2010 NFL Draft grades: Perception vs. reality

Grading the NFL Draft just days after it happened is one of the dumbest notions ever. What are you grading them off? What you think should have happened?

So we're taking a little bit of a different view on the grades. After the jump you'll find some grades other gave, if that sort of thing appeases you. Then we have some thoughts on the perception of the picks and what the reality just may be.

We used grades from Clifton Brown of The Sporting News, Mel Kiper of ESPN and Pete Prisco of CBS Sports.

AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
- Sporting News - C-
- Mel Kiper - C+
- CBS Sports - C
Perception: Running back C.J. Spiller will add another dimension to the bland Buffalo offense. Taking nose tackle Torrell Troup in the second round and passing on Jimmy Clausen were mistakes.
Reality: Buffalo believes in one of their quarterback, whether that's Trent Edwards or Brian Brohm. Still, the Bills could have used a better left tackle than Ed Wang.

Miami Dolphins
- Sporting News - B-
- Mel Kiper - C-
- CBS Sports - B+
Perception: Trading back and adding two front seven pieces was a smart move and safety Reshad Jones was a fifth-round steal.
Reality: Guard John Jerry in the thred and cornerback Nolan Carroll were head scratchers, but the rest of the draft was solid. The team added zero playmakers on offense but didn't need to.

New England Patriots
- Sporting News - B
- Mel Kiper - B-
- CBS Sports - B+
Perception: Cornerback Devin McCourty as a great pickup. Adding two tight ends was questionable, as was using a second rounder on Brandon Spikes.
Reality: Not only did New England build for the future, but the team has two picks in each the first and second rounds next year.

New York Jets
- Sporting News - B-
- Mel Kiper - B
- CBS Sports - B
Perception: With only four picks, the Jets had to make an impact. But how long will it take for guard Vladimir Ducasse to catch up to NFL speed?
Reality: Kyle Wilson was a good pick who could challenge for a starting job. Joe McKnight should replace Leon Washington with ease.

AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
- Sporting News - A-
- Mel Kiper - A
- CBS Sports - A
Perception: No team added more scheme-fit players than Baltimore with linebacker Sergio Kindle and defensive linemen Terrence Cody and Arthur Jones. Taking two tight ends was a shrewd move.
Reality: There are some risks with this draft. Jones and Kindle have injury issues and Cody has effort concerns. Finding Todd Heap's replacement was smart.

Cincinnati Bengals
- Sporting News - B+
- Mel Kiper - C
- CBS Sports - B+
Perception: Tight end Jermaine Gresham was a great pick in the first round. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap and wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe both define boom or bust prospects.
Reality: The Bengals' draft was a winner for getting steals Brandon Ghee in the third and Geno Atkins in the fourth. Jordan Shipley should become a stellar slot option.

Cleveland Browns
- Sporting News - B
- Mel Kiper - C
- CBS Sports - C
Perception: The Browns overdrafted in the second round by taking safety T.J. Ward and running back Montario Hardesty. Neither Ward or Larry Asante have good coverage skills.
Reality: Cleveland got the quarterback it likes in Colt McCoy. Wide receiver Carlton Mitchell gives the team the kind of big, fast receiver it doesn't have.

Pittsburgh Steelers
- Sporting News - B
- Mel Kiper - B
- CBS Sports - B-
Perception: The Steelers too many outside linebackers in Jason Worilds, Thaddeus Gibson and Steven Sylvester. Jonathan Dwyer was a steal in the sixth round.
Reality: Pittsburgh's draft might be defined by wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown. Both fit the team's mold of small, quick receivers. Maurkice Pouncey is a sure thing on the interior of the offensive line.

AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
- Sporting News - B-
- Mel Kiper - B
- CBS Sports - C
Perception: Trading up for running back Ben Tate in the second and taking defensive Earl Mitchell in the third round may be reaches.
Reality: Cornerback Kareem Jackson was a great pick in the first round tight end Dorin Dickerson gives the team a unique option on offense. The rest of the draft, other than Tate, is uninspiring.

Indianapolis Colts
- Sporting News - C+
- Mel Kiper - C
- CBS Sports - B-
Perception: After the selection defensive end, the Colts' draft was a curious one. Pat Angerer was selected too early, the pick of Jacques McClendon came out of left field and Brody Eldridge is a tight end/offensive lineman tweener.
Reality: What the Colts added was toughness. McClendon is regarded as a mauler inside, Angerer plays with loads of heart and Elridge was arguably the best blocking tight end in the draft – he played center at times for Oklahoma. Late-round pick Kavell Conner could also be a contributor down the road. He's fundamentally sound and a good tackler.

