Tuitt is one of the bigger physical defensive lineman in the country. Great speed for a man his size at 6’6, 303 lbs. Has been a disruptive specimen for the Fighting Irish and will be looked at to have an ever bigger impact his Junior year than he did his Sophomore year (12 sacks and 3 forced fumbles). Tuitt is the type of player that can play in any scheme in the NFL. Regardless of where he plays he should be seen as one of the top defenders in the entire 2014 NFL Draft class.

• Huge size at 6’6, 303 lbs.
• Even with his big size plays quick and has great athleticism
• Has completely man handled opposing offensive lineman
• Ability to play multiple spots along the defensive line
• Tuitt will be only 20 years old when the 2014 NFL Draft rolls around
• Has yet to reach his full potential, has improved each year at ND
• Talented enough to anchor a defensive line
• Will make a big impact early in his NFL career

The post Stephon Tuitt NFL Draft Prospect Profile appeared first on DraftSeason.

With the news of the NFL Draft most likely moving to the month of May, what better way to celebrate than ripping off a brand new 2014 NFL Mock Draft. Many people don’t seem entirely happy with the move to May, but at least it means the draftseason will be that much longer…. Check out the full 1 round mock with a handful of updates to each team including and updated order. Check out the full mock here.

7. New York Jets Anthony Barr LB, UCLA
Analysis: Anthony Barr has the making to be a very special player in the NFL. Barr is about as raw as they come but had a huge year last year putting up 13 sacks and constantly being a force to reckon with.

The post Updated 2014 NFL Mock Draft appeared first on DraftSeason.

Colvin made a wise decision on returning to Oklahoma for his Senior season. The  Sooner defensive back made the move back to cornerback last year after spending his sophomore year at safety. Colvin is a versatile player who will be looked upon to be the leader of the Sooners defense during his Senior year.

Great size and ball skills to be a very solid corner in the NFL, should be a top 5 corner come the 2014 NFL Draft.

Quick draft breakdown:

• Good size at 6’0, 182 lbs
• Can play multiple spots in the secondary
• Plenty of experience with 3 years of starting under his belt
• Very solid ball skills
• Above average tackler for a cornerback
• Makes plays in the backfield can get his hands on the quarterback
• Physical corner who will be able to hold his own

The post Aaron Colvin NFL Draft Prospect Profile appeared first on DraftSeason.

2010 Arizona Cardinals

Original Class                                                                    

Round 1. Dan Williams NT, Tennessee
Round 2. Daryl Washington ILB, TCU
Round 3. Andre Roberts WR, Citadel
Round 4. O’Brien Schoffield OLB, Wisconsin
Round 5. John Skelton QB, Fordham
Round 6. Jorrick Calvin CB, Troy
Round 7. Jim Dray TE, Stanford

Grade: The Cardinals got some good players in this draft, lead by 2nd round pick, ILB Daryl Washington.  Before his recent legal woes, Washington was a Pro Bowl quality linebacker who had tallied 319 tackles and 15 sacks in his career.  First round pick Dan Williams has been a disappointment, as he’s only amassed 74 career tackles and isn’t even currently a starter.  Andre Roberts has proven to be a solid slot receiver and O’Brien Schoffield has given the team some production as a rotational pass rusher.  John Skelton started a few games at QB but proved he couldn’t handle the gig.  This was a bit of an up and down class but as a wole it was slightly above average.   C+

Redraft
Round 1. Devin McCourty CB, Rutgers
Round 2. Daryl Washington LB, TCU
Round 3. Jimmy Graham TE, Miami
Round 4. O’Brien Schofield OLB, Wisconsin
Round 5. Reshad Jones S, Oklahoma
Round 6. Ted Larsen G/C, NC St.
Round 7. Stevie Brown CB/S, Michigan

Looking back now, the Cardinals could have really shored up one of their perennial weaknesses, their secondary in the 2010 Draft.  They could have had a solid starter at either corner or safety in Devin McCourty with their first choice, and later landed quality players in Reshad Jones and Stevie Brown.  They would have likely stayed with their second round pick of Daryl Washington and they made the right choice in round 4 with Schofield.  While Andre Roberts is a good player, they could have landed a dynamic, game changing tight end in Jimmy Graham in round 3.  Ted Larsen isn’t a sexy pick but he has 27 career starts and likely would have had even more playing on this porous Arizona Cardinals offensive line. The Cardinals 2010 Draft wasn’t terrible by any means, but it could have been downright epic.

The post What Could of Been – 2010 Arizona Cardinals Redraft appeared first on DraftSeason.

Top Quarterbacks in 2014

The 2014 NFL Draft quarterback class has some sizzle to it, and should be night and day compared to the 2013 draft class. There are a handful of guys that could come out of this class and be instant faces to their franchise. While it is still very, VERY early in the 2014 draftseason below are my current top 4 to keep an eye on leading up to the college football season.

Height 6’3 | Weight 218 lbs.

Analysis: Bridgewater has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation since he stepped onto the scene as a freshman for the Cardinals. The Louisville quarterback not only is a true passer with a great arm and accuracy (68.% completion percentage), but also makes big plays with his legs. The scary part about Bridgewater is he has yet to reach his potential, he seems to get better with each game he plays. At this point, I see it very difficult for someone to leapfrog him to be the #1 quarterback prospect in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Height 6’1 | Weight 200 lbs.

