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Day One Grades

April 24, 2005

By Curtis Popejoy

 

 

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Team Needs

Arizona Cardinals

Grade = A  

 

They owned day one.  Green will be laughing all year, getting Rolle and not having to take Pac-Man Jones.  JJ Arrington was his guy at RB, Green is another solid athlete, who could start at FS, and Blackstock at the end of day one is robbery.  Minimum of 3 opening day starters, and probably all 4 by mid-season.

 

 

Team Needs

Atlanta Falcons

Grade = B  

 

Curious choice of another wide out in the first round, but White becomes the best wide receiver on the team, from day one.  Babineaux and Beck are both rock solid, and Babineaux in particular is a star in the making.  Beck probably isn't NF- ready, but he'll contribute on special teams for now, and could work his way into the lineup.  Probably only one day one starter in Babineaux, but White will have an impact.

 

 

Team Needs

Baltimore Ravens

Grade = A

 

 

Hit the OU game film hard...and scored big.  Clayton, Mason, Moore, and Heap make for quite a pass-catching group.  Dan Cody in the 2nd is a steal, and Terry in the third is a great pick for depth.

 

 

Team Needs

Buffalo Bills

Grade = C-

 

 

Is Willis McGahee the new GM?  Too Miami products, neither of which is worth their draft spot.  Neither will start, but Parrish will probably contribute on the return teams.  Everett with that TE group?  Maybe Mularkey has some new special 4 TE formation he's dying to use...

 

 

Team Needs

Carolina Panthers

Grade = C+

 

 

They filled some significant needs.  Davis could play SS or OLB, Shelton is insurance for that injury-prone group.  Mathis is a multi-tasker at OL and helps secure some depth on a unit  hammered with injuries.  They dealt Ellison for 2 day two picks, and all things considered could draft two better players better.

 

 

Team Needs

Chicago Bears

Grade = B+

 

 

Rex Grossman has to be excited to have a back he can hand off to 25+ times a game, and a weapon like Bradley to line up opposite Muhammad.  Only two picks, but two day one starters and immediate impact players.

 

 

Team Needs

Cincinnati Bengals

Grade = B-

 

 

Marvin Lewis got some serious playmakers in Pollack and Thurman.  Pairing Pollack with Justin Smith should be fun to watch.  Thurman should be able to beat out Kevin Hardy on the outside.  Getting Chris Henry in the third was curious, because with Chad Johnson on the team, can they handle two guys with attitude issues?  A lot of WRs, one football…

 

 

Team Needs

Cleveland Browns

Grade = A

 

 

For anyone that dislikes the Browns, it hurts to say it, but the Browns really improved their team.  Edwards is so explosive, and getting a guy who can actually get him the ball in the 3rd round, is such a bonus.  Adding Brodney Pool at FS, and Sean Jones coming back to start at SS, makes that a scary tandem.

 

 

Team Needs

Dallas Cowboys

Grade = B+

 

 

I think the Cowboys dropped the ball taking Ware over Shawne Merriman.  Mark it down – Ware won't be the player Merriman is.  Spears and Burnett are great picks, and keep this day one great for Cowboy fans, but I look at Ware pick at 11, and check the box "reach" next to it.

 

 

Team Needs

Denver Broncos

Grade = D

 

 

Anyone think the Broncos are worried about their secondary?  You'd think a team that has Champ Bailey on one side wouldn't need to spend 3 day one picks to find another starter.  Darrent Williams will start, and Foxworth will be a nickel back.  Paymah will hang out with Roc Alexander on the sidelines.   And then someone lost a bet, and drafted Slo-Mo Clarett.  Maybe they wanted someone to be a partner in sprints with Ron Dayne.

 

 

Team Needs

Detroit Lions

Grade = C

 

 

I suppose we should have guessed that the Lions would draft a wide receiver in the first for a third straight year.  Williams will be a solid pro, which means two things.  First, no one thinks Charles Rogers is ever going to get through a season healthy, and second, this is Harrington's last chance to show what he's got.  Cody and Wilson are solid picks, even though Cody doesn't seem to have a spot on that DL.

