JEFFRI CHADIHA'S NFC Draft Grades
TOP MARKS
LIONS It tooknerve to use a first-round pick on a WR for the fourth time in five drafts, butGeorgia Tech's Calvin Johnson will thrive under offensive coordinator MikeMartz. Second-rounder Drew Stanton of Michigan State has the tools to be the QBof the future. A
PANTHERS Miami LBJon Beason, the first-rounder, will be valuable insurance behind veteran DanMorgan. Also, Carolina prefers big red-zone targets, and the second-round pick,6'4" WR Dwayne Jarrett of USC, fits the mold. A
49ERS They spentthe 11th pick on a productive LB in Mississippi's Patrick Willis, then gave QBAlex Smith a boost by trading up for T Joe Staley of Central Michigan at No. 28and dealing a fourth-round pick to the Seahawks for veteran WR Darrell Jackson.A--
SOLID EFFORT
CARDINALS The No.5 pick, T Levi Brown of Penn State, should make life easier for second-year QBMatt Leinart, while Michigan DT Alan Branch, once considered a top 10 prospect,was a nice value pick in the second round. B+
FALCONSFirst-rounder Jamaal Anderson, a DE from Arkansas, will be a strong complementto John Abraham, while G Justin Blalock of Texas and CB Chris Houston ofArkansas were first-round talents who slipped to the second. B+
VIKINGS OklahomaRB Adrian Peterson fell into their laps at No. 7, and second-round WR SidneyRice of South Carolina will improve a weak passing attack. B+
BUCS Theyaddressed an aging defense by using six of their first seven picks on that sideof the ball. DE Gaines Adams of Clemson will have an immediate impact on thepass rush. B
RAMS First-roundDE Adam Carriker of Nebraska will make it easier for fellow linemen LeonardLittle and La'Roi Glover to do their jobs. B--
SO-SO SHOW
COWBOYS DE AnthonySpencer of Purdue, the first-rounder, should be a productive pass-rushing OLBplaying opposite DeMarcus Ware. C+
GIANTS While NewYork's first two picks--Texas CB Aaron Ross and USC WR Steve Smith--are soundplayers, the Giants failed to fill huge needs at LB and on the offensive line.C
BEARS TE GregOlsen of Miami should give QB Rex Grossman a much-needed receiver option, butthe NFC champs could have used another playmaker. C
SEAHAWKS Without afirst-round pick, Seattle added depth at key positions--starting with MarylandCB Josh Wilson in the second round. C
EAGLES Aftertrading out of the first round, Philadelphia surprisingly spent its firstselection on QB Kevin Kolb of Houston at No. 36, signaling concerns aboutinjury-plagued Donovan McNabb's long-term future. C--
REDSKINSFirst-round pick LaRon Landry of LSU should be a star at DB when teamed withPro Bowl S Sean Taylor. But with only one pick in the first four rounds,Washington had nothing else to celebrate. C--
SAINTS They didn'tneed Tennessee WR Robert Meachem in the first round as much as they needed atalented CB to shore up the shaky secondary. C--
DROPPED THEBALL
PACKERS Thefirst-round pick, DT Justin Harrell of Tennessee, has had durability issuesthroughout his college career, and the second-round selection, Nebraska RBBrandon Jackson, was never a full-time starter with the Cornhuskers. D
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TODD SPOTH/ICON SMI
EAGLEEYED
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