Analysis: Johnny Football became a household name last year with his on the field heroics and exciting style of play. Manziel ended up putting up some pretty serious numbers wiht 3,700+ yards and 26 touchdowns in the air all while having a completion percentage above 65%. While he is still very rough around the edges especially as a pocket passer, he has the ‘it’ factor that will drive teams crazy to get their hands on him. Seems to be a bit of a wild-card off the field but time will tell.

Height 6’3 | Weight 221 lbs.

Analysis: Fales has bounced around from Nevada to Monterery Peninusla College to San Jose St. After Fales dominated at Monterery he transfered to San Jose St. where he instantly started to turn some heads. Fales has the ideal size and arm to be an NFL franchise quarterback. While is much of a runner or threat to make plays with his feet he makes up for it with his smarts and his arm. If Fales can prove that last year was no fluke he could end up being one of the hotter comodities come next April.

Height 6’1 | Weight 225 lbs.

Analysis: Boyd is another playmaker who puts up big plays with both his arm and his legs. Not only did Boyd rush for 700+ yards last year, he also tossed 36 touchdowns. The Clemson quarterback does everything at a high level and is a leader on the field. Great accuracy and could possibly even surpass last years numbers with another year teaming up with playmake Sammy Watkins. Boyd is another quarterback that with a big year could elevate his already high draft stock.

A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama
Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia
Derek Carr QB, Fresno St.
Logan Thomas QB, Virginia Tech

The post Quarterback Rankings for the 2014 NFL Draft appeared first on DraftSeason.

First edition of the Ultimate Mock for the 2014 draftseason is here. Even though it is only the beginning of May we just couldn’t help ourselves. One thing is becoming clear, the 2014 draft class has more heavy hitters with more star power than the 2013 class. With guys like Clowney, Bridgewater and possibly Manziel the 2014 draft is looking to be a very exciting one indeed. Check out the full 1st round projections in the first Ultimate 2014 NFL Mock Draft. Check out full first round here.

1. Jaguars (Onebar) – Teddy Bridgewater QB, Louisville
Analysis: It is painful to pass on a talent like Clowney, but the Jags won’t be going anywhere without a quarterback. Bridgwater is an all-out stud and has all the tools to be a top franchise quarterback in the NFL.

The post Updated 2014 NFL Mock Draft appeared first on DraftSeason.

Below is a full breakdown of the NFC NFL Draft Grades. We give you a quick breakdown of the hits and misses for each team along with a final grade and full recap of every pick.

NFC NORTH

Green Bay Packers

Packers made a splash at the running back position squashing any needs moving forward in the backfield. Datone Jones should see the starting lineup week 1 and have an immediate impact on a defensive line looking for a jolt. The mid to later rounds have a few guys like Tretter and Hyde that could also contribute as a rookie.
Overall Grade: B+

Pick 1: Datone Jones DE, UCLA
Pick 2: Eddie Lacy RB, Alabama
Pick 3: David Bakhtiari OT, Colorado
Pick 4: JC Tretter G, Cornell
Pick 5: Jonathan Franklin RB, UCLA
Pick 6: Micah Hyde CB, Iowa
Pick 7: Nate Palmer LB, Illinois St.
Pick 8: Charles Johnson WR, Grand Valley St.
Pick 9: Kevin Dorsey WR, Maryland
Pick 10: Sam Barrington LB, South Florida

Minnesota Vikings

Very rare do you see a team leave the first round with 3 picks. Not only did they get 3 picks, but all three could end up being starters in their rookie season. Floyd was an all out steal at 23 and Rhodes/Patteson were just icing on the cake. While they neglected the linebacking position until the mid to late rounds I think Vikings fans should be very excited about the 2013 Draft Class.
Overall Grade: A-

Pick 1: Sharrif Floyd DT, Florida
Pick 2: Xavier Rhodes CB, Florida St.
Pick 3: Cordarrelle Patterson WR, Tennesse
Pick 4: Gerald Hodges LB, Penn St.
Pick 5: Jeff Locke P, UCLA
Pick 6: Jeff Baca G, UCLA
Pick 7: Michael Mauti LB, Penn St.
Pick 8: Travis Bond G, North Carolina
Pick 9: Everett Dawkins DT, Florida St.

Chicago Bears

1st rounder Kyle Long will be a huge upgrade along the offensive line and linebackers Bostic/Greene fill a large need for the Bears at the linebacking position. Beyond that I wasn’t overly impressed with the Bears draft. I wish they would of nabbed a tight end to go along with Bennett and also another receiver to add to the mix. But the linebackers alone will point the Bears defense in the right direction for the future.
Overall Grade: C

Pick 1: Kyle Long G/OT, Oregon
Pick 2: Jon Bostic LB, Florida
Pick 3: Khaseem Greene LB, Rutgers
Pick 4: Jordan Mills OT, Louisiana Tech
Pick 5: Cornelius Washington LB, Georgia
Pick 6: Marquess Wilson WR, Washington St.

