2007 NFL Draft Grades - NFC Teams
posted in New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Grades, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, 2007 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Bucs, Atlanta Falcons, NFL |The draft is over and preliminary grades can be assigned. While it will take several seasons to accurately judge the draft, but it is interesting to determine the value each team received and the likely impact for the 2007 season.
Arizona Cardinals - As we projected may happen, with Joe Thomas off the board, the Cardinals reached slightly for Penn State OT Levi Brown. Because the Cardinals have a left handed QB in Matt Leinart, Brown will be able to play his more natural position at right tackle. However, Brown still did not deserve a top 5 selection - this was more of a need pick versus value. The Cardinals made an excellent selection at 33rd overall, trading up to acquire Alan Branch, who rated as a top ten talent on the War Room Report Draft Board. It was a reasonable trade and Branch should man the NT spot in the new 3-4 defense of the Cardinals with fellow Michigan player Gabe Watson. Buster Davis was a solid pick in Round 3 - the 3-4 should mask his lack of speed, but it will be interesting to see if he has the bulk to shed blockers in that scheme. Steve Breaston was a good value in Round 5 and has the ability to return kicks immediately. Ben Patrick was one of the steals of the draft after sliding all the way down to Round 7. Grade: B+
Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons made the most out of the picks acquired in the Matt Schaub trade. Though they would have liked to grab S LaRon Landry or OT Levi Brown, they made a solid selection with DE Jamaal Anderson in Round 1, as he has a high upside and the ability to contribute immediately. They grab two other potential starters in Round 2 with OG Justin Blalock, who fits Bobby Petrino’s power blocking scheme, and CB Chris Houston, another player with a tremendous upside who could contribute immediately. The selection of Houston allows the Falcons to move Jimmy Williams back to safety. The Falcons also added a WR with good upside in Laurent Robinson and two more intriguing players in Round 4 - LB Stephen Nicholas who has starter ability and TE Martrez Milner, who has the physical ability to contribute but needs to remain more consistent. The Falcons also got good value with C Doug Datish, CB David Irons, and SS Daren Stone. Grade: A
Carolina Panthers - The Panthers did a terrific job drafting value over need. They drafted four of the top 36 players on the War Room Report Big Board. The Panthers made a great move in trading down and still getting the player they coveted in Jon Beason. While we are not as high on Beason as others, he projects as a starter for the Panthers. They added one of the best center prospects we have seen in years in Ryan Kalil, a terrific redzone target in Dwayne Jarrett, and a potential difference maker at defensive end in Charles Johnson. They added three potential difference makers in the future with LB Tim Shaw, a great return man in Ryne Robinson, and an interesting sleeper at CB in C.J. Wilson from Baylor. Grade: A
Chicago Bears - The Bears got a potential steal in Greg Olsen. His blocking is sub par, but his down the field speed should be an asset for Rex Grossman. Grossman was able to hit the seam pattern regularly doing the season and Olsen should stretch the field. The Bears reached in the 2nd and 3rd rounds with Dan Bazuin, who does not really fit a need, and undersized RB Garrett Wolfe, who many projected as a late second day pick. Michael Okwo is an interesting player for the Tampa 2 system at LB and the Bears got a good value at a position of need with Joshua Beekman at OG. The Bears also drafted some interesting value in the secondary with Kevin Payne, Trumaine McBride, and Corey Graham. The Bears get extra points for fleecing the Chargers in a trade for pick #37. Grade: C+
Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys made a terrific move in acquiring the 1st rd pick of Cleveland in the 2008 draft which should net them a very good player with a high draft pick. They made another move with Cleveland that was beneficial and also traded up with Philly for the explosive pass rusher Anthony Spencer. Spencer and DeMarcus Ware are going to cause nightmares for NFC East QBs. The Cowboys added two very solid OT prospects in James Marten and Doug Free, but the rest of their picks were ordinary. They did not address the secondary until very late in the draft. The trade with the Browns helps their grade immensely. Grade: B-
Detroit Lions - The Lions were able to select the #1 player on the board, Calvin Johnson, who will immediately see the field and provide Mike Martz with another playmaker. Drew Stanton, as we have detailed, was our favorite of the QBs after Round 1, and he has the physical skills to develop into an NFL starter. Ikakia Alama-Francis is talented but raw - the Lions could use a player who would help them more immediately. Gerald Alexander was a huge reach in Round 2, but the Lions did steal two players in Round 4 - AJ Davis and Manuel Ramirez, who both can contribute in 2007. Grade: B+
Green Bay Packers - The Packers may have reached in Round 1 with Justin Harrell, who is a talented player but does not fit a major need and may have been available a few picks later. Brandon Jackson is an ideal fit in the zone blocking scheme of the Packers, but again may have been a reach. The Packers reached again in Round 3 with James Jones, but did well with their second 3rd round pick in S Aaron Rouse, who could start for Green Bay. Day 2 was productive for the Packers, who added a LT prospect in Allan Barbe and good value in LB Desmond Bishop, PK Mason Crosby, and TE Clark Harris. Interesting that a team with a pair of corners in their 30s did not select a CB. Grade: C
Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings did a terrific job of getting value at positions of need. Adrian Peterson was not a huge need pick, but he is one of the best RBs to enter the league in a long time, and to steal him at pick 7 was a great move for the Vikings. Sidney Rice is a potential #1 WR in the league and Aundrae Allison was a steal in Round 5 - many WRs that went ahead of him do not have his potential. Marcus McCauley has the physical ability to be a #1 corner and the Vikings added other potential difference makers on defense in Brian Robison, an undersized pass rushing DE, and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Rufus Alexander . Grade: A
New Orleans Saints - The Saints added another offensive weapon in Robert Meacham, who was a good value at pick 27, but there were other selections that may have made more sense, including DT Alan Branch. The Saints targeted a pair of MAC players who rose up the board in the offseason in CB Usama Young and OG Andy Alleman. Jermon Bushrod is an interesting LT prospect from a small school, but he has a long way to go before he can contribute. Antonio Pittman was a good value at 107, but it may be difficult for him to get onto the field in New Orleans. Marvin Mitchell was a good value in the 7th round. Grade: C
New York Giants - Aaron Ross is a solid pick in Round 1, but it is surprising that the Giants passed on potential LT Joe Staley. Steve Smith was a good value at pick #51, but the Giants had other needs outside of WR. Jay Alford seemed to be a reach in Round 3. The Giants had one of the best Day 2s of any team, adding LB Zak DeOssie, TE Kevin Boss, a real solid tackle prospect in Adam Koets, SS Michael Johnson, and a good change of pace back in Ahmad Bradshaw. The Day 2 helps move the Giants grade up slightly. Grade: B-
Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles surprisingly traded down with divisional rival Dallas after missing out on a safety in Round 1. The Cowboys selected DE/OLB Anthony Spencer who will be putting pressure on the Eagles QB twice a season. After trading down, the Eagles made one of the most surprising picks of the draft in QB Kevin Kolb of Houston. The Eagles are set with Donovan McNabb and have two decent backups in A.J. Feeley and Kelly Holcomb. Kolb is an ideal fit for Andy Reid’s offense, but he was of little value at pick #36. The Eagles added some depth to the defensive end position in Victor Abiamiri and did very well in Round 3 with a potential starter in Stewart Bradley at LB and a good complement to Brian Westbrook with RB Tony Hunt. CB C.J. Gaddis was a decent pick with upside in Round 5. Grade: D
Seattle Seahawks - The Seahawks did not have a Round 1 Pick, but you must consider the addition of Deion Branch. The Seahawks could have added a receiver like Robert Meacham with the pick they traded to the Pats. The Seahawks took several players that the War Room Report was high on, including CB Josh Wilson and DT Brandon Mebane, both of which can make an impact in 2007. The Seahawks made solid picks on Day 2 also, including high upside WR Jordan Kent. Solid draft for the Hawks, despite not being flashy. Grade: C
San Francisco 49ers - The 49ers added a great player and difference maker in MLB Patrick Willis, who instantly becomes the face of their defense. They traded up for Joe Staley, but may regret giving up a 2008 1st round pick for the 28th overall selection. They made a terrific move in trading pick 42 to the Colts for an 08 1st rounder, to get back into the round. The 49ers grabbed a pair of players who can contribute immediately in the 3rd round in Ray McDonald, who projects as 3-4 DE and WR Jason Hill, who was a great value pick and could challenge for a starting spot across from Darrell Jackson, who was acquired for a 4th round pick. The 49ers took a flier on CB Tarrell Brown, who is a first day talent but slipped to the 5th round because of character concerns. Grade: A
St. Louis Rams - The Rams had a solid, albeit not a spectacular draft, gaining a solid defensive end in Adam Carriker in Round 1 and the versatile Brian Leonard in Round 2. Jonathan Wade was a good value in the 3rd round and the Rams had a decent Day 2. Carriker should start immediately and Wade has the physical tools to develop into a starting CB. Grade: C
Tampa Bay Bucs - The Bucs decided it was too expensive to move up to acquire Calvin Johnson, but were content to add Gaines Adams to improve their aging pass rush. Adams went higher than the War Room Report’s rankings but about where most projected him. He can get to the passer and that quality is vital in the Tampa 2 system. Arron Sears is a versatile linemen who fits best at guard and can help form a young nucleus for the Bucs line with 2006 picks Jeremy Trueblood and Davin Joseph. They added a variety of Tampa 2 defenders later in the draft, including safety Sabby Piscitelli, CB Tanard Jackson, and LB Quincy Black. They added a decent OT prospect in Chris Denman on Day 2. Grade: B
Washington Redskins - Washington only had one Day One pick and they selected the best player on the board in Round 1 in S LaRon Landry. The Redskins did not trade down to accumulate more picks, and because of that, were unable to add any players to a defensive front that sorely needed assistance. They took a pair of interesting linebackers in Dallas Sartz and H.B. Blades, but the Redskins do not need players at linebacker. Taking into account the little value the Redskins got when trading their picks, they grade out poorly. Grade: F
