14. DT Michael Brockers B+

Somewhere Sam Bradford just retired. In all seriousness, I have no problem with the Rams trading down again. They turned the 2^nd overall pick into the 14^th overall pick, 2 1sts and 2 2nds. That’s not a bad haul. I probably would have just gone ahead and taken Claiborne because of the fact that there were generally 6 consensus blue chip prospects in this draft class, but you can’t fault a bad team with a lot of needs for trading down. At 14, an offensive player like Riley Reiff or David DeCastro would have made more sense, but defensive tackle was definitely a need and Brockers is a solid value at 14.

33. WR Brian Quick C+

Brian Quick? With Stephen Hill, Rueben Randle, Ryan Broyles, and Mohamed Sanu all still on the board? At least it was a need, but Quick never stood out to me on tape at Appalachian State. He’s athletic, but really raw and I don’t think he helps Bradford a whole lot right away. At least they got the position right.

39. CB Janoris Jenkins B+

Janoris Jenkins is the classic boom or bust pick. Normally I give those picks a C (an average between an A and an F), but the 2^nd round is a fine spot for a pick like that. Jenkins also fills a need at cornerback.

50. RB Isaiah Pead C

Pead will be a good compliment to Steven Jackson and will help take some of the load off of him right away. However, he won’t carry a load. He’s just a pass catcher/blocker, change of pass back, with return ability. I had him as a 4^th round prospect for this reason. He fills somewhat of a need for the Rams, but they’ll probably still be looking for a lead back of the future to pair with Pead next season because Jackson probably doesn’t have a lot left in the tank.

65. S Trumaine Johnson B-

Another defensive back? Well they do need a safety and Johnson can play safety and cornerback. This was a little early for him in my book and I’d like to see them focus more on protecting Sam Bradford and getting him receivers. This is a C+ if they keep him at cornerback because that’s less of a need after the Jenkins pick, but a B if he was drafted as a safety because he could end up being the long term starter there. I’ll just average those two grades out and get a B-.

96. WR Chris Givens A

I actually like Givens more than Quick. I had him higher on my board. He might just be a slot receiver at the next level, but he’s got excellent speed to burn and he’s a great route runner. He’s a very similar player to AJ Jenkins, who the 49ers got at 30 and he’ll help Bradford right away. I had a 2^nd/3^rd round grade on him so this is an excellent value.

150. G Rokevious Watkins B-

At least the Rams finally addressed their offensive line. I had a 7^th round grade on Watkins though so this is a little early. I don’t think he can emerge as a starter at the position, which is something they need. Offensive line will probably be their biggest need in 2013, probably a tackle unless both Smith and Saffold bounce back. Either of those two players can play guard.

171. K Greg Zuerlien B-

I didn’t have Zuerlien as a draftable prospect and I don’t think Josh Brown, who was cut after this pick, was that bad of a kicker.

209. OLB Aaron Brown B

I didn’t have Brown in my top 250, but this is a 7^th round pick so I can’t hate on it. At least it was a need.

252. RB Daryl Richardson B

Another back? Well they did need depth I guess, but I didn’t have Richardson in my top 250. Again, it’s just a 7^th round pick.

The Rams know they’re in a 3 year rebuilding process so it was really smart getting all of those future picks for the 2^nd overall pick. I even sort of liked that they traded down again and grabbed another 2^nd round pick given all of their needs. However, I thought there were better options than Brockers and Quick, who they took with their first 2 picks. I also thought Isaiah Pead was a reach in the 2^nd and I didn’t like that they waited until the 5^th to address the offensive line. I think the Jenkins gamble was worth it and Trumaine Johnson could emerge as a starter at safety. Their best pick was Chris Givens in the 4^th. Their picks were a mixed bag, which should be a C/C+, but they set themselves up nicely for the future getting 2 1sts from Washington so I’m giving them a B.

Grade: B

35. RLB Courtney Upshaw A

The Ravens like to trade down when they pick in the late 1^st round. It makes a lot of sense. They don’t fall in love with prospects and positions of need so they know they can get a prospect they have 1^st round grade on in the early 2^nd round. Meanwhile, they know bad teams picking in the early 2^nd will be desperate to move up and get another 1^st rounder. They could have gotten Upshaw at 29 and it would have been a good pick. This is even better. He adds a team who surprisingly only had one player with more than 5.5 sacks last year (Terrell Suggs).

60. G Kelechi Osemele A

Guard was a major need for the Ravens. Osemele is a great value in the late 2^nd round and should be their week 1 starter at guard as a replacement for Ben Grubbs.

