We round out our 2009 NFL Draft team grades by taking a look at the NFC West. Last season, the Arizona Cardinals won the West without much of a serious fight from the rest of the division, and they went on to make a surprise run to the Super Bowl. Did the Cardinals make the necessary moves in the 2009 NFL Draft to stay on top of the heap and remain a contender in the NFC, and did the other teams make the moves to put themselves in position for similar success over the next few years?
Grade: B
Best: Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State
Now that Edgerrin James if officially released, the Wells era can begin. Wells is a gifted athlete who can run through or around linebackers, that is, if he can stay healthy.
Worst: Greg Toler, CB, St. Paul’s College
While Toler has a good story behind him, along with tons of upside, this was quite a reach in the fourth round. He has great athleticism and ball skills, but he came from almost out of nowhere, facing nothing close to even decent competition.
Steal: Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama
Johnson isn’t going to blow you away with great timed speed, but he has solid athleticism, and gets the job done. He’s a very cerebral player, and is very reliable in coverage. He may never be an elite pro, but he has the talent to be a starter. For a third round pick, he has good value.
Summary:
The Cardinals main mission was to get some balance for their offense, as well as depth at running back. They just lost some of that depth by releasing Edgerrin James, but Wells should be able to take over and excel as the top guy. Getting Rashad Johnson and Toler added depth to their secondary, even if Toler was a big reach.
Overall, the Cardinals addressed their defense and offensive line enough in this draft to ensure good competition over the summer.
San Francisco 49ers
Grade: A
Best: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
The Raiders were stupid, the Packers were smart, and the 49ers are just plain old lucky. Crabtree is exactly what the 49ers offense needed, and now they’re just a competent quarterback away from competing for a division crown.
Worst: Ricky Jean-Francois, DT, LSU
Very much a developmental player. Francois has great quickness and solid strength, but has only nine starts to his name at the college level. He’s not exactly a big risk in the seventh round, but getting someone who has played more than a full season would have been nice.
Steal: Nate Davis, QB, Ball State
A ton of teams ignored his talent and potential, citing a learning disability as proof that he was too dumb to lead an NFL team. If those scouts and GMs turn out to be wrong (which they will), Davis could be San Francisco’s starting quarterback before you know it.
Summary:
Mike Singletary beefed up his defense’s depth a bit, while grabbing the best receiver in the draft. Crabtree, along with the Niners’ other steal, Glen Coffee, could open up San Francisco’s offense into a whole new dimension. Singletary didn’t grab Nate Davis for the heck of it, either. He sees him as the starter, long-term.
Grade: B-
Best: Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
It never hurts to get the best linebacker in the draft. With Julian Peterson gone, this isn’t just a luxury-it’s a need. Consider the hole filled.
Worst: Cameron Morrah, TE, California
Morrah dropped to the seventh round, making him a good value due to his speed and original draft stock. Once a candidate to go in the middle rounds, Morrah dropped because of his lackluster blocking ability. If he can progress or get on the field despite the fact, he could emerge as a decent weapon. That’s a big if, though.
While the Rutgers receivers were getting all the focus, the strong-armed Teel was sitting idly by, waiting to hear his name called. That didn’t happen until the sixth round, making Teel a great steal, and potentially a quarterback Jim Mora can groom behind Matt Hasselbeck.
Summary:
Seattle got one of the best defensive playmakers in the draft, but didn’t do anything too amazing after that. They beefed up their offensive line with talented offensive lineman, Max Unger, and also grabbed a speedy receiver in Penn State’s Deon Butler. Grabbing Mike Teel was their best move after getting Curry, though, as they have a solid talent to sculpt behind Hasselbeck, while not pressuring him to retire anytime soon.
Grade: B+
Best: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Orlando Pace is gone, and they got the best tackle in the draft. Mission accomplished.
Worst: Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, Texas
Even though he was only a seventh rounder, this seems like a wasted pick. The Rams already have great depth at running back in Brian Leonard - they just keep choosing to play him at fullback. Ogbonnaya is serviceable, but will have to beat out Antonio Pittman for any field action. Come to think of it, that might not be too hard.
Steal: Brooks Foster, WR, North Carolina
Foster is big and physical, and has the size and ability to help out in his first year. He’s still very raw, but getting him on the field as much as possible is something the Rams plan on doing. He has the talent to eventually develop into the perfect complement to Donnie Avery.
Summary:
St. Louis added an elite talent to their woeful offensive line, while also getting some help at receiver. After losing Orlando Pace and Torry Holt, consider those losses rectified. They also grabbed Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis in the second round, who should be able to step in and start as a rookie.
Overall, this draft shows a corps of solid talent that should help to begin the transition from a team without an identity, to one that plays defense and can run the ball. They even drafted a quarterback prospect in Keith Null, who could compete to start in the future.
