Re: MSNBC's Grades <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Jets couldn?t ask for more with great draftSaints, Niners also picked well, while Bears, Bills, Bucs simply blow itThe true grades for any draft can't be turned in until several years pass because some expected big names will flop and some players from whom little is expected will become value picks. But one thing that's sure is the New York Jets' new tandem of general manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini thrived in their first draft.Picking fourth helps, of course. Tannenbaum and Mangini made choices to rebuild their team in the classic way ? adding the two top rated offensive linemen right away in Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Ohio State center Nick Mangold. That meant filling a need and ignoring the glamour pick in USC's Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Matt Leinart.And what's after getting the draft's two best offensive linemen? Get more depth on offense and defense.Story continues below ↓ advertisementConversely, the Buffalo Bills, the Jets' AFC East rivals, had the kind of draft that will have people scratching their heads for some time.Perhaps general manager Marv Levy and owner Ralph Wilson know what they're doing, but their first day drafting effort must be baffling western New York.The most intriguing draft goes to the Tennessee Titans. It could make general manager Floyd Reese a genius or make him a laughing stock. Reese gambled with his first two picks, which could be boom or bust.But when everything is re-graded in a couple years, some unexpected team may end up at the head of the class ? and someone else could go from valedictorian to a remedial class.Vote: Which teams did best, worst in the draft?A+New York JetsThe Jets did not give into temptation and passed on a quarterback at No. 4. They rebuilt their offensive line with the draft's two best offensive linemen. Ferguson should boost the offense, while Mangold, picked at No. 24, should replace departed Kevin Mawae. Along with free agent veteran Trey Teague, New York has done a tremendous job bolstering its offensive line in just one offseason. Then they came back and got solid value with Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens, Ohio State linebacker Anthony Schlegel and Michigan State safety Eric Smith, who was rising up most draft boards in the last few weeks.You couldn't ask for more than this if you're a Jets fan.ANew OrleansThe Saints couldn't have done much better ? they got the consensus No. 1 pick without owning top selection. USC running back Reggie Bush is a gamebreaker on grass and could be even better on turf. The second round choice of Alabama defensive back Roman Harper seemed to be a reach, but getting Bush makes it all worthwhile. He's a marquee star to sell to fans. And if they ever move to Los Angeles, it's a box office bonanza.San Francisco 49ersThe Niners made great use of their two No. 1s, getting two top 20 players in stellar Maryland tight end Vernon Davis at No. 6 overall and highly touted North Carolina State defensive end Manny Lawson at No. 22. They also filled a need with Wisconsin receiver Brandon Williams.A-Carolina PanthersNot bad with two top 40 players with the 27th and 58th picks. They got productive Memphis runner DeAngelo Williams and Fresno State defensive back Richard Marshall, who was considered a first-round talent, but dropped to the late second round.Cleveland BrownsCleveland put the Ravens' feet to the fire, extorting a sixth round pick from Baltimore to drop one spot so the Ravens could select Haloti Ngata. What Cleveland really wanted was Florida State pass rusher Kamerion Wimbley, so they got their man and an extra pick. They came back in round 2 and took a Maryland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson below where he was slotted by some teams, which could turn out to be a steal.Houston TexansNormally this draft would get an A but considering where they were picking (No. 1) they were capable of better work.The decision to bypass Reggie Bush to sign defensive end Mario Williams is one that they will never live down if Williams doesn't develop into a dominant pass rusher ? and even worse if Bush becomes a star. But they came back and did a nice job on the next two rounds when they drafted Alabama linebacker DeMeco Ryans and Miami offensive tackle Eric Winston, who could have been a second-round pick.Philadelphia EaglesThe Eagles did another outstanding drafting job, landing two top 25 players rated with their first- and second-round choices.Florida State defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley, an explosive force in the middle, was a surprise choice at No. 14 because most teams thought he'd be gone by then. Philly then grabbed USC's Winston Justice with the 39th pick. Justice has some off-field issues, but none when he's in shoulder pads. Then they topped things off with defensive end Chris Gocong from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. He's a guy a lot of teams were hoping to grab before the first day was out. This has the potential to be a great draft.A- ... or D-Tennessee TitansThis could be one of the most memorable drafts ever.The Titans took Texas quarterback Vince Young at No. 3 overall, bypassing USC's Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Matt Leinart. Most scouts think Leinart is more ready for the NFL, while Young could be a star down the road. Tennessee thinks Young has the potential to be even better than Steve McNair, which would make this an incredible pick. But if his odd throwing motion and lack of experience dropping back from under center (he mostly worked out of the shotgun at Texas) becomes something he can't overcome, general manager Floyd Reese will never live it down. Then they came right back in Round 2 and took another question mark in USC running back LenDale White.White was a possible first-round pick until he showed blew his combine workouts. His value plummeted even further when later showed up at the USC workouts with a hamstring injury. But he says teams should have looked at his production in games, in which he averaged 6.6 yards a carry. If they did, as the Titans obviously must have, you see a guy even forced Reggie Bush to share time. If