2012 NFL Draft Grades: Report Card Grades for Every War Room

The 2012 NFL draft had teams wheeling and dealing in unprecedented numbers.

War rooms were burning up the phone lines in an attempt to maneuver their way to the next big thing.

And when the dust cleared, the draft concluded with some obvious winners and losers.

The following are grades for each team's war room.

New York Giants

In a trade-heavy draft, the New York Giants' war room chose not to maneuver their picks up or down.

New York used five of its seven selections on offense, which was in line with most of their needs.

The G-Men entered the draft needing a running back both to replace Brandon Jacobs and supplement Ahmad Bradshaw, whose 2012 potential could be hampered by a lingering foot injury.

New York also needed a wideout to fill the shoes of Mario Manningham, a tight end to step in for Jake Ballard, who will miss most of next season due to injury, and strength on the offensive line.

The Giants drafted for need but also were able to use their selections on top available players.

They squeezed good value from this draft, selecting Jayron Hosley in the third-round pick when he had been projected by some draftniks to be gone by the second. Hosley's drug test at the NFL combine came back positive for marijuana, and as a result, his draft stock plummeted.

I find it questionable that the Giants used their first-round pick on running back David Wilson.

Trent Richardson and Doug Martin were far above the running backs in their draft class, but with both of them off the board, the Giants could have used their first-rounder to draft elsewhere.

Especially considering that top backs Ronnie Hillman, Bernard Pierce and Lamar Miller were still on the board for New York's 63rd overall pick.

Still, a solid draft by New York.

Grade: A-

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles may have traded Asante Samuel to the Atlanta Falcons for airline peanuts (they gained a mere seventh-round pick in the deal), but they managed to play this year's draft more prudently.

Philadelphia slid up three spots to snag defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, giving up a fourth- and sixth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks as well as the No. 15 overall selection.

Cox can rush the pass and stop the run and was well worth the move up. He will complement Jason Babin and DeMeco Ryans to bring the pressure on this Philadelphia defense.

After landing their big-name first-rounder, the Eagles came up with some steals in later in the draft.

They drafted linebacker Mychal Kendricks at 46th overall and defensive end Vinny Curry at 59th overall.

Grade: A-

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are not averse to moving around on draft day.

In six of their last 10 drafts, Dallas' war room has traded its first-round selection, so it wasn't a surprise to see them do it again this year, leaping to No. 6 from their initial position at 14th overall.

Dallas used that pick to draft the best corner the class had to offer, LSU's Morris Claiborne, who will join Brandon Carr and Mike Jenkins in Rob Ryan's backfield.

Claiborne was by far the Cowboys' most promising pick, but Dallas had to give up a second-rounder to the St. Louis Rams to get him.

In Round 3, the 'Boys used their second selection to pick up Boise State defensive end Tyrone Crawford, who only boasts 12 starts at the college level.

Had the Cowboys stood pat at 14th overall, they still could have taken an impact player off the board.

Then with the second-rounder they would have had (45th overall), the 'Boys could have drafted corners Trumaine Johnson or Josh Robinson or center Peter Konz, all of whom were still up for grabs when the 45th selection was made.

Overall, the Cowboys probably could have gotten better value from this year's draft had they not given up their second-round pick. Still, having Claiborne on your side is an enticing prospect.

Grade: B

Washington Redskins

Robert Griffin III has inspired hope among Washington Redskins fans like no other draft prospect could.

And while the 'Skins went to work on this draft, trading for their hopeful answer under center, they didn't leave much room to actually build around RG3 the future.

Washington gave up its sixth overall pick, their 2012 second-rounder and their 2013 and 2014 first-round selections to snake up just four spots and swipe Griffin III.

Don't get me wrong, RG3 will likely be a great player for Washington, but it's a risky move.

This offseason, the Redskins signed Pierre Garcon, who will carry the load for Washington at wideout.

But if Garcon goes down, Washington's receiving situation will be fragile, and they won't have much leverage to pick up another blockbuster player.

To their credit, the 'Skins made good moves during the draft, accumulating guards to bolster their O-line and keep their new quarterback on his feet.

Washington was also wise to draft a quarterback in Round 3. The hope here is that he develops, and they can extract trade value from him in the future.

Still, Washington gave up an unprecedented amount to land a pick in the top five, leaving themselves little wiggle room in the future.

Grade: C+

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers used their first-round selection (28th overall) on defensive end Nick Perry.

