AFC West

Kansas City Ryan Sims 2002 6th overall North Carolina

Sims was considered the number one defensive lineman in the draft. Sims however lasted just four years in KC before being traded for future considerations. Once Herman Edwards was hired to coach the Chiefs, Sims quickly found a spot on the bench. His totals as a Chief - 54 tackles, 5 sacks and one interception.

Big miss: Dwight Freeney

Oakland JaMarcus Russell 2007 1st overall Louisiana State

This is possibly the easiest pick in this series. Russell had all the physical skills, but only lasted three seasons in the league. Holding out until after the first game of the regular season his first season was a wash, making just one start in the final game of the season. His second season he started fifteen games but didn’t impress enough to earn the job back in year two. Russell made nine starts in year three until getting benched for good. He got the wrap of being lazy and coming into camp overweight. The combination of a lack of results, a lack of motivation - oh yeah - and a drug wrap, has kept him out of the league since.

Big miss: Calvin Johnson

Denver Jarvis Moss 2007 17th overall Florida

Due to my belief that Tim Tebow as an NFL quarterback will eventually be a joke, it was hard not to pick Tebow, but he basically saved the season for the Broncos last year. Denver traded up to get Moss, but because of injury Moss played just six games as a rookie. His second season was underwhelming as well. He played in twelve games and made 12 tackles. The next year he was released.

Big miss: Dwayne Bowe

San Diego Ryan Leaf 1998 2nd overall Washington State

If Russell was the easiest pick, Leaf was the second easiest. People forget Leaf started his career 2-0, but things went downhill fast. Game three of his career he was one for fifteen for four yards and two interceptions. He would win just two more games in three seasons. He would miss most of season two with an injury and ineffective play doomed his third and final season with the Chargers. His final San Diego stat line was 13 touchdowns and 33 interceptions.

Big miss: Charles Woodson

NFC West

San Francisco Jim Druckenmiller 1997 26th overall Virginia Tech

Druckenmiller was drafted to be the heir apparent to Steve Young, but it didn’t work out that way. He only lasted two years with the 49ers, started one game and appeared in just six. The rest of the league wasn’t impressed either. He was traded to the Dolphins, but was quickly released. No one else bothered with the former Hokie and had his only productive season as a professional in the XFL.

Big miss: Trevor Price

Seattle Rick Mirer 1993 2nd overall Notre Dame

Mirer actually started out pretty well with the Seahawks. He started every game as a rookie and was second in the rookie of the year voting. He showed some promise in year two as well, but by year three defenses had figured out the guy who was once compared to Joe Montana. His third and fourth (and final) seasons with the Seahawks were nowhere near the promise of his first two years. He threw 18 touchdowns and 32 picks in his final two seasons in the Pacific Northwest. Mirer did have a long career as an NFL backup quarterback and all told spent twelve seasons with seven teams.

Big miss: Willie Roaf

St. Louis Lawrence Phillips 1996 6th overall Nebraska

Who - besides the Rams – didn’t see this one coming? Phillips had a troubled history at Nebraska and it only continued in the NFL. Phillips made twenty starts in two years with the Rams and spent 23 days in jail. Midway through his second season the Rams cut ties with their troubled runningback. Phillips had short stints with the Dolphins and the 49ers, but never rushed for more than 650 yards in a season. To make matters worse, on the day of the 1996 Draft, the Rams were so confident they had found the answer at runningback in Phillips that they made a draft day trade with the Steelers. The player they traded - Jerome Bettis.

Big miss: Marvin Harrison

Arizona Matt Leinart 2006 10th overall USC

Leinart was in and out of the lineup during his entire time in Arizona. Injuries in his first two seasons limited his playing time and when he did play his inconsistent play couldn’t keep him in the lineup. After Kurt Warner retired, Leinart had one more shot to win the job in Arizona, but was beat out of a job by Derek Alexander and was soon after released.

Big miss: Haloti Ngata

Fantasy Football:

AFC North

Pittsburg Troy Edwards 1999 13th overall Louisiana Tech

Edwards lasted just three seasons in Pittsburg. For the most part, the Steelers have been hitting on first round picks over the last twenty years, but missed in 1999. After a solid rookie season, Edwards’ productivity dropped off the table. In his final two years in Pittsburg, he caught just 37 passes and didn’t score any touchdowns.

