Memorial Day Mailbag 2012

As some of you await my "Way-Way Too Early" 2013 Mock Draft, I wanted to dip into the mailbag and answer a few questions from some of you.  Remember, if you have a question, don't hesitate to email us at ezfootballfutures@gmail.com.

Big E...

    It seems that every year, there is one guy who, had he chosen to declare for the draft, would have shaken up the whole draft.  This past draft, I think that guy was Matt Barkley.  If he had declared rather than return to USC, how would the first round have been different?

Kenny D - Chico, California

Kenny...

    I agree with you about this.  There is always that "one guy" and this year it was Barkley.  I think had Barkley come out this year, he most likely would have landed with the Dolphins at 8.  I have him rated higher than Tannehill, but still behind Luck and RG3.  I think Barkley's presence would have really tempted Cleveland, who may have pulled the trigger, but ultimately, I still think Richardson would have been their choice.  

     With Barley having been selected by Miami, that would have allowed Tannehill to slide.  I think Cleveland may have tried to work a deal to trade back up to get Tannehill too, but Im not sure after choosing Richardson they would have had the assets to do it without mortgaging too much of their future.  I think the Seattle would have opted not to trade down with Philly, and instead sat put to grab Tannehill at 12, letting Bruce Irvin go by.  Phiilly would have had to try and trade with Arizona, but wouldn't have offered enough as the Cards didn't want to loose Floyd to St Louis.  That would have meant that Fletcher Cox would have landed in St Louis, and then Michael Brockers would have headed to Philly.  Cleveland would have still taken Weeden later in round 1, and I think it would have been entirely possible for the Seahawks to still have taken Irvin when they picked in round 2.  I think they would have stayed put at 11 in the second round though to get him.  This would have forced the Jets to deal with KC in round 2 to still get Hill, while KC could have still picked Allen 47th overall.  All of these moves would have likely ended with both Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson landing somewhere other than Seattle too.

    Great question Kenny.  I love playing out these "what-if" type scenarios.  Talk with you soon.

EZ,

     I know that it is never too early to start looking at next year, so tell me who you think the best player in the Big East will be during 2012.  Thanks man, and keep these articles coming.

Tom C - Bridgeport, CT

Tom,

     It is the right time to start looking forward to next season, but I am still doing all of my pre-season player evaluations.  I am not done yet, but as of right now I think the name to keep an eye on as far as the Beast of the Big East would go is Pittsburgh RB, Ray Graham.  Graham is very fast, and has exceptional change-of-direction ability.  He sees the field well when her runs, and has some surprising power at the point of contact too.

     I think Graham is a stud with huge upside potential at the next level (think L. McCoy but slightly quicker), but I do have some causes for concern too.  First, Graham has to stay healthy.  This is a concern for all players, but for one whos game is so tied to his shiftiness, any knee injury could be career changing.  Also, I am a bit concerned to see how well Graham puts it together on-field this year.  Yet again, the revolving door that is the Pittsburgh HC position has rotated, and it is forcing Graham to have to learn yet another new system.  This could impact Grahams production, especially in the early part of the season, and that could impact his draft stock a bit.  

     Thanks for the great question, Tom.

Hey there E,

     So again I hear the winds of change are shifting and this time they seem to be pushing Florida State to the Big 12.  Do you think this will happen, and if so, what are the other changes that could come as a result of this?  Thanks.

Ted R - Atlanta, GA

Hey Ted,

     So earlier today I was doing a little research about the possibility of FSU heading to the Big 12, and where as I see it as a possibility, I don't think it is a certainty.  There are a lot of good arguments for FSU to move, but then again, there are some fairly compelling ones for them to stay too.  Although I am not sold on the move actually happening, lets say that it does.  What else could happen as a result?  

     

     First off, I think if FSU goes, I think the Big 12 will push to add Clemson too.  This would pull out too big names from the ACC.  I would then expect the ACC to try and raid the Big East to replace their losses. South Florida and Connecticut both make a lot of sense as replacements.  USF keeps an ACC presence in Florida, and UConn expands the conference footprint and TV rights.  Rutgers would be another possibility, and adding Central Florida could result in a net gain of 2 if they pulled all four.  This situation would almost certainly condemn the Big East to a basketball only fate though.  

