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Posted April 24, 2010
2010 NFL Draft Grades: Rounds 1-3
Arizona: Dan Williams is a solid pick at 26, and they pick up two of my most favorite players in the 2010 NFL Draft in Daryl Washington and Andre Roberts. However, how many games is this team going to win with Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson at the helm? Are you kidding me?
Grade: B
Atlanta: Weatherspoon was a very fine selection and fills a big need. Corey Peters will be solid in the rotation and Mike Johnson is a potential starter. However, Atlanta didn’t do anything that really stood out to me.
Grade: C+
Baltimore: Ozzie Newsome is taking the rest of the NFL to school. This is how you draft. Newsome traded back from 25, and destroyed Denver’s draft in the process by accumulating some very valuable picks. Then, they pick up a high-upside linebacker in Sergio Kindle and the second-best nose tackle in the draft in Cody – whom they can afford to work into the rotation. Ed Dickson is one of my favorite tight ends in the 2010 NFL Draft and will make some plays in the passing game.
Grade: B+
Buffalo: This is why Buffalo picks in the top 12 every year. Torrell Troup isn’t ready to start. Alex Carrington is a bit of a project. They drafted a situational running back when they don’t have much of an offensive line or nose tackle. How many games is Buffalo going to win with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Brohm and Trent Edwards? This draft was an absolute joke and this team isn’t going anywhere. I encourage all Buffalo fans to riot at Bills headquarters tomorrow. This was a pathetic performance and we will see over the next two years why it was such a terrible draft. Spiller’s occasional playmaking ability saves this from an “F” grade.
Grade: D-
Carolina: Carolina got the No. 5 player on my board and a legitimate franchise quarterback in Clausen at No. 48 overall. This was highway robbery, but I really feel like if they wanted Clausen badly they would have moved up for him. They selected a potential starter in Brandon LaFell at 78, but they made a very poor trade and gave up a future second-round pick to secure a slot wide receiver in Armanti Edwards, who is very raw and played quarterback in college. Getting the franchise quarterback in the second round makes this draft all by itself, but Clausen has to prove himself.
Grade: B+
Chicago: Yes, I would much rather have Jay Cutler than the crappy draft Denver had. Once Brett Favre retires, Chicago could very well be the second best team in this division, but Detroit is lurking with Stafford and company. Major Wright was a solid pick at No. 75.
Grade: C
Cleveland: This is why the Cleveland Browns are the biggest laughing stock of the NFL. Joe Haden was the No. 7 player on my board and he goes seventh to Cleveland. Very good pick. However, T.J. Ward was a mid-round talent and Cleveland passes up on a franchise quarterback in the process. Montario Hardesty has very good tape, but he has some very serious durability problems. Colt McCoy isn’t the great quarterback the media hyped him up as; he will struggle in very cold weather, which he has never played in thoughout his career. The Browns are a joke, and picks like T.J. Ward justify that.
Grade: C-
Dallas: Dez Bryant was a very good pick and gives Dallas elite playmaking ability at the receiver position. Sean Lee was a solid pick in the second and apparently most had a higher opinion of him than I did. What can I say, the rich get richer.
Grade: B+
Denver: I hope Denver fans enjoyed the good ole’ days when they won because they aren’t winning with Josh McDaniels in town. Like the 2009 NFL Draft, this one was highly pathetic. McDaniels simply puts too high of a marker on character. Demaryius Thomas can’t catch the football or run routes. He was highly thought of because of his size and rumored 40 time. Tim Tebow is an undraftable prospect as a quarterback on my board – he can’t even throw a spiral. At least the Broncos have the Virgin Mary on their side. Zane Beadles had a horrendous Senior Bowl and truly was an enormous reach. J.D. Walton and Eric Decker were picks I actually liked in the third round. McDaniels is a joke, and while Denver fans love this draft now, get back to me in two years when you run McDaniels out of town.
Grade: D-
Detroit: Suh and Best were solid picks, but I think Detroit really failed to draft a capable left tackle. Amari Spievey has starting potential and should be a nickel corner as a rookie. Grade: B Green Bay: Bryan Bulaga apparently was just not as high on most team’s boards as he was by draftniks, or he was a serious durability risk. However, Green Bay added a player perfect for the zone blocking scheme and who can protect Aaron Rodgers. I like Mike Neal as a prospect, but I feel like the second round was a reach. Morgan Burnett was a solid pickup in the third round.