Big miss: Jevon Kearse

Cleveland Tim Couch 1999 1st overall Kentucky

Couch had no chance. He was thrown into an impossible situation with a terrible expansion team. He was beat up over his six year Browns career and never had a quarterback rating of over 78. More importantly he didn’t win. Injuries – due to being beat up behind a poor offensive line – ultimately did him in.

Big miss: This was a great first round. Take your pick Donovan McNabb, Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Torry Holt, Champ Bailey, Jevon Kearse, on and on.

Baltimore Kyle Boller 2003 19th overall California

Boller made double digit starts in only one season. Like division rival Pittsburg, Baltimore has had a long history of solid first round picks, but Boller was one of the few who didn’t work out. After five up and down seasons with the Ravens, Boller moved on and is now a back up in Oakland.

Big miss: Dallas Clark

Cincinnati Akili Smith 1999 3rd overall Oregon

Smith was an even bigger bust than Couch who was picked two spots before the former Oregon Duck. Smith’s ineffective play kept him in the league for just four seasons. In his second season he made eleven starts – by far the most he ever made – and threw just three touchdown passes the entire season.

Big miss: See Tim Couch

NFC North

Chicago Curtis Enis 1998 5th overall Penn State

Still looking to replace Walter Payton and Neal Anderson, knee problems doomed Enis and had him out of the league after just three seasons. He saw the writing on the wall and retired instead of continuing to punish his left knee. He gained just over 1,000 yards and scored four touchdowns in his short career.

Big miss: Randy Moss

Detroit Charles Rogers 2003 2nd overall Michigan State

Injuries and substance abuse did in Rogers and started the Lions’ string of wide receiver misses – until hitting a home run with Megatron. Two broken collar bones derailed his first two seasons and a drug suspension helped cut short his third season. His career stats: 36 catches, 440 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Big miss:  Andre Johnson

Green Bay Jamal Reynolds 2001 10th overall Florida State

Reynolds lasted just three seasons with the Packers. In 18 games played he totaled 16 tackles and three sacks. To make things worse, the Pack traded up to pick him. The price to get him was the 17th overall pick – and quarterback Matt Hasselback.

Big miss: Steve Hutchinson

Minnesota Troy Williamson 2005 7th overall South Carolina

Could have gone Underwood here, but he was at the bottom of the first round. Underwood never played for the Vikings, unfortunately Williamson did. Pegged as Randy Moss’ replacement, Williamson had the speed, but the Vikings forgot to check and see if he could catch. A number of dropped balls over his three seasons with the Vikings got him a ticket out of town when he was traded to Jacksonville for a sixth round pick. He lasted just one season with the Jags. In four seasons he caught 87 balls for 1131 yards and four touchdowns.

Big miss: Aaron Rodgers (Vikings passed on him twice)

Fantasy Football:

AFC South

Indianapolis  Steve Emtman 1992 Washington 1st overall

Injuries were a big reason for Emtman’s short career. Indy not only had the number one pick that year, but also the number two. They used it to take Quentin Coryatt who had a better career than Emtman, but was never a Pro Bowl type guy in his seven years.

Big miss:  Not a great draft, I’ll go with Sean Gilbert

Tennessee Adam ‘Pac Man’ Jones 2005 West Virginia 6th overall

Fairly effective early on with 28 starts in 32 regular season games in his first two years. Everything fell apart shortly after that with a laundry list of suspensions and run-ins with the law. His stint in Tennessee lasted just two seasons.

Big miss: Demarcus Ware

Houston David Carr 2002 Fresno St. 1st overall

Carr really had no shot. He was thrown into the starting role as a rookie of an expansion team and didn’t have much talent around him. He won his first start, but was sacked an NFL record 76 times as a rookie. He never really recovered.

Big miss: Julius Peppers

Jacksonville R. Jay Soward 2000 USC 29th overall

Soward was another case of substance abuse derailing a career. The wide receiver lasted just one season in the NFL and recorded a grand total of 14 receptions.

