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NFL Draft Review: AFC North

Another solid draft for Pittsburgh. At the top, the AFC champs addressed both lines. Cameron Heyward can play inside or outside in the 3-4 and along with D’Qwan Bowers has the biggest upside at the position. The Steelers continue to rebuild their aging D-line, Heyward is a nice complement to Ziggy Hood. Offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert also has excellent upside. Like Heyward, Gilbert has the versatility to play multiple positions and could contribute at both guard and tackle as Pittsburgh has a need at both. Texas defensive back Curtis Brown should also be part of the rotation as a rookie. Brown also excels on special teams both as a return man and as a gunner.

The Cleveland Browns were the recipient of a draft day gift courtesy of Atlanta. The Falcons giving up five elite picks for the right to move up to take Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor is a load and should start from day one as Cleveland moves from the 3-4 to the 4-3. Pitt’s Jabaal Sheard was a nice pickup in round two and will provide rush on the edge. With their extra 2nd rounder, Colt McCoy gets a much-needed target in North Carolina wide receiver Greg Little. One of many Tar Heels sitting out 2010 due to off the field issues, Little is tremendous running after the catch. The Browns went to the Pac 10 in the 4th round, getting Southern Cal tight end Cameron Jordan and Stanford fullback Owen Marecic. Jordan, a former basketball player brings athleticism to the position, while Marecic was a two way star for the Cardinal. With Peyton Hills at tail back following the lead blocking of Marecic. the Browns should have a nice power running game. The gift keeps on giving as the Browns will have Atlanta’s 1st and 4th round picks in the 2012 draft.

Three teams are the prototype for rebuilding through the draft while staying competitive. The New England Patriots, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore identified two players that fit a need prior to the draft and got them both. Colorado Jimmy Smith was a top-15 talent that slipped due to “character” concerns. Smith was the second best cover corner in the draft, behind only the freakish Patrick Peterson. Age is creeping up on the Ravens defense and Smith may push for a starting role in September. Baltimore picked up the fast, athletic receiver they needed in local product Torrey Smith. Smith was electrifying in the return game at Maryland and will be the perfect complement to Anquan Boldin. Jay Reid arrives from Central Florida and projects as the long-term bookend offensive tackle with Michael Oher. I like what the Ravens did at the end of the draft getting Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor and Georgia Tech running back Anthony Allen. GM Ozzie Newsome is raving about what Taylor may add, while Allen is a nice power back option to supplement Ray Rice.

The Cincinnati Bengals are at a crossroads as older big name players are moving on. Quarterback Carson Palmer and receivers Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens appear to be moving on. A.J, Green was the most complete receiver in the class and will start from day one. Green and Jordan Shipley should be a nice combination for years to come. What will the Bengals do at quarterback? Andy Dalton was the man they targeted and they were elated to pick him up in the second round. Dalton appears a perfect fit for new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden’s west coast offense. LB Dontay Moch runs an amazing 4.4 and brings athleticism to the linebacker corps. Along with former USC studs Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers, Cincinnati appears to be in good shape at linebacker for quite some time.

Tomorrow we review the AFC South

NFL Draft Recap: AFC East

The absolute king of building a champion through the draft resides in the AFC East. The New England Patriots are the blue print that every team should follow. Trading down and sticking with their draft board has kept the Pats young and competitive. New England with another excellent draft in 2011, and have stockpiled extra picks in both the first and second rounds for next year. Ironically, It was the Patriots ending up with quarterback Ryan Mallett after he was rumored to both Buffalo and Miami.

The Buffalo Bills resisted the urge to select their quarterback of the future and selected Alabama defensive lineman Marcel Dareus. Arguably the top talent in the entire draft, Dareus projects as a disruptive force anywhere along the front four. At 320 pounds, Dareus is a prototype 3-4 end. Buffalo addressed every level of its defense, going with Texas corner Aaron Williams in round two and LSU linebacker Kelvin Sheppard in the 3rd. Williams is probably better suited for safety and will see time immediately in both nickel and dime packages. Sheppard was highly productive in a stellar LSU defense and may eventually pair with Paul Poslusny in the center of the Bills defense. While focusing on defense, Buffalo did get a bargain in the 5th round with North Carolina running back Johnny White. White is a heavy-duty back and might be a nice complement to C.J.Spiller.

