Draft Grades - First 10 Picks

1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - A
Really the Lions could have picked anyone and it would have helped their team. Stafford should be able to become a steady starter in this league. Overall a very good selection.
2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor - A
Smith wasn't my top rated tackle but might be a better fit for this team. Either way they went the right direction with helping Marc Bulger.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU - B-
The Chiefs reached here. If they had been able to trade down to one of the teams that wanted Sanchez they still would have been able to get him. However he does fit the defense and fills a need.
4. Seattle Seahawks: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest - A+
Anytime you can get the best player in the draft its a good move. Curry will step in as a starter right away.
5. New York Jets: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC - A+
So the Jets ended up being the team to pull the trigger a move up for Mark Sanchez. What is amazing is that they didn't really give up that much to get him.
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama - A-
Smith will be a solid player for the Bengals, however Monroe was still on the board and is not only a better player but a better fit in the Bengals pass happy offense.
7. Oakland Raiders: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland - D
Darrius Heyward-Bey can be a very good player. However this pick is an example of why the Raiders are a poorly run team. If you decide that you want Heyward-Bey instead of Crabtree or Maclin that fine, but drafting him with the 7th pick is not a good decision. the Raiders could have easily moved down five or six spots and still gotten him, for less money and with more picks in hand.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia - A-
The Jags should have gone receiver here especially with Crabtree still on the board. That being said Monroe will be a very good player that will be able to help them right away.
9. Green Bay Packers: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College - B+
Raji is a very good player but not at a position of desperate need for the Packers.
10. San Francisco 49ers: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech- A+
When you get a chance to acquire a player of this caliber at this point in the draft you can't pass up.