Archive for July, 2009

2009 Draft Grades – Arizona

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Arguably the most surprising team of 2008, the Arizona Cardinals made it to their first Super Bowl before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, while there was disappointment in their loss, the fans of Arizona have plenty to be excited for. The Cardinals have a good, young core and they added a great draft class in 2009.

With their first round pick the Cardinals selected Ohio State running back Chris Wells. An outstanding pick with tremendous value, Wells figures to come in and play immediately and help elevate the Cardinals run game after having been one of the worst in the league last season. Wells, my top running back in this year’s draft, has the potential to be a very good player for the Cardinals. In the second round Arizona took Connecticut defensive end Cody Brown. One of the most underrated players in this year’s draft, Brown was also one of the best pure pass rushers in the draft. Considering he also plays good run defense, Brown has a shot to contribute quickly and could compete for a starting job soon.

In the third round Arizona went with Alabama safety Rashad Johnson. One of the smarter players in this year’s draft and an excellent leader, Johnson has all of the tools needed to step in and have an impact right away. He may need to wait a year and develop, but I could see him competing for a starting safety job opposite Adrian Wilson within a year or two.

With their fourth round the Cardinals selected St. Pauls’ cornerback Gregory Toler. A talented player who has had an up and down football career so far, Toler is a player with a very upside, but will need plenty of development. He’s another small-school corner that the Cardinals hope to turn into a starter, seeing as Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie developed quickly for them last season. With their fifth round pick they took LSU guard Herman Johnson. A mammoth offensive lineman, Johnson could see time at offensive tackle given how big he is. He needs to work on getting quicker and using his weight better. If he can get those things figured out then he could end up being a very nice starter for the Cardinals.

In the sixth round Arizona took Illinois defensive end Will Davis. A solid end who can rush the passer and play the run equally, Davis had a good workout at the Senior Bowl which raised his stock and impressed scouts. He’ll provide depth as a backup but he’s another player who could develop into a starter down the road.

With their two seventh round picks the Cardinals took Pittsburgh running back LaRod Stephens-Howling and Cincinnati guard Trevor Canfield. Stephens-Howling is a very quick back with excellent agility who backed up LeSean McCoy last season at Pitt. He’s a Darren Sproles-type of scatback who could be a nice third-down player. Canfield was a great value pick in the seventh round. I had him ranked as a fourth or fifth round pick, so to land him here was big. Canfield is a large offensive guard who can drive defenders off the ball and he knows how to use his size to his advantage.

I was impressed with the Cardinals draft this year. They found value and potential steals with several of their picks and they filled their needs with all of their picks. The draft class could be determined by how well Beanie Wells does, however I think that he could end up being a great player for Arizona. Grade: A

2009 Draft Grades – Tennessee

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

The Tennessee Titans were one of the surprising teams last season as they ended up with the top seed in the AFC before eventually losing a heart-breaking game to Baltimore. With nearly the entire core from last year’s team returning minus All-Pro Albert Haynesworth, the Titans could be step up to remain in contention again this season.

In the first round of the 2009 Draft the Titans selected Rutgers wide receiver Kenny Britt. A large receiver with a great combination of speed and quickness, Britt will bring help to a receiving core that has been among the league’s worst in recent years. Tennessee also added Nate Washington via free agency, so their receiving core should be a lot better this year. In the second round Tennessee took Auburn defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks. An talented player who I thought played too inconsistently during his career with the Tigers, the Titans figure to add Marks to their rotation on the defensive line and hope that he can step in and try to replace Haynesworth. I also thought that this was a bit high for Marks.

With their two third round picks Tennessee took South Carolina tight end Jared Cook and Hawaii cornerback Ryan Mouton. An athletically gifted player who was a Combine star in 2009, Jared Cook offers the Titans a dynamic receiving option at the tight end position. He won’t bring much to the table as a blocker, but that’s not why they drafted him. Between Britt and Cook, the Titans did a very nice job of upgrading their weapons in the passing game via the draft. However, I’m not so sure about the Mouton pick. I had Ryan rated as a mid-to-late round pick, not a third-rounder. While he’ll bring depth and athleticism to their secondary, I thought that this was a large reach at this point in the draft.

