It feels like the 2008 NFL Draft was a long time ago. If only training camp were coming up, then pre-season followed by the regular season where the Broncos will go 11-5 and get into the playoffs as a wildcard. Why the optimism for the playoffs after two straight seasons without making a trip to the playoffs? Because the Broncos had a great draft. They got exactly the players they needed to fill in at weak spots. In today's NFL first day picks need to come in be able to start for their team to be successful. Unless a QB is drafted there is no more time to groom a future player.
Not all 32 teams will be graded as a "winner" or "loser". Only time will really tell but there are some teams who stand out already.
Winners:
Kansas City Chiefs
They had better be a winner in the draft because their veteran talent pool is almost non-existent. The team fell apart after the left side of their offensive line retired and in came the rebuilders. The Chiefs just flat out tanked the season and as a result ended up with the 5th overall pick. They ended up with arguably the best player in the draft, drafting Glenn Dorsey. What really made them winners was what they did later by picking up a quality offensive linemen by trading up in the first round and getting Branden Albert. This guy will be a plow for Kansas City for years. They also got good value with Brandon Flowers and Jamaal Charles to spell LJ.
Pittsburgh Steelers
They didn't have to do anything and Rashard Mendenhall fell right to them. He'll be a Steeler running back for years to come, running over linebackers. They also got their "big" WR for Big Ben in getting Limas Sweed. As long as the offensive line fills in for Alan Fanaca the Steelers should have a really good offense.
Miami Dolphins
How can Parcells ever have a bad draft? He is a proven rebuilder. He got his kind of guy in Jake Long a "big" player and got two more Parcell's guys in the second round. Phillip Merling has first round talent but dropped because of an injury. He'll work great in Parcell's 3-4 defense and lastly they got their "big" QB in Chad Henne. Huh another Michigan guy. Should you be surprised? The new part owner of the Dolphins is a Michigan grad who is a big Wolverine booster.
LOSERS:
Oakland Raiders
Dear Al thanks for messing up another draft -Denver Broncos Fan. The Raiders run game was just fine. Top 10 in the NFL. Their run defense however was horrible. Lets see two really good defensive tackles available or take a running back who has problems with fumbling. Real good choice Al. You had no more picks in the second or third round so your whole draft revolves around one guy. All your eggs in one basket.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are just stupid and stubborn. Two first round picks for a player who doesn't want to be on your team? You didn't take that? Very few players are worth more than two first rounders. They are usually franchise QBs. Chad Johnson doesn't want to be there and you know he has a mouth to tell everyone that. Plus after all these years of drafting bad character guys they did it again drafting Anthony Collins, a guy with character issues. All this and they whiffed on getting a good defensive tackle they so wanted. The Saints just wanted one more.
Atlanta Falcons
I'm going to go out on a little bit of a limb and say their draft will not be successful. The Falcons had a ton of picks like the Chiefs but I don't think they'll get the value that the Chiefs got. #3 is too high for Matt Ryan. He's a slightly better version of their piano playing vet. The only thing that will get him through is his smarts because if you've ever seen him without pads he has no meat on him. The Falcons also made a bad gamble trading up to get back into the first round and take an offensive tackle. Sorry Atlanta you're too late the last quality one was taken by the Chiefs. Atlanta won't get first round value out of Sam Baker. In fact if you look back at USC offensive players taken in the past few years they're all disappointments (their big WRs, Reggie Bush, Matt "biggest man on campus" Leinhart, etc) Curtis Lofton is a quality linebacker from Oklahoma who's a sure tackler but the Falcons will need more than that.
Its no secret that the stars are falling from the sky
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