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2008 NFL Draft Grades - AFC South
by Gregory Cox
Director
of College
Football and NFL Analysis
5/2/08
HOUSTON
#26 OT Duane Brown (Virginia Tech): This marks the first
time in their short history that the team has taken an offensive tackle
in the
first round, and it raised a few eyebrows. Sure, he appeared on some
mock
drafts in this area very late in the process but I still think it’s a
slight
reach. They earn points for trading down first though and finally
picking up someone
to play left tackle.
#79 CB Antwuan Molden (Eastern Kentucky):
He was another late riser, but this was closer to where the majority
had him
landing. Their cornerback situation is tenuous and they needed an
addition. I
wouldn’t have trusted this issue to a small school player though. It’s
a big
jump to the NFL even from the most competitive BCS conferences, and the
rest of
their picks all came out of the “Big Six”.
#89 RB Steve Slaton (West Virginia):
He was very productive in college, piling up plenty of yards and
touchdowns. On
the downside his value as a pro is probably limited to a third down
back. I
know they have Green and Brown in their colorful backfield towards the
end of
their not exactly HOF
careers and
all, but wouldn’t taking Mendenhall at #18 have made sense? Instead
they are
hoping he can provide a spark when the other two realize how the NFL
pounding
has sucked the life out of them.
#118 OLB Xavier Adibi (Virginia): They add lots of speed
with their second Hokie. Other teams felt he was too small, but a lot
of people
had him as a possible late pick on day 1. I had him dropping into the
third and
either way this is a nice value.
#151 DT Frank Okam (Texas):
The Longhorns are getting a reputation for sending players into the NFL
who are
soft. Does this guy really want to play football? If someone drops a
boatload
of cash in my bank account that’s enough to motivate me and keeping him
in Texas
hopefully is enough for a guy once considered a lock for the first day,
possibly even the first round. They have a bunch of youth on the
defensive line
already and he if pans out they could stay together for years.
#173 SS/FS Dominique Barber (Minnesota):
Their roster hemorrhaged safeties and it was only a matter of time
before they
added one. I can only imagine the hype for the August 22 exhibition at Dallas
when he gets to tackle his brother Marion.
#223 QB Alex Brink (Washington
State):
The Pac-10 produces a lot
of NFL ready quarterbacks even if many of them wind up only as backups
or third
stringers. They like him and if he pans out it can make it a lot easier
to
trade Rosenfels.
MY DRAFT: #18 (RB) #79 (DE) #118 (CB) #151 (OT) #223 (FS)
Other than taking a defensive tackle instead of the
complement to “Super Mario” they sought at end I had all of the
positions
correct in a different order. Draft day maneuvering gave them two extra
picks
used on a linebacker and quarterback.
PLAYER HITS: 0
POSITION HITS: 4/5
NEAR MISSES: 1/5 (DT instead of DE)
HOW DID THEY DO? In another division the Texans might be a
serious threat. This was really a boom or bust draft for them. Going
with small
guys in Slaton and Adibi could backfire, as could a different kind of
small
(school) with Molden. Then there’s banking on Brown as worth of a first
round
pick and hoping Okam doesn’t decide he’d rather do something else for a
living.
Every draft is risky, but I think they took too many chances. I guess
they felt
they needed to really go for it if they hoped to catch the Colts and
Jaguars in
the next few years.
UNDRAFTED ADDITIONS: ILB Ben Moffitt (South Florida) WR Ryan
Grice-Mullens (Hawaii) OLB Marcus Richardson (Troy) TE Cole Bennett
(Auburn) CB
Josh Bell (Baylor) WR Darnell Jenkins (Miami, FL) DE Jesse Mading
(Colorado
State) DT Gabe Long (Utah)
Analysis: There really isn’t much to speak of here. They
picked up four additions to their front 7 highlighted by my “Mr.
Irrelevant”
Moffitt who could have gone in the late sixth or seventh round.
Grice-Mullins
gained some traction late and might have been drafted. The Hawaii
system scared teams off and I think he has a real chance to make this
team. I
really expected more signings.
OVERALL DRAFT: 79/100
INCLUDING UDFA: 73/100
INDIANAPOLIS
#59 C Mike Pollak (Arizona State):
This was the consensus top
pick at center in what was considered a weak class. When you’re not
picking
until the final stages of day one it is nice to hang your hat on
grabbing the
best at any position and they did that. To boot it’s something they
needed. He
can start his career at guard.