It almost seems unfair the way the New England Patriots appear to control draft weekend on an annual basis. Bill Belichik has the patience to give up a pick for “next” year and the willingness to trade players that are still productive (Richard Seymour) but nearing the end of their prime. Massive Colorado tackle Nate Solder was the Pats 1st round selection. Solder is a towering 6’8″ and is not only the future at left tackle, but insurance in case free agent Matt Light departs. In the 2nd round, New England selected Virginia defensive back Ras-I Dowling, a very physical cover corner who could pair with Devin McCourty for years to come. Bilichick does his damage in 2nd and 3rd rounds and had a pair of choices in both. Running backs Shane Vereen from California and LSU’s Stevan Ridley bring complimentary skills and add to an area of need. Mallett was projected to many teams, but not necessarily the Patriots. Mallett could learn from the best, or eventually traded, much like they did with Matt Cassel. With so many selections, New England had the luxury to take a chance on TCU offensive lineman Marcus Cannon. The largest quality lineman in the draft at 6’5″ 360 pounds, Cannon was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Cannon is a risk to some extent, but is expected to fully recover.

The New York Jets focused their efforts early on their defensive line. Temple defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson is a stout run stopper and figures to compete at left end. At 6’4″ 315, Wilkerson also has pass rushing skills, setting him apart from other 3-4 college ends. The Jets went even bigger in the 2nd round with Hampton nose tackle Kenrick Ellis. At 6’5″ 350, Ellis not only plugs the middle, but gets a nice push on passing downs. Like Wilkerson, Ellis has run stopping size, but versatility and the ability to rush the passer. Louisville’s Bilal Powell is a solid inside runner and effective pass blocker. The Jets are stacked at running back so the 4th round pick may have to beat out Joe McKnight to stick. Staying with tradition, the Jets took an Alabama quarterback that wore the number 12. Yes, Greg McElroy, the Wonderlic champion, follows in the footsteps of Richard Todd and Joe Namath.

The Miami Dolphins were without several mid-round selections, but were solid at the top of the draft. Center Mike Pouncey out of Florida, looks to follow in his twin brother’s footsteps. Brother Maurkice turned out to be a gem for the Steelers, landing in the Pro Bowl. The ‘phins have already named Pouncey as their starting center. Miami was thought to be looking quarterback in the draft, however they failed to select a signal caller. Running back also appears to be in flux, as its unknown if either Ricky Williams or Ronnie Brown will be brought back. As insurance, the Dolphins took Kansas State’s Daniel Thomas in the 2nd round. A big back with great feet, Thomas has a chance to be the starter in week one.

Our draft reviews resume on Monday with the AFC North

NFL Draft Recap: NFC West

The Arizona Cardinals may have landed the best player in the draft in LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson. A jumbo cover corner at 219 pounds, Peterson may eventually move to free safety. For now, he and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie may be the best set of young corners in the NFL. Peterson is also an elite kick returner and should elevate the Cards special teams instantly. Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams is Arizona’s latest effort to generate a ground game. Beanie Wells can’t shake the injury bug, so the Cardinals were forced to again spend a high pick on the position. Williams is an exciting back, with a great blend of size, strength and speed. The Cardinals were hoping to address quarterback and receiver to pacify Larry Fitzgerald, but settled for tight end Rob Housler. Look for Arizona to make a strong push for Philadelphia QB Kevin Kolb. I like the pair of linebackers that were selected mid draft. Texas’ Sam Acho and Quan Sturdivant should add solid depth at the position. Acho will make the conversion from college defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker, while Sturdivant is a prototype for an inside post.

