Thoughts on the Draft.

Well, the draft’s done now and it’s time to see who did a good job and how didn’t.

Best Draft

The Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals have been doing a lot of moving in the draft in recent years and found themselves some quality players at need positions. Every pick has a place and each one should find themselves a spot on the roster. Grabbing Dre Kirkpatrick and Shaun Prater gives the Bengals some young corners to work into the lineup next year. Devon Still and Brandon Thompson give them more depth along the defensive line who should work their ways into the lineup. Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones give the Bengals some good options at receiver and hopefully some playmakers to pair with AJ Green. Kevin Zeitler should slide into one of the guard spot and start immediately. Orson Charles, George Ilkoa and Dan Herron will all be solid special teamers and can find spots to play in sub packages. Every single pick can help this team and they took no major risks in taking who they took, which is the textbook definition of a solid draft.

Worst Draft

The Cleveland Browns – The issues I have with Branden Weeden aside, and it’s very hard to set those aside, the Browns just missed out on improving their team. While I’m not convinced that Trent Richardson will be special, I really don’t have an issue with them taking him or trading up to get him. They needed a running back and clearly thought he would be the guy for them. As I’ve stated before, the Weeden pick was a waste. Quarterback wasn’t the issue last year and they could’ve done more with that pick than taking a quarterback whose only major advantage over Colt McCoy is arm strength. The following picks are what really label this as the worst draft this year. Their major issue last year was dropped passes. They needed to get more receivers, but with their second round pick, they took a right tackle. Granted, they needed a right tackle, however the tackle they took was a player they could’ve gotten later in that round, if not in the third. In the third round, they took a defensive tackle that won’t be anything but a rotational player. Defensive tackle is one of the team’s strengths and was something really didn’t need to address until the third day. Then finally took a small, slot-type receiver in the fourth round, but it was too late. Travis Benjamin is likely not going to be more than a slot receiver going forward. Their remaining six picks are really not that bad, but most of them are situational players and special teamers, and none are receivers other than Benjamin. They just missed the point of this draft. They needed to get a running back, a right tackle AND a receiver who could make an impact. They got the first two, but completely missed on the last, thinking that if they got a quarterback with a better arm, it would make up for a receiving corp. that dropped the most passes last year. Sadly, it looks like the Browns will be in the cellar for another five years.

Riskiest Draft

The New York Jets – The Jets rolled the dice this draft and are praying that they hit big. Quinton Coples played poorly most of the year, but was great as a junior and during the senior bowl. He has all the tools, but he chooses when he wants to play and I’m not sure where he’s going to fit along the Jets 3-4 front. He could bulk up and play the five technique, or slim down a bit and try to play outside linebacker, but they need to decide where they want him to play. After he finds a spot he needs to commit to playing that spot. He could be great, but he’s got huge bust potential. The same is true for their second round pick Stephen Hill. Hill has good physical skills, but is incredibly raw as a receiver. He’s not going to make Mark Sanchez great right away, but he could be great. Or he could be the next Charles Rogers. The Jets then took Demario Davis, whom I like, but I’m not sure where they plan to play him or how much he’s going to play. The rest of their picks are depth players and special teamers who could sneak into the starting lineup one day, but right now the entire draft hinges on what Coples and Hill do. It could be the boost the Jets need to get over the hump, or it could be the death knell for Rex Ryan’s tenure in New York.

Safest Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers – I know about the risk related to drafting Mike Adams, but the fact that they got him in the second round takes a lot of the risk out of it. Combined that pick with the fact that they got David DeCastro without having to trade up, they had one of the best drafts this year. They got one of the best guard prospects in years and a first round talent in the second round. Additionally, they were able to get an athletic linebacker who can slide into James Farrior’s spot in the third, an heir apparent to Casey Hampton in the fourth and a speedster running back in the fifth. Each pick was solid if not great value-wise and filled a need. I say this was safe because, other than the fourth round pick, the Steelers didn’t have to trade up to get their guys at a value selection.

Most Intriguing Draft

The Seattle Seahawks – A lot of analysts rip the Seahawks for their draft, but I’m very intrigued by it. The obvious thing to cling to is the Bruce Irvin pick. The Seahawks needed a pass rusher, but not a defensive end really. Chris Clemons is older, but still very good at what he does, rush the passer. They also re-signed Red Bryant, whom they really like but isn’t much of a pass rusher. Irvin gives them the option of kicking Bryant to the inside on long passing downs and maintaining a solid pass rush. They can also let him develop while Chris Clemons is still on the team. Honestly I like the pick. I also like Bobby Wagner. They were ripped for trading back and taking him when Mychal Kendricks was available to them at their original position. I acknowledge that, but I think that the Seahawks coaching staff valued what Wagner brought to the table more than what Kendricks could have. The Russell Wilson pick is the most interesting. While the Seahawks have Tarvaris Jackson in the fold and signed Matt Flynn, Wilson could be far more than a backup. It’s been common consensus that if he was 3 inches taller, he would have been a first round pick, meaning that he could very easily step in if one of the aforementioned players got hurt and never find his way to the bench again. Honestly I think that’s part of the plan. I think the Seahawks plan to let Flynn and Jackson compete for the starting job and if neither proves to be the guy they thought they were, Wilson will be slid into the starting lineup. Then there’s the selections of Ryan Turbin and Jaye Howard . Neither are starter material, but Turbin can be a big back complement to Marshawn Lynch and Howard is a good interior pass rusher who can come in to replace Alan Branch on shorter passing downs. Honestly if the Seahawks can find the right role for these players and let them loose to excel in it, we could be talking about this as one of the best drafts this year, in spite of the reaches for value.