Detroit Lions

Ziggy Ansah will make or break the 2013 class for the Lions. Huge upside but a boom or bust type of player that they HAD to take. Darius Slay is a burner but was a bit of a reach for me in round 2. I like the Devin Taylor pick who will add some much needed depth at the defensive end position. Also I think the Warford pick was huge value and could be a starter day 1.
Overall Grade: B

Pick 1: Ziggy Ansah DE, BYU
Pick 2: Darius Slay CB, Mississippi St.
Pick 3: Larry Warford G, Kentucky
Pick 4: Devin Taylor DE, South Carolina
Pick 5: Sam Martin P, Appalachian St.
Pick 6: Corey Fuller WR, Virginia Tech
Pick 7: Michael Williams TE, Alabama
Pick 8: Brandon Hepburn LB, Florida A&M

NFC EAST

Washington Redskins

Even though the Skins didn’t have a 1st round pick this year they came out of the 2013 NFL Draft with some solid selections. I had them pegged to go secondary early and often and that is exactly what they did. Amerson is a ball hawking corner who should get his share of INTs and Phillip Thomas/Bacarri Rambo will add some depth at safety, with either possibly getting a shot int he starting lineup.
Overall Grade: C+

Pick 1: David Amerson CB, North Carolina St.
Pick 2: Jordan Reed TE, Florida
Pick 3: Phillip Thomas S, Fresno St.
Pick 4: Chris Thompson RB, Florida St.
Pick 5: Brandon Jenkins DE, Florida St.
Pick 6: Bacarri Rambo S, Georgia
Pick 7: Jawan Jamison RB, Rutgers

New York Giants

Even though the Pugh pick was a bit of a surprise, he is solid and will most likely start day 1 on the Giants offensive line. They also managed to grab a few solid picks in mid rounds with Hankisn and Moore who were once looked at as sure 1st round picks. I also like the Nassib pick, huge value and even if he never plays a snap for the Giants will be good assurance on the bench.
Overall Grade: C

Pick 1: Justin Pugh OT, Syracuse
Pick 2: Johnathan Hankins DT, Ohio St.
Pick 3: Damontre Moore LB, Texas A&M
Pick 4: Ryan Nassib QB, Syracuse
Pick 5: Cooper Taylor S, Richmond
Pick 6: Eric Herman G, Ohio
Pick 7: Michael Cox RB, UMass

Dallas Cowboys

Was not a fan of Frederick in round 1, I think they should of traded back or flat out took someone else, I had Frederick as a late 2nd early 3rd round value. I did however like the selections of Terrance Williams and BW Webb in the mid rounds. Gavin Escobar is also an interesting player to keep your eye one, will be going into the perfect situation playing with one of the best in Witten.
Overall Grade: D+

Pick 1: Travis Frederick C, Wisconsin
Pick 2: Gavin Escobar TE, San Diego St.
Pick 3: Terrance Williams WR, Baylor
Pick 4: JJ Wilcox S, Georgia Southern
Pick 5: BW Webb CB, Williams & Mary
Pick 6: Joseph Randle RB, Oklahoma St.
Pick 7: DeVonte Holloman LB, South Carolina

Philadelphia Eagles

Love me the Eagles draft this year. We all knew Philly had to make upgrades ont he offensive line and they did just that in round 1 with big man Lane Johnson. They surprised me in round 2 by grabbin Ertz, but was a great pick who can add another receiving option for Philly. Logan is a guy who has bounced around all year and could be a diamond in the rough. Also the Barkley pick was intriuging, I like the risk and in round 4, was very well worth the selection. Oh, and Poyer in round 7??? Yes please.
Overall Grade: A

Pick 1: Lane Johnson OT, Oklahoma
Pick 2: Zach Ertz TE, Stanford
Pick 3: Bennie Logan DT, LSU
Pick 4: Matt Barkley QB, USC
Pick 5: Earl Wolff S, NC State
Pick 6: Joe Kruger DE, Utah
Pick 7: Jordan Poyer CB, Oregon St.
Pick 8: David King DE, Oklahoma

NFC SOUTH

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If you consider what the Bucs did with their draft picks they had one of the best drafts of the year. They essentially traded Sheldon Richardson and a future depth player for one of the best CBs in the league, added another long, rangy corner, and added quality depth to the defensive line which was an area of need.
Overall Grade: A -

Pick 1: Johnthan Banks CB, MSST
Pick 2: Mike Glennon QB, NCST
Pick 3: Akeem Spence DT, Illinois
Pick 4: William Gholston DE, MSU
Pick 5: Steven Means DE, Buffalo
Pick 6: Mike James RB, Miami

Carolina Panthers

I really love what the Panthers did in rounds one and two adding to players with huge upside to that defensive line, but after that I got a little lost. The Panthers consistently reached for depth and failed to get value late or any potential starters.
Overall Grade:  C+

Pick 1: Star Lotulelei DT, Utah
Pick 2: Kawann Short DT, Purdue
Pick 3: Edmund Kugbila OG, Valdosa State
Pick 4: A.J. Klein LB, Iowa State
Pick 5: Kenjon Barner RB, Oregon