Big miss: Keith Bullock

NFC South

Carolina Rae Carruth 1997 Colorado 27th overall

Carruth had a nice rookie season, but then an injury limited him to just one game his second season before his role in attempting to kill his girlfriend and unborn child early in his third – and obviously final – season.

Big miss: Trevor Price

New Orleans Johnathan Sullivan 2003 Georgia 6th overall

In three seasons with the black and gold, Sullivan only totaled 1.5 sacks. By year three Sullivan didn’t start a game and was traded to New England – where he didn’t play a single game and was released.

Big miss:  Terrell Suggs

Tampa Bay Gaines Adams 2007 Clemson 4th overall

I didn’t want to do it based off of Adams’ tragic end, but the Bucs have done a pretty good job in the first round over the years. Adams played just two and a half seasons for Tampa Bay before being traded to the Chicago Bears. Adams had 13.5 sacks in 37 games as a Buccaneer.

Big miss:  Adrian Peterson

Atlanta Michael Booker 1997 Nebraska 11th overall

Booker started just ten games in three seasons for the Falcons before he went to Tennessee for two years. He averaged just two interceptions in his time as a Falcon.

Big miss: Tony Gonzalez

Check out other Volumes: NFL Draft: Would’a Could’a Should’a Volume I

Fantasy Football:

The following break down is the Fantasy Football stock value report for this years crop of rookie running backs heading into the NFL Fantasy Season.

Trent Richardson is easily the most sought after fantasy rookie for the 2012 NFL season. The Browns clearly got themselves a face-lift and will be starting a high number of the rookies acquired from this years draft class. QB Brandon Weeden, OT Mitchell Schwartz, and LB James-Michael Johnson and Trent Richardson are all being penciled in as starters. The talent added will hopefully gel together to form a group that will move the chains and put T-Rich in many opportunities to rack up fantasy points.

Although, there are two theories when it comes to this former Alabama powerback; 1.) He’ll carry the offense and help players like Brandon Wedden improve that much faster or 2.) He will be smothered in a all-out run blitz that defense’s will force down the the Browns throat, resulting in the team to have to throw the ball with their rookie QB.

It’s easy to over-think the countless possibles in which Trent Richardson will hurt your fantasy line-up, the Browns have never been a team for running up the score, nor do they ever get an easy schedule being in the AFC North. Still, this team is built to run the ball. Peyton Hillis may have been a one year wonder after injuries arouse with the offensive line last year. If healthy, the Browns O-Line can create gaps that even the most average RB can succeed with. Insert a running back like Richardson and the possibilities of a big threat rushing attack are down right scary. All the stats and analyzing in the world may not convince you that Trent Richardson is the real deal, but a long time fantasy writer’s “gut-feeling” should. I would take Richardson early and laugh all the way to the fantasy championship.

Fantasy Value: Very High
Fantasy Stock Value: Through the Roof
Fantasy Draft Projection: 2nd to 3rd round

Everybody loves the potential of Doug Martin, but this season may be a learning experience for newest Tampa RB. Fantasy owners need to keep in mind that the job is Blount’s to lose, and that Martin’s rookie season could involve being a productive change of pace running back that the team will ease into the offense. LeGarrette Blount has 20 pounds on this former Boise St. RB, and despite the “bowling ball” comparisons this rookie may not see carries inside the 20 yard-line. Blount proved he can handle a solid workload, and without his injuries last season, I wonder if we would even be questioning his role in this offense. Blount did regress a little  in 2011, his yards per carry average fell slightly from 5.0 to 4.2, but he still had a couple 100+yard games for the Buc’s who were one of the leagues worst teams.

Doug Martin is an investment fantasy RB. While there is a chance he wins the starting job this season, it may not happen right away, so draft him accordingly. He is an excellent keeper-league player, an insurance piece for Blount owners, and a sleeper heading into training camp. But as far as being a every down fantasy starter, you’re kidding yourself if you reach on him too early. Preseason will be where Martin showcase his skills to the coaches, hopefully convincing them to give him extra touches throughout the season, but at this point he is too risky for anything higher than a 5th round pick.