 

 

Team Needs

Green Bay Packers

Grade = C-

 

 

Did Green Bay win or lose by getting Rodgers at 24?  I'd call it a push.  Rodgers fell like a stone for a reason.  Sorry, but Jeff Tedford is a quarterback guru like Mike Tyson is a financial planner.  Favre needed help on defense to make a push, so they get a small school FS, and a great young WR, who won't see the field, because he'll be buried on the depth chart this season.  Enjoy your farewell tour Brett.

 

 

Team Needs

Houston Texans

Grade = C

 

 

In a strange move, the 3-4 Texans drafted the best 4-3 DT in the draft.  Good luck with that.  Morency is a nice 2nd round pick and will compliment Davis.  Overall, an average day, with no one who will start.

 

 

Team Needs

Indianapolis Colts

Grade = C-

 

 

The Colts scored big with Marlin Jackson.  He's a day one starter, and lets the nickel and dime CBs the Colts have, go back to doing that.  Now the bad news.  Hayden is a total reach pick.  Maybe the Colts got some of Eugene Wilson’s game tape, and confused the two.  Burns is an interesting player, but not a player with a position on a team with awesome DEs, and a soft interior defense.

 

 

Team Needs

Jacksonville Jaguars

Grade = B-

 

 

Well, everyone wondered who bit hardest on the Matt Jones sell, and it was the Jags.  He's a project, but not a long-term one.  He'll be catching TDs early and often.  Barnes in the 2nd is a solid pick, especially after so many draftniks had him penciled in as the 2nd best OT in the draft.  He went where his skills say he should.  Starks is a hard-nosed, tough, and technically sounds player, who Jags fans will love.

 

 

Team Needs

Kansas City Chiefs

Grade = B-

 

 

Are you kidding me?  Derrick Johnson?  Look back at this draft in 5 years and see how many of the 14 guys taken ahead of him are having a career like his.  The Johnson pick more than makes up for Colquitt in the 2nd.  Planning to punt a lot next year, Dick?

 

 

Team Needs

Miami Dolphins

Grade = B+

 

 

Saban had a big day one, and it was pretty quiet.  Brown is going to make everyone there forget Ricky Williams in a hurry.  Roth and Crowder are the kind of players Saban can coach up and make into stars.  The fact so many teams passed on Crowder is going to be something to track in the coming season, because he'll play hard for Saban, outplaying so many guys.  Roth will be able to do what he does best, keep his hand on the ground, rushing the passer.

 

 

Team Needs

Minnesota Vikings

Grade = A-

 

 

The Vikes sure made hay in the first, getting Williamson and James.  Big-time day one starters and impact athletes.  Marcus Johnson is great depth at 4 OL spots, and Dustin Fox is a nice developmental player.

 

 

Team Needs

New England Patriots

Grade = B-

 

 

The Patriots are known for their ability to find guys in recent drafts, obscure at times, that contribute.  This draft however, I think they dropped the ball.  Mankins in the first round was far too early.  This is one pick will go down as one of a few wasted ones.  However, Hobbs and Kaczur in the third are rock solid, considering the Pats’ ability to develop talent and use it, both should see significant time early.

 

 

Team Needs

New Orleans Saints

Grade = A-

 

 

The Saints had to be excited to be able to slide up and take a franchise RT like Brown.  Bullocks and Fincher were also great picks, and in reality all 3 should be starters, and if not at the start of the season, then very early on.

 

 

Team Needs

New York Giants

Grade = B+

 

 

The Giants went best player available – and did they ever do just that.  Webster at 43 is a nice steal, but Tuck at 74?  You've got to be kidding.  Great picks, both of which will play early and often.

 

 

Team Needs

New York Jets

Grade = B+

 

 

I was ready to write about how awful the Jets' day one was after the Nugent pick coming in the 40s.  Then something happened…They drafted back to back studs in Justin Miller and Sione Pouha.  All 3 players will play significant roles in the Jets’ success for a long time.  Overall, they finished with one of the better day ones.

 

 

Team Needs

Oakland Raiders

Grade = A-

 

 

All 4 picks, Washington and Routt at cornerback, Walter the QB of the future, and Kirk Morrison, are great picks.  Looking at who was taken before Morrison at LB makes his pick even more incredible; it’ll be viewed as a draft blunder for plenty of teams in the coming years. 

