NFL: Grades for the teams after the draft
By Charean Williams
McClatchy Newspapers
Here are the grades for the teams in the just-completed NFL draft.
NFC EAST
Philadelphia Eagles
Grade A- : Let's review the Eagles' off-season: They signed right tackle Stacy Andrews in free agency, traded for left tackle Jason Peters, drafted wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in the first round and drafted Pittsburgh running back LeSean McCoy in the second. Defensive coordinators who have the Eagles on their schedule already have a headache.
1 (19) Jeremy Maclin, wr, Missouri
2 (53) LeSean McCoy, rb, Pittsburgh
5 (153) Cornelius Ingram, te, Florida
5 (157) Victor Harris, db, Virginia Tech
5 (159) Fenuki Tupou, ot, Oregon
6 (194) Brandon Gibson, wr, Washington State
7 (213) Paul Fanaika, g, Arizona State
7 (230) Moise Fokou, lb, Maryland
New York Giants
B-: Tom Coughlin admitted the Giants were a different team after receiver Plaxico Burress was suspended. The Giants have cut Burress and replaced him with Hakeem Nicks after deciding the cost was too high for Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards.
1 (29) Hakeem Nicks, wr, North Carolina
2 (45) Clint Sintim, lb, Virginia
2 (60) Will Beatty, ot, Connectitcut
3 (85) Ramses Barden, wr, Cal Poly
3 (100) Travis Beckum, te, Wisconsin
4 (129) Andre Brown, rb, N.C. State
5 (151) Rhett Bomar, qb, Sam Houston State
6 (200) DeAndre Wright, de, New Mexico
7 (238) Stoney Woodson, db, South Carolina
Washington Redskins
C — It's obvious the Redskins have lost faith in Jason Campbell. They tried to trade for veteran Jay Cutler, and Saturday, they tried to move up for Mark Sanchez. They ended up with Brian Orakpo, who will play strongside linebacker on running downs and end on obvious passing downs.
1 (13) Brian Orakpo, de, Texas
3 (80) Kevin Barnes, db, Maryland
5 (158) Cody Glenn, lb, Nebraska
6 (186) Robert Henson, lb, TCU
7 (221) Eddie Williams, rb, Idaho
7 (243) Marko Mitchell, wr, Nevada
Dallas Cowboys
C- — It's hard to give the Cowboys a good grade when they didn't have a first- or second-round pick. The other teams in the Cowboys' division got better Saturday. The Cowboys stood pat. Frankly, this draft will be judged by how receiver Roy Williams fares in his career in Dallas.
3 (69) Jason Williams, lb, Western Illinois
3 (75) Robert Brewster, ot, Ball State
4 (101) Stephen McGee, qb, Texas A&M
4 (110) Victor Butler, lb, Oregon State
4 (120) Brandon Williams, lb, Texas Tech
5 (143) DeAngelo Smith, db, Cincinnati
5 (166) Michael Hamlin, db, Clemson
5 (172) David Buehler, k, Southern Cal
6 (197) Stephen Hodge, lb, TCU
6 (208) John Phillips, te, Virginia
7 (227) Mike Mickens, db, Cincinnati
7 (229) Manuel Johnson, wr, Oklahoma
NFC NORTH
Detroit Lions
B — Fans at a team draft party booed their first two picks. Either they are remembering Joey Harrington or maybe they understand the Lions ranked last in scoring defense (32.3 per game) and last in total defense (404.4 per game) and last in rushing defense (172.1 per game).
1 (1) Matthew Stafford, qb, Georgia
1 (20) Brandon Pettigrew, te, Oklahoma State
2 (33) Louis Delmas, db, Western Michigan
3 (76) DeAndre Levy, lb, Wisconsin
3 (82) Derrick Williams, wr, Penn State
4 (115) Sammie Lee Hill, dt, Stillman
6 (192) Aaron Brown, rb, TCU
7 (228) Lydon Murtha, ot, Nebraska
7 (235) Zach Follet, lb, California
7 (255) Dan Gronkowski, te, Maryland
Green Bay Packers
B — The Packers are going to the 3-4 defense and made themselves better with B.J. Raji, the highest-drafted defensive tackle since Tony Casillas in 1986, and Clay Matthews.
