Grading the NFL teams on their individual drafts:

A

Miami Dolphins: Safely tucked away OT Jake Long as the first overall choice Tuesday. He should start on the left side for many years. DE Phillip Merling slipped into the second round after a weak workout and sports hernia surgery, but he should fit this 3-4 scheme on the left side, more because he can play the run than for his pass-rushing. Great value here, especially if the Dolphins trade Jason Taylor. QB Chad Henne will be an immediate factor. Solid, solid board.

Kansas City Chiefs: They got their man. Make that men. DT Glenn Dorsey dropped in their laps. With their second No. 1, they moved up two spots and grabbed OL Branden Albert, who could be their answer at LT and at the least will play G. Two big holes filled, though there are still questions about pass-rushers. CB Brandon Flowers might lack raw speed but plays a physical style and could have been a No. 1 pick.

B-PLUS

Pittsburgh Steelers: Terrific bit of luck in getting RB Rashard Mendenhall 23rd. This gives them some between-the-tackles punch to complement Willie Parker, who comes off a broken leg. WR Limas Sweed is a great value late in the second round, and Bruce Davis is a typical Steelers outside LB with rush skills. OT Tony Hill is a mauler who fits this type of running game.

New York Giants: Linked with FS Kenny Phillips early on and didn't stray, despite reports of unimpressive workouts and an OK junior season. Good fit for a team shy of speed and depth in the deep middle after the loss of Gibril Wilson. Stuck with filling defensive holes in the second round with Terrell Thomas, a physical, bump-and-run CB. Mario Manningham's workouts and conduct knocked him down, but the Giants need refreshing at WR.

Indianapolis Colts: Dealt away their No. 1 a year ago and picked OT Tony Ugoh, who stepped in as a starter. That influences this grade. Needed LB depth and got it in the third round with Philip Wheeler, who can run and rush the passer from the edge. Also got insurance in C Mike Pollak, heir apparent to Jeff Saturday in a scheme that prizes movement over drive.

Carolina Panthers: Gave up their 2009 No. 1 but filled a hole at RB with Jonathan Stewart, whose toe injury should not limit him past July. This gives some life to the downhill running game. Picked up a second No. 1 pick from the Philadelphia Eagles to grab OT Jeff Otah, a masher. Solidifies another weak area. Then LB Dan Connor drops in their lap in the third round.

Arizona Cardinals: This team helped itself. RB Tim Hightower, picked in the fifth round, is a good short-yardage back. Filled their CB need in the first round with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and got a huge DE (6-8 Calais Campbell) in the second round, a good value. Early Doucet will find a crowd at WR, but the Cards may eventually move Anquan Boldin.

B

Jacksonville Jaguars: They never hid their desire for DE Derrick Harvey and moved from the 26th spot in the first round to eighth to get him. Harvey looks like the most complete of the DEs, so this pick, even at the cost, ought to be successful. Same idea in moving up to get Quentin Groves. Want to knock off the Colts? Then find a way to rush Peyton Manning.

Minnesota Vikings: Count DE Jaren Allen as their No. 1 pick (and two No. 3s). He had 15 1/2 sacks last year to lead the NFL and brings a missing element to this defense, which ranked first against the run. QB John David Booty in the fifth round is a great value play for a team with issues at the position. Also, like S Tyrell Johnson.

San Diego Chargers: Antoine Cason fills the bill neatly after they lost CBs Sammy Davis and Drayton Florence. Traded up in the third round to get FB Jacob Hester, who will fill the role left vacant by Lorenzo Neal. Not many holes, only five picks.

Washington Redskins: Wanted to trade their No. 1 pick for an established WR but instead bailed out of the round to give themselves more choices than the nine with which they went into the draft. Got WR Devin Thomas at the top of the second round. Thomas, a junior college transfer, only had one solid season at Michigan State. WR Malcolm Kelly fell quite a bit but might be better than Thomas. TE Fred Davis was tops at his position on many boards. QB Colt Brennan could be fun to watch.

Chicago Bears: Helped their offense with first three picks but didn't get a QB. OT Chris Williams solidifies a weak position and should start immediately. Bit of a stretch in the second round for RB Matt Forte, but they can't solo with Cedric Benson. WR Earl Bennett has decent size. Love SS Craig Steltz for what he'll bring to special teams.

San Francisco 49ers: Kentwan Balmer came on strong, and they needed an inside presence at NT. An outside rusher or a WR looked like more of a priority. Not quite a steal but good value here. Chilo Rachal could start at G immediately. Reggie Smith could play CB or S.

B-MINUS

Dallas Cowboys: Excellent job in filling needs, but bypassing Rashard Mendenhall? Did get an RB in explosive Felix Jones. He'll dovetail nicely with Marion Barber III. Moved up three spots to grab CB Mike Jenkins, insurance against Adam "Pacman" Jones and his uncertain status, after Dallas and Tennessee's trade was finalized by the NFL yesterday. TE Martellus Bennett steps in for Anthony Fasano.

Cleveland Browns: Didn't pick until the fourth round. Dealt away picks last year and this spring. Until they squeeze something out of QB Brady Quinn and find out exactly what DT Shaun Rogers weighs, who can make a judgment here? If Rogers and Cory Redding make the D-line solid, this draft was essentially for veterans at a porous position. LB Beau Bell could help shore up against the run.

Buffalo Bills: Working on bolstering a subpar defense. Started the run on CBs with Leodis McKelvin. They'd never drafted a CB this high before. Talented returner as well for a club that highly values special teams. Also got the aptly named Reggie Corner. Got the big-body WR in the second round (6-5 James Hardy).

