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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 11:11 p.m., Sunday, April 26, 2009

NFL draft: Giants, Bills, Eagles, Pats are A-OK

By LARRY WEISMAN
USA TODAY

How does your team grade out? USA TODAY's Larry Weisman offers his annual draft report card.

A

New York Giants

They got what they needed and the guys whom they wanted. Had targeted WR Hakeem Nicks, a big-body WR with great production who impressed at a workout at Giants Stadium. LB Clint Sintim led the ACC in sacks, can rush from the line. OT William Beatty will eventually press Kareem McKenzie on the right side. RB Andre Brown gets a chance to replace free agent Derrick Ward.

Philadelphia Eagles

Traded a No. 1 previously to Buffalo for LT Jason Peters. Traded up to get WR Jeremy Maclin, who might become the weapon so often deemed lacking. RB LeSean McCoy should adapt quickly to the offense. CB Victor "Macho" Harris, taken in the fifth round, could have gone higher. Got CB Ellis Hobbs from New England for two No. 5 picks. Wow.

A-

Buffalo Bills

Might have found four eventual starters in the first two rounds. Had 24 sacks last year, so DE Aaron Maybin becomes an immediate savior. Traded back into the first round for C Eric Wood, a position of need. CB Jairus Byrd lacks speed but knows how to play. G Andy Levitre is versatile but figures more inside as the Bills rebuild the line. How much immediate help these players supplies is the open question.

New England Patriots

They maneuvered themselves into 12 picks. S Patrick Chung is strong, has decent size, can pair with Brandon Meriweather. DT Ron Brace is a two-gap devourer of blockers and insurance against Vince Woolfork leaving in free agency. WR Brandon Tate might pay dividends in a year or two after suffering a knee injury. Could help in the return game.

B+

Green Bay Packers

Shift to 3-4 dictated the first two picks. DT B.J. Raji will be the interior space-eater. He is 6-1, 323 pounds and uses leverage well. Acquired another No. 1 pick to get OLB Clay Matthews. He could start on the weak side. Other crying need was at OT, where T.J. Lang brings size and a mauler's attitude.

B

Arizona Cardinals

Needed a RB to complement Tim Hightower and found Chris "Beanie" Wells still on the board at 31. Durability questions, but he is a tough inside runner and can only help the NFL's worst ground game. Rangy DE-LB Cody Brown fits in an area where incumbents Bert Berry and Chike Okeafor are getting up in years. DB Rashad Johnson will quickly find a role.

Atlanta Falcons

TE Tony Gonzalez, acquired in a trade for next year's second-rounder, filled the biggest need. DT Peria Jerry takes over for departed Grady Jackson as a run-stopper. Maybe fourth-round DE Lawrence Sidbury can help them balance their pass rush. Filled holes in the secondary with second- and third-round picks. CB Christopher Owens gives away a lot in size (170 pounds).

Cincinnati Bengals

OT Andre Smith carries question marks, but he is a superior blocker. LB Rey Maualuga slipped into the second round and should bring toughness to the middle of a leaky run defense. Some saw DE Michael Johnson as a first-round talent, and the Bengals got him in the third. TE Chase Coffman is a steal in the third.

Cleveland Browns

Loaded up on picks and players from the New York Jets that coach Eric Mangini likes. C Alex Mack was the best at his position, solidifying a problem area, but might have gone a tad early at 21. WRs Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massquoi will contribute quickly. LB-DE David Veikune might lack a true position, should get a first look at end.

Seattle Seahawks

Made a trade that gets them Denver's No. 1 pick next year. LB Aaron Curry can step in on the weakside; the team then rescinded the franchise tag on OLB Leroy Hill, making him a free agent. Traded back into the second round for C Max Unger, who can play anywhere on the line. WR Deon Butler's great speed gives the team a little depth at this position.

Tennessee Titans

Got an athletic big-play WR in Kenny Britt and in the right spot. DL Sen'Derrick Marks can play inside or outside, gives the Titans front flexibility. TE Jared Cook was a great pick in the third round. RB Javon Ringer will find a crowded backfield, but the Titans like a surplus of backs.

B-

Baltimore Ravens

Traded up to grab OT Michael Oher, who can play either side. DE Paul Kruger is a high-motor pass-rusher who seems made for the Ravens' scheme. Should get mileage out of CB Lardarius Webb on returns and eventually in the secondary.

Chicago Bears

Count QB Jay Cutler in this equation. The Bears had real needs in the pass-rush area. DE Jarron Gilbert has size and quickness and was a nice grab in the third round. Grabbed another DE in the fourth round and a CB, as well. No real O-line help, and could have interior issues.

Denver Broncos

Reached a bit for RB Knowshon Moreno, but he can catch and block. Logjam of RBs after free agency signings (Corell Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, J.J. Arrington). DE Robert Ayers a one-year wonder but has quickness off the edge. Got help for the secondary with two second-round picks. S David Bruton could be a stud.

New York Jets

Bold move to go up for QB Mark Sanchez. Give them points for going after the Southern California junior, who could well be their starter this year. RB Shonn Greene buys them time to deal with Thomas Jones and his contract issues, but the move up 11 spots in the third round cost them a couple of later picks. Everything rides on Sanchez making a quick transition.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Took the best player on their board, DT Evander "Ziggy" Hood. Hood can get upfield and pressure from the inside. Filled a need at CB with Keenan Lewis. Third-round OL Kraig Urbik will be a bit of a project.

