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

89. DT Akiem Hicks C

Defensive tackle was a need for the Saints and Hicks is a solid prospect, but he’s a bit of a reach and they really needed a pass rusher at defensive tackle. Sedrick Ellis and Brodrick Bunkley are already very good run stuffers. Hicks is not the pass rushing, penetrating defensive tackle they needed.

122. WR Nick Toon A

Toon is a great value in the 4^th round as part of a strong and deep wide receiver class. Devery Henderson will be a full time starter in 2012 for the first time in his career with Robert Meachem gone. If he struggles, Toon could step in so they can keep the injury prone Lance Moore in the slot. Worst case, he’s a solid depth 4^th receiver and he’s a very good value at this point.

162. S Corey White C-

White was outside of my top 250, which would be fine if this were the 6^th or 7^th round, or this was a position they actually needed.

179. G Andrew Tiler C+

Copy and paste what I put above only this is 17 picks later so it’s not as bad. I guess White and Tiler will provide depth if they make the roster, but that’s no sure thing.

234. OT Marcel Jones A-

They needed some depth at offensive tackle I guess. This is the right range for Jones.

The Saints didn’t have picks in the first two rounds for differing reasons. They traded their 1^st round pick last year along with a 2^nd for Mark Ingram, which hasn’t panned out yet, but the jury is still out. They lost their 2^nd round pick in BountyGate and I’m going to deduct for that. With only 5 picks, they had to make them count and I don’t think they did that.

The Nick Toon selection was a great one, but that’s about where it ends. Hicks, White, and Tiler are all going to be depth players at best and Hicks, their 3^rd rounder, is a similar player to players they already have under contract. The Jones pick was fine, but they may have only ended up with one quality player (Toon) out of the entire draft. This was, all in all, a poor draft, when you factor in everything, BountyGate included.

Grade: C

15. DE Bruce Irvin F

Bruce Irvin was the first defensive end off the board in 2012. I’m not basing this grade on “they could have gotten him in the 2^nd round” because we don’t know that for sure. I’m basing this grade on what I see on tape of Irvin. He’s a great athlete with natural pass rush ability, but he’s a one trick pony who probably can’t comfortably add any weight and if an offensive lineman is able to get his hands on him, it’s normally over for him.

He really reminds me of Aaron Maybin. The Bills tried to get Maybin to add some weight and play every down, but he couldn’t do it so they cut him 2 years after using the 11^th overall pick on him. Now he’s found a niche as a situational player in New York playing in the 230s. The Seahawks are probably going to start Irvin out in that role, but you don’t take players like that in the first, especially not with his history of off the field issues. As recently as March, he was arrested so it looks like he might not have fully shed his troubled past.

47. MLB Bobby Wagner B

The Seahawks really needed a middle linebacker. I had a 3^rd round grade on Wagner so this is a bit of a reach, but this certainly a lot better than their first round pick.

74. QB Russell Wilson B

Matt Flynn is unproven an Tarvaris Jackson is pretty mediocre and could be cut to save money so Wilson makes some sense, but I think this is a bit early. Wilson has a pretty average arm on a typical dropback, though he has a great arm on the run. He’s mobile, but undersized and he has every tangible possible. I had a 4^th round grade.

106. RB Robert Turbin A-

They just gave Marshawn Lynch a big deal, but he has a history of injury problems and his running style could lead to those continuing in the future. Robert Turbin is a solid value in this range and gives them a needed #2 back.

114. DT Jaye Howard C+

They could use another defensive tackle I guess, but the offensive line was a bigger need considering all the injuries they had upfront last year. This is a round or two too early for Howard too.

154. OLB Korey Toomer C

I had Toomer outside of my top 250, which is fine in the 7^th round, but this is the 5^th. At least it fills a need.

172. CB Jeremy Lane C+

Similar to what I said above, only this is 18 picks later so it’s a C+, not a C.

181. S Winston Guy B

Guy doesn’t really have a position because he’s a bit of a tweener linebacker/safety, but I said the same thing about Kam Chancellor a few years ago (oops) and Guy can contribute on special teams. I don’t see any need for another safety as they have two of the best young safeties in the league, but it’s the 6^th round.

225. DT JR Sweezy B+

Another defensive tackle? At least this one is a better value and it’s only a 7^th rounder.

232. DT Greg Scruggs C

A 3^rd defensive tackle? I didn’t have Scruggs in my top 250 and they really didn’t need another player at this position. Defensive linemen typically don’t play special teams either. This is as bad of a grade as I can give in the 7^th round.

Bruce Irvin is not a 1^st round prospect. He’s Aaron Maybin. I’ve already explained that. Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson were better picks, but still minor reaches. Even their mid and late round picks didn’t make any sense. The only pick that got an A of any form was Robert Turbin as a backup to Marshawn Lynch. They didn’t address their offensive line at all, despite all the injuries they had last season and I would have liked to have seen a receiver at some point. They might have only gotten one starter out of this draft, Bobby Wagner in the 2^nd round.

Grade: D

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-

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

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

18. RLB Melvin Ingram B+

I actually had Melvin Ingram 18th on my board so I can’t hate this pick, but I had Whitney Mercilus, Nick Perry, and Courtney Upshaw higher than Ingram at this position, though they filled arguably their biggest need here.

49. 3-4 DE Kendall Reyes B+

They had other needs, but Reyes is a pretty good value here and they do need a young rotational lineman as Antonio Garay and Luis Castillo are aging players on one year deals.

