2009 NFL Draft Grades: AFC

Andrew KurtzApr 27, 2009

Team by team draft analysis by yours truly—you should have to pay for this. Mike Mayock does. Here are your AFC draft grades. I will have the NFC teams graded out tomorrow.

AFC East
Buffalo Bills- Grade: C+

With Orakbo on the board I have no idea why you would go after Maybin. They obviously needed a rush end and Orakbo was the best one in the draft, but the Bills experts—haha—felt Maybin was a better fit...I guess.
They drafted three CB's that all have the same qualities. They are good tacklers and play well close to the line, but will get beat deep against NFL talent. Why would you get three guys that lack top end speed at CB?
They needed to address their interior line play, and they did. They got some solid guard/center guys on day one. They didn't even draft an offensive tackle though. I don't get it.

Miami Dolphins-Grade: B-

Vontae Davis definitely has the skill set to be a top cornerback in the NFL. He had the skill set to be a top 10 pick, but teams were concerned with his lack of work ethic. I have also heard this guy is a workout machine and is crazy strict about his diet. Hard to know which report is right.
I think that Pat White was a great pick for them. They made the Wildcat offense in the NFL and I can't think of anybody who would be better at running it. The Dolphins really needed help at WR too.
The reason that their grade is a B- is because they made two huge reaches with their other WR picks. Patrick Turner probably would have still been there in the fifth round and Brian Hartline would have been there in the seventh. Two bad picks there.

New England Patriots-Grade: B

I love there first five picks. Patrick Chung is basically the mirror image of a young Rodney Harrison. He can hit hard and help in cover two, but will get abused if asked to cover anybody.
Getting Ron Brace and Darius Butler with the 40th and 41st is incredible. Butler will come in right away and start and Brace will spell Wilfork for the first year.
I don't like any of the rest of their picks. After Tate, I think they just have a bunch of special teamers.

New York Jets- Grade: C+

I like Mark Sanchez and think he will end up being a better pro than Stafford...but I don't like him that much. Did the Jets really have to move all the way up to five to get him? The next four teams weren't looking to take a QB in the first round. They just had to get in front of San Fran and they had him. But I guess they didn't want him slipping away.
I don't know about Shonn Greene. He will never be a feature back in the NFL, but I think the Jets already knew that. If the Jets were looking for a guy to grind it out in the third and fourth quarter then I think they got what they were looking for. I hope they don't expect much else.
The Jets needed to add somebody explosive to their offense because Chansi Stuckey ain't gonna cut it. They added nothing of the sort and now the only offensive threat Sanchez has to throw to is Dusin Keller.

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens-Grade: A-

Michael Oher is definitely my favorite guy coming out of the draft. I am just as tired of hearing his story as you are, but his interview after being picked was great. He is one guy I will be pulling for. I just hope his story hasn't made him overrated.
I think the Ravens got two solid LB's with Kruger from Utah and Philips from TCU. Philips really appears to be a complete package and should contribute right away.
Lardarius Webb is a wildcard. He might just be too small to play in the NFL. He has a huge step up coming from Nicholls State. But he has great upside because of his ball skills. I said before the draft that I like Cedric Peerman as a late round pick. I think the Ravens get a sleeper here, but they are already loaded at RB.
The only pick I don't get is TE Devon Drew. The one thing the Ravens really needed at TE was somebody that was a good inline blocker. They didn't get that with Drew.

Cincinatti Bengals-Grade: B

I'm not sold on Fat Albert....Andre Smith. The guy just looks fat. He has handled the draft process about as bad as you could possibly handle it. And he is going to the Bungals. If he doesn't come into camp at his playing weight then I think the Bengals have a bust. If he does come into camp with the right attitude then they got the best player in the draft.
I like everything that they did through the first first rounds. Maualuga was a steal at pick 38—how did Laurinitus go before him? If Michael Johnson can prove the doubters wrong and come in and work hard, we are looking at the next Julius Peppers/Jason Taylor. Serious potential.
I thought the Bengals really needed to get a RB somewhere within the first three rounds. Instead, they got two bums in the sixth and seventh round. Cedric Benson now must carry the load.

Cleveland Browns-Grade: B-

It was hilarious how they refused to pick in the first round.
I really thought Beanie Wells would have been a nice pick up for them, but I can understand picking Mack with pick 21.
They were definitely looking for replace Joe Jurevicius with this draft. Either Hartline or Massaquoi should be able to do that.
You can't go wrong drafting a USC Linebacker this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers- Grade: D+

Obviously the Steelers didn't come into the draft with any glaring needs, but that doesn't mean they should take a reach with every pick.
There first three picks should have all been offensive lineman. Big Ben can't take another season getting pounded like that.
Mike Wallace is a track star, not a WR.
Not a whole lot to like with this draft—good thing they're the Champs.

