Grade Your Team's Draft

[calgaryballer]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/story?id=4104114

Thats an update to the link Dell provided earlier. Is actually from this year

Raiders and Cowboys are flunking out, while the Bucs avoid probation just barely with a 2.00

[calgaryballer]

From the Fox Sports recap

GM Ozzie Newsome made a bold move to trade up and select Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher at No. 23. Oher was rated in the top 12 on most teams' draft boards and was considered the smartest player at his position.

For someone with a documented learning disability, how dumb does that mean Smith and Munroe are?

[calgaryballer]

Well after having a day to think on it I'm actually kinda pumped to see how this class turns out. C+

I watched some tape of Mitchell and he looks like he could turn into a stud in a few years. Bey could be another solid player who could be great if he works well.

You keep talking yourself into it

[calgaryballer]

Say what you want but I think Mitchell can become really good after watching him play a little.

Bey was a mistake but at least they addressed their biggest need.

Just seems weird how (it seems) 30 other teams thought he was a sixth, seventh or FA prospect. I have read that Chicago was apparently interested, but still, when you are Mel Kipers 73rd rated safety (not player, but safety) you shouldn't go at 48 overall.

So this pick still sucks

[bucky]

Chicago was interested enough to tell him he might go 2 picks after the Raiders took him. And IMO Kiper is an idiot. I disagree with most things he says.

Do you agree with most of what the Raiders Org says/does?

Cause they Raiders have been pretty bad for a while.

[mgoblue2290]

Lions - C

Filled minor needs while leaving major needs still a question mark.

Agreed. Taking the best player available is nice and all, but not addressing the offensive line, defensive line, or linebackers with our 20th and 33rd pick was just plain dumb.

[Tailback U]

Taken from Raiderfans.net in regards to Michael Mitchell.

I saw this on another board and I thought it was interesting.

It was reported during the second day of the draft on both NFLN's and ESPN's coverage that Michael Mitchell was graded above a 7th Round prospect by two teams, the Oakland Raiders and the Chicago Bears. The other 30 teams graded Mitchell as a 7th Round or UDFA type. The Bears apparently had a good deal of interest, but thought they could get him in the 4th or so, so I'm not certain that he would have been the pick at 49.

I don't think some people here get it. If, say, Larry English had been a reach at 16, Michael Mitchell is a hyper-extended shoulder and elbow at 47. In five years of attending the draft, I have never before witnessed quite a reach. It sounds dramatic and to the Raiders and even Bears fans it may seem harsh, but it is the truth. The kicker here, I go to Ohio University and have watched the guy play many times and actually liked him a as a late round option with upside. I was on hand to watch him play VMI, Central Michigan, and Buffalo this year and watched the Temple and Ohio State games on TV and also was the only student on hand to watch his pro day, which for those of you who aren't aware is the only reason he was even considered to be drafted in 2009, so this is a player I'm very familiar with.

I won't say he is a bad player, and I won't say he doesn't have the chance to be a good player. He was an average player, on an average defense, for an average team, in an average conference. He was not the best player on Ohio University's defense, in fact, he was likely our third best DB behind Mark Parson and Steven Jackson.

He can run, he can hit, but do any of you know anything else about Mitchell? I'm not talking about watching a five minute youtube video on him and claiming he has all the tools. I'm talking about going back on film and breaking down the way this guy plays.

Pros: Exceptional measurables for the Safety position. Is an NFL athlete on paper. Flows to the ball fast and aggressively and knows how to finish the play when he gets there. Punishing hitter. Solid tackler. Finds the ball and moves downhill to make plays. Can lock on and can force fumbles and make plays. Solid hands. Plenty of upside.

Cons: Football instincts are well subpar. His read and react skills are marred by poor angles, resulting in over-pursuit. Will too often lower his head and go for the kill shot and lose vision of the ball carrier. Is raw in coverage and shows little recognition skills. Is an overall liability in coverage and looks lost more often than not. Will give up the deep ball without knowing a receiver ever got behind him. Is out of position a good deal and takes himself out of some plays. Average ball skills. Can be caught guessing and fooled in the open field. Does not play up to workout numbers. Average production against marginal competition. Never recognized as even an Honorable Mention All-MAC football player.

He has upside. He could turn out to be a good player. I like him, I have Bobcat pride, but I'm first and foremost a draft guy and have to tell it like it is. Mitchell graded out as a 7th Round-UDFA to me, and apparently 30 NFL teams from what we heard today. A reach of monumental proportions. Not a bad prospect, but at least three rounds earlier than he should have started to be considered.

That said, best of luck to Michael and I wish him all the success in the world. I hope that he stays true to his word and uses his draft projection and this word "reach" as motivation to keep him going. I'll be following him closely.

[calgaryballer]

This doesn't seem possible... gonna look into this stat.

Got that from Peter King's MMQB this morning

[Tailback U]

As a Raiders fan, I can honestly say that I am not upset with the players we got. I am, however, very upset with the way the Raiders organization executed their draft plan.

