2009 NFL Draft grades - Draftniks, fans, media averaged

by Mocking Dan on Apr 27, 2009 1:53 AM EDT in 2009 NFL Draft Comment 26 comments

To me, it's a little silly to put grades on a draft class a day after the draft is completed.

So, instead of doing it myself, I picked a member of the media (USA Today), a draftnik (Pete Prisco of CBS) and fans (ESPN fan nation).

Grades were put on the high school grade point average scale thusly:

A = 4 | A - = 3.67 | B+ = 3.33 | B = 3 | B- = 2.67 | C+ = 2.33 | C = 2 | C- = 1.67 | D+ = 1.33 | D = 1 | D- = .067 | F = 0 (an A + received four points)

The clear top drafting team was Philadelphia, which landed weapons like Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy. By no surprise, Oakland finished last by a wide margin.

Arizona Cardinals
USA Today - B (3), CBS Sports - B- (2.67), ESPN Fan Nation - B+ (3.33)
Average: 3

Atlanta Falcons
USA Today - B (3), CBS Sports - B+ (3.33), ESPN Fan Nation - B+ (3.33)
Average: 3.22

Baltimore Ravens
USA Today - B- (2.67), CBS Sports - B (3), ESPN Fan Nation - B (3)
Average: 2.89

Buffalo Bills
USA Today - A- (3.67), CBS Sports - B- (2.67), ESPN Fan Nation - B (3)
Average: 3.11

Carolina Panthers
USA Today - C (2), CBS Sports - C+ (2.33), ESPN Fan Nation - B- (2.67)
Average: 2.33

Chicago Bears
USA Today - B- (2.67), CBS Sports - A (4), ESPN Fan Nation - C+ (2.33)
Average: 3

Cincinnati Bengals
USA Today - B (3), CBS Sports - B+ (3.33), ESPN Fan Nation - B+ (3.33)
Average: 3.22

Cleveland Browns
USA Today - B (3), CBS Sports - C (2), ESPN Fan Nation - B- (2.67)
Average: 2.56

Dallas Cowboys
USA Today - D+ (1.33), CBS Sports - D+ (1.33), ESPN Fan Nation - C (2)
Average: 1.55

Denver Broncos
USA Today - B- (2.67), CBS Sports - C- (1.67), ESPN Fan Nation - C (2)
Average: 2.11

Detroit Lions
USA Today - C+ (2.33), CBS Sports - A (4), ESPN Fan Nation - B+ (3.33)
Average: 3.22

Green Bay Packers
USA Today - B+ (3.33), CBS Sports - B (3), ESPN Fan Nation - A- (3.67)
Average: 3.33

Houston Texans
USA Today - C+ (2.33), CBS Sports - B (3), ESPN Fan Nation - B+ (3.33)
Average: 2.89

Indianapolis Colts
USA Today - C- (1.67), CBS Sports - B+ (3.33), ESPN Fan Nation - B+ (3.33)
Average: 2.78

Jacksonville Jaguars
USA Today - C+ (2.33), CBS Sports - B (3), ESPN Fan Nation - B+ (3.33)
Average: 2.89

Kansas City Chiefs
USA Today - C (2), CBS Sports - C (2), ESPN Fan Nation - B- (2.67)
Average: 2.22

Miami Dolphins
USA Today - C (2), CBS Sports - B- (2.67), ESPN Fan Nation - B (3)
Average: 2.56

Minnesota Vikings
USA Today - C+ (2.33), CBS Sports - B- (2.67), ESPN Fan Nation - B (3)
Average: 2.67

New England Patriots
USA Today - A- (3.67), CBS Sports - B+ (3.33), ESPN Fan Nation - B (3)
Average: 3.33

New Orleans Saints
USA Today - C- (1.67), CBS Sports - C (2), ESPN Fan Nation - B+ (3.33)
Average: 2.33

New York Giants
USA Today - A (4), CBS Sports - B- (2.67), ESPN Fan Nation - B (3)
Average: 3.22

New York Jets
USA Today - B- (2.67), CBS Sports - B+ (3.33), ESPN Fan Nation - B+ (3.33)
Average: 3.11

Oakland Raiders
USA Today - F (0), CBS Sports - D (1), ESPN Fan Nation - F (0)
Average: .33

Philadelphia Eagles
USA Today - A (4), CBS Sports - A+ (4), ESPN Fan Nation - A- (3.67)
Average: 3.89

Pittsburgh Steelers
USA Today - B- (2.67), CBS Sports - B (3), ESPN Fan Nation - B- (2.67)
Average: 2.78

St. Louis Rams
USA Today - C (2), CBS Sports - B- (2.67), ESPN Fan Nation - B+ (3.33)
Average: 2.67

San Diego Chargers
USA Today - C- (1.67), CBS Sports - C- (1.67), ESPN Fan Nation - C+ (2.33)
Average: 1.89

San Francisco 49ers
USA Today - C- (1.67), CBS Sports - C- (1.67), ESPN Fan Nation - A (4)
Average: 2.45