     Of course the other real alternative would be this move by the Big 12 precipitating a push to 4 "super conferences" .  I think the SEC and the Big 10 would lead the way in this charge.  The Big 10 would need to add 4 to get to 16.  Obviously they are hoping to land Notre Dame, but in their absence I would guess that Rutgers and Cincinnati would be two of the targets. If it was deemed that the ACC was now open for raids too, then Maryland, and Va Tech make the most sense to fill to 16. 

     The SEC is now at 14, and they would only need to pick up 2 to get to the target of 16.  I would suspect that Georgia Tech from the ACC would be their first choice, and then I think they would look to adding Louisville from the Big East to solidify the natural rivalry with Kentucky within conference borders.  

     Out west, I'd expect the Pac 12 to try and redirect both Bosie State and SDSU from their impending join with the Big East to the better geographical fit of the new "Pac-16".  I also think that BYU would again be targeted, as well as Air Force to try and fill out the biggest conference on the left coast.  

     This leaves the Big 12 and the ACC to fight it out for who becomes the last of the Big 4.  After losing FSU, Clemson, Va Tech, Maryland, and Ga tech in this scenario, I think the ACC would be in shambles.  The Big 12 would still need to add 6 to get to the desired 16, but targeting teams like South Florida from the Big East, and then NC State, UNC, Pittsburgh, Miami, and UVA from the ACC would get them there.  Duke, Wake Forest, and Syracuse may also be on the table too.

     Thanks so much for the great question Ted.

Best of the Best - Teams 1-5

Football is a game of winners and losers.  Over the last few days, we have shown you how the rest of the league did during the 2012 draft.  Now, it is time to crown those that were the best of the best.  If these players develop as expected, these next 5 teams will be on a serious upswing as soon as next season, and they could ride that upswing to become Super Bowl contenders.  So here are the 2012 draft's best of the best...


#5 - San Diego Chargers     DPA:2.94   NFL.com Avg:70.24   NFL.com Rank:13
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 1 Pk 18 - Melvin Ingram, DE/LB, South Carolina
                                     Rd 7 Pk 19 - David Molk, C, Michigan

     Lowest Rated Picks: No one with less than a C grade.

     4 of my top 5 teams were also rated in the top 6 of NFL.com's average player ratings.  The Chargers were the other team in my top 5.  The Bolts are a team that was close, for a long time.  But the last three years has seen this team regress.  Now GM AJ Smith, and HC Norv Turner are fighting for their jobs, but this is exactly the way to do it.  The chargers sat patiently on the first night of the draft and allowed the craziness to happen all around them.  They simply landed a top ten caliber player down at 18 when they added Melvin Ingram.  I see Ingram bringing everything the Chargers thought they were getting when they drafted Larry English.  He has the know how, and he has the flexibility to immediately improve this defense.  In the seventh round, the team landed David Molk.  This is a beast of a man who I had rated as my number 2 center overall.  I expect that he will step in immediately as a starter, helping keep Phillip Rivers upright.  Kendall Reyes, Ladarius Green, and Edwin Baker are all picks who I think will make this Chargers team better, and they need that with the improvements Denver and KC have been making recently.


#4 - Philadelphia Eagles     DPA:3.11   NFL.com Avg:73.74   NFL.com Rank:5
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 1 Pk 12 - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
                                     Rd 2 Pk 27 - Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall
                                     Rd 4 Pk 28 - Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia

     Lowest Rated Picks: No one with less than a C grade.

     It has been a long time since I have seen a team start a draft as strongly as the Eagles did this year.  Each of their first 5 picks were really good.  Trading up for Cox filled their biggest need on defense immediately, with the top rated DT on the board.  Mychal Kendricks and Vinny Curry both project as immediate contributors on this defense too. Nick Foles gives the team a strong armed back-up and possible heir to Michael Vick at QB, while Brandon Boykin can be an immediate contributor in the secondary, replacing Asante Samuel, while also helping out on special teams.  As a draft continues, I always expect a team to make a bone head move, but the Eagles didn't.  They even got it right following the draft, signing UDFA Chris Polk, who somehow slipped through the cracks during the seven round affair.


