| 2005
NFL Draft Grade by Lucky Lester
Lucky Lester here with
my grading of the first day of drafts in
the 2005 NFL Draft. There was some obvious
choices made this day and some real boners
too. So go for it and have a read, let me
know what you think. Am I right or am I
wrong, close or so far gone that I need
telling off?
Before we get to who got picked, lets take
a look at who didn't get picked on Day 1!
BEST LEFT
1. Kyle Orton - Big, strong, gun
slinger.
2. Chirs Canty - Amazing physical
stature. Huge upside.
3. Marion Barbar III - Just a flat
out good runner.
4. Jerome Mathis - Ran a 4.26 and
plays like it.
5. Elton Brown - Is the best guard
in the draft.
6. Antaj Hawthorne - Slipping because
of off the field issues, still real good.
7. Lance Mitchell - If he ever heals
fully, some team gets real lucky.
8. Mike Goolsby - Does everything
right. My second best ILB.
9. Michael Boley - Best run stuffing
fumble causing OLB in the draft.
10. Michael Koenan - He might not
get drafted, but he'll kick well somewhere.
San
Francisco - The 49ers did admirably.
They didn't knock my socks off with any
picks, but grabbed the highest rated passer,
whom they liked the most, and maybe the
best all around lineman in David Baas. Frank
Gore is a "reach", but if he can
stay injury free, many people will tell
you he's a damn good football player. Snyder
adds a young prospect to a line that was
suspect a year ago. First day grade:
B
Miami
- The Dolphins did great. They needed a good
back desperately; they got Ronnie Brown who
almost everyone considered the best back.
He's gonna be real good. All Matt Roth did
was get the job done throughout his entire
career and does it with the proper nastiness
of a pit bull. To snag Channing Crowder in
the third round was pretty crafty as well.
Crowder has all the skills in the world and
will instantly demand playing time. With Brown
being the best player and their biggest need,
add on the fact that they snagged two-projected
first rounders in Crowder and Roth, and the
Dolphins started the Saban era with a flash.
First day grade: A
Cleveland
- Cleveland needed a lot of things, but probably
needed defense most. That's why I have to
praise Romeo for plucking Braylon Edwards
with the 3rd pick. With the 3rd pick you pick
the best player, and Edwards might just be
the best player in the entire draft. He'll
help a receiving corps, which looks pretty
solid right now. Brodney Pool came out early
because he knew he was the best safety available.
The Browns realized that too and were happy
to get Pool at the start of the 2nd. I'm not
too sure about Frye, but Cleveland does need
a young quarterback, and maybe he's the answer?
First day grade: B
Chicago
- I love Benson. He's a damn good player who's
a good kid and he's going to have a good career.
That doesn't take away from the fact that
the Bears pooped in the bed. I know they're
switching offenses and maybe they know Thomas
Jones isn't going to work. But I have to say
he was the only good thing the Bears had last
year. He played great when Grossman was leading
the team. The Bears aren't a good team, and
they need lots of improvements to become one.
Even if Benson is an improvement, they're
still only improving a strength. Though Bradley
has been moving up, the Bears were fooled.
He was moving up from the 6th round to the
4th. Picking him in the second when good players
at needs were running like rapids seems a
little ridiculous. First day grade: D
Tampa
Bay - The Bucs did all right. It was smart
not to trade up and swipe Smith, because they
have a good young guy in Chris Simms and they
just signed Brian Griese, who was pretty good
last year, and had at least one flat out brilliant
year. I like Carnell Williams, he was the
starter in Auburn for a reason. He's not an
injury problem as people have said. Many good
players had one injury in their career, that
doesn't make them problems. Barrett Rudd will
help out on defense, and is the type of Backer
the Bucs fancy. Alex Smith was the second
best tight end, and the best one without a
dirty rain cloud of injury concerns following
him around. Colmer might be a little reach,
but I've got to trust the Bucs with taking
him where they did. First day grade: B
Tennessee
- Pacman Jones was a great pick, because he's
the best cover corner in the draft who might
be real special, and corner is the biggest
need for the Titans who lost both their starters
Andre Dyson (Seahawks) and Samari Rolle (Ravens).