Fantasy Value: Medium
Fantasy Stock Value: Investment Player- Will pay off down the road.
Fantasy Draft Projection: 5th to 7th round

The Giants were pleasantly surprised with what they found available with the last pick of this years NFL Draft. David Wilson played college ball at Virginia Tech, a smooth runner with an extra gear to help accelerate downhill or around a corner. Wilson has a great frame, solid build and seems to play bigger than his what his measurements have him listed at.

The Giants added weapons to make their SuperBowl winning offense that much stronger at the draft. History has shown that the team rarely uses rookies right out of the gate and tend to groom prospects for optimal production. Still, the Giants running game was not their strong point last season, ranking dead last in rushing yards per game (89.2 ). Need vs. coaching tendencies make Wilson an intriguing fantasy sleeper. Tom Coughlin has a strict method to his coaching style, and is very structured about personal. Some doubt Wilson see’s much action early on, yet with such a boost needed at the running back postion, and with the loss of Brandon Jacobs, will Coughlin break some of his old-school rules and allow David Wilson to touch the ball 15+ times a game? – It’s probably too early to say.

*Preseason and training camp will be a great forecast to how this talented speedy RB will fit into the teams gameplan for 2012. Right now, I would have to project David Wilson’s fantasy stock as “yet to be determined” . I know it’s a cop-out, but he could go either way at this point.

Fantasy Value: Low to Medium
Fantasy Stock Value: Sleeper
Fantasy Draft: Projection: 6th to 9th round

If you are going to find a running back to complement Steven Jackson, speedy breakaway threat Isaiah Pead definitely fits the mold. The Rams really must see something special in this kid, as he has limited features other that straight line bursting speed.  Pead is not your every down running back in the NFL and will need to work on correcting many elements of his game. He is a project that will contribute sporadically in the Rams offense. Unless Steven Jackson get’s hurt, and even if he does, Pead has little fantasy value in his rookie season.

Fantasy Value: Low 
Fantasy Stock: deep sleeper
Fantasy Draft Projection: 11th to 15th round

Continue Reading: LaMichael James, Ronnie Hillman, Lamar Miller and many more!

Fantasy Football:

2012 NFL Draft Grades

The NFL Draft has come and gone. What remains is the future players that are needed to create big plays, clog up holes, and add depth to the rosters of our favorite teams. There will be superstars among the 2012 Draft Selections, along with many busts, but for now they are the new breed of talent to make each NFL team seem that much better.

If you think about it, one group of youngesters are going to have Super Bowl rings in 9 months, and usually the team that can gain the most out of the NFL draft, has the best shot at winning it all.The following is Gridiron Experts 2012 NFL Draft Grades. Follow us on Twitter

Arizona Cardinals  DRAFT GRADE: B+
The Cardinals were unable to make a significant upgrade to their quarterbacking position and instead moved on to Plan B: surround incumbents John Skelton and Kevin Kolb with a better supporting cast. We mocked Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd to Arizona, and they indeed secured the draft’s second best receiver at 13. Floyd is a big-time talent and his presence will really open up the offense by taking pressure off of Larry Fitzgerald.

Third round CB Jamell Fleming filled the team’s next highest priority. GM Rod Graves pulled a major coup by grabbing Ole Miss OT Bobby Massie at pick 112. Massie was thought to be a 2nd-3rd round talent and is likely to start from day one on the Arizona line, which was also reinforced by Washington G Senio Kelemete and Boise State OT Nate Potter. Arizona also added highly-respected San Diego State signal-caller Ryan Lindley as a developmental project.

Atlanta Falcons  DRAFT GRADE: C-
Atlanta lacked a first round pick due to last year’s draft-day deal that became WR Julio Jones. But as luck would have it, the Falcons were still able to add a high quality prospect that filled a huge need. Wisconsin C Peter Konz was expected to be a late first round pick, but fell into Atlanta’s lap at 55. Still focusing on the offensive line, Thomas Dimitroff surprised many by taking Southern Miss OT Lamar Holmes, who was not expected to be chose until the draft’s final day. Konz’s teammate FB Brady Ewing was chosen as insurance for injured FB Ovie Mughelli. Atlanta’s final three selections strengthened the defensive line and secondary.

