The Rams got their man in the first round of this years draft. Carriker will come in and be an iunstant starter most likely and he will help out on an improving defense.
Breaking Down The Draft - NFC North
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Chicago Bears Who They Took: 1.(31) TE Greg Olsen, Miami 2.(62) DE Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan 3.(93) RB Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois 3.(94) LB Michael Okwo, Stanford 4.(130) OG Josh Beekman, Boston College 5.(167) S Kevin Payne, Louisiana-Monroe 5.(168) CB Corey Graham, New Hampshire 7.(221) CB Trumaine McBride, Mississippi 7.(241) OT Aaron Brant, Iowa St. Key Team Needs: 1. Defensive back 2. Tight end 3. Linebacker 4. Defensive tackle 5. Offensive line The Bottom Line: Greg Olsen was a steal at the 31st overall pick. Many scouts, included me, had him going a lot higher. I actually had him at 16 to Green Bay. He is a special player that wil have a great career ahead of him. With rumors that a DE like Agunleye may get traded to make more playing time for rookie phenom, Mark Anderson, the pick of Bazuin makes some sence. I don't agree with drafting Garrett Wolfe on day one at all. He will battle Adrian Peterson and undrafted rookie Darius Walker for the third down back position. I feel he could have been availible in round five or six. I also htink he may only contirbute in special teams and the Bears don't need help in that area. They tried to add some depth at DB by drafting 2 CBs and a S on day two. Overall, not the best draft. Grade: C+ Detroit Lions Who They Took: 1.(2) WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech 2.(43) QB Drew Stanton, Michigan St. 2.(58) DE Ikaika Alama-Francis, Hawaii 2.(61) S Gerald Alexander, Boise St. 4.(105) CB A.J. Davis, North Carolina St. 4.(117) OG Manuel Ramirez, Texas Tech 5.(158) LB Johnny Baldwin, Alabama A&M 7.(255) CB Ramzee Robinson, Alabama Key Team Needs: 1. Defensive end 2. Offensive tackle 3. Cornerback 4. Linebacker 5. Tight end The Bottom Line: Calvin Johnson was the best player availible and he was the right pick. Trading Mike Williams and Josh McCown opened up room for drafting a WR and QB in the first two rounds. Stanton may even see himself starting by mid to late season. They did address DE and S in the second round also so day one was pretty productive. I feel A.J. Davis is a good prospect with a bright future. Then there is Mr. Irrelivant, Ramzee Robinson. He actually has a decent chance at making the team. The Lions are improving and actually may compete this season. Grade: B
Green Bay Packers Who They Took: 1.(16) DT Justin Harrell, Tennessee 2.(63) RB Brandon Jackson, Nebraska 3.(78) WR James Jones, San Jose St. 3.(89) S Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech 4.(119) OT Allen Barbre, Missourin Southern St. 5.(157) WR David Clowney, Virginia Tech 6.(191) LB Korey Hall, Boise St. 6.(192) LB Desmond Bishop, California 6.(193) K Mason Crosby, Colorado 7.(228) RB Deshawn Wynn, Florida 7.(243) TE Clark Harris, Rutgers Key Team Needs: 1. Running back 2. Wide receiver 3. Defensive back 4. Tight end 5. Linebacker The Botttom Line: The pick of Harrell in round one was horrid. To me, it didn't make too much sense and it was aweful. I can't see how the Packers had him ranked as the best player availible. THen in round two, they reached for another player in Brandon Jackson. They could have got him in round three or even four. Plus, I think Vernand Morency is a lot better back then people give him credit for. He should and will be the starter this season and in the future. I think their best pick was with Aaron Rouse. He will come in right away and challange Manuel for the starting role. Jones and Clowney can come in and contribute early maybe too, though the Packers have like 10 WRs on the roster already. Crosby could have been taken in round two, but fell into round 6. I actually like the pick of him their. Another problem I saw was Ted Thompson not offering higher then a 5th round pick for Moss. He is Randy Moss! Overall, they didn't do enough to help out Favre. Dissapointing draft for packer fans. Grade: C-
