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Czar's team-by-team NFL Draft grades

Carolina Panthers

They landed the best pure middle linebacker in Boston College's Luke Kuechly, a tackling machine. He has the potential to be another Brian Urlacher. ... They surrendered next year's third-round pick and a sixth-round pick in order to take pass-rushing end Frank Alexander out of Oklahoma. He better get 6 to 8 sacks this year to be worth that! ... Second-round pick Amini Silatolu (6-foot-3 1/2, 320) has been favorably compared to Larry Allen. Granted, Silatolu started his career as a defensive lineman and played at Division II Midwestern State. He may dominate, but a couple scouts pointed out he's not a rocket scientist. ... The Panthers didn't solve their headaches at defensive tackle, but they did get the draft's best returner (five punts for touchdowns) in Joe Adams from Arkansas. He'll also shore up Caroina's receiving corps. Grade: B

(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

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2012 NFL Draft By John Czarnecki, FoxSports.com

Thirty-two teams, seven rounds, three days. The 2012 NFL Draft is in the books.

And so are our grades on how each team improved itself — or didn't.

How did your team fare?

Let's look:

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Arizona Cardinal... They got great value with Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd, who should take a lot of pressure off Larry Fitzgerald. Floyd has had past drinking problems, but he also caught 37 touchdown passes and can be Plaxico Burress-like in the red zone. ... Oklahoma cornerback Jamell Fleming was a steal as the 80th overall pick and ideally fits the Cardinals' blitz-scheme approach to defense. ... Ole Miss offensive tackle Bobby Massie is a road-grader and has a chance to start right away. He was a super value on the third day of the draft. ... With so many concerned about how far this team can go with Kevin Kolb, the Cardinals took the quarterback plunge with strong-armed Ryan Lindley, who was 23-26 at San Diego State. Lindley is definitely a project, but he did throw a school-record 90 touchdowns. ... Washington offensive tackle Senio Kelemete is a 307-pounder who has chance to stick. Some teams had him rated as high as the fifth round. Grade: B+

(AP Photo/Matt York)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Atlanta Falcons They traded away their first-rounder in order to get receiver Julio Jones last season, and that's a plus. When you consider they also traded for Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel, they helped their defense big time. General manager Thomas Dimitroff then used his picks to upgrade his offensive line with Wisconsin guard-center Peter Konz and Southern Miss offensive tackle Lamar Holmes, who has long arms and figures to go beyond his 325 pounds. Both of these guys are mean and bring a lot of tenacity. ... Love the pick of Wisconsin fullback Bradie Ewing, who should help in goal-line situations and in pass protection. Grade: C

(AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Baltimore Ravens There is no doubt Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome and his PR-conscious sidekick Eric DeCosta know how to draft. Their first three selections, none in the first round, reflected quality. Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw had tremendous value, but he's not a replacement for Ray Lewis. Upshaw, who is excited about joining this defense, will be given a chance to replace Jarret Johnson, who jumped to the Chargers. ... Iowa State guard Kelechi Osemele and Delaware guard Gino Gradkowski prove that Newsome wants to fix his offensive line. ... Temple running back Bernard Pierce has the slashing style of Ray Rice, but he needs to work on his receiving skills. Grade: B

(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Buffalo Bills Their biggest need was the offensive line, and the Bills took two potential starters in Georgia guard Cordy Glenn, who was ranked on some club's first-round boards, and Florida State's Zebrie Sanders in the fourth round. Sanders is 6-foot-5, 320 pounds while Glenn could end up being the starter at left tackle. ... South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore isn't as talented as Janoris Jenkins, but he's a lot safer selection and will see the field immediately. Top pick Gilmore fills a definite need, especially with Tom Brady in the division. ... North Carolina State receiver T.J. Graham was taken too early. Grade: B

