I'll review every draft in the NFC North and a do a write up on the other 28 teams. I'll start with my pride and joy Detroit Lions.
First Round, 2nd Overall, Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska: A once in 15 years talent, can rush the passer and disrupt the running game as good as anyone in the league. Will need time to learn the pro game and gain a little weight like any rookie, but the learning curve for someone so talented should be smaller. Great character and work ethic. Improved a lot at college. Best player in the draft. Great pick. Grade: A+
First Round, 30th Overall, Jahvid Best, California: Filthy nasty speed. 4.35 40 yard dash. Durability is a problem, but work ethic and character are not. Added a lot of weight in college, might have to do more. Can split out, run outside the tackles and return kick. A great compliment to a power back. Very smart player. Grade: B
Third Round, 66th Overall, Amari Spievey, CB, Iowa: Big physical corner the current regime loves. Doesn't have very good speed, and can improve his ball skills, but still a very good pick. Will get a chance to start, and probably will somewhere in the season. Fills a need with a nice player. Grade: B
Fourth Round, 128th Overall, Jason Fox, OT, Miami: Has a ton of upside. Had minor knee surgery to end his senior season, and is still rehabbing. Won't miss training camp. Has to add weight and work on the finer points of playing on the OL. Can play LT, RT, or OG. Needs some time and seasoning, but could be a nice starter in the NFL. Grade: B
Seventh Round, 213th Overall, Willie Young, DE, North Carolina State: Streaky, needs to add weight to play DE. Nice height, but needs a lot of work, like Fox. A year or two away from having an impact. Can be a solid rotational guy until then. Struggled some in college. Thought to be a 3-4 OLB. Solid choice in the 7th round. Grade: C+
Seventh Round, 255th Overall, Tim Toone, WR, Weber State: Mr. Irrelevant. Really wanted Blair White here, a good possession guy with at least a draft rating. Brett Swenson would have been nice here too. All I can find is he is 5'10'', 165 lbs and has 4.5 40 yard dash speed. He is a play maker for a small school. From the sound of that, he has a shot at slot receiver/return specialist. Kiper and McShay had him rated a priority free agent. Could fill a need, if he makes the team. Grade: C
The Lions made some really nice picks, but traded away a lot before the draft, which I felt mixed feelings about. In such a deep draft, it would have been nice to keep some picks, but we got good return on them. We did move up in the draft, giving up a 7th rounder, and swapping two picks, 30th and 34th and 100th and 128th. I like the first three picks a lot, and they should all make big contributions early. Fox has a lot of upside, but needs a lot of work, so does Young. Toone was a strange pick with some other good options on the board. Soon we will see the undrafted free agents come in. Overall, a very good draft. Grade: B+
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