6-Year Draft Review: Cincinnati Bengals

2006

Round 1, Pick 24 – Jonathan Joseph – South Carolina – Cornerback                                   

            Round 2, Pick 55 – Andrew Whitworth – LSU – Offensive Tackle/Guard

            Round 3, Pick 91 – Frostee Rucker – USC – Defensive End

            Round 4, Pick 123 – Domata Peko – Michigan State – Defensive Tackle

            Round 5, Pick 157 – A.J. Nicholson – Florida State – Linebacker

            Round 6, Pick 193 – Reggie McNeal – Texas A&M – Quarterback/Wide Receiver

            Round 7, Pick 209 – Ethan Kilmer – Penn State – Wide Receiver/Safety

            Round 7, Pick 231 – Bennie Brazell – LSU – Wide Receiver

            Supplemental Pick – Ahmad Brooks – Virginia – Linebacker

6-Year Draft Review: Buffalo Bills

2006

          Round 1, Pick 8 – Donte Whitner – Ohio State – Safety

            Round 1, Pick 26 – John McCargo – North Carolina State – Defensive Tackle

            Round 3, Pick 70 – Ashton Youboty – Ohio State – Cornerback

            Round 4, Pick 105 – Ko Simpson – South Carolina – Safety

            Round 5, Pick 134 – Kyle Williams – LSU – Defensive Tackle

            Round 5, Pick 143 – Brad Butler – Virginia – Offensive Tackle/Guard

            Round 6, Pick 178 – Keith Ellison – Oregon State – Linebacker

            Round 7, Pick 216 – Terrence Pennington – New Mexico – Offensive Tackle/Guard

            Round 7, Pick 248 – Aaron Merz – California – Offensive Guard

            Overall: Donte Whitner was considered a bit of a reach when was drafted with the 8^th overall pick, mostly due to hiss limited ball skills. However Whitner has been a solid contributor in the Bills secondary for the last five years. While he isn’t a ball hawk, he has proven to be a solid enforcer and a physical presence in defending the running game. He has missed some games due to injury, but for the most part he has been a good pick. However the second of their first round picks, John McCargo, never panned out after breaking his foot during his rookie year. He has been the biggest bust from this group. Ashton Youboty has experienced some injury problems over the course of his career, but has found a niche as a nickel and dime corner. Ko Simpson proved to be a quality starter in his rookie season but his career quickly went downhill after that. While he showed the kind of range that one would need to be a quality free safety, injuries and an inability to play assignment sound football led to him quickly being overwhelmed by opposing receivers. He was cut after the 2008 season and spent 2009 with the Lions, getting some starts but not making an impact. He was out of football last year. Kyle Williams was the surprise of this draft and has become one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL right now. While undersized, Williams plays with a ton of strength and excellent technique and tenacity. He became a Pro Bowl alternate after having a breakout year this past season. Brad Butler spent his rookie year developing. The next two years though, he spent starting at right guard and right tackle, playing well at both positions. However, an injury in 2009 led to him missing most of the season, after which he retired to focus on a political career. Keith Ellison was brought in to help the special teams, but wasn’t expected to contribute in the regular defense because he is undersized. However the Bills have had a hard time keeping Ellison off the field and opposing offenses have had a hard time keeping him from being productive. He is undersized and that has led to him having some injury problems the past two years, but for the most part, he has been a quality player. Terrance Pennington and Aaron Merz both made some contributions during their rookie season, but both were cut the following year and are out of the league now. On the whole, if this class was graded just after 2008 it would’ve been given a solid grade of B+. However, after the past two years with the fall of Ko Simpson, the retirement of Brad Butler and the injuries to Keith Ellison, the grade has suffered and the Bills are looking for replacements for a lot of these players because the best ones will be moving on in free agency.