#3 - Cincinnati Bengals     DPA:3.17   NFL.com Avg:76.74   NFL.com Rank:2
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 2 Pk 21 - Devon Still, DT, Penn State
                                     Rd 3 Pk 20 - Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
                                     Rd 5 Pk 32 - George Iloka, S, Boise State

     Lowest Rated Picks: No one with less than a C grade.

     Many of the experts are calling the Bengals' draft the best of the year, and it would be very hard to argue against that.  Early on they addressed immediate needs, by landing Dre Kirkpatrick to play corner, and then Kevin Zeitler at guard.  Kirkpatrick is a personality that will need to be managed, but can be an immediate asset, and Zeitler should be solid from the jump.  Then the team went on a tear, landing 4 consecutive players in round 2, 3, and 4 who all earned A or A- grades.  Still will be a day one starter on the defensive line, and Sanu will be another target for Andy Dalton to throw to.  Brandon Thompson and Orson Charles will not start right away, but the provide some essential depth and they fit the system perfectly.  adding the safety from Bosie State, rated at the 3rd best on my board amongst safeties, deep in the 5th round is another steal for this team.  If not for strong drafts by both Pittsburgh and Cleveland, the NFC North would be the Bengals division to loose.


#2 - Miami Dolphins     DPA:3.29   NFL.com Avg:76.74   NFL.com Rank:1
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 2 Pk 10 - Johnathan Martin, OT, Stanford
                                     Rd 7 Pk 8 - Kheeston Randall, DT, Texas

     Lowest Rated Picks: No one lower than a C grade.

     Someone pinch me, cause I must be dreaming.  I cannot believe I just typed out the words.  The Dolphins had the second best draft of anyone, and according to the NFL.com average player rankings, they actually had the best draft.  What happened?  Well, Miami simply made better than average picks at almost every selection.  Very few "stand-up-and-shout" type picks, but very good selections all the way through.
     Many predicted the Phins would jump on Ryan Tannehill if he were still there, and he was, and they did.  I don't know if this will work for them, but if they give him some time, he could be very, very good.  The addition of first round talent J Martin in the second was great, as he steps in as the starter at RT from day 1. Vernon Olivier and Josh Kaddu can contribute on defense right away, and help generate a pass rush sorely lacking.  Lamar Miller and BJ Cunningham were both too talented to let continue to fall.  Cunningham will press for playing time right away, and new OC Mike Sherman will find some creative ways to use Miller.  I love them getting Randall, a 4th round talent all the way in the seventh too.


#1 - Arizona Cardinals     DPA:3.39   NFL.com Avg:72.53   NFL.com Rank:6
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 4 Pk 17 - Bobby Massie, OT, Ole Miss
                                     Rd 7 Pk 14 - Nate Potter, OT, Bosie State

     Lowest Rated Picks: No one lower than a C grade.

     Just like the Dolphins, the Cards built this draft on making very solid picks, all the way through.  They looked at their holes, and found the right guys to fill it every step of the way.  It was no secrete that the o-line needed to be rebuilt, but to be able to do it all in one draft is amazing.  Bobby Massie can step in as a starter today, and he should have been taken in the second, so getting him in the fourth is real value.  Senio Kelemente and Nate Potter were also value selections and along with FA acquisition Adam Snyder render last years offensive line obsolete.  Jemell Fleming comes to Arizona via Oklahoma in the 3rd and not only brings value, but will likely push for playing time right away. The Cards were really spectacular during the draft, and they made all of this happen even without a second round pick at their disposal.  If these guys develop as projected, Peyton Manning may wind up second guessing his decision to choose Denver after all.

In the Top 10 - Teams 6-10

These next 5 teams used the draft to satisfy their needs, and improve their teams.  Very few question marks for these ball clubs, as they really took advantage of their situation, and capitalized on opportunities...