New Orleans Saints

The Saints added one of my favorite players Kenny Vaccaro in the first round and he will make a huge deference in that poor secondary. Amstead fits a need and had value when they picked him, as did Jenkins and Stills.
Overall Grade: B

Pick 1: Kenny Vaccaro S, Texas
Pick 2: Terron Armstead OT, Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Pick 3: John Jenkins DT, Georgia
Pick 4: Kenny Stills WR, Oklahoma
Pick 5: Rufus Johnson DE, Tarleton State

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons did what the Panthers did but…better. Atlanta knew they needed secondary help and they grabbed their guys early. Goodman is a huge player that has a lot of potential at DE and nickel DE, and Toilolo is a smart guy who will take advantage of having a great like Tony Gonzales in front of him.
Overall Grade: B-

Pick 1: Desmond Trufant CB, Washington
Pick 2: Robert Alford CB, SE Louisiana
Pick 3: Malliciah Goodman DE, Clemson
Pick 4: Levine Toilolo TE, Stanford
Pick 5: Stansly Maponga, DL TCU
Pick 6: Kemal Ishmael S, UCF
Pick 7: Zeke Motta S, ND
Pick 8: Sean Renfree QB, Duke

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals had to get better on the OL and they did that with the additions of Cooper and Warford, but what’s more impressive is the value you they got with some of their other picks. Minter, Mathieu, Okafor, Taylor, Ellington, and Swope all have the potential to be above average starters in the NFL.
Overall Grade: A

Pick 1: Jonathan Cooper G, UNC
Pick 2: Kevin Minter MLB, LSU
Pick 3: Tyrann Mathieu S, LSU
Pick 4: Alex Okafor DE, Texas
Pick 5: Earl Watford OG, James Madison
Pick 6: Stepfan Taylor RB, Stanford
Pick 7: Ryan Swope WR, TAMU
Pick 8: Andre Ellington RB, Clemson
Pick 9: D.C. Jefferson TE, Rutgers

St. Louis Rams

This draft is interesting because I hate half of the picks, but love the others. Ogletree, McDonald, and Barrett Jones are all players that I think were overhyped and will struggle in the NFL whether that is struggling with the playbook or to compete with the NFL talent. However, I really think that Austin, Bailey, McGee, and Stacy will shine with the supporting cast that the Rams have.
Overall Grade: C

Pick 1: Tavon Austin WR, WVU
Pick 2: Alec Ogleree LB, Georgia
Pick 3: T.J. McDonald S, USC
Pick 4: Stedman Bailey WR, WVU
Pick 5: Barrett Jones C, Alabama
Pick 6: Brandon McGee CB, Miami
Pick 7: Zac Stacy RB, Vanderbilt

Seattle Seahawks

I’m lower than most on Seattle’s draft, but I look and only see one player (Jesse Williams) that the Seahawks didn’t reach for and that was because he fell due to injury. I’m sure one of these players will rise to the challenge and make me look dumb for saying this, but right now I honestly couldn’t tell you who else in this class looked above average for the Seahawks.
Overall Grade: D+

Pick 1: Christine Michael RB, TAMU
Pick 2: Jordan Hill DT, PSU
Pick 3: Chris Harper WR, Kansas State
Pick 4: Jesse Williams DT, Alabama
Pick 5: Tharold Simon CB, LSU
Pick 6: Luke Wilson TE, Rice
Pick 7: Spencer Ware RB, LSU
Pick 8: Ryan Seymour G, Vanderbilt
Pick 9: Ty Powell OLB, Harding
Pick 10: Jared Smith DT, New Hampshire
Pick 11: Michael Bowie OT, NEST

San Francisco 49ers

The biggest reason I gave the 49ers a B- over a C is because I love the risk and value picks after round 2. Lemonier and Patton are good players that will contribute to the team, but Lattimore and Dial could win starting spots too. In two years we will know a lot more about this class, but if they hit on most of their prospects then this could be an A+ class.
Overall Grade: B

Pick 1: Eric Reid S, LSU
Pick 2: Cornellius Carradine DE, FSU
Pick 3: Vance McDonald TE, Rice
Pick 4: Corey Lemonier DE, Auburn
Pick 5: Quinton Patton WR, LATech
Pick 6: Marcus Lattimore RB, SCAR
Pick 7: Quinton Dial DE, Alabama
Pick 8: Nick Moody OLB, FSU
Pick 9: B.J. Daniels QB, USF
Pick 10: Carter Bykowski OT, Iowa State
Pick 11: Marcus Cooper CB, Rutgers

The post 2013 NFC NFL Draft Grades appeared first on DraftSeason.

Below is a full breakdown of the AFC NFL Draft Grades. We give you a quick breakdown of the hits and misses for each team along with a final grade and full recap of every pick.

