Well, this is it. The final edition of “A Decade of Drafting”. Tomorrow, I’ll post a compiled edition complete with stats and analysis of what to make out of the decade.
Due to popular request, I’m expanding my look at the Colts’ drafts to include some other teams. Each day, we’ll look how the Colts, Steelers, Patriots, Eagles and Ravens drafted this decade. We’ll start with the year 2000. I’m ranking the teams based on this criteria: would you trade one entire draft for another? The team whose draft you would definitely trade the others for gets top billing.
Indy gets top marks in 2009 despite little production from their top two picks. Powers, Collie, and McAfee were as good as any three rookies in the league last year. If Brown or Moala become consistent players, 2009 will go down as a banner draft for Bill Polian and company.
2009
1. Colts
Total picks: 8
Made team: 6
Total Games Played: 62
Total Pro Bowls: 0
Best pick: Pat McAfee
Starters drafted: Jerraud Powers, Pat McAfee
Summary and Grade: A. It’s way to early to effectively grade this draft, but considering the major role that Powers, Collie, McAfee had on a team that went to the Super Bowl, it’s hard to argue that the 2009 was anything other than a success. The Colts still have gotten very little from Brown and Moala, but that doesn’t mean that both guys won’t end up being good players. All in all, the pick of McAfee alone gave this team a big lift in kickoff coverage.
2. Eagles
Total picks: 8
Made team: 5
Total Games Played: 63
Total Pro Bowls: 0
Best pick: Jeremy Maclin
Starters drafted: Jeremy Maclin, Victor Harris
Summary and Grade: A- The Eagles got good production out of Maclin and LeSean McCoy in their rookie years. They only have four players from this draft still with the team, but three of them are likely to be starters next year.
3. Patriots
Total picks: 12
Made team: 8
Total Games Played: 95
Total Pro Bowls: 0
Best pick: Julian Edleman
Starters drafted: Sebastian Vollmer
Summary and Grade: B+ It’s too early to tell if the Pats got any real stars out of this draft, but they think a lot of Vollmer, and Edleman will get his chance to be Wes Welker next year. After several years of bad drafts, the Pats desperately needed a deep class. They may just have gotten it.
4. Steelers
Total picks: 9
Made team: 5
Total Games Played: 66
Total Pro Bowls: 0
Best pick: David Johnson
Starters drafted: none
Summary and Grade: B- It’s just too early to grade this draft yet. The Steelers had decent participation, but no one looks to be a break out star. First round pick Ziggy Hood was something of a bust in his first year.
5. Ravens
Total picks: 6
Made team: 3
Total Games Played: 39
Total Pro Bowls: 0
Best pick: Michael Oher
Starters drafted: Michael Oher
Summary and Grade: C+ I can’t give them a higher grade unless Oher turns out to be a franchise caliber left tackle. Only three players made the team, so it will be hard for this draft to be particularly deep or productive for the Ravens.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