Round 1: Darrius Hewyard-Bey, WR, Maryland
It's painfully obvious that Al Davis wanted Heyward-Bey the moment he saw his 40 time. That's fine, whatever, but to pay a very raw WR #7 money when you could have traded down and gotten him 10 picks later is a monumental failure.
Grade: F

Round 2: Michael Mitchell, S, Ohio University
Grabbing Michael Mitchell in the 2nd round was an even larger failure for several reasons:

1. Free-Safety was not a top priority coming into this draft, WR and OT were.
2. If you are going to grab a FS in the second round he had better be able to come in and play right away. On top of that, he needs to be a very mature, polished, and instinctive football player that won't be a liability in the secondary. Mitchell is the exact opposite. A physical freak that can run and loves to hit but a liability in coverage. Bottom line, we don't need this guy.
3. As mentioned, Mitchell is a project. He has potential but he won't come in and play right away. He will most likely be a great special teams player and could ultimately develop into a safety but you just cannot take projects on the first day of the draft, you have to get players that can come in and play right away.
Grade: F

Round 3: Matt Shaughnessy ,DE, Wisconsin: Honestly, never saw this guy play in college but I'm glad we addressed the DE/OLB position. I don't know what this guy brings to the table as I haven't seen any film of him nor have I even gotten a chance to look at his combine results. Either way, I'm glad we addressed the position as it was a need.
Grade: C

Round 4: Louis Murphy, WR, Florida:
I actually like this pick even though the Raiders don't necessarily need a WR (but could still use one). Murphy is another burner with good hands and size at a little over 6'2". I like the pick because I think Murphy was a great value pick-up at the 4th round, I really think he can develop into a nice WR.
Grade: B

Round 4: Slade Norris, DE/LB, Oregon State
Didn't get to see too much of Slade Norris at Oregon State but his name does ring a few bells. After looking up his stats it's obvious that he is a pass rushing specialist and that is another position that Oakland needed to address. Obviously, If he can develop into an effective 3rd down pass rushing specialist then this pick will help our team out drastically.
Grade: N/A

Round 6: Stryker Sulak, DE, Missouri:
Never seen him play, don't know what kind of player he is or will develop into but I am happy with the position.
Grade: N/A

Round 6: Brandon Myers, TE, Iowa
Another player I've never seen or heard of. Don't know how good of a pass catcher or blocker he is, all I can hope for is that he can help this team out somehow.
Grade: N/A

All in all, the Raiders organization really shit their pants with their draft execution this year. Their draft plan was a complete failure as failed to make the most of their picks. We could have gotten so much more value if the suits in Oakland knew anything at all.

Again, I am not mad with the players we got. Call me a homer or whatever, but I think DHB and Mitchell could really help this team out. From all accounts, both are very hard working and team-first guys, character guys that play the game hard and are willing to learn and work.

I wanted Crabtree but my gut is telling me that his head and mouth are going to overshadow his hands and speed. I could be wrong, but everything about him (the way he dresses, reactions during the draft, interviews, rumors, etc.) leads me to believe that he is a diva and the last thing the Raiders need is a loud-mouthed primadonna WR.

Overall Grade: D

[FirstTimer]

Probably my favorite pick they made. I was hoping the Bears would grab this guy. Too bad the Raiders didn't just wait on the WR until him though... basically all Davis wanted - a tall, fast guy.

That was another guy I was hoping the Bears were targeting. After Robiskie went off the board I was hoping to see Ramses Barden or Patrick Turner's name come up. With the trade down I thought it even more possible to get one of them in the 3rd and stockpile an extra pick.

Sadly, it didn't happen.

[calgaryballer]

Does anyone on the Bears understand a route tree besides Earl Bennett?

Devin Hester's route tree consists of a streak. Does that count?

[ATL Jones Bro]

Even though they not my team I give the Raiders an F for their 1st round pick. I really missed alot of the draft but i saw the 1st round.

[FirstTimer]

Does anyone on the Bears understand a route tree besides Earl Bennett?

Devin Hester just wants to know if you can smoke this mythical route tree......

I know, I was actually pissed for a while about this, with two 4th rounders, I was really hopeful.
And I will be VERY pissed if Moore ends up a bust... 'cuz that could have been Murphy.

I think Moore will be fine, plus tough to label a 4th rounder as a bust really but the Cover 2 seems to suit this guy well.

Basically I would have been happy with Murphy but really wanted someone else. In the end it doesn't matter to me that they didn't take him because I'm not as sold on him as I was on some other guys.

[dboy_dc]

Dallas got depth at Defense for a very cheap price, am I upset sure but I'm looking at the positives

[Saluki]

Ya not looking very good at all for getting Boldin now, but the simple fact that they were actively pursuing a veteran WR makes me think they may try to make a move for Edwards. Especially since NY seems to have drafted to fill that need and they were the favorite in those talks.