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.
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