Young and White fulfill their potential this could be a legendary draft. If they don't, it will be an infamous draft.B+Arizona CardinalsThey got the draft's second-rated quarterback with the 10th overall pick in USC's Matt Leinart. That alone is worth high grade because Kurt Warner is 36. Warner can now run the offense for a year and let Leinart learn before taking over one of the NFC's most explosive offenses. Then they came right back and took his teammate, USC guard Deuce Lutui, which gives them a big body to help shore up a big, but bad offensive line. If Leinart ends up being what some people project him to be it's an A draft.Baltimore RavensGeneral manager Ozzie Newsome got the guy his defense needed and middle linebacker Ray Lewis was demanding in Oregon nose tackle Haloti Ngata. Baltimore added Oklahoma center Chris Chester with the 48th pick, which was an excellent value.Denver BroncosDenver traded up and got a strong-armed quarterback in Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler, who some scouts think could end up being the draft's best. They also filled a need with Western Michigan's Tony Scheffler in the third round. What puts this draft into the elite class was trading their second round choice to the Packers for veteran receiver Javon Walker. He was far superior to any receiver in the draft, which lets them shore up three offensive positions in one day.Story continues below ↓ advertisementGreen Bay PackersThis was a very good draft day in Green Bay. The Packers got Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk, one of the draft's six elite players. More importantly they came right back and improved their offense with their next two selections, Boise State tackle Daryn Colledge and Western Michigan receiver Greg Jennings. Colledge went about where he was projected, while Jennings could end up being a steal. Green Bay sorely needed all three.Jacksonville JaguarsSolid job by James Harris and Jack Del Rio.They wanted a tight end to add to their offense and they got the second best in the draft in UCLA's Marcedes Lewis. They also need a backup for Fred Taylor, which turned out to be UCLA's Maurice Drew. They get extra credit for making the best use of jet fuel. Both players are from UCLA so they only need one plane to bring them both cross country.New England PatriotsBill Belichick drafted a running back for the first time since he was coaching the Browns and took "Touchdown'' Tommy Vardell. He shook off that disaster and got the draft's No. 2 rated runner in Minnesota's Laurence Maroney, who rushed for over 1,000 yards three straight seasons. He's a solid receiver and has better speed than incumbent Corey Dillon. They had no young back ready to step in for the aging Dillon, which makes it a key selection.They picked Florida's Chad Jackson in round 2, which should boost their receiving corps and save them money by not spending it on more expensive free agent receivers. Don't ask me why they drafted another tight end in Texas' David Thomas. They already have two former No. 1 picks there. Maybe he can long snap?Oakland RaidersThe Raiders got what they wanted most, defensive help and a big playmaker in Texas cornerback Michael Huff. Huff is in the mold of past Raider secondary people ? a big hitter who can change a game. Then they came back and took a highly rated linebacker, UTEP's Thomas Howard, who should also bring some toughness to a unit that needs it. Huff makes it a good day and Howard improves on it.New York GiantsWhat made the Giants' draft impressive on the first day was that they got value in excess of where they were picking in the first and second round. When last season began Boston College defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka was considered potentially a top 10 pick but he injured his knee at midseason and never fully recovered. He wasn't that effective in the Senior Bowl, while some question if he can put on enough weight or has enough speed to get around the end. Still, it's not a bad gamble at the end of the first round. Then they grabbed wide receiver Sinorice Moss late in round 2. This is not a great receiving class, but Moss was considered the third best of the bunch. He gives them a third weapon to add to Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer and a lot of speed. He also could help on returns. That's a good days work with a lot of potential upside for a team with few pressing needs.BAtlanta FalconsAtlanta did the best it could, landing Virginia Tech cornerback Jimmy Williams in the second round when most teams felt he had first round talent. Williams has off-field issues that he'll have to deal with, but he's big and fast, which is all the physical tools you can look for.MinnesotaThe Vikings had their eyes on linebacker help and Iowa's Chad Greenway in particular ? and got both. He's a good fit for their defensive style, which relies on athleticism more than power. Then they got a solid second round defensive back in Texas cornerback Cedric Griffin. The Vikings reached a bit grabbing New Mexico center Ryan Cook a round early, but fared well when they took Alabama State quarterback Tarvaris Jackson later in the second round. He is a developmental quarterback who needs work but some personnel men around the league see him as a diamond in the rough. He'll have some time to develop with the Vikings and a good coach to work with him in Brad Childress.Pittsburgh SteelersWhen you're drafting last it's never easy to help yourself but the Steelers did. They needed to replace receiver Antwaan Randle El both as a receiver and a return man. It took them two men to do it but they pulled it off with Ohio State's Santonio Holmes. And return specialist Willie Reed. Throw in safety Anthony Smith for depth and it's a solid draft.San Diego ChargersThis is a draft that could get a much higher grade in retrospect if their top two picks hold up physically. San Diego desperately needed to address two problem areas ? their secondary and their offensive line ? and they got two 30 players rated.Florida State cornerback Antonio Cromartie started only one college game last season because of a severe knee injury, but he seems to have recovered completely. He has great size and speed. Then they got Auburn tackle Marcus McNeill in round 2 and