AFC NORTH

Cleveland Browns

The Browns made a bit of a surprise pick and took pass rusher Barkevious Mingo at pick 6, and he will certainly upgrade the pass rush in 2013.  They also landed a solid corner in round 3 with Leon McFadden.  These two should see plenty of playing time in year one.  The rest of their choices were just late round filler.
Overall Grade: B-

Pick 1: Barkevious Mingo OLB, LSU
Pick 2: Leon McFadden CB, San Diego St.
Pick 3: Jamoris Slaughter SS, Notre Dame
Pick 4: Anthony Bryant DE, East Central
Pick 5: Garret Gilkey OT, Chadron St.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers were able to address some key needs in this Draft and found value all throughout.  First pick Jarvis Jones is an ideal fit for their aggressive defense and should produce early.  Second round RB Le’Veon Bell could start from day one and speedy WR Markus Wheaton will help restore some of the deep threat lost when Mike Wallace took his talents to South Beach.
Overall Grade: A

Pick 1: Jarvis Jones OLB, Georgia
Pick 2: Le’Veon Bell RB, Michigan St.
Pick 3: Markus Wheaton WR, Oregon St.
Pick 4: Shamarko Thomas SS, Syracuse
Pick 5: Landry Jones QB, Oklahoma
Pick 6: Terry Hawthorne CB, Illinois
Pick 7: Justin Brown WR, Oklahoma
Pick 8: Vince Williams LB, FSU
Pick 9: Nick Williams DT, Samford

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals addressed all their major needs and were even able to land a luxury pick in Tyler Eifert in round 1.  Giovani Bernard will likely be the teams primary back by midseason and Margus Hunt will be a high upside player they can develop. They also got some potential late round steals in WR Cobi Hamilton and OT Reid Fragel.
Overall Grade: B+

Pick 1: Tyler Eifert TE, Notre Dame
Pick 2: Giovani Bernard RB, UNC
Pick 3: Margus Hunt DE, SMU
Pick 4: Shawn Williams S, Georgia
Pick 5: Sean Porter OLB, Texas A&M
Pick 6: Tanner Hawkinson OT, Kansas
Pick 7: Rex Burkhead RB, Nebraska
Pick 8: Cobi Hamilton WR, Arkansas
Pick 9: Reid Fragel OT, Ohio St.
Pick 10: TJ Johnson C, South Carolina

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens and GM Ozzie Newsome had themselvs another fine draft.  They addressed a big need at safety with aggressive Matt Elam, and then got their MLB of the future by moving up for Arthur Brown in Round 2.  They got some nice value in 3rd Round NT Brandon Williams and 5th OT Ricky Wagner.  They also have a steal of the draft candidate in small school standout WR Aaron Mellette in Round 7.
Overall Grade: A-

Pick 1: Matt Elam S, Florida
Pick 2: Arthur Brown LB, Kansas St.
Pick 3: Brandon Williams NT, Missouri Southern St.
Pick 4: John Simon DE, Ohio St.
Pick 5: Kyle Juszcyzk FB, Harvard
Pick 6: Ricky Wagner OT, Wisconsin
Pick 7: Kapron Lewis-Moore DE, Notre Dame
Pick 8: Ryan Jenson OT, Colorado St. Pueblo
Pick 9: Aaron Mellette WR, Elon
Pick 10: Marc Anthony CB, CAL

AFC EAST

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins got frisky and moved up to pick 3 to get their man Dion Jordan.   Time will tell if giving a second round pick for him was a wise move or not.  The Dolphins got a gift when CB Jamar Taylor fell to them late in round 2, and also found good value with Dion Sims and Mike Gillislee in the mid rounds.  This grade will ultimately be tied to Dion Jordan and whether or not he develops in to the big time pass rusher the team believes he is.
Overall Grade: B

Pick 1: Dion Jordan DE, Oregona
Pick 2: Jamar Taylor CB, Boise St.
Pick 3: Dallas Thomas OT, Tennessee
Pick 4: Will Davis CB, Utah St.
Pick 5: Jelani Jenkins OLB, Florida
Pick 6: Dion Sims TE, Michigan St.
Pick 7: Mike Gillislee RB, Florida
Pick 8: Caleb Sturgis K, Florida
Pick 9: Don Jones S, Arkansas St.

New York Jets

The Jets found a replacement for Darrelle Revis at pick 9 with CB Dee Milliner.  They then made a curious move and took another five technique defensive end in Sheldon Richardson over a pass rusher like Jarvis Jones or a TE like Tyler Eifert.  The Jets were able to land their QB of the future with Geno Smith in round 2, and while he doesn’t have many weapons, the Jets at least got him protection in guard Brian Winters in the third round and versatile G/T Oday Aboushi in round 5.
Overall Grade: C+

Pick 1: Dee Milliner CB, Alabama
Pick 2: Sheldon Richardson DT, Mizzou
Pick 3: Geno Smith QB, West Virginia
Pick 4: Brian Winters G, Kent St.
Pick 5: Oday Aboushi OT, Virginia
Pick 6: William Campbell G, Michigan
Pick 7: Tommy Bohanon FB, Wake Forest

Buffalo Bills

The Bills wanted EJ Manuel as their QB of the future and moved down to take him at pick 16 value be damned.  They could have gotten him in round 2, and still landed Tavon Austin at pick 8.  But fortunately the Draft got better.  They landed some solid players in round 2 with WR Robert Woods and LB Kiko Alonso.  They landed a speedy deep threat WR in round 3 with Marquise Goodwin and also got good value with S Duke Williams in the fourth.  If EJ Manuel develops into a franchise QB then this grade will increase over time, as of now the lack of value at the pick hurts it significantly.
Overall Grade: D+