Seattle Seahawks
USA Today - B (3), CBS Sports - B- (2.67), ESPN Fan Nation - A- (3.67)
Average: 3.11

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
USA Today - D+ (1.33), CBS Sports - C- (1.67), ESPN Fan Nation - C (2)
Average: 1.67

Tennessee Titans
USA Today - B (3), CBS Sports - B (3), ESPN Fan Nation - B (3)
Average: 3

Washington Redskins
USA Today - C (2), CBS Sports - C (2), ESPN Fan Nation - B (3)
Average: 2.33

FINAL TALLY:

1. Philadelphia - 3.89
2. Green Bay - 3.33
2. New England - 3.33
4. Atlanta - 3.22
4. Cincinnati - 3.22
4. New York Giants - 3.22
4. Detroit - 3.22
8. Buffalo - 3.11
8. New York Jets - 3.11
8. Seattle - 3.11
11. Arizona - 3
11. Chicago - 3
11. Tennessee - 3
14. Baltimore - 2.89
14. Houston - 2.89
14. Jacksonville - 2.89
17. Indianapolis - 2.78
17. Pittsburgh - 2.78
19. Minnesota - 2.67
19. St. Louis - 2.67
21. Cleveland - 2.56
21. Miami - 2.56
23. San Francisco - 2.45
24. Carolina - 2.33
24. New Orleans - 2.33
24. Washington - 2.33
27. Kansas City - 2.22
28. Denver - 2.11
29. San Diego - 1.89
30. Tampa Bay - 1.67
31. Dallas - 1.55
32. Oakland - .33

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Comments

LeSean McCoy......

is the real deal ….He should be the next Michael Westbrook

I am a Big Pitt Fan, and I felt that he was the best back in the Country

This Kid was the best High School player by some magazines, and was going to USC until he broke his ankle his Senior Year.

by Steeler Y360 Nation on Apr 27, 2009 2:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope to God you meant Brian

Because Michael Westbrook was a major disappointment in the NFL

by andyreidswaistline on Apr 27, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank You, Sir, for correcting Me

by Steeler Y360 Nation on May 1, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't that not a good thing?

wasn’t the problem with the Eagles not Brian Westbrook’s replacement not being there, but rather a big power back to get those 3-1? Maclin is good, but isn’t the fact he played in the spread a bad thing, and that he’s more of a Tedd Ginn type not so good? Ingram may be a steal, but he’s had some real bad injuries, and really don’t Florida WR or TE never do good in the pro’s ???

Jason Peters was probably the bet pick…..

Sorry, I can’t see how the Eagles did so good…..

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 28, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In Andy's offense

“A big back” is essentially a square peg for a round hole. Andy likes well round backs that can catch the ball out of the backfield. If they decide to roster a big back for short yardage situations it’ll be Eckel. Weaver’s another option.

by andyreidswaistline on Apr 29, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

People are ripping the Ravens way too much for the whole no WR thing. Sure it was a position of need, but what’s the point of saying you should draft the best player available only to rip a team for not drafting a particular position on draft day. It’s not like at any point there was an obvious WR pick to be made for them.

by math_geek on Apr 27, 2009 3:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

another year, another great draft, another C from the experts

“If you give out the report cards the day after the draft, it’s completely devoid of reason. How can you possibly give a student a grade the day he is admitted to college and enrolls in class? Draft report cards are the same thing. I used to get mad at those things, but now I say, ‘Fine. Give us a C every year, and we’ll just keep making the playoffs.’ ’’

—Indianapolis GM Bill Polian.

The two statistical studies of the the best and worst drafting teams had Indy running away with the top spot over the Polian era.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=531
http://www.advancednflstats.com/2009/04/draft-success-by-team.html

I got Summer hatin' on me cuz I'm hotter than the sun. Spring hatin' on me cuz I ain't never sprung
Winter hatin' on me cuz I'm colder than Y'all. And I will never, I will never, I will never Fall.
-Lil Wayne, Mr. Carter

by shake n bake on Apr 27, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

tack on another one

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124053397118950941.html

by shake n bake on Apr 27, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

meh, I think all those stats are terrible personally.

The Adv NFL St. and WSJ pieces take a team limited resource (snaps and starts) and rate teams based on how likely their draft picks receive some share of those resources. Gary Bracket, therefore, takes away starts from some other Indy linebacker, making the team look worse at drafting. That’s kind of stupid. The PRF stats are even worse. They rate offensive lineman not considering how much they play but only by how many points their team scores. Are you serious?

If you choose to believe in Speed Score, not liking the Donald Brown pick is pretty natural.

by math_geek on Apr 27, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I take back what I said about the PRF thing

models a lot more complicated than my first reading. I’ll have to think about whether I like it or not.

by math_geek on Apr 27, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Adv NFL St. piece also uses Pro Bowls which doesn't have that issue.

by shake n bake on Apr 27, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No surprise about Oakland

Not so much the drafting of Bey in the First as it is the drafting of WHO?? in the Second. Mitch Mitchell? No wait Mike Mitchell, sorry.