Their most desperate need heading into the draft was the pass rush, and their selection proved their commitment to remedying that weakness.

Perry will bring quickness to Green Bay's blitz, but he had a tendency to disappear for bouts while playing at USC.

Green Bay's later selections may pay off more than Perry. Cornerback Casey Hayward and linebacker Terrell Manning have plenty of upside and went later than they were projected.

Grade: B+

Detroit Lions

Coming into the draft, the Detroit Lions needed to get stronger at the cornerback position and along the offensive line.

They came out of the first round with Iowa tackle Riley Reiff, who was thought to be the second-best offensive tackle in the draft (after Matt Kalil, of course).

In the second round, the Lions faced an interesting predicament. As the clock wound down during Detroit's 54th overall selection, Oklahoma wideout Ryan Broyles remained on the board.

Broyles would have disappeared in the first round had an ACL injury not cast doubt on his ability to play in the upcoming NFL season.

But Detroit needed a cornerback. Desperately.

Trumaine Johnson, considered a top-five corner in this year's draft, also remained on the board.

With Madden '13 cover boy Calvin Johnson and high-producing Nate Burleson in your receiving corp, it's tough to justify the Lions using their second-rounder on Broyles, another receiver.

But the Lions' strength at wideout also gives them the luxury to nurse Broyles' injury and extract more value from him later.

Overall, a tough decision, but a good one by the Detroit Lions.

Grade: A-

Chicago Bears

When the Chicago Bears used their first-round selection on Boise State defensive end Shea McClellin, I thought they may have been better served to pick an offensive lineman since quarterback Jay Cutler was sacked 23 times in 10 games before enduring a season-ending injury last year.

Still, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. McClellin will fit nicely alongside Julius Peppers in Chicago's pass rush efforts.

But to watch Chicago burn through their six draft picks and dutifully ignore their need at O-line was extremely disappointing.

Grade: C+

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings excelled on draft day.

Prior to the first round, they swung a dream deal with the Cleveland Browns. Minnesota gained Cleveland's fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round selections in exchange for sliding back a single spot to pick fourth overall.

The Vikes sacrificed nothing in this trade. They knew Cleveland wanted to snag running back Trent Richardson with their third overall pick, so they inherited the board exactly how they wanted it in the four slot, drafting offensive tackle Matt Kalil.

The Vikings then had the leverage to slide into the first round for a second pick, selecting Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith.

They went on to make eight more picks, all for need, making Minnesota's draft one of the most solid.

Grade: A

New Orleans Saints

Well, right out the Bountygate, you knew this draft would be a downer for the New Orleans Saints.

They were without a first-rounder heading into this draft. The Saints had surrendered their 2012 first-round pick in a deal last year with the New England Patriots.

New Orleans' second-rounder was forfeited in the wake of the Gregg Williams' scandal, meaning their first selection in the 2012 draft came in the third round and was 90th overall.

They used their first selection on defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, who, after sitting out the 2009 season at LSU, played his 2010 and 2011 seasons at Regina, a school in Canada.

The Saints needed strength on the defensive line, at linebacker, in their secondary and on their receiving corp, and they didn't do well drafting for these needs with the five picks they were afforded.

New Orleans was in an understandably difficult situation when they entered Radio City Music Hall, but their war room could have navigated the situation better than they did.

Grade: B-

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons squeezed a lot out of this one.

The Falcons entered the draft with their first selection coming at 55th overall as a result of a trade made last year to snag wideout Julio Jones.

Atlanta entered the draft having traded for corner Asante Samuel for a seventh-round pick, a dirt-cheap asking price.

The trade gave Atlanta a little more flexibility when drafting for needs.

The Falcons used their 55th overall selection on Wisconsin center Peter Konz, considered the best center in this year's draft class.

Atlanta used its second selection (third round, 91st overall) on another O-lineman and recruited a solid run blocker at fullback.

The Falcons could have used a linebacker on D, but overall good moves from a war room that didn't have much to work with.

Grade: B+

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are still rebuilding—this time on defense—and they used their No. 9 overall pick to select Boston College inside linebacker Luke Kuechly.

Keuchly was a great choice. He led the nation with tackles last season and should be ready to start for this Panthers team on day one.

Though their draft started strong, their momentum petered out.

I don't think that surrendering next year's third-round pick and a sixth-round pick to snag Oklahoma defensive end Frank Alexander was worth it.