Pick 1: EJ Manuel QB, FSU
Pick 2: Robert Woods WR, USC
Pick 3: Kiko Alonso LB, Oregon
Pick 4: Marquise Goodwin WR, Texas
Pick 5: Duke Williams S, Nevada
Pick 6: Jonathan Meeks CB, Clemson
Pick 7: Dustin Hopkins K, FSU
Pick 8: Chris Gragg TE, Arkansas

New England Patriots

The Patriots got a lot of substance but very little splash in this draft.  That happens often when a team trades out of round 1 all together.  Jamie Collins, Aaron Dobson, and Logan Ryan could all develop into solid contributors, but it’s unlikely any become stars.  The Patriots had one of the bigger reaches of the draft in 3rd round S Duron Harmon, who many had going undrafted. Overall this was a mixed bag for the Patriots.
Overall Grade: C-

Pick 1: Jamie Collins OLB, Southern Miss
Pick 2: Aaron Dobson WR, Marshall
Pick 3: Logan Ryan CB, Rutgers
Pick 4: Duron Harmon S, Rutgers
Pick 5: Josh Boyce WR, TCU
Pick 6: Michael Buchanan DE, Illinois
Pick 7: Steve Beauharnais LB, Rutgers

AFC SOUTH

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags landed big OT Luke Joeckel with the second overall pick.  He’ll lock down the right side but eventually be moved to left tackle.  They got a solid player in round 2 in S John Cyprien but their next pick CB Dwayne Gratz came off the board a little early.  The Jags shored up their return game with both Ace Sanders and Denard Robinson but their later round picks weren’t overly exciting.  They plugged some holes but still have plenty remaining.
Overall Grade: C+

Pick 1: Luke Joeckel OT, Texas A&M
Pick 2: John Cyprien S, FIU
Pick 3: Dwayne Gratz CB, UCONN
Pick 4: Ace Sanders WR, South Carolina
Pick 5: Denard Robinson RB, Michigan
Pick 6: Josh Evans S, Florida
Pick 7: Jeremy Harris CB, New Mexico St.
Pick 8: DeMetrius McCray CB, Appalachian St.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans had a great draft and four of their first five picks could be opening day starters or at least solid contributors.  Chance Warmack solidified their offensive line, but then they got Brian Schwenke who should eventually take over at center.  Justin Hunter is a great outside the numbers option for Jake Locker, and Blidi Wreh-Wilson is a smooth, long armed cover corner who could get a ton of playing time in year one.  The Titans landed some very good players in this draft and truly upgraded the talent on their roster.
Overall Grade: A

Pick 1: Chance Warmack G, Alabama
Pick 2: Justin Hunter WR, Tennessee
Pick 3: Blidi Wreh-Wilson CB, UCONN
Pick 4: Zaviar Gooden LB, Mizzou
Pick 5: Brian Schwenke G/C, CAL
Pick 6: Levar Edwards DE, LSU
Pick 7: Khalid Wooten CB, Nevada
Pick 8: Daimion Stafford S, Nebraska

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts started the Draft off by taking DE Bjoren Werner.  It’s a slightly odd pick because he seems to be a natural 4-3 end and may be a bit out of place if they stand him up in their 3-4. They then got a bunch of meat and potatoes guys in guard Hugh Thornton, C Khaled Holmes, and NT Montori Hughes.  This isn’t going to be the Colts sexiest draft of all time, but it could turn out to be a solid one.
Overall Grade: C-

Pick 1: Bjoren Werner DE, FSU
Pick 2: Hugh Thornton G, Illinois
Pick 3: Khaled Holmes C, USC
Pick 4: Montori Hughes NT, Tennessee-Martin
Pick 5: John Boyett S, Oregon
Pick 6: Kerwynn Williams RB, Utah St.
Pick 7: Justice Cunnigham TE, South Carolina

Houston Texans

The Texans did a nice job of filling needs while getting value for many of their picks.  DeAndre Hopkins gives them a solid no. 2 receiving threat next to Andre Johnson.  DJ Swearinger is a hard hitting safety who can learn from Ed Reed before taking over.  Sam Montgomery is a good run stuffing defensive end who many had going as high as the second round.  They also addressed holes on their offensive line with third round pick Brennan Williams and then David Quessenbery in round 5, getting solid value with each selection.
Overall Grade: B+

Pick 1: DeAndre “Poop” Hopkins WR, Clemson
Pick 2: DJ Swearinger S, South Carolina
Pick 3: Brennan Williams OT, UNC
Pick 4: Sam Montgomery DE, LSU
Pick 5: Trevardo Williams DE, UCONN
Pick 6: David Quessenbery OT, San Jose St.
Pick 7: Alan Bonner WR, Jacksonville St.
Pick 8: Chris Jones DT, Bowling Green
Pick 9: Ryan Griffin TE, UCONN

AFC WEST

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs surprised a few when they took Eric Fisher over Luke Joeckel.  Their careers will be watched and compared closely overtime to see which team made the better choice.  The Chiefs landed their TE of the future in round 3 in Travis Kelce, but taking RB Knile Davis that same round was a bit of a head scratcher.  They came back with back to back value picks in Nico Johnson and Sanders Commings, but overall just a decent draft for the Chiefs.
Overall Grade: B-