#10 - Minnesota Vikings     DPA:2.76   NFL.com Avg:68.81   NFL.com Rank:19
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 1 Pk 4 - Matt Kalil, OT, USC
                                     Rd 7 Pk 3 - Audie Cole, ILB, NC State

     Lowest Rated Picks: Rd 1 Pk 29 - Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

     It is clear that I liked Minnesota's draft much more than many of the experts did.  I though the move to create a market for a pick which there was no natural market for (3rd overall) was brilliant.  I love that after doing that, they still managed to get the guy they had been targeting all along.  I also love the sheer volume of solid players they acquired.  With a team with as many holes as the Vikings have, they needed a great quantity of good quality and that is exactly what they got.  To also land a 4th round talent like Audie Cole all the way back in the seventh round, is gold.
    My only ding on this draft was the Harrison Smith selection.  Please don't misunderstand me... I like Harrison Smith.  I just don't like him at 29 overall, and I definitely don't like paying a price to move up to get him. On the Vikes, he projects as a starter, and that is good.  Unfortunately, I see him as a career average safety in the league.  I would have preferred to see them stay put and have taken him in the 2nd, or picked another quality player that could have helped the club and been of better value.


#9 - Detroit Lions     DPA:2.79   NFL.com Avg:67.99   NFL.com Rank:20
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 4 Pk 30 - Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
                                     Rd 7 Pk 16 - Travis Lewis, LB, Oklahoma

     Lowest Rated Picks: No one with less than a C grade.

     If you did not agree with my Vikings assessment, you probably wont agree with my review of the Lions either.  Again, another club whose draft I liked much more than the experts did.  The Lions started off the draft right.  They chose not to panic, and not to reach.  Instead of trying to manufacture position to get one of the top corners, they waited and added Riley Reiff, who was the second OT on the board, and filled a different position of need.  In fact, that represents how they managed the whole draft.  They showed patients, and made above average picks often through the weekend.  I especially love the selections of Ronnell and Taravis Lewis.  Regular readers know that I had Ronnell pegged as an early second round selection for the last three months. To get him in the fourth is a total steal.  As for Travis, he was slightly overrated whn I projected him to go in the early second.  I made some corrections, and downgraded him to a solid three, and he was tabbed all the way in the seventh.  I expect both of these guys to be making an impact for the Lions next season.  Adding Ryan Broyles in the second to take some pressure of Megatron was also a high value pick for this ball club on the rise.


#8 - New York Giants     DPA:2.81   NFL.com Avg:69.29   NFL.com Rank:17
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 2 Pk 31 - Ruben Randle, WR, LSU
                                     Rd 3 Pk 31 - Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech

     Lowest Rated Picks: Rd 4 Pk 32 - Adrien Robinson, TE, Cincinnati

     Recently I was discussing with my brother the names of the guys I considered to be the best personnel men in football, and I was having a very hard time finding anyone who I liked more than Jerry Reese.  I think his eye for talent is unreal.  With another draft under his belt, I again see why it is that the Giants are the defending champs.  Reese knows how to build a roster.  I like, but dont love the David Wilson pick in the first.  I think he will work out well for the G-Men as an alternative to Bradshaw.  I love the picks of Randle and Hosley in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.  Randle may not be the most polished route runner, but overall I think he can be an immediate replacement for Mario Manningham, and ultimately an improvement.  Hosley comes into camp, already better than Aaron Ross, and I think he will put pressure on Thomas and Webster for playing time in his rookie season.  I think by his third year, he will be lining up against other team's number ones.  Adding Brandon Mosley in the 4th is just another solid Jerry Reese personnel move.


#7 - Green Bay Packers     DPA:2.84   NFL.com Avg:72.31   NFL.com Rank:8
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 2 Pk 19 - Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
                                     Rd 7 Pk 34 - Andrew Datko, OT, Florida State

     Lowest Rated Picks: No one lower than a C grade.

     Is there a team in the league better at building through the draft than the Packers?  These guys just continue to land quality additions to their team, year after year.  2012 looks as if it will be no different.  They got started early adding Nick Perry from USC.  He should step in to immediately help provide pressure on opposing passes from someone not named Clay Matthews.  That will help the secondary which really needs it.  Then in the second round they add Jerel Worthy, a big DT who is a value pick in the middle second.  Terrell Manning, Andrew Datko, and BJ Coleman all provide value with where they were selected, and the focus of the Pack to improve their defense was appropriate.  Seven of the team's eight pick were spent on players who will line up on the defensive side of the ball.