Baltimore Ravens:  DRAFT GRADE: A-
You have to give credit to Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome. Year after the year the Ravens are able to add abundant talent and keep their club amongst the short list of championship contenders. 2012 was no different as the Ravens traded down out of the first round altogether but were still able to add key components. Alabama DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw slid out of round one, but will likely enter the Ravens defensive rotation from day one.

Newsome also stayed true to his team’s needs by bolstering the offensive line with the 60th pick, Kelechi Osemele, and 98th pick Gino Gradkowski. Knowing that the Ray Rice could miss part or all of training camp due to a contract dispute, Newsome also traded back up into round three to grab a talented running back, Temple’s Bernard Pierce. On day three, the Ravens added depth to their beleaguered secondary and added Miami WR Tommy Streeter.

Buffalo Bills  DRAFT GRADE: B
There was a lot of buzz coming from Buffalo this off-season, and for a change, most of it was positive. The Bills were big spenders in free agency, bolstering their D-line by adding the top-rated pass rusher DE Mario Williams and DE Mark Anderson. The draft also brought some significant upgrades to important positions of need. First round CB Stephon Gilmore was the second rated cornerback available on most teams’ draft boards.

Georgia OT Cordy Glenn was mocked in a ton of first rounds, so he was an excellent value at 41. The Bills needed to strengthen their receiving corps, but jumped the gun of third rounder TJ Graham, who was thought to be a 4th to 5th round player. GM Buddy Nix salvaged the draft with four straight fantastic picks that netted Florida State OLB Nigel Bradham, LSU CB Ron Brooks, Florida State OT Zebrie Sanders and TCU OLB Tank Carder.

Carolina Panthers  DRAFT GRADE: A-
The rapid transformation from 2-14 to serious contender is nearly complete after a second consecutive excellent draft. Carolina was able to grab the draft’s top linebacker, Boston College OLB Luke Kuechly, and another perceived first round pick, Midwestern State OT/G Amini Silatolu. Oklahoma DE Frank Alexander will strenghten the Panthers pass rush and fourth round WR Joe Adams provides an instant upgrade and legitimate weapon to start opposite of Steve Smith. Round 5 brought a tremendous value in Coastal Carolina CB Josh Norman, who was ranked the 58th best prospect by NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock. Overall another great job by the new regime in Carolina.

Chicago Bears  DRAFT GRADE: C+
A lot of people thought that offensive line was Chicago’s top priority. Judging from their draft-haul, the Bears disagreed. Rather than beef up the o-line, instead they chose to upgrade the defensive front with Boise State DE Shea McClellin. When you take into consideration that the Bears have vaunted offenses from Green Bay and Detroit on the schedule twice a year, you can understand their strategy. Still, Jay Cutler continued to be harassed under Mike Martz’s old offense, and it was surprising to see the front five ignored entirely. Having already acquired WR Brandon Marshall from Miami, Chicago’s second selection was another prospect that was considered one of the biggest risers in perceived value, South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery. Cutler finally appears to have a viable receiving corps. The second half of the draft was mainly used to fortify the ailing secondary.

Cincinnati Bengals  DRAFT GRADE: A-
Missing out on the top cornerback, Morris Claiborne, the Bengals spent the 17th pick on Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick to fill a major need in the Cincinnati secondary. Kirkpatrick had seen his stock sore in recent days and became widely thought of as the second rated corner in this draft. Moving down to 27 cost the Bengals a chance at David DeCastro and they instead took Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler over some higher rated offensive lineman. The final eight selections for Marvin Lewis and company stand out as an excellent draft-haul. Penn State DT Devon Still was one time considered a first round talent, and will add quality depth the the Bengals already fearsome d-line. Rutgers WR Mohamed Sanu was seemingly drafted by Cincinnati twice, once as a prank in round one, and for real in round three. Sanu was a solid pick and should start right away. Many experts had Orson Charles as the second ranked tight end in the draft. Solid late round picks boosted the secondary, receiving and backfield depth.

