Draft Grades

[mngolf19]

i really don't think the bears had that great of a draft

I agree with you. I thought after day one that the Bears perhaps had one of the worst drafts to that point. They did improve it a little on day two...but it was still a relatively mediocre draft for the Bears IMO.

I've been thinking that too. How could anyone think the Bears draft was good? I wouldn't put it any better than Det and that wasn't great either.

[Patler]

Kind of funny. Writers aren't too quick to give the Packers a low grade on the draft now. You see a lot of comments like this now: "but it’s hard to rip him for a methodology that has worked in the bigger picture". This was from Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.

Green Bay Packers
Picks: WR Jordy Nelson, QB Brian Brohm, DB Pat Lee, TE Jermichael Finley, DL Jeremy Thompson, OL Josh Sitton, OL Breno Giacomini, QB Matt Flynn, WR Brett Swain
Positives: Nelson, Brohm, Lee, Flynn
Negatives: No tackles drafted until the fourth and fifth round.
Bottom line: B. GM Ted Thompson was active as usual and produced a robust class size of nine picks. He once again used his first pick on a position that didn’t seem to be a huge need (wideout), but it’s hard to rip him for a methodology that has worked in the bigger picture. Getting Brohm so late in the second round is a coup. He’ll create competition with Aaron Rodgers, and if they both develop well, the Packers have some capital at the position for future trades. Flynn likely won’t make the team but is good value late. Overall, it was a good class for depth.

What makes me chuckle about "analysis" like this one, is that the positives were who the Packers picked in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, but the negative was not drafting O-linemen until the 4th and 5th round. So what were the Packers supposed to do, draft the guys they did in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, AND draft a bunch of linemen in those same rounds?

How can you give them a positive for what they did in certain rounds and a negative for what they didn't do in those same rounds?

[GrnBay007]

By Pete Prisco
CBSSports.com Senior Writer


Green Bay Packers

Best pick: Taking quarterback Brian Brohm in the second round will turn out to be a great pick. He will be the starter in a few years.

Questionable move: They drafted Kansas State receiver Jordy Nelson in the second round, higher than most expected. There were also some bigger-name receivers still on the board.

Second-day gem: Fourth-round pick Jeremy Thompson, a defensive end out of Wake Forest, can help liven up the pass rush.

Overall grade: B-. The pick of Brohm brings their grade up. They did add some depth and competition at positions (OL, TE, CB) that needed it.

Minnesota Vikings

Best pick: I love the selection of Arkansas State safety Tyrell Johnson in the second round. He is that speedy safety all teams want.

Questionable move: Trading their first-round pick to get Jared Allen, who has off-the-field issues. What happens if there is a misstep?

Second-day gem: If defensive tackle Letroy Guion can get his weight in check, he could be a steal in the fifth round.

Overall grade: B. Johnson helps the defense and fifth-round pick John David Booty might end up pushing Tarvaris Jackson for the starting quarterback job.

Chicago Bears

Best pick: Third-round pick Marcus Harrison will become a force in the middle of their defense. Some off-field issues prevented him from being a higher selection.

Questionable move: Taking tackle Chris Williams with the 14th pick in the first round came after several teams took him off their boards for medical reasons (back). Chicago better hope that doesn't become a problem.

Second-day gem: I love tight end Kellen Davis, whom the Bears selected in the fifth round. He's a strong, athletic player.

Overall grade: B+. Aside from the questions about Williams, they did a nice job. Harrison will make this draft.

Detroit Lions

Best pick: They have issues at running back, so trading up in the third round to take Central Florida's Kevin Smith was a nice move.

Questionable move: They took Boston College tackle Gosder Cherlius in the first round instead of Jeff Otah, who was still on the board.

Second-day gem: Third-round pick Cliff Avril, a pass rusher from Purdue, is the kind of edge player Rod Marinelli likes.

Overall grade: B+. Give credit to Matt Millen. He added a lot of good football players in this draft. He had a lot of picks and did a nice job with them.

[hoosier]

so, nfl reports that a paper was reporting that chris williams had a serious neck injury and that because of that some teams were taking him off their boards

he did slip, and the bears scarfed him up, he quickly laughed and said there is no problem with his neck

the source of the original story?

the chicago sun times

is this not the biggest pussiest bullshit move you've heard of?

those fucks down there have no class what-so-ever, they'll stoop to any level to try and win

Considering how much time and money NFL teams invest in scouting, I have a hard time believing that a media rumor would have any effect on how teams look at a player at draft time. If a team considering picking him had concerns about a serious injury they could always have their doctors start poking and prodding.

