Three down, one to go. We round out our 2009 NFL Draft grades of the AFC’s teams with a look at the AFC West, where quite a few interesting moves were made on Saturday and Sunday.
Grade: B+
Best: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
While the Broncos spent the off-season acquiring free agent running backs, none come even close to what Moreno can and should bring to them. He’s shifty inside holes, has good speed, and is a tough, physical runner. He should be able to become the starter immediately.
Worst: Richard Quinn, TE, North Carolina
Quinn is a great blocker, but considering his meager 12 receptions in his college career, his future as a pass-catcher looks quite dim. Add the fact that he’s behind Tony Scheffler on the depth chart, and Denver taking him in round two doesn’t make much sense. Obviously there has been trade talk involving Scheffler’s name, but with better tight end prospects available, this pick just doesn’t add up.
Steal: Tom Brandstater, QB, Fresno State
Only a sixth round pick, it’s safe to say if Josh McDaniels likes him, then there’s reason to believe he can succeed. Brandstater didn’t have a great senior season, but has ideal size and arm strength, that should suggest he can be a productive pro. He also has experience in a pro-style offense, which puts him ahead of the learning curve.
Summary:
After signing all of those free agent running backs, Denver drafts the one position they didn’t need to address: running back. While Moreno will prove to be a heck of a player and a great pick, it seemed to be a careless pick.
However, McDaniels did address his defensive needs with Robert Ayers, as well as two solid corner prospects, Alphonso Smith, and Darcel McBath. Champ Bailey isn’t getting younger, so injecting youth at the position was an absolute must.
Grade: B-
Best: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
It was a relative reach to draft Jackson third overall, but in the end, it will be worth it. Not only was Jackson arguably the best defensive end on the board, but he fits the Chiefs’ scheme perfectly.
Worst: Quintin Lawrence, WR, McNeese State
Lawrence is a speedy receiver with good athleticism, but is too small and raw to be relied upon. He’s more of a project, and faces an uphill battle just to make the team.
Steal: Donald Washington, CB, Ohio State
Washington has all the skills to be a pro corner, but is far from being polished. An early entrant, Washington possesses all the skills needed to be a reliable cover corner, but will have a difficult time transitioning in his first season, mainly with learning defensive packages and opposing offensive strategies.
Summary:
The Chiefs addressed their paltry pass rush by taking Tyson Jackson with their first pick, and added depth behind Glen Dorsey with Purdue’s Alex Magee. Donald Washington should be able to contribute in some manner as a rookie, but will use his first year mostly to learn and progress.
It would have been nice to see the Chiefs land an elite prospect at receiver or tight end, considering they don’t have much opposite of Dwayne Bowe, and they just traded Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons. Hindsight is 20-20, after all.
Grade: D+
Best: Mike Mitchell, S, Ohio
Mitchell comes from a small school and played against weak competition, but one look at the tape, and you’ll agree a second round pick was worth it. Mitchell hits like John Lynch, but also has ideal speed and athleticism. He also has good size and versatility, which could allow him to play all over the field.
Worst: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
While Heyward-Bey has track-star speed, he runs poor routes and drops too many balls. He’s a major project, and for being the 7th overall pick, is way too much of a risk. Unfortunately, his career is unlikely to fare any better than New Orleans receiver Devery Henderson’s.
Steal: Louis Murphy, WR, Florida
Murphy can dance all day around the secondary, and also has good timed speed. He’s more of a polished option that Heyward-Bey, and while few would agree, could potentially be the better player down the road.
Summary:
Al Davis has done it again. Speed, speed, speed. The only good that came out of his strategy was Mike Mitchell and Louis Murphy, and he reached mighty high in the second round for Mitchell. Davis continues to amaze the football world, as he reached several times in the draft, and picked almost solely on measurables, while ignoring quality football “players” throughout the draft.
Grade: C-
Best: Larry English, DE, Northern Illinois
English has great size and speed for the position, as well as the versatility to rush from the outside as a linebacker. The Chargers don’t want another season of not being able to rush the quarterback if Shawne Merriman goes down, so consider English an insurance policy.
Worst: Gartrell Johnson, RB, Colorado State
Johnson is big and physical, but did not face elite competition in college. He’s not overly fast or quick, and is basically a short yardage runner with a decent burst through holes. He will more than likely never become more than a complement to a faster back in the NFL.
Steal: Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU
Byrd dropped significantly in the draft due to a car accident and injuries he sustained from it. Had he been completely healthy, he probably would have been picked somewhere between the third and fourth round. Byrd has good size and speed, and could be a true sleeper if he can fully recover from his injuries.
Summary:
San Diego addressed their need for a polished pass rusher, while adding versatility and all-around depth to their defense, as well. Demetrius Byrd could prove to be a low-risk/high-reward steal in the seventh round, but past that, this draft was fairly weak for the Chargers.