AFC South
Houston Texans-Grade: A-

I really like their first three picks. Cushing is sure to look good next to Demeco Ryans. Connor Barwin can basically play any position and now he can finally buy his father some shorts that go past his knees. I think Caldwell is an underrated center. He was a four year starter at Bama and went up against the best competition in the nation on every Saturday during that time.
They got Anthony Hill, who was the best blocking TE in the draft, and they got James Casey, a TE that can only catch—if only they could have a baby.

Indianapolis Colts-Grade: D+

I'm not sure that I understand their first pick. Didn't they remember they got Mike Hart last year? Why would they need Donald Brown? I guess since Joseph Addai has been showing his fragile side the last couple years, it was a good idea to get an insurance policy.
So they replaced Marvin Harrison with a Mormon...that can't possibly work out. Two white WR's on the field at the same time equals losses. Either Gonzo or Collie have to go.
They drafted Curtis Painter. Remember when Kiper said he was the No. 1 quarterback before the season started? I do. Curtis Painter is a wasted pick.
But they did get a USC defender. Can't go wrong with that.

Jacksonville Jaguard-Grade: B-

I like what they did with their first three picks. The Jags finished in the middle of the pack in rushing and against the run on defense. Go out there and get some big boys to win the battle in the trenches.
Who the hell is Derek Cox?
The Jags addressed there needs at WR, but I don't think they addressed them well. The Jags should have been looking for a future number one for Girrard to throw to. Instead they got two slot guys and a guy that is only a vertical threat. They just can't judge WR talent.
Rashad Jennings is a solid pick-up, especially after loosing Fred Taylor.

AFC West
Denver Broncos-Grade: C+

I thought they had a new coach in Denver. I was shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, that they picked Knowshon Moreno with their first pick. They brought in Buckhalter and Lamont Jordan through free agency. I didn't think RB would even be considered on the first day.
I like Robert Ayers. I wish Philly would have moved up to get him, but there is a "one-year wonder" tag attached to him right now. I don't think that is the case, but he isn't a lock.
They had to give up a lot to get Alphonso Smith, but he is a first round talent. He is a ballhawk. He will make some big plays that the Broncos desperately need on defense.
You say Tom Brandstater, I say Tom Brady. NOT.

Kansas City Chiefs- Grade: D+

Who the hell is Tyson Jackson and why is he going in the top three? Last I knew a DE in the 3-4 scheme wasn't that important to warrant a top three pick, but maybe I'm wrong. Either B.J Raji or Aaron Curry should have been the pick here.
IF they would have picked up Raji with their first pick, they would have been able to draft a solid DE in the third round. Instead of taking a DE like Jarron Gilbert—of pool jumping fame—Michael Johnson, or Matt Shaughnessy with the No. 67 pick, they took Alex Magoo who lacks ideal size to play on the interior.
Donald Washington. Ha. This guy has been a bum from day one at OSU. Why jump on him that early?
Mr. Irrelevant, Ryan Succop. Who takes a kicker/punter with that pick?

Oakland Raiders-Grade: D+

Where do you even start with this? Darrius Heyward-Bey at number seven was ridiculous. What a bad franchise. I'm surprised Al Davis hasn't offered Usain Bolt a $100 million deal yet. There were literally 30 players that would have been a better pick here.
Everyone was going crazy about their second round pick because Kiper had him pegged as a seventh rounder or undrafted free agent. Michael Mitchell was a reach no doubt, but the Raiders weren't the only team looking at him in the second round. The Bears told Mitchell at the beginning of round two that they would take him with the No. 49 pick. The Raiders had pick 47, they got him.
I actually liked most of their late round picks. I don't think Shaughnessy is going to be anything special because he doesn't have to burst to get around the edge, but he will be solid. Louis Murphy was a good pick because the Raiders needed somebody that could, ya know, actually run routes. They are giving Jamarcus Russell every chance to succeed.
They really needed to address the offensive line, though. Not taking a single OL shows how inept the Raiders management really is.

San Diego Chargers-Grade:C

Larry English was a bit of a reach at 16, but not bad. They needed help along the D-line. I know he is an OLB but make no mistake about it, he will be rushing the passer every play.
I really thought the Chargers needed to address the need at DT earlier. The only DT they took was Vaughn Martin—a big player from Canada that has probably been playing football against hockey players for the past four years. But he is huge and has the potential to anchor a 3-4 defense.
No offensive tackle? Maybe they expect one of the guards to be able to move over to play OT. I don't see it. Neither of those guys are athletic enough to play the OT position.
I did like all of their late round picks though.
The Chargers had the luxury of no having any glaring needs so they were able to make some reaches on players they really wanted. So there grade is a little low because of it.