Here is how Fox Sports rated each of the NFC North teams' drafts (the number represents their rank vs all 32 teams in the NFL
5. Green Bay: The Packers went for intelligent, all-around football players starting with all-everything linebacker A.J. Hawk, who can play the middle and also be a nickel linebacker. Boise State offensive tackle Daryn Colledge could end up being a starting guard this season while Jason Spitz of Louisville was another critical need at center. Green Bay lost its three best interior linemen from the 2004 season. Cory Rodgers of TCU and Will Blackmon of Boston College will be shooting to break the lineup as a receiver. The only knock on the Packers was giving up on Javon Walker, a former first-round pick and a Pro Bowl player, for a second-round choice. They could end up regretting that trade.
Grade: B+
14. Detroit: Nothing against Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims, but you have to wonder why GM Matt Millen didn't make an attempt to select Vandy quarterback Jay Cutler, the passer that offensive coordinator Mike Martz would have liked. The Lions need a franchise quarterback, but Millen opted to help his first-year head coach Rod Marinelli with Sims, who is a concussion waiting to happen, he plays so hard. Wisconsin running back Brian Calhoun ran a 4.35 40-yard dash and could be a special weapon as a third-down receiver. Millen also selected a hard-hitting safety in Daniel Bullocks and a potential starting tackle in Jonathan Scott of Texas.
Grade: C
30. Chicago: Danieal Manning didn't have the grades to stick at Nebraska and that's why he became a star at Abilene Christian, returning three turnovers for TDs and also six punt-kicks for touchdowns. Has raw ability and was such a good cornerback that opponents quit throwing his way. Manning will immediately be a star on special teams. That being said, we don't understand why the Bears would select another returner (Devin Hester) with their second overall pick? The Bears might win the NFC North, but they aren't that good to be trading out of the first round simply to save money. They could have taken a tight end, upgrading a position that has been weak ever since Mike Ditka played. We all thought the Bears needed some offense.
Grade: D
31. Minnesota: They took Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway in the first round and many teams thought he didn't have the sudden burst necessary to be a big-time NFL linebacker. Then they took a sixth-round center Ryan Cook with the 51st overall choice and traded up to select Alabama State quarterback Tarvaris Jackson with the 64th pick. Most teams had Jackson in the 7th round. Georgia safety Greg Blue will be a special teams' demon, but doesn't have good coverage skills and may be moved to weakside linebacker. Finally, if they wanted to select Oregon's Kellen Clemens in the second round, they were out-foxed by the inexperienced Jets. New personnel chieftan Fran Foley has more headaches than quite a few biographical mistakes in his resume.
Grade: D
BTW I gave them an A- (Solid A on Sat. and somewhere between a B and B+ on Sun.)
5. Green Bay: The Packers went for intelligent, all-around football players starting with all-everything linebacker A.J. Hawk, who can play the middle and also be a nickel linebacker. Boise State offensive tackle Daryn Colledge could end up being a starting guard this season while Jason Spitz of Louisville was another critical need at center. Green Bay lost its three best interior linemen from the 2004 season. Cory Rodgers of TCU and Will Blackmon of Boston College will be shooting to break the lineup as a receiver. The only knock on the Packers was giving up on Javon Walker, a former first-round pick and a Pro Bowl player, for a second-round choice. They could end up regretting that trade.
Grade: B+
14. Detroit: Nothing against Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims, but you have to wonder why GM Matt Millen didn't make an attempt to select Vandy quarterback Jay Cutler, the passer that offensive coordinator Mike Martz would have liked. The Lions need a franchise quarterback, but Millen opted to help his first-year head coach Rod Marinelli with Sims, who is a concussion waiting to happen, he plays so hard. Wisconsin running back Brian Calhoun ran a 4.35 40-yard dash and could be a special weapon as a third-down receiver. Millen also selected a hard-hitting safety in Daniel Bullocks and a potential starting tackle in Jonathan Scott of Texas.
Grade: C
30. Chicago: Danieal Manning didn't have the grades to stick at Nebraska and that's why he became a star at Abilene Christian, returning three turnovers for TDs and also six punt-kicks for touchdowns. Has raw ability and was such a good cornerback that opponents quit throwing his way. Manning will immediately be a star on special teams. That being said, we don't understand why the Bears would select another returner (Devin Hester) with their second overall pick? The Bears might win the NFC North, but they aren't that good to be trading out of the first round simply to save money. They could have taken a tight end, upgrading a position that has been weak ever since Mike Ditka played. We all thought the Bears needed some offense.
Grade: D
31. Minnesota: They took Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway in the first round and many teams thought he didn't have the sudden burst necessary to be a big-time NFL linebacker. Then they took a sixth-round center Ryan Cook with the 51st overall choice and traded up to select Alabama State quarterback Tarvaris Jackson with the 64th pick. Most teams had Jackson in the 7th round. Georgia safety Greg Blue will be a special teams' demon, but doesn't have good coverage skills and may be moved to weakside linebacker. Finally, if they wanted to select Oregon's Kellen Clemens in the second round, they were out-foxed by the inexperienced Jets. New personnel chieftan Fran Foley has more headaches than quite a few biographical mistakes in his resume.
Grade: D
BTW I gave them an A- (Solid A on Sat. and somewhere between a B and B+ on Sun.)