Detroit – I love Aaron Curry pick. With the Julian Peterson trade and a young Ernie Sims, the Lions now have as formidable a linebacking corps as any team in the NFC. Great selection. Then to turn and get one of the best blocking tackles in the draft in Michael Oher, the Lions hit two homeruns. While I disagreed with the selection of Darius Butler off the top, they did get a good talent at CB, which they desperately need when their only playmaker, Leigh Bodden, was cut. Michael Johnson was a steal in round three, as he is likely round 1 material and talent. If he can become the player that many think he is, this might be the pick of the draft. Kraig Urbik can come in and take over at RG for Mulitalo who I don’t expect to be resigned. With a younger, healthier O line, Detroit should be able to keep their QB on his feet. The only concern now is who is the QB? I don’t think Detroit should take a QB in the first round, but a Josh Freeman or even a later pick like a Pat White might not be a bad choice. But with a solid O line, who knows what you have in Culpepper and I think the QB crop next year is much better. Who’s to say they don’t get Jay Cutler as well? If you get Cutler, this becomes the best Detroit draft in a LONG time and get an A+. But if you stick with Culpepper, you’ve gotta hope that he does well or you’ll be in the Tebow/McCoy/Bradford sweepstakes. Overall Grade = A
St. Louis – The release of long time OT Orlando Pace made the round one selection of an OT a no brainer. I personally like Jason Smith better, but Monroe is equally talented and really is splitting hairs. He can step in and take over at LT while providing them with much needed salary cap space. I was very critical of the Brian Cushing choice. My concern is that over the glowing cloud of steroid abuse that seems to plague his name. If he’s clean, this is a round 1 talent in the second round and a steal. But I feel more that they could’ve grabbed a better prospect without the questions, because I honestly feel Cushing is the next Brian Bosworth. I love the Ramses Barden selection. He will immediately become a solid target for Bulger and is a great red zone threat. And the Mike Mickens pick I think will pay off as he will team with Tye Hill to help a pretty crude secondary. Mickens I think will flourish as a #2 CB where he was sometimes inconsistent at #1 at Cincinnatti. Other than the Cushing selection, solid draft. Overall Grade = B
Kansas City – The Chiefs have a new GM, a new coach, and a new QB. Now its time to make it all work. So why not get arguably the best player in the draft. I still think you need a top OT, but Crabtree is warming on me here. You have a top flight RB in Larry Johnson, a future HOF TE in Gonzalez, and now a great receiving corps in Bowe and Crabtree. I didn’t really argue with Shonn Greene at your third rounder because I think he’s a solid back and could compliment Johnson. After some thought, I feel he was taken too early and didn’t really fit a position of need. With needs along the D line (since the trade of Jared Allen), RB was not a need and I think could cost the Chiefs some wins this year. I know you addressed DE in round 4, but I think that you reached for a kid that has more potential than proven ability. I hope I’m wrong, but I think you could’ve made a better round 3 selection and still gotten a good RB in round 4. Without making any major FA moves on the defensive side other than the addition of Vrabel to play alongside Derrick Johnson, I think Pioli loses a couple grades here. There are still needs at RT, G, and NT. Overall Grade = C
St. Louis – The release of long time OT Orlando Pace made the round one selection of an OT a no brainer. I personally like Jason Smith better, but Monroe is equally talented and really is splitting hairs. He can step in and take over at LT while providing them with much needed salary cap space. I was very critical of the Brian Cushing choice. My concern is that over the glowing cloud of steroid abuse that seems to plague his name. If he’s clean, this is a round 1 talent in the second round and a steal. But I feel more that they could’ve grabbed a better prospect without the questions, because I honestly feel Cushing is the next Brian Bosworth. I love the Ramses Barden selection. He will immediately become a solid target for Bulger and is a great red zone threat. And the Mike Mickens pick I think will pay off as he will team with Tye Hill to help a pretty crude secondary. Mickens I think will flourish as a #2 CB where he was sometimes inconsistent at #1 at Cincinnatti. Other than the Cushing selection, solid draft. Overall Grade = B
Kansas City – The Chiefs have a new GM, a new coach, and a new QB. Now its time to make it all work. So why not get arguably the best player in the draft. I still think you need a top OT, but Crabtree is warming on me here. You have a top flight RB in Larry Johnson, a future HOF TE in Gonzalez, and now a great receiving corps in Bowe and Crabtree. I didn’t really argue with Shonn Greene at your third rounder because I think he’s a solid back and could compliment Johnson. After some thought, I feel he was taken too early and didn’t really fit a position of need. With needs along the D line (since the trade of Jared Allen), RB was not a need and I think could cost the Chiefs some wins this year. I know you addressed DE in round 4, but I think that you reached for a kid that has more potential than proven ability. I hope I’m wrong, but I think you could’ve made a better round 3 selection and still gotten a good RB in round 4. Without making any major FA moves on the defensive side other than the addition of Vrabel to play alongside Derrick Johnson, I think Pioli loses a couple grades here. There are still needs at RT, G, and NT. Overall Grade = C
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