New England Patriots: Biggest need was a young inside LB with the ability to play multiple positions. Jerod Mayo's that guy. He went a bit higher than most teams might have had him. Mayo can also play OLB, but that's where third-rounder Shawn Crable fits in. Terrence Wheatley can be a shutdown CB and also returns kicks. Reached quite a bit on QB Kevin O'Connell in the third round.

Green Bay Packers: Traded out of the first round. Jordy Nelson in the second could be a steal, though the pick is a bit mystifying because they aren't short of talent at WR. Filled needs with CB Patrick Lee and TE Jermichael Finley. Stole DE Jeremy Thompson in the fourth round. QB Brian Brohm could have gone higher.

New Orleans Saints: Beefed up the defense with their first three choices. Sedrick Ellis gives them a terrific interior presence to go with some decent rush guys. DT DeMario Pressley, a fifth-rounder, could also surprise. Got secondary help in CB Tracy Porter.

C-PLUS

Atlanta Falcons: Everything rides on QB Matt Ryan. His stock climbed as the draft approached. The Falcons wanted stability and a new face for the franchise. Not sure the second reason is enough to take Ryan (19 interceptions last year) third overall. Traded back into the first round for OT Sam Baker, who could wind up at G, making this a reach. Like the defensive picks more than the offensive ones, but Ryan ultimately makes or breaks this draft.

St. Louis Rams: Much internal debate, but they went with Chris Long, seeking some pressure from the edge, over DT Glenn Dorsey. Only got 5 1/2 sacks from DEs last year, and Leonard Little will soon be 34. WR Donnie Avery went too high, but the Rams love the speed and have the positional need. CB Justin King should be the nickel back right away. They failed to address their O-line issues.

Cincinnati Bengals: Figured to go D-line but took OLB Keith Rivers instead. He's probably a better fit on the weak side but could be the starter at MLB. Drafted a couple of WRs as insurance against Chad Johnson's absence. DT Pat Sims gets off the ball well and has girth. But who's going to rush the passer?

Philadelphia Eagles: Bailed out of the first round rather than take a WR too high and then got the guy they liked, DeSean Jackson, in the second. Picked up Carolina's No. 1 next year. Got O-line help in Mike McGlynn but reached a bit for him. Added secondary help later, and those were at least slight reaches, too. CB Jack Ikegwuono has knee problems and may be facing burglary charges.

C

Baltimore Ravens: Wanted a QB. They suspected Matt Ryan would not fall to the eighth spot and could not trade up. So they dropped down and grabbed Joe Flacco. He has a big arm, but how his skills translate from Delaware to the NFL is anyone's guess. Did not get an OT to replace Jonathan Ogden. Grade is higher if you like the trade for CB Fabian Washington, a former No. 1 of the Oakland Raiders acquired for a fourth-round pick.

New York Jets: If DE/LB Vernon Gholston adapts to the multiple-front scheme, they've got a pass-rusher. A deal with Green Bay at the bottom of the first round brought TE Dustin Keller, who should help the QB (whomever that may be), though they're stocked at that position. No RB or WR help.

Houston Texans: Needed an RB but couldn't let the OT situation go unaddressed. Trading down to take Duane Brown is a bit of a head-scratcher. He has played both sides, so that gives them flexibility. Went RB with Steve Slaton, who has outside burst but might not be big enough. He fits their one-cut scheme, but his size will play into his durability. Xavier Adibi plays better than he runs, but did the Texans really need a LB?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mild surprise in CB Aqib Talib, whose off-the-field issues had him going in the second round on many boards. It will be interesting to see how he fits the Tampa-2 scheme. He's big and physical. DT Dre Moore was a good find in the fourth round, but they were otherwise unimpressive, unless Dexter Jackson becomes an impact WR.

Seattle Seahawks: Dropped down in the first round and went a bit off the mainstream trail with DE Lawrence Jackson. He'll work in as a situational pass-rusher. A space-eating run-stopper came later in Red Bryant. Thinking was they'd go TE, which they did later with John Carlson, though Fred Davis was still on the board. Carlson isn't quite as good a receiver. Love face-busting FB Owen Schmitt as a replacement for Mack Strong.

C-MINUS

Oakland Raiders: They felt they couldn't bypass RB Darren McFadden. He should team neatly with Justin Fargas, who is coming off a season-ending knee injury. Was this the biggest of the Raiders' needs? No. DT was. Big reach on CB Tyvon Branch and already had added DeAngelo Hall in a trade, though they dealt Fabian Washington. Also reached on WR Arman Shields.

Detroit Lions: Need at RT seems to have dictated the choice of Gosder Cherilus, who should have gone lower. Bit of a reach but plays with the sort of ferocity this team can use. LB Jordon Dizon is undersized but fits the Tampa-2 scheme and will play hard. RB Kevin Smith probably is not the answer.

D-PLUS

Tennessee Titans: RB Chris Johnson ran the fastest times in the 40-yard dash at the combine and then ran right into the first round with a team that keeps drafting at this position (LenDale White, Chris Henry) and pays too little attention to its WRs and the holes along the D-line. Didn't do enough here to help QB Vince Young.

Denver Broncos: Happy times when need and the right player coincide. Ryan Clady can eventually step in at LT, where the Broncos lost 11-year veteran Matt Lepsis to retirement. WR Eddie Royal helps on punt returns and gives Denver wiggle room with Brandon Marshall's injury. But why draft Royal after signing Darrell Jackson and Keary Colbert?