2009 NFL Draft Grades: All 32 Teams

- Year in and year out, Ozzie Newsome and his staff do an excellent job of reading the draft. This year they traded up for OT Michael Oher and fill a need along the offensive line.

DE Paul Kruger is one of the best all-around (and most underrated) defensive ends in the draft and should be a nice pass rushing complement to Terrell Suggs. CB Lardarius Webb, ILB Jason Phillips and RB Cedric Peerman were all nice selections as well.  The only thing missing was a wide receiver.

Cleveland Browns - Failed to find a taker for WR Braylon Edwards but showed creativity in trading out of the No. 5 spot and trading down two more times in round one to add picks. C Alex Mack was a surprise but follows the blueprint Mangini used in New York. WR Brian Robiskie has the skills to contribute quickly as a possession receiver.

WR Mohommed Massaquoi and DE David Veikune were questionable second rounders. Their sixth rounders (Don Carey, Coye Francies and James Davis were nice values. Don't underestimate the value of the players they acquired in traded as DE Kenyon Coleman and S Abram Elam fill needs while Brett Ratliff could be a dark horse candidate in the QB derby.

Green Bay Packers - Getting NT BJ Raji at No. 9 was a gift for a Packers team making a transition to a 3-4 defense.  OLB Clay Matthews is more solid than spectacular outside but his effort and coverage skills will earn him a starting job.  TJ Lang and Jamon Meredith are good day two prospects for a team in need of replacing its tackles in the near future.

Houston Texans - Filled needs early with LB Brian Cushing, DE Connor Barwin and C Antoine Caldwell.  Also, added nice value late including safeties Glover Quin and Troy Nolan plus TEs Anthony Hill and James Casey.

Minnesota Vikings - Pushed aside character to select WR/KR Percy Harvin whose addition to the offense should open things up a little for RB Adrian Peterson and take pressure off their questionable quarterbacks.

Right tackle Phil Loadholt fills a major need as did the selection of cover corner Asher Allen. Fifth rounder Jasper Brinkley could a fifth-round steal if his knee is healthy and he keeps his weight in check.

New York Giants - While WR Hakeem Nicks is compared to Anquan Boldin, the Giants would have been better off with the real thing (or Braylon Edwards). Overall the Giants added a lot of receiving talent in Nicks, Ramses Barden and Travis Beckum.

Each of whom is a tall red zone target. OT William Beatty could be their left tackle of the future and RB Andre Brown should challenge for Derrick Ward's carries. OLB Clint Sintim is not a good fit for a 4-3 (just like fellow Virginia linebackers Darryl Blackstock and Ahmad Brooks weren't).

Tennessee Titans - Added the best route runner in the draft with Kenny Britt who combined with third round TE Jared Cook should enhance the passing game and red zone efficiency. DT Sen Derrick Marks adds depth and penetration ability to their Haynesworth-less defensive line.

CB Ryan Mouton, LB Gerald McRath, G/T Troy Kropog and RB Javon Ringer were solid selections as well.

 

Grade B-

New England Patriots - While everyone praises the Patriots for how well they have traded down and accumulated picks during the past three drafts, they fail to mention how poorly the Pats have done outside of round one the past two years.

Adding two 2010 second-round picks was nice but considering they had five day one picks entering the draft I expected more. The Patriots did add some nice developmental players in NT Ron Brace, S Patrick Chung, CB/PR Darius Butler, and OLB Tyrone McKenzie.

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