2008 NFC West Draft Grades
Arizona Cardinals
Needs: CB, S, RB, DL, LB, OL
The Cardinals are a team that showed a bit of flash last year but it was the old guard getting it done. Kurt Warner stepped in a started for an injured Matt Leinart. 30 year old Edgerrin James ran the ball all year long and WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald were the dynamic playmakers they always are. Unfortunately for the Cards, Larry Fitzgerald huge backloaded rookie contract forced them into a corner in the free agent market. Fitz’s deal finally got done but not until after key free agents were gone. It was rumored that Arizona was targetting former Steelers guard Alan Faneca.
1.16 - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State
2.19 - Calais Campbell DE Miami
3.18 - Early Doucet WR LSU
4.17 - Kenny Iwebema DE Iowa
5.14 - Tim Hightower RB Richmond
6.19 - Chris Harrington DE Texas A&M
7.18 - Brandon Keith OT Northern Iowa
Draft Grade: B
Comments: The Cardinals tapped into the DE class three times. Had they had taken one of the good LBs available in the 4th round instead of DE, I would have easily lifted this grade to an A-. Edgerrin James needs a capable backup and while I like Hightower’s bruising style, it is a bit of a crapshoot in taking an RB in the 5th round. Granted the current Cardinals brass comes from the Steelers organization, one famous for inventing starters out of mid to late round picks. Campbell is a huge upside pick as is Rodgers-Cromartie. I like Early Doucet as a quality slot receiver between starters Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Arizona has the potential to come up with a couple star players from this draft but I think they neglected a serious need by not selecting a linebacker.
San Francisco 49ers
Needs: OL, WR, CB, LB, DE
The 49ers took a big gamble in hiring Mad Mike Martz as their new offensive coordinator. Veterans Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson and Justin Smith joined the fold via free agency. The reigns for former 1.01 pick Alex Smith are being pulled in as we speak. While he makes poor decisions, I think the offensive line needs to share part of the blame. A quality draft could bring the 49ers back to respectability as I feel they have good pieces in place already.
1.29 - Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
2.08 - Chilo Rachal OG USC
3.12 - Reggie Smith CB/S Oklahoma
4.08 - Cody Wallace C Texas A&M
6.08 - Josh Morgan WR Virginia Tech
7.07 - Larry Grant OLB Ohio State
Draft Grade: B+
Comments: Another draft that many fans don’t really agree with but I am all for. Many believe that the presence of Mad Mike means that WR is destined to be your 1st round pick. While that was true in Detroit, I don’t believe that Mike Nolan has given up the reigns of the team just yet. Ike Bruce and Bryant Johnson along with old guard Arnaz Battle and Ashley Lelie and youngster Shaun Hill should prove to handle the receiving duties, even in Martz’s many 4 and 5 wide looks. Two quality interior lineman should prove to protect the QB much better as well as help their best player, Frank Gore, bust off some solid gains as he did in 2006. Rachal is major league talent and I believe that he makes a push to start immediately. Reggie Smith is a solid player, but I am never a big fan of tweener players being drafted into one slot. They rarely produce to their potential. I hope that San Fran makes good use of his talent. Overall, I think the 49ers hit on the needs they had. I always love a team that isn’t afraid to load up on the line.
Seattle Seahawks
Needs: RB, WR, OL, DL, CB, TE
The Seahawks are coming off of yet another division win but have some decent holes to fill. They never have gotten over the loss of all-world guard Steve Hutchinson; just ask former league MVP now unemployed RB Shaun Alexander. DJ Hackett and backup MLB Nike Koutouvides are gone and RBs Julius Jones and TJ Duckett are in. At first glance, Seattle’s new running attack looks oddly similar to Atlanta’s running attack circa 2003-2005. Seattle needs to revamp both of their lines to continue their dominance of the NFC West.
1.28 - Lawrence Jackson DE USC
2.07 - John Carlson TE Notre Dame
4.22 - Red Bryant DT Texas A&M
5.28 - Owen Schmitt FB West Virginia
6.23 - Tyler Schmitt LS San Diego State
7.26 - Justin Forsett RB California
7.28 - Brandon Coutu K Georgia
Draft Grade: C
Comments: Why Mike Holmgren cannot admit that his offensive line is in shambles is beyond me. When your star RB goes from 5.1 ypc to 3.5 ypc after you lose your best O-lineman, the RB isn’t the problem. Injuries and wear are a factor but Maurice Morris didn’t fare much better than Alexander. I also fail to see how they don’t need another WR. Deion Branch likely won’t be 100% at the start of next year and DJ Hackett is gone. Bobby Engram is 35 years old, Nate Burleson is inconsistent at best and Ben Oboemanu won’t scare any secondaries. The John Carlson pick is a head-scratcher as the Seattle offense thrives on the ability to hit the TE in the redzone and Carlson’s receiving ability is not the best. With Fred Davis available at 2.07, you have to wonder what Holmgren was thinking. Bryant was a solid value pick as a big body who can suck up blocks and allow Lofa Tatupu to make plays. Owen Schmitt should also be a solid player who can step in and take snaps at FB along with Leonard Weaver. All in all, I don’t think that Seattle solved enough of their problems to say the draft was a success.
St. Louis Rams
Needs: OL, WR, DL, LB, CB
The Rams suffered one of the worst rashes of injury in recent memory last year and plummeted to a lackluster 3-13 record last year. Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson need their O-line to take healthy so they can perform to the Pro Bowl level that both can achieve. Similarly, Leonard Little is regularly double teamed and they cannot generate a pass rush beacue no one of consequence is on the other side. Former first round pick Adam Carriker is a handful in the middle but the Rams need another edge rusher. Finally, with Ike Bruce given his walking papers, the Rams need a wideout to pair with Torry Holt.
1.02 - Chris Long DE Virginia
2.02 - Donnie Avery WR Houston
3.02 - John Greco OT Toledo
4.02 - Justin King CB Penn State
4.29 - Keenan Burton WR Kentucky
5.22 - Roy Schuening OG Oregon State
7.21 - Chris Chamberlain CB/S Tulsa
7.45 - David Vobora OLB Idaho
Draft Grade: A
Comments: While some may scoff at the Rams drafting of Donnie Avery at 2.02, ask yourself this question. What is the best type of receiver for the Rams; possession, big body or burner? Clearly the Rams need a burner as Torry Holt and Drew Bennett fit the other roles easily. Scott Linehan likes speed as well so it was easy to see why the Rams chose Avery. The selection of Chris Long also gives the Rams one of the scariest defensive lines in football. Justin King should be a serviceable corner and may be thrust into a starting role depending on Fakhir Brown’s playing status. Two solid offensive lineman also address the depth issue of the Rams in case they suffer similar injuries as last year. The Rams drafted about as well as they could have given that Jake Long was gone at 1.01.
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This is a good blog. As for the NFC West draft grades I think Seattle got a heck of a player in the first round. The 49ers might have gotten a good player had they not traded their pick to the Patriots of all teams.
Mike
Thanks for the comment Mike!