1 (9) B.J. Raji, dt, Boston College
1 (26) Clay Matthews, lb, Southern Cal
4 (109) T.J. Lang, g, Eastern Michigan
5 (145) Quinn Johnson, rb, LSU
5 (162) Jamon Meredith, ot, South Carolina
6 (182) Jarius Wynn, de, Georgia
6 (187) Brandon Underwood, db, Cincinnati
7 (218) Brad Jones, lb, Colorado
Minnesota Vikings
B — There is a reason Percy Harvin fell as far as he did. Although he has top-10 talent, he has red flags, including testing positive for marijuana at the combine. Brad Childress flew to Florida last week to meet with Harvin to solidify his choice. The Bills had been thought to have an interest in drafting Phil Loadholt in the first round, and he will start at right tackle for the Vikings.
1 (22) Percy Harvin, wr, Florida
2 (54) Phil Loadholt, ot, Oklahoma
3 (86) Asher Allen, db, Georgia
5 (150) Jasper Brinkley, lb, South Carolina
7 (231) Jamarca Sanford, db, Mississippi
Chicago Bears
C- — The Bears are the only other team other than the Cowboys that didn't have a first-day pick. It was the first time for Chicago since 1978 that it didn't make a choice in the first two rounds. Their draft will be judged by how Jay Cutler performs, but they needed to get him some receiver help. It came on the second day with Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox, though neither is Anquan Boldin, who the Bears asked about in trade talks.
3 (68) Jarron Gilbert, dt, San Jose State
3 (99) Juaquin Iglesias, wr, Oklahoma
4 (105) Henry Melton, de, Texas
4 (119) D.J. Moore, db, Vanderbilt
5 (140) Johnny Knox, wr, Abilene Christian
5 (154) Marcus Freeman, lb, Ohio State
6 (190) Al Afalava, db, Oregon State
7 (246) Lance Louis, te, San Diego State
7 (251) Derek Kinder, wr, Pittsburgh
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
C+ — They didn't re-sign safety Lawyer Milloy, 35, or defensive tackle Grady Jackson, 35. They began the rebuilding of their defense by getting tackle Peria Jerry and safety William Moore.
1 (24) Peria Jerry, dt, Mississippi
2 (55) William Moore, db, Missouri
3 (90) Christopher Owens, db, San Jose State
4 (125) Lawrence Sidbury, de, Richmond
5 (138) William Middleton, db, Furman
5 (156) Garrett Reynolds, ot, North Carolina
6 (176) Spencer Adkins, lb, Miami
7 (210) Vance Walker, dt, Georgia Tech
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
C — The Bucs had not drafted a quarterback in the first round since Trent Dilfer in 1994. The pick was not popular with Bucs fans. Tampa Bay recently signed Byron Leftwich, who probably wishes he had returned to Pittsburgh, and gives the Bucs five quarterbacks. The defense, which allowed 20.2 points and 306.1 yards per game and has lost several of its stars this off-season, got three draft prospects.
1 (17) Josh Freeman, qb, Kansas State
3 (81) Roy Miller, dt, Texas
4 (117) Kyle Moore, de, Southern Cal
5 (155) Xavier Fulton, ot, Illinois
7 (217) E.J. Biggers, db, Western Michigan
7 (233) Sammie Strouther, wr, Oregon State
New Orleans Saints
C- — The Saints wanted Malcolm Jenkins and Beanie Wells, but they didn't have a second-round pick to dangle to the Patriots to move up and get Wells at the end of the first round. So the Saints ended up without drafting a running back, their biggest need with Deuce McAllister no longer on the roster.