The St.Louis Rams were eager to add a playmaker at receiver for quarterback Sam Bradford. With Julio Jones and AJ Green off the board, the Rams couldn’t pass on North Carolina’s Robert Quinn. Quinn is an excellent pass rusher and should combine with Chris Long to give St.Louis talent on the edge for the next decade. The Rams then turned their attention to targets for Bradford, picking up a pair of a receivers and a talented tight end in rounds two, three and four. H-Back Lance Hendricks comes from Wisconsin, a talented receiver certain to be utilized by new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Boise State’s Austin Pettis and Greg Salas from Hawaii, add solid depth at wide out. Both were very productive college receivers and should eventually move into the top three at the position. While neither will stretch the field, both are effective route runners and along with Hendricks should give Bradford much needed additional targets.

Much like the Rams, the San Franciso 49ers were hoping to address skill positions on offense. Not unlike St.Louis, they found a defender they just couldn’t pass up. Missouri’s Aldon Smith is a pass rushing specialist with the versatility to play end in a 4-3 or outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment. New Head Coach Jim Harbaugh hopes he has his quarterback of the future in second round pick Colin Kaepernick of Nevada. Kaepernick has a strong arm, great athleticism and prototype size. Kaepernick is expected to serve as an understudy to Alex Smith as he converts from the pistol formation he mastered in college to Harbaugh’s pro style attack. Oklahoma State running back Kendall Hunter appears a perfect fit as a change of pace to Frank Gore. South Carolina defensive back Chris Culliver is an elite athlete and has already been named the Niners nickel back for 2011.

The Seattle Seahawks were one of several teams needing a quarterback in a big way, that didn’t select one. Instead new offensive line coach Tom Cable was rewarded with tools in the first two rounds. Alabama tackle James Carpenter and Wisconsin guard John Moffitt will both be expected to challenge for playing time this fall. Both were considered extensive reaches, with Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban even appearing shocked when Carpenter was selected in the first round. Carpenter will be limited to the right side if projected as a tackle, while Moffitt has versatility to play either guard or center. The ‘Hawks may have landed a sleeper in Georgia wide receiver Kris Durham in the 4th round. Durham is a huge possession receiver, much like current Seahawk Mike Williams. Durham has decent speed and stepped up nicely for the Dawgs early in 2010 when AJ Green was serving a four game suspension.

Tomorrow we breakdown the AFC East

NFL Draft Recap: NFC South

No division in the NFL made more of a splash in the draft than the NFC South. Each of the four teams making selections that may have a huge impact. Atlanta with a big move up in the 1st round, New Orleans trading for an additional first round pick, Tampa Bay taking a high risk/high reward pick and of course Carolina picking number one overall.

We start with Atlanta, the elite team in the NFC South. Feeling they are close to an NFC crown, the Falcons traded multiple picks to move up to number six and grab Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. Jones will provide another big time target for quarterback Matt Ryan and might relieve the double teaming of Roddy White. Atlanta used its fifth round pick to select Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers. Rodgers was highly productive in college and will be a nice change of pace to bruiser Michael Turner. The Falcons addressed defense with a pair of local stars. Georgia linebacker Akeem Dent and South Carolina defensive end Cliff Matthews are both very capable of making the roster.

A year removed from a Super Bowl victory, the Saints were aggressive, trading multiple picks to acquire an additional first round selection. New Orleans first addressed defense with California defensive end Cameron Jordan. Jordan is stout against the run and may push for the starting job at left end. Four picks later, New Orleans took the best running back in the draft, Alabama’s Mark Ingram. Comparisons to Emmitt Smith are valid, Ingram is ideal for 1st and 2nd down between the tackles. If Reggie Bush’s ego can be soothed, it might make for a lethal combination in the Saints backfield.

