year … Atlanta had the chance to draft Glenn Dorsey, but passed on him in favor of Matt Ryan. That might say how they feel about Jonathan Babineaux (2nd round) … Michael Boley was a great find in the fifth round. Boley is considered one of the best strongside linebackers in the NFL. And as for Darrell Shropshire, he’s not playing anymore, though he contributed early on in his career. Not bad for a seventh-rounder.

And now for the picks I didn’t like. Jordan Beck is a solid special-teamer for the Broncos, though the Falcons were expecting a lot more from him when they took him in the third round … Chauncey Davis (4th round) is still with the team, but he’s nothing more than a reserve defensive end … Frank Omiyale (5th round) backs up Jordan Gross in Carolina, while DeAndra Cobb (6th round) never materialized into an NFL player.

Potential 2005 Starters: WR Roddy White, DT Jonathan Babineaux, OLB Michael Boley.

Grade given on 5/1/05: C
Grade given on 6/3/08: D

Good Moves: Outside linebacker Thomas Davis draws comparisons to Derrick Brooks. He will be a decent player, but I thought the Panthers should have addressed their offensive line. They added Evan Mathis, a decent guard, in the third round. Their fourth round pick was spent on Stefan LeFors, who could end up being the top quarterback in this class. However, did Carolina really need a quarterback? Defensive end Jovan Haye was a great acquisition in the sixth round. Another decent selection was MLB Adam Seward in round five.


Bad Moves: The Panthers did not address their offensive line enough. They took a running back in the second round? Don’t they have Stephen Davis, DeShaun Foster and Nick Goings? They could have taken a running back in the fifth round. Carolina made a few very weak selections in the sixth and seventh rounds. I’m disappointed by the Panthers’ draft.

June 3, 2008 Update: I believe teams out-think themselves sometimes. The Panthers had a number of running backs on their roster, yet they chose Eric Shelton in the second round, who became a complete bust. Yet, the only reason they picked him, despite the fact that they didn’t need a running back, was because they believed he was the best player available. Many NFL franchises forget that it’s really difficult to predict how well a prospect is going to turn out, especially one that’s slated to go past Round 1.

Carolina’s draft wasn’t a complete disaster, though it was pretty bad. Thomas Davis (No. 14 overall) saved the whole thing. He was drafted as a strong safety, but he’s now a force at strongside linebacker. Jovan Haye was also a really solid pick in the sixth round. He had 48 tackles and six sacks for the Buccaneers in 2007.

Unfortunately, that’s about all of the good news. Both of the Panthers’ third-rounders haven’t amounted to much. Evan Mathis is still on the team as a backup guard, while Atiyyah Ellison is a reserve defensive end on San Francisco’s roster … Adam Seward (5th round) was Jon Beason’s backup last year. He’ll have the same role behind Dan Connor in 2008, assuming he makes the team … Geoff Hangartner (5th round) is also a second-stringer; he backs up center Ryan Kalil … Carolina’s third fifth-rounder, Ben Emanuel, is no longer in the league. Neither is Stefan LeFors (4th round) … Joe Berger (6th round) will be a second-string interior lineman for the Cowboys in 2008.

Potential 2005 Starters: G Evan Mathis, OLB Thomas Davis.

Grade given on 5/1/05: B
Grade given on 6/3/08: C

Good Moves: The Saints were sly about trading up for Jammal Brown. They knew the Panthers were interested in the right tackle. However, New Orleans must realize that the point of the draft is to improve your team, not anger your divisional rivals. The Saints’ next two selections–S Josh Bullocks and MLB Alfred Fincher–were very solid. New Orleans’ best selection, however, was their fifth-round pick when they took QB Adrian McPherson.

Bad Moves: New Orleans did not address their defensive line until the sixth round. They did not draft a cornerback. Fourth round pick WR Chase Lyman could have been selected in the sixth round.

June 3, 2008 Update: I’m not sure what I meant by the whole sly business, but I guess it made sense at the time. Jammal Brown (No. 13 overall) is an incredible talent and was worth whatever the Saints did to obtain him.

Unfortunately, that can’t be said for the rest of the team’s selections. Josh Bullocks (2nd round) starts at free safety for the Saints, but he’s terrible and needs to be upgraded immediately … Alfred Fincher was a worse pick as a third-rounder; he’s a backup for the Lions, which says how much he sucks.

Only one of New Orleans’ second-day picks turned out to be anything. Jason Jefferson (6th round) is a solid backup defensive tackle for the Bills. The other players – Chase Lyman (4th round), Adrian McPherson (5th round) and Jimmy Verdon (7th round) – aren’t playing in the NFL anymore. It should be noted that McPherson is a starter in the Arena League.