#93 ILB/OLB Phillip Wheeler (Georgia Tech): Clearly they are
going to use him inside because he is much too slow to play outside,
especially
for them. He should be able to help their run defense and was expected
to land
right around this area. It’s nothing spectacular, just a solid addition
to
their linebackers.
#127 TE Jacob Tamme (Kentucky):
They stayed in the BCS “Big Six” with their opening seven selections.
I’m sure
they have a lot of ideas how to utilize Tamme who might have gotten
lost in a
pretty talented crop of tight ends.
#161 DE/OLB Marcus Howard (Georgia): I’m sure they were
thrilled to land him here. Brennan is still having nightmares about
this guy
from the Sugar Bowl. His speed plays perfectly into their system. They
can use
him occasionally as a pass rusher at end or at linebacker. I don’t know
how he
dropped this far. I had him at #107 which was even a shade low. Others
thought
he’d climb to the third round.
#196 TE Tom Santi (Virginia): You didn’t think they were
going to ignore the tight end position after losing Utecht did you?
It’s too
important to their offense and he follows in the footsteps of Miller
(Steelers)
although his value leans towards blocking. He also could line up at
fullback
occasionally.
#201 C Steve Justice (Wake Forest):
One of the better centers
I have no idea how he was still on the board here given how every team
seemed
to go wild over tackles. He can play guard and placed second for the
Rimington
Award (top center). Somewhere Saturday is thinking about life after
football
because the Colts have certainly drafted his replacement.
#202 RB Mike Hart (Michigan):
I had them taking him in one of my late versions and this is a really
smart
addition. Keith is nothing special behind Addai and while others are
dissecting
why not to like Hart just look at his production. He always protected
the
football until his last collegiate game (two fumbles) can catch the
ball and is
the kind of guy you want on your side. He’s slow and small which means
he’ll
work his tail off to contribute. He also won’t go mouthing off about
how he’s
“on the Colts!”.
#205 WR Pierre Garcon (Mt.
Union): At this point in the draft people were wondering just how many
players
they were going to add having selected four of the past ten. This is
about where
he was expected to be considered and is a fast, small school sleeper.
They
really had trouble fielding receivers late in the season and Harrison
is just about done.
#236 C Jamey Richard (Buffalo):
I think Saturday filed his retirement papers when this selection was
made. No,
I’m kidding. This a third center on paper only. Obviously only one
player can
snap the football. Two of these guys will be guards and if they strike
gold,
and don’t dismiss their evaluation of interior linemen, look out for
this trio
being together a long time.
MY DRAFT: #59 (DE/OLB) #93 (TE) #127 (OLB) #161 (OG) #196
(RB) #201 (ILB/OLB) #202 (SS) #205 (WR) #236 (C)
They didn’t take a strong safety or pure outside linebacker,
but other than that this went about as I projected it to. Their picks
instead
went to another center and tight end. When you’re good it’s smart
business to
double up on areas of need. Why not play the odds?
PLAYER HITS: 0
POSITION HITS: 7/9
NEAR MISSES: 0/9
HOW DID THEY DO? They didn’t mess around in this draft. Big
school guys early, positions of need hit multiple times and no risky
players.
What more can I say? The interior offensive line, tight end, linebacker
unit
and backup running back situation is better than it was last year.
UNDRAFTED ADDITIONS: WR Sam Giguere (Sherbrooke) CB Brandon
Foster (Texas) DE/OLB Curtis Johnson (Clark Atlanta) DT Dan Davis
(Connecticut)
DT/DE Eric Foster (Rutgers) OT Darren Marquez (Southern Illinois) SS
Jamie
Silva (Boston College) QB Adam Tafralis (San Jose State) DT Colin
Ferrell (Kent
State) WR Rudy Burgess (Arizona State) LB Anthony Adams (Grand Valley
State) RB
Chad Simpson (Morgan State) WR Charles Dillon (Washington State)
Analysis: Other than Silva at strong safety which makes up
for them not drafting one late as I said they would, there aren’t any
big names
on this list. A few of these guys might have gone in the seventh round
including Simpson at running back. Their defensive front 7 got the most
attention with five players brought in to compete.
