Draft Grades: Prisco | Rang | 2010 previews: Prisco | Reuter | 2010 mock draft
Arizona
Best bet for success: Chris Wells has the potential to be a 1,000-yard back. Some scouts said Wells reminded them of Jamal Lewis -- a big physical back with speed.Potential risk: Wells dropped in the draft because of concerns about his durability and his toe. Can he stay healthy for the Cards?
Atlanta
Best bet for success: Peria Jerry is a high-motor player who was productive in college. He can shed blocks and has the quickness to rush the passer.Potential risk: William Moore showed the potential as a junior to be a fine safety. He showed speed, range, instincts and was a physical player. As a senior, his play fell off. Was it because he was injured or they asked him to do more in coverage?
Baltimore
Best bet for success: Michael Oher, in some ways, was the most complete LT on tape from the standpoint of being the best combination of blocker and pass protector. When does a Baltimore late first-round pick not succeed?Potential risk: Jason Phillips was rated higher than a fifth-round pick, but a knee injury dropped him to the fifth round. Will he be the same player when he returns from the knee injury?
Buffalo
Best bet for success: Shawn Nelson will have an immediate impact as a receiving tight end. He will be a mismatch for a linebacker in coverage.Potential risk: Aaron Maybin has the potential to have an impact as a pass rusher, but he is not a big guy and he will struggle against offensive tackles in the running game.
Carolina
Best bet for success: Tony Fiammetta is a good blocking fullback and with Carolina's priority to run the ball, he should be a good asset for them.Potential risk: Everette Brown has the speed and quickness to threaten the edge as a pass rusher, but he will need to learn some counter moves. He also might struggle vs. the run at the point of attack.
Chicago
Best bet for success: Juaquin Iglesias is a solid receiver who has good hands but not great speed. Best of all, he has an All-Pro quarterback to throw it to him.Potential risk: Jarron Gilbert's progress will be fun to watch. He showed perhaps the most pass-rush potential of any DT in the draft, but that's the problem. It was potential not consistent production. His DL coach is Rod Marinelli, who is one of the best in the business, a no-nonsense guy who has developed a lot of players through the years. Gilbert could be a really good player, or Marinelli will make his life miserable.
Cincinnati
Best bet for success: Andre Smith has all the tools to be a fine tackle. He has the wide body, long arms and strength you look for. He should be a good starting RT in this league if not LT.Potential risk: Michael Johnson has all the physical skills to be a starting DE who can be effective rushing the passer but has underachieved in college.
Cleveland
Best bet for success: Alex Mack was rated by many people as the top center in this draft. He is a physical player.Potential risk: Mohamed Massaquoi has shown some inconsistency catching the ball.
Dallas
Best bet for success: David Buehler should have an immediate impact as a kicker.Potential risk: Brandon Williams is a project at DE and OLB. There are also questions about his speed.
Denver
Best bet for success: Knowshon Moreno was rated by many as the best back in the draft. He joins a team that has a good offensive line as well as a good receiving and blocking tight end.Potential risk: Defensive end Robert Ayers had only one year of production in college, but that does not concern me as much as his lack of size -- 272 pounds.
Detroit
Best chance for success: Brandon Pettigrew is a very good blocking tight end who has good hands. He will not get much separation in the passing game, but should be effective vs. zone defenses.Potential risk: Louis Delmas is a very aggressive player who might have some trouble staying healthy with his reckless play. He also must become more disciplined on play-action situations.
Green Bay
Best bet for success: B.J. Raji has the size and strength to dominate opposing centers and has shown that ability in college.Potential risk: Raji has had some weight and off-field issues that caused some teams to be concerned about his discipline.
Houston
Potential risk: Brian Cushing plays with a great motor that everyone loves, but watching him operate in space, there is some question about his cover ability on the outside.
Indianapolis
Best bet for success: Donald Brown is a very instinctive runner with quick cutting ability. The way Indy spreads the defense, there are natural running lanes.Potential risk: Fili Moala struggled some with his consistency.
Jacksonville
Best bet for success: Eugene Monroe has been a very consistent pass protector at LT and I would expect him to be successful in the NFL.Potential risk: Terrance Knighton's quickness has been questioned.
Kansas City
Best bet for success: Tyson Jackson was probably a reach at No. 3 overall, but he should be a solid 3-4 DE. He will be strong vs. the run and give you good effort against the pass as an inside rusher.Potential risk: Alex Magee's play fell off in his senior year, when he was moved from DT to DE. Did his production drop because of playing out of position or a lack of intensity? He could struggle with strength at the point of attack.
Miami
Best bet for success: Pat White in the Wildcat because he is made for it. He has the speed and running skills to be effective. He is a good enough passer to keep the defense honest.Potential risk: Vontae Davis was the best cover corner in the draft, but dropped because of concerns about his consistency on and off the field.
