What is the difference between drafting smart and overvalueing a player and reaching? The answer is simple it is draft quality. It is easy to believe because your team got some really well known highly talented player by trading up and giving up half their draft picks that they got a great deal. The truth is trading up very rarely turns out to benefit the team moving up. Many times the team overpays for a player they could have had half a round or even a full round later. Below I have listed this years draft winners and losers and my grades for each team.
Winners:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
John Gruden must have some secret knowledge no other NFL coach has. He came into this years draft and found himself a list of steals. Gruden said he wanted to add playmakers to his team and with following picks he definately did so. In the first round Tampa took Corner Aqib Talib from Kansas. Talib is easily one of the top five corners in this years draft and fits perfectly in the tampa two scheme. Second Round pick Dexter Jackson was a slight reach based on his projection but for a player who could very easily be the next Devin Hester with better hands it was well worth it. Jackson runs a 4.3 forty yard dash and has surprisingly good hands. His size may limit him in the NFL at 5'10" 182 pounds but he will at least be very dangerous from the slot and a threat to take kicks and punts all the way. In the third Gruden picked Rutgers offensive guard Jeremy Zuttah. A four year starter at Rutgers Zuttah is very technically sound blocking and could be a good starter in a couple of years. Dre Moore from Maryland went to Tampa in the fourth adding depth on the defensive line. In the fifth round Gruden got his quarterback of the future Josh Johnson. Gruden had been scouting Johnson for some time and was very high on him. Josh is the biggest steal of this years draft. He is a very smart quarterback with a good arm and incredible athletic ability. He could be the new starter within the next two years. Sixth round pick Geno Hayes from Florida State could a very good special teams player and backup. Running Back Cory Boyd from South Carolina Gruden's final pick has the quickness and balance to be a potential starter and a complete steal.
In only seven picks Tampa likely added at least three starters you can't really ask for more from one draft.
Draft Grade A+
Cincinatti Bengals
We all know how high powered the offense is in Cincinatti but we also know how thin their linebacker corp and defensive line are. Cinci came into this years draft looking for playmakers to help their struggling defense. Their First pick number nine overall was linebacker Keith Rivers. Rivers is an extremely gifted athlete with a nose for the football. He seems to always be around the play and helping make big plays happen for the defense. He will definately help the Bengals pass rush and run defense improve. Second round pick Jerome Simpson has all the tools to a great wide reciever. With Chad Johnson throwing fits and asking to be traded the Bengals had no choice but to look for insurance in the event he were to hold out or leave. Simpson doesnt have blazing speed but he has great hands and good size and will fight for every jump ball. Third round pick Pat Sims adds much needed talent to cinci's defensive line. Wide receiver Andre Caldwell is a nice depth pick and could be a very good special teams player. Offensive tackle Anthony Collins is a very underrated and talented young lineman bringing starter ability to the table. Defensive linemen Jason Shirley and Deangelo Craig are very good depth picks and both have good talent and starter potential. Safety Corey Lynch could be a real steal late he has great ball instincts and is a very good tackler. He has all the tools to be a good starting strong safety at the least he will a pro bowl caliber special teams player. Wide Receiver Mario Uruttia has tremendous size and good speed and could be a dangerous red zone threat.
Draft Grade A
St Louis Rams
The Rams may be one of the most improved teams of this years draft.
The obvious need for upgrades at several positions had to come through the draft. With thier first pick St Louis took defensive end Chris Long.
The son of NFL hall of famer Howie Long. Chris is probably the best defensive players to come out of a draft since Mario Williams. He was the clear team leader of the Virginia defense in