Pick 1: Eric Fisher OT, Central Michigan
Pick 2: Travis Kelce TE, Cincinnati
Pick 3: Knile Davis RB, Arkansas
Pick 4: Nico Johnson LB, Alabama
Pick 5: Sanders Commings CB, Georgia
Pick 6: Eric Kush C, California (PA)
Pick 7: Braden Wilson FB, Kansas St.
Pick 8: Mike Catapano DE, Princeton

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers had themselves a much needed great Draft.  They got the help they need on the offensive line in DJ Fluker.  They got a solid MLB in Manti Te’o in roun 2, and then got what could turn out to be the steal of the Draft in WR Keenan Allen in round 3.  Steve Williams was a good fifth round value as well.
Overall Grade: A

Pick 1: DJ Fluker OT, Alabama
Pick 2: Manti Te’o LB, Notre Dame
Pick 3: Keenan Allen WR, CAL
Pick 4: Steve Williams CB, CAL
Pick 5: Tourek Williams DE, FIU
Pick 6: Brad Sorenson QB, Southern Utah

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders traded down in round 1 and still got the man they wanted in DJ Hayden, while acquiring a much needed second round pick.  They got some great talent with their next three picks in OT Menelik Watson, OLB Sio Moore, and QB Tyler Wilson.  They also addressed their TE position with Nick Kasa and Mychal Rivera.  This team still has plenty of holes but overall this was a very good Draft for a team that had to have one.
Overall Grade: A-

Pick 1: DJ Hayden CB, Houston
Pick 2: Menelik Watson OT, FSU
Pick 3: Sio Moore OLB, UCONN
Pick 4: Tyler Wilson QB, Arkansas
Pick 5: Nick Kasa TE, Colorado
Pick 6: Latavius Murray RB, Central Florida
Pick 7: Mychal Rivera TE, Tennessee
Pick 8: Stacy McGee DT, Oklahoma
Pick 9: Brice Butler WR, San Diego St.
Pick 10: David Bass DE, Missouri Western

Denver Broncos

The Broncos were able to solve some issues on their defensive line this draft with big Sylvester Williams in round 1.  Williams is a penetrating tackle who will cause all kinds of ruckus to the interior portions of opponents offensive lines.  They landed the back they needed in Montee Ball in round 2.  The Broncos had a big time reach in round 3 with CB Kayvon Webster, but rebounded nicely with later picks of Quanterus Smith and Tavarres King.
Overall Grade: B-

Pick 1: Sylvester Williams DT, UNC
Pick 2: Montee Ball RB, Wisconsin
Pick 3: Kayvon Webster CB, South Florida
Pick 4: Quanterus Smith DE, Western Kentucky
Pick 5: Tavarres King WR, Georgia
Pick 6; Vinston Painter OT, Va. Tech
Pick 7: Zac Dysert QB, Miami Ohio

The post 2013 AFC NFL Draft Grades appeared first on DraftSeason.

Each year DraftSeason always cranks out its “All Draft Team”. We take players out of the draft that we feel have been drafted into the best situation and have the best chance to be successful at the next level. While you will rightfully see a handful of top heavy 1st and 2nd rounders in the mix, you will also see the occasional guy that slips into the perfect situation in the mid rounds ala Mr. Schwenke with the Titans.

All Draft Offensive Team

Courtesy @matt_falk

Quarterback – Geno Smith, Jets (Round 2, Pick 37)
Quick Hit: Geno gets the nod due to his competition. He has a legit shot of being the Jets starting quarterback week 1 as a rookie.

Running Back – Eddie Lacy, Packers (Round 2, pick 61)
Quick Hit: Packers got a steal with Lacy falling to the end of round 2. Lacy along with Franklin gives the Pack a solid 1,2 punch.

Running Back – Giovaani Bernard, Bengals (Round 2, pick 35)
Quick Hit: Bengals still have the Lawfirm at running back but Bernard will be stealing some touches often and early as a rookie.

Wide Receiver – Tavon Austin, Rams (Round 1, pick 8)
Quick Hit: Dynamic receiver who goes into a situation where he could be the #1 receiver before week 3.

Wide Receiver – DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (Round 1, pick 27)
Quick Hit: Hopkins steps into a perfect situation and very well could be lining up opposite Andre Johnson as the number 2 week 1. Should see some soft coverage as a rookie.

Tight End – Zach Ertz, Eagles (Round 2, pick 35)
Quick Hit: Long term Eifert very well could be the best tight end of the group. But short term Ertz is stepping into a situation where he could make a bigger impact year 1.

Offensive Tackle – Eric Fisher, Chiefs (Round 1, pick 1)
Quick Hit: First pick overall, defaulted onto the All Draft Team.

Offensive Tackle – Luke Joeckel, Jaguars (Round 1, pick 2)
Quick Hit: See above. It’s tough to put any other tackles on this team, they should be dominant.

Guard – Chance Warmack, Titans (Round 1, pick 10)
Quick Hit: On the same theme as the tackles, noway you can put any other guard on this list.