[Badgerinmaine]

From draftseason.com:
***************************

Green Bay Packers
Packers didn't waste any time giving Aaron Rodgers some competition by adding 2 quality quarterbacks in Brohm and Flynn. Jermichael Finley was a great pick in round 3 and could be one of the steals of the draft.
FINAL GRADE: B

Chicago Bears
Chris Williams was the right choice in round 1 as he can add some youth to an aging offensive line. Forte and Earl Bennett were solid additions to their offense as well. They found value throughout the entire draft but it's almost shocking that they didn't address the quarterback position.
FINAL GRADE: B

Detroit Lions
Millen made another interesting pick when he took Gosder Cherilus over Jeff Otah, only time will tell how that works out. The Lions then reached for Jordan Dizon in round 2, and made another iffy pick when they took Kevin Smith over Jamaal Charles. They got a nice pass rusher in Cliff Avril in the 3rd, and the rest of their draft was suspect.
FINAL GRADE: D+

Minnesota Vikings
When you add Jared Allen their already solid draft it was a great 2 days for the Vikings. Tyrell Johnson was rated by many as the top safety in the draft. USC quarterback John David booty will be very interesting to watch compete with Jackson in training camp.
FINAL GRADE: A-

Top grade for the pack I have seen so far is from Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times, who gives Green Bay a B+. But yeah, it's a little early to judge...

[HarveyWallbangers]

So, when looking back, will Ryan Grant get added to the grade for last year's draft or this year's draft. They made the trade last year, but they used this year's 6th round pick.

[Badgerinmaine]

Wait, there is a higher grade for the Packers from NBCSports.com:
Green Bay Packers

GM Ted Thompson knows what he’s doing. The Packers used their usual best-player-available strategy at No. 36 (receiver Jordy Nelson) and No. 56 (quarterback Brian Brohm), and came away with a solid cornerback prospect (Auburn’s Patrick Lee) at the end of the second round. Porter is experience in press-man coverage.

Third-round tight end Jermichael Finley can stretch the field. Defensive end Jeremy Thompson should replace Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila as a situational pass rusher by 2010. LSU quarterback Matt Flynn, who the Packers nabbed in round seven, was a worthwhile investment that late.

Grade: A-
*****************
That was highest in the division.

[Tarlam!]

I find it disgusting that the critics are valuing Jared Allen and ignoring Ryan Grant when dealing out their grades.

So what, we pe picked two QBs. Big fuckin' deal. We also picked a starting RB with our 6th round pick.

[Brohm]

Yeah. it's funny how EVERY grade/report out there fails to mention that. If the add the Allen trade in to the Vikings, they should add the Grant pick-up. Hell, Grant has already played for us as well....

Guess we'll just have to go 13-3 again :P

[sheepshead]

Grading a draft carries as much folly as predicting one.

[Carolina_Packer]

I heard on Mike and Mike, but have not read Peter King's MMQB column where he says regarding the Bears not choosing a QB that it wasn't just curious, it was negligent. Perhaps Angelo knows something the critics don't. If they struggle at QB this year, who will they have to blame? Rex? Orton? Angelo...yes. I'm not saying that a rookie is going to be better, but the draft is about the future, so how's that future at QB looking right now Bears fans? Geez, you could have stolen the kid from KY who ended up going to the Giants. I have no idea if he fits the Bears offense, but come on, do something.

[sheepshead]

I heard on Mike and Mike, but have not read Peter King's MMQB column where he says regarding the Bears not choosing a QB that it wasn't just curious, it was negligent. Perhaps Angelo knows something the critics don't. If they struggle at QB this year, who will they have to blame? Rex? Orton? Angelo...yes. I'm not saying that a rookie is going to be better, but the draft is about the future, so how's that future at QB looking right now Bears fans? Geez, you could have stolen the kid from KY who ended up going to the Giants. I have no idea if he fits the Bears offense, but come on, do something.

The Bears wouldn't know a QB if a Montana,Favre,Unitas,Starr clone was made for them. As Napoleon said, Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake.

[Scott Campbell]

Maybe we should start grading the analysts.

[Scott Campbell]

Kiper - F
Mortenson - D-
Clayton - F+
Pascarelli - D
PFW - D-
PFT - F+
William Henderson - B+

[Patler]

Maybe we should start grading the analysts.

Now THAT is a great idea for an in depth article by some aspiring writer. Analyze the analysts over the last 10 years. Analyze the "grades" they have given to the teams.