(AP Photo/David Duprey)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Carolina Panther... They landed the best pure middle linebacker in Boston College's Luke Kuechly, a tackling machine. He has the potential to be another Brian Urlacher. ... They surrendered next year's third-round pick and a sixth-round pick in order to take pass-rushing end Frank Alexander out of Oklahoma. He better get 6 to 8 sacks this year to be worth that! ... Second-round pick Amini Silatolu (6-foot-3 1/2, 320) has been favorably compared to Larry Allen. Granted, Silatolu started his career as a defensive lineman and played at Division II Midwestern State. He may dominate, but a couple scouts pointed out he's not a rocket scientist. ... The Panthers didn't solve their headaches at defensive tackle, but they did get the draft's best returner (five punts for touchdowns) in Joe Adams from Arkansas. He'll also shore up Caroina's receiving corps. Grade: B

(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Chicago Bears Two of the first three picks were defenders. Boise State's Shea McClellin is a farm-tough linebacker who can rush the passer and also line up on the outside. Oregon State safety Brandon Hardin missed the entire 2011 season due to shoulder surgery, but the Bears say he'll be ready for the rookie mini-camp. ... South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffrey is a big-body receiver with 4.48 speed. Jeffrey, though, was better two years ago than he was last season, some believing he was protecting himself against injury for this draft. His high-school basketball team won four state titles, and he can jump out of the gym. ... Temple's Evan Rodriguez could emerge as a tight end/H-back player. They really didn't address their offensive line needs, however. Grade: C-

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Cincinnati Benga... Based on mock drafts, their first three picks were projected in the first round, including Devon Still, Penn State's gap-quick defensive tackle who was the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. They also took the two players they designated two weeks ago: Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and rugged guard Kevin Zeitler from Wisconsin. Kirkpatrick was rated third at his position and Zeitler should start immediately. ... Then the Bengals satisfied Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu, who was crank-called on Thursday by a fan who said the Bengals had drafted him in the first round. Instead, Sanu went 83rd overall. He was a three-year starter and figures to be a slot receiver. ... Clemson defensive tackle Brandon Thompson had second-round talent and was taken 93rd overall. ... Later, they took two solid players in Cal receiver Marvin Jones and 6-foot-4, 225-pound free safety George Iloka, a favorite of Deion Sanders. Iloka has the quickness to be put in man coverage. Grade: A

(AP Photo/Tony Tribble)

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Cleveland Browns No one knows where quarterback Colt McCoy stands with management, but the offense definitely will be better with Alabama running back Trent Richardson. Jim Brown may not be a huge Richardson fan, but the guy did average 5.8 yards a carry and can be an effective receiver. The shocker was Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden, who will turn 29 in October. Yes, Weeden is mature, but can you really sit such an old player behind McCoy? Obviously, the Browns are embarking on a quarterback competition or have definitely decided that McCoy is not the guy. It wasn't that long ago the Browns used the 22nd overall pick in the first round on a quarterback. Remember Brady Quinn? ... They did help the defense with a couple of late-round picks in Nevada linebacker James-Michael Johnson and Boise State defensive linemen Billy Winn. Both of these players can make the roster. ... The Browns could have used another playmaker, but did land a quality offensive tackle in Cal's Mitchell Schwartz. ... They reached in the fourth round on Cincinnati defensive tackle John Hughes. Grade: C

(AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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Dallas Cowboys This team blew five fourth-quarter leads last season as Rob Ryan's defense faltered time and again. So owner Jerry Jones made the bold move to trade up with the Rams in order to take LSU's Morris Claiborne, the draft's most complete cornerback. This was a bold move, and Claiborne has no character flaws. ... They waited until the third round for their next pick. Ryan has to love the addition of Boise State defensive end Tyrone Crawford. ... Wake Forest outside linebacker Kyle Wilber also has pass-rush potential and, at worse, is a special-teams star. ... Eastern Washington's Matt Johnson will be given every chance to become a starting safety. The late-round find could be Oklahoma tight end James Hanna, who has a quick first step and possibly give Jason Witten a rest, since Witten isn't getting any younger. Grade: B+

(AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Denver Broncos With Peyton Manning at quarterback, this is a different franchise, and they are now the obvious favorites in the AFC West. Still, John Elway took a real developmental quarterback in Arizona State's Brock Osweiler, who is all of 6-foot-7 with a very slow delivery. He seems like a shaky second-round pick. ... Cincinnati defensive tackle Derek Wolfe will help Denver's outside rushers because he also has some pass-rush juice. ... Arizona State cornerback Omar Bolden fell to the fourth round because of medical issues, but when healthy he may have been a low second-rounder. He missed all of last season. ... San Diego State's Ronnie Hillman is the ideal complement to Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno in the backfield. He's quicker than both of those backs. ... Baylor center Philip Blake is a 26-year-old Canadian who made 36 college starts and has the maturity to help immediately. ... With starting linebacker D.J. Williams facing a suspension, Kentucky linebacker Danny Trevathan was a great choice because he's a tackling machine. Grade: B-

(AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

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Detroit Lions With an aging offensive line, Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff fills a specific need, especially with a 5,000-yard passer in Matthew Stafford. Reiff is a highly skilled pass protector and could end up starting this season. ... The Lions took two players from Oklahoma. One of them was linebacker Ronnell Lewis, whose nickname is "The Hammer" for reasons I'm sure you can imagine. Lewis delivers the blows. The other Sooner was receiver Ryan Broyles, who wasn't considered a top-10 receiver by several teams because he's coming off a torn left knee ACL. Before the injury last November, he scored 45 touchdowns in his college career. ... Detroit needs some cornerback help and took two potential ones in Dwight Bentley from Louisiana-Lafayette and Chris Greenwood from nearby Albion College. Grade: B-

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Green Bay Packer... There was more positive talk about the Packers' second- and third-round picks than their No. 1 selection, Nick Perry, a pure edge rusher from USC. Green Bay has its fingers crossed that Perry can bookend their magnificent outside linebacker Clay Matthews, also a former Trojan. It will be up to linebackers coach Kevin Greene to make Perry a dominant performer. However, Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy can be a dominant five-technique player and really help B.J. Raji. The Packers may never care if Mike Neal comes back from his four-game suspension. Vanderbilt cornerback Casey Hayward is an ideal Cover Two player and is really smart and knows when to make a play on the ball. Hayward may not have tantalizing speed, but he did have 15 interceptions and was a team captain. ... Outside linebacker Terrell Manning has a chance to be more than a special teams contributor. ... The Packers took one player in the late rounds that has a chance: Florida State offensive tackle Andrew Datko, who slipped because of a late-season injury. ... Their last pick, B.J. Coleman, a quarterback from Tennessee-Chattanooga, was taken to possibly replace the departed Matt Flynn. Grade: B

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Houston Texans Houston has consistently selected defensive players in the first round, and didn't disappoint its fans with Illinois pass rusher Whitney Mercilus, who had 16 sacks last season. Some teams pegged Mercilus as a one-year wonder, but he suits what defensive coordinator Wade Phillips loves to do. ... Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick was another gem with the 126th overall pick. ... Apparently, the Texans want to cut Jacoby Jones loose based on taking two more receivers in Ohio State's DeVier Posey and Michigan State's Keshawn Martin, who's not afraid to go over the middle. Martin has 4.46 speed and figures to be a plus in the return game as well. Grade: B-

(AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Indianapolis Col... If you accept the premise that Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is a better prospect than Peyton Manning was 14 years ago, then the Colts definitely are on the right track. It's just too bad they were unable to receive any compensation for Peyton bolting for the Broncos. To make his life comfortable in Indianapolis, Luck's best friend, tight end Coby Fleener, was taken with the 34th pick when some very good defensive players were still on new general manager Ryan Grigson's board. Peyton missed the playoffs once, but Luck may not be as lucky, because the Colts' cupboard isn't fully stocked right now. ... That explains another tight end, Clemson's Dwayne Allen, as another second-round pick. ... T.Y. Hilton should give them a great return threat. ... Alabama defensive tackle Josh Chapman has the muscle and quickness to help defend the run. With the switch to a 3-4 defense, he may be the starting nose tackle. ... But most of their draft was about fixing the offense, and Mississippi State running back Vick Ballard could be a surprise addition. ... The Colts drafted Mr. Irrelevant, symbolic of the 253rd and last pick, by taking Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish, who might have fun during the Newport Beach Mr. Irrelevant festivities, but probably won't get many reps in training camp. Grade: A-