1 (14) Malcolm Jenkins, db, Ohio State
4 (116) Chip Vaughn, db, Wake Forest
4 (118) Stanley Arnoux, lb, Wake Forest
5 (164) Thomas Morstead, p, SMU
Carolina Panthers
D — Last year, the Panthers traded their 2009 first-round pick to get Jeff Otah, who proved worth the price as the team's starting right tackle. On Saturday, they traded their 2010 first-rounder for end Everette Brown, whom they say they had a first-round grade. It's obvious they want to win now.
2 (43) Everette Brown, de, Florida State
2 (59) Sherrod Martin, db, Troy
3 (93) Corey Irvin, dt, Georgia
4 (111) Mike Goodson, rb, Texas A&M
4 (128) Tony Fiametta, rb, Syracuse
5 (163) Duke Robinson, g, Oklahoma
7 (216) Captain Munnerlyn, db, South Carolina
NFC WEST
Seattle Seahawks
B+ — The Seahawks did all they could to conceal their interest in outside linebacker Aaron Curry, including canceling Curry's scheduled visit to Seattle last month. On the first day, they got a playmaking linebacker, Denver's first-round pick in 2010 and center Max Unger. However, they didn't get left tackle Walter Jones' replacement.
1 (4) Aaron Curry, lb, Wake Forest
2 (49) Max Unger, c, Oregon
3 (91) Deon Butler, wr, Penn State
6 (178) Mike Teel, qb, Rutgers
7 (245) Courtney Greene, db, Rutgers
7 (247) Nick Reed, de, Oregon
7 (248) Cameron Morrah, te, California
San Francisco 49ers
B- — The 49ers could have used an offensive tackle, and Michael Oher was tempting, but there is no way San Francisco could pass on its top-rated wide receiver. "Once he was there, it was over," general manager Scot McCloughan said. The 49ers, though, didn't bring in anybody to end their streak — now at six years — of having no player with double-digit sacks.
1 (10) Michael Crabtree, wr, Texas Tech
3 (74) Glen Coffee, rb, Alabama
5 (146) Scott McKillop, lb, Pittsburgh
5 (171) Nate Davis, qb, Ball State
6 (184) Bear Pascoe, te, Fresno State
7 (219) Curtis Taylor, db, LSU
7 (244) Ricky Jean Francois, de, LSU
St. Louis Rams
C+ — Jason Smith is going to get around $33 million in guaranteed money. The Rams got the safest player in the draft who will step right into the giant shoes of former All-Pro Orlando Pace, who was released this off-season. The Rams needed more wide receiver help, though, than they got with Brooks Foster in the fifth round.
1 (2) Jason Smith, ot, Baylor
2 (35) James Laurinaitis, lb, Ohio State
3 (66) Bradley Fletcher, db, Iowa
4 (103) Dorell Scott, dt, Clemson
5 (160) Brooks Foster, wr, North Carolina
6 (196) Keith Null, qb, West Texas A&M
7 (211) Chris Ogbonnaya, rb, Texas
Arizona Cardinals
C — The Cardinals obviously weren't that serious about trading Anquan Boldin and for good reason. They got Kurt Warner another weapon, too, by taking Beanie Wells, who will replace the soon-to-be-released Edgerrin James. Offensive guard Herman Johnson also should help the running game, which was last in the league.
1 (31) Chris Wells, rb, Ohio State
2 (63) Cody Brown, lb, Connecticut
3 (95) Rashad Johnson, db, Alabama
4 (131) Gregory Toler, db, St. Paul's, Va.
5 (167) Herman Johnson, g, LSU
6 (204) Will Davis, lb, Illinois
7 (240) LaRod Stephens-Howling, rb, Pittsburgh
7 (254) Trevor Canfield, g, Cincinnati
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
A- — The Bills got four players on Day One, including three linemen. They had drafted only two linemen in the first rounds of the last seven drafts. End Aaron Maybin joins Aaron Schobel, returning from a foot injury, for a defense that ranked 26th with 24 sacks.