With their two fourth round picks the Titans went with Southern Miss linebacker Gerald McRath and Tulane offensive tackle Troy Kropog. McRath is a very good player who was one of my most underrated players from this year’s draft. He’s a leader and I could really see him developing into a good player in the NFL. Kropog is a solid tackle with a nice combination of size and athleticism, and he figures to provide depth as he develops behind Michael Roos and David Stewart. In the fifth round the Titans took Michigan State running back Javon Ringer. This was a great value pick. While Ringer does have some injury concerns, he should be a very good third-string back behind Chris Johnson and Lendale White. Ringer had a lot of carries in college, so his career may not last as some of the other running backs that came out this year.

With their two sixth round picks the Titans selected Rutgers cornerback Jason McCourty and Stephen F. Austin wide receiver Dominique Edison. McCourty was a cornerback who I always thought was pretty underrated. He was a reliable player who got the job done for the Scarlet Knights. At the very least, he’ll provide nice depth in the Titans secondary, however I could see him developing into a nice nickel or dime back. One of the faster receivers from this year’s draft, Dominique Edison is a player who saw his stock rise after a good workout at the Combine. He figures to provide depth as he develops and gets used to the pro level. With their two seventh round picks Tennessee took Syracuse guard Ryan Durand and North Dakota State safety Nick Schommer. A big guard with nice athleticism and mobility, Durand will provide depth on the offensive line. Schommer has good size with above average speed and figures to play a role on special teams as well as be a backup at safety.

What I like about the Titans draft is that they added a large number of players with many of them filling needs and being good value picks at the same time. They did reach for a few players, but with the amount of picks that they had, that’s not that big of a deal. I liked the fact that they finally decided to address their receiving core. This is a good looking class that has the potential to be even better than initially expected if some of the lower picks can develop into starters. Grade: B+

2009 Draft Grades – NY Giants

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

One reason that the Giants have been so successful the past few years is because they have done such a great job of drafting. Starting in 2007 when their entire draft class had an impact on their Super Bowl run, the Giants have been among the NFL’s elite teams thanks in large part to the annual selection process.

Coming into the draft, my two favorite receivers this year were Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, as you will see in my 2009 Draft Preview. One of my top outside linebackers was Clint Sintim. In other words, I was a big fan of the way that the Giants started their draft.

With their first round pick New York selected North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. A large, strong target in the passing game, Nicks has a chance to immediately have an impact after the Giants let both Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer leave this offseason. Nicks enters this season as one of the bigger wideouts on the team’s roster and has the talent needed to have an impact right away. With their two second round picks the Giants went with Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim and Connecticut offensive tackle William Beatty. Sintim, a 3-4 outside linebacker in college, is expected to develop at outside linebacker in the Giants 4-3 defense. He has the tools and upside needed to work his way into a starting role in a year or two. Beatty is an athletic tackle with excellent upside and I thought that he would have gone a lot higher. There was talk in the days leading up to the draft that he could have gone in the first round, so for the Giants to land him at the end of the second is a great value pick as well. He has the chance to slowly develop behind the Giants excellent starting line and then take over for one of the tackles in a few year.

In the third round the Giants used their two picks on Cal-Poly wide receiever Ramses Barden and Wisconsin tight end Travis Beckum. A very large target at 6-6, I compared Barden to a bigger and stronger version of Plaxico Burress back in January. While he may need more time to get used to the NFL level, I could see him having a quick impact as a large red-zone target for Eli Manning. Beckum is an extremely athletic tight end who has suffered from injuries, but has also shown the playmaking potential that teams love to see in tight ends. Beckum is more of a slot tight end than he is a in-line tight end and I could see the Giants moving him around to get him into space similar to what the Colts do with Dallas Clark.

With their fourth and fifth round picks, the Giants chose N.C. State running back Andre Brown and Sam Houston State quarterback Rhett Bomar, respectively. A hard-nosed, downhill runner, Brown takes the place of Derrick Ward after Ward left New York to sign with Tampa Bay. Third-string running back Ahmad Bradshaw will take Ward’s place as the backup to Brandon Jacobs while Brown should move into Bradshaw’s spot as the No. 3 back. Seeing as how the Giants are so good at running the football, I could see Brown getting a decent amount of carries early on. Bomar is a player who, despite being forced to transer to Sam Houston State from Oklahoma, still has been able to produce at any level he’s played at and is a nice project at quarterback for the Giants offensive staff. A strong-throwing quarterback with a gunslinger mentality, Bomar has some of the tools and intangibles that teams look for in a starting quarterback.

