6. WR Julio Jones A

I’m not hating the Falcons move to move up as much as everyone seems to be. After Jones, this wide receiver class falls off a cliff and what did they really give up? They gave up the 27^th pick, a future first which will probably be in the late 20s again, their 2^nd, and 2 4ths. That’s worth it in my book and Jones fills a huge need for the Falcons, getting a receiver opposite Roddy White.

91. MLB Akeem Dent F

A middle linebacker? That wasn’t a need. I had a 7^th round grade on Dent too. How about a pass rusher? Some offensive line help. Really anything over this one.

145. RB Jacquizz Rodgers A

Rodgers was a great value here and fits their needs like a glove. Michael Turner can’t pass catch and he’s wearing down. Rodgers has the speed and pass catching ability to compliment Michael Turner and Jason Snelling.

192. P Matt Bosher D

I didn’t have Bosher as my top rated punter. He wasn’t even close. He was the only punter drafted, so it’s ridiculous they would take a punter before a single tight end, defensive end, or offensive lineman.

210. G Andrew Jackson A

Both of their starting guards are free agents so depth was definitely needed here. Jackson fits the scheme like a glove and he is a good value at this point.

230. DE Casey Matthews A

Defensive end was one of their biggest needs after wide receiver and Matthews is a good value at this point. I wish they would have addressed this earlier.

Overall:

I actually really like their decision to move up for Julio Jones. They did give up a lot, but they didn’t need 5 players. They needed one really good player and Jones, my 4^th overall prospect, fits that description. Jones is well coached and NFL ready coming out of Nick Saban’s Alabama program. He gives them speed in their receiving corps to compliment Roddy White, arguably the best pure possession receiver in the league. Remember, they didn’t complete a pass longer than 46 yards last year and that lack of big play ability made to tough for them to come back against Green Bay and Philadelphia, two teams with big time big play ability. He’s also going to help their running game as a blocker and this offense is built on the run. That’s worth what they gave up, which was two late first rounders, a 2^nd, and 2 4ths. However, after giving up their 2^nd rounder, they really needed to get an impact defensive end in the 3^rd round. I think that was their last chance to do so, to give them a pass rusher opposite John Abraham. They didn’t do that. Instead, they reached big time for a middle linebacker that they didn’t need. They made up for that with some nice picks late. I think Jacquizz Rodgers fits their needs like a glove and gives their offense a much needed extra dimension as a breakaway back with pass catching abilities. Andrew Jackson gives them valuable depth at guard and Casey Matthews, as an end, was a good value in the 7^th. However, I don’t think they got a future starter at end out of this class, someone to spell Kroy Bierrmann on passing downs and to take over for John Abraham when his time comes. I also don’t understand the Matt Bosher pick. Only one punter was drafted this year and there’s a reason for that. With the lockout postponing free agency, teams had so many other things to worry about. I also didn’t think Bosher was even close to being the top punter in this class.

Grade: B

The Atlanta Falcons had an excellent regular season. They won 13 games, winning the division over the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints, who happen to be their closest rival. They also beat the Saints once in New Orleans. Matt Ryan took the from good quarterback to great quarterback in the eyes on many, leading the 13-3 Falcons with a 62.5% completion percentage, 6.5 YPA, and 28 touchdowns to 9 picks. However, they still didn’t win a playoff game and they didn’t just fall short in the first round. They got their asses handed to them 48-21 at home against the Packers.

Before I break down that game, let’s go to week 16. The Falcons sit at 12-2, tied with the Patriots for best record in the league, ready to face the New Orleans Saints. A win would give them a sweep over their talented division rivals and clinch them the division. It would also improve Matt Ryan’s home record to 20-1 in his career, an amazing feat.

However, they lost. That revealed two things. One, you could beat the Falcons in Atlanta. It was possible. Two, this team is conservative to a fault. Down 3 with less than 3 minutes to go, the Falcons decided to punt to the Saints, hoping their defense would get them the ball back for a shot to win it. Drew Brees had other ideas. Of course he did. He’s Drew Brees. You have to fight fire with fire. The Falcons didn’t do that. They lost.