1 (11) Aaron Maybin, de, Penn State
1 (28) Eric Wood, c, Louisville
2 (42) Jairus Byrd, db, Oregon
2 (51) Andy Levitre, g, Oregon State
4 (121) Shawn Nelson, te, Southern Miss
5 (147) Nic Harris, lb, Oklahoma
6 (183) Cary Harris, db, Southern Cal
7 (220) Ellis Lankster, db, West Virginia
Miami Dolphins
B+ — The Dolphins ranked 25th in pass defense, (227.8 per game). They used three picks on defensive backs, including first pick Vontae Davis. But their selection of Pat White drew the most attention. It means the Dolphins have even bigger plans for the Wildcat offense.
1 (25) Vontae Davis, db, Illinois
2 (44) Pat White, qb, West Virginia
2 (61) Sean Smith, db, Utah
3 (87) Patrick Turner, wr, Southern Cal
4 (108) Brian Hartline, wr, Ohio State
5 (161) John Nalbone, te, Monmouth, N.J.
5 (165) Chris Clemons, db, Clemson
6 (181) Andrew Gardner, ot, Georgia Tech
7 (214) J.D. Folsom, lb, Weber State
New England Patriots
B+ — The Patriots had six of the first 97 choices, including four in the second round. They used their first three picks on defensive players, hoping to improve a unit ranked 10th overall.
2 (34) Patrick Chung, db, Oregon
2 (40) Ron Brace, dt, Boston College
2 (41) Darius Butler, db, Connecticut
2 (58) Sebastian Vollmer, ot, Houston
3 (83) Brandon Tate, wr, North Carolina
3 (97) Tyrone McKenzie, lb, South Florida
4 (123) Rich Ohrnberger, g, Penn State
5 (170) George Bussey, ot, Louisville
6 (198) Jake Ingram, ls, Hawaii
6 (207) Myron Pryor, dt, Kentucky
7 (232) Julian Edelman, wr, Kent State
7 (234) Darryl Richard, dt, Georgia Tech
New York Jets
C+ — The Jets fell in love with Mark Sanchez during a private workout in California last month. They tried to make another trade with the Browns to get wide receiver Percy Harvin at the bottom of the first round. With only three picks, they didn't get the wide receiver they need to replace Laveranues Coles. But running back Shonn Greene could be the steal of the draft.
1 (5) Mark Sanchez, qb, Southern Cal
3 (65) Shonn Greene, rb, Iowa
6 (193) Matt Slauson, g, Nebraska
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
C+ — The Ravens didn't expect Michael Oher to be there when they drafted, but when he was, he became the first offensive tackle selected by the team in the first round since Jonathan Ogden in 1996. Oher will start at right tackle.
1 (23) Michael Oher, ot, Mississippi
2 (57) Paul Kruger, de, Utah
3 (88) Lardarius Webb, db, Nicholls State
5 (137) Jason Phillips, lb, TCU
5 (149) Davon Drew, te, East Carolina
6 (185) Cedric Peerman, rb, Virginia
Cincinnati Bengals
C — The Bengals love taking chances. Offensive tackle Andre Smith made some questionable decisions this off-season; defensive lineman Michael Johnson's work ethic has been questioned; tight end Chase Coffman is coming back from a foot injury; and running back Bernard Scott has some off-field concerns from high school and early in his college career.