84. RB Bernard Pierce C+

This pick I didn’t get as much. I know they wanted another back behind Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce can serve in Willis McGahee’s only role, but it’s not like Rice wasn’t capable of carrying the load by himself. He did it last year. Anthony Allen could be a decent backup and they could have spent a later pick on this position or added a veteran in free agency (Cedric Benson, Ryan Grant, Joseph Addai). For what it’s worth, Pierce fits the range.

Also, this pisses me off as a fantasy football player because it takes away from Rice’s value as Pierce will, at the very least, take away the short yardage carries. Pierce had 27 touchdowns in 11 games at Temple last year, so I guess he’ll be good in that role, but I’m still not sure he’s worth a 3^rd rounder. If he only carries the ball 100 times like Ricky Williams did last year, he wasn’t worth this pick. However, any more and he’s just stealing carries from one of the best backs in the league.

98. G Gino Gradkowski C

I didn’t have Gradkowski in my top 250, but he was a hot prospect going into the draft, going on 7 private visits. This is still a little early for him. He’ll compete with Osemele and Jah Reid at guard and could be a potential successor for Matt Birk at center.

130. S Christian Thompson A-

They needed depth at safety. Both Bernard Pollard and Ed Reed are in contract years and Reed, believe it or not, is 34 in September. Thompson fits the range. He was one of my favorite small school prospects out of South Carolina State. I had a 5^th round grade on him, but he’s a fine pick in the late 4^th in a weak safety class.

169. CB Asa Jackson C

This is a bit of a need, but I didn’t have Jackson in my top 250. This would be fine in the 6^th or 7^th round, but this is a little early.

198. WR Tommy Streeter A

Streeter is a fantastic value in the 6^th round. He could potentially be a successor for Anquan Boldin. At the worst, he can compete with 2011 4^th round pick Tandon Doss and whoever else they bring in between now and whenever Boldin is gone. That could be next offseason.

236. 3-4 DE DeAngelo Tyson A

They needed defensive line depth and Tyson fits the range here. He can play nose tackle or defensive end for them.

The Ravens turned in yet another solid draft. Courtney Upshaw and Kelechi Osemele were great values at their spots and fill needs for the Ravens. Christian Thompson could be a long term starter at safety and Streeter could be the same at wide receiver. Gradkowski was a reach and I still don’t get the Bernard Pierce pick so it wasn’t a perfect draft. However, they hit with the picks that counted (their 1^st and 2^nd rounder) and even got a later pick (4^th rounder) out of it.

If they hadn’t made that trade and hadn’t gotten that pick (which they used on Gradkowski), though two picks would have still been A’s so I’m not knocking them much for the Gradkowski pick since he was basically free. The Pierce pick was the one I had the most problem with. He fit the range, but he’ll either take carries away from Ray Rice, one of the best runners in the game, or be wasted. He’s not worth the 3^rd rounder they used on him if he just carries the ball 100 times like Ricky Williams did last year.

Grade: A-

2. QB Robert Griffin A

Just like the Colts with Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin was the obvious selection here. I also love the move to come up and get him.

71. G Josh LeRibeus C-

Guard was a need with Kory Lichtensteiger coming off a nasty knee injury, but this was a major reach by my board. I had him in the 6^th round.

102. QB Kirk Cousins C-

Robert Griffin will be thrilled the Redskins got him a quarterback to throw to… Anyway, I don’t understand this pick. Sure, kicking John Beck off the roster is always a positive, but Rex Grossman is actually capable of being a solid backup for Robert Griffin. I don’t know if Cousins is better than him, at least as a rookie. Basically, you’re talking about using a 4^th round pick on a 3^rd string quarterback in a year when you don’t have a 2^nd rounder (and no first rounders for 2 more years). And I don’t think Cousins was the unbelievable some did. I had him as a 4^th round prospect.

119. MLB Keenan Robinson B-

They needed linebacker help with London Fletcher getting up there in age, but I thought this was a minor reach. There were definitely better linebackers available.

141. G Adam Gettis C+

Another guard? They really only needed one. Tackle was a much bigger need on the offensive line for them with Trent Williams being one failed drug test away from a season long suspension and Jammal Brown continuing to struggle after hip surgery. I had Gettis as a 7^th round prospect too.

173. RB Alfred Morris C+

I hate to argue with a Mike Shanahan running back, but Morris was a reach by my board here. I also didn’t see running back as a pressing need. Roy Helu and Ryan Torain are solid and Tim Hightower is available to be resigned.

