2012 NFL Draft Grades: Fringe Playoff Teams Who Are Now Conference Favorites
When you make the playoffs but drop out early, taking the next step the following season is an absolute must.
These four teams were good, but not great, in 2011, and they used the 2012 draft to build their clubs into legitimate conference favorites this year.
AFC
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The Steelers are a perennial AFC favorite, but remember, they did make the 2011 playoffs as a Wild Card entry, and they were bounced in the first round by a Tim Tebow-led Denver Broncos team.
After dealing with a nagging ankle injury last season, it was made clear that the team's top priority was to keep Ben Roethlisberger upright. Sure, he makes some of his biggest plays when scrambling out of the pocket or with defenders draped on him, but the offensive line was in dire need of some upgrades.
Could they have done any better than stealing David DeCastro at No. 24 and Mike Adams in Round 2?
I don't think so.
Chris Rainey is an electric runner who'll bring even more speed to their dynamic offense, and he represented correct value in the fifth round.
The Bengals were competitive with the Houston Texans on Wild Card Weekend of this past year's playoffs, but Arian Foster and the AFC South champ's defensive line proved to be too much for Cincinnati to handle.
Marvin Lewis' club was determined to provide Andy Dalton more offensive weapons in the draft, and they did exactly that.
After sound guard prospect Kevin Zeitler was selected in Round 1, Rutgers bulky possession receiver Mohamed Sanu was picked in the third round, along with Georgia seam-threatening tight end Orson Charles.
The Bengals didn't stop there.
After an inexplicable drop to the fifth round, California wideout Marvin Jones was snagged. He's a sneaky slot option who's big enough to pressure the defense from an outside position too.
Scat-back Dan Herron was grabbed in Round 7, and he should be a complement to the newly acquired BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
A team certainly on the way up.
The Lions and Saints provided NFL fans with one of the most entertaining games of the year when they faced off in the first round of the 2011-2012 playoffs. Detroit gave a valiant effort, but New Orleans possessed too much firepower and moved onto the divisional round.
We saw how truly amazing Matthew Stafford can be when he's healthy and how truly dominant Calvin Johnson is.
As insurance for Stafford's safety, the team drafted Iowa tackle Riley Reiff in Round 2 and added another electric wide receiver in Round 2 with Ryan Broyles.
Dwight Bentley, the cornerback from Louisiana-Lafayette, must transition from the small-school atmosphere, but he's got a ton of talent.
Ronnell Lewis, the team's fourth-round pick, adds another fearsome pass-rusher to their vaunted defensive line.
With the three-man haul of Fletcher Cox, Mychal Kendricks and Vinny Curry, the Eagles have been darlings of 2012 draft.
Getting Brandon Boykin, the athletic cornerback from Georgia, in Round 4 was a great move, although his injury past is a little troubling.
Philly already has a dynamic offense, but its defense was relatively soft in 2011. The additions of Cox, Kendricks and Curry will help chance that. If they can contribute immediately, the Eagles look to have one of the more balanced and explosive teams in football.
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