| 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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