#6 - Pittsburgh Steelers     DPA:2.88   NFL.com Avg:69.81   NFL.com Rank:15
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 1 Pk 24 - David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
                                     Rd 4 Pk 14 - Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington

     Lowest Rated Picks: No one lower than a C grade.

     Bottom line with the Steelers draft, I love it.  It was not a sexy draft, but it was a Steeler's draft.  What I mean by that is that they picked buys who fit the Steelers way.  They picked guys who fit the city.  David DeCastro is an old school guard.  He is a mauler, who loves to crush people up front.  Exactly the kind of guy that should play for the Steelers.  Adding him in the first, and then Mike Adams in the second, just ensured that along with Pouncy in the middle, this line will be solid for the next decade.  The addition of Alameda Ta'amu in the fourth is another pick I simply love.  He is the exact right person to bring in to succeed Casey Hampton at NT.  Hampton will be around for another year, two at the most.  Ta'amu can take some time and learn from him before taking the role over when he leaves.  Sean Spence, Chris Rainey, and David Paulson add some serious speed to this team on both sides of the ball.  I just love this draft.

Teams 11-15

Now it is time to take a look at the last set of teams that fall outside of the top ten.  Here we will find a few teams who I rated higher than some of the experts.  Who is right?  We will only know after these guys define the type of players they will become at the next level.


#15 - Buffalo Bills     DPA:2.59   NFL.com Avg:72.10   NFL.com Rank:9
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 2 Pk 9 - Cordy Glenn, OG/OT, Georgia
                                     Rd 5 Pk 9 - Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State

     Lowest Rated Picks: Rd 3 Pk 6 - TJ Graham, WR, NC State

     After adding Super Mario during free agency, the Bills needed to come into the draft and add help on their o-line, and add another target for Fitzpatrick to throw to other than Stevie Johnson.  Consider the first of these objectives accomplished.  Cordy Glenn is a first round talent who should have gone in front of guys like Kevin Zeitler, but somehow fell.  Sanders had a late second/early third round grade on my board, and landed in Buffalo in the 5th.  Both of these guys will come in and immediately pressure the veterans for playing time.  I would not be at all surprised to see both lined up on opening day as starters.
     As far as wide receivers go however, I am really not a fan of the TJ Graham pick in the third round.  Mohamed Sanu, TY Hilton, and half a dozen other receivers with much higher grades were still on the board when Buffalo picked, so I am not sure why they went after Graham.  He was a 5th rounder on my board.  2 rounds too early hurts the draft grade.  Simple as that.


#14 - Indianapolis Colts     DPA:2.63   NFL.com Avg:69.60   NFL.com Rank:16
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 1 Pk 1 - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
                                     Rd 2 Pk 2 - Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

     Lowest Rated Picks: Rd 5 Pk 35 - Vick Ballard, RB, Mississippi State

     The Colts did a storybook job of beginning their rebuilding process.  They landed the best QB to come out of college in a generation with the first overall selection, and then in the second round, they landed his favorite target.  It is rare that you are in position to grab your target and his best friend, but that is what happened with the Colts in the first two rounds.  The TY Hilton, and Josh Chapman additions were also excellent selections for a team that has their work cut out for them.
     My only complaint about the colts draft was that i think it took them too long to address the defense.  Waiting for the 5th round, and only grabbing 2 defensive player overall, I think will be a mistake.  There were some talented guys available late on the defensive side of the ball, and I think that will hurt this team.  I am also perplexed as to how new HC Chuck Pagano thinks that he can go into opening day with Vick Ballard as his top RB.  Not too good.


