Team Draft Grades

1.

Arizona

A

The Cards not only addressed their four biggest needs with their top picks, but also got good value with those selections.  They found a quarterback for the future in USC’s Matt Leinart, who was once projected as the third overall pick but fell into their laps at No. 10.  Deuce Lutui (OG) and Gabe Watson (DT) were solid picks to bolster their front lines, and gifted TE Leonard Pope will likely turn out to be a third-round steal.  In addition, DT Jonathan Lewis (sixth round) and WR Todd Watkins (seventh round) have the potential to make an impact, despite being late-round selections. 

2.

Houston

A-

With four picks in the first three rounds, the Texans arguably selected the most talent in the draft.  They also did a good job of addressing their biggest needs, but they were downgraded somewhat for passing on USC RB Reggie Bush. 

3.

San Francisco

A-

It’s not difficult to get a high grade for filling needs when you have holes at nearly every position, and having two first-round picks enabled the club to grab two of the finest talents in the draft.  Tight end Vernon Davis (1-6) and OLB Manny Lawson (1-22) are a pair of exceptional athletes who should start immediately.  The team also got good value in the mid-to-late rounds with WR/QB Michael Robinson (4th round), DE Parys Haralson (5th), and WR Delanie Walker (6th). 

4.

Philadelphia

B+

The Eagles greatly bolstered their front lines with their first four picks.  Three of those players – DT Brodrick Bunkley (1-14), OT Winston Justice (2-39), and OG Max Jean-Giles (4-99) – were available later than expected and were generally considered to be among the top 50 players in the 2006 class.  Nabbing Bunkley was a big coup for a club that needed to upgrade its interior pass rush.   On the downside, the Birds did not adequately address their needs at center, wide receiver and linebacker. 

5.

Oakland

B+

Safety/corner Michael Huff and OLB Thomas Howard were two of the top athletes in the draft and should help the Raiders’ defense immediately.  Darnell Bing also has the potential to contribute at safety.

6.

Green Bay

B+

With 12 picks, the Packers managed to nab a bunch of talent and addressed their primary needs in the process.  However, LB A.J. Hawk is the only sure-fire prospect in the lot, and trading veteran WR Javon Walker to Denver for a second-round pick certainly hurts the club in the short term. 

7.

New England

B+

The Pats used their first six picks on offense and came away with one of the draft’s top three RBs (Laurence Maroney in the 1st), arguably the best wideout (Chad Jackson in the 2nd), the top-rated H-back (Garrett Mills in the 4th), and the top-rated kicker (Stephen Gostkowski in the 4th).  On the other hand, the club ignored some of its pressing needs at linebacker and in the secondary. 

8.

Buffalo

B+

The Bills amassed a lot of talent and addressed some immediate needs at defensive tackle and safety.  However, the club did not get maximum value with a number of picks.  For example, safety Donte Whitner was a bit of a reach at No. 8 overall. 

9.

St. Louis

B+

The Rams had their best draft in years.  Trading down in the first round gave them five picks in the first three rounds, and those selections were used to address the four biggest holes on the squad (CB, TE, DT, and OLB).  DT Claude Wroten and DE Victor Adeyanju may turn out to be third- and fourth-round steals, respectively.     

10.

NY Jets

B

Owning two first-round picks, it was surprising that the Jets did not make a stronger bid to move up and take Bush.  The team did a good job of upgrading its very suspect offensive line with the selections of OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson (4th overall) and C Nick Mangold (29th overall), and Kellen Clemens (49th overall) may be a quarterback for the future. 

11.

Baltimore

B

The Ravens had their usual solid draft.  DT Haloti Ngata (12th overall) should help the defense return to its dominant ways vs. the run.  Oregon WR Demetrius Williams was a fourth-round steal, and CB Derrick Martin and DE Ryan LaCasse were a pair of promising sleepers in the last round.  

12.

Tennessee

B

Tennessee is another organization that usually drafts very well, and 2006 was no different.  Multi-dimensional QB Vince Young (3rd overall) and powerful RB LenDale White (45th overall) should add spark to a dormant offense.  Two fourth-rounders, S Calvin Lowry and OLB Stephen Tulloch, are decent prospects that address immediate needs on the other side of the ball. 

13.

Cleveland

B

The Browns did not draft any can’t-miss prospects, but they did have a solid all-round draft.  The linebacking corps should vastly improve with the additions of OLB Kamerion Wimbley (1st round), ILB D’Qwell Jackson (2nd), and ILB Leon Williams (4th).  In addition, WR Travis Wilson, RB Jerome Harrison, and FB Lawrence Vickers are promising skill players that could help Cleveland’s sluggish offense.

14.

San Diego

B-

The Chargers addressed two of their biggest needs with the selections of CB Antonio Cromartie and OT Marcus McNeil.  Both players have big upsides but will need time to develop.  The third-round pick of Charlie Whitehurst, one of the top QBs in the draft, was a bit of a surprise, especially since the club had bigger needs at guard and wideout. 

15.

Seattle

B-

Despite picking from the 31st slot in the first round, the Seahawks were able to put together a very solid draft.  None of their selections were household names, but CB Kelly Jennings (1st round), DE Darryl Tapp (2nd), and OG Rob Simms (4th) are solid prospects who were drafted to fill the team’s biggest holes. 

16.

