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NFL Team
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Pick Number
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Draft Choice
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Marc's Grade
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Matt's Grade
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Adam's Grade
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Robert Henslee Says:
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01
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Jake Long
Offensive Tackle
Michigan
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B
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C
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B+
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A lot of money ($57mil, $30mil guaranteed) for a player who wouldn't be a #1 overall in most drafts... Sort of like a certain quarterback taken #1 in 2002.
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02
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Chris Long
Defensive End
Virginia
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A-
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B
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B
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Instant pass rush for the Rams D. They can only hope that he's as good or better than his dad, Howie Long.
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03
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Matt Ryan
Quarterback
Boston College
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C-
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B
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B-
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The best quarterback in the draft, but still a reach for a team that's desperate to put Michael Vick in its past.
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04
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Darren McFadden
Running Back
Arkansas
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B-
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A
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A-
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JaMarcus Russell has to love this pick. McFadden has the size and speed to be an instant difference maker. The only concerns are his durability. Look for him to share time with Justin Fargas to save on the wear and tear in his rookie season.
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05
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Glenn Dorsey
Defensive Tackle
LSU
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A
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A-
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A
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Arguably the best player in the draft... practically fell into the Chiefs laps. Other teams were burning up the phone lines trying to land Dorsey but KC apparently will keep him. Dorsey may be their best defensive player already thanks to the trade of Pro Bowl DE Jared Allen.
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06
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Vernon Gohlston
Defensive End
Ohio State
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A-
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B
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B+
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The most explosive player in the draft. Should put heat on the quarterback from day 1, whether it's at defensive end or as an outside linebacker.
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07
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Sedrick Ellis
Defensive Tackle
USC
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C+
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C
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B-
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Can tear it up on the interior line but there are questions about his size and his ability to start 16 games a season. The Saints may regret trading up to grab this pick from the Patriots.
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08
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Derrick Harvey
Defensive End
Florida
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B
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B+
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B
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The best defensive line in the AFC South is now even better as the Jags add a speed rusher at DE. Ephraim Salaam take note!
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09
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Keith Rivers
Linebacker
USC
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B
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B
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A-
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Bengals had to go defense and Rivers is the best linebacker in the draft. He's not an elite talent but should be a solid OLB for years to come.
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10
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Jerod Mayo
Linebacker
Tennessee
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B-
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C
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C
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First real surprise of the first round. The Pats desperately need to get younger at LB, but they could have traded down and still gotten him.
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11
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Leodis McKelvin
Cornerback
Troy State
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A
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B+
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A
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The Bills dodge the temptation to draft a WR, taking the first cornerback off the board. Not just a good cornerback, he's a dangerous punt returner. Unfortunately, this pick could cost the Texans later.
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12
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Ryan Clady
Offensive Tackle
Boise State
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B
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B+
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A
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Another player the Texans could use. There are two left tackles the texans would like to take in the first round. Now one of them is gone.
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13
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Jonathan Stewart
Running Back
Oregon
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B-
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B
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C+
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Impressed teams with his toughness at the combine running well despite needing toe surgery. That should bode well for his ability to adapt from the Pac-10 to the NFL.
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14
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Chris Williams
Offensive Tackle
Vanderbilt
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A
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A
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B+
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There goes the other left tackle the Texans needed. The pick hurts Texans fans but it's a good one for the Bears who need big help on the line.
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15
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Branden Albert
Offensive Guard
Virginia
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A
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A
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A
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KC fills another big need with Albert who can play either guard or tackle. He's a top 10 talent worth trading up for at this spot.
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16
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Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Cornerback
Tennessee State
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A-
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A-
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B+
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Big-time cornerback has flown up the charts leading up to the draft. He was high on the Texans radar but so are a couple of other CB's.
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17
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Gosder Cherilus
Offensive Tackle
Boston College
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C
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B
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B
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Another first round surprise as the Lions pass on Rashard Mendenhall despite a major need in the backfield.
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18
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Joe Flacco
Quaterback
Delaware
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C+
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B-
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C+
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Strong-armed QB but still a reach at #18. The Texans gave up this pick in exchange for the Ravens 1st (26th overall), the Ravens 3rd (89th) and the Ravens 5th (173rd).
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19
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Jeff Otah
Offensive Tackle
Pittsburgh
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B-
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B-
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B-
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Big bruising right tackle should step right in to open holes for fellow first rounder Jonathan Stewart.
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20
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Aqib Talib
Cornerback
Kansas
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B+
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B-
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B
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Arguably the best CB in the draft, but failed drug tests pushed him down to the latter half of the first round. A player whose off-field baggage may have kept him from being a Texan.
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21
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Sam Baker
Offensive Tackle
USC
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C-
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C+
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D
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Perfect example why the Falcons are one of the worst franchises in the league. They overdrafted a player generally regarded as a second rounder and they traded up to make that pick.
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22
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Felix Jones
Running Back
Arkansas
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C+
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B
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A
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Jerry Jones couldn't resist drafting a fellow Razorback. They passed on the best RB in the draft to add this speedster who should compliment Marion Barber in the cowpokes backfield.
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23
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Rashard Mendenhall
Running Back
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A
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A
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A+
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A steal at #23. Mendenhall slid further than anyone expected. The Texans will get to see what might have been when he makes his NFL debut against them in the season opener.
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24
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Chris Johnson
Running Back
East Carolina
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C-
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D
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C+
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Fastest RB in the draft but a surprising pick nonetheless. The Titans are hoping he's the "lightning" to Lendale White's "thunder."
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25
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Mike Jenkins
Cornerback
South Florida
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A
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B
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A-
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Jenkins is the best CB left on the board. The Cowboys traded up to draft him before the Texans could do so.
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26
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Duane Brown
Offensive Tackle
Virginia Tech
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A-
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B-
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A-
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Brown is still a little rough around the edges but he has all the tools to be a solid left tackle, filling a hole that's existed since the Texans entered the league.
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27
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Antoine Cason
Cornerback
Arizona
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A
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A+
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A-
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Big, physical cornerback. Could become a better NFL cornerback than the CB's drafted ahead of him.
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28
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Lawrence Jackson
Defensive End
USC
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A
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C
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B-
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Quick defensive end, but his ability to get past tackles at the next level is a big question mark.
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29
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Kentwan Balmer
Defensive Tackle
North Carolina
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A
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F
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C+
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Solid interior D-lineman at times, but his overall effort lacks at times. Questionable pick for a team with a questionable draft history.
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30
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Dustin Keller
Tight End
Purdue
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C+
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C
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D
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The Jets need help in the passing game, but this was a huge reach. Keller is undersized for a tight end and projects as the rare h-back that's a first round pick.
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31
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Kenny Phillips
Safety
Miami
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A
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B-
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B+
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Prototypical hard-hitting Miami safety, but not as much a sure-thing as fellow "U" products Ed Reed or the late Sean Taylor. Has to prove he can do more than hit hard to succeed in the NFL.
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