AFC North Draft Grades

Overall the AFC North did an excellent job drafting, not only as far as filling team needs, but also snagging some of the big names in the draft at those positions.  Baltiomore, for example, in the first two rounds got arguably two top 20 talents in Jimmy Smith (corner out of Colorado) and Torrey Smith (receiver from Maryland).  The Browns loaded up on future draft picks including a 1st and 4th round pick for next year in a trade with Atlanta which gave the Falcons the 6th pick and moved the Browns down to 27th (which they then traded to move up to the 21st spot).  Cincinnati snagged their future replacement skill players in Georgia’s AJ Green and Andy Dalton from TCU. Pittsburgh drafted Cameron Heyward (son of the late great Ironhead) with the 31st pick in the 1st round to provide depth on an aging defensive line.

Here are the picks made by each team and an overall assessment of their drafts:

1-	27-	27	Baltimore	Jimmy Smith	CB	6-2	211	Colorado
2-	26-	58	Baltimore	Torrey Smith	WR	6-1	204	Maryland
3-	21-	85	Baltimore	Jah Reid	OT	6-8	325	UCF
4-	26-	123	Baltimore	Tandon Doss	WR	6-3	200	Indiana
5-	33-	164	Baltimore	Chykie Brown	CB	6-0	194	Texas
5-	34-	165	Baltimore	Pernell McPhee	DE	6-3	278	Mississippi State
6-	15-	180	Baltimore	Tyrod Taylor	QB	6-1	216	Virginia Tech
7-	22-	225	Baltimore	Anthony Allen	RB	6-0	223	Georgia Tech

The Ravens did a wonderful job meeting team needs with their first two picks, but they also got them at value spots.  Jimmy Smith was thought by many to be the best pure cover corner in the draft with a 6′2″ frame.  The Ravens struggled last season to defend the pass, so getting the Colorado corner who did have some off field character issues may end up being a steal.  Torrey Smith was a receiver that many felt was the 3rd best at his position in this draft.  So, for Baltimore to be able to get him with the 58th pick, that is very impressive.  Baltimore’s only draft mistake may be when a failed trade made them not in time for their first overall pick allowing Kansas City to pick ahead of them and get Jon Baldwin out of Pitt.  Baltimore also drafted Tyrod Taylor out of Virginia Tech in the 6th round, who may be a long term backup for quarterback Joe Flacco.

1-	4-	4	Cincinnati	A.J. Green	WR	6-4	207	Georgia
2-	3-	35	Cincinnati	Andy Dalton	QB	6-2	215	TCU
3-	2-	66	Cincinnati	Dontay Moch	OLB	6-2	229	Nevada
4-	4-	101	Cincinnati	Clint Boling	OG	6-5	310	Georgia
5-	3-	134	Cincinnati	Robert Sands	FS	6-0	221	West Virginia
6-	2-	167	Cincinnati	Ryan Whalen	WR	6-1	205	Stanford
7-	4-	207	Cincinnati	Korey Lindsey	CB	5-10	182	Southern Illinois
7-	43-	246	Cincinnati	Jay Finley	RB	5-11	203	Baylor

The Bengals were very definitive in the draft as far as what their stance is on their malcontents.  Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson have dominated the teams offseason headlines and by the looks of Cincinnati’s first two picks they were no longer amused.  A.J. Green gives them a home run hitting receiver that will be able to stretch the field and make an impact immediately.  Andy Dalton led his Texas Christian Hornfrogs to an undefeated 2010 at the quarterback position.  In the 3rd round (66th overall) Cincy also got OLB Dontay Moch who impressed at the combine with his blazing speed.

1-	21-	21	Cleveland	Phil Taylor	DT	6-4	355	Baylor
2-	5-	37	Cleveland	Jabaal Sheard	DE	6-3	260	Pittsburgh
2-	27-	59	Cleveland	Greg Little	WR	6-2	220	North Carolina
4-	5-	102	Cleveland	Jordan Cameron	TE	6-5	220	Southern California
4-	27-	124	Cleveland	Owen Marecic	FB	6-0	246	Stanford
5-	6-	137	Cleveland	Buster Skrine	CB	5-10	186	Chattanooga
5-	19-	150	Cleveland	Jason Pinkston	OT	6-3	313	Pittsburgh
7-	45-	248	Cleveland	Eric Hagg	FS	6-1	206	Nebraska

I like what the Browns did in the draft to improve.  One huge position of need was the defensive line.  They addressed that position with their first two picks in the draft getting Baylor’s big defensive tackle Phil Taylor and defensive end Jabaal Sheard who had nine sacks last year at Pittsburgh.  One of the main reasons Cleveland did so well drafting is that they realized they have new offensive and defensive systems and the targeted positions and players to meet those different styles.  On offense they attempted to load up on versatile pass catchers to mold into west coast offensive weapons.  I  particularly like the versatility of Owen Marecic, who was the only D-I player to start on both offense and defense.  Defensively they attempted to get depth in the secondary and they now have some much needed size on that defensive line.

1-	31-	31	Pittsburgh	Cameron Heyward	DE	6-5	294	Ohio State
2-	31-	63	Pittsburgh	Marcus Gilbert	OT	6-6	329	Florida
3-	31-	95	Pittsburgh	Curtis Brown	CB	6-0	180	Texas
4-	31-	128	Pittsburgh	Cortez Allen	CB	6-1	197	Citadel
5-	31-	162	Pittsburgh	Chris Carter	OLB	6-1	246	Fresno State
6-	31-	196	Pittsburgh	Keith Williams	OG	6-4	318	Nebraska
7-	29-	232	Pittsburgh	Baron Batch	RB	5-10	207	Texas Tech

The Steelers made the Super Bowl last year, but proved they needed help in the secondary.  I do like their 1st round pick of Cameron Heyward, due to the fact that they do have an aging defensive line and I don’t think Heyward will be another Vernon Gholston.  They did attempt to address the secondary and offensive line in the second through sixth rounds, so they does give them an overall good evaluation.  Pittsburgh has a solid team and doesn’t need contributions from its draft picks early as much as some other teams do, so we may need to wait a couple years to truly determine what kind of draft this was for them.

Baltiomre:  B+

Cincinnati:  A-

Cleveland:  B+

Pittsburgh:  C+