Cleveland Browns  DRAFT GRADE:  C
It was widely known that the Browns would focus on offensive skill position players in this draft. Rumors of the Buccaneers moving up to nab Alabama RB Trent Richardson caused the Browns to panic, and swap with the Vikings to acquire his services. Richardson is a big-time running back prospect, and many consider him a superior option than former teammate Mark Ingram. Reportedly the Browns were set to select Baylor WR Kendall Wright with their second selection in round one, only to have him be off the board. Mike Holmgren then used that spot to effectively end the Colt McCoy era by selecting 28 year old signal-caller Brandon Weeden. Cleveland’s next pick was on a solid tackle, California’s Mitchell Schwartz. Inexplicably, despite having eight selections remaining in this draft, the Browns did next to nothing to improve their awful receiving corps. In round 4, they reached for Miami WR Travis Benjamin, but he isn’t expected to make a huge impact. Credit to Holmgren for some really nice defensive additions late in the draft, including Texas LB Emmanuel Acho, Boise State DT Billy Winn and Arizona CB Trevin Wade. Overall, it doesn’t appear the Browns took advantage of the surplus of extra draft picks they had, and the wide receivers are still woefully inadequate.

Dallas Cowboys DRAFT GRADE: C+
The Cowboys are a part of a fiercely intense division that drafts similar to how they play; cut-throat and aggressive. The team is not afraid to go after what they want, and despite being one the leagues most hated teams, you have to admire them for that. Jerry Jones pulled a coup a traded up for an elite cornerback Morris Claiborne, despite the fact that the Cowboys hadn’t even visited with former LSU defensive back. Claiborne is a fantastic fit in a secondary that was woefully thin last season. The move from 14 to six cost Dallas their second rounder. They used the rest of their selections to fill needs mainly along the defensive line and linebacking corps. Overall we applaud the bold move to acquire one of the six elite targets in this draft.

Denver Broncos DRAFT GRADE: D
Denver decided to move back out of the first round and load up on mid-round talent this year…a curious strategy for a club that appears to by “all in” now with aging Peyton Manning. A player like DT Derek Wolfe isn’t flashy, but adds to a serious need on the defensive line. The goal this year seemed to revolve around adding toughness and physicality. The Broncos added meat and potato type talent with the selections of G Philip Blake and DE Malik Jackson also grabbing a excellent tacklier in Danny Trevathan. All were solid value picks that will contribute in one way or another this season.

Yet, the head-scratcher of the day was the Brock Osweiler pick, with players like Rueben Randle and LaMichael James still on the board, the Broncos looked towards the future drafting a quarterback to learn under Manning. No receiving additions were added in this years draft class, something that will most likely hurt them down the stretch next season.

Continue Reading More 2012 NFL Draft Grades

Fantasy Football:

]]> http://gridironexperts.com/2012-nfl-draft-grades/feed 0 http://gridironexperts.com/nfl-draft-woulda-coulda-shoulda-volume-i http://gridironexperts.com/nfl-draft-woulda-coulda-shoulda-volume-i#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:28:40 +0000 Brian Jerzak http://gridironexperts.com/?p=24720 Every fan of the National Football League is a fan of the NFL Draft. We all look at who were the biggest draft steals, but I think it's more fun to look at the big NFL Draft misses in the first round.

Fantasy Football:

]]> NFL Draft: Would’a Could’a Should’a 

Every fan of the National Football League is a fan of the NFL Draft. We all look at who were the biggest draft steals, but I think it’s more fun to look at the biggest NFL Draft misses in the first round.

Here is the first of a four part article highlighting each teams low light in the first round. I went back twenty years and picked not the best, but the worst pick each team made in the first round. The reasons for each bust are as varied as the players themselves. Anything from ineffective play, to injuries to drug suspensions derailed this first group of busts. Just to rub some salt in the wound, I also listed the biggest name taken later in the first round that the team could taken. We start with East Coast bias and each week will move west.

AFC East

New England Robert Edwards 1998 Georgia 18th overall

Edwards started out great. He rushed for over 1,000 yards his rookie season. It was all downhill from there. Edwards injured his knee during a Pro Bowl flag football game and didn’t play another game for the Patriots.