193. OT Tom Compton A

Now the Redskins get their tackle. Compton fills a major need and I had a 5^th round grade on him so he’s a very good value.

213. CB Richard Crawford B

There were only 7 or 8 players drafted I had never heard of. I hate to call it a bad pick for that reason, but if I haven’t heard of him, chances are, he’s pretty obscure. That being said, it’s the 7^th round and it does fill a need.

217. S Jordan Bernstine B

Another defensive back, I had him outside of my top 250, but at least I’ve heard of this one. He does fill a need if he makes the roster and there’s not really such thing as a bad 7^th round pick.

This grade is higher because of Robert Griffin. Unlike the Colts who made an obvious decision, the Redskins made a less obvious and more controversial decision because they had to move up to get him. Many bashed this move, but Griffin is one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever scouted. He’ll make them legitimate playoff contenders right away because they have a solid supporting cast around him (they won 5 games with Rex Grossman last year). There’s a very good chance that one or both of the first rounders they surrendered will be in the 20s and then it won’t seem like they gave up so much.

However, aside from that, I didn’t like a ton that they did. I thought LeRibeus was a reach and the Kirk Cousins pick made no sense. They should have done what the Colts did and built around Griffin, rather than getting him a backup, though I guess they already did that in free agency. Still, there were some pretty big reaches by the Redskins and I don’t know how many future starters they got out of this draft. There may have just been 1. Of course, that one is Griffin so that’s the one that counts.

Grade: B

32. RB David Wilson C

The Giants needed a running back, but I had David Wilson ranked about a round lower than this. On top of that, he’s way too similar to Ahmad Bradshaw. In fact, I made the exact comparison between Wilson and Bradshaw in my scouting report. Bradshaw is a fine running back, but ideally you want a running back who compliments your other back. They would have been much better off taking a bruiser like Bernard Pierce or someone in the 3^rd round.

63. WR Rueben Randle A

The Giants love drafting BPA so they must have been thrilled when Randle fell to them. I didn’t have Randle rated as highly as most because of his inconsistencies at LSU (7 games of 3 catches or fewer) and his struggles against elite cover cornerbacks (combined 7 catches for 47 yards in 3 games against Dre Kirkpatrick and Brandon Boykin). However, he did have bad quarterback play and he is still a solid value here with the last pick in the 2^nd round. He allows them to keep Victor Cruz in the slot where he’s best and could start right away opposite Hakeem Nicks.

94. CB Jayron Hosley B+

I guess the Giants needed cornerback depth, but they did have bigger needs and Hosley was a little further down on my down than this after his failed drug test at The Combine. Maybe the Giants just didn’t care about that as much.

127. TE Adrien Robinson C

They needed a tight end and they like tight ends who can block (why I didn’t make Coby Fleener to them in the 1^st). Robinson can block, but he’s not much of a pass catcher. He’s got great measurables and upside, but this was a little early for him. He won’t start right away so the Giants’ tight ends won’t be very good in 2012 at the tight end position unless Martellus Bennett can break out or either Jake Ballard or Travis Beckum can come back from injury.

131. OT Brandon Mosley A

They needed offensive line help. Mosley can compete with James Brewer, their 4^th round pick in 2012, at right tackle. He can also play some guard, where they need help because David Diehl is one of the worst starting offensive linemen in the league.

201. OT Matt McCants A

Another offensive lineman? Why not, it was a major need and McCants is an excellent value at this point.

239. DT Markus Kuhn B

Did they need a defensive tackle? Not really and Kuhn is slightly outside of my top 250, but whatever. It’s the 7^th round.

The Giants normally draft really well, but this grades out as a pretty average draft. David Wilson was a reach in the first round and not the type of back they needed. Jayron Hosley was a decent, but not great pick and Adrien Robinson won’t help them much right away. Rueben Randle was a great value however and they got good values on two offensive linemen they needed. It wasn’t a great draft, but it wasn’t bad either.

Grade: B-

4. RB Trent Richardson B+

I would have given the Browns an A for taking Richardson at 4 because he was the 4^th rated player on my board, but I’m giving them a B+ for moving up to 3 and taking him for two reasons. For one, I don’t think they needed to move up to get him. I think Minnesota was bluffing. Kalil was their guy and they didn’t want to move any further down than 4. Two, even if they were, the Browns wouldn’t have been much worse off at all settling for Blackmon at 4. In fact, they could have taken Kalil at 4. He would have been a great bookend for Joe Thomas.