#13 - Cleveland Browns     DPA:2.63   NFL.com Avg:71.08   NFL.com Rank:11
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 1 Pk 3 - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
                                     Rd 6 Pk 35 - Billy Winn, DE, Bosie State

     Lowest Rated Picks: Rd 3 Pk 24 - John Hughes, DT, Cincinnati

     The Browns made some moves in the draft I really liked, and if not for one very bad pick in the third round, they would have been a likely top 5 draft.  The move made early on to go up one spot to secure Trent Richardson was an excellent move in my mind.  This was a team that could not afford to lose him, and they didn't allow that to happen.  They also added James-Michael Johnson in the 4th, Ryan Miller in the 5th, Billy Winn in the 6th, and Trevin Wade in the 7th.  All of these guys represent excellent value and will likely be positioned to make an impact on opening day for this Browns squad.
     I am not quite as high on the Brandon Weeden selection as a lot of other folks are because, I am not sold on him being a vast improvement over Colt McCoy.  We are going to have to wait and see.  Still, that is not a bad pick.  A bad pick is spending a 3rd round pick on a guy I thought may go in the 6th or 7th if at all.  For John Hughes to have gone ahead of Brandon Thompson is flat out hilarious to me.  You can also add nine other guys to the list of DTs I expected to go ahead of Hughes.  I just don't get it.


#12 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers     DPA:2.66   NFL.com Avg:68.96   NFL.com Rank:18
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 1 Pk 7 - Mark Barron, S, Alabama
                                     Rd 2 Pk 26 - Levonte David, OLB, Nebraska

     Lowest Rated Picks: No one lower than a C grade.

     Tampa started the night strong.  After getting a nice offer from Jacksonville, the Bucs swaped into the 7th spot, knowing they would likely lose out on Claiborne, and they were fine because they had Mark Barron all lined up.  This guy reminds me a lot of a John Lynch type of safety.  He hits hard, throwing his body at players like it were a weapon.  He is a smart defender and will continue to reform this defense.  The Levonte David pick in the late second I also loved.  I think this kid is a lot like a young Derrick Brooks, and with these two guys along with Adrian Claibrone, DaQuan Bowers, and Gerald McCoy, the Bucs have a skilled, young, hungry defense which may be the best in the league in another 2 years.
     I have no major concerns about any of their other selections either.  I was a little surprised at the Doug Martin pick, especially with Courtney Upshaw still on the board, but the Bucs need someone who can play with Blount, and Martin is not a bad back at all.


#11 - Tennessee Titans     DPA:2.71   NFL.com Avg:67.89   NFL.com Rank:21
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 2 Pk 20 - Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina
                                     Rd 6 Pk 20 - Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State

     Lowest Rated Picks: No one lower than a C grade.

     Despite the relatively low grade given to them by some of the experts, I really liked what the Titans did.  In the first, they avoided reaching for a pass rusher, instead addressing their second biggest need, with Kendall Wright at WR.  Then they added the pass rusher in the second, landing Zach Brown, who although raw, may be the best athlete in this draft class.  He will have some time to develop in that Titans defense, and if he refines his technique, this kid could be flat out dangerous.  I was also very impressed by the value they got from their 6th round selection, Markelle Martin.  Followers of the blog know that I have been high on Martin for some time, and had him rated as one of my 5 best safeties.  This is just flat out value for the Titans.

Draft Grades 16-20

With teams 16-20, we have teams who made some real good pick-ups.  In most cases, these teams made one or two picks though, that held them back from finishing with an elite grade.  Lets see who they are...


#20 - Jacksonville Jaguars     DPA:2.38   NFL.com Avg:70.70   NFL.com Rank:12
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 1 Pk 5 - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

     Lowest Rated Picks: Rd 3 Pk 7 - Bryan Anger, P, California

     What is the value of a single pick?  In the case of the Jags, it is the difference of about 10 spots on my grade sheet.  Early in the draft, the Jags set the tone, and traded up ahead of the Rams and grabbed the most elite wideout on the board in Justin Blackmon.  He has all the makings of something special, and I loved their guts to go get their guy.  Andre Branch in the second and Mike Brown in the 6th were two more picks that I really like for this ball club.  They are both guys who fill immediate needs, and can make Jacksonville better.  Now someone please explain to me, why on earth any team would ever select a punter in the third round.  I am not really an advocate of selecting punters at all.  You can grab a quality punter in free agency.  But, worse than even picking a punter is spending a third round pick on one.  This stands out as the worst selection in the whole draft in my mind.