1 (6) Andre Smith, ot, Alabama
2 (38) Rey Maualuga, lb, Southern Cal
3 (70) Michael Johnson, de, Georgia Tech
3 (98) Chase Coffman, te, Missouri
4 (106) Jonathan Luigs, c, Arkansas
5 (142) Kevin Huber, p, Cincinnati
6 (179) Morgan Trent, db, Michigan
6 (209) Bernard Scott, rb, Abilene Christian
7 (215) Fui Vakapuna, rb, BYU
7 (249) Clinton McDonald, dt, Memphis
7 (252) Freddie Brown, wr, Utah
Pittsburgh Steelers
C — Evander "Ziggy" Hood will play defensive end with the Steelers. The Steelers' three defensive linemen starters are in their 30s and right end Brett Keisel is in the final year of his contract. Pittsburgh could have used more help in the offensive line, but guard Kraig Urbik and A.Q. Shipley were its only choices.
1 (32) Evander Hood, dt, Missouri.
3 (79) Kraig Urbik, g, Wisconsin.
3 (84) Mike Wallace, wr, Mississippi.
3 (96) Keenan Lewis, db, Oregon State.
5 (168) Joe Burnett, db, UCF.
5 (169) Frank Summers, rb, UNLV.
6 (205) Ra'Shon Harris, de, Oregon.
7 (226) A.Q. Shipley, c, Penn State.
7 (241) Davis Johnson, te, Arkanas State.
Cleveland Browns
D+ — Eric Mangini has seven former Jets on his team. A reminder: He was 23-25 in three seasons in New York. The Browns traded down three times and ended up with a center. Cleveland had only 17 sacks last season. Yet, it didn't take its first defensive player until its fourth selection, No. 52 overall, and David Veikune isn't likely to drastically improve the pass rush.
1 (21) Alex Mack, c, California
2 (36) Brian Robiskie, wr, Ohio State
2 (50) Mohamed Massaquoi, wr, Georgia
2 (52) David Veikune, de, Hawaii
4 (104) Kaluka Maiava, lb, Southern Cal
6 (177) Don Carey, db, Norfolk State
6 (191) Coye Francies, db, San Jose State
6 (195) James Davis, rb, Clemson
AFC SOUTH
Jacksonville Jaguars
A- — The Jaguars got a pair of bookend tackles. Eugene Monroe was rated higher than where he was drafted, and some had projected Eben Britton as a late first-round choice. They didn't get a defensive tackle (Terrance Knighton) until the third round and got their first wide receiver (Mike Thomas) in the fourth round. Jarett Dillard could be a player to watch.
1 (8) Eugene Monroe, ot, Virginia
2 (39) Eben Britton, ot, Arizona
3 (72) Terrance Knighton, dt, Temple
3 (73) Derek Cox, db, William & Mary
4 (107) Mike Thomas, wr, Arizona
5 (144) Jarett Dillard, wr, Rice
6 (180) Zach Miller, te, Nebraska-Omaha
7 (250) Rashad Jennings, rb, Liberty
7 (253) Tiquan Underwood, wr, Rutgers
Houston Texans
B+ — The Texans ranked 22nd in total defense, so it was no secret which direction they were going in this draft. Houston used five of its eight picks on defense, including the first two. Cornerback Brice McCain is the fastest player in the draft, tight end James Casey one of the most versatile.
1 (15) Brian Cushing, lb, Southern Cal
2 (46) Connor Barwin, de, Cincinnati
3 (77) Antoine Caldwell, c, Alabama
4 (112) Glover Quin, db, New Mexico
4 (122) Anthony Hill, te, N.C. State
5 (152) James Casey, te, Rice
6 (188) Brice McCain, db, Utah
7 (223) Troy Nolan, db, Arizona State
Indianapolis Colts
C — The Colts had to improve a rushing game that ranked 31st in the league last season. Joseph Addai, the 30th overall pick three years ago, needed help. Indianapolis, which ranked 11th in total defense, got the defensive tackle it wanted in Fili Moala and added defensive tackle Terrance Taylor in the fourth.
