The Winners And The Losers Of The NFL Draft

So even though we really do not know what people will be booms and which ones will be busts, I think that it is safe to say that we can look at who on the outsets of things got some good deals and some bang for their buck while others, not so much. And while I could be like USA Today and give every team a grade, this is finals week and frankly, I don't have time for that. But alas, winners and losers

Winners

Philadelphia Eagles - Maclin, Jason Peters, Shady McCoy, Ellis Hobbs, Macho Harris.......I LOVE YOU ANDY REID, TOM HECKERT, JOE BANNER AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THE EAGLES FRONT OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hell, you can even throw Cornelius Ingram in that list as the receiving tight end that the Eagles need. And for those that think that the Eagles should have gotten Pettigrew instead of Maclin, Pettigrew is more of a run-blocking tight end than a receiving tight end and the Eagles much prefer the receiving type and Ingram more fits that bill than does Pettigrew. My only complaints, and all things considered they're minor ones, but I would have liked to see the Eagles draft a safety in case Sean Jones does not work out, especially seeing as his deal is only a 1-year deal, and I think that now might be time to find David Akers' successor. It is becoming more and more apparent that he is past his prime. Then again, arguably the kicker in the draft, Graham Gano, went undrafted, so there's still hope in that area. Obviously it's hard to judge drafts like this when you have not seen how these players will transition to the NFL, but comparing this draft to the past few drafts the Eagles had at this time, this one is by a mile their best in a few years.

New York Jets: I may take a lot of heat for this one because the Jets did not have a whole lot of picks, but they made the move of the draft, trading up to get Mark Sanchez. And while there are some question marks with Sanchez's experience, I see him having a better pro career and a better rookie year than Matt Stafford. Although a lot of that has to do with that while not an awful draft, the Lions did not hit a home run with their other picks like they had the potential of doing so.

New York Giants: And on the complete opposite side of the coin, there is the team that just sits there and gets lucky and gets the guys they want where they want them and that's what the Giants did. If Hakeem Nicks plays half as good as he did in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, then he is sure to have a great career in the NFL and for good measure meet Plaxico Burress' direct replacement, Ramses Barden, all 6'6" of him.

Seattle Seahawks: See Denver Broncos.

Losers:

Denver Broncos: The problem with the Denver Broncos is that there team is a clusterfuck of players with no real team identity. Is Neckbeard the Pirate really going to be the starting QB for the Broncos? And while Knowshon Moreno is projected to be a good pick, it can be said that it was a reach as a reach to a #12 pick, especiallly seeing as almost everyone projected him to the Eagles at #21. Oh yeah. And the Broncos are fucked next year. They traded a 1st round pick to the Seahawks in the 2nd round so that they could move up and take Alphonso Smith out of Wake Forest. Wait......THEY DID WHAT?!?!?!? A team that was not that good last year and may have done some subtraction through addition over the off-season, if you will (seriously....how many players did they get and yet, it seems like they got no one of worth; other than Dawkins' leadership) with a new coach and a mediocre free agent QB just traded away it's 1st round draft pick in 2010?!?!? Are you kidding me???? Be excited, Seattle fans. Be very excited. Write this down and don't you forget it: You just got yourselves a top 7 pick in the 2010 draft.

Dallas Cowboys: When you're the Dallas Cowboys and you do not pick until the third round and when you finally do pick, you draft some guy from Western Illinois and Trey Wingo's initial reaction is literally to say "Who?", it's not a good draft for you. (Alleged Wingo quote attributed to USA Today article linked to above)

Cincinnati Bengals: Maybe the Bengals know something we don't. They got great talent in the draft in Andre Smith and Ray Maualuga, but there's a reason why Smith was not the 1st offensive tackle taken and Maualuga dropped to the 2nd round and it's because they have character issues. And it would take 6 posts to document all of the character issues of 6th round pick Bernard Scott. I am yet to figure out if this is supposed to be a rehabilitation center of an NFL franchise.

The Team That Lost So Bad That They Don't Even Deserve To Be Called Losers

Oakland Raiders: The Detroit Lions absolutely <3 the Raiders!!!!!!!!!!! Darius Heyward-Bey (WR) at 7.........Michael Mitchell (safety) in the 2nd round........a 2-year old could have done a better job with this draft!!! Mitchell was projected 7th round!! And Heyward-Bay is the master at dropping balls and taking days and games off! But you know what their upside is: They have speed!!! Although Al Davis forgot to overlook one factor.....the speed factor is pretty much nullified if you can't make the catch or the tackle! The Raiders are on the clock for the 1st pick of the 2010 draft as we speak and the Detroit Lions may no longer be the lone team to go 0-16. And unlike the Lions, I am actually rooting for this team to go 0-16. Maybe that'll finally get Al Davis' head out of his own ass....