This week I posted a new 3 round mock draft and thought it would be interesting to have Dan Kadar give each team a grade. This might be a bit silly but it is something to spur some conversation. I know that one of my favorite things to view after the draft is what everyone thought of the specific picks. Below you will see each team’s draft broken down followed by a grade by Dan. The grade doesn’t represent Dan’s thoughts on my mock draft skills rather on how the team fared in my mock draft. Everyone is encouraged to give their own grades in the comment section.
2011 NFL Mock Draft Team Grades
You can check out the 1st Round, 2nd Round, and 3rd Round of my mock to see what players were selected before and after your team’s pick. Also make sure to check out our in-depth Scouting Reports.
NFC South
Carolina Panthers (2-14)- Cam Newton- QB- Auburn, Jurrell Casey- DT- USC, Chimdi Chekwa- CB- Ohio State
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B-
In this scenario, Carolina has drafted three boom or bust prospects. For a team that’s pretty bad, that’s a huge risk. Newton’s potential is plenty chronicled, so no need to go with more there. Casey is a risk because short, squat defensive linemen sometimes have a hard time transitioning properly to the NFL. Chekwa seems to give up as many big plays as he stops – not a good thing for cornerback.
New Orleans Saints (11-5)- Corey Liuget- DT- Illinois, Bruce Carter- LB- North Carolina, James Carpenter- OT- Alabama, Johnny White- RB- North Carolina
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B+
Liuget was a great value with the Saint’s pick. Carter, who may miss his rookie season recovering from surgery, has the ability to be a star. Carpenter and White could represent later-round hits that have really worked for the Saints.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6)- Brandon Harris- CB- Miami, Sam Acho- DE- Texas, Rodney Hudson- C/G- Florida State
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: A
Any time you can add three legitimate starters, it’s a good draft. It’s kind of a surprise to see Tampa not getting an end in round one, but Acho is a good enough fall back in the second. Hudson is so underrated it’s not funny.
Atlanta Falcons (13-3)- Ryan Kerrigan- DE/OLB- Purdue, Orlando Franklin- G- Miami, Edmund Gates- WR- Abeline Christian
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B-
The reasoning is sort of the same with Carolina’s picks. Kerrigan, Franklin and Gates are no certainties on translating their game properly to the NFL. Kerrigan and Franklin might lack the change-of-direction ability for their positions and small-school players are always a gamble.
NFC North
Minnesota Vikings (6-10)- Julio Jones- WR- Alabama, Derick Sherrod- OT- Mississippi State
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: A
Two long-term starters is a great way to use two draft picks, right? Jones is one of the top players in this draft and Sherrod is a top three offensive tackle.
Detroit Lions (6-10)- J.J. Watt- DE- Wisconsin, Mason Foster- LB- Washington, Ras-I Dowling- CB- Virgina
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: C+
How big of an impact is Watt going to make in a 4-3 scheme? Foster is somewhat of a reach there. Dowling is solid, but you never know if an injury will pop up. More, though, it’s surprising to not see Detroit get a lineman. I know Lions fans like Jeff Backus, but he’s getting up there in age.
Chicago Bears (11-5)- Danny Watkins- G- Baylor, Ben Ijalana- OT- Villanova, Josh Thomas- CB- Buffalo
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: C+
Watkins is a good pickup, though slightly early here. I’m not sure about the other two. Does Ijalana have the game to translate to NFL tackle? More so, how long will it take for him to be a factor in the pros? Thomas is more of a fifth- or sixth-round talent.
Green Bay Packers (10-6)- Adrian Clayborn- DE- Iowa, Dontay Moch- OLB- Nevada, Chris Hairston- OT- Clemson
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B
Clayborn isn’t flashy, but Green Bay would be able to immediately plug him into their line rotation. I don’t like the Moch because he’s so raw. Green Bay already seems to have two of those kinds of linebackers in Frank Zombo and Erik Walden (whom I like a lot). Hairston should be dependable if he can find the playing time.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals (5-11)- Patrick Peterson- CB- LSU, Jake Locker- QB- Washington, Chris Carter- OLB- Fresno State
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B+
If Arizona doesn’t get Von Miller or one of the quarterbacks, they’d have to hope for this scenario. The only problem drafting Locker, though, is that they’d need to get a free agent quarterback to mentor him. If the Marc Bulger rumors are true, that could be a great team-up. The grade would be higher, but Carter is also a developmental player.
San Francisco 49ers (6-10)- Robert Quinn- OLB/DE- North Carolina, Christian Ballard- DE/DT- Iowa, Kenrick Ellis- NT- Hampton
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B
Much like San Francisco figuring out its offensive line last year, this would immediately help the team’s defensive front seven. Three likely starters is always a good thing. So why a B? No quarterback. Unless Jim Harbaugh is a miracle worker, Alex Smith is not the answer.
St. Louis Rams (7-9)- Aldon Smith- DE/OLB- Missouri, Randall Cobb- WR- Kentucky, Kendall Hunter- RB- Oklahoma State
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade B-
Adding Smith is a good move, but I’m not sure about the rest of the draft. St. Louis needs a defensive tackle badly. The Rams also need a bigger receiver who can make an impact on the outside and in the red zone. As good as