1 (27) Donald Brown, rb, Connecticut
2 (56) Fili Moala, dt, Southern Cal
3 (92) Jerraud Powers, db, Auburn
4 (127) Austin Collie, wr, BYU
4 (136) Terrance Taylor, dt, Michigan
6 (201) Curtis Painter, qb, Purdue
7 (222) Pat McAfee, p, West Virginia
7 (236) Jaimie Thomas, g, Maryland
Tennessee Titans
C — Kenny Britt isn't Anquan Boldin, whom the Titans inquired about, and Sen'Derrick Marks isn't Albert Haynesworth, who left in free agency. But they are who Tennessee has. It's the first time the Titans have drafted a wide receiver in the first round since Kevin Dyson in 1998.
1 (30) Kenny Britt, wr, Rutgers
2 (62) Sen'Derrick Marks, dt, Auburn
3 (89) Jared Cook, te, South Carolina
3 (94) Ryan Mouton, db, Hawaii
4 (130) Gerald McRath, lb, Southern Miss
4 (135) Troy Kropog, ot, Tulane
5 (173) Javon Ringer, rb, Michigan State
6 (203) Jason McCourty, db, Rutgers
6 (206) Dominique Edison, wr, Stephen F. Austin
7 (239) Ryan Durand, g, Syracuse
7 (242) Nick Schommer, db, North Dakota State
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
B — The Broncos drafted a franchise-record five players in the first two rounds. They signed three veteran running backs in free agency, yet used their first pick on another. They gave up a 2010 first-round pick for cornerback Alphonso Smith. This draft will decide how long Josh McDaniels is the head coach in Denver.
1 (12) Knowshon Moreno, rb, Georgia
1 (18) Robert Ayers, de, Tennessee
2 (37) Alphonso Smith, db, Wake Forest
2 (48) Darcel McBath, db, Texas Tech
2 (64) Richard Quinn, te, North Carolina
4 (114) David Bruton, db, Notre Dame
4 (132) Seth Olsen, g, Iowa
5 (141) Kenny McKinley, wr, South Carolina
6 (174) Tom Brandstater, qb, Fresno State
7 (225) Blake Schlueter, c, TCU
San Diego Chargers
C — Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips have combined for 57 sacks since 2006, but without Merriman last season, the Chargers had only 28 sacks. Larry English gives them another pass rusher.
1 (16) Larry English, lb, Northern Illinois
3 (78) Louis Vasquez, g, Texas Tech
4 (113) Vaughn Martin, dt, Western Ontario
4 (133) Tyrone Green, c, Auburn
4 (134) Gartrell Johnson, rb, Colorado State
5 (148) Brandon Hughes, db, Oregon State
6 (189) Kevin Ellison, db, Southern Cal
7 (224) Demetrius Byrd, wr, LSU
Kansas City Chiefs
C- — It wasn't a sexy draft, and highly drafted LSU players have failed in the NFL of late (see the Chiefs' top pick last year, Glenn Dorsey). But Tyson Jackson is the top 3-4 end in this draft.
1 (3) Tyson Jackson, de, LSU
3 (67) Alex Magee, de, Purdue
4 (102) Donald Washington, db, Ohio State
5 (139) Colin Brown, ot, Missouri
6 (175) Quinton Lawrence, wr, McNeese State
7 (212) Javarris Williams, rb, Tennessee State
7 (237) Jake O'Connell, te, Miami (Ohio)
7 (256) Ryan Succop, k, South Carolina
Oakland Raiders
D- — The Raiders don't do anything by the book. Their first pick, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, didn't make sense where he was drafted. Any other team would have traded down for him. Their second pick, safety Michael Mitchell, wasn't invited to the combine and was considered a second-day pick by most.
1 (7) Darrius Heyward-Bey, wr, Maryland
2 (47) Michael Mitchell, db, Ohio
3 (71) Matt Shaughnessy, de, Wisconsin
4 (124) Louis Murphy, wr, Florida
4 (126) Slade Norris, lb, Oregon State
6 (199) Stryker Sulak, de, Missouri
6 (202) Brandon Myers, te, Iowa