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SEC Day 1 Draft Grades

If there's one thing I've learned about NFL Draft coverage, it's that it's never too early to grade draft picks. Two seconds after the commissioner makes the announcement: was that a reach? Is he a good pick? What were they thinking?!

So in an attempt to embrace the insanity, here's your Day 1 draft grades for the SEC:

1. Matthew Stafford: F

The Lions are one of the worst franchises and have been forever. The city of Detroit is a mess, and it will only become moreso if the auto industry can't get itself sorted out. The worst of it? He doesn't look right in blue. He had it correct coming out of high school, when he chose to play for the red and black in Athens. Just a disaster all around.

3. Tyson Jackson: A

He gets to reunite with former teammates (and fellow first round picks) Glenn Dorsey and Dwayne Bowe. Plus, New England architecht Scott Pioli is running the show so there's actually hope for real improvement to the franchise. He chose not to go to New York because he thought he couldn't handle the business of New York, so KC is a good contrast to that. There's a lot to like here.

6. Andre Smith: D

Let's see... he's best as a run blocker and appeared to have maturity issues during draft season. So, he's going to a team with a brittle quarterback, no running game, and the most character issues of any in the game. You tell me how this makes sense.

12. Knowshon Moreno: C

It's always dicey heading into a franchise that has undergone a regime change, and it's only amplified if the new coach is only 32. At least the Broncos managed to replace their young quarterback Jay Cutler with a more experienced, veteran guy in Kyle Orton. That should totally take a lot of pressure off of the running game.

18. Robert Ayers: C

It's always dicey heading into a franchise that has undergone a regime change, and it's only amplified if the new coach is only 32. At least the Broncos managed to replace their young quarterback Jay Cutl... wait, which pick is this one again?

22. Percy Harvin: C or A

If the Vikings don't get someone other than Tavares Jackson by kickoff of Week 1, then this is no better than a C. If they pick up someone like Utah's Brian Johnson on day two of the draft and run some triple option with Johnson, Adrian Peterson and Harvin, then it's an unquestioned A.

23. Michael Oher: A

All sarcasm aside, it's great for Oher that he's a first round pick. Go read up on his backstory. It's a statistical outlier that he even got this far, and he earned everything he's getting. Plus, the Ravens tend to be one of the better run franchises. It's a good fit for a good guy.

24. Peria Jerry: B

The Falcons appear to be on the way up and Atlanta isn't that far away from Mississippi. This only gets a B though because the Falcons made the playoffs last year. As the franchise is cursed never to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons, Jerry will miss out on the possibility of a postseason bonus check in his first year.

50. Mohamed Massaquoi: B-

How big a role he'll need to play depends a lot on whether the Browns end up trading Braylon Edwards. It's a position of need regardless, so it's not a bad fit. Two problems: Cleveland is way too cold in the winter (it's not called the snow belt for nothing) and now he actually has to spend time around the Mangenius.

62. Sen'Derrick Marks: B

As long as Jeff Fisher is in Tennessee, defense will be the top priority. The Titans were one of last year's surprise teams, lasting the longest without losing. This season they should be good again, and Marks will get a chance to contribute. This will all work swimmingly until Kerry Collins breaks down in January.

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don’t agree with the grade on Andre. He allowed only one sack last season and that was because he decided to try a different way of blocking the guy. Seems to me that’s some pretty good pass blocking skills. Also, you can’t just throw 3 years of good behavior out the window for making a couple of bad decisions. I think he’ll do just fine in the NFL.

by jsholt969 on Apr 26, 2009 2:15 AM EDT reply actions  

(this wasn’t supposed to be taken fully seriously)

by Year2 on Apr 26, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

ANOTHER BAMA FLOP AT LEAST NOBODY DRAFTED JPW HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Ok, with that bit of total and utter ridiculousness out of the way, let me at least say that the Bengals is not the best place that Andre could have gone. I don’t think there’s as much to worry about maturity-wise with him as some people made out, but Cincinnati is not a healthy environment for any NFL rookie right now. Until they get their locker room straightened out, they’ll always have issues.

And I don’t mean that to say that Andre will be a part of them; I mean that to say that it’s not ideal for any rookie to enter.

(And boy, did caps-lock feel totally and utterly dirty.)

by Hooper on Apr 26, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

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