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Miami had a stellar first draft day, but a second day full of projects. Time will tell if those kids will add to the teams sudden improvement.
GRADE : B
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Watching the Patriots on draft day is like watching a superstar go to work. They had twelve draft picks this year, and used six to help their trenches.
Chungmight start at SS right away, and he could team with Merriweather to give the Patriots one of the better safety tandems for the next several years.
Braceis very good in run support, and should bolster the DL rotation.
Butler might be an absolute steal. He could provide them a starting CB and good kickoff returner for many years.
Vollmer will be groomed slowly to be a future starter at RT.
Tatewas an impressive pick. He might not be ready until 2010, but the guy is a spectacular return specialist with good upside at WR.
McKenzieis a swift OLB, and should add depth.
Ohrnberger and Bussey will be slowly groomed to hopefully be the starting guards in the future.
Ingram was the best LS in the draft, and fills an important need.
Pryor and Richard are two undersized DT's who are best at stopping the run. They may have a shot at providing depth.
It will be interesting to see what the Patriots do with Edelman, a college QB. He is very athletic, so they may try him as a WR, or even run the "wildcat" offense once in awhile.
After the draft, they grabbed a QB in Brian Hoyer. ESPN's Todd McShay really likes Hoyer, so maybe the kid can be the future QB?
Antonio Appelbyis a smart ILB, so he may get to add depth.
Though it is uncertain how many of these draft picks make the team, they are all quality players. New England has seemed to draft many of them over the last decade. Some, who don't make the team after the draft, go on to help other teams. Justin Rogers of Dallas is just one example I can recall off the top of my head.
The best part of the Patriot draft was how they traded down to get more future draft choices.
GRADE : A +
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The defending champs already have a excellent roster, obviously, but they had an excellent draft that made it better.
Hood fell in their laps, and should help in the DE rotation.
Urbik is a road grader, and has a shot at starting pretty soon.
Wallaceis a very fast WR who can help on the return game.
Lewis and Burnett add needed depth at CB, and Burnett can help as a kick return specialist.
Summers hopefully will help as shortage back. Harris is a project the Steelers hope can provide NT depth.
Shipley could be a real steal. He is ultra smart and never gives up. He could be the starting center one day.
Johnson will try to make it as an H-Back type.
After the draft, Pittsburgh grabbed Mike Reilly, a QB, and might develop him on the taxi squad this year.
Pittsburgh aggressively attacked all of their needs. But then again, the Steelers have generally been drafting gold since the 1970's.
GRADE : A
CLEVELAND BROWNS
In my opinion, the Browns had one of the best drafts this year in the NFL. Not only did they trade down, saving themselves millions of dollars, but they got extra draft picks from doing so.
They then got the guy they targeted all along in Mack. He might start day one.
They then grabbed Robiskieto give them a reliable WR.
Massaquoihad a excellent senior year in college, and Cleveland thinks he can help a WR group in need of quality depth.
Veikune is a relentless worker, and might get a look at DE or SLB.
Maiviais excellent on special teams, and should add depth at WLB.
Carey and Francies could be steals, and provide the Browns with two quality CB's for years.
Davis has the ability to take over for Lewis as the primary ball carrier.
After the draft, Cleveland grabbed QB Graham Harrell
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