The Falcons mantra for winning games. Run the ball (497 attempts, 5^th in the league), convert 3^rd downs (46.7% 3^rd in the league), control the ball (1074 plays run, tops in the league), play good defense (18 points per game allowed, 5^th in the league), don’t turn the ball over (17 turnovers, 3^rd in the league), only attempt makeable 4^th downs (73.3% 4^th down percentage, tops in league), move the chains (353 first downs, 4^th in league). It works great when you’re ahead. Not so well when you’re behind. It leads to a lot of 7 point or fewer wins, (7 of their 13), but also a few double digit loss (Philadelphia 31-17).

That Philadelphia game actually foreshadowed their loss to Green Bay. Philadelphia, like Green Bay, is a down the field, vertical offense that can make you play from behind. Green Bay did that and won 48-21. The Falcons didn’t have an answer down multiple score. They hadn’t completed a pass of longer than 46 yards all year. They didn’t have a deep threat. Matt Ryan didn’t have the cannon arm that Aaron Rodgers had. They didn’t even seem to have the plays in the playbook to get big yards. They lost.

2010 Record: 13-3

Draft Position: 27

2010 Season Recap: Click Here

Offseason Needs: Click Here

Free Agents/Team Transactions: Click Here

Draft Grades: Click Here

Key Offseason Moves: None

Defensive End/Rush Linebacker

USC

6-3 273

40 time: 4.64

Draft board overall prospect rank: #25

Draft board defensive end rank: #3

Overall rating: 85* 

            3/28/10: Everson Griffen has had the eyes of the scouts glued to him since he was a freshman at USC. He was an amazing athlete with possible 4.5 speed at 6-3 260, who had 5 sacks, despite making two starts only, as a true freshman in 2007. He was being compared to Vernon Gholston who had recent been drafted 6^th overall with similar measurables. However, neither he nor Vernon Gholston ever lived up to their hype and as a result, many scouts have gone sour on Griffen. Instead of being a top 10 pick lock, Griffen may not even go in the first round and if he does, it’ll be on the strength of his 4.64 speed at 6-3 273 and his athletic upside rather than the 11 sacks he had in the last two years as a starter since that eye opening freshman. I will not deny the upside because that would be impossible, but he could be a huge risk as a first round pick. The tape doesn’t match the measurables and the upside so he’s a major boom or bust prospect. He’s an extremely fluid athlete with experience and past comfortably dropping into coverage so he may be able to play rush linebacker, despite his added weight, though I am no longer so sure. He did add the extra weight, but that didn’t help his game as much as it should have. He lacks consistency, awareness, instincts and an elite motor. He doesn’t have work ethic issues, but his work ethic and his effort and motor are not the greatest which limits his potential to capitalize on his upside. He struggles when run at, despite his size, and often looks disinterested against the run. His pass rushing repertoire is very raw, like the rest of him. He is inexperienced. He lacks elite hand use and good leverage and he may end up being just a situational rusher at the next level. He doesn’t disengage from blockers very easily and looks very demotivated by blockers. He’s excellent in space and when holes are freed up for him, but he doesn’t free up a lot of space for himself often. He’s very comfortable and fast in pursuit of a back to the outside and has excellent chase speed. He’s certainly one of the more interesting NFL Draft prospects from this draft class, but he’s really boom or bust.

NFL Comparison: Will Smith

*For a breakdown of what this means, click here

Evan Mathis was actually ProFootballFocus’ #1 rated guard last season, though that’s a bit misleading. He’s had trouble with injuries and inconsistencies in his career in the past so there’s no guarantee he’ll be even close to the #1 guard next season. Because he’s not established, I wouldn’t even call him an elite guard.

However, he’s certainly got potential and he’s a great fit for Howard Mudd’s scheme in Philadelphia so getting him at 5 million per year (5 years 25 million) is quite a bargain, especially when you look at what other guards got (Ben Grubbs got 5 years 36 million, Carl Nicks got 5 years 47.5 million). And if Mathis regresses or gets hurt, they only owe him 7 million guaranteed. I love this deal.