22. QB Brandon Weeden D

I have made it really clear I don’t like Brandon Weeden. I think he’s a 28 year old developmental prospect. I would have had a 2^nd round grade on him, similar to Ryan Tannehill and Brock Osweiler, had he been 22, but given his age I basically made him untouchable on my board. I like the fit in Cleveland even less. He made sense to a team that is competitive and ready to win now. Cleveland is more likely a 3 or so year rebuilding project, at the least. That means that by the time the Browns are competitive, they’ll have a 32 year old quarterback heading into a contract year and a decision to make, at the earliest. This isn’t an F because at least it’s a quarterback.

37. OT Mitchell Schwartz C-

There were plenty of capable receivers that fit the range here and that’s their biggest need and there were also better right tackles available. I had Schwartz in the 3^rd round so this is a big reach for him, especially with who is left on the board (WR: Stephen Hill, Rueben Randle, Ryan Broyles, Mohamed Sanu and OT: Jonathan Martin, Cordy Glenn).

87. DT John Hughes F

When the Browns made this pick I joked on Twitter that by the time Brandon Weeden has any capable receivers, he’ll be heading into retirement. In all seriousness, this was one of the worst picks of the draft. I don’t give out a lot of Fs, but this absolutely made no sense. Defensive tackle wasn’t a pressing need and I didn’t even have Hughes in my top 250.

100. WR Travis Benjamin C

Well, it’s the right position, but it’s a 7^th round prospect. Benjamin is a good kick returner with developmental abilities at wide receiver. I think he makes a lot of sense to a team in the late rounds who needs a return man and has time to wait on a receiver that might never come around. He doesn’t make any sense to a team in the middle rounds that already has a good return man (Josh Cribbs) and needs receiver help right away. Poor Brandon Weeden.

120. MLB James-Michael Johnson B

Finally a pick that makes sense. Depth at linebacker was a need and they have 2 marginal starters and an injury prone middle linebacker in their linebacking corps so JMJ has the potential to maybe break into the starting lineup at some point. Worst case scenario, he’s a solid special teamer and he’s only a minor reach by my board.

160. G Ryan Miller A

Another good matchup of need and value. Both Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao were awful at guard last year. They’re still young so there’s time to turn it around, but the Browns needed to get another guard in the mix just in case. Miller fits the draft range well too.

204. OLB Emmanuel Acho A

A 2^nd linebacker? Why not? I mentioned the Browns had questions at all 3 starting spots in their linebacking corps and Acho is a very good value here in the 6^th.

205. DT Billy Winn A

A 2^nd defensive tackle? It wasn’t really a huge need, but you can’t argue with getting a value like this in the late rounds. I had Billy Winn rated higher on my board than Hughes. Of course this makes the John Hughes pick even stupider because they couldn’t have used that on another position, but I already gave that an F. This is an A.

245. CB Trevin Wade A

There’s no such thing as a bad 7^th round pick, but there are good ones. Cornerback was a big need of theirs and Wade had a 7^th round grade.

247. TE Brad Smelley B+

The Browns already have 2 tight ends and they spent a 4^th round pick on a fullback last year, so I don’t see where Smelley fits, but it is the 7^th round and you can’t knock a team for picking a pure football player like Smelley. Worst case he’s a hustle special teamer.

I joked that Weeden would be heading into retirement by the time he had capable receivers, but I might not be too far off. If I’m going to be fair, I have to bash the Browns for not building around Weeden after I praised the Colts (and to some extent the Redskins in free agency) for building around their new quarterback. It’s even more imperative in Cleveland’s case because Weeden, at the very least, has 6 fewer years to wait around than Luck or Griffin.

Yes, Trent Richardson will be a stud, but at the same time, they were duped into moving up 1 spot to get the guy who was an obvious pick anyway. Mitchell Schwartz fills a need, but there were much better players available at various positions of need. Travis Benjamin doesn’t make any sense at all. He’s a return man, which they already have, and a developmental receiver. Who is Weeden going to throw to next year? He has the same shitty receiving corps that made people argue that McCoy deserved another shot.

I also have to bash the pick of Weeden itself. I don’t see Weeden as a day 1 or year 1 top-15 quarterback, which he almost has to be because of his age and where he was drafted. It’s almost like the Browns just spent the 22^nd overall pick on Matt Cassel (similar age and ability). That makes even less sense for a rebuilding team because Weeden will be 32 and in a contract year, by the earliest, by the time the Browns are competitive. Some solid late round selections make up some for terrible picks in the first 3 rounds, but the first 3 rounds are what count.

