Did You Feel A Draft?

I got too wrapped up in world events today to roll out my full list of first round draft grades but between the alcoholic intake and immersion in patriotism I did let some of the draft sink in and I’ll share the bullet points with y’all now.

For the first time in probably EVER my Bills didn’t falter on Draft Day. Buffalo scooped up Marcell Dareus from Alabama, the top defensive player on lots of NFL teams’ draft boards, who figures to quickly improve a Bills defense that wilted last season after losing defensive coordinator Perry Fewell at the end of 2009.

The Bills also drafted three DBs and two LBs to help shore up that defense that gave up 362 yards per game, including a pathetic 170 yards a game on the ground.

Although the Bills seem to have gotten it together in the draft this year I’m extra covered because my backup team, the Detroit Lions, bolstered their already strong defensive line with the selection of Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who despite shaky behavior leading up the draft, was one of top talents available. They also got a great complement to Jahvid Best at running back in Illinois’ Mikkel Leshoure in the second round.



Plus, with the selection of three Nebraska Cornhuskers by the Washington Redskins (RB Roy Helu, WR Niles Paul, DB Dejon Gomes), it appears I may now have an emergency third favorite team. Of course the Redskins are still the team without at quarterback…oddly just like Nebraska.

Of course I’m sure most of my readers are Texas based and want to know about the quality of the Cowboys’ draft. From what I can tell the Boys’ draft was an absolute crapshoot. I’ve seen it referred to as intriguing and one of the best of the post-Jimmy era and I’ve seen it rated as low as a D-.

The truth is that first round pick Tyron Smith is a project at offensive tackle but also has amazing footwork and potential to be a great left tackle. Dallas got more help on the OL with unknown David Arkin in the fourth round and an explosive back in OU’s Demarco Murray, which should be important considering the Boys will probably can one of their current backs.

The only knock against the Boys is not addressing the defensive backfield until the fifth round, which is also my knock against the Houston Texans. The Texans, who last season had maybe the worst DB corps I’ve seen since 2002 Texas Tech, waited until the end of the fourth round to grab Virginia Tech’s Rashad Carmichael.

I like the Texans getting DE Brooks Reed in the second but feel they shouldn’t have gone with DE in both the first and second rounds. Corner Prince Amukamara would have been a better decision than DE J.J. Watt in the first (and that’s not just a homer pick). Unless Houston intends to sack the QB every down or sign Nnamdi Asomugha they may get bombed out just like 2010.