Denver

C+

Strong-armed QB Jay Cutler was a good value at No. 11 overall, but he did not fill an immediate need.  The rest of the Broncos’ selections were not exciting, but they do get a passing grading for landing Walker from the Packers with a second-round pick. 

17.

Detroit

C+

The Lions upgraded their defense with the selections of LB Ernie Sims (1st round) and S Daniel Bullocks (2nd round), two speedsters who could start immediately. OT Jonathan Scott (5th round) and OG Fred Matua (a seventh-round steal) might help the offensive line.   Failing to add solid prospects at DE and CB hurt the Lions’ overall grade. 

18.

NY Giants

C+

The Giants got off to a slow start by taking DE Mathias Kiwanuka, who was a bit of a reach for the first round and did not fill an immediate need.  The G-men did, however, address some of their bigger needs with the selections of speedy WR Sinorice Moss (2nd round), DT Barry Cofield (4th), and OT Guy Whimper (4th).  The team ignored its porous secondary until the very late rounds, which may turn out to be a big mistake. 

19.

Pittsburgh

C+

Despite coming off a Super Bowl victory, the Steelers managed to put together a solid draft.  Wide receivers Santonio Holmes (1st round) and Willie Reid (3rd round) and safety Anthony Smith (3rd round) should be able to adequately fill the shoes of WR/return man Antwaan Randle El and S Chris Hope, both of whom departed via free agency.  The same could likely be said of DL Orien Harris, a fifth-round steal, who should help offset the loss of Kimo von Oelhoffen, who signed with the Jets. 

20.

New Orleans

C+

In terms of overall talent, the Saints had one of the better drafts.  Bush was clearly the best player on the board, but the team already had two quality RBs in Deuce McAllister and Michael Bennett.  By not trading down and by taking the USC running back, the Saints did not adequately address their biggest weaknesses (OL, DT, OLB, and CB).  They did, however, add a pair of useful veterans via draft-day trades in center Jeff Faine and DT Hollis Thomas. 

21.

Dallas

C

The Cowboys added a handful of solid prospects, including LB Bobby Carpenter (1st round), TE Anthony Fasano (2nd), and S Pat Watkins (5th).  However, linebacker was their only need position that was adequately addressed, and some of their picks, especially DE Jason Hatcher in the third round, were curious, to say the least.    

22.

Miami

C

Considering that the Dolphins had just three picks in the first six rounds, they did a remarkable job in the draft.  DB Jason Allen (1st round) is a gifted athlete, who could start immediately at safety.  Rodrique Wright could be a huge seventh-round steal and provide much-needed depth at defensive tackle.  Also, Derek Hagan (3rd) and Devin Aromashodu (7th) added depth with an upside at wide receiver.  

23.

Carolina

C

The Panthers’ selection of shifty RB DeAngelo Williams represented good value at No. 27 overall and filled an immediate need.  Corner Richard Marshall was the team’s only other notable pick.   

24.

Kansas City

C

The Chiefs addressed two of their biggest weaknesses with the selections of DE Tamba Hall (1st round) and CB Marcus Maxey (5th round), and they added a much-needed quarterback to groom for the future in Brodie Croyle (3rd).  However, Hall was considered a reach at No. 20 overall, and the team still has holes at wideout and defensive tackle. 

25.

Minnesota

C-

The Vikings lost a lot of offensive talent during the offseason, including QB Daunte Culpepper, RB Michael Bennett and WR Nate Burleson, but the club focused on the other side of the ball during the draft.  LB Chad Greenway (1st round) and CB/S Cedric Griffin (2nd) were solid picks, but what are they going to do at quarterback and running back? 

26.

Tampa Bay

C-

The Bucs drafted strictly for need, addressing their suspect offensive line with their first two picks, but they did not appear to get a lot of value in the process.  Oklahoma guard/tackle Davin Joseph is their most promising prospect, but he was a bit of a reach at No. 23 overall.  

27.

Jacksonville

C-

Like the Bucs, the Jags drafted mainly for need and did not get the best value in the process.  You cannot argue with the selection of Marcedes Lewis (1st round), who should give the team a receiving threat at tight end for the first time in years.  UCLA teammate Maurice Drew (2nd) adds needed speed at running back. 

28.

Atlanta

D

Having no first-round selection and just five total picks, the Falcons were bound to score low.  CB/S Jimmy Williams (second round) is very talented and could help immediately, but his attitude is questionable. 

29.

Cincinnati

D

The Bengals drafted two quality prospects in CB Johnathan Joseph and OT Andrew Whitworth, but neither filled an immediate need.  There wasn’t much to write home about after the second round. 

30.

Indianapolis

D

The Colts’ biggest needs were at running back and outside linebacker.  They managed to fill one of those spots with a decent prospect – Joseph Addai (No. 30 overall).  Addai was generally considered to be the fourth-best RB in the draft.  Second-rounder Tim Jennings will likely be nothing more than a nickel corner. 

31.

Chicago

F

The Bears traded out of the first round and came away with very little talent.  Their most exciting prospect is Devin Hester, who should turn out to be an excellent return man but will be a project at either WR or CB. 

32.

Washington

F

Bringing up the rear, again, is the Redskins, who had just one pick in the first five rounds.  Roger McIntosh (2nd round) is a decent prospect at OLB, but he hardly has the potential of the underused LaVar Arrington, who signed as a free agent with the Giants.