Potential 2005 Starters: OT Jammal Brown, DT Jason Jefferson, MLB Alfred Fincher, S Josh Bullocks.

Grade given on 5/1/05: A+
Grade given on 6/3/08: B-

Good Moves: Tampa Bay has drafted poorly under Jon Gruden, but that trend has snapped. Every pick the Buccaneers made in the first five rounds were excellent. Two of the seventh-round selections–WRs Parris Warren and J.R. Russell–were also solid picks.

Bad Moves: I have a small gripe about three of the late-round picks, but nothing major.

June 3, 2008 Update: Cadillac Williams (No. 5 overall) certainly looked like he was going to be an excellent draft pick when he began his career with multiple 100-yard rushing efforts. Unfortunately, he gained just 3.5 yards per carry in 2006 and then suffered a torn patella tendon last year. Cadillac may never match his 1,178-yard rookie performance.

Barrett Ruud has proven to be one of the better draft choices in the 2005 class; getting an excellent middle linebacker in the second round was huge for the team’s resurgence in 2007 … Alex Smith (3rd round) hasn’t been a poor draft selection based on where the Buccaneers drafted him, but the team needs more production out of the tight end position. And no, Jerramy Stevens is not the answer … Perhaps Tampa Bay’s most impressive pick was Hamza Abdullah in the seventh round. Currently the starting strong safety for the Broncos, Abdullah played extremely well last year. I have no idea how Tampa Bay found him so late, though I guess they can’t look that smart if they let him go.

Chris Colmer (3rd round) is not in the NFL anymore. I understand whiffing on sixth- and seventh-rounders, but completely botching a third-rounder hurts … Fellow lineman Dan Buenning (4th round) is a solid reserve, but really hasn’t done much since tearing his ACL. He started before the injury … Safety Donte Nicholson is a solid special-teamer, but never sees the field on defense … Seventh-rounder Parris Warren is barely holding on to an NFL job, while Larry Brackins (5th round), Anthony Bryant (6th round), Rick Razzano (7th round) and J.R. Russell (7th round) are no longer in the league.

Potential 2005 Starters: RB Cadillac Williams, WR Larry Brackins, TE Alex Smith, OT Chris Colmer, G Dan Buenning, MLB Barrett Ruud, S Donte Nicholson.



Grade given on 5/1/05: A+
Grade given on 6/3/08: C+

Good Moves: Yet another great draft class by Dennis Green. He chose CB Antrel Rolle, who might be the best defensive rookie this year. Joining Rolle in Arizona’s secondary is CB Eric Green. Running back J.J. Arrington was a great selection in the second round, as were OLB Darryl Blackstock in the third, and G Elton Brown in the fourth. A very underrated player could be MLB Lance Mitchell, whom the Cardinals drafted in the fifth round.

Bad Moves: None. Arizona could challenge St. Louis for the NFC West crown this year.

June 3, 2008 Update: One of the dumbest things I’ve ever said was “Arizona could challenge St. Louis for the NFC West crown this year…” I’ve learned my lesson. Never again will I ever predict the Cardinals to challenge anything, other than last place.

Antrel Rolle (No. 8 overall) has been a bust as a cornerback, but he may work out at free safety. He had a strong finish to his 2007 campaign, so there’s still hope for him … J.J. Arrington (2nd round) sucks … Eric Green is a solid player. He was a great pick in the third round, considering he starts for Arizona … Darryl Blackstock (3rd round) is a marginal player. He’s competing for a starting linebacker job with the Bengals, which isn’t saying much … Guard Elton Brown is a solid reserve lineman. He’s still on the team, so he wasn’t a bad fourth-round selection … Lance Mitchell (6th round) is no longer in the league, while seventh-rounder LeRon McCoy is a scout team receiver for the Texans.

The Cardinals didn’t warrant the A+ I gave them, but they didn’t have a bad draft, especially if Rolle works out at free safety. Still, completely whiffing on Arrington forced the franchise to spend tons of cash on Edgerrin James.

Potential 2005 Starters: RB J.J. Arrington, G Elton Brown, OLB Darryl Blackstock, CB Antrel Rolle, CB Eric Green.

Grade given on 5/1/05: B
Grade given on 6/3/08: B

Good Moves: If Alex Smith doesn’t hold out, the 49ers could say that they have one of the best draft classes in 2005. If Smith does hold out, they obviously have one of the worst. Forgetting Smith for a moment, San Francisco made great selections in the second round (center David Baas), third round (running back Frank Gore and guard Adam Snyder), fifth round (nose tackle Ronald Fields and wide receiver Rasheed Marshall) and sixth round (cornerback Daven Holly).