Big Miss: Randy Moss

Miami Yatil Green 1997 Miami Fla 15th overall

Green was on the roster for only three seasons for the Dolphins. Only one of those seasons included any receptions. His career stats are a solid stat line for a quarter of a season, not a career. 18 catches, 234 yards and zero touchdowns. Multiple knee injuries doomed Green’s NFL career.

Big Miss: Tarik Glenn

NY Jets Vernon Gholston 2008 Ohio State 6th overall

This was the first really easy pick. In three seasons with team Gholston made just five starts and didn’t record a single sack as a Jet.

Big Miss: Chris Johnson

Buffalo J.P. Losman 2004 Tulane 22nd overall

Because of how important the position is, Losman gets the nod. He started every game in one forgettable season and didn’t make more than eight starts the rest of his time in Buffalo.

Big Miss: Steven Jackson

NFC East

Dallas Shante Carver 1994 Arizona St. 23rd overall

Carver played four seasons and recorded a total of 11.5 sacks during the triplets hay day. It took him 26 starts to get those 11.5 sacks.

Big Miss: William Floyd

NY Giants Cedric Jones 1996 Oklahoma 5th overall 

They didn’t know it when the Giants drafted Jones, but he was blind in one eye and could only play on the left side. Jones played just five seasons in New York. As a top five pick he recorded just fifteen total sacks.

Big miss:  Marvin Harrison

Philadelphia Bernard Williams 1994 Georgia 14th overall

Williams started all 16 games as a rookie and then ran into a ton of drug problems. He was banned from the league for life after failing 15 drug tests.

Big Miss: Wayne Gandy

Washington Heath Shuler 1994 Tennessee 3rd overall

The Redskins have given me another easy pick. Shuler started 13 games in three seasons for the Skins. His final Redskins stat line reads like this: 13 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. He has had more success in D.C. on the House floor than he did in RFK stadium.

Big Miss: Willie McGinest

 

Check out other Volumes: NFL Draft: Would’a Could’a Should’a Volume II

Fantasy Football:

]]> http://gridironexperts.com/nfl-draft-woulda-coulda-shoulda-volume-i/feed 0 http://gridironexperts.com/nfl-draft-2012-recap http://gridironexperts.com/nfl-draft-2012-recap#comments Sun, 29 Apr 2012 05:08:46 +0000 Mike Rodriguez http://gridironexperts.com/?p=24790 Gridiron Experts has complied a complete 2012 NFL Draft recap for our readers. All the picks and prospects on one page. We should have updated grades and depth charts coming soon

Fantasy Football:

]]> Gridiron Experts has complied a complete 2012 NFL Draft recap for our readers. All the picks and prospects on one page. We should have updated grades and depth charts coming soon

Fantasy Football:

]]> http://gridironexperts.com/nfl-draft-2012-recap/feed 0 http://gridironexperts.com/quick-take-early-1st-round-winners-and-losers http://gridironexperts.com/quick-take-early-1st-round-winners-and-losers#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:01:28 +0000 Mike Rodriguez http://gridironexperts.com/?p=24722 NFL Draft 1st Round Winners and Losers The NFL Draft was a whirlwind of excitement. The trades, picks and talking-heads couldn’t seem to all keep up with one another. At one point there were 3 picks selected and the evaluations were still fighting commercial breaks. Overall, I thought nearly all the teams started out great and I’m pumped for days 2 and 3. I was busy running my mouth on twitter and plan to continue for both remaining NFL Draft days, follow us! I don’t report the news, I add insight and insults. The following teams made my “quick take” Winners and Losers list based on value. Winners The St.Louis Rams are on pace to...

Fantasy Football:

]]> NFL Draft 1st Round Winners and Losers

The NFL Draft was a whirlwind of excitement. The trades, picks and talking-heads couldn’t seem to all keep up with one another. At one point there were 3 picks selected and the evaluations were still fighting commercial breaks. Overall, I thought nearly all the teams started out great and I’m pumped for days 2 and 3. I was busy running my mouth on twitter and plan to continue for both remaining NFL Draft days, follow us! I don’t report the news, I add insight and insults.

The following teams made my “quick take” Winners and Losers list based on value.