#19 - Baltimore Ravens     DPA:2.41   NFL.com Avg:67.39   NFL.com Rank:22
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 2 Pk 3 - Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

     Lowest Rated Picks: Rd 4 Pk 3 - Gino Gradkowski, G, Delaware

     If you have some teams rated lower than the experts, that it stands to reason that you will have some teams rated higher too.  The Ravens are one of those teams.  Overall I really liked what Baltimore did to continue to build one of the best teams in football.  Trading down out of the first round and still grabbing the top OLB on my board earns them mega props.  Upshaw is exactly the kind of linebacker who will thrive in their system.  His battery of mentors won't hurt either.  They also added some other quality players including Kelechi Osmele, Asa Jackson, and Tommy Streeter.  Each of those guys can add to this team right out of the gate.
     The only real knock against the team would have been for wasting their 4th round pick on Gradkowski.  He was on my board as a 6th round talent.  Ozzie Newsome is not know for reaching though, so maybe there is more than meets my eyes to this kid.


#18 - Carolina Panthers     DPA:2.41   NFL.com Avg:70.06   NFL.com Rank:14
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 1 Pk 9 - Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

     Lowest Rated Picks: Rd 4 Pk 8 - Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma

     Early in the draft, the Panther showed patients and maturity, staying put, and drafting the highest rated player still remaining in Luke Kuechly.  I love this kid, and think he will be awesome for a long time.  Along with Beason and Conner, the Panthers have a very fast, excellent tackling linebacking corp.  They also did a good job in adding guys like Amini Silatolu, Josh Norman, and Joe Adams.
     Unfortunately for Carolina, they also failed to address the very large hole in the center of their defensive line, and I fear that will come back to haunt them.  Guys like Worthy, Still and Reyes were all still available in the second when they picked, and I fear passing on them was too costly.  Frank Alexander in the 4th was a reach.  They guy had a 6th round grade in my book, and there were other options who could have been considerably better fits.


#17 - Kansas City Chiefs     DPA:2.41   NFL.com Avg:75.24   NFL.com Rank:3
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 5 Pk 11 - DeQuan Menzie, CB, Alabama
                                     Rd 6 Pk 12 - Cyrus Gray, RB, TAMU

     Lowest Rated Picks: Rd 1 Pk 11 - Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

     Like the Pats and the Rams, I am much lower on the Cheifs draft that a lot of the experts.  I felt like the team simply gambled too much.  Since the combine, Dontari Poe has seen his stock skyrocket.  Unfortunately, when you watch tape on this kid, he simply doesn't back those freakish numbers up with his play.  Since football is about play on the field, that doesn't bode well for the Cheifs.  I think the team would have been better served to trade down if they wanted Poe, and they could have gotten much better value for him later.  Jeff Allen and Donald Stevenson are both solid football players, but both were slight reaches where they were chosen.  Reaching three times in three rounds is not a good recipe.
     The picks of Menzie and Gray in rounds 5 and 6 however, I saw as value picks.  Menzie was overshadowed on that Alabama defense, but play after play, game after game, he held his own against some of the best competition anywhere in the nation.  Gray is an upside play at a position of strength for the organization.  You have to like that in the 6th round of a draft.


#16 - Houston Texans     DPA:2.43   NFL.com Avg:71.71   NFL.com Rank:10
     Highest Rated Picks: Rd 4 Pk 31 - Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

     Lowest Rated Picks: Rd 3 Pk 5 - DeVier Posey, WR, Ohio State

     I think what bothered me the most about the Texans draft is how much stock they put in a guy who I think is an overrated reach.  DeVier Posey is not nearly as good as he thinks he is, and I am sorry but the Texans needed to do more to grab a serious alternative to take some of the focus off of Jacoby Jones.  This is another team on the cusp of being real Super Bowl contenders, and to not address their most glaring need effectively is a shame.  It should be noted that I am not as high on their other wideout selection, Keshawn Martin either.  I think his former teammate BJ Cunningham, who went two rounds later was far superior.
    I did really like the Jared Crick selection for this club.  This is a guy who had first round talent, but slid because of missing time due to an injury.  Adding him to a defensive front that already features JJ Watt and Brooks Reed, will make the rest of the AFC South more nervous, as it should. Props also to be given out for the picks of both Brandon Brooks and Ben Jones, who I expect to both make impacts in front of Matt Schaub next year, and for years to come.