Grade: B

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got high-impact players right out of the gate in this year's draft—and they didn't sacrifice much to procure them.

In a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bucs slid back two spots from No. 5 to No. 7 overall and landed the Jags' 101st overall pick in the process.

The Bucs still got the best safety in the draft, Alabama product Mark Barron, at the No. 7 spot.

Later, the Tampa Bay war room burned up the phone lines again to trade into the first round in a deal they wrangled out of the Denver Broncos.

The Bucs swapped places with the Broncos and passed along the 101st selection they'd just picked up to slide into the 31st overall spot and swipe sure-footed running back Doug Martin.

While Trent Richardson was decidedly the best back of the draft, Martin was clearly ahead of the rest of the pack at his position heading into Thursday night.

The Bucs went on to gain two linebackers, a corner, a running back and tight end with their remaining picks.

Grade: A

San Francisco 49ers

I don't quite understand what the San Francisco 49ers were getting at selecting Illinois wideout A.J. Jenkins with their first-rounder.

They needed depth in their receiving corp, but this didn't seem like the best fit.

I like their selection of Oregon running back LaMichael James in Round 2. He'll be a great complement to Frank Gore.

The 49ers missed an opportunity to draft a corner, but they did okay overall.

Grade: B

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals endured a lot of sacks last year, and they could have used this selection to draft someone like Riley Reiff, who was still on the board at No. 13 overall.

But they had the opportunity to draft Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd, the second-best wideout in the draft, and their top receiver Larry Fitzgerald had been begging them to do it.

The Cardinals gained good value here and will draw coverage away from Fitzgerald.

Arizona went on to draft three tackles, showing commitment to protecting the quarterback despite a first round that illustrated otherwise.

Overall, a solid draft.

Grade: B+

Seattle Seahawks

Everyone was shocked to see the Seattle Seahawks make this selection, especially since the Hawks' war room was looking good in their trade with the Eagles.

Seattle only slid three spots, but earned fourth- and sixth-round picks from a nervous Philadelphia team eying Fletcher Cox.

But despite essentially still having the pick of the litter at No. 15 overall, the Seahawks pulled out a shocker, drafting projected late-second-round outside linebacker prospect, Bruce Irvin.

Irvin is not exactly a run-stopper but is good for sacks.

He has a host of off-the-field issues, which also make this pick a curious one.

Seattle's use of its third-round pick on a quarterback also seems like a waste after procuring Matt Flynn through free agency. Had they wanted to draft a backup, they should have utilized their abundant later-round picks.

Overall, some big question marks hovering over this one.

Grade: C

St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams got the best deal of the draft before it even started by snagging Washington's first-round picks for years to come among other selections in the blockbuster RG3 trade.

But when the Rams traded down again with the Dallas Cowboys, I found myself scratching my head. They finished the season 2-14, essentially "competing" with the Indianapolis Colts in the Luck Bowl.

The Rams needed to draft a high-impact, ready-to-go, all-around type guy. What they got is a defensive tackle who's great against the run but weak against the pass.

That's not to say Michael Brockers won't develop. But it's hard to know exactly how much of an impact he can have—especially after seeing him play essentially just one year at LSU.

The Rams went on to have a solid second round, snagging wide receiver Brian Quick, corner Janoris Jenkins (though obviously some off-the-field issues there) and running back Isaiah Pead.

St. Louis could have done more to protect quarterback Sam Bradford. They used just one of their 10 picks on a guard.

Nevertheless, there is still a huge payoff for St. Louis looming in the future.

Grade: A-

New England Patriots

If any omen foreshadows that 2012 is the apocalypse, it's the fact that Bill Belichick traded up twice in this year's first round of the draft.

The moves seem well worth it.

New England snagged Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones at 21st overall, a player who may have been a top-10 prospect had he not missed five early-season games last year.

The Pats got good value there.

I also really liked the selection of Dont'a Hightower at 25th overall. Another versatile player who should fit in with New England's style of play.

You do have to question the Pats' second-round selection of safety-corner hybrid Tavon Wilson.

The versatility factor makes sense for a Belichick defense, but this was a guy who didn't attend the NFL combine or play in any all-star games.

No one would have blinked an eye if Wilson were an undrafted free agent right now.

And yet, New England took him off the board at No. 48 overall.

You can never be sure what goes on inside that hooded genius' head, which is why the mantra of Pats nation is "In Belichick we trust."