OVERALL DRAFT: 87/100
INCLUDING UDFA: 81/100
JACKSONVILLE
#8 DE Derrick Harvey (Florida):
They paid a steep price to get him, but this is definitely a team only
a few
key additions short of playing for a title. Their goal is to harass
Manning or
forget about a division title. He was well worth a top 10 pick and for
them
trading away picks who might not have made the team makes sense.
#52 DE/OLB Quentin Groves (Auburn):
Any perceived reach or paying too much for Harvey
#155 ILB/OLB Thomas Williams (USC): It might have been a
little soon for him, but they needed depth at linebacker and obviously
like
him. At least he has experience in a backup role because he couldn’t
start for
the mighty Trojans. There is certainly no shame in that.
#159 CB Trae Williams (South Florida):
There were people who didn’t see a huge difference when comparing him
to his
more heralded teammate Jenkins, a first round pick. They keep him in
state and
add a player hungry to contribute on a defense that is looking really
scary. He
was projected to go in about the fourth round.
#213 RB Chauncey Washington (USC): Another Trojan, and the
rest of the NFL is going to be wondering next year how the Jags managed
to
steal another SoCal running back who will tear up the league. All he
really
needs is a little motivation which should come from Taylor, the man he
will
replace. He didn’t come to the combine or I believe he’s a third round
pick in
this draft. At their pro day he blazed, but who found time to notice
with
Rivers and Ellis around? I watched him just run and run at Cal
in the rain. He is a very nice pickup for their only offensive
addition.
MY DRAFT: #26 (DE/OLB) #58 (RB) #71 (SS) #89 (DT) #125
(OLB/ILB) #143 (CB) #158 (QB) #159 (OG)
Because of draft day deals they had five picks instead of
eight and didn’t select a safety, quarterback or guard as I expected.
Two of
those were addressed after the draft with solid additions as you will
see
below. Instead of pairing the end with a tackle on the defensive line
they went
with two pass rushers, but in general they attacked the areas I
expected them
to including taking Groves
and a
middle round cornerback.
PLAYER HITS: 1
POSITION HITS: 4/8
NEAR MISSES: 1/8 (DE instead of DT)
HOW DID THEY DO? This draft really hinges on Harvey
and Groves giving them a
deadly
pass rush. If it works out, they’re brilliant. If it doesn’t then I
hope Washington
is a really, really good running back. The two Williams picks are good
backups
in the fifth round, but neither is an eye opening selection.
UNDRAFTED ADDITIONS: QB Paul Smith (Tulsa) TE Adam Bishop
(Nevada) DE Alex Boston (Florida State) FB/TE Chris Brown (Tennessee)
FB
Anthony Catrone (Maine) WR Clyde Edwards (Grambling) CB Isaiah Gardner
(Maryland) FS/CB Michael Grant (Arkansas) WR Jeron Harvey (Houston) DT
Theo
Horrocks (Vanderbilt C/OG Drew Miller (Florida) OLB/ILB Lamar Myles
(Louisville) CB Brian Witherspoon (Stillman)
Analysis: They wound up with a couple decent players. It
starts with Smith at quarterback who could have been a late round pick
and
gives them the addition I expected. Three cornerbacks were added plus a
quality
safety in Grant who had a sixth round projection. Miller is a good
interior
lineman and makes up for them not drafting one as I said they would.
It’s an
okay group.
OVERALL DRAFT: 80/100
INCLUDING UDFA: 78/100
TENNESSEE
#24 RB Chris Johnson (East Carolina):
I heard late in the process he might sneak into the first round and
with 4.24
speed you can see why. However, if they really wanted a running back I
find it
hard to imagine them not trading up when Mendenhall dropped. This is
basically
a “second round” back for the third year in a row now. The hope is that
he will
add scoring punch and pop to the position where White runs like he is
bored.
Still, when Jones, Mendenhall and Johnson went with consecutive picks I
kept
wondering how he could Mendenhall could even be within 10-15 slots of
the other
two. Their speed back named Chris from last year (Henry) didn’t exactly
pan
out.
