Here is my take on how NFC teams did in the draft this year. I’m going to tell you all right up front: I am not Jon Gruden and do not believe every player is going to be an All-Pro. Was I too rough on your team? Let me know. Here goes:
Arizona Cardinals
Needs T/CB
Impact Player Dan Williams DT, Tennessee
Worst Pick Andre Roberts WR, The Citadel
The Cardinals needed another receiver after losing Boldin this offseason but did they need this one? Marty Gilyard, Riley Cooper, and Dezmon Briscoe were all on the broad when they picked Andre Roberts out of The Citadel.
Atlanta Falcons
Needs DE/LB
Impact Player Sean Weatherspoon LB, Missouri
Worst Pick Corey Peters DT, Kentucky
None of the players they drafted really jump out as guys that are future All-Pro players, but they did get a speedy linebacker in Weatherspoon. I guess that’s something.
Carolina Panthers
Needs QB/WR
Impact Player Tony Pike QB, Cincinatti
Worst Pick Jimmy Clausen QB, Notre Dame
You might think I messed up and reversed those two; you’d be wrong. If Pike can stay healthy, he has a real chance. Clausen on the other hand will be the next in the long line of ND busts.
Chicago Bears
Needs WR/S
Impact Player Major Wright S, Florida
Worst Pick Joshua Moore CB, Kansas State
The Bears didn’t even pick until #75 because of the Jay Cutler trade, so they needed to get value with every pick. Wright will help their poor safety play.
Dallas Cowboys
Needs S/OT
Impact Player Sean Lee LB, Penn State
Worst Pick Dez Bryant WR, Oklahoma State
Stay with me here: Sean Lee will be a productive pro. Dez Bryant reminds me of another Bryant; Antonio. He had 26 of 29 TDs at home and 2 of those were in a bowl game. Not a big game player, he will fit with the Cowboys nicely in that way.
Detroit Lions
Needs OT/CB
Impact Player Ndamukong Suh DT, Nebraska
Worst Pick Late round picks
Detroit got the best overall player in the draft in Suh. However, every other pick was a reach or project.
Green Bay Packers
Needs OT/S
Impact Player Bryan Bulaga OT, Iowa
Worst Pick Mike Neal DT, Purdue
Green Bay got a guy that just looks like should play for them in Bulaga and he should be solid. 2nd round picks need to contribute and Mike Neal won’t do that.
Minnesota Vikings
Needs CB/LB
Impact Player Chris Cook CB, Virginia
Worst Pick Every pick after Round 4
The Vikings actually addressed their need and got a CB. The guys they drafted after the 4th round might not be on the team after next year.
New Orleans Saints
Needs LB/DL
Impact Player None
Worst Pick Patrick Robinson CB, Florida State
The Super Bowl champs (yeah, that’s still strange to write about the Saints) had what I like to call a “nothing draft.” I’ll leave it at that.
New York Giants
Needs LB/DT
Impact Player Jason Pierre-Paul DE, South Florida
Worst Pick None
The “G-Men” had a solid draft if you judge mostly by addressing needs. It remains to be seen, though, if Pierre-Paul can become productive or if he is just a workout wonder.
Philadelphia Eagles
Needs DB/OL
Impact Player Riley Cooper WR, Florida
Worst Pick Keenan Clayton LB, Oklahoma
I won’t lie, I don’t like any of the guys the Eagles took outside of Riley Cooper. Call me crazy, but I’m not on the Brandon Graham bandwagon and don’t see him becoming like LaMarr Woodley out in Pittsburgh.
San Francisco 49ers
Needs OT/CB
Impact Player Mike Iupati OG, Idaho
Worst Pick Anthony Davis OT, Rutgers
The 49ers had an obvious plan to get tough players to bully people like you would expect from Mike Singletary. I’m not a believer in Anthony Davis as a star, but he could be solid. I just believe you have to get a potential star in the top of the 1st round.
Seattle Seahawks
Needs OT/S
Impact Player Earl Thomas S, Texas
Worst Pick Walter Thurmon CB, Oregon
In a move that upset Taylor Mays, the Seahawks took Earl Thomas – who is clearly better than Mays. Mays is salty because his old college coach didn’t pick him… but Taylor couldn’t cover me. As a safety in the NFL, you will need to cover. Ask Roy Williams.
St. Louis Rams
Needs QB/WR
Impact Player Mardy Gilyard WR, Cininnati
Worst Pick Sam Bradford QB, Oklahoma
The Rams got fooled into thinking that because they passed on Mark Sanchez and Matt Ryan, they HAD to take Bradford. Missing on a top pick QB will set your team back 5 years. We’ll hear from them next in 2015.
Tampa Bay Bucs
Needs DT/WR
Impact Player Gerald McCoy DT, Oklahoma
Worst Pick None
The Bucs are another team that looked like it had a plan. I like their plan. McCoy gives them what they think is the Warren Sapp replacement they have been looking for.
Washington Redskins
Needs OT/S
Impact Player Trent Williams OT, Oklahoma
Worst Pick Everyone else
Trent Williams is a good pick to help protect McNabb. The rest of the picks shouldn’t bother showing up to the facility.