Overall this draft was one of the more entertaining drafts since I started doing my simple draft rankings five seasons ago when Mario Williams was taken number one overall by my Houston Texans. A choice that I said was a great decision at the time, and seems to have worked well for Houston. The four quarterbacks that were taken early all have question marks, and I still feel that the Minnesota Vikings got the best of the four. We'll find out soon enough though, as that NFC North now has four teams that could all win ten or more games if they don't beat each other up too badly. I say all four teams because not only did Minnesota improve itself by getting a solid quarterback in Christian Ponder, they also got the draft's best Tight End, and improvement on their offensive line. If they can sign a free agent to help shore up a defense than under achieved last season, they could easily compete for a NFC North Title. Detroit without a doubt had a phenomenal draft as well, and could challenge as a playoff team if they can keep Matthew Stafford, my number one player that I've ever ranked, upright. Adding Nick Fairley to Ndamukong Suh makes them the best two defensive tackles in the NFL and will wreak havoc on opposing running games. Adding Mikel Leshoure and Titus Young gives Stafford a formidable offensive team with Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew, and Jahvid Best. However, despite a very solid draft grade, they did not win the draft. They forgot to address their huge issues at offensive tackle and cornerback and despite their embarrassment of riches at the skill position and on the defensive line, unless they can add pieces at tackle and in the defensive backfield they might fall a little short this season one more time.
Another team that is very intriguing was the Cincinnati Bengals, who many said won this draft. I disagree with them for a couple of reasons. Number one, I'm not as high on Andy Dalton as other people are. I feel he will be adequate but not spectacular, steady but not wonderful. That division is one in which you have to have stellar quarterback play to win, especially with Baltimore and Pittsburg having their biggest question marks in the defensive backfield, and Dalton just can't stretch the field vertically well enough to push this team over the edge. Moch, Boling, and Green are all great picks, but their still a qb short and will remain in that position behind Ben Raplisberger err Roethlisberger, and Joe Flacco. Cleveland isn't far behind either, but I feel that McCoy, while solid remains in the same situation as Cincinnati.
I also really enjoyed what Tampa Bay and Green Bay did. Tampa added a couple of pieces to get after the quarterback in a division where pressure wins games. With Brees, Ryan, and now Cam Newton, pressure is imperative and adding Bowers and Clayborn are two good piecies. I'm not huge on Clayborn, but he is still an upgrade over what they had. Ahmad Black was good value in the fifth, and Luke Stocker was my number two rated tight end and was a steal where they got him.
Green Bay cemented themselves in my mind as the best team in the NFC with a great draft. Adding Sherrod, Cobb, and Green gives this offense even more weapons. Sherrod isn't spectacular, but he'll provide a solid bookend, who will be much like a Matt Light. Cobb is another weapon to add some stability in the wideout corps. Alex Green fits that offense perfectly as both a pass catcher and a spread runner. Davon House and Rick Elmore are both very good players who fell in the draft, but could provide good depth and solid value.
New Orleans and Houston also had very good drafts, addressing needs and finding value. New Orleans getting Cameron Jordan where they did was a gift, and moving up to get a solid running back in Mark Ingram was a good move. Ingram was the best back in this draft by quite a ways, he's not spectacular, but he's going to be a good piece. Martez Wilson might be a starter right away for this team as well, and Greg Dareus might be a project, but he could find himself as a starter eventually.
St. Louis and Chicago also had drafts that I really liked, and added impact players. St. Louis made themselves much better.
Seattle had by far the worst draft, they added two players who will probably both end up being starters in the league but reached for both. Oakland's draft was another average decision making process, and Jacksonville and Tennesee both reached for qb's that were not that good in terms of value picks. The draft that will haunt a team though, will without a doubt be Carolina. Cameron Newton just isn't a good enough player to get that team to the playoffs and he might not be a bust, but he's not good enough to win an NFC south title, probably ever.
Another team that is very intriguing was the Cincinnati Bengals, who many said won this draft. I disagree with them for a couple of reasons. Number one, I'm not as high on Andy Dalton as other people are. I feel he will be adequate but not spectacular, steady but not wonderful. That division is one in which you have to have stellar quarterback play to win, especially with Baltimore and Pittsburg having their biggest question marks in the defensive backfield, and Dalton just can't stretch the field vertically well enough to push this team over the edge. Moch, Boling, and Green are all great picks, but their still a qb short and will remain in that position behind Ben Raplisberger err Roethlisberger, and Joe Flacco. Cleveland isn't far behind either, but I feel that McCoy, while solid remains in the same situation as Cincinnati.
I also really enjoyed what Tampa Bay and Green Bay did. Tampa added a couple of pieces to get after the quarterback in a division where pressure wins games. With Brees, Ryan, and now Cam Newton, pressure is imperative and adding Bowers and Clayborn are two good piecies. I'm not huge on Clayborn, but he is still an upgrade over what they had. Ahmad Black was good value in the fifth, and Luke Stocker was my number two rated tight end and was a steal where they got him.
Green Bay cemented themselves in my mind as the best team in the NFC with a great draft. Adding Sherrod, Cobb, and Green gives this offense even more weapons. Sherrod isn't spectacular, but he'll provide a solid bookend, who will be much like a Matt Light. Cobb is another weapon to add some stability in the wideout corps. Alex Green fits that offense perfectly as both a pass catcher and a spread runner. Davon House and Rick Elmore are both very good players who fell in the draft, but could provide good depth and solid value.
New Orleans and Houston also had very good drafts, addressing needs and finding value. New Orleans getting Cameron Jordan where they did was a gift, and moving up to get a solid running back in Mark Ingram was a good move. Ingram was the best back in this draft by quite a ways, he's not spectacular, but he's going to be a good piece. Martez Wilson might be a starter right away for this team as well, and Greg Dareus might be a project, but he could find himself as a starter eventually.
St. Louis and Chicago also had drafts that I really liked, and added impact players. St. Louis made themselves much better.
Seattle had by far the worst draft, they added two players who will probably both end up being starters in the league but reached for both. Oakland's draft was another average decision making process, and Jacksonville and Tennesee both reached for qb's that were not that good in terms of value picks. The draft that will haunt a team though, will without a doubt be Carolina. Cameron Newton just isn't a good enough player to get that team to the playoffs and he might not be a bust, but he's not good enough to win an NFC south title, probably ever.
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