Lonestar
05-02-2010, 11:39 PM
Trades were made, needs were filled, chances were taken. And when all was said and done, and 255 players were picked in this year's NFL draft, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels may have spoken for a league now filled with a new crop of NFL hopefuls.
"The board was the way we wanted it," McDaniels said. "We feel comfortable with the way it ended up and excited about going into it next year . . . but it's hard to get everything in one draft."
Yes, it is, but here is how Denver Post draft insider Jeff Legwold graded this one after having a week to pore over the picks.
The grading scale
A: Exceptional. Got the best value with their picks while securing impact players.
B: Quality draft. Found some impact players and didn't reach.
C: Played par. No fireworks but found some potential production.
D: Dumped too many picks and reached too often.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: C J.D. Walton (third round). Bright future for a smart, tough, durable player.
Made a reach: QB Tim Tebow (first round). May be the defining pick (good or bad) for McDan- iels' tenure.
Bottom line: McDaniels took risks in drafting Tebow early and two WRs coming off severe injuries — Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.
Grade: B
Kansas City Chiefs
Picks made: Seven
Best pick: S Eric Berry (first round). The best player on their board when they picked at No. 5.
Made a reach: TE Tony Moeaki (third round). Injury-plagued career at Iowa.
Bottom line: Huge upgrade in athletic impact. Javier Arenas is a dynamic returner, guard Jon Asamoah could start right away and RB Dexter McCluster is a multipurpose weapon.
Grade: A
Oakland Raiders
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: LB Rolando McClain (first round). Starts from Day One.
Made a reach: None
Bottom line:
Defensive tackle Terrence Cody of Alabama was panned by some for being out of shape, the Ravens believe they have acquired another stalwart defender. (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
Easily one of their best drafts in recent memory. Got high-value, low-risk players early and stayed consistent to the end.
Grade: B
San Diego Chargers
Picks made: Six
Best pick: RB Ryan Mathews (first round). Mathews was both a first-round value and filled the Chargers' biggest need.
Made a reach: QB Jonathan Crompton (fifth round). Has accuracy issues.
Bottom line: Took few chances; third-round LB Donald Butler and fifth-round DT Cam Thomas should help right away.
Grade: C+
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: RB C.J. Spiller (first round). What's not to like? Explosive, productive, high- character player.
Made a reach: WR Marcus Easley (fourth round). Had only five receptions before the 2009 season.
Bottom line: Made speed a priority all over the draft board with Spiller, Easley, LB Danny Batten (a former DE) and LB Arthur Moats.
Grade: B+
Miami Dolphins
Picks made: Eight
Best pick: OLB Koa Misi (second round). Former DE is a high-effort player who should help right away.
Made a reach: None
Bottom line: A draft heavy on linemen and linebackers, consistent with team president Bill Parcells' philosophy.
Grade: B-
New England Patriots
Picks made: 12
Best pick: TE Rob Gronkowski (second round). Might start immediately.
Made a reach: DE Jermaine Cunningham
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View slide show of Broncos rookie camp.
View slide show of Broncos pick Demaryius Thomas of Ga. Tech.
View slide show of Broncos pick Tim Tebow of Florida.
View more Broncos photos.
Find analysis, notes and buzz on the All Things Broncos blog.
Ask Mike Klis about the team or NFL in the Broncos Mailbag.
Post photos of your team spirit.
(second round). Coming off shoulder surgery.
Bottom line: Ended up with 12 picks, same as a year ago, and got good value throughout.
Grade: A-
New York Jets
Picks made: Four
Best pick: CB Kyle Wilson (first round).
Made a reach: FB John Conner (fifth round). No way he was best player on board at that spot.
Bottom line: They are the new Redskins, treating the draft as an inconvenience.
Grade: D+
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Picks made: Seven
Best pick: DT Terrence Cody (second round), a steal for that spot in the draft.
Made a reach: None
Bottom line: Ravens find quality players fall to them because of other team's mistakes. Earned plenty of value in trade with the Broncos.
Grade: A
Cincinnati Bengals
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: WR Jordan Shipley (third round). Injuries a concern, but should play right away.
Made a reach: WR Dezmon Briscoe (sixth round). Ran 4.71 at the combine; lacks strength.