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Jacksonville Jag... They made a smart move to jump ahead of the Rams to draft Justin Blackmon, who is potentially the most productive receiver in the draft. He should immediately become quarterback Blaine Gabbert's best friend. ... Defensive end Andre Branch could be a stand-up pass rushing linebacker; solid character, too. ... They took a PR hit for taking the draft's best punter, Cal's Bryan Anger, with the 70th overall pick. Anger, who averaged 43.7 yards a punt, is a very good directional punter and can also hold. He's the first punter taken this high since the Bears tabbed Todd Sauerbrun in 1995. Anger has the ability to really change this team's field position. Grade: C

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Kansas City Chie... Coach Romeo Crennel has been searching for a nose tackle for his 3-4 defensive scheme and found the right guy in Dontari Poe from Memphis. Poe has tremendous upside as long as he listens to Crennel. ... The Chiefs also upgraded their offensive line with Jeff Allen, who played both left and right tackle at Illinois, and Oklahoma's Donald Stephenson. However, Stephenson has failed drug tests, been arrested and was also suspended for the entire 2009 season. No offensive tackle jumped higher or longer than Stephenson at the Scouting Combine, though. ... Fresno State receiver Devon Wylie may be a faster Wes Welker, and Cyrus Gray is a very underrated running back from Texas A&M. Scott Pioli found several athletes and all of them at positions of need. Grade: B+

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Miami Dolphins Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill was the obvious selection, considering his connection to offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, his head coach in college last year. And, yes, owner Stephen Ross wanted to draft a quarterback, considering the franchise hasn't had one since Danny Marino. But unlike Luck and RG3, Tannehill isn't ready to start in the NFL, because just two years ago he was a college receiver. He's had just 19 starts under center for the Aggies. Matt Moore, who was 6-3 down the stretch last season, still figures to start opening day. ... Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin may have better feet than Jake Long. ... Two players from "The U" have a chance. Defensive end Olivier Vernon can be a rush specialist while running back Lamar Miller is a home-run threat just like Reggie Bush; just an odd pick because he's not an inside runner and not a very good receiver. Also, Miller is coming off shoulder surgery. Grade: C

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Minnesota Viking... General manager Rick Spielman did an impressive job getting extra picks for his top spot and still ended up with tackle Matt Kalil. The USC lineman fills a huge need at left tackle because Christian Ponder was pummeled last season. ... They moved back into the bottom of the first round to land Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith, considered by many as the second-best safety behind Alabama's Mark Barron. ... Sticking with Golden Domers, cornerback Robert Blanton has the ability to shift to safety and deal with the bigger tight ends popping up around the NFL. ... USC's Rhett Ellison, son of ex-Raider Riki Ellison, is a tremendous blocking tight end. He's also a big target in the red zone. ... In the late rounds, Greg Childs of Arkansas is a big-body receiver with decent speed. ... Georgia kicker Blair Walsh has value, averaging 4.4 hang time on his kickoffs and converting 76.25 of his field goals over his final three seasons. But what does Walsh mean for Ryan Longwell? ... Inside linebacker Audie Cole of North Carolina State has very limited range. Grade: B-

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
New England Patr... There is no question the Patriots were uncharacteristically deficient on defense last season. Consequently, Bill Belichick decided to fix it and had the ammunition to do it. Give the man credit for stockpiling draft picks. With their two first-round selections, Belichick took Syracuse edge pass rusher Chandler Jones, then grabbed multi-purpose linebacker Dont'a Hightower from Alabama. Both of these guys should be interesting chess pieces in the New England scheme, especially with Jerod Mayo in the middle. Hightower figures to line up all over the field. ... Illinois safety Tavon Wilson has solid speed and fills other needs, too. ... Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette is a try-hard rusher with a big motor. Bequette can be effective in certain situationals and impressively worked as a stand-up rusher at the Senior Bowl. Grade: A