With Kevin Dockery having departed in the offseason, the Giants decided to add depth to their secondary by taking New Mexico cornerback DeAndre Wright in the sixth round and South Carolina cornerback Stoney Woodson in the seventh. Both 5-11, 195 lb corners, they both have good speed and will offer New York two developing cornerbacks who will compete and provide depth in the secondary.

The Giants once again came away with a great draft class in 2009. They made a few more riskier picks than they usually have done in years past, but from what I’ve seen, this class could be another good one. Grade: A

2009 Draft Grades – Indianapolis

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

It’d be difficult to come up with a worse way for the Indianapolis Colts’ offseason to have gone. They lost their head coach, offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, and one of their star receivers whose age has caught up with him. While coordintor Tom Moore and line coach Howard Mudd are still expected to work for the team as a consultant, it’s no where near the same as being the full time assistants that they were. Add in the fact that the entire team will be under the direction of a different coach and I could see the Colts having their first down season in quite awhile.

With their first round pick the Colts selected Connecticut running back Donald Brown. I understand the thinking that it would make sense to bring in a plauer with great character, which was one of Brown’s greatest traits. I also understand that the Colts needed to bring in insurance at the running back position after Joseph Addai’s injuries last year. However, I’m not sure about this pick. Indianpolis had far more holes where they needed help than they did at running back. Also add in the fact that the running back position is one of the easiest in football to scout, and this pick becomes a bad one in my eyes. I could have found a back in the fourth or fifth round (Andre Brown, Gartrell Johnson, etc.) who could bring in similar production to the Colts’ offense, rather than burning their second first round pick in four years on a running back. Donald Brown is an excellent player and I could see him having a successful career in the NFL, however, this was not the right choice for a Colts team that had far greater needs at other positions.

In the second round the Colts went with USC defensive tackle Fili Moala. An underrated player at the time of the draft, Moala is a very solid tackle prospect who fits the Colts defensive scheme well and should be able to provide the team with an immediate impact. This was a good choice and of great value at the end of the second round.

With their third round pick Indianapolis chose Auburn cornerback Jerraud Powers. An undersized corner who fits well in the team’s defensive scheme, Powers has a chance to compete for nickel and dime back duties as a rookie. This pick makes sense for the Colts, but I thought that it was a reach on their part. With their two fourth round picks the Colts chose BYU wide receiver Austin Collie and Michigan defensive tackle Terrance Taylor. Collie was a great choice who is a similar player to that of Anthony Gonzalez. He’s a polished player with excellent hands and should develop into another reliable receiver for Peyton Manning. Taylor is a tackle who is built like a truck and does a great job of jamming the middle of the line of scrimmage and taking up space. Bringing in Moala and Taylor will go a long way towards upgrading the Colts’ run game.

In the sixth round Indianapolis picked Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter. Outside of being a fan favorite in the state of Indiana, I’m not sure why the Colts decided to take Painter over any of the other quarterbacks still available. Indy clearly needs to develop another backup behind Peyton Manning, however I’m not sure if Painter is the right guy. He struggled badly in his senior year without Dorien Bryant and Dustin Keller and it showed that his success was because of the system that he was playing in. There were several quarterbacks that I could have looked at ahead of Painter at that point in the draft (Brian Hoyer, Cullen Harper, Hunter Cantwell, Mike Reilly, etc.) The point is that I didn’t like the pick. With their two seventh round picks the Colts selected West Virginia kicker Pat McAfee and Maryland offensive tackle Jaimie Thomas. McAfee, also a punter, figures to take over as the team’s punter after the encumbent starter Hunter Smith left via free agency. Thomas is a large, athletic tackle who should provide depth on the line as he develops after having started for two years with the Terps.

In the past few years the Colts have had very successful drafts, which is one reason why they’ve remained an elite team in the NFL for so long. However, this year may be a different story. Moala, Taylor, and Collie were all picks that I liked, but there wasn’t much else. They reached on a few picks and I already talked about why I wasn’t high on the Donald Brown pick. You can’t give two running backs the ball at the same time, which is what makes the Brown pick puzzling. You can’t draft a player purely off his great character, which is what the Colts may have done here. Grade: C

2009 Draft Grades – Miami

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

This offseason the Dolphins went out of their way to upgrade their secondary and to add to the strengths that brought their team to the playoffs last season. In the first round of the 2009 draft Miami selected Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis. A very talented player whose attitude has brought up question marks from scouts, Davis has the potential and upside to develop into a sure No. 1 cornerback in the NFL. He just needs to keep his head on straight and remain focused on playing football.