Relive the shocking NOOOOOOOO of April 25 2009 at Witty's Draft Review and laugh laugh laugh...

by witty on Apr 27, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The rotting corpse of Jimi Hendrix’s drummer doesn’t have enough deep speed these days.

by Mocking Dan on Apr 27, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno. I’m pretty sure Al Davis meant Mitch Mitchell. (shakes head) Never shoulda let Al go to Max Yasger’s farm that summer…

Relive the shocking NOOOOOOOO of April 25 2009 at Witty's Draft Review and laugh laugh laugh...

by witty on Apr 27, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is A LOT of Kool Aid Drinkin goin on

at Silver and Black Pride.

The deafening chorus of “we’ll show them” and “what do the so called experts know” is quite deafening.

Somehow they dont understand about “getting value for your pick” and how getting YOUR GUY is not the point when youre stuck paying #7 pick Money to a guy who was at best the #4 best receiver in the draft

Wreck 'em, Tech!

by Tortilla Pirate on Apr 28, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too early to bash all their picks.

They’ve probaly said that when the experts agree with their picks like Michael Huff, Robert Gallery they never turn out good.

Maybe doing their thing will work out.

Right now, they look stupid . They still may look stupid in November, but they could also look smart when Russel is throwing 80 yard bombs to DHB. Just saying, Im not a raider fan.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 28, 2009 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

your point is perfectly valid

just that when it comes to DHB….there is a lot of hands over ears and singing, “LA LA LA, I cant hear you!” over there at Silver and Black Pride.

Besides, I dont need to bash their picks when EVERYONE else (nfl.com, yahoo, espn, etc..) already have.

Their philosophy over there is since EVERYONE is panning their picks they must ALL be stupid.

but like you said, we’ll see.

Wreck 'em, Tech!

by Tortilla Pirate on Apr 28, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, thanks for doing this Mocking Dan,

I was wondering what the national sports writers thought about the draft on average, and voiila, you’ve done the work for me.

by LantermanC on Apr 27, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course, we're all grading too soon

Of course, games haven’t even been played yet. Teams haven’t coalesced, rosters confirmed, trades mismanaged, coaches fired, cheerleaders caught in compromising situations in Tampa bathroom stalls, the usual. I do have to admit it’s too soon to go around wondering who graded how and why and what were smart moves and what were… were…
I lied. DAMMIT BUCS YOU RUINED MY WEEKEND. AHHHHhhhhhhhhh (flames out and crashes over the horizon)

Sigh. Had to get that out of my system. So anyway, now is really too soon to be grading this weekend’s draft.

We ought to wait until Labor Day. Then we can get effing brutal about our scores. BWHAHAHAHAHAA….

Relive the shocking NOOOOOOOO of April 25 2009 at Witty's Draft Review and laugh laugh laugh...

by witty on Apr 27, 2009 11:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Glad to see the Carolina Cheerleader bathroom debacle

hasn’t been forgotten. I guess being accused of having lesbian sex is better than admitting snorting some drugs in a bathroom stall. Will we ever know which one it was? I bet they carry it to their grave ;)

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Apr 27, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One last thing about the Giants' draft.

You said before that you can’t give them as high of a grade because they didn’t draft many guys who could start. But isn’t McCoy gonna be behind Westbrook and Maclin would be the #3 reciever right now?

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 27, 2009 4:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Westbrook is hurt everyday and i dont remember the last time he practiced

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Apr 27, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Westbrook is hurt

cuz he’s small. McCoy is small too.

Should have grabbed a big back. The Jets surprising grabbed him, go figure.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 28, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the browns did better than 21st. We got an elite C, two good WRs(one that can contribute immediatley), a pass-rushing OLB, a potential steal in Kaluka, a great guy in Don Carey, a steal in Coye Francies, and solid guy in James Davis. Then u add in Abram Elam(starting SS), Coleman(starting DE) and Brett Ratcliff(solid backup). Some of the UDFAs we have signed include Graham Harrell and Jordan Norwood.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Apr 27, 2009 5:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree, I rememeber loving the Browns' draft.

McCoy McCoy 2010

by LantermanC on Apr 28, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve got to say that Andre Smith, Rey Maualuga, Michael Johnson, and Chase Coffman in the first four picks is unsurpassed this year. Each of the first three were, at one time, in the mix for top ten picks overall. The most prolific tight end in NCAA history? A former Rimington winner? The two-time All-American punter? What’s not to like? Maybe five starters if you include FB Fui Vakapuno(sp?). But, oh no, we take a flyer on a questionable back from ACU…

Maclin is too small and injury prone, another DeSean Jackson, capable of the home run but on IR as often as not. McCoy would’ve sat behind Rashad Jennings had the latter not had to transfer closer to home. Peters is a great pick up but Stacy Andrews is a swinging gate.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Apr 28, 2009 10:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs