rynesandbergfan23
Bench Warmer
April 29, 2007
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Arizona Cardinals
Best pick: DT Alan Branch, second round. Branch is a player the Cardinals were going to consider at the top of the first round in March. He will play nose in their 3-4.
Questionable move: Third-round pick Buster Davis was a good college player, but he's a small linebacker who has to cover for some limitations.
Second-day gem: Getting tight end Ben Patrick in the seventh round was a good move. He was the third tight end on some lists.
Overall grade: B+. Their first two picks make the draft. I probably would have selected Adrian Peterson over Levi Brown in the first round, but it works for their team.
Atlanta Falcons
Best pick: They got the best defensive player in the first round when they took defensive end Jamaal Anderson. He will be a star.
Questionable move: They took receiver Laurent Robinson in the third round when there were better receivers on the board.
Second-day gem: Sixth-round pick David Irons, a corner from Auburn, is one of those feisty players who will find his way onto the roster.
Overall grade: A. They got three quality players in the first three rounds in Anderson, Justin Blalock and Chris Houston. They had a nice first day.
Baltimore Ravens
Best pick: It was their first one. Guard Ben Grubbs will be an opening-day starter.
Questionable move: Third-round pick Yamon Figurs can fly, but he's raw as a receiver. If this is for his return skill, taking him that high is a risk.
Second-day gem: Fullback Le'Ron McClain, the team's fourth-round pick, is a road grader as a blocker and should be a starter.
Overall grade: C
Buffalo Bills
Best pick: Taking Marshawn Lynch with their first pick will prove to be a great move. He will be their franchise back for a long time.
Questionable move: I know a lot of people like Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny, but I think he's a little stiff. Using a high second-round pick could backfire.
Second-day gem: Running back Dwayne Wright will be the perfect backup to Lynch. He's a real tough inside runner.
Overall grade: C. Lynch makes the grade decent, but the rest of the draft doesn't do a lot for me.
Carolina Panthers
Best pick: Getting receiver Dwayne Jarrett in the second round will prove to be a steal. He plays much faster than his 40 time.
Questionable move: Using a fourth-round pick on 5-8 receiver Ryan Robinson, who is really just a return man.
Second-day gem: Sixth-round pick Tim Shaw was a quality linebacker at Penn State. He's a little stiff, but in the sixth round he makes sense.
Overall grade: B+. Their first three picks --- Jon Beason, Jarrett and Ryan Kalil -- were outstanding. If fourth-round pick Charles Johnson can help the pass rush, this will really be a special draft.
Chicago Bears
Best pick: They need a weapon in the middle of the field, so taking tight end Greg Olsen with the first pick was a good move.
Questionable move: Using a third-round pick on Garrett Wolfe, a small running back, is risky. They don't need him as a return man.
Second-day gem: Guard Josh Beekman, the team's fourth-round pick, will work in as a starter in two years.
Overall grade: C
Cincinnati Bengals
Best pick: It might seem like the Bengals don't need a back, but taking Kenny Irons in the second round was a good move. Rudi Johnson has no big-play ability and Chris Perry is always hurt.
Questionable move: They didn't get any help at linebacker, which is a problem on defense.
Second-day gem: Fourth-round pick Marvin White was a big-hitting safety in college who could find his way as a special-teams player.
Overall grade: B-. I like the picks of Leon Hall and Irons, but they didn't get a lot of help in their front seven.
Cleveland Browns
Best pick: Going back into the first round to get Brady Quinn was a bold move, but one that will pay off in a big way.
Questionable move: Second-round pick Eric Wright has first-round ability, but there are character concerns. This team can't afford to have this pick blow up on them.
Second-day gem: Fifth-round pick Brandon McDonald is a raw corner who made the move from receiver. With some seasoning, he can be a nice cover player.
Overall grade: A+. They get a franchise left tackle and a franchise quarterback. And if Wright can stay out of trouble they got a franchise corner. That's three key pieces.
Dallas Cowboys
Best pick: I love Anthony Spencer. Wade Phillips will turn him into another Shawne Merriman, especially teaming with DeMarcus Ware.
Questionable move: Using a third-round pick on converted quarterback Isaiah Stanback is something that will be watched closely. Is he another Antwaan Randle El?
Second-day gem: Fourth-round pick Doug Free is a quality tackle who will push Flozell Adams to play better.
Overall grade: B. I like Spencer and Free, but third-round pick James Marten probably went a round too high.
Denver Broncos
Best pick: Getting defensive tackle Marcus Thomas in the fourth round is a steal for this team. He will be a force -- if he stays out of trouble.
Questionable move: They gave up a third-round pick to move up four spots to take Florida defensive end Jarvis Moss. I like him, but they should have stayed put and taken Anthony Spencer.
Second-day gem: Thomas. Think Warren Sapp.
Overall grade: B. They need help on their defensive line and they added three good players, counting end Tim Crowder.
Detroit Lions
Best pick: I like the choice of Ikaika Alama-Francis, a defensive end from Hawaii. He's a former basketball player, which says a lot about his athletic ability.
Questionable move: For some it's taking another receiver. But if you don't admit your mistakes, you're doomed by them. Taking Calvin Johnson was a good move.
Second-day gem: Fourth-round corner A.J. Davis is a smallish corner who has nice cover skills. He will be a perfect nickel corner.
Overall grade: B-. I like Johnson and second-round picks Alama-Francis and Drew Stanton. The Lions actually did some good things.
Green Bay Packers
Best pick: Justin Harrell. Yes, their first pick. He will be a force in the middle of their line.
Questionable move: Nebraska running back Brandon Jackson is a need pick, but he runs a little upright.
Second-day gem: Fifth-round pick David Clowney has blazing speed. If he can improve his route running, he could be a nice addition.