Grade: A

Trade for Lions: Interesting deal. I like Tony Scheffler as a player. However, the Lions just spent the 20^th overall pick on Brandon Pettigrew last year (over a potential franchise left tackle guy like Michael Oher nonetheless). Yes, Pettigrew is a great blocker and Scheffler is a great pass catcher and you can use them in that way, but do you really want to make the 20^th pick in the 2009 draft a run blocking primarily. Plus, they lose Ernie Sims, one of their best defensive players, in the process. Sims probably would have left as a free agent next offseason, but still. It’s not like they’re not losing a talented player. Overall, I don’t like the idea of moving your 2009 1^st round pick tight end to the role of a primary run blocking tight end and losing one of your best defensive players in exchange for an upgrade at the pass catching tight end position and a 7^th rounder.

Grade: C

Deal for Broncos: What is Josh McDaniels doing? He has gotten rid of pretty much every talented player the Broncos had when he came in! Tony Scheffler is no Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez, but he had 89 catches for 1194 yards and 8 touchdowns in the two years prior to last year, before his stats dipped (as did everyone’s) in Josh McDaniels’ brilliant offensive scheme. What do the Broncos really accomplish by moving up from the 7^th to the 5^th round (other than once again making me change my mock draft)? Who is Kyle Orton going to throw to next year. Brandon Marshall is gone. Tony Scheffler is gone. This whole offensive unit is going to struggle next year and their defensive unit isn’t too great either. They good be really bad next year.

Grade: D

Deal for Eagles: In the words of Dick Vitale, I absolutely love it! (randomly flails hands in air) I love the idea of getting a starting caliber player for a 5^th round pick. What were they going to do with that 5^th rounder anyway? Ernie Sims is not a star player, but he plays a position that doesn’t require stars for your team to be a good team. Teams can have good defenses with average caliber linebackers and Sims is a huge upgrade at weakside linebacker over anyone on the roster or anyone they could have gotten in the 5^th round of the draft. At the end of the day, this is all about value and adding starting caliber players for cheap, both of which are things I love.

Grade: A

Erin Henderson might be the single most underrated player in the league. In his first year as a starter, he ended up grading out as the 4^th best 4-3 outside linebacker on ProFootballFocus. Most of the league hasn’t really caught up to that yet because there’s only so much tape you can watch (meanwhile ProFootballFocus watches every snap of every game), but Henderson really is a good one.

He was only a 2 down run stuffer last season, but only two outside linebackers (Von Miller and Jarret Johnson) graded out as better against the run at his position. This year he’s expected to become a 3 down player as his teammate and brother EJ Henderson is not expected back and he could move to middle linebacker. He might not be capable of that, but for 2 million over 1 year, he’s an absolute bargain even if he remains a 2 down run stuffer for the whole season.

Grade: A

Well, the Buccaneers needed a cornerback. That’s about where this one stops making sense. Eric Wright isn’t very good. Ask Browns and Lions fans. There’s a reason he was available on a one year deal for the Lions last offseason. There’s a reason the Lions weren’t too eager to resign him.

Despite having one of the best front 7s in front of him last season, Wright ranked 105 of 109 eligible cornerbacks by ProFootballFocus last season, allowing a completion percentage of 62.5%, 7.0 YPA, 5 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions, all while ranking below average against the run. He was actually thrown on more than any cornerback in the league except Jabari Greer, being thrown on 120 times. How exactly is he worth 37.5 million over 5 with 15.5 million guaranteed?

Grade: F

There were questions about Winston’s ability to play left tackle, but the Chiefs are paying him right tackle type money to be their right tackle, where they have a huge need. Winston is one of the better right tackles in the league (11^th rated offensive tackle, 4^th rated right tackle by ProFootballFocus) so 4 years, 22 million is very reasonable for him, especially in a weak offensive tackle market that just give Jeff Backus 5 million per year.

With right tackle shored up, nose tackle is their biggest non-quarterback need. In fact, it’s their only big non-quarterback need after the Winston signing and the Hillis signing. That could signal that Dontari Poe will be the pick at 11, but it could also signal that they are planning a move up for Ryan Tannehill. The Chiefs pick at 11 and would only have to move up to 7 to leapfrog Miami for him. That would cost them their 2^nd round pick, but it might be worth it.

Matt Cassel is not a long term option and I don’t expect much from Brady Quinn. I really hope he was just signed to compete with Ricky Stanzi and Tyler Palko for the #3 quarterback job and the Chiefs are still planning to add a young quarterback  early in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Grade: A