Grade: C-

7. S Mark Barron D

Hmmm, Mark Barron and a 4^th round pick…or Morris Claiborne? That shouldn’t have been a tough question, but it was for the Buccaneers, who seem to have gotten it wrong. I know the Buccaneers had Barron higher than Claiborne on their board, but that’s ridiculous. Claiborne is a better player at a position of higher value. I had Barron in the 20s on my board. I don’t believe any player at a “luxury” position (linebacker, safety, running back, interior offensive line) should go in the first round unless they are an exceptional talent, which is why I gave Barron a 1^st/2^nd round grade. He’s not Eric Berry and he certainly was not worth a pick in the top 10. It’s only worth noting that everyone and their dog agreed that there were 6 blue chip prospects in this draft class, so I really don’t like the Buccaneers moving out of the top 6 for just a 4^th round pick. The 7^th spot was the one no one wanted, but the Buccaneers took it willingly.

31. RB Doug Martin B+

Martin fits the range and fills a need, but the pick isn’t getting an A just because they moved up for him. I don’t believe in bad teams moving up unless it’s an unbelievable value. The Buccaneers have too many needs to be giving up picks like this and they have so many needs that there would definitely be a player they liked that fit the range and filled a need at their original spot.

58. OLB Lavonte David A

Linebacker was a huge need for the Buccaneers, maybe even their biggest need. Since the stat has been kept track of, no team missed more tackles ever than the Buccaneers did last season. David is also a very good value at the end of the 2^nd, so I have no problem with them moving up in this case.

140. MLB Najee Goode B-

This is a slight reach in the 5^th round, but it’s not like they didn’t need another linebacker.

174. CB Keith Tandy A

Finally the Buccaneers get their cornerback. They could have gotten one earlier if they didn’t trade up twice. Anyway, Tandy is a very, very good value here in the 6^th. I thought he was one of the underrated gems of the cornerback position in this draft. This need is not filled coming out of the draft, but they can’t be expected to fill every need.

212. RB Michael Smith B

Another running back? Again, you can’t hate 7^th round picks, but Smith didn’t make my top 250 so this is a slight reach.

233. FB Drake Dunsmore A

I like this value a lot here in the 7^th round. Dunsmore could probably be their starting fullback this year after they lost Earnest Graham and he also provides some depth at tight end.

I gave this a C yesterday and then I looked it that C after doing the write ups and that seemed a little ridiculous. Yes, I think they missed up big time with their first pick and that’s the most important one. However, the rest of their draft was really nice. I think they got 3 new starters out of this draft and while they didn’t address arguably their biggest need at cornerback, they couldn’t be expected to address all of their needs and they did address 3 prominent ones (S, OLB, RB). They might not be the most important positions, but 3 starters isn’t too shabby.

They also did some nice things in the late rounds, especially with Keith Tandy and Drake Dunsmore. Dunsmore might even make it 4^th starters if he emerges as the starting fullback, but, then again, it is just the fullback position. Tandy, meanwhile, will provide solid depth behind Eric Wright and Aqib Talib. Cornerback will probably be a primary need of their 2013 draft because Wright is overrated (and overpaid) and Talib will be a free agent.

Grade: B-

13. WR Michael Floyd A

They needed offensive line help, but Floyd was the best player left on my board other than two pass rushers that wouldn’t have filled needs. Riley Reiff and David DeCastro were a little further down my board and those would have been good picks too, but I’m not going to argue with taking the best available at a position of need. Michael Floyd can be similar to what Anquan Boldin was for them and that will help Kevin Kolb and/or John Skelton out a lot.

80. CB Jamell Fleming B

Cornerback was a bit of a need, but Fleming is a minor reach by my board and that offensive line needs to be addressed.

112. OT Bobby Massie A

What a steal! Some players fell on draft day because of injuries that were unknown to the public, but Massie was not one of them. Adam Schefter tweeted that he texted a source in the league and asked why Massie was slipping. His response “no clue.” If the Cardinals had taken Massie in the 3^rd and gotten Fleming in the 4^th, those both would have been A’s. This is an excellent pick. Massie could easily start at right tackle for them next year.

151. G Senio Kemelete A

Another offensive lineman was definitely needed. Kelemete provides depth at a variety of positions and could even end up as a starting guard for them next year if Adam Snyder plays like he did in San Francisco. Kelemete is a good value in the 5^th round as well.