After that I think Mr. Roos was a bit of a
reach, but has great potential and fills another
need area for Tennessee. Courtney Roby is
a speedster with a gangster mentality when
it comes to going over the middle, and can
make things happen after he catches it. He
also has good size. Brandon Jones has the
same body as Roby, but isn't as fast and isn't
as special. He's a reach for a team who can't
afford one, they let half their guys go because
of cap reasons and need to get better in bulk
to compete. First day grade: B-
Minnesota
- The Vikings did real nice. I love their
early pick of Williamson, though he was rising,
picking him above Williams shows that they
really wanted the superstar hopeful. Williams
is fast, strong, and has shown a possibility
to do all things demanded of a top-flight
receiver. Culpepper could love this guy. You
can bet he won't be mooning fans either. Erasmus
James is my top rated defensive end. He is
a beast, and doesn't really have the injury
concerns he's being labeled as to having.
Ask anyone who's coached the guy, he's amazing.
Marcus Johnson is very versatile, has great
athletic feet and size, and has the motor
and want to block backers on the second level.
Solid. Dustin Fox could be a good pick up.
He played corner in college, but he'll be
a safety in Minnesota. He's a great athlete,
something that makes good safeties great.
First day grade: A
Oakland
- The Raiders always baffle me. Sure, they're
known to find a little gold from time to time
on draft days, but they also mine for a few
years and get nothing with a lot of guys.
I like Fabian Washington, and he's probably
an improvement to Buchanan. Stanford Routt
could have been had a lot later than 38th,
but then again Al just takes who he wants
when he wants them, not a very solid draft
tactic if you ask me. Andrew Walter has a
lot of upside, but reminds me of Drew Bledsoe,
who hasn't been all that bad, and still starts
in this league. So maybe he's a good pick.
Morrison is my favorite pick because he's
not a workout super hero, instead getting
his glory on the field. Al made a mistake
with him. First day grade: C
Arizona
- The Cardinals put together my favorite day
one draft. I think they could take a nap on
day two and still look good overall. Antrel
Rolle looks like a special football player
to me. I know it's stupid to compare guys
just because they went to the same school,
but he really reminds me a lot of Ed Reed.
Same attitude, same play making style, same
toughness, and they're both all around good
football players. J.J. Arrington had a big
year at Cal, he's a fast back who can score
from anywhere. He'll be a good back up to
Marcel Ship, not to mention some good insurance
if the injury demons visit Marcel once again.
Eric Green is a second or first round talent
in my eyes, so 75th is a solid place to take
him. I think he'll help right away. At 95
Dennis Green stole Darryl Blackstock. He'll
be a good football player. I think many teams
must have thought he had been picked already.
First day grade: A+
Washington
- Don't get me wrong, Carlos Rodgers could
be the best corner in the bunch and Jason
Campbell might have the largest amount of
potential and upside, not to mention he's
a big time leader on and off the field, but
when grading their draft thus far, I can't
ignore the idiocy of it. They traded their
first round pick for next year for the 25th
pick this year in a relatively middle of the
pack group of athletes. You know that pick
next year will be lower than 20. Probably
lower than 10. Though I think they took a
couple good guys, they once again tried to
get better in a hurry by sacrificing some
future. Good move? Stupid. First day grade:
D
Detroit
- I can't fail the Lions for picking one of
my favorite players in the draft, but if anybody
should have overlooked Mike Williams, it was
these Detroit Lions. I hope this doesn't mean
that Charlie Rogers isn't healing properly,
because he has the potential to be great.
The Lions could have really used Derrick Johnson.
Do I think lining Williams and Williams and
Rogers up together is filthy in a good way?
Uh huh. But do I think lining up Rogers and
Roy Williams together and having a superstar
linebacker is better? I do. Shaun Cody is
a good value pick, and with the ability to
play tackle and end, he gives the Lions a
lot of options to take pressure off Shaun
Rogers. Stanley Wilson is a fast corner with
only a little experience, but some project
him as a better pro than he was a college
player. I don't understand that, but it sounds
good. First day grade: C-
Dallas
- Cowboys be darned. Parcells and Jones had
a great first day. My only hope is that they
can pick some day two guys that make me proud
to hate the 'Boys. As for day one, they got
everything they wanted, every position they
wanted, and each pick had real good value.