Winners

The St.Louis Rams are on pace to rebuild an entire roster with the high number of picks they acquired to simply trade down twice. After fleecing Washington, the Rams moved down again and still found serious value snagging DT Micahel Brockers. St.Louis had so many needs it’s hard to argue that they couldn’t simply trade down a third time. Adding Brockers helps boast a struggling defensive line that faces 2/3rds of a heavy run-first division. While Brockers has been a starter for just one full year, he does have a lot of upside. He brings no real pass rush to the team but should be a huge upgrade to the run game and a very important element in the Rams rebuild process.

The Buccaneers grabbed two play-makers in the first round, one for either sides of the ball. Mark Barron is a blue-chip safety that should help improve the run defense, he is a leathal ball hawk and could develop into a future defensive leader for the team. Doug Martin will have a chance to win the hearts of fantasy owners with his quick speed and slick cuts. I wrote an article on the 3 cone drill prior to the combine, Martin was one of three backs that killed this years event. He should have a great career in Tampa.

Jerry Jones tends to always get his way on NFL draft day. Moving up the board at a fairly reasonable price, the Cowboys land top shut down cornerback Morris Claiborne. Fans are thrilled with the aggressive move and feel that Claiborne maybe the missing link to the Super Bowl.

Losers

Bruce Irvin? Mel Kiper called the decision of the Seahawks taking the West Virginia defensive end “mind boggling.” -I would have to agree. I had mentioned on twitter that when the Seahawks were on the clock there was a shot of Seattle war room, the number of coaches, scouts and whoever in there could have made up an entire new NFL roster of old guys. Maybe too many people were bumping heads on this pick, because trading back and selecting him in the second round would have made far more sense. Irvin has character issues and the team has been reaching on one year wonder buzz players far too much in the last few years.

You want a do-over San Fran? There were far better wide receivers on the board than A.J Jenkins. Jenkins may turn out to be the next best thing, but the 49er’s track record for drafting receivers in the last 10 years hasn’t been spectacular. Michael Crabtree (in 09, just getting good now) Rashaun Woods, and Brandon Lloyd (and Lloyd was only good after he left)

It’s hard not to want to like Dontari Poe. He has all the potential to be a monster, but something about the guy screams bust. I wold have loved to have seen the team trade down and snag him with a later pick

 

Torn

Happy you took Trent Richardson, not thrilled about the 28 year old QB

 

Still lots of time and picks to make the losers winners and the winners losers.

 

 

 

Fantasy Football:

]]> http://gridironexperts.com/quick-take-early-1st-round-winners-and-losers/feed 0 http://gridironexperts.com/browns-trade-up-one-spot-before-draft-begins http://gridironexperts.com/browns-trade-up-one-spot-before-draft-begins#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:25:40 +0000 Mike Rodriguez http://gridironexperts.com/?p=24714 Browns Trade Up One SpotBrowns With about an hour before the NFL draft is kicks off, the Cleveland Browns have traded away a hand full of picks to the Vikings to move up one spot to lock up Trent Richardson. Value-wise it's dumb, but with so much on the line and the worries about a team like Tampa leapfrogging them and taking their guy..it's brilliant. Their guy of course is Trent Richardson. Trade Review To Cleveland: 3rd overall pick To Minnesota: 4th overall pick, 4th round pick (118 overall) 6th-round pick (139th overall) and 7 round pick (211th overall) Essentially, the first half hour of the draft is in the books

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]]> Browns Trade Up One Spot

With about an hour before the NFL draft is to kick off, the Cleveland Browns have traded away a hand full of picks to the Vikings to move up just one spot to lock up Trent Richardson. Value-wise it’s dumb, but with so much on the line and the worries about a team like Tampa leapfrogging them and taking away their guy..it’s brilliant.

read more about the newest Cleveland Brown Trent Richardson here

Trade Review

To Cleveland: 3rd overall pick
To Minnesota: 4th overall pick, 4th round pick (118 overall) 6th-round pick (139th overall) and 7 round pick (211th overall)

Essentially, the first half an hour of the draft is in the books.

Luck

RG3

T-Rich

 

 

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