177. S Justin Bethel B

The Cardinals needed more depth in the secondary and Bethel will probably play safety for them. I had him as a 7^th round prospect, but this is a fine range for him.

185. QB Ryan Lindley A

The Cardinals certainly don’t have their quarterback situation resolved. Lindley is a fine value in the 6^th round as a developmental prospect and could see playing time this year if both Kolb and Skelton struggle, a possibility.

221. G Nate Potter A

Another offensive lineman? Why not, especially when it’s as good of a value as Potter in the 7^th. I had a 4^th round grade on him.

The Cardinals traded their 2^nd round pick away for Kevin Kolb, so I have to knock them for that. However, even with that, they get an A. They only got 2 non-A grades, both Bs, and one could be seen as an A considering how good their 4^th round pick was. They helped their offensive line with 3 talented players who were all more talented than their draft range and they added a legitimate #2 receiver opposite Larry Fitzgerald. Jamell Fleming adds depth at cornerback and could see playing time right away and Ryan Lindley adds another competitor to an unresolved quarterback situation.

Grade: A

23. OT Riley Reiff A

I had Riley Reiff 12^th on my board, but I also had Bryan Bulaga high. I had a feeling Reiff, a similar player, could experience a similar fall on draft day and actually had Reiff to the Lions in my 2^nd to final mock draft, but moved him back up to 15 (to Jacksonville after a trade down) in my final. The Packers took Bulaga at this exact same spot, 23, 2 years ago and I’d say they’re pretty happy with him. Reiff is a very similar player. He could play their left tackle of the future, but worst case I think he could be a Pro Bowl caliber right tackle or guard, two positions where they also had needs.

54. WR Ryan Broyles A-

I have called Ryan Broyles someone who could be the steal of the draft in the past and I even had a first round grade on him before a nasty knee injury (but the nasty knee injury did prove his value to the Oklahoma offense and his toughness as he was running in the 4.6s just 5 months later). However, even I didn’t see him going this high. I had a high 2^nd round grade on him and ranked him as my 5^th receiver, so he’s definitely a good value here and he gives the Lions 3 good young receivers for the future in Calvin Johnson, Broyles, and Titus Young. Nate Burleson could be on his way out in 2013, when he’ll be owed 4.5 million in his age 32 season. The only reason this is an A- and not an A is because Peter Konz would have filled a bigger need and was higher on my board.

85. CB Dwight Bentley A-

Cornerback was certainly a need of the Lions, maybe even their biggest as a their poor secondary lost Eric Wright this offseason. Bentley certainly fills a major need, but this is a tad early for him according to my board.

125. DE Ronnell Lewis A

Wow how was Lewis still available? I had a 3^rd round grade on him, but he could have gone in the 2^nd. He could be a long term starter for them at either defensive end (where Kyle Vanden Bosch is aging) or linebacker (where Justin Durant and DeAndre Levy are both heading into contract years).

138. OLB Tahir Woodhead C

I had Woodhead just outside of my top 250, so this is a pretty big reach. It does help fill a need, however, because of the aforementioned linebackers in contract years.

148. CB Chris Greenwood B

Another 2^nd cornerback? Why not, they certainly need it. Greenwood was outside of my top 250, but he was a hot prospect coming into the draft (7 teams worked him out privately) and I obviously didn’t see a lot of tape of him coming from wherever the hell Albion is. I can’t fault them too much for this in the 5^th round.

196. CB Jonte Green C+

A 3^rd cornerback? That’s pushing it a little. Green also was not in my top 250, but unlike Greenwood, he was not a hot prospect coming into the draft. He didn’t go on any teams visit. Hell, I haven’t even heard of him, one of only 10 or so prospects I hadn’t heard of. This was one of the early ones too.

223. OLB Travis Lewis A

Wow, Travis Lewis in the 7^th round? What a steal, even if they already did take one. Lewis could be a starter someday for them.

This wasn’t a perfect draft for the Lions, but in terms of pure talent as compared to their draft position, this might have, top to bottom, been the most talented draft class of any team this year. Riley Reiff could be a Pro Bowl caliber offensive lineman for them someday. He could also start immediately, which is what they really need as they gear up for a Super Bowl run in 2012. Ryan Broyles and Dwight Bentley will be in the mix at cornerback and wide receiver and Broyles could be an above average starter someday. Ronnell Lewis and Travis Lewis could also be starters someday at positions of need.

Grade: A