I'm sure it's nice to get your top three guys
in the first two rounds. Ware is an outstanding
player from a small school, but something
tells me the move up isn't going to vex him
much. Spears is a quick rise player who looks
like a stud in the making, and Burnett is
just good. First day grade: A
San
Diego - I like what the Chargers got on
day one. I know they were hoping for Mike
Williams to drop to them at 12, but Merriman
is as good as it gets for 3-4 teams. He'll
help the Chargers in a big way right off the
bat. Have you seen his highlights? Sick. Luis
Castillo is better than he's been graded.
I think he's at least top 3 D-tackle, I'd
even go as far as saying he's the best in
the draft. That might seem like a little much,
but he's good. Both their first round picks
upgrade their most vulnerable side of the
ball. Vincent Jackson could be quite the player.
Jackson has Mike Williams type size, with
a little better speed, with a little less
hands. He's a good pick for the Chargers though.
Teamed up with Antonio Gates, there's going
to be some match up problems for defenses.
First day grade: B+
New
York Giants - The Giants didn't have a
first pick this year, so lets talk about the
Manning trade for a second. If Manning were
in this draft, teams would have given an arm
and a leg for him, not to mention a flurry
of draft picks, so maybe it wasn't all that
bad after all? Corey Webster was a good pick
in round 2, and Justin Tuck was nice in round
three. Webster is solid and should help in
a hurry. Tuck has big potential and could
learn some things from Mr. Strahan. Both are
good value and need picks. First day grade:
B
Houston
- I kind of like Houston, so hopefully their
moves before the draft work out for them.
A 2nd and a 3rd for Buchanan? Maybe the Raiders
didn't bring out the best in him, he had a
ton of upside when he came into the league.
Travis Johnson was listed as the best D-Tackle
in the draft, but had slipped in the last
weeks, so this might be high for him. I think
Alex Barron would have been the right pick
here, so they get no bonus points from me.
I don't think Johnson will help them improve
up front. Can't really argue with that. Morency
is a thick back that doesn't play like a smasher.
He is good and productive which is a good
thing for a back up to be, which is what he'll
be. I do think they could have found a starter
somewhere else, and waited for a back up running
back. First day grade: C-
Carolina
- I think Thomas Davis was a reach, especially
with Derrick Johnson on the board. I know
Davis will be a safety, which is a big need
in Carolina, but I'm not sure if he's top
15 material. Eric Shelton is another reach,
and I really don't think the Panthers are
in need of running backs, regardless of what
others say. When Nick Goings has three 100-yard
games, you're solid with what you got returning
in Foster and Davis. Evan Mathis was a solid
pick at 79, as he gives the Panthers options
in where to put Whale. Ariyyah Ellison is
a solid player as well, giving them good picks
in round 3. I'm not sure how to grade them,
because Davis could be a stud safety, it just
depends. I do think both picks early where
high for those prospects. First day grade:
C
Kansas
City - The Chiefs really had nothing to
do with their brilliant first pick, Derrick
Johnson just kind of fell from the heavens.
I guess if you're gonna give someone credit
though, you've got to go with the team that
finally pulled the trigger and picked him.
I'd give them an A just for that if they didn't
select a frickin punter in round 3. I know
they've made a lot of moves in free agency,
but a punter, they didn't make that many moves!
However, they did manage to trade Patrick
Surtain for a couple picks today, so adding
him and Johnson in the same day looks pretty
good to me. First day grade: B
New
Orleans - The Saints picked up a couple
guys who can help them immediately in Jammal
Brown and Josh Bullocks. Alfred Fincher should
add a lot on special teams and may develop.
Brown had hop scotched over Alex Barron on
most peoples draft boards as top O-tackle.
He's meaner than Barron, stronger than Barron,
and might just be a flat out better prospect.
I also like that they moved up at just the
right time to pick up the player they coveted.
Many teams move up for what seems like no
reason at all, (see Seahawks). Bullocks is
a good playmaker, which might have had a slow
year because of the defensive scheme in Nebraska.
He projects well. First day grade: B+
Cincinnati
- Cincinnati took a chance on a real good
football player in David Pollack. He just
flat out plays football like he's from the
old school. His hustle and want-to got him
where he is. Marvin Lewis liked what he saw
and he took it. Taking another Georgia defensive
product, Lewis took Odell Thurman in round
two. Many had Thurman as the top ILB, and
he's a playmaker that can instantly step in
on defense and special teams. Chris Henry
is underrated as well. Though he might be
labeled as somewhat of a problem-case, he's
got all the physical tools in the world. He's
big, fast, and can jump out of the gym. If
the Bengals can get all three of these players
to perform to their ability, their team should
be much improved. First day grade: B
St.