Bad Moves: We will have to see if Alex Smith holds out or not. Otherwise, there isn’t much to complain about. I didn’t like either of the 49ers’ seventh-round selections, tight ends Patrick Estes and Billy Bajema.

June 3, 2008 Update: In 2005, the 49ers had a choice between Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers at No. 1 overall. Three years and no playoff appearances later, we now know whether or not they made the right choice.

Note to NFL GMs: Do not draft a quarterback with small hands. He will fumble a lot. Just look at Smith and Daunte Culpepper. While Smith can certainly turn his career around, time’s running out. He needs to complete much more than 48.7 percent of his passes (2007 figure) if he doesn’t want to be replaced by Shaun Hill … Another questionable pick was the second-rounder the 49ers used on guard David Baas. He’s currently listed as a starter, but that’s not saying much.

I actually completely forgot Frank Gore was a third-round pick in this class. With Gore being one of the top fantasy running backs, it’s odd to see that he was drafted so low. Give credit to San Francisco for pulling the trigger despite his injury history.

The Gore selection saved this draft for the 49ers, as their class was comprised of marginal talents and busts. Left guard Adam Synder (3rd round) isn’t anything special, even though he’s slated as the team’s starter … Ronald Fields (5th round) is a solid reserve nose tackle … Corner Daven Holly (7th round) looked like he was going to get a lot of playing time with the Browns this year before he suffered a major knee injury … Receiver Marcus Maxwell (7th round) is seventh on Cincinnati’s depth chart … Patrick Estes (7th round) will be a backup offensive tackle in Buffalo this season … Rasheed Marshall (5th round) and cornerback (not the linebacker) Derrick Johnson (6th round) aren’t playing in the NFL anymore.

Potential 2005 Starters: QB Alex Smith, RB Frank Gore, G David Baas, G Adam Snyder, NT Ronald Fields.

Grade given on 5/1/05: F
Grade given on 6/3/08: B-

Good Moves: Seattle had the worst draft this year. Center Chris Spencer, Seattle’s first pick, is a decent player, but the pick doesn’t make any sense. Same goes for the Seattle’s third-round selection, David Greene. Their best pick took place in the fourth round with the selection of OT Ray Willis.

Bad Moves: Where do we start? They did not address the wide receiver position, or any of their prime needs, for that matter. Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who was taken in the second round, was a fourth-round prospect at best. Leroy Hill, Jeb Hukeba and Tony Jackson were all terrible additions.

June 3, 2008 Update: Believe me when I say I received a ton of criticism for giving the Seahawks an F. Everyone’s main gripe has been my remark about Lofa Tatupu. What these people fail to realize is that I never called Tatupu a bust. I never said he wasn’t going to be a great player. I simply marked Seattle down for drafting him too early. Tatupu was considered a fourth-round prospect, at the very best. The Seahawks reached for him in the second. Sure, they made the right move, but they probably could have obtained him later on and filled another need with his pick. In the end, they made the right move. It’s nearly impossible to predict how well prospects will play in the NFL (which is why there are so many top 10 busts). If Tatupu turned out to be a marginal reserve, the Seahawks would have been criticized to no end for reaching for a crappy player. As you’ll soon see, they’ve had numerous other picks that failed, so draw Tatupu up to luck.

One of the busts I’m referring to is not Chris Spencer (No. 25 overall). Spencer, currently starting at center for Seattle, isn’t a great player by any means, but he’s not a failure. Neither is LeRoy Hill (3rd round), who is the starting strongside linebacker for the team.

One such failure is quarterback David Greene (3rd round). Greene has never played a regular season game … Ray Willis (4th round) is nothing more than a special-teamer … The Seahawks completely whiffed on every pick after Willis. Jeb Huckeba (5th round), Tony Jackson (6th round), Cornelius Wortham (7th round) and Doug Nienhuis (7th round) no longer play in the NFL.

Potential 2005 Starters: None.

Grade given on 5/1/05: B-
Grade given on 6/3/08: C

Good Moves: The Rams had a very curious draft. They started well, drafted poorly in the middle rounds, and finished with some great picks. Offensive tackle Alex Barron will take Kyle Turley’s place. Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe and center Richie Incognito were both decent third-round selections. The Rams’ final four picks–wide receiver Dante Ridgeway, punter Reggie Hodges, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and full back Madison Hedgecock–were all great selections.

Bad Moves: Cornerback Ronald Bartell Jr., taken in the second round, was a fourth-round prospect at best. The Rams had poor selections in the fourth and fifth rounds. St. Louis did not address the defensive end position.