            Final Grade: C

6-Year Draft Review: Denver Broncos

2006

          Round 1, Pick 11 – Jay Cutler – Vanderbilt – Quarterback                          

            Round 2, Pick 61 – Tony Scheffler – Western Michigan – Tight End

            Round 4, Pick 119 – Brandon Marshall – UCF – Wide Receiver

            Round 4, Pick 126 – Elvis Dumervil – Louisville – Defensive End/Outside Linebacker

            Round 4, Pick 130 – Domenik Hixon – Akron – Wide Receiver

            Round 5, Pick 161 – Chris Kuper – North Dakota – Offensive Guard

            Round 6, Pick 198 – Greg Eslinger – Minnesota – Offensive Center

            Overall: Jay Cutler was drafted to be the franchise quarterback that the Broncos had been looking for since John Elway retired. He showed that kind of potential in his rookie year and really broke out in 2008, when he passed for over 4500 yards.  He always has problems with turnovers, since he relies heavily on his arm to make plays. But he showed a lot of talent and aptitude for Mike Shanahan’s offense in his first three years. However it was not to be, as the hiring of Josh McDaniels quickly led to the trading of Cutler to the Bears. With the Bears, Cutler both led the league in interceptions in 2009 and led the Bears to the NFC Championship in 2010. Tony Scheffler brought an athletic presence to the tight end position, being able to stretch the field vertically. He brought a new dimension to the passing game during his time with Mike Shanahan. But much like the majority of this draft class, Josh McDaniels felt less inclined to give Scheffler those playing opportunities and his production suffered. He was traded to the Lions, where he gave them another option in the passing game, though he is stuck behind the more complete tight end in Brandon Pettigrew. Brandon Marshall showed great potential during his rookie season and earned a starting job in 2007. From there, Marshall proceeded to have three consecutive 100+ catch seasons with the Broncos and became one of the best receivers in the NFL. However a combination of off the field issues, contract demands and a coaching change led to Marshall being traded to the Miami Dolphins before the 2010 season. He didn’t produce quite as well with the Dolphins; however the Dolphins concerns at quarterback did contribute to that. Elvis Dumervil was brought as an undersized pass rush specialist and became probably the best player on Denver’s defense not named Champ Bailey the past few years. He impressed the coaching staff by raking up 21 sacks in his first two seasons. After a down year in 2008, he led the NFL in sacks in 2009, his first year as a 3-4 outside linebacker. While an injury kept him out for the entire season this year, he remains one of the scariest pass rushers to face in the NFL and he will be the face of the Broncos defense going forward. Domenik Hixon joined the team with a broken foot and showed little when he was given an opportunity with the team. However he bloomed into a superb slot receiver and kick returner with the Giants after he left Denver. After a lost rookie season, Chris Kuper made the most of the opportunity to start he was given in 2007. Including that year he has started 57 games at left guard. He has been a great find and should in that vein this upcoming year. Greg Esligner never saw the field in a short and injured plagued career. Overall this was a great draft, netting the Broncos a franchise-type quarterback who fit their coach’s offensive system, two offensive weapons in Scheffler and Marshall, a starting guard and a great pass rusher. However, the grade is dragged down because of the dismantling of this draft by Josh McDaniels. The quarterback and receiving threats were all traded away.

            Final Grade: B (Would’ve been an A if not for McDaniels)

6-Year Draft Review: Carolina Panthers

This will be a complete series of 6-year draft reviews and analysis of all 32 teams. I am reviewing the past six years because 2006 was the time I started really following the draft closely. I give each year a grade, but the only grades that are final are for those that are four years old, specifically 2006 and 2007. I believe that four years is the minimum needed to properly grade a draft and that's why those are final grades. Other grades may change with time. So without further ado, let's start the party. 

2006

Round 1, Pick 27 – DeAngelo Williams – Memphis – Runningback                        

            Round 2, Pick 58 – Richard Marshall – Fresno State – Cornerback

Round 3, Pick 88 – James Anderson – Virginia Tech – Linebacker

            Round 3, Pick 89 – Rashad Butler – Miami (Fl.) – Offensive Tackle

            Round 4, Pick 121 – Nate Salley – Ohio State – Safety

            Round 5, Pick 155 – Jeff King – Virginia Tech – Tight End

            Round 7, Pick 234 – Will Montgomery – Virginia Tech – Offensive Guard

            Round 7, Pick 237 – Stanley McClover – Auburn – Defensive End