With their two second round picks the Dolphins went with West Virginia quarterback Pat White and Utah cornerback Sean Smith. Bringing in White suggests that Miami will continue to use the Wildcat offense and you’d have to think that they will take the offense to the next level now that they have a quarterback that can throw the ball. Their offense became a lot more dangerous with this pick. Smith is unique player in that he’s 6-4 and he has experience at both cornerback and safety, which is what made him such a valuable pick. He has the chance to start at either position and may actually end up seeing playing time earlier than Vontae Davis will.

In the third and fourth round, Miami took wide receivers Patrick Turner of USC and Brian Hartline of Ohio State, respectively. While I like both of these picks for the Dolphins, and I trust that Bill Parcells selected them with a plan on how he’ll use them, I think that they were both reaches and the Dolphins could have likely gotten each player a round or two later. With Turner, Miami gets a tall, large target in the passing game who had success with one of the top programs in the nation in USC. Hartline is similar to a Wes Welker, in that he can line up in the slot and he’s a very reliable receiver who catches almost everything that is thrown his way.

With their two fifth round picks the Dolphins took Monmouth tight end John Nalbone and Clemson safety Chris Clemons. An underrated tight end who was under-the-radar in the draft process, Nalbone is a complete tight end who should provide depth as he develops. Clemons is a free-safety type who has great range and is excellent in coverage. He’s a centerfielder type whose coverage skills are his greatest strength.

In the sixth round Miami selected Georgia Tech offensive tackle Andrew Gardner. A very large tackle at 6-7, 305 lbs, Gardner offers the team a developmental prospect at tackle. Gardner has nice tools with above average speed for a player of his size. With their seventh round pick the Dolphins chose Weber State linebacker J.D. Folsom. Folsom will provide depth at linebacker while also likely contributing on special teams.

The Dolphins did a nice job of filling their biggest needs in this draft in the secondary and at wide receiver. They also added the one player that they wanted in Pat White to run their wildcat offense. However, they reached with several of their picks and their draft is top-heavy. I’d be surprised to see some of their late picks make an impact anytime soon, however I did love their first three picks. Grade: B-

The Huddle

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

I’m excited to announce that I’ve started writing for the fantasy football website The Huddle. One of the top fantasy football websites online, The Huddle offers access to some of the best and most accurate fantasy football information on the web.

I’ve already started by writing articles regarding rookie quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. There will be more articles to come, so keep an eye on The Huddle.

2009 Draft Grades – Atlanta

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

The Falcons were arguably the most surprising team of 2008 as rookie quarterback Matt Ryan led Atlanta to the playoffs where they lost to the Cardinals. Hoping to build off of last year’s success, the Falcons went into this year’s draft hoping to find value and to fill their limited number of holes.

In the first round Atlanta selected Mississippi defensive tackle Peria Jerry. The Falcons run defense was arguably their greatest weakness in 2008, and after losing Grady Jackson in the offseason, it made it even more important that they added a top player here. Jerry was one of the safer picks in the draft, in my opinion, and he should be able to step in right away and help the Falcons’ defensive line. The Falcons other weakness last season was in their secondary, specifically at safety. In the second round Atlanta brought in Missouri safety William Moore. A very talented player who was inconsistent as a senior, Moore has all of the tools needed to develop into a solid starter for the Falcons in a few years.

With their third round pick the Falcons selected San Jose State cornerback Christopher Owens. An underrated corner who had a great workout at the Combine, Owens was often overshadowed in college by his teammate Coye Francies. Owens has the talent needed to develop into a solid starter, and at the least he should be a fine nickel back. With their fourth round pick Atlanta took Richmond defensive end Lawrence Sidbury. One of the most pure pass rushers that this year’s draft had to offer, Sidbury should be a nice fit as a 4-3 end in the Falcons’ defense. Grabbing Sidbury in the fourth round is excellent value.