June 3, 2008 Update: The Rams have become renowned for their terrible drafts the past couple of years, so that should tell you what their re-grade is going to be. It all started out when they used the 19th pick on offensive tackle Alex Barron. Barron has never materialized into a solid starter, and he really struggled when Orlando Pace got hurt in 2007.

It didn’t get much better. Ronald Bartell Jr. (2nd round) is a marginal reserve who stepped in for Tye Hill when he suffered an injury last season … O.J. Atogwe (3rd round) was a reserve in the Pro Bowl last year, which just shows how much of a joke that thing is. Atogwe isn’t even close to being one of the better free safeties in the NFL. In fact, I could argue that there are at least 15 who are better than him … St. Louis’ final first-day pick was used interior lineman Richie Incognito (3rd round). He’s a solid player who starts for the team at right guard.

More mediocrity on the second day. Jerome Carter (4th round) is a backup safety who doesn’t get to see the field all that much … St. Louis’ other fourth-rounder, guard Claude Terrell, has been sent to jail for assaulting his wife. Not a great career move … Jerome Collins (5th round) is barely in the league, while Dante Ridgeway (6th round) can’t even say that … Reggie Hodges (6th round) is a backup punter in Seattle … Ryan Fitzpatrick is known for his incredible comeback against the Texans in 2005 and then not doing much else in this league, though he was never really given a chance.

The Rams saved their best pick for last, drafting Madison Hedgecock, who is now one of the better fullbacks in the league. Unfortunately, they weren’t smart enough to keep him around. He won a Super Bowl with the Giants.

Potential 2005 Starters: OT Alex Barron, S Oshiomogho Atogwe, P Reggie Hodges.



Go here are my 2005 NFL Draft Grades and Re-Grades: AFC.

2004 NFL Draft Re-Grades.

2003 NFL Draft Re-Grades.



2009 NFL Mock Draft

NFL Mock Draft Database

2009 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings



NFL Draft Links:

My 2003 Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/24): Round 1 / Round 2/ Round 3
2003 NFL Draft Grades (Re-graded 6/8/08)
My 2004 Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/24): Round 1 / Round 2/ Round 3
2004 NFL Draft Prospects/ 2004 NFL Draft Grades (Re-graded 6/6/08)
My 2005 Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/23): Round 1 / Round 2/ Round 3
2005 NFL Draft Prospects
2005 NFL Draft Grades (Re-graded 6/4/08)
My 2006 Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/28): Round 1 / Round 2/ Round 3
2006 NFL Draft Prospects (UPDATED 4/28)
2006 NFL Draft Grades (Re-graded on 7/3)
My 2007 Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/28): Round 1 / Round 2/ Round 3/ Round 4/ Round 5/ Round 6/ Round 7
Other 2007 Mock Drafts:April Fools
2007 NFL Draft Prospects (UPDATED 4/24)/Kenny Ortiz's Top 40 Prospects
2007 NFL Combine and Pro Day Results
2007 NFL Draft Grades
2008 Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/26): Round 1 / Round 2/ Round 3/Round 4/Round 5/Round 6/Round 7
Alternative 2008 Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/7): Round 1 /Round 2
2008 NFL Re-Draft - Round 3 (UPDATED 4/27)
2008 NFL Draft Prospects (UPDATED 8/5)
Other 2008 Mock Drafts: Matt McGuire (4/25)/ Craig Smith (4/22)/ Emmitt Smith (4/21)/ Matt McGuire Shocker (4/21)/ Matt McGuire Backwards (4/19)/ Forum Mock (4/15)/ April Fools (4/1)
2009 Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/25): Round 1 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
Other 2009 Mock Drafts: Re-Draft (4/26) /Matt McGuire (4/25) /Reader Mock (4/25) /Hunter Ansley (4/24) /Backward Mock (4/19) /Emmitt Smith (4/16) /Celebrity Mock (4/9) /April Fools (4/1) /Experts (3/30) /KFFL (3/14)
2010 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/22): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2010 NFL Mock Re-Draft Day 3 (4/24): Round 4 (Walt's) / Round 4 (Matt's)
2010 NFL Mock Re-Draft Day 2 (4/23): Round 2 (Walt's) / Round 3 (Walt's) / Round 2 (Matt's) / Round 3 (Matt's)
Other 2010 Mock Drafts: Matt McGuire (4/22) /Backward Mock (4/20) /Emmitt Mock (4/17) /Celebrity Mock (4/8) /Experts (3/17) /Reader (4/13) /Consensus (2/25)
2011 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/28): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2011 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/30): Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 2 /Round 3
Other 2011 Mock Drafts: Free Agency (5/9) /Greg Cox (4/28) /Backward Mock (4/22) /Emmitt Mock (4/21) /Team Big Boards (4/21) /Celebrity Mock (4/13) /Experts (4/7) /Not Mock (4/6) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Greg Cox's 2012 Mock (2/22) /Matt McGuire (1/8)
2012 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/26): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2012 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/28): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2012 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/26) /Pick History (4/23) /Emmitt Mock (4/19) /Not Mock (4/19) /Backward Mock (4/17) /Celebrity (4/15) /Goals (4/10) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock (4/1) /Free Agent Mock (3/6) /Greg Cox (9/9)
2013 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/25): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2013 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/27): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2013 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/25) /GM Mock (4/21) /Charlie's Trade Mock (4/20) /Goals (4/19) /Rapid Reader Mock (4/18) /Emmitt Mock (4/14) /Not Mock (4/13) /Pick History (4/5) /Backward Mock (4/4) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock /Free Agent Mock (3/7) /Archived 2013 NFL Mock Drafts
2014 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATE 5/8): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2014 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 5/10): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2014 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (5/8) /Goals (5/3) /Not Mock (4/27) /Emmitt Mock (4/20) /Trades Mock (4/13) /Celebrity Mock (4/11) /Backward Mock (4/4) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock /Free Agent Mock (3/6) /Overreaction Mock (12/30)
2015 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/30): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2015 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 5/2): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2015 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/30) /Goals (4/25) /Not Mock (4/19) /Emmitt Mock (4/17) /Trades Mock (4/12) /Celebrity Mock (4/10) /Backward Mock (4/3) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Free Agent Mock (3/5) /Overreaction Mock (12/29)
2016 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/28): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2016 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/30): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2016 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/28) /Combo (5/8) /Goals (4/23) /Not Mock (4/22) /Emmitt Mock (4/17) /Trades Mock (4/16) /Celebrity Mock (4/10) /Backward Mock (4/7) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock /Free Agent Mock (3/6) /Overreaction Mock (1/4)
2017 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/27): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2017 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/29): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2017 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/27) /Combo (5/7) /Goals (4/22) /Not Mock (4/21) /Emmitt Mock (4/16) /Backward Mock (4/9) /Celebrity Mock (4/7) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock /Free Agent Mock (3/7) /Overreaction Mock (1/2)
2018 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/26): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2018 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/28): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2018 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/26) /Combo (5/6) /Goals (4/21) /Not Mock (4/20) /Emmitt Mock (4/15) /Trades Mock (4/13) /Backward Mock (4/8) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Reader Mock /Free Agent Mock (3/11) /Senior Bowl (1/27)
2019 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/25): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2019 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/27): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2019 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/25) /Combo (5/5) /Goals (4/20) /Not Mock (4/18) /Witten Mock (4/14) /Trades Mock (4/12) /Emmitt Mock (4/7) /Backward Mock (4/5) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Free Agent Mock (3/10) /Senior Bowl Mock (1/26) /Video Mock (1/8) /Overreaction Mock (12/31)
2020 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/23): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2020 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/25): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2020 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/23) /Combo (5/3) /Goals (4/18) /Emmitt Mock (4/12) /Trades Mock (4/8) /Backward Mock (4/5) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Free Agent Mock (3/16) /Corey Long (3/13) /Senior Bowl Mock (1/27) /Overreaction Mock (12/30)
2021 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/29): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2021 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 5/1): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2021 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (5/17) /Goals (4/23) /Backward Mock (4/18) /Emmitt Mock (4/11) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Senior Bowl Mock (1/30) /Overreaction Mock (1/4)
2022 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/28): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2022 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/30): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2022 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/28) /Goals (4/22) /Backward Mock (4/20) /Emmitt Mock (4/15) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Senior Bowl Mock (2/5) /Overreaction Mock (1/10)
2023 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/27): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
2023 NFL Mock Re-Draft (UPDATED 4/29): Walt Round 4 /Walt Round 5 /Charlie Round 4 /Charlie Round 5 /Walt Round 2 /Walt Round 3 /Charlie Round 2 /Charlie Round 3
Other 2023 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/27) /Backward Mock (4/19) /April Fools Mock (4/1) /Senior Bowl Mock (2/4) /Overreaction Mock (1/9)
2024 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 3/26): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5
Other 2024 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (3/25)
Other 2025 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (3/23)
2018 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2017 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2016 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2015 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2014 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2013 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2012 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2011 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2010 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2009 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2008 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2007 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2006 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2005 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2004 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2003 NFL Draft Re-Mock / 2002 NFL Draft Re-Mock