Grade: B

New York Jets

The New York Jets needed to up their pass rush efforts through the draft, and they were not slow to do so, selecting North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples with their 16th overall pick.

The choice to draft Coples frustrated testy Jets fans, who booed the selection on Thursday night.

Question marks hover over Coples' effort at North Carolina.

Effort problems already abound on the Jets. Wideout Santonio Holmes was accused of quitting on the team last season.

Coples will join a locker room filled with pre-existing tension and lack of discipline.

Still, Coples has upside for the Jets. He's a freak athlete and can slip between the 4-3 and the 3-4.

I liked the selection of Georgia Tech wideout Stephen Hill—whether or not he's NFL-ready.

Arkansas State linebacker Demario Davis is also a clutch pickup for this team.

Overall, a decent draft by the Jets.

Grade: B+

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins came into this one needing a quarterback so badly that their success in this draft will likely be measured almost exclusively on whether they managed to snag their franchise guy.

Sure, Texas A&M stud Ryan Tannehill is no guarantee under center at the professional level. But the point here, again, is that Miami needed a quarterback this season.

They lost the Peyton Manning sweepstakes and did not offer enough to attain Matt Flynn through free agency or RG3 through the draft.

Further, the Fins needed more than a one-and-done—they needed to invest in someone with long-term potential.

I see Tannehill as having plenty of upside for the Fins.

Yes, maybe the war room could have traded down to grab Tannehill later and gain more picks, but they resisted pressure from a league conspiring to make them believe they needed to trade up to get their quarterback. I see ignoring an itchy trigger finger as a win for the war room.

The Fins also got good value out of defensive end Olivier Vernon, who they'll be happy to have coming after Tom Brady.

For a Miami team that is typically skittish about taking risks or incurring costs for long-term investments, I liked their commitment to improvement in this draft.

Grade: B+

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are locked and loaded heading into 2012.

Their pass rush is stacked with the addition of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, and with the first-round selection of South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the Bills' secondary is starting to come together as well.

The Bills got good value out of Georgia guard Cordy Glenn at No. 41 overall. They obviously believe he can handle left tackle, and if they're right, this is an excellent addition.

They gained depth at wideout by drafting T.J. Graham in the third round. Graham is not big, but he's fast and could also contribute as a kickoff or punt returner.

Overall, a solid draft for Buffalo.

Grade: A-

Baltimore Ravens

Among the headlines streaming out of Radio City Music hall last Thursday night was the tale of snubbed Alabama product Courtney Upshaw, who had to re-wear his custom-made gold suit to Friday night's installment of the draft after spending his whole night in the green room during the first round.

The Baltimore Ravens were clear winners, snagging Upshaw at No. 35 overall.

The Ravens also needed a guard and went on to draft Kelechi Osemele, a tackle who could fill this role in Baltimore, as well as Delaware guard Gino Gradkowski.

They grabbed a running back out of Temple in Round 3 to gain depth in their backfield and a wideout from Miami.

Grade: A-

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger was the third-most sacked quarterback last season. An ankle injury finally banged him up enough that he was unable to perform, illuminating the Pittsburgh Steelers' need along the offensive line.

Enter Stanford guard David DeCastro, who miraculously fell to Pittsburgh at 24th overall in the first round of the draft. DeCastro is a steal for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh plucked another offensive lineman with its second-round selection, adding Ohio State tackle Mike Adams.

Adding these guys alongside Maurkice Pouncey will make the O-line a force.

Grade: A

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals entered the draft with a weakened secondary after losing Johnathan Joseph to the Houston Texans, so Dre Kirkpatrick filled a need and was a solid selection at No. 17 overall.

The Bengals dealt their second first-rounder to the Pats in return for New England's 27th overall selection and a third rounder.

That was a good move. They added Kevin Zeitler to an offensive line lacking Nate Livings and Mike McGlynn, so they also picked up a need here and got a third-round pick out of it.

I'm excited by the addition of Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu.

Sanu broke the Big East record for single-season receptions with 115 last year. He can run the ball, ending his college career with 653 yards rushing, and he can even throw it, notching four passing touchdowns at Rutgers.

Sanu also returned (and sometimes kicked) punts in college. He even snagged an interception once when stepping in on defense.

Sanu brings tremendous athletic talent to the field and is a good pickup.