C+

Detroit Lions

Grade goes up when and if Matthew Stafford produces. TE Brandon Pettigrew will add attitude in run-blocking, has had off-the-field issues. The secondary receives a boost from S Louis Delmas, who can get a little wild but hits and attacks.

Houston Texans

Three of the first four picks were dedicated to defense. LB Brian Cushing has sound fundamentals. The Texans seem to see Connor Barwin more as a DE than as a LB. Glover Quin is part safety, part cornerback. Where do the Texans fit him in?

Jacksonville Jaguars Got OTs in the first two rounds with Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton. Where does that leave Tra Thomas and Tony Pashos? Expect a physical, mashing offense. Kind of a reach for DB Derek Cox in the third round. Snagged WR help in the fourth (Mike Thomas) and fifth rounds (Jarett Dillard).

Minnesota Vikings

Went for a boom-or-bust type in WR Percy Harvin. A little undersized, has history of injuries and other issues. Also an explosive talent. OT Phil Loadholt could step in on the right side. CB Asher Allen has to remind the Vikings of Antoine Winfield, and that's a good thing. No center after losing Matt Birk.

C

Carolina Panthers

Everette Brown slipped out of the first round. Great quickness as a pass rusher, but is he a true end, an OLB or a situational player? CB Sherrod Martin is far from a finished product at a position of some need. DT Corvey Irvin is a project but lends some depth.

Kansas City Chiefs

Bypassed LB Aaron Curry for DE Tyson Jackson. He'll fit well in the Chiefs' 3-4, but he's the pass-rusher the Chiefs lack. Sound but not spectacular as the third overall choice. DT Alex Magee could get snaps in a sub package, not a true NT. CB Donald Washington was a surprise choice this high (fourth round).

Miami Dolphins

CBs Vontae Davis and Sean Smith have good size and good speed and provide immediate upgrades. Those two made good sense, but the WRs? Patrick Turner was hardly dominant at Southern California and Brian Hartline wasn't the top guy at Ohio State. Is QB Pat White there just to run the Wildcat?

St. Louis Rams

OT Jason Smith has that "can't miss" aspect to him, but there's not much going on that O-line between him on the left side and Alex Barron on the right except C Jason Brown. LB James Laurinaitis kept dropping. If he plays better than he has been working out, he'll help a porous run defense.

Washington Redskins

Only five picks to work with. Got a little lucky that DE-LB Brian Orakpo slid to them at 13. They can play him up front on pass-rushing downs and at SAM LB on first and second down. CB Kevin Barnes has height (6-1) but might not have the frame to withstand injuries.

C-

Indianapolis Colts

Drafted Joseph Addai No. 1 in 2006, and now they're back again with Donald Brown? Brown lacks breakaway speed but fits the Colts' approach. DT Fili Moala can perhaps become the interior presence the team has long labored to find. Got a big body in the fourth round in DT Terrance Taylor (319 pounds). CB Jerraud Powers is undersized (5-9).

New Orleans Saints

Not enough picks. CB-S Malcolm Jenkins will bring a toughness to a weak back end. Chip Vaughn probably fits better at SS than FS, and there are questions about his tackling, though he gets involved in lots of plays. LB Stanley Arnoux is a little on the lean side (240 pounds) but should have time to grow.

San Diego Chargers

Extreme reach in the first round for DE-LB Larry English. Not a lot of needs, so that's probably OK. Protects them against lingering damage in Shawne Merriman's knee. NT Vaughn Martin could succeed a slowing Jamal Williams. Got no real insurance against a premature end to RB LaDanian Tomlinson's career or the one-year franchise package on Darren Sproles.

San Francisco 49ers

WR Michael Crabtree fell, and they grabbed him. They did not have much to work with after that. RB Glen Coffee shows few measureable NFL skills, does not approach what they have in Frank Gore. LB Scott McKillop is essentially Coffee's equal, though he excelled in combine workouts. QB Nate Davis joins a carousel; decent value in the fifth round.

D+

Dallas Cowboys

No primo picks after last year's deal for WR Roy Williams, then had 12 choices Sunday. Not a team with a ton of holes, though. LB Jason Williams does everything at top speed, including making mistakes, but he brings athleticism and hustle. OT Robert Brewster is big (6-4, 325) but a little short on strength and power. QB Stephen McGee could be a find in the fourth round. Grabbed a couple of DEs in fourth round to offset the loss of Chris Canty.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Depends on how much QB Josh Freeman gives them. Traded up to get him, and he's raw, though he owns a high-powered arm and can throw with zip moving in either direction. Drafted a couple of D-linemen who don't seem to be special. Went for OT Xavier Fulton in the fifth round; he's coming off shoulder surgery. No replacements for LBs Derrick Brooks and Cato June.

F

Oakland Raiders

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey seventh? He disappeared for games at a time, isn't a well-rounded receiver but boasts the key Raiders' attribute (straight-line speed). A huge reach and not enough value. The same for S Michael Mitchell, taken in the second round but mostly considered a much later pick, though the Chicago Bears said they liked him. WR Louis Murphy blossomed as a senior; OK pick in the fourth. LB Slade Norris is nothing special.