Minnesota
Best bet for success: Percy Harvin has top 10 talent as a playmaker, either as a receiver or out of the backfield. He is a threat to score any time he has the ball.Potential risk: Harvin dropped out of the top 10 because of off-field concerns. He will find less tolerance for his behavior in the spotlight of the NFL.
New England
Best chance for success: The second round has a 50 percent chance for success, so when you have four picks that round you should get two players. My bet for those two players is Patrick Chung, who is a good safety on plays close to the line. He might be able to play the deep ball but I just have not seen it. Darius Butler has the physical skills to play the position, but could use some work.Potential risk: The other two second-rounders. Ron Brace has an injury-plagued history. How will he hold up at a physical position like NT? Sebastian Vollmer played LT in college but will probably switch to RT. He is somewhat stiff and robotic.
New Orleans
Best chance for success: Malcolm Jenkins, if they move him to safety or let him play a Cover 2 corner. I really liked him at safety as a junior. He showed range, tackling ability and instincts.Potential risk: Jenkins, if they play him as an off-corner in man-to-man coverage. He has some tightness in his hips and turning ability.
New York Giants
Best bet for success: Travis Beckum is a little bit of a reach here, but when I looked at his junior tape he showed very good speed and receiving ability. He will have one of the best tight end coaches in the game in Mike Pope, who has developed players with less talent than Beckum.Potential risk: William Beatty has the athletic ability to play, but he has to improve his strength and aggressiveness.
New York Jets
Best chance for success: Mark Sanchez is going to a good football team. He will have a much improved defense and what should be a strong running game. He has played in L.A., which should help his transition to New York.Potential risk: Trading so many picks and three players could weaken their depth and hurt them on the salary cap in years to come because those draft choices are less expensive players in the salary-cap system.
Oakland
Best chance for success: Darrius Heyward-Bey might have been taken before I would have taken him in the first round, but I still felt he was a first-round pick. With JaMarcus Russell's ability to throw deep, and Heyward-Bey's ability to run deep he should be able to catch well enough to make some big plays.Potential risk: Louis Murphy's play fell off his senior year, and like Heyward-Bey, he lacks some consistency catching the ball.
Philadelphia
Best chance for success: Jeremy Maclin has everything you look for in a receiver. He has speed, quickness, the ability to change directions and can run after the catch. He also has very good talent around him, including a top QB.Potential risk: Cornelius Ingram was a medical risk by some teams. He also has not been asked to block as a tight end. His route tree was very simple at Florida, so he has a lot of adjustments to make to play TE in the NFL.
Pittsburgh
Best chance for success: Evander Hood has all the physical skills to be successful as a pro defensive lineman. He will have the benefit of not having to play right away Potential risk: Mike Wallace has game breaking speed at WR, but he has some stiffness that will limit him on his routes and his inconsistent hands won't help.San Diego
Best bet for success: Larry English is a player whom a lot of teams wanted to get at the end of the first round. San Diego jumped the gun and got him in the middle of the first round. He is a high motor guy with some natural pass-rush skills.Potential risk: Vaughan Martin is big, fast, flexible, quick, athletic and strong DL. He has everything you are looking for in a pro DL. He is a making a big jump from Canadian college football, which is comparable to Division II or III in the U.S. He will also have to change his mind set to be successful in the NFL.
San Francisco
Best chance for success: Michael Crabtree was rated the best receiver in the draft and I would guess was near the top of many team's draft boards. He should be ready to run by the end of May. His biggest obstacle in San Francisco will be whether he has a QB to get him the ball.Potential risk: Nate Davis dropped in the draft because teams were concerned about his ability to grasp a pro offense and adapt to operating under center.
Seattle
Best chance for success: Aaron Curry was the best player in this draft. He will start immediately and have an immediate impact on the Seattle defense.Potential risk: Mike Teel has struggled with accuracy and that is not a good characteristic for an NFL QB.
St. Louis
Best chance for success: Jason Smith has the athletic ability to be a good pass blocker at LT, the Rams might play him at RT, where he will have to improve his run blocking.Potential risk: Bradley Fletcher will be best used as a Cover 2 corner, not an off-cover man corner. He has speed, but has made mental mistakes and has some stiffness, which will hurt in man coverage.
Tampa Bay
Best chance for success: Josh Freeman has all the physical tools to be successful, but should sit for a year. He has a great attitude and that will help him.Potential risk: Kyle Moore is a tweener. He is not fast enough to be an outside rusher or stout enough to play the run.
Tennessee
Best chance for success: Kenny Britt has the speed to get by defenders and give the Titans a second speedster at wide receiver -- Nate Washington being the other.Potential risk: Sen'Derrick Marks is an underclassman who played hurt most of 2008, so there is only a couple of games where he showed what he can do. He has good quickness, but needs strength work.
Washington
Best chance for success: Brian Orakpo was the best pass rusher in this draft which is something the Redskins could really use. Hopefully for the Redskins he will help Andre Carter improve his production.Potential risk: Orakpo has struggled against the run. That is not good in the NFC East.