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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New Orleans Sain... Well, "Bountygate" robbed them of a second-round pick and running back Mark Ingram cost them their first-round pick. When they finally made a choice, they took defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, who busted out of LSU and ended up playing in Regina, Canada. Hicks is from Sacramento, Calif., but he supposedly has tight ankles, according to Mike Mayock of the NFL Network. ... Syracuse guard Andrew Tiller is a space-eater in the mold of the departed Carl Nicks, while Al Toon's son, Nick Toon, is another big-body receiver, similar to Marques Colston. ... Nebraska tackle Marcel Jones is a mammoth man who will have to watch his weight. Grade: D

(AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)

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New York Giants Picking last in every round is never easy, but the Giants still selected some quality, starting with Virginia Tech running back David Wilson, who gained 990 yards after contact last season, tops in college football. Wilson will make fans forget Brandon Jacobs, who bolted for San Francisco this offseason. ... Jayron Hosley is a slot cornerback from Virginia Tech who had nine interceptions in 2010. He also averaged 12 yards per punt return and is an all-around special teamer. ... Mike Pope, one of the greatest tight end coaches of all time, got another project in Adrien Robinson of Cincinnati, a 6-foot-4, 264-pounder. With Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum nursing knee injuries, Robinson has a shot to make the roster. ... The Giants also drafted a couple of offensive tackles, the best one probably being Matt McCants from UAB. ... LSU receiver Rueben Randle suffered from poor quarterback play in college, but he has size (6-foot-4) and speed to make fans forget Mario Manningham. Grade: B

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
New York Jets This franchise rolled the dice on all their first three picks, which has been their approach lately. It doesn't mean the draftees aren't talented, it's just whether or not they are the right fit. There were questions about North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples, the first-round pick. Some scouts thought he had a bad habit of taking plays off. ... They traded up for Georgia Tech receiver Stephen Hill because he's a great blocker for their power running game. Now, that makes some sense because Hill only caught 49 passes in his college career. And he should be able to block because Tech used a triple-option running game. But Hill is 6-foot-4 and runs a 4.3 40-yard dash. ... Demario Davis of Arkansas State is another edge rushing linebacker. ... Baylor's Terrance Ganaway, a 240-pound running back, could be a great find and should help on short-yardage. ... Staying at Baylor, the Jets took right guard Brandon T. Griffin, a 335-pounder with no relation to his former quarterback teammate. Grade: C

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Oakland Raiders This was an incomplete draft because their first pick wasn't until late in the third round. Fans can partially blame last year's Carson Palmer trade for that. First pick Tony Bergstrom played tackle at Utah, but figures to move to guard for the Raiders. The best thing about Bergstrom is that he's a nasty player, an Oakland prerequisite. ... Penn State defensive end Jake Crawford is a developmental player and most of the late picks appear to be special teams players only. ... One interesting choice was Arizona receiver Juron Criner, a 6-foot-3, 224-pounder who is more of a possession type than a burner. Criner has the hands to force his way onto the field. ... In order to sell tickets, the Raiders have initiated a program that would also help the Oakland school district financially. Now, there's a win-win all the way around. Grade: D

(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Philadelphia Eag... Coach Andy Reid took a lot of heat last season for naming offensive-line coach Juan Castillo his defensive coordinator. Well, this year Castillo has run out of excuses, because they drafted some tremendous defensive talent. Fletcher Cox can anchor the interior of Philadelphia's wide-nine approach with its pass rushers. Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks was the second-best middle linebacker in a 4-3 scheme. Kendricks has some injury issues, but is a rock-solid football player. Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin can handle the slot, while defensive end Vinny Curry had 26 1/2 sacks at Marshall. Curry is a street kid from New Jersey who has turned around his life despite a learning disability. He has tremendous upside. ... Of course, Reid couldn't help himself with the pick of Arizona quarterback Nick Foles, who broke Drew Brees' records at Westlake High in Austin, Texas. Unlike Michael Vick, Foles has feet of cement, but he does have very good arm strength. Grade: B