 

 

Team Needs

Philadelphia Eagles

Grade = B+

 

 

Good for Mike Patterson and good for Philadelphia for realizing who the best player was on that USC DL last year.  Patterson is so unblockable at times, it's scary.  Brown and Moats are great picks, and even though Brown will be the only starter of the two, Moats will be a great complementary player in that offense.  McCoy was early, but considering what the Eagles have at LB, will be a player.

 

 

Team Needs

Pittsburgh Steelers

Grade = D

 

 

Bad day for the Steelers front office.  Miller was the best TE in a soft class with an injury that could shelve him throughout his rookie season.  McFadden was a lot of hype in the off-season, ending up being lapped by so many CBs that he was the 11th taken.  Then, almost by accident, the Steelers draft a guy not even projected to sniff day one.  Alonzo Jackson was heard saying, "See…I’m not the worst day one pick ever." Did someone lose a bet or did someone on their scouting staff recently complete their MBA at the Kellogg School?

 

 

Team Needs

San Diego Chargers

Grade = B

 

 

I am torn on the Chargers first round.  Merriman is a super-freak, and will be turning down Pro Bowl invites to stay home for years.  Castillo on the other hand, he could very well end up being Mike Mamula Part Deux, only with 'roids.  Big recovery though, because the Chargers needed a weapon to pair with Antonio Gates, and Jackson is the guy.

 

 

Team Needs

Seattle Seahawks Grade = C-  

 

This day one is a total head-scratcher for me.  Spencer is the best center in the draft, but first round?  Tatupa was a throw away pick – mark that one down.  He’s too small to be a decent LB, and the Seahawks already have one undersized LB turned SS on the roster.  Greene is a nice value pick, eventually replacing Hasselbeck before he's ready.  Hill?  Another small LB, who gets overpowered.  Like I said, a head-scratcher.

 

 

Team Needs

San Francisco 49ers

Grade = A

 

 

Let me say right now – the Niners will not be the worst team in the NFL next year…and I couldn't have said that before they went on the clock.  Alex Smith is the best QB in this draft, should win the starting job, and play well with those wide outs.  Baas and Snyder are great OL pickups, and might make Kevan Barlow look like less of a stiff…that is until Frank Gore beats him out of the starting job.  Well done, Coach Nolan, you drafted better than a lot of veteran head coaches on day one

 

 

Team Needs

St. Louis Rams

Grade = B+

 

 

A surprisingly normal draft for the mad scientist.  Barron is solid, if not a little overrated.  Oshiomogho and Bartell are impact players from the start for the Rams, and OJ in particular should allow Pisa Tinoisamoa from having to move to FS, keeping him at LB.  One last comment – I think Incognito will be an incredible pro and could start this year…but if Martz thought Turley is a loose cannon, he ain't see nothin' yet.

 

 

Team Needs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Grade = B+

 

 

Well, Gruden got his guy, for better or worse.  “Cadillac” Williams is an explosive player, but he, like Ruud, Smith and Colmer also give the Bucs something crucial.  Youth.  These are 4 young men, who should all play significant roles, even if they all don't start.  For an aging team, putting this much youthful energy on the field can only mean good things in the long run.

 

 

Team Needs

Tennessee Titans

Grade = B

 

 

In five years, read this article Titans fans and remember this – Pac-Man will not be the CB Antrel Rolle will be, who you'll wish you had instead.  Jones may not end up a first round bust, but he'll never live up to his draft position.  Moving ahead, Michael Roos was my sleeper OT all through the college season, and should develop into a great pro.  Roby is an interesting pick, and although he may not be a starter, he'll make his presence felt quickly.  Brandon Jones is another kid who may not start, but with his size and straight-line speed, should be effective.

 

 

Team Needs

Washington Redskins

Grade = C

 

 

The Skins’ War Room was the first at the bar Saturday, and that's because they put themselves into a position to draft twice in the first, then call it a day.  Carlos Rogers is such a great player.  He’s a big physical corner, who can cover and hit – day one starter.  Now, on to Jason Campbell.  As a disclaimer, I may have called the pick, but I don't like it.  Gibbs will be back in NASCAR before anyone realizes they should have waited.

 

 

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