2012 NFL Draft Grades: Contenders Who Best Helped Their Super Bowl Chances
The 2012 NFL Draft has come and gone, and while there are still a number of free agents that could potentially latch on with teams, we have a pretty good idea what the rosters of all 32 teams will look like on opening weekend.
For many of those teams, last month's draft represented an opportunity to continue the arduous task of climbing out of the cellar. However, for some squads, including this trio, the draft was a chance to potentially acquire the final piece(s) of a championship puzzle.
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The New England Patriots came tantalizingly close to being crowned champions of the National Football League in 2011, as the Pats were ahead in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVI. However, a leaky New England defense that ranked 31st in the National Football League couldn't prevent New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning from leading a game-winning drive that sent the Patriots home empty handed.
The Patriots took steps to address this problem in the draft, including trading trading up not once but twice in the first round to select Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Dont'a Hightower of Alabama, both of whom will likely step into the starting lineup from day one in Beantown.
Illinois safety Tavon Wilson was a reach in the second round given that he was viewed by the majority of experts as a late-round pick, but the team may have made up for that gaffe by getting a final-round steal in 2011 Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Alfonzo Dennard of Nebraska. After spending their first six draft picks on defense, the New England Patriots may not have a top-five unit, but it's a fair assumption that the team will improve significantly on that side of the ball in 2012.
Overall Draft Grade: B-
The Philadelphia Eagles were an early favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl a year ago, but inconsistent play on both sides of the ball led to an up-and-down season that culminated with the Eagles finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs altogether.
The Eagles finished in the top 10 in the league in yards allowed last year but struggled at times defensively, and the defense was where Philadelphia focused its attention early in the draft. The team used its first three picks on defense, and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox of Mississippi State, Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks, and defensive end Vinny Curry of Marshall should all make an immediate impact as rookies.
Philadelphia didn't completely ignore the offense in the draft, adding a big wide receiver in Iowa's Marvin McNutt and getting a potential steal in guard Brandon Washington of Miami in the sixth round, and with these improvements and a little less hype surrounding the team, the Eagles should be right back in the thick of the NFC East race again this year.
Overall Draft Grade: A-
The Pittsburgh Steelers have developed a reputation as one of the better drafting teams in the National Football League despite the fact that they usually pick towards the end of the first round, and 2012 was no exception.
After allowing 42 sacks a season ago, upgrading the offensive line was a major priority for the Steelers this offseason, and the team addressed that need in a big way with their first two picks, adding All-American guard David DeCastro of Stanford and Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams in the first two rounds.
Pittsburgh then added depth at the linebacker position with the selection of Miami's Sean Spence, secured a potential replacement for Casey Hampton at nose tackle in Alameda Ta'amu of Washington, and procured a change-of-pace back with speedster Chris Rainey of Florida. The argument can certainly be made that no team in the 2012 draft did a better job of addressing holes on their roster than the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Overall Draft Grade: A
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