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Pittsburgh Steel... They got two first-round talents in Stanford's David DeCastro, simply the best guard in the draft, and Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams, who was considered the second-riskiest player behind Janoris Jenkins. Adams tested positive for marijuana at the Scouting Combine, then lied to the Steelers about it. But to his credit, Adams sought out the Steelers and apologized and got back in their good graces. He may even defer his signing bonus. If he stays clean, though, the Steelers have rebuilt their porous offensive line, which got Ben Roethlisberger sacked 40 times last season and also ruined his ankle. DeCastro could end up being better than Alan Faneca. ... With 35-year-old Casey Hampton, Washington nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu, all 350 pounds of him, made perfect sense in the fourth round. Ta'amu had an awesome Senior Bowl. ... Florida running back Chris Rainey has awesome speed and reminds new offensive coordinator Todd Haley of Dexter McCluster, his former all-purpose running back in Kansas City. Grade: A+

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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San Diego Charge... Their third-down defense was awful last season, and general manager A.J. Smith hopes he's fixed that with his first three picks, all of them potential starters. South Carolina linebacker Melvin Ingram is a pass rusher and so was UConn's Kendall Reyes at defensive end. LSU safety Brandon Taylor can cover and also play the deep middle. He's fearless in the tackle box, too. They also took the Combine's workout warrior in tight end Ladarius Green from Louisiana-Lafayette. The Chargers hope Green will be productive immediately opposite Antonio Gates. At 6-foot-6, he ran a 4.47 40-yard dash and also scored 22 touchdowns. ... Penn State guard Johnnie Troutman (6-foot-4, 325) is a plugger who figures to be a reserve. Grade: B

(AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

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San Francisco 49... They had a decent draft, especially after they were able to get Carolina's third-round pick next season for one of their fourth-round picks. Then they got a steal in the fourth round with Wake Forest guard Joe Looney, who was available because he broke his foot at the Senior Bowl. Looney started as a true freshman at left guard and fills a need in San Francisco. ... They went for pure speed in their first two selections, Illinois receiver A.J. Jenkins and Oregon running back LaMichael James, who must develop into a third-down receiver. James, though, did rush for over 1,500 yards in three consecutive college seasons and has home-run ability based on his 53 touchdowns. Still, James isn't Darren Sproles quite yet. ... Notre Dame linebacker Darius Fleming is a tweener, but a great open-field tackler who will help on special teams. ... Virginia pass rusher Cam Johnson, a classic underachiever, made perfect sense in the low-risk seventh round. Grade: C+

(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll is hoping Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson (75th overall pick) develops into Drew Brees. The knock on Wilson is his height; he's only 5-foot-10, a tad shorter than the 6-foot Brees. But he can throw a deep ball, is very athletic and off-the-charts in the locker room. He can be a great leader. Obviously, he's going to push Tarvaris Jackson because the Seahawks have put a lot of money in ex-Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn's pocket. ... Their entire draft was one shocker after another. In the first round, they took West Virginia's Bruce Irvin, who was off a lot of boards because of his arrest last month on a vandalism charge. But Irvin does have tons of ability and, like Carroll said, might be the best pass rusher in this draft. ... Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner could fill the void of leading tackler David Hawthorne. Wagner's college teammate, running back Robert Turbin, is the "strong dude" Carroll wanted for when Marshawn Lynch takes a breather. ... They don't need much help in the secondary, but took two sixth-round flyers on Jeremy Lane and Winston Guy. Grade: B