Jacksonville Jaguars
- Sporting News - D
- Mel Kiper - D
- CBS Sports - B-
Perception: The Jaguars made reaches in almost every round with Tyson Alualu, D'Anthony Smith and Larry Hart.
Reality: General manager Gene Smith got the guys he wanted. Reaches, yes, but not wildly drastic. End Austen Lane and running back Deji Karim may be late-round, small-school steals.

Tennessee Titans
- Sporting News - C+
- Mel Kiper - C+
- CBS Sports - B
Perception: The team was lucky to get Derrick Mogan in the first round and Damian Williams in the third.
Reality: Tennessee's draft is built on third-day finds in cornerback Alterraun Verner, safety Robert Johnson and safety Myron Rolle. It's a deceptively good draft.

AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
- Sporting News - C
- Mel Kiper - C-
- CBS Sports - C-
Perception: Trading back into the first round to take Tim Tebow was a mistake and offensive lineman Zane Beadles was drafted far too high in the second round.
Reality: Demaryius Thomas was a very good first-round pick and J.D. Walton gives them a good center. Wide receiver Eric Decker and cornerback Perrish Cox have the makings of real finds in later rounds.

Kansas City Chiefs
- Sporting News - B+
- Mel Kiper - B-
- CBS Sports - C-
Perception: The Chiefs made relative reaches to take Dexter McCluster, Javier Arenas and Tony Moeaki. Safety Eric Berry was an obvious home run.
Reality: The team added the leadership it needed in Arenas, Asamoah, Berry and Moeaki. Linebacker Cameron Sheffield could develop into an good pass rusher.

Oakland Raiders
- Sporting News - A-
- Mel Kiper - C+
- CBS Sports - A
Perception: The Raiders made logical picks in linebacker Roland McClain and defensive tackle Lamarr Houston. The trade for starting quarterback Jason Campbell was a great draft-weekend move.
Reality: It will be a stretch for offensive tackles Jared Veldheer and Bruce Campbell to play early and the Raiders need line help badly. Jacoby Ford was a questionable pick in the fourth round. Still, McClain and Houston were great selections.

San Diego Chargers
- Sporting News - C+
- Mel Kiper - B
- CBS Sports - B-
Perception: Trading up to take Ryan Mathews was too pricey of a move.
Reality: Really, that's the only fault. Donald Butler, Cam Thomas and Darrell Stuckey were outstanding finds later in the draft. Jonathan Crompton could become a solid player. If he doesn't, he as only a fifth-round pick.

NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
- Sporting News - C+
- Mel Kiper - B-
- CBS Sports - B-
Perception: The Cowboys didn't do a good enough of job of addressing the offensive line or safety.
Reality: The team's first two picks, wide receiver Dez Bryant and Sean Lee, are early impact players. Akwasi Owus-Ansah has the ability to play any of the four defensive back positions.

New York Giants
- Sporting News - C
- Mel Kiper - B
- CBS Sports - A
Perception: Middle linebacker was the team's biggest need and fourth rounder Phillip Dillard might not be the answer. Jason Pierre-Paul is a boom or bust guy.
Reality: Pierre-Paul's athleticism and Tom Coughlin's coaching could be a great fit. Defensive tackle Linval Joseph,  safety Chad Jones and guard Mitch Petrus should get plenty of playing time early in their careers.

Philadelphia Eagles
- Sporting News - B+
- Mel Kiper - B+
- CBS Sports - A+
Perception: Exactly how many of Philadelphia's 13 draft choices are going to make the roster? Was trading up for Brandon Graham a wise maneuver? Donovan McNabb was essentially traded for safety Nate Allen.
Reality: The Eagles got a lot of good developmental players with quarterback Mike Kafka, tight end Clay Harbor, pass rusher Ricky Sapp and wide receiver Riley Cooper. The team will test quantity over quality.

Washington Redskins
- Sporting News - C
- Mel Kiper - C-
- CBS Sports - B-
Perception: Offensive tackle Trent Williams being selected over Russell Okung was a strange move. Linebacker Perry Riley may not be a good fit for the 3-4 defense.
Reality: With one pick in the first two days of the draft, Washington was in a tough spot. But Selvish Capers was a solid find in the seventh round. Oh, and getting Donovan McNabb should appease owner Dan Snyder plenty.

NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
- Sporting News - C
- Mel Kiper - B
- CBS Sports - C
Perception: Chicago had no picks in the first two rounds and had to sit back and fill needs.
Reality: Safety Major Wright was a reach in the third round. However, defensive end Corey Wootton was a great pick.

