Day 3 & 4 Grades

18. Buffalo Bills, C+. I know I have Buffalo higher then a lot of other folks right now, but I think I see the method to Marv Levy's madness. He shook off some of the older baggage the team had, put faith in his young quarterback, who I think will still be a stud kid is a gamer, and continues to build this tremendous youth program within the team. Last year they shocked everyone with Donte Whitner, but he saw what other Safety players have done for in this league (see Reed, Ed and Palamalou, Troy). This year after discarding McGahee he took the best RB available to help his young QB. He replaced Takeo Spikes with Paul Posluszny, LB Penn St, which is a Marv Levy type of player. I think the steal for the Bills is Dwanye Wright, RB Fresno St, if he stays healthy. I he is healthy Buffalo will forget about Lynch and be chanting Wright every Sunday. I also love the pick of John Wendling, FS Wyoming, to compliment Whitner in the secondary. I'm not sold on Trent Edwards as everyone else, but he can at least be a strong backup.

17. Miami Dolphins, B-. I didn't punish the Dolphins as harshly as everyone else for passing up Brady Quinn. When you think about it, even with the foot injury Ted Ginn Jr. is the safer pick regardless. The dude can simply return kicks like no one's business. If he is healthy, then it is a great pick in the sense that the quarterback has no one to throw to before this pick and now there is at least a threat there. Not sold on John Beck, but I'd rather take a chance on a QB farther down the draft then earlier. I absolutely love the pick of Samson Satele, C Hawaii, as the anchor to their offensive line. The dude is a true warrior and may be the second coming of Kevin Mawae. Same goes for Paul Soliai, DT Utah, they were both very high on my third-fourth round draft boards and love the picks. They had plenty of picks that they used to add depth to a team that is in definite flux and could be very special with new coach Cam Cameron.

16. Minnesota Vikings, B-. I will start by saying that I am not sold on Adrian Peterson, RB Oklahoma, and sure it may have something to do with him being a Sooner. It also has something to due with the fact that this kid has not been healthy in three years, he always manages to find a way to hurt himself. That was on real grass, now put him in doors and this could be one if not the biggest draft busts in Vikings' history. That being said I think their team got better from the second round on. Sidney Rice, WR South Carolina, I think will be something special in Minnesota. Marcus McCauley has all the ability to be a star corner in this league, but does he have the motor and desire to do so? Brian Robinson, DE Texas, will be their best 12th man and special teams star as there is no question about HIS motor. Rufus Alexander, OLB Oklahoma, has the opportunity to prove to many people that his drop in production last year was a fluke and he may be the Cato June steal of this draft.

15. Indianapolis Colts, B-. Anthony Gonzales, WR Ohio St, had to be the happiest man drafted. He goes from playing on a National Title contender to catching balls from Peyton Manning. He more or less steps right into the spot he was playing at Ohio St, second and third fiddle to other players, but stealing the show every time he is on the field and gets the ball. This kid has the ability to bump Reggie Wayne to the number three spot. I think trading your first round pick next year to draft Tony Ugoh, OG Arkansas, was WAY too much of a reach and he is definitely not worth that kind of price. Daymeion Hughes, CB Cal, was an absolute steal where they got him and should help fill voids left by players who left this year as is Quinn Pitcock, DT Ohio St, who was another third round steal. Their first day was great, except for the Ugoh deal, and I think that is why they fell on my board. When there was plenty of line talent available you give up your first round to move up in the second it drops you a few grades. Other then that, I think it was one of their better drafts in recent years.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers, B-. Lawerence Timmons, LB Florida St, was a great selection with Joey Porter leaving for Miami. If Wimbley is any indication of what a Florida St linebacker can do lately, the Steelers will be very happy with their first round selection. Lamaar Woodley, DE Michigan, could be an absolute steal if they can get his motor going 100%. He has all the tools, but relies too much on ability and not desire, which is something the Steelers will allow. Daniel Sepulveda, P Baylor, is a former walk on at linebacker with a hell of a leg. So imagine a punter who can kick AND tackle without any fear, that portion of your team just rose tremendously. Cameron Stephenson, G Rutgers, was a good pick, a very underrated player, and helps if your pro bowl guard does end up leaving your team within the next year or so. Nothing fancy or flashy about this draft, but no glaring mistakes, which is Steeler football.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, B. I believe I may be one of the only people on this planet who has not bought into the Gaines Adams, DE Clemson, hype. I've seen Clemson in person while he played for them and he didn't stand out at all. To me that does not make a top five pick, a top five pick should look like a man amongst boys. To give you an example, that very same game saw Vernon Davis, TE Maryland, who looked like a man playing among boys. Now the selection of Aaron Sears, OT Tennessee, and Quincy Black, OLB New Mexico, may be the real gems for the Buccs in this draft. New Mexico coaches think Black can be better then Urlacher, so you can imagine a player like that on the Buccs D. Tanard Jackson, CB Syrause, is one of the biggest steals of this draft. Without a doubt this kid has first round ability, but he played at Syracuse and as such never got much attention. You put him under Ronde Barber's wing and watch this kid soar. Chris Denman, OT Fresno St, is another player that very well could be Ying to Sears' Yang for many years to come. This was a very solid draft for the Buccs, and continued the solid foundation they began the last few years.

12. Oakland Raiders, B. JaMarcus Russell, QB LSU, is a kid to be the face and example of your franchise. He is an outstanding human being, and a pure physical presence that the Raiders have not had in that spot in a very long time. I think the addition of Russell gives the Raiders at least 3 extra wins on pure determination alone. Zach Miller, TE Arizona St, might have been a reach in the second but it was a good pick. I would have gone after Ben Patrick, TE Delaware, later in the draft but that's just me, I think Patrick will be known as the best TE out of this draft. Johnnie Lee Higgins, WR UTEP, will be grand larceny for when they got him. I think this kid has the opportunity to be something really special and will have this opportunity in this offense. Michael Bush, RB Louisville, should have been a top ten pick if it wasn't for the broken leg and has the ability to be their new Bo Jackson. Eric Frampton, S Washington St, kept being knocked since he didn't have "prototypical size" of a safety, but this kid just plays his ass off and I want that in a football player.

11. San Diego Chargers, B. Without a doubt I think it was a mistake to take Craig Davis, WR LSU, over Dwayne Jarrett, WR USC, if only for the SC alumni who come to the games. You're in San Diego, you know the mafia that is USC. Plus I think Jarrett is just a better football player, but then again Norv Turner is now there so everyone get ready for disappointment. That being said, I love the selection of Eric Weedle, S Utah, to a very young defense who love to get after the ball. Brandon Siler, ILB Florida, may be a HUGE steal in the seventh round if he plays to his ability. I know many Charger fans are excited by the addition of Legedu Naanee, WR Boise St, one of the Heroes of that game against Oklahoma this year. There isn't too many holes in this Charger team and I think they did a good job a putting things in place to patch up the few loose ends they did have.

10. Atlanta Falcons, B. Again, I never jumped on the Jamaal Anderson, DE Arkansas, bandwagon like so many others. I think the Falcons dropped the ball by not trading up to get LaRon Landry. I think he makes that defense in the top five right now, as opposed to Anderson who may be a bit of a project. Justin Blalock, OT Texas, and Chris Houston, CB Arkansas, were two of my favorite picks in the second round however. Blalock has all the ability to become their best offensive lineman, and Houston may end up being the best corner from this draft. Doug Datish, C Ohio St, may be one of those great late round offensive linemen. The rest of their draft merely added quality depth to many of the positions that they needed bodies in. Daren Stone, SS Maine, remember that name, this kid could be one of those really special players that no one but me saw coming.

9. Washington Redskins, B+. Unlike many other places, I did not penalize the Skins for their lack of first day picks, the one they did make has transformed their secondary into what may be the best secondary in all of football. Landry, Taylor, Smoot, Springs, Rogers, if all five of those men get on the same page and begin functioning like a well oiled machine, teams may not be able to throw on the skins. Dallas Sartz, OLB USC, and HB Blades, LB Pitt, were absolute gems in the second day of the draft. Blades has a determination to be his own man that may push him to excel in ways that has Joe Gibbs giddy with joy. If Dallas Sartz gets back into 2004 form, then the Skins have found a defender who will always be around the ball and leading their defense in tackles every year. Jordan Palmer, QB UTEP, lil brother of Carson could be the answer to all of the Redskins' quarterback woes. Not a first rounder, not a has been, or the ball coaches' college players, just a kid determined to make his own way, be his own man, and prove he is just as every bit as good as his brother.

8. Denver Broncos, B+. I'll put it right out there, I hate Denver with an absolute passion. They only had four picks in this draft, but two of them were two of my top five defensive ends in this draft, this includes my top defensive end, Jarvis Moss, DE Florida. They followed this pick with Tim Crowder, DE Texas, and I have come to the conclusion that they used their first two picks to spite me personally and I will not let this stand. Ryan Harris, OT Notre Dame, is likely going to be the LT that protects Jay Cutler for the rest of his pro career, however long that may well be. Marcus Thomas, DT Florida, has the ability of a top ten pick, but does he have the character? He could be an absolute steal and pillaging of the fourth round, or he is their new Maurice Clarrett.

7. Detroit Lions, B+. Calvin Johnson, WR GA Tech, is he the answer? Is he finally the WR Holy Grail you've been searching for all these years Mr. Millen? He better be, for your jobs' sake. I know how many times we've heard the tale of, "this kid is a no miss...going to be one of the greatest ever.." and the kid ends up hurt, or just doesn't have the drive to excel in the NFL. I think this kid is something special, but Detroit has many holes and could have used the extra picks to trade down. I knew they would take the local kid Drew Stanton, QB Michigan St, and I think he will do great things in Detroit. He never really had any weapons as a Spartan, and was always fighting to score since his defense was about as good as France's. Ikaika Alama-Francis, DE Hawaii, might turn out to be a great pick as well if he can work on getting lower. If this happens, the NFC North needs to watch out. They added depth, with a few possible trophies in there, but may not be enough to save Matt Millen's job.