NFL Draft Grades and Analysis

1. Detroit- Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia. B+.

If the Lions can keep this guy on the bench for a year and watch and learn from Daunte Culpepper, I think this pick was a good one. I don't think he is NFL ready just yet. But overall, I think this was a good safe pick for the Lions.

2. St. Louis- Jason Smith, OT, Baylor. A.

Jason Smith is the best tackle in this draft. The Rams top need is a tackle. So the Rams did the best they could by drafting Smith.

3. Kansas City- Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU. C+.

Tyson Jackson is no doubt the top defensive end in this draft, but the Chiefs could have traded down and gotten him later on. But, Jackson could endup being the next Julius Peppers.

4. Seattle- Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. A+.

Aaron Curry was the top prospect in this draft. The Seahawks traded away Julian Peterson and will be replaced by Curry. The Seahawks got the best player in this draft.

5. New York Jets- Mark Sanchez, QB, USC. A.

The Jets traded up to get the guy they wanted. Sanchez will be able to come in and start right away and be the QB of the future.

6. Cincinnati- Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. B.

The Bengals needed an offensive linemen and got the top guy in Smith.

7. Oakland- Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland. D-.

The fact that the Raiders got Heyward-Bey isn't what made this pick so bad. The Raiders needed a receiver, and Heyward-Bey is a good speedy guy that they like. It's the fact that they passed on Michael Crabtree, who is the best receiver in this draft. It's also the fact that they took him with the seventh overall pick, when they could've got him in the late first-round. But Heyward-Bey will help in this Oakland offense.

8. Jacksonville- Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia. B.

Eugene Monroe was the third tackle taken, but he would be the first in any other draft. Jacksonville got a good tackle with their pick.

9. Green Bay- BJ Raji, DT, Boston College. B+.

With the Packers switching to the 3-4 defense they needed a pure nose tackle. Raji has the skills of Albert Haynesworth, and will be a bruising force in this defense.

10. San Fransisco- Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. A+.

Michael Crabtree was the best offensive prospect in this draft. The 49ers got a steal by having him there at No. 10, and got their top need at receiver.

11. Buffalo- Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State. C.

Aaron Maybin is a risk/reward type player. He needs to be able to play at a consistent level all three downs. But Maybin could impress.

12. Denver- Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia. B+.

The Broncos have gone through more running backs then the Buccaneers go through quarterbacks (which is saying something), but they finally found a consistent game-to-game starter in Moreno.

13. Washington- Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB. Texas. A.

I love this pick for Washington. Orakpo was a great steal, and should help out new DT Albert Haynesworthto make this a top-10 defensive team.

14. New Orleans- Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State, A.

Another steal, Jenkins should pick up the pieces left by Mike McKenzie. Jenkins could also play Safety.

15. Houston- Brian Cushing, OLB, USC. B.

Cushing is a solid linebacker. He doesn't do anything great, he just does everything good.

16. San Diego- Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois. C-.

The Chargers like English a lot. He is a solid player, but from a small college. English seems to be a reach, but the Chargers might know something we dont.

17. Tampa Bay- Josh Freeman, QB, Northwestern. B.

The Buccaneers lost Jeff Garcia to Oakland, so they need a new QB. I don't think Freeman will start on day one, but he is their QB of the future.

18. Denver- Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee. C.

Robert Ayers is a boom or bust pick. He only had one good year at Tennessee, so he could be a one year wonder.

19. Philadelphia- Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri. B+.

Donovan McNabb has got to be very happy right now. He has a great receiver in DeSean Jackson, now adding Maclin will give this team great receivers. Maclin was a good steal at 19.

20. Detroit- Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. C+.

Pettigrew is the top TE in this draft, no doubt about that. But the Lions have so many needs, I think they could have waited andgrabbed a TE like Jared Cook or Shawn Nelson on day two, especially with tackle Michael Oher still on the board.

21. Cleveland- Alex Mack, C, California. D.

The Browns traded down so many time, just to select an offensive linemen, which they have spent a lot of money on in the past years. The Browns had many more needs then O-Line.

22. Minnesota- Percy Harvin, WR, Florida. A.

Minnesota selecting Harvin was one of the top moves of this draft. Harvin is just the type of playmaker they need. He is fast, and can play the wildcat really well. With Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and Sydney Rice this receiver unit could be dangerous.

23. Baltimore- Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss. C+.

I gave the Ravens a C+ because of the position they picked. Michael Oher is a great tackle who i believeslid in this draft. But the Ravens offensive line is fine, at least for this year. I think they should have taken CB Vontae Davis.

24. Atlanta- Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss. B-.

The Falcons got a good DT in Jerry. They haven't had a great DT since Rod Colemen so selecting Jerry will help out this defense a lot.

25. Miami- Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois. B+.

Miami just keeps getting better. They spent a lot on trying to get their defensive back unit dangerous, which has been a weakness in recent years. But drafting Davis will surely help this defensive unit.

26. Green Bay- Clay Matthews, OLB, USC. A.

The Packers got their nose tackle in Raji, and now they trade up to get their linebacker too. Love this pick.

27. Indianapolis- Donald Brown, RB, Uconn. B-.

Joseph Addai has been very inconsistent and Donald Brown will be their second back in their two-back punch.

28. Buffalo- Eric Wood, C, Louisville. C-.

Trading Jason Peters for Eric Wood wasn't the jack of all trades, but Wood can move to guard and replace Derrick Dockery.

29. New York Giants- Hakeem Nicks, WR, UNC. A.

Hakeem Nicks was a great value at No. 29. He isn't a Plaxico Burress yet, but I think he will be a very dangerous receiver.

30. Tennessee- Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers. A+.

I gave the Titans an A+ not because Kenny Britt is that good. He is, but not THAT great. I gave them an A+ because they FINALLY selected a wide receiver in the first round.

31. Arizona- Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State. A.

Chris Wells was the steal of the draft because I believe he should have been a Top 10 pick. With the Cardinals releasing Edgerrin James, Wells should be able to come in and be the starter and put up big numbers from day one.

32. Pittsburgh- Evander Hood, DT, Missouri. B-.

The Steelers didn't have many needs going into the draft, but adding a young, solid, defensive linemen was a good pick.

Teams Without First Round Picks:

34. New England- Patrick Chung, S, Oregon. B.

I like Patrick Chung. I think he will be a good replacement for Rodney Harrison.

40. New England- Ron Brace, DT, Boston College. C+.

The Patriots don't need a defensive linemen, but it is always nice to have depth.

41. New England- Darius Butler, CB, Uconn. B+.

Darius Butler was another defensive back taken by the Patriots, he'll be a good nickle back for them.

58. New England- Sebastian Vollmer, OT, Houston. C.

Vollmer will provide depth for the offensive line.

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43. Carolina- Everette Brown, DE, Florida State. B+.

The Panthers traded up to select Brown, who could be the future replacement for Julius Peppers. Brown is a little undersized, but he could be a huge steal if he plays like he did in college.

59. Carolina- Sherrod Martin, CB, Troy. B.

I really like this pick. I thought Sherrod Martin has been very underrated. He is coming out of a college who continues to produce star players. Martin will replace Ken Lucas and be the nickle back for the Panthers.

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69. Dallas- Jason Williams, OLB, Western Illinois. C.

The Cowboys traded out of the second round to get more picks and made Jason Williams their first pick of the draft. he was a but of a reach, but could surprise.

75. Dallas- Robert Brewster, Ball State, OT, C-.

Another Reach, will provide depth for this offensive line.