that could tremendous. McNeill was considered by some to be the best tackle prospect in college football a year ago but back and knee problems made him suspect. That's the only problem with this draft.St. Louis RamsThe Rams wanted either Broderick Bunkley or Clemson's Tye Hill. They gambled by trading down and lost Binkley. But they're OK with Hill. St. Louis seemed to reach a little bit with Colorado tight end Joe Klopfenstein of Colorado in the second round. He was projected as a late second rounder or early third. What made the pick more strange was taking USC tight end Dominique Byrd near the end of the third round. What was that all about? LSU defensive tackle Claude Wroten was a good pick later in the third, though. His talent warranted a higher selection but other problems made him a risk.Seattle SeahawksThey needed secondary help and some in speedy Miami safety Kelly Jennings. Many teams felt he's a second round value but the Seahawks needed a corner and he was the best one left so they took him. Who could blame them?They excellent value with Virginia Tech defensive end Darryl Tapp at the end of round 2. When you're picking next to last in each round you can't be too choosy. B- is pretty good all things considered.C+Indianapolis ColtsThe Colts felt they had to get a back to replace Edgerrin James on the first round, which they did with LSU's Joseph Addai. He may prove to be productive, but many teams felt he was a second-round value and the fourth-best back available. Georgia defensive back Tim Jennings later in round 2 seemed like a reach.Indianapolis needs secondary help but there were better defensive backs still on the board and they ignored them. They get slightly above average grade only because they filled their primary need first.Cincinnati BengalsThe Bengals did a good job of helping their secondary by grabbing New Haven cornerback Johnathan Joseph at No. 24 overall, which was a little later than he'd been projected. They seemed to reach a bit for LSU tackle Andrew Whitworth in round 2 because he was projected to be a third round value. Still, if Joseph improves their suspect secondary and Whitworth aids their team depth, the Bengals will move close to becoming an elite team.Detroit LionsAt least they didn't take a wide receiver on the first round again.In fact, new coach Rod Marinelli desperately wanted Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims and they got him at ninth overall. They think he's the next Derrick Brooks. The second-round choice of Nebraska defensive back Daniel Bullocks seemed like an unnecessary reach.CDallas CowboysDallas got predicted value with both picks, taking Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter with the 18th overall pick, which was just about where he was rated, and then got the same kind of value in round 2 when they drafted Notre Dame tight end Anthony Fasano. Carpenter makes a young and improving defense a little stronger, but one has to wonder why they didn't go after a tackle in the second round to help improve suspect offensive line that caused quarterback Drew Bledsoe to feel some pain last year.Kansas City ChiefsThe Chiefs made some odd choices. They wanted at least two defensive players out of their first three picks and got Big Ten sack leader Tamba Hali of Penn State at 20 overall and Purdue defensive back Bernard Pollard in round 2. But a higher-rated pass rusher like Manny Lawson was still available and they passed on him. Why? Hali ran a sub-standard 4.86 40 and was weaker than expected at the combine.Miami DolphinsThey got a safety with a questionable hip in Tennessee cornerback Jason Allen with the 16th pick. If that hip falls out of the socket again, as some team doctors predict it will, you don't have to say anything else about this draft. Miami didn't have a second-round selection and grabbed Arizona State receiver Derek Hagan in round 3. Allen is a big risk, but has nice upside if he stays healthy. That's a big risk with a chance to bolster other areas with safer selections.DBuffalo BillsIf you show up you at least get a passing grade but that's the best you can say for the Bills.They overreached by taking Ohio State safety Donte Whitner at No. 8 overall, when they could have traded down and still gotten him. Then traded for another first-round pick to select North Carolina State defensive tackle John McCargo with the 26th pick. That would have been fine ? 30 picks later. Marv Levy looked like what he was Saturday ? a guy running his first draft at the age of 80.Tampa Bay BuccaneersThe Bucs did something very difficult to do.They got a second-round value in the first round and a third-round value in the second round. Strange. Oklahoma tackle Davin Joseph was selected No. 23 overall. Most other teams saw him as a second-round choice. Then they grabbed Boston College tackle Jeremy Trueblood in the second round and NOBODY projected him to go that high. They did address major needs with those picks, but why waste them? Ohio State center Nick Mangold, rated as a far superior player, was still available in the first round.D-Chicago BearsThey showed up late for class, trading out of the first round when they chose not to pick at No. 26. General manager Jerry Angelo didn't like his first-round options, but went with Abilene Christian defensive back Danieal Manning in Round 2 about 10 picks ahead of where he was slated. If we didn't know better we'd think Angelo was still trying to submarine the coach he didn't want, Dick Jauron, rather than trying to help the one he hired, Lovie Smith.IncompleteWashington RedskinsThey seem to get this every year because they never have a first-round pick or, if they do, they don't have anything else. This time the only pick they made Saturday was Miami linebacker Roger McIntosh in the second round. Now they don't pick until the fifth round. That's about as incomplete as a draft can be.Ron Borges writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the NFL and boxing for the Boston Globe.</div>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12552901/You knew I had to find the one where the Jets were on top.
Re: MSNBC's Grades I really liked the Titans draft day. If Landel and Young can become as good as they can be (which i think they will) this could be really exciting.