Bottom line: Bengals have made a draft habit of taking risks. Second-round DE Carlos Dunlap is certainly a risk, given his arrest at the end of the 2009 season.
Grade: C
Cleveland Browns
Picks made: Eight
Best pick: QB Colt McCoy (third round). Undersized, but a winner who has amazing accuracy.
Made a reach: S T.J. Ward (second round). Smart, tough player who has long injury history.
Bottom line: Selected players with long injury histories on back-to-back picks — Ward and RB Montario Hardesty.
Grade: C+
Pittsburgh Steelers
Picks made: 10
Best pick: C Maurkice Pouncey (first round). Should start immediately for a team that needs to get back to the running game.
Made a reach: None
Bottom line: No flashy moves. Chose a project in OLB Jason Worilds.
Grade: C
AFC South
Houston Texans
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: CB Kareem Jackson (first round). Physical, Nick Saban-trained defensive back.
Made a reach: KR Trindon Holliday (sixth round). Breathtaking speed, but undersized.
Bottom line: Texans got the RB they needed in Ben Tate (second round), and Jackson was a high-value pick. But odd picks as draft wore on.
Grade: C-
Indianapolis Colts
Picks made: Eight
Best pick: DE Jerry Hughes (first round). Will be the next undersized, 4-3 defensive end to flourish for the Colts.
Made a reach: TE Brody Eldridge (fifth round). Unproven at Oklahoma.
Bottom line: Low-key, effective approach. LB Pat Angerer (second round) is a good value and should contribute on special teams right away.
Grade: B-
Jacksonville Jaguars
Picks made: Six
Best pick: RB Deji Karim (sixth round). Has 4.4 speed.
Made a reach: DT Tyson Alualu (first round). One of many reaches over three days.
Bottom line: Alualu is a high-effort, productive player, but it's unlikely any other team in the NFL had him ranked as a top 10 selection.
Grade: D
Tennessee Titans
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: DE Derrick Morgan (first round). He will start right away.
Made a reach: CB Alterraun Verner (fourth round). Undersized, and the Titans moved up to get him.
Bottom line: WR Damian Williams should contribute immediately because of his quality route-running ability.
Grade: B-
"The board was the way we wanted it," McDaniels said. "We feel comfortable with the way it ended up and excited about going into it next year . . . but it's hard to get everything in one draft."
Yes, it is, but here is how Denver Post draft insider Jeff Legwold graded this one after having a week to pore over the picks.
The grading scale
A: Exceptional. Got the best value with their picks while securing impact players.
B: Quality draft. Found some impact players and didn't reach.
C: Played par. No fireworks but found some potential production.
D: Dumped too many picks and reached too often.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: C J.D. Walton (third round). Bright future for a smart, tough, durable player.
Made a reach: QB Tim Tebow (first round). May be the defining pick (good or bad) for McDan- iels' tenure.
Bottom line: McDaniels took risks in drafting Tebow early and two WRs coming off severe injuries — Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.
Grade: B
Kansas City Chiefs
Picks made: Seven
Best pick: S Eric Berry (first round). The best player on their board when they picked at No. 5.
Made a reach: TE Tony Moeaki (third round). Injury-plagued career at Iowa.
Bottom line: Huge upgrade in athletic impact. Javier Arenas is a dynamic returner, guard Jon Asamoah could start right away and RB Dexter McCluster is a multipurpose weapon.
Grade: A
Oakland Raiders
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: LB Rolando McClain (first round). Starts from Day One.
Made a reach: None
Bottom line:
Defensive tackle Terrence Cody of Alabama was panned by some for being out of shape, the Ravens believe they have acquired another stalwart defender. (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
Easily one of their best drafts in recent memory. Got high-value, low-risk players early and stayed consistent to the end.
Grade: B
San Diego Chargers
Picks made: Six
Best pick: RB Ryan Mathews (first round). Mathews was both a first-round value and filled the Chargers' biggest need.
Made a reach: QB Jonathan Crompton (fifth round). Has accuracy issues.
Bottom line: Took few chances; third-round LB Donald Butler and fifth-round DT Cam Thomas should help right away.
Grade: C+
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: RB C.J. Spiller (first round). What's not to like? Explosive, productive, high- character player.
