Here is my take on how the AFC teams did in the draft this year. I am 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:
Baltimore Ravens
Needs CB/DL
Best Pick Terrance Cody DT, Alabama
Worst Pick None
The Ravens have a proven track record of having good drafts with Ozzie Newsome. I like all of their picks but love Mount Cody who could dominate with Haloti Ngata.
Buffalo Bills
Needs QB/OT
Best Pick C.J. Spiller RB, Clemson
Worst Pick Everyone else
To me, the Bills didn’t exactly address any needs but they did get Spiller who – despite seeming like he was at Clemson as long as Kyle Singler has been at Duke – might be the best offensive talent in the draft.
Cincinnati Bengals
Needs S/TE
Best Pick Jermaine Gresham TE, Oklahoma
Worst Pick Carlos Dunlap DE, Florida
Gresham is the best TE in the draft and a steal to me even at #21. You never want to hear “needs to have consistent effort” and that’s how Carlos Dunlap is always described; he might be out of the league in 3 years.
Cleveland Browns
Needs S/QB
Best Pick Joe Haden CB, Florida
Worst Pick T.J. Ward S, Oregon
The Browns were bad enough that they just needed playmakers and they got one in Haden. By that same logic, Ward just isn’t worth the 6th pick in the 2nd round.
Denver Broncos
Needs WR/LB
Best Pick None
Worst Pick Tim Tebow QB, Florida
Head coach Josh McDaniels thinks he is the smartest man on the planet but he and Tim Tebow will be doing charity work together in 3 years… while unemployed.
Houston Texans
Needs CB/DT
Best Pick Kareem Jackson CB, Alabama
Worst Pick Earl Mitchell DT, Arizona
Jackson is a solid CB, groomed by Nick Saban who can coach with the best of em. Earl Mitchell is just not a good enough pick for that spot.
Indianpolis Colts
Needs OT/DT
Best Pick Jerry Hughes DE/OLB, TCU
Worst Pick None
Jerry Hughes fits what they do perfectly and will do well there, every other pick was really for added depth and not real impact players. Can’t argue with the Colts recent success though.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Needs WR/S
Best Pick None
Worst Pick Tyson Alualu DT, Cal
The Jags are one of the teams that you just don’t see getting better in the draft. Alualu was perhaps the biggest reach in the draft.
Kansas City Chiefs
Needs T/LB
Best Pick Eric Berry S, Tennessee
Worst Pick Not picking an O-Lineman earlier
Eric Berry is a stud. Has been a stud since he was the #1 ranked High School player. They needed to get better on the O-line and didn’t really do that. You have to protect Matt Cassel.
Miami Dolphins
Needs LB/S
Best Pick Jared Odrick DT, Penn State
Worst Pick John Jerry OT, Ole Miss
The Dolphins got a good 3-4 guy in Odrick but John Jerry is a reach for the 3rd round. In the third round you can still get value and they got a developmental offensive lineman.
New England Patriots
Needs LB/WR
Best Pick Rob Gronkowski TE, Arizona
Worst Pick None
I had a hard time choosing which guy I liked best in the Pats’ draft class. They got a lot of good value guys that I think have the potential, even the punter they took. We expect that from them though.
New York Jets
Needs DE/LB
Best Pick Kyle Wilson CB, Boise State
Worst Pick None by default, they are loaded
In Kyle Wilson, the Jets got a potential star. The rest of the 3 picks they had were boom or bust picks, but this team did a lot of wheeling and dealing and will be a force next year.
Oakland Raiders
Needs QB/OT
Best Pick Rolando McClain LB, Alabama
Worst Pick Bruce Campbell OT, Maryland
Its hard to believe I am typing this… but the Raiders actually did well. They got a solid LB in McClain. Anyone else notice him #tigerstyling? Bruce Campbell is the posterboy for workout wonder and they couldn’t resist.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Needs OL/WR
Best Pick None
Worst Pick Emmanuel Sanders WR, Southern Methodist
The Steelers have had a rough offseason that we all know about, but maybe it affected their draft ability. They got no one who will be an impact player and they took a Az-Hakim clone way too early. Might be rough times again this season for the Steelers.
San Diego Chargers
Needs RB/DT
Best Pick None
Worst Pick Ryan Matthews RB, Fresno State
The Chargers have let players walk out the door all offseason. They didn’t bring anyone in that is capable of replacing those guys. You give up multiple picks to get Ryan Matthews? *Singletary voice* Can’t do it.
Tennessee Titans
Needs DE/CB
Best Pick Derrick Morgan DE, Georgia Tech
Worst Pick Rennie Curran LB, Georgia
I think Derrick Morgan will be a star. Simply put though, you don’t pick special teams players in the 3rd round and that’s what they got in Curran.
