5. CB Patrick Peterson A

Peterson is my top prospect and fills a need at cornerback opposite Domonique Rodgers Cromartie. Getting my top prospect at #5 and filling a need at the same time is a good thing in my book.

38. RB Ryan Williams C-

This one doesn’t make any sense. Beanie Wells is a talented player who has struggled so far in his career, but poor blocking and poor quarterback play last year may be to blame for that. I don’t know if Williams will fare any better if they don’t fix their offensive line or their quarterback play. Obviously, given this year’s quarterback class, quarterback here would have been a mistake, but offensive line would have made a ton of sense here. Benjamin Ijalana would have been a great pick. Williams also doesn’t give Wells a complimentary backup because Tim Hightower does a nice job in that role. I don’t see where Williams fits.

69. TE Rob Housler B

Tight end has been a need position for years for them, but Housler is a minor reach and, again, I think this pick could have been better used on an offensive lineman. They allowed 50 sacks last year and offensive line is one of the toughest positions to address in free agency.

103. RLB Sam Acho A

Acho should have been off the board in the 2^nd round. Getting him in the 4^th is highway robbery. If they didn’t look different, I wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference between him and Brooks Reed at the Senior Bowl and Reed went 2 rounds earlier. Oh, and Acho fills a major need at rush linebacker.

136. FB Anthony Sherman C+

Fullback was a need, but there were better fullbacks available and this team has other needs, offensive line in particular. This team isn’t in a position as a franchise to take a luxury pick at fullback this early.

171. MLB Quan Sturdivant A

Sturdivant should have come off the board in the 4^th round, but came off here to Arizona in the 6^th. They need a long term replacement for Paris Lenon and I think Sturdivant can mature into that.

184. 3-4 DE David Carter B-

Defensive line depth wasn’t their biggest need, but Carter fits the range.

249. WR DeMarco Sampson A

Larry Fitzgerald says he misses having Anquan Boldin opposite him. Steve Breaston does better in the slot and neither Early Doucet nor Andre Roberts have stepped up as future starters. Sampson has the upside with his measurables to become that starter and if he doesn’t, who cares, it’s a 7^th rounder.

Overall:

My only problem with this draft is they didn’t address the offensive line at all. They gave up 50 sacks last year and if they want to sign a veteran like Marc Bulger when they can, they need to protect him well otherwise he’ll start having Vietnam flashbacks. Offensive linemen are really tough to find in free agency. However, I loved their first round selection and I loved adding Sam Acho and Quan Sturdivant in the 4^th and 6^th respectively at positions of need. I liked what they did in the 7^th round and other than the Ryan Williams selection, I didn’t hate any of their picks. If they had taken Ijalana over Williams, this draft would have probably been an A. Clint Boling in the 3^rd over Rob Housler would have been a good decision too, but I like Housler and how he fits in the offense.

Grade: B