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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St. Louis Rams This was an odd draft for the Rams in that they started with the second overall pick and somehow failed to get one of the top six players. They traded away the rights to Robert Griffin III, still didn't get Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon, then saw fit to deal the pick that would have rewarded them with LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne to the Cowboys. Instead, the Rams rolled the dice with the biggest question mark talent in the draft in cornerback Janoris Jenkins (yes, he may be better on the field than Claiborne), a repeat marijuana offender and already a father of four. ... The entire key to their draft is whether LSU's Michael Brockers can be a dominant defensive tackle and if Appalachian State's Brian Quick is an immediate deep weapon for Sam Bradford. Can he really be T.O.? ... Several teams had first-round grades on Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who was taken 65th overall. ... Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead is a great change-up running back to Steven Jackson's power. ... If Jenkins can stay clean and produces, this can be a great draft based on the two future first-round picks Washington gave them for RGIII. But my memory is that Rams coach Jeff Fisher already failed with Pacman Jones in Tennessee. Take it from Jenkins, who railed against the idea that he should be compared to Pacman: "No, because I never shot up a strip club or nothing like that!" ... Wake Forest receiver Chris Givens has second-round talent, but seventh-round character. He could be a dynamic slot receiver. Missouri State kicker Greg Zuerlein made 9 of 9 field goals from 50 yards or more last season. Zuerlein gets tremendous height and also can kickoff. The Rams definitely improved their overall team speed — remember, they signed veteran cornerback Cortland Finnegan in free-agency — and now the coaching staff carries the burden of coaching these young men up. Grade: A

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

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Tampa Bay Buccan... After years of taking some risky characters, the Bucs went for solid players who also happened to be captions and leaders on their college teams. Alabama safety Mark Barron will be the new leader of their secondary with Tanard Jackson gone to the Redskins. Barron was the fastest rising player in this draft the last couple of weeks. ... General manager Mark Dominik made another smart trade moving back into the bottom of the first round to take Boise State running back Doug Martin, an ideal change-up runner to powerful LeGarrette Blount. ... Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David could become the starting a weakside starter. ... Two late-round choices, 5-foot-9 running back Michael Smith from Utah State, and Northwestern tight end Drake Dunsmore, have a solid chance to make the final roster. Having 90 players in training camp should really help rookie head coach Greg Schiano. Grade: B+

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

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Tennessee Titans Baylor receiver Kendall Wright was a three-sport star in high school (all-state in football, basketball and track), but settled on catching footballs and was Robert Griffin III's main man, catching 302 passes for 4,004 yards and 30 touchdowns in a stellar college career. Wright should start right away. ... North Carolina linebacker Zach Brown had a great Senior Bowl, but he's considered a track guy. Tennessee has to figure out where to play him and how to use him. ... Clemson cornerback Cody Sensabaugh has 4.3 speed and can play the slot and will be effective on special teams this season. ... Michigan defensive tackle Mike Martin won a state wrestling championship and plays with a lot of power. He's a good fit for a 4-3 alignment. Grade: C

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Washington Redsk... Coach Mike Shanahan and his coordinating son, Kyle, believe they made a smart pick with Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins in the fourth round, but all they did was unnecessarily put more pressure on their No. 1 pick, Robert Griffin III. Yes, RG3 can handle it, but we all know what the media will do this summer if he has an awful preseason. The Shanahans must be worried about RG3's durability, but it doesn't make much sense to put extra pressure on their anointed No. 1 quarterback. We understand the value in having quarterbacks — former Packers GM Ron Wolf developed it into an art form with Brett Favre on his roster — but this team didn't have the luxury of making this pick. Besides, the Packers were a proven playoff team when Wolf was working his magic. Cousins is smart, but a lot of teams viewed him as a developmental quarterback. And he better know his place. ... SMU guard Josh LeRibeus has the stoutness to be a starter this season while Iowa guard Adam Gettis is scrappy and figures to be a reserve. ... Florida Atlantic's Alfred Morris is a running back who fits the Washington style. ... Two late secondary performers, SMU's Richard Crawford and Iowa's Jordan Bernstine, figure to be battling for one roster spot. Grade: A-

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

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