With their two fifth round picks the Falcons selected Furman cornerback William Middleton and North Carolina offensive tackle Garrett Reynolds. A native of Atlanta, Middleton was an under-the-radar player in 2009. He’s a but smaller and lacks ideal speed, but he offers excellent ball skills and is an instinctive player. A very large tackle at 6-8, 309 lbs, Reynolds is a tough player who was reliable for the Tar Heels. I like the pick, but I think that they took him a round or two too early.

In the sixth round Atlanta took Miami (FL) linebacker Spencer Adkins. An undersized linebacker with excellent speed and range, Adkins projects as a backup linebacker and good special teams player. With their seventh round pick the Falcons selected Georgia Tech defensive tackle Vance Walker. A likely fan favorite, Walker was a very reliable and consistent player for the Yellow Jackets. He fits well in the Falcons’ 4-3 defense.

The Falcons draft this year wasn’t as good as their one in 2008 which landed them quarterback Matt Ryan, however it should be another good one. They added a lot of value and went with several small-school players. They did reach for at least three players, which is why I’m not as high on the draft class as others are. However, if Moore can find his form from his outstanding junior year then the Falcons could have some good players. Also, if any of the small school players can develop well then this draft could end up being a pretty good one. Grade: B-

2009 Draft Grades – Baltimore

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

While the Ravens lost defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, linebacker Bart Scott, and safety Jim Leonhard all to the Jets this offseason, they still able to come away with a successful draft in 2009. With their first round pick, Baltimore selected Mississippi offensive tackle Michael Oher. The well-known player whose life was the subject of the book “The Blind Side” by Michael Lewis, Oher provides an instant upgrade at right tackle for the Ravens. With Jared Gaither already entrenched at left tackle, Oher move into the right tackle spot and give the Ravens two young and very talented offensive linemen to build around. While they had to trade up secure Oher, the decision to do so was a very good one.

In the second round, the Ravens took Utah defensive end Paul Kruger. A high-motor player who never takes a play off, Kruger had the talent to go in the first round, but he lasted until the second due to some injury concerns. He also offers versatility for the Ravens, as he could potentially play defensive end and outside linebacker in the team’s 3-4 defense. If he can stay healthy, then Kruger should be a pretty good player in the NFL. I really like his relentless play.  With their third round pick, Baltimore took Nicholls State cornerback Lardarius Webb. An athletic and talented cornerback, Webb is a player who had a good Combine and saw his stock rise as a result. However, I thought that this was a round or two too early for him. Webb adds youth and depth to the team’s secondary and has the chance to develop into a starter in a couple of years.

With their two fifth round picks the Ravens selected TCU linebacker Jason Phillips and East Carolina tight end Davon Drew. Phillips was projected to go in the second or third round, however he suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee at the Combine, which caused his stock to drop. A hard-nosed linebacker who won’t back down for anything, Phillips has the chance to compete with Tavares Gooden for the linebacker job vacated by Bart Scott. He has the tools and great instinctive play needed to start in the NFL. Drew is a tight end who was a late-riser in the weeks leading up to the draft. He’s a talented player who has higher upside than some of the other tight ends in this year’s draft.

In the sixth round the Ravens selected Virginia running back Cedric Peerman. I really like this pick. Peerman had an excellent workout at the Combine and he fits exactly what the Ravens want to do at running back. A tough runner who doesn’t go down easily, Peerman was never a full-time back in college, however he won’t be need to be with the Ravens as they already have Ray Rice and LeRon McClain. The pick of Peerman was a very good value choice.

The Ravens have two sure-things in this draft class, while they also have a few other role players who have the potential to develop into starters. The amount of success that Oher has in the NFL will play a large role in finding how successful this draft class is. Grade: B

2009 Draft Grades – Minnesota

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

The 2009 Vikings offseason has revolved around adding players to their offense to help make life easier for running back Adrian Peterson. They attempted to bring in wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but he chose to play in Seattle.