Minnesota Vikings Who They Took: 1.(7) RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma 2.(44) WR Sidney Rice, South Carolina 3.(72) CB Marcus McCauley, Fresno St. 4.(102) DE Brian Robison, Texas 5.(146) WR Aundrae Allison, East Carolina 6.(176) LB Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma 7.(217) QB Tyler Thigpen, Coastal Carolina 7.(233) WR Chandler Williams, Florida International Key Team Needs: 1. Quarterback 2. Wide receiver 3. Linebacker 4. Cornerback 5. Running back The Bottom Line: The Vikings must really like Tavaris Jackson, because Brady Quinn would've looked good in purple. I don't disagree with the Peterson pick though at all. I never though much of Chester Taylor and I think Peterson may come in and carry the bulk of the role right away. I really like the pick of Sidney Rice. The Vikings need a big play threat as Troy Williamson hasn't proved much yet. Though Rice is a hit or miss becasue of his lack of experience, I think he will do good. I also really like the Marcus McCauley pick in the third round. He could have gone early two, and he can and should contribute early. Aunrea Allison is still developing, but shows a lot of potential. Alexander is a playmaker, but may only see special teams action early. As I posted before, I really like the Viking draft this year, They found talent that will help them out for many years. Grade: B+
Winners of Draft Weekend 1. Carolina - Trading down and still getting the great talent of Jon Beason. Then they got a big steal by selecting Dwayne Jarrett mid round two. Jarrett would have been a top 10 overall pick had his 40 time not been so disappointing. He still plays hard and can be dominate at times. Later in round two, they got another steal with center, Ryan Kalil. Kalil was a late first-early second round talent. Charles Johnson is a good end that will help add depth to that position. Ryne Robinson can help out the receiving core. Since that position is already deep, it may take time or an injury to really give him some gametime.
2. Indianapolis - Normallydrafting last will hurt your picks, but not for the Colts. They filled their need of a good slot receiver right away by selecting Anthony Gonzalez. They got another good value pick by taking Tony Agoh near the middle of the second round. Then with their two third round picks, they snatched up Daymeion Hughes and Quinn Pitcock. Both players were first round projections at the start of the offseason, but there stock fell. If the Colts can get them to play to their full potential, they got some real steals. Finally, I really like the pick of Michael Coe at the 173rd overall pick. Coe will fill in at a CB spot and I think he can contribute early in his career.
3. Minnesota - I like the Vikings Draft because they got some explosive players. The addition of Adrian Peterson, healthy or not, will help out a lot. He will split time with Taylor and eventually take the full load. Sidney Rice is either a major hit or a big flop. He only played two years in college, but what a two years they were. He had monster receiving stats. Becasue he doesn't have the full experience as most, he may not know how to adjust his game to the NFL. Getting Marcus McCauley in the third round is also a very good pickup. He will help address a week pass defense. Rufus Alexander could turn out to be a big steal as well. If he can perform at his potential, he can be very good.
4. Cleveland - Cleveland got what everyone is calling the "sexiest" draft, it doesn't reflect that they don't have a first round pick next year. Getting Joe Thomas at 3 was a good fit for them. They decided to pass on Brady Quinn, but got lucky when they traded up to get him at 22. Both players had top 10 grades. Getting Eric Wright in round 2 was a good pick as well. Wright was a part of USC until off the field issues led to a transfer to UNLV. He's got enormus talent, but some teams didn't want to take the gamble on him. Other then those three players, their draft wasn't too special.
5. New England - Belichick gets another one. It wasn't the draft that impresses me, it't the fact that they get Randy Moss for a 4th round pick. They started Saturday with two first round picks and ended it with one one total pick. That one pick was Brandon Meriweather though. Meriweather is a versitile safety that will help out the team right away. Oscar Lou was a good pick that they got in the seventh round. Coming from USC, he's bound to be good. Moss alone would make this draft one of the best, but add Meriweather and I give them a top 5 grade.
Vikings Strike Gold Finally a playmaker in Minnesota. Vikings fans havn't seen this since the Randy Moss days. Adrian Peterson will be a good fit in Minnesota. He will battle with Chester Taylor for the starting job and probably won't win it for week one. In the future, Peterson may be a Hall of Famer. Even this season, Peterson could play the Laurence Maoroney, Joseph Addai, or even Maurice Jones-Drew role this season. If so, he should still put up good numbers.
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