Louis - Alex Barron was a good pick at
19. He has the most upside of any tackle in
the draft. He's inconsistent, and lacks the
physical dominance factor, but has great feet
and is a truly gifted athlete with very good
size. After that, they took a downhill slide.
The picked a corner in round two who struggled
at all star events, and seems to be a workout
warrior. They grabbed a safety that can't
hit, which seems to be a major flaw to me.
And they took a guy who couldn't get through
the combine or his school workout without
an injury of some sort. Oh Mike! First
day grade: D
Buffalo
- To get the full grade on this, add J.P.
Losman with a year under his belt as a back
up. It doesn't look so bad now. Losman might
have been the top quarterback in this draft,
and now he's starting after a year behind
Drew. As for their actual picks, they went
Miami with Roscoe Parrish and Kevin Everett.
Parrish should be wonderful as part of the
receiving stars in Buffalo. He'll surely be
a top returner. He has nothing against him
but size, or lack there of. But do the Bills
need another receiver? Kevin Everett isn't
a bad pick up in round 3. He's a big target
who had limited opportunities behind Winslow
for most of his career. He could be a find.
First day grade: C+
Jacksonville
- Though many are saying Matt Jones is a "big
reach for the Jags" I'd have to say he
might have as much upside as any other player.
At 6'6 with good hands and a good off-season
of workouts, the Jags had a pretty good feel
for what he might become: a really fast, really
big target for a young Byron Leftwich. Risks
like Jones are easy to take. Khalif Barnes
has a lot of upside, and he might play a lot
better with a team that's not the Washington
Huskies. I like Barnes. I think he's a good
athlete who has a lot of upside as well. Scott
Starks is the only corner added to a team
who definitely needs secondary help. I think
he'll be able to step in and help right away.
Many say he's too short, but only 1/2 an inch
shorter than Pacman Jones, and he has 4.37
speed and a huge vertical as well. He's a
good pick here. First day grade: B
Baltimore
- Mark Clayton should be great in Baltimore.
Paired with Derrick Mason, he should be part
of a wonderful thing on a team that's been
dying for some solid options besides Todd
Heap. Dan Cody is a good player, and as far
as value goes, he's right up there as well.
Though he was announced as a backer, I think
Cody has a chance to be a good end in the
4-3 in Baltimore. I'm not sure the plan for
him, but he's a good football player who might
surprise some people. Terry is a developmental
player who won't help next year. Baltimore
traded up to get him, and though you never
know, this year especially, it looks as though
they could have waited to grab him. First
day grade: B
Seattle
- What? Oh I get it, Holmgren is trying to
get fired, and secretly the new GM is still
employed by his old boss in Baltimore. Okay,
maybe I'm overreacting but as a Seahawk fan
I was hoping for a little more. I think Spencer
is going to be great; he's got tons of upside
and is good already. Tobek is old, so he's
a need pick as well. I'll give the Hawks the
benefit of the doubt and say they didn't reach
to get Spencer, though that is mighty generous
of me. Spencer might give the Hawks one of
the best offensive lines, a young one at that,
in the league. Even so, they traded up to
get Tofu, I mean Lofa Tatupu, in the second
round, when they could have easily waited
to get him much later. He'll help the Hawks,
but that's not the point. David Greene? Did
the Hawks watch any game film on this guy?
People like to say something nice about him
and say he's accurate. No he isn't. He's not
even a good athlete. When's the last time
a left-handed poor athlete did well in the
NFL? I can't seem to find any. He may be a
leader, but leaders can do lots of things,
like run small businesses. I like Leroy Hill,
but the reached for him too. This was a bad
first day for Seahawk faithful. Then again
if you're faithful to the Hawks you've had
lots of bad days. I speak from experience.