In the draft, the Vikings brought in Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin. Arguably the most dynamic playmaker that the Vikings have had at receiver since Randy Moss left for Oakland, Minnesota now has an electric playmaker to team with Adrian Peterson. While Harvin has several question marks (off-the-field, injuries, lack of production from Florida receivers in the NFL), his potential and upside far outweighs the risk. However, Minnesota, with a hole at right tackle, chose to select Harvin over Mississippi offensive tackle Michael Oher. While they selected Oklahoma tackle Phil Loadholt in the second round, this is one decision that will be looked at closely in the years to come. Loadholt, the second-largest player in this year’s draft, gives the Vikings bookend tackles at left and right with Bryant McKinnie manning the left side. With a power-run oriented team, the selection of Loadholt is a very good one, and figures to give the Vikings a consistent player that they can rely on at right tackle.

In the third round the Vikings selected Georgia cornerback Asher Allen. This is an intersting pick for Minnesota. They already need help in the secondary, but this pick becomes intriguing when you consider that veteran corner Antoine Winfield is likely to leave via free agency after this season. Bringing in Allen to develop behind Winfield this year and potentially take over for him 2010 is why this pick makes a lot of sense.

With their fifth round pick Minnesota took South Carolina linebacker Jasper Brinkley. I’m a big fan of Brinkley, and I compared him to Ray Lewis in my 2009 Draft Preview, but outside of adding depth to the team’s linebacker core, Brinkley isn’t going to help this team anytime soon. He’s stuck behind E.J. Henderson at middle linebacker, and unless they cut Ben Leber and move Henderson outside, Brinkley won’t be seeing the field very often. While I like Brinkley, I may have added a player here who will see the field more often. In the seventh round the Vikings went with Mississippi safety Jamarca Sanford. A smaller safety who lacks elite speed, Sanford brings power and hard-hitting play to the Vikings secondary. He’ll provide depth behind Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams.

The Vikings added key players on offense in this draft, along with adding talent and value with their picks. Harvin and Loadholt will determine whether this draft is a success. Harvin needs to remain healthy and stay on the field and both players need to stay out of trouble off the field. Other than these two, the Vikings added key role players with two of them having the chance to develop in starters later in their career. Grade: B+

2009 Draft Grades – Cleveland

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

The Browns made headines during the 2009 draft as traded down from their No. 5 overall selection several times before settling in with the No. 21 pick. Like new head coach Eric Mangini did with the Jets in 2006, he selected a center in the first round in California’s Alex Mack. One of the most polished center prospects to enter the draft in the past few years, Mack offers the Browns a reliable and consistent player who will team with Joe Thomas to provide Cleveland with a very talented and young offensive line to build around.

Thanks to their trading down, the Browns acquired two second round picks. Adding the two to their own second, the Browns selected Ohio State wide receiver Brian Robiskie, Georgia wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, and Hawaii defensive end David Veikune. I love the selections of Robiskie and Veikune. Robiskie was arguably the safest pick at the receiver position this year and figures to enter the starting lineup quickly upon his arrival. Veikune, a high-motor, extremely intense player, will move to outside linebacker in the Browns’ 3-4 defensive alignment. He has the tools needed to play quickly and he should provide the Browns with another much-needed pass rusher opposite Kamerion Wimbley. The Massaquoi pick was a good one, but I personally think that it was a round too early. I had him rated as a third-to-fourth round pick and there were other receivers on the board that I would have taken instead. He’s a good prospect, but he’s more of a work-in-progress than Robiskie.

In the fourth round Cleveland selected USC linebacker Kaluka Maiava. A versatile player who was overshadowed by the more well-known linebackers at USC, Maiava is an instinctive player who should provide depth in the team’s linebacker core. At the least, he’ll be a valuable backup and great special teams player. With their three sixth round picks the Browns went with Norfolk State cornerback Don Carey, San Jose State cornerback Coye Francies, and Clemson running back James Davis. A very smart cornerback who was a four-year starter in college, Carey has the tools needed to play in the NFL but may need some development as he adjusts to the pro level. Francies was a player that I was very high on. He likely fell in the draft due to his off-field concerns, however he has loads of talent and could be a steal in the sixth round. With Jamal Lewis aging, the James Davis pick makes a lot of sense, and given how he could get a decent amount of carries right off the bat, he could be another good value in the sixth round.

The Browns addressed their most-glaring needs in the draft while also adding quantity and quality with their picks. While some of the fans may have been made that they traded down 16 spots to draft a center, the move made sense for the franchise. Mack and Robiskie are nearly sure-things while the rest of their draft has a lot of upside. This was a solid draft class for Cleveland. Grade: B