Detroit Lions
- Sporting News - B+
- Mel Kiper - B+
- CBS Sports - C
Perception: Ndamukong Suh was an obvious choice, but trading up to take Jahvid Best was questionable.
Reality: The Lions did the right move by adding players who can immediately add to the team. Amari Spievey was a good later-round steal.

Green Bay Packers
- Sporting News - B-
- Mel Kiper - B-
- CBS Sports - C+
Perception: Picking defensive tackle Mike Neal in the second round was a reach, but Bryan Bulaga was a perfect first-round pick.
Reality: After Bulaga, the Packers made some nice choices. Morgan Burnett has a ton of potential and running back James Starks could prove to be a steal if he's healthy.

Minnesota Vikings
- Sporting News - C-
- Mel Kiper - C-
- CBS Sports - C+
Perception: Minnesota took a lot of risks. Defensive back Chris Cook may be a man without a position, Toby Gerhart is a backup and Everson Griffen has real effort issues. The rest of the draft is underwhelming.
Reality: This draft is based on potential. Griffen could develop into an outstanding pass rusher and Gerhart should add a few years to Adrian Peterson's career.

NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
- Sporting News - B-
- Mel Kiper - C-
- CBS Sports - B-
Perception: After outside linebacker, the Falcons made a bunch of reaches with defensive tackle Corey Peters and guard Joe Hawley.
Reality: The picks of guard Mike Johnson in the third and cornerback Dominique Franks in the fifth negate the Peters and Hawley reaches.

Carolina Panthers
- Sporting News - A-
- Mel Kiper - B
- CBS Sports - B+
Perception: Carolina scored a coup by getting quarterback Jimmy Clausen in the second round and linebacker Eric Norwood in the fourth.
Reality: If Clausen was a steal, why take Tony Pike in the sixth round? End Greg Hardy and wide receiver David Gettis have motivational issues and Armanti Edwards is a project. Brandon LaFell is a solid possession receiver.

New Orleans Saints
- Sporting News - B-
- Mel Kiper - C
- CBS Sports - C
Perception: The team got excellent value in offensive tackle Charles Brown and defensive tackle Al Woods.
Reality: Tight end Jimmy Graham is a project. Cornerback Patrick Robinson might not contribute early. Brown's injury will need to be evaluated.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Sporting News - A
- Mel Kiper - B+
- CBS Sports - A+
Perception: Taking two defensive tackles and two wide receivers seemed odd. Will DT Brian Price and WR Mike Williams play to their potential or show the same signs of laziness as they did in college?
Reality: If Williams and Arrelious Benn pan out at wide receiver, it was a great move. Cody Grimm and Dekoda Watson should upgrade the team's coverage units. Gerald McCoy's pocket collapsing ability should make everyone on the defense better.

NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
- Sporting News - B-
- Mel Kiper - B+
- CBS Sports - B+
Perception: Defensive tackle Dan Williams and linebacker Daryl Washington were steals were they were selected.
Reality: The Cardinals' draft will depend on the development of wide receiver Andre Roberts and quarterback John Skelton after coming from lower-division football. If healthy, O'Brien Schofield has the makings of a very good pass rusher.

San Francisco 49ers
- Sporting News - A-
- Mel Kiper - B
- CBS Sports - B
Perception: San Francisco set its offensive line for years with the picks of Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati. Anthony Dixon should make it as a short-yardage back.
Reality: The success of this draft will depend on how well the team's coaches can motivate Davis and third rounder Navorro Bowman (who may not be a good 3-4 fit). With Ronnie Lott mentoring him, watch for the development of Taylor Mays. That's one of the more underplayed stories coming out of this draft.

St. Louis Rams
- Sporting News - B
- Mel Kiper - C+
- CBS Sports - B
Perception: The Rams, holders of the first pick in each round, should have traded back and added more picks.
Reality: The Rams added a franchise quarterback, a starting right tackle and a receiver for Sam Bradford. If all three make it, it's a winning draft. The rest of the draft is filled with depth.

Seattle Seahawks
- Sporting News - A+
- Mel Kiper - A
- CBS Sports - B+
Perception: The Seahawks hit a home run with just about every move. Offensive tackle Russell Okung, safety Earl Thomas and wide receiver Golden Tate all look like early contributors. Trading for Lendale White and Leon Washington will revamp the team's running game.
Reality: Those first picks are great. Walter Thurmond has to show he can come back from injury to warrant his pick in the fourth round. Tight end Anthony McCoy has some personal issues and Jameson Konz is sort of a man without a position.