Grade: B
Houston: Kareem Jackson should be a solid player. I mocked Ben Tate a couple times to Houston before I mocked Ryan Mathews to the Texans at No. 20 overall – I knew Tate was a perfect fit for the zone blocking scheme. He is a one-cut back. Earl Mitchell and Tony Moeaki were solid picks in the third round, but they are nothing special in my opinion. This was a decent draft by Houston, but not enough to make them a playoff contender. The fate of this draft rests on the shoulders of Tate. If he’s a star, then he gives Houston a chance to win.
Grade: C
Indianapolis: I have always been a big Jerry Hughes fan, and I’m terrified for opposing offensive tackles with he and Dwight Freeney coming off the edge. I think grabbing a backup inside linebacker was a superb pick in the late second round – that’s sarcasm. Kevin Thomas is not a player I’m a fan of. I felt like this draft had so much potential for the Colts after starting out with Hughes at No. 31, but I’m just not that impressed.
Grade: C
Jacksonville: Why doesn’t Gene Smith just draft all defensive tackles? Hey, if they are the best players available, who cares what position? This is a joke. Need is very important, and you simply don’t need four really good defensive tackles on your roster. Tyson Alualu isn’t leading this team to a divisional crown – I’m sorry. Gene Smith had a great draft in 2009, but I’m not buying this crap.
Grade: F
Kansas City: Scott Wright from DraftCountdown.com had the quote of the day, “The Chiefs apparently are so good they can draft backups in Round 2 rather than starters.” That pretty much sums how stupid Scott Pioli is. I love Eric Berry, but this was a pathetic performance and a clear case as to why the Chiefs haven’t done much since the Trent Green era eight concussions ago. Dexter McCluster is a situational athlete on offense – he’s not a franchise cornerstone. Javier Arenas is a nickel corner and return man. How did Alphonso Smith pan out in Denver? Jon Asamoah and Eric Berry are players I like, but Kansas City had a horrible second round.
Grade: C-
Miami: Koa Misi looks good in shorts, but when you put on the tape you see a highly underproductive football player. Jared Odrick was a good value at 28 and John Jerry can start for them up front, but I don’t see a big star in this draft for Miami.
Grade: C+
Minnesota: Why draft a franchise quarterback when you have an aging Brett Favre and highly accurate, great decision-making quarterback in Tarvaris Jackson? Chris Cook is a solid pick, and Toby Gerhart is a homeless man’s Adrian Peterson. I hate this pick for Minnesota because they already have a big, up-and-down style runner with poor ball security and no third-down blocking in Adrian Peterson. Minnesota had a golden opportunity and they absolutely blew it.
Grade: C-
New England: The Pats had a solid draft, but I don’t feel like they had a great draft. I feel like they got a bunch of average players. McCourty is a good player and will contribute in the return game. Rob Gronkowski comes with serious durability concerns, but he’s easily the second best tight end in the 2010 NFL Draft. I’m a Jermaine Cunningham fan, and I like that pick. Brandon Spikes was a good pick to a 3-4 team, but he’s a bit overrated. Taylor Price is a developmental receiver, but he has no hands and likely won’t pan out. Good draft, but I don’t see any great playmakers in this class and I don’t feel like New England drafted to their potential with so many valuable picks.
Grade: B
New Orleans: I hate Patrick Robinson and I don’t feel like he was a late-first value. Charles Brown – I love, but now it has come out there were concerns with the medical. I love the idea of adding a potential franchise left tackle in the late second – kudos. Jimmy Graham has potential, but the odds are that he just won’t pan out.
Grade: C
New York Giants: This draft was ALL about upside. We all have that friend whom we play poker with that occasionally likes to gamble with his chips, but he doesn’t gamble or bluff all the time – and that’s partly what makes him a good poker player. That guy is Jerry Reese. This draft has a ton of upside for the Giants, and they have the coaching staff to tap into that upside. However, by the same token there isn’t a lot of certainty in this class either, and that is why it isn’t higher.
Grade: B-
New York Jets: I love Kyle Wilson to the Jets. New York will shut down every receiving corps in the NFL and Rex Ryan will dial up some fun blitzes. This was a pick that Jets fans might look back at as being a key reason as to why they won a Super Bowl. Ducasse can play either guard spot as well as some right tackle, but he comes with intelligence concerns.
Grade: B
Oakland: Rolando McClain is a great pick if Oakland moves to the 3-4 defense, and it looks like that is what will happen. Lamarr Houston is a player whom I don’t feel like can be a dominant 5-technique or nose tackle, however. Jared Veldheer is a project left tackle, but I had Bruce Campbell rated much higher on my board. This actually was a solid draft by Oakland.
Grade: B-
Philadelphia: The Eagles traded up for a player I have felt is overrated. Graham has midget arms and won�t be the same player in the NFL as he was in college. He lacks a burst and will struggle to get around linemen at the next level. Nate Allen is one of my more favorite defensive backs in the 2010 NFL Draft – a great value at 37. I even tweeted that Allen is a better value at 37 than Earl Thomas was at 14. Daniel Te’o-Nesheim is a solid pass-rusher whose stock has been on the rise. He’s an interesting developmental project. I just didn�t like the trade up to get Graham when they could have gotten Jason Pierre-Paul or Derrick Morgan.
Grade: C
Pittsburgh: Maurkice Pouncey is an immediate starter and provides great versatility on the interior. I’m not a huge fan of Jason Worilds, but he should be a solid player (let’s not forget Bruce Davis – he didn’t pan out). Emmanuel Sanders was a decent value in the third round. This draft doesn’t blow me away for Pittsburgh, but I don’t hate it either.
Grade: C-
San Diego: Ryan Mathews was a highly overrated prospect, but he should be productive on a team that lacks a No. 1 back by default. Donald Butler is a good prospect, but he likely won’t amount to much. I felt like San Diego gave up way too much to go get Mathews instead of just sitting back and letting the draft come to them.
Grade: D
San Francisco 49ers: I have issues with every player the 49ers drafted. Anthony Davis is a lazy human and I think he has “bust” written all over him – piss-poor intangibles. Mike Iupati is a little raw, but is immensely talented. He will struggle against more athletic defensive linemen. Taylor Mays went where he deserved to go and was a solid value in the middle of the second round. Navarro Bowman put out first-round tape, but he has some serious character concerns. This draft has a ton of talent, and if Mike Singletary can harness it, then it might be the best draft class when we look back in three years. However, three of these players taken come with serious risks.
Grade: C+
Seattle: Pete Carroll hasn’t thought about the NFL Draft since he was last in the league, and he proves that it really isn’t that hard to have a great draft. Okung was my No. 1 left tackle in the 2010 NFL Draft. Earl Thomas was my top-rated free safety and a solid value at No. 14 overall. Golden Tate had a low first-round grade on my board, and will be a great pro if he can learn how to run routes. However, this draft isn’t an “A+” grade because they didn’t move up in the second round to go get Jimmy Clausen. They better hope Charlie Whitehurst can be productive. Trading their second-round pick last year to Denver was critical and a great move last year.
Grade: A
St. Louis: They now have a future in Sam Bradford, and they did the smart thing by protecting him with Rodger Saffold. Steven Jackson has to love that pick as well. Detroit needs to take notes on how to protect such a big investment. Jerome Murphy was the No. 5 corner on my board and a great value at the top of the third round.
Grade: B+
Tampa Bay: I love Brian Price as a prospect, but they should have addressed another position. Arrelious Benn is a legitimate No. 1 target for Josh Freeman. Myron Lewis was a bit of a reach in the third round with Brandon Ghee on the board, but all of the good corners were gone. Gerald McCoy was exactly the kind of player this defense needed. Despite not addressing the need with Brian Price, he is in the top 20 players on my board. Very good draft for Tampa.
Grade: B+
Tennessee Titans: This is how you f***ing draft. Once again, Tennessee ends up with some of my most favorite prospects like they did in 2009 (Kenny Britt, Jared Cook). Derrick Morgan is my No. 6 prospect overall and top defensive end in the 2010 NFL Draft. They got him at 16. Damian Williams is my No. 1 receiver in the entire 2010 NFL Draft and he will be an absolute stud for Vince Young to throw to in the mold of a Jimmy Smith. I really believe Williams is a No. 1 receiver – his route running and hands are on an elite level. Rennie Curran, at worst, will be a special teams demon. Jeff Fisher’s draft strategy is to let the rest of the idiots in the NFL take bad players ahead of him. It worked, and he ended up with two of my top-rated players in the entire draft.
