Wonder if anyone asked Spiller what grade he'd give Buffalo's first pick...
With the 255th pick the Detroit Lions select, Tim Toone, WR, Weber State.
It has been nearly two months since the 2010 draft came to a close, and it seems like everyone has dissected every single pick to the point that every grade has been cemented in time. That’s just not the case, however, because many things have changed over the last two months that would make some of these picks look much better. Or much worse.
Some players have changed positions, while some players have been cut to free space for the rookies. Some of the picks teams made were because of steals, while others were out of necessity, and all of these things are much more visible now that time has passed. In fact just about every single pick, whether good or bad, has a different meaning today than it did two months ago.
CJ Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills
Original 2010 draft grade: D-
I originally gave the Spiller pick a D- because he was essentially a Reggie Bush prototype that would be a 3rd down back and a pass catcher. Since then it has been reported that he will be a 3rd down back and a pass catcher that will see 12-carries a game. Spiller is what I thought he was, but because the Bills still have Marshawn Lynch on the team it is evident that this pick was a mistake. The team also hasn’t brought in a lot of talent to make the team relevant, so Spiller as a top-10 pick is slightly worse than it was two months ago.
New 2010 draft grade: F+
Patrick Robinson, CB, New Orleans Saints
Original 2010 draft grade: B
I actually got a lot of complaints about the Patrick Robinson grade being too high when my grades came out, but now this pick looks top notch. Malcolm Jenkins was officially moved to safety to help take some of the pressure off of Darren Sharper. That means that Patrick Robinson as a nickel corner fills a huge need, and at the bottom of the 1st round he turns out to be a huge value. Overall this pick turns out to be a very good one for the Saints; however the translation from corner to safety still will need to be proven by Jenkins.
New 2010 draft grade: A-
Jared Odrick, DE/DT, Miami Dolphins
Original 2010 draft grade: B
Many people hated this pick because the team didn’t need a defense end, but Randy Starks has been moved to nose tackle. This seemed to quiet the critics, but I don’t like the move at all. Starks is not heavy or stout enough to fill the nose tackle spot naturally, and he is coming off a season where he recorded seven sacks. That might not sound like that many, but as a 3-4 end seven sacks in amazing. I just don’t see the upside in moving a top notch threat to nose to bring in Odrick. If you consider the fact that the team could have gotten another receiver or a nose tackle with the pick (or the early 2nd round pick), then I would believe that the Dolphins were a bigger force in 2010.
New 2010 draft grade: C
The Denver O-Line
Zane Beadles original grade: C+
JD Walton original grade: B
Eric Olsen original grade: C
This is kind of a difficult one to go into, but the Broncos selected three offensive linemen in the draft and I was strangely confused on their use after the fact. With a little bit more time, however, it has all become a little bit clearer. Zane Beadles (taken in the 2nd round) is currently sitting as a backup RT to the very decent Ryan Harris. Beadles can play just about anywhere on this line, but a 2nd round reach on a backup is iffy. JD Walton (3rd round) is currently sitting as the top center on the depth chart which makes this pick a very good one. Walton also was a great value in the draft. Finally, Eric Olsen (6th round) is currently a backup RG behind Chris Kuper who just got a 5-year extension. The team still needs some major support at LG, and unless someone falls into place there these three picks seem like a small waste.
New Zane Beadles original grade: C-
New JD Walton original grade: A
New Eric Olsen original grade: D+
The Jaguars 2010 Draft
Original 2010 grade: “Please don’t buy tickets to our games”
Looking back at the Jags draft I still can’t see this as even an average class. The team took four straight defensive linemen, a position that isn’t often productive for rookies. For a team that has a coach on the hot seat it doesn’t seem like a good draft at all. The team then took a kick-returner and a backup RB that likely won’t sniff the playing field. That’s it. The Jags essentially drafted nothing that will significantly help them in 2010, which means that the team that won only seven games in 2009 will struggle to do so again. In fact the only bright point about the 2010 season for the Jags is that Tim Tebow will be visiting from his new team in week one.
New 2010 grade: “Moving to Los Angeles”
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Just a note but the Broncos announced today that Zane Beadles will move to left guard. He only played right tackle while Ryan Harris was out with an injury.