First day grade: F
Green
Bay - I like the Aaron Rodgers pick. He's
a perfect fit in Green Bay, and actually is
very Farve like. I would like to be at one
of their practices to watch them perform against
each other in drills, each always trying to
win, and Favre always winning, but teaching
Rodgers how to do it when he leaves. I like
that they didn't reach to replace Favre, but
it also might be a hit to a Packer team who
might be spending their last year with Brett
as their leader. They could have used some
people now. After that the Packers just flat
out reached down the well and pulled out Nick
Collins and Terrence Murphy. Both were taken
in round two, neither were projected before
round 4 or 5! First day grade: C-
Denver
- I don't know what the Broncos were thinking,
except for picking Maurice Clarett of course.
I mean, if anybody else had picked him on
the first day I would be reaming them a new
one, but since it was Shanahan, I'd have to
say the got a steal in Clarett, maybe I'll
be the only one who says that, and he'll be
great, because he's playing in Denver, and
I'll look brilliant! Before that they picked
a corner, and a corner, and, oh, another corner.
They lost Herndon, but did they need three
on day 1? I like Paymah, and Williams is a
good player too. Foxworth was a big part of
a stingy defense in Maryland. But all three?
They needed more than corner today. First
day grade: C-
N.Y.
Jets - The Jets got Doug Jolley, whose
a pretty good tight end. They really wanted
a tight end and either didn't really like
the top tight ends or didn't think they'd
be around to get Miller. Either way, they
get help in Jolley. Mike Nugent might have
been a reach, but they really wanted him,
and I think they really like Miller and thought
they could get him later in round 2. Nugent
is a fantastic kicker who is an upgrade from
Doug Brien. Miller is a fast corner with good
cover skills who should help out in nickel
packages from the beginning. Pouha is a good
run-stuffer. Overall I think the Jets made
some upgrades. First day grade: B-
Atlanta
- Roddy White is a reach, but he's big and
fast and lets face it, Vick needs some weapons
if he's ever going to flourish like he should.
White is big and does many things well. Maybe
a reach, but I think he's worthy of 27. Jonathan
Babineaux gets the job done without perfect
size or strength. He's quick and could be
an end. Jordan Beck was a stud in D-IAA, maybe
the best backer there. He's a small school
player who I believe can step up to the NFL
without any big growing pains. I think the
Falcons missed out on chances to fill bigger
needs. First day grade: B-
Indianapolis
- The Colts have a lackluster secondary at
best. They added Kelvin Hayden in round 2
and Marlin Jackson in round 1. Both will help
immediately, both are very good athletes and
Marlin Jackson has lots of experience. Both
could possible play safety. The Colts did
well addressing needs in the first two rounds,
but then really reached for Vincent Burns,
which I think was silly when a player with
the upside of Chris Canty was still on the
board. But, maybe they see a little Freeney
in Burns. First day grade: B
Pittsburgh
- The Steelers benefited from the Jolley trade
to New York and picked up the best tight end
in the draft, Health Miller. Miller is touted
to have the best hands in the draft. He's
a converted quarterback, which would mean
every single person starting on the offensive
side of the ball in Steeler land was once
a QB. Crazy! Seriously though, Miller's a
good pick, giving young buck Roethlisberger
a safety option. McFadden is a fast and confident
corner who can jump in and help right away.
He's good in coverage and aggressive in the
run. He'll smack you. Essex is a project,
but some think he can turn into a top flight
left tackle, and the Steelers seem to find
good players with lots of potential. First
day grade: B+
Philadelphia
- Mike Patterson is a questionable pick for
the Eagles. He's not a run stopper, and that
seems to be what they need. Hmmm... Reggie
Brown was an underachiever in college but
that didn't persuade the Eagles to pick someone
else with their early 2nd round choice. Matt
McCoy is very good, and I was happy to see
someone take him where he belongs. He wasn't
invited to workout at the combine, which is
just down right silly. Moats was a good pick.
He's a good complement to Brian Westbrook,
and the Eagles are always looking for good
options in the backfield. The first two? The
second two were good. First day grade:
C-
New
England - Though he might be a good fit
with the Patriots, Logan Mankins would have
still been there in round 3. Or so I imagine.
Ellis Hobbs III was a good pick for a Patriot
team who started rookies and a receiver at
corner in the Super Bowl they just won. Nick
Kaczur has a cool name and also seems to fit
the mold of good offensive linemen in New
England. Look for the Patriots to find some
steals on Day 2. But as for day 1, I'd say
it was average. First day grade: C+.
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