Grade: A
Washington: Trent Williams was extremely inconsistent and the product of a great 40 time. He isn’t the best left tackle in the 2010 NFL Draft, and I feel like he was highly overrated a la Jason Smith last year. If this was Russell Okung, then it would be a B+, but it’s a pick I think this organization will regret this selection.
Grade: C-
Matt McGuire's Recent NFL Draft Blog Entries:
Analyzing Andrew Luck's Decision - 1/7
Luck vs. Locker - 9/15
Top 10 Quarterback Busts - 7/7
NBA Draft vs. NFL Draft - 6/27
Six Sophomores Who Need to Step Up - 6/2
Kentucky 2010 NBA Draft Prospect Blog - 6/1
Brett Favre Retirement Conditions - 5/30
2010 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year - 5/24
2010 NFL Power Rankings Tier - 5/21
2010 NFL Power Rankings - 5/18
NFL Mailbag: C.J. Spiller and Buffalo Bills Reaction - 5/14
LeBron James Game 6 Reaction - 5/14
The Buffalo Bills - 5/13
LeBron James: Celtic Pride - 5/13
The JaMarcus Russell Lesson - 5/11
Most Productive 2010 NFL Rookies - 5/6
Double Down - 4/30
2010 NFL Draft Observations and Telecast Blog - 4/26
2010 NFL Draft Grades: Day 3 - 4/25
2010 NFL Draft Grades: Rounds 1-3 - 4/24
2010 NFL Draft Grades: First Round - 4/23
2010 NFL Draft Trade Analysis - 4/23
Random Round 1 Thoughts and Analysis - 4/23
2010 NFL Draft Class Predictions - 4/22
2010 NFL Draft Trades - 4/21
Response to Mike Mayock's Redskins-Trent Williams Comment - 4/8
Teams Misevaluating Their Own Quarterbacks - 4/6
Where Will Jimmy Clausen Go? - 4/5
2010 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Picks - 3/25
Gerald McCoy's Draft Range - 3/12
NFL Draft Picks Are Business Investments (Anthony Davis) - 3/11
Offense Matters - 3/9
Mel Kiper vs. Todd McShay Debate Revisited - 3/8
Taylor Mays - 3/3
"He's a Winner" ... Not Really - 3/2
Quarterback Height (Jimmy Clausen) - 2/25
The Top Five Reasons the Redskins Won't Pass on Jimmy Clausen - 2/22
2010 NFL Draft: All-Overhyped and Underrated Teams - 2/18
Matt Ryan and the Rams - 2/17
Prospect Case Study: Tim Tebow - 2/11
2010 NFL Draft Offensive Grades - 1/20
Tim Tebow at the Senior Bowl - 1/14
Junior Quarterbacks/Jimmy Clausen - 12/29
2010 NFL Draft Prospect Updates - 12/21
The Michael Oher Lesson - 12/20
Cameron Heyward's Ceiling - 12/17
Jake Locker to Return for Senior Season - 12/15
Top Four Scenario - 12/8
"Suh" is Elite - 12/7
Carlos Dunlap Update - 11/11
Player to Watch - 10/30
Alpha Quarterback - 10/29
2010 NFL Draft Mailbag - 10/28
O Bradford, Where Art Thou (Draft Stock)? - 10/27
The Trojan Torpedo - 10/26
Quarterback Mobility - 10/23
Charles Brown's Stock on the Rise - 10/18
Mays-Clausen and Gaines Adams - 10/17
Mr. Overrated - 10/14
2010 NFL Draft Cursed? - 10/8
Conservative Carroll - 9/22
The Crabtree Lesson - 9/21
Scouting Notes: Weeks 2-3 - 9/20
Terrelle Pryor - NFL QB? - 9/15
Jay Cutler Trade Evaluation - 9/14
THE Choke State University - 9/13
2009 NFL Predictions - 9/10
2009 College Football Predictions - 9/3
The Brett Favre Line - 8/20
Why Vick Hasn't Signed - 8/12
The Vince Young Lesson - 8/10
Vegas NFL Power Rankings - 8/9
Dorsey Fat - Chiefs Stupid - 8/7
Eli Manning: The $100 Million Man - 8/6
Predicting Future Needs Part II - 8/4
NFL Draft Moved - 7/24
Matt McGuire's NFL Draft Blog - Home
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