73. S Brandon Taylor A

Safety might have been their 2nd biggest need after rush linebacker. Steve Gregory was awful last season and now even he’s gone. Taylor could start immediately next to Eric Weddle and starting safety were really tough to find this year given how this the class was.

110. TE Ladarius Green A

They need a developmental tight end behind an aging and injury prone Antonio Gates. I had Green rated one round earlier and he could have an immediate impact as a receiver in two-tight end sets.

149. G Johnnie Troutman C-

I had Troutman outside of my top 250 and that was without knowing about his pectoral injury. He could miss the whole season with that injury and the Chargers knew about that. They took him anyway. At least he filled a need, but what’s the point of spending a late round selection on someone who is hurt. Late round selections normally only have a year or so to prove themselves. It’s seems 50/50 that Troutman will ever suit up for them.

226. C David Molk A

Did they need another center? Not really, but Nick Hardwick is getting up there in age and there’s nothing wrong with finding a solid backup in the 7th round, especially when it’s a phenomenal value like this.

250. RB Edwin Baker A

They needed a 2nd back. I don’t know why they didn’t address this earlier. Are Curtis Brinkley or LeRon McClain capable of being the backup to Ryan Mathews, who hasn’t exceeded 222 carries as a pro? Anyway, Baker fits the range in the 7th round. He’ll probably be a 3rd or 4th back at best though.

The Chargers had two solid picks to start their drafts and, with the addition of Brandon Taylor, a very good pick, in the 3rd round, they really helped their defense. Ladarius Green was a great pick in the 4th round as value as a great value. They also drafted really well in the last couple rounds. It wasn’t a perfect draft for several reasons. I think there were better players at the same position available at 18 and I don’t think they filled a pressing need in the 2nd round. I also didn’t get the Troutman selection at all and I don’t think they did enough to address the running back position, but this was a solid draft which should have benefits for them next season and in the future, particularly defensively.

Grade: B+

11. NT Dontari Poe C

Dontari Poe is the definition of a boom or bust prospect. He has phenomenal measurables, but he had minimal production on a crappy team in a small conference in Conference-USA and the tape doesn’t match at to his measurables. He’s also more of a straight line athlete than anything too. I liked him a lot more in the 2^nd round, but I’ll average an A and an F here for him. He does fill a need, but I think they really reached for need.

44. G Jeff Allen C-

Guard was a need for the Chiefs, but I had Allen rated much lower than this. He’s also going to have to make a position change to guard. Peter Konz would have been a much better pick. He was a significantly superior prospect and he could play center for them, his natural position, and allow them to keep Rodney Hudson at guard, his natural position.

74. OT Donald Stephenson B

I had Stephenson as a borderline 3^rd/4^th round prospect. They had other needs, but they could use a 3^rd offensive tackle because Branden Albert is heading into a contract year so I don’t hate this pick.

107. WR Devon Wylie C

I liked Wylie, but in the 5^th round for a team that needed some help at wide receiver and needed a kick returner. The Chiefs have two solid return men in Dexter McCluster and Javier Arenas. In fact, those guys were both drafted in the 2^nd round for their kick return abilities. The Chiefs have 3 solid wide receivers in Dwayne Bowe, Jonathan Baldwin, and Steve Breaston. And this is the 4^th round. So while I like Wylie as a player, I don’t like the fit with him on the Chiefs.

146. S DeQuan Menzie A

Menzie fills a need for the Chiefs at either cornerback or safety, depending on where they want to put him (though it sounds like safety). They need depth at safety and Romeo Crennel’s system puts a lot of value on the safety position. In fact, he called it the 2^nd most important position after quarterback recently. Menzie is a good value in the 5^th round.

182. RB Cyrus Gray A

Gray is a good value here in the 6^th round. Peyton Hillis was only signed to a one year deal and he could play some fullback and Jamaal Charles is undersized and coming off a major injury so there was a need for another back.

218. 3-4 DE Jerome Long B

I didn’t have Long in my top 250, but it’s pretty late so you can’t hate. There’s room for a depth defensive lineman like this in the 7^th round.

238. WR Junior Hemingway A

Did they really need another receiver? No, but Hemingway probably deserved to go a round or two before this and teams typically draft straight off their boards in the late round. You aren’t filling needs in the 7^th round.

This wasn’t a very good draft for the Chiefs (disagree with me if you want). I think Dontari Poe is way too big of a risk at 11. He’s a workout wonder whose tape doesn’t match up. He’s also a straight line athlete that didn’t fare nearly as well in agility drills as he did in the 40. In the 2^nd round, Allen was a major reach. He’s a 6^th offensive lineman type (first guy off the bench when there’s an injury, with great versatility), but Peter Konz could have been an immediate starter and allowed Rodney Hudson to stay at his natural spot in guard. Allen doesn’t really seem like he can be a long term starting guard in this league.

Donald Stephenson was a solid pick in the 3^rd, but I don’t like the Devon Wylie fit in the 4^th. They had some solid late round selections, but the early selections are what matter and I think they missed those up. I also didn’t like that they didn’t come out of this draft with a developmental quarterback. Brady Quinn and Tyler Palko aren’t very good and Ricky Stanzi couldn’t even beat out Tyler Palko last year. They had to sign Kyle Orton just to stay afloat. Matt Cassel, meanwhile, is a decent starter, but I don’t think you can go deep into the playoffs with him, which is a shame because the rest of their roster is really good.

Grade: C