Guard – Jonathan Cooper, Cardinals (Round 1, pick 7)
Quick Hit: See above.

Center – Brian Schwenke, Titans (Round 4, pick 107)
Quick Hit: Although a 4th rounder, I like Schwenke’s situation the best, tough hard nosed player that will be a big part of turning around the Titans o-line.

All Draft Defensive Team

Courtesy @jlomas72

Left Defensive End – Ziggy Ansah, Lions (Round 1, pick 5)
Quick Hit: Ansah is a prospect who has the length, strength, and athleticism to shine in the right system, and what better system than the wide-nine he excelled with at the Senior Bowl.

Defensive Tackle (3-technique) – Sylvester Williams, Broncos (Round 1, pick 28)
Quick Hit: Williams is a penetrating defensive tackle that will flush immobile passers like Phillip Rivers and Alex Smith right into the hands of Von Miller.

Defensive Tackle (1-technique) – Star Lotulelei, Panthers (Round 1, pick 14)
Quick Hit: Star should have been the first DT taken and his upside as a pass rusher will likely make this pick look like a steal in three years.

Right Defensive End – Barkevious Mingo, Browns (Round 1, pick 6)
Quick Hit: Mingo is a pin-your-ears-back rusher that will looks great against the heavy footed OTs in the AFC North.

Weak-side Linebacker – Alec Ogletree, Rams (Round 1, pick 30)
Quick Hit: The converted safety is a quick and instinctual so expect him to make some splash plays early, however he will penetrate too quickly and get burned for it. Boom or bust player.

Middle Linebacker – Arthur Brown, Ravens (Round 2, pick 56)
Quick Hit: Brown was my highest rated linebacker other than Dion Jordan and was an absolute steal in round two, his ability to read the play and close on the ball carrier is second to none in this draft.

Strong-side Linebacker – Dion Jordan, Dolphins (Round 1, pick 3)
Quick Hit: It may sound hard to believe but the Dolphins got a steal with this pick. Had the Jaguars seen past their fear off J.J. Watt they would have seen that the best player (possibly in the whole draft) was there for the taking at number two a la Von Miller.

Cornerback – Dee Milliner, Jets (Round 1, pick 9)
Quick Hit: Milliner is catching a lot of heat by fans that think he will be replacing Revis but once they see his insticts, speed and tenacity Jets fans will feel a little more forgiving.

Cornerback – Xavier Rhodes, Vikings (Round 1, pick 25)
Quick Hit: Selecting D.J. Hayden over Rhodes was the classic Raiders mistake, the focused too much on the media darling/track speed guy and missed out on a true “rough-and-tumble” corner that will make a team better in every phase.

Safety – Kenny Vaccaro, Saints (Round 1, pick 14)
Quick Hit: Vaccaro is an athletic freak that can play anywhere in a defensive backfield and the Saints made the right move adding him to a beleaguered defensive unit.

Safety – D.J. Swearinger, Texans (Round 2, pick 57)
Quick Hit: Swearinger (or Bernard Pollard jr.) is an absolute head knocker. He looks like your friend that controlled the SS in Madden 2007 who constantly tried to “hitstick” the ball carrier instead of form tackling.

The post All 2013 NFL Draft Team appeared first on DraftSeason.

But there are some things one can do to battle P.D.D.

-Draft Grades: On Saturday evening or early Sunday after the draft, there are an abundance of sites that offer draft grades. Kiper always has his out right away, and you can find others on almost any draft site. This will give the sufferer of P.D.D. a good week or two of debate among his peers about who had the best and worst drafts.

-Track the Undrafted free agents: Every year some good players go undrafted, and teams scurry about to sign them.   This is almost like an additional round or two if you follow it close enough.  A good site to monitor these signings is kffl.com or the transaction portion of the sports section in a major newspaper.

- Find a Replacement Draft: The Major League Baseball draft is now being aired in early June on ESPN2, and the NBA Draft is held at the end of June, and the NHL Draft is somewhere in there too. Though these aren’t as good as the NFL Draft there is still that thrill of uncertainty before each pick is announced that may briefly subside the craving of draft drama that sufferers of P.D.D. long for.

- Join Fantasy Football:  I would assume most draftniks are already established fantasy football players but if not join a league.  There are many fantasy sites that have fantasy mock drafts and a sufferer of P.D.D. will take comfort in reading them.  One can also play the part of a G.M. when their league holds its draft.  It will be the closest any of us get to the real thing.

- Look for an early 2014 Mock Draft:  It’s never too early for draft sites to put up a mock for next year’s draft. Though they are completely and utterly useless, it will whet the appetite of the hungry draftnik who is suffering from P.D.D.

- Get a girlfriend:  Most girlfriends are completely useless on draft weekend, but they will soon become useful again.  Going to movies, taking walks, and heavy petting will help put the long wait for next year’s draft in the back of your mind.

Post Draft Depression is a very real and rapidly increasing epidemic among us.  For some of us the Sunday after the draft can be one of the lowest points of the year.  But sufferers of P.D.D. must realize they are not alone. If they follow the advice above they will find that September will be here sooner than they think, and a new football season will start, and with it, the speculation for next year’s draft.

The post Post NFL Draft Depression appeared first on DraftSeason.