Carolina had the number one selection and to no surprise took Auburn quarterback Cam Newton. Newton is a lightning rod for criticism, but arrives with off the chart combine measurables. Newton’s Heisman Trophy was well deserved as his passing and rushing numbers are among the best in the history of the game. The Panthers added several late round selections which may surprise. In the 5th round, the Panthers picked Hawaii receiver Kealoha Pilares who is tough and reliable over the middle. In the seventh round, great value in Auburn offensive tackle Lee Ziemba. Ziemba started for four seasons at left tackle, but projects at right tackle at this level.

Tampa Bay had defensive focus atop its draft board. Adrian Clayborn, the best of a great Iowa defensive line, was the Bucs first round selection. He should start at end immediately. In the second, the Buccaneers took a gamble on Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers. Just a few months ago, Bowers was mentioned by some as a potential first overall pick. A serious injury scared many, some even removing Bowers from their draft boards. A year ago Tampa hit the jackpot with defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price. With 1st and 2nd round selections in successive years on the defensive line, the buccaneers feel they may now have the pass rush to excel in the Tampa Cover 2 defense. If Bowers is healthy, watch out! The Bucs addressed a need at tight end selecting Luke Stocker from Tennessee. Some have compared him to former Vol Jason Witten.

Tomorrow we look at the NFC West

NFL Draft Review: NFC North

The Minnesota Vikings surprised many by taking Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder with the 12th pick of the first round. Ponder has had trouble staying healthy and his arm strength has been questioned. The Vikes may still go the veteran route with Washington’s Donovan McNabb. There are plenty of weapons for the new Minnesota QB, and the Vikings added another taking Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph in the 2nd round. Rudolph is an every down TE and has first round talent. Minnesota picked up a potential steal in the 6th round, selecting Arkansas offensive tackle DeMarcus Love. Eventually, Love could be a nice bookend with 2009 2nd round pick Phil Loadholt. The Vikings did not ignore the defensive side of things, taking Iowa tackle Christian Ballard, who could eventually start.

Four players in the Green Bay Packers 2011 class figure to contribute long-term. Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod is a load and should fit right in on the right side sooner than later. Last year’s number one Bryan Bulaga would move over to the left tackle slot, setting the Pack up for the next decade. As if Aaron Rodgers needed any more weapons, add Kentucky’s Randall Cobb to the mix. Cobb figures in potential wildcat formations, in the slot and returning kicks. The Packers have added Hawaii running back Alex Green to the mix as they consider searching for the back. At 6’0″ 225 with breakaway top end speed, Green only needs to learn a traditional offense, coming from the Hawaii spread. Already possessing a pair of elite tight ends, Green Bay adds another in Arkansas’ D.J.Williams. Williams is more of an H-back and could contribute in-line, in the backfield or even spread wide.

The Detroit Lions may have picked up the steal of the draft landed Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley. The thought of him lining up next to Pro Bowl rookie Ndamukong Suh is downright scary. Detroit had a real need for a corner, but Fairley was just too much of a talent to pass up at number 13. The Lions will move Suh and Fairley around, which will be quite disruptive for opposing blocking schemes. Detroit added a pair of talented skill position players for quarterback Matt Stafford. Calvin Johnson draws the double teams, which should create single coverage for Nate Burleson and second round pick Titus Young from Boise State. Young will initially run out of the slot, but will contribute immediately on special teams. The Lions had a pair of second round selections and also landed Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure. With Kevin Smith always injured, Leshoure should be the power partner along with speed back Jahvid Best.

The Chicago Bears had only five selections in the 2011 draft, but addressed both lines in a big way. Big Gabe Carimi selected in the first round, should start from day one at right tackle. Carimi is a big time run blocker with great technique. With a league leading 56 sacks allowed last season, Jay Cutler should be a happy man. To address the defensive line, the Bears picked up the strongest player in the draft, Oregon State tackle Stephen Paea. The Bears have been seeking a replacement for Tommie Harris and Paea lacks only experience from reaching prime time status. The Bears took a developmental quarterback in Nathan Enderle from Idaho. Enderle has a strong arm, but limited mobility and played against lesser competition.

Tomorrow we take a look at the NFC South