Overall grade: B
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Arizona Cardinals
Best pick: DT Alan Branch, second round. Branch is a player the Cardinals were going to consider at the top of the first round in March. He will play nose in their 3-4.
Questionable move: Third-round pick Buster Davis was a good college player, but he's a small linebacker who has to cover for some limitations.
Second-day gem: Getting tight end Ben Patrick in the seventh round was a good move. He was the third tight end on some lists.
Overall grade: B+. Their first two picks make the draft. I probably would have selected Adrian Peterson over Levi Brown in the first round, but it works for their team.
Atlanta Falcons
Best pick: They got the best defensive player in the first round when they took defensive end Jamaal Anderson. He will be a star.
Questionable move: They took receiver Laurent Robinson in the third round when there were better receivers on the board.
Second-day gem: Sixth-round pick David Irons, a corner from Auburn, is one of those feisty players who will find his way onto the roster.
Overall grade: A. They got three quality players in the first three rounds in Anderson, Justin Blalock and Chris Houston. They had a nice first day.
Baltimore Ravens
Best pick: It was their first one. Guard Ben Grubbs will be an opening-day starter.
Questionable move: Third-round pick Yamon Figurs can fly, but he's raw as a receiver. If this is for his return skill, taking him that high is a risk.
Second-day gem: Fullback Le'Ron McClain, the team's fourth-round pick, is a road grader as a blocker and should be a starter.
Overall grade: C
Buffalo Bills
Best pick: Taking Marshawn Lynch with their first pick will prove to be a great move. He will be their franchise back for a long time.
Questionable move: I know a lot of people like Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny, but I think he's a little stiff. Using a high second-round pick could backfire.
Second-day gem: Running back Dwayne Wright will be the perfect backup to Lynch. He's a real tough inside runner.
Overall grade: C. Lynch makes the grade decent, but the rest of the draft doesn't do a lot for me.
Carolina Panthers
Best pick: Getting receiver Dwayne Jarrett in the second round will prove to be a steal. He plays much faster than his 40 time.
Questionable move: Using a fourth-round pick on 5-8 receiver Ryan Robinson, who is really just a return man.
Second-day gem: Sixth-round pick Tim Shaw was a quality linebacker at Penn State. He's a little stiff, but in the sixth round he makes sense.
Overall grade: B+. Their first three picks --- Jon Beason, Jarrett and Ryan Kalil -- were outstanding. If fourth-round pick Charles Johnson can help the pass rush, this will really be a special draft.
Chicago Bears
Best pick: They need a weapon in the middle of the field, so taking tight end Greg Olsen with the first pick was a good move.
Questionable move: Using a third-round pick on Garrett Wolfe, a small running back, is risky. They don't need him as a return man.
Second-day gem: Guard Josh Beekman, the team's fourth-round pick, will work in as a starter in two years.
Overall grade: C
Cincinnati Bengals
Best pick: It might seem like the Bengals don't need a back, but taking Kenny Irons in the second round was a good move. Rudi Johnson has no big-play ability and Chris Perry is always hurt.
Questionable move: They didn't get any help at linebacker, which is a problem on defense.
Second-day gem: Fourth-round pick Marvin White was a big-hitting safety in college who could find his way as a special-teams player.
Overall grade: B-. I like the picks of Leon Hall and Irons, but they didn't get a lot of help in their front seven.
Cleveland Browns
Best pick: Going back into the first round to get Brady Quinn was a bold move, but one that will pay off in a big way.
Questionable move: Second-round pick Eric Wright has first-round ability, but there are character concerns. This team can't afford to have this pick blow up on them.
Second-day gem: Fifth-round pick Brandon McDonald is a raw corner who made the move from receiver. With some seasoning, he can be a nice cover player.
Overall grade: A+. They get a franchise left tackle and a franchise quarterback. And if Wright can stay out of trouble they got a franchise corner. That's three key pieces.
Dallas Cowboys
Best pick: I love Anthony Spencer. Wade Phillips will turn him into another Shawne Merriman, especially teaming with DeMarcus Ware.
Questionable move: Using a third-round pick on converted quarterback Isaiah Stanback is something that will be watched closely. Is he another Antwaan Randle El?
Second-day gem: Fourth-round pick Doug Free is a quality tackle who will push Flozell Adams to play better.
Overall grade: B. I like Spencer and Free, but third-round pick James Marten probably went a round too high.
Denver Broncos
Best pick: Getting defensive tackle Marcus Thomas in the fourth round is a steal for this team. He will be a force -- if he stays out of trouble.
Questionable move: They gave up a third-round pick to move up four spots to take Florida defensive end Jarvis Moss. I like him, but they should have stayed put and taken Anthony Spencer.
Second-day gem: Thomas. Think Warren Sapp.
Overall grade: B. They need help on their defensive line and they added three good players, counting end Tim Crowder.
Detroit Lions
Best pick: I like the choice of Ikaika Alama-Francis, a defensive end from Hawaii. He's a former basketball player, which says a lot about his athletic ability.
Questionable move: For some it's taking another receiver. But if you don't admit your mistakes, you're doomed by them. Taking Calvin Johnson was a good move.
Second-day gem: Fourth-round corner A.J. Davis is a smallish corner who has nice cover skills. He will be a perfect nickel corner.
Overall grade: B-. I like Johnson and second-round picks Alama-Francis and Drew Stanton. The Lions actually did some good things.
Green Bay Packers
Best pick: Justin Harrell. Yes, their first pick. He will be a force in the middle of their line.
Questionable move: Nebraska running back Brandon Jackson is a need pick, but he runs a little upright.
Second-day gem: Fifth-round pick David Clowney has blazing speed. If he can improve his route running, he could be a nice addition.
Overall grade: B