Grade: A+

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns entered the draft overflowing with picks (13 to be exact), which gave them the leverage to carve out a last-minute deal with the Vikings and guarantee top running back Trent Richardson.

Cleveland certainly needed a running back to replace Peyton Hillis, and I don't blame them for quieting other teams that had their eyes on Richardson

But Cleveland lost me when they drafted 28-year-old Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden.

I'm not saying Colt McCoy is the next Aaron Rodgers, but since drafting the third-round 2010 draft pick, the Browns have failed to surround him with weapons to help him develop.

Last year, McCoy's second in the league, the Browns switched to a West Coast offense under new head coach Pat Shurmur, which McCoy dutifully learned.

There was also that little lockout last season, which hampered Cleveland's ability to learn the new offense so the team didn't exactly leap out the gate in 2011.

I don't see Weeden swooping in to fix Cleveland's monstrous problems.

Greg Little and Mohamed Massaquoi aren't exactly going to make him stand out, and worse, the Browns waited until the fourth round to draft a wideout, Maimi's Travis Benjamin—their only selection at receiver.

Grade: C-

Houston Texans

The Houston Texans lost Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams to free agency but used their first-round pick to draft Illinois replacement Whitney Mercilus.

Mercilus should do a good job plugging what would have been a huge leak.

Miami (OH) guard Brandon Brooks will also likely start this season.

The Texans could've used a linebacker, however.

Grade: B+

Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans' receiving corp just got a whole lot stronger.

In the first round of the draft, the Titans selected Baylor receiver Kendall Wright.

Wright is quick and has good playmaking abilities. With Wright joining the ranks of wideout Kenny Britt and running back Chris Johnson (if he plays like CJ2K), this offense should be formidable.

The Titans got good value from their selection of linebacker Zach Brown at No. 52 overall.

Tennessee could have used a center, however.

Grade: B

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars moved up in Round 1 to select Oklahoma State wideout Justin Blackmon at No. 5 overall.

The Jags gave up their 101st overall pick to do so, but I can't blame them. They need to figure out what Blaine Gabbert can do—and fast.

Jacksonville exited Eound 2 with Clemson defensive end Andre Branch. Branch fills another need and is a solid pass-rusher.

Drafting Punter Bryan Anger in the third round was questionable. It's like when that newcomer to your fantasy league drafts a kicker or defense early—except this is professional football.

The Jags are lacking at corner and only addressed that need with their sixth-rounder.

Grade: B-

Indianapolis Colts

We've known for a while now that top quarterback prospect Andrew Luck was landing Peyton Manning's old job in Indianapolis.

But the Indianapolis Colts went to great lengths this draft to prove they were willing to make him their franchise guy.

Luck will get a chance to connect with college teammate Coby Fleener in the pros after the Colts used their second-round selection on the draft's best tight end.

Indy then moved to recruit Dwayne Allen, the second-best tight end prospect in the third round of the draft.

Maybe they'll take cues from New England's Rob Gronkowski/Aaron Hernandez duo.

Grade: A

Denver Broncos

After the excitement of landing Peyton Manning, the Denver Broncos didn't do much by way of the draft to give him any offensive weapons.

Instead, the Broncos invested in defense, gaining some exciting prospects.

Arizona State corner Omar Bolden was a good value pick for Denver. They were lacking at corner and Bolden could potentially start.

Grade: B

San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers' draft complemented their free-agency signings.

The Chargers signed receivers Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal during free agency but bulked up defensively with their first three picks.

South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram was projected as a top-10 guy, so the Chargers were lucky to get him at 18th.

San Diego hopes defensive tackle Kendall Reyes (second round) and safety Brandon Taylor (third round) can contribute immediately as well.

Grade: A-

Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders fans probably were not looking forward to the 2012 draft as their earliest selection came at 95th overall.

New general manager Reggie McKenzie inherited an awful situation and did what he could with it.

Utah tackle Tony Bergstrom looks solid, but Oakland's other picks were lesser known players who may have limited potential.

Grade: C

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs needed depth on D heading into the draft.

After resigning defensive end Amon Gordon and restructuring Tyson Jackson's contract, they were looking for a boulder of a nose tackle to lock down their 3-4.

Memphis tackle Dontari Poe has the strength and size to be their guy, but he was a risk for Kansas City, who may have been better served to let Jerrell Powe, last year's selection at nose tackle, develop.

KC made solid selections on both sides of the ball in later rounds.

Grade: B