Made a reach: WR Marcus Easley (fourth round). Had only five receptions before the 2009 season.
Bottom line: Made speed a priority all over the draft board with Spiller, Easley, LB Danny Batten (a former DE) and LB Arthur Moats.
Grade: B+
Miami Dolphins
Picks made: Eight
Best pick: OLB Koa Misi (second round). Former DE is a high-effort player who should help right away.
Made a reach: None
Bottom line: A draft heavy on linemen and linebackers, consistent with team president Bill Parcells' philosophy.
Grade: B-
New England Patriots
Picks made: 12
Best pick: TE Rob Gronkowski (second round). Might start immediately.
Made a reach: DE Jermaine Cunningham
Fans, sign up now for Broncos Premium, our website offering don't-miss news, analysis and features only available to registered users. It's free!
View slide show of Broncos rookie camp.
View slide show of Broncos pick Demaryius Thomas of Ga. Tech.
View slide show of Broncos pick Tim Tebow of Florida.
View more Broncos photos.
Find analysis, notes and buzz on the All Things Broncos blog.
Ask Mike Klis about the team or NFL in the Broncos Mailbag.
Post photos of your team spirit.
(second round). Coming off shoulder surgery.
Bottom line: Ended up with 12 picks, same as a year ago, and got good value throughout.
Grade: A-
New York Jets
Picks made: Four
Best pick: CB Kyle Wilson (first round).
Made a reach: FB John Conner (fifth round). No way he was best player on board at that spot.
Bottom line: They are the new Redskins, treating the draft as an inconvenience.
Grade: D+
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Picks made: Seven
Best pick: DT Terrence Cody (second round), a steal for that spot in the draft.
Made a reach: None
Bottom line: Ravens find quality players fall to them because of other team's mistakes. Earned plenty of value in trade with the Broncos.
Grade: A
Cincinnati Bengals
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: WR Jordan Shipley (third round). Injuries a concern, but should play right away.
Made a reach: WR Dezmon Briscoe (sixth round). Ran 4.71 at the combine; lacks strength.
Bottom line: Bengals have made a draft habit of taking risks. Second-round DE Carlos Dunlap is certainly a risk, given his arrest at the end of the 2009 season.
Grade: C
Cleveland Browns
Picks made: Eight
Best pick: QB Colt McCoy (third round). Undersized, but a winner who has amazing accuracy.
Made a reach: S T.J. Ward (second round). Smart, tough player who has long injury history.
Bottom line: Selected players with long injury histories on back-to-back picks — Ward and RB Montario Hardesty.
Grade: C+
Pittsburgh Steelers
Picks made: 10
Best pick: C Maurkice Pouncey (first round). Should start immediately for a team that needs to get back to the running game.
Made a reach: None
Bottom line: No flashy moves. Chose a project in OLB Jason Worilds.
Grade: C
AFC South
Houston Texans
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: CB Kareem Jackson (first round). Physical, Nick Saban-trained defensive back.
Made a reach: KR Trindon Holliday (sixth round). Breathtaking speed, but undersized.
Bottom line: Texans got the RB they needed in Ben Tate (second round), and Jackson was a high-value pick. But odd picks as draft wore on.
Grade: C-
Indianapolis Colts
Picks made: Eight
Best pick: DE Jerry Hughes (first round). Will be the next undersized, 4-3 defensive end to flourish for the Colts.
Made a reach: TE Brody Eldridge (fifth round). Unproven at Oklahoma.
Bottom line: Low-key, effective approach. LB Pat Angerer (second round) is a good value and should contribute on special teams right away.
Grade: B-
Jacksonville Jaguars
Picks made: Six
Best pick: RB Deji Karim (sixth round). Has 4.4 speed.
Made a reach: DT Tyson Alualu (first round). One of many reaches over three days.
Bottom line: Alualu is a high-effort, productive player, but it's unlikely any other team in the NFL had him ranked as a top 10 selection.
Grade: D
Tennessee Titans
Picks made: Nine
Best pick: DE Derrick Morgan (first round). He will start right away.
Made a reach: CB Alterraun Verner (fourth round). Undersized, and the Titans moved up to get him.
Bottom line: WR Damian Williams should contribute immediately because of his quality route-running ability.
Grade: B-