#54 DE Jason Jones (Eastern Michigan):
They are old at the defensive end position and bringing back Kearse
might not
work out. He was a late riser because, well, people were freaking out
over
anyone who had any ability to rush the passer. I’m not sure where
Peyton was on
draft day, but believe me there was sweat pouring down his forehead
over what
the Titans and Jaguars did. He probably sent a “Thank You” card to the
Texans
for not drafting any defensive ends.
#85 TE Craig Stevens (California):
Those who have criticized this pick just don’t know what they are
talking
about. He runs a 4.62, can catch and is known for his blocking ability.
What’s
not to like? For the Golden Bears he helped block for Lynch (now with Buffalo)
and Forsett (drafted by Seattle)
while having to settle for leftovers behind two drafted receivers
(Jackson and
Hawkins, see below) plus a third who caught on as a free agent
(Jordan). In
another system where he didn’t have to do so much work he’s a second
round
pick.
#103 DE William Hayes (Winstom-Salem): We were onto this guy
and actually interviewed him which means a little more than having him
listed
#66 at the position as Mel Kiper Jr. did. It’s still a reach don’t get
me
wrong, but when you really fall in love with a guy sometimes you lose
your mind
a little. I find it pretty egregious that they traded up 21 spots to
draft him
because I’m not sure the other 31 teams were going to jump on this guy.
#126 WR Lavelle Hawkins (California):
Vince Young finally gets the receiver everyone has been begging for
them to
add. Personally I don’t get it. Look, he’s never going to pass for
3,700 yards
in a season and I mean never. He’s just not that type of quarterback.
The guy
is a leader, scrambler and the type to just beat you somehow. In
Hawkins he
gets a nice complementary threat that got lost behind Jackson
although he was similarly productive. As a bonus he joins Stevens in
the
offense. Dallas might be
wishing
they had him instead of PacMan Jones who was acquired for this pick.
#134 OLB Stanford Keglar (Purdue): Other than being a
character risk this is a solid move. They needed a linebacker and quite
frankly
didn’t need to take any chances considering how many quality players at
the
position were on the board. Like a lot of teams they folded in favor of
his
ability. At first he’s a special teams monster and adds depth.
#229 CB Cary Williams (Washburn): After spending nearly 100
picks on the sidelines they close out their draft with a top small
school
prospect. He’s not exactly the replacement for Jones I expected them to
seek in
this incredibly talented pool of corners.
MY DRAFT: #24 (ILB/OLB) #54 (DT) #85 (CB) #124 (C) #126 (G)
#134 (WR) #157 (DE) #229 (RB)
The most notable thing for me was not adding anyone to their
offensive line although they did address it after the draft (see
below). I
expected a late round sleeper at running back, not a first round reach.
They
took a defensive end, two in fact, and hit the position earlier than I
projected. They also took the linebacker, wide receiver and cornerback
I
thought they would, but I didn’t see them adding a tight end.
PLAYER HITS: 0
POSITION HITS: 5/8
NEAR MISSES: 1/8 (DE instead of DT)
HOW DID THEY DO? I’m not too sure about this draft. Other
than the Cal picks who I
know can
play because I have seen them live they took some pretty big chances
here. Has
Al Davis taken over their war room at running back? They took the
fastest guy
at the combine two years in a row. Whoever runs the best time next year
should
just show up at their facility afterwards and ask for a uniform. The
selections
of Jones and Hayes indicate to me they realize this season is too soon
for them
to compete in a stacked division. Both need seasoning. Honestly I don’t
know
many teams who can take 8 players and be fairly certain none of them
will be
starting as rookies.
UNDRAFTED ADDITIONS: WR Jason Rivers (Hawaii)
LB Jerrell Freeman (Mary Hardin-Baylor) RB Omar Cuff (Delaware)
C Eric Scott (Kentucky) C
Fernando Velasco (Georgia)
SS Tony Joiner (Florida)
RB/WR Rafael
Little (Kentucky) DT
Barry Booker
(Virginia Tech)
Analysis: This is a small group, but four came out of the
SEC and most of these guys had a shot at being drafted. Cuff is a nice
sleeper
at running back, but where does he fit in? The same goes for Rivers at
receiver. Scott and Velasco give them the line help they needed. Booker
was a
possible late round pick, but I thought they would take a defensive
tackle
early in the draft.
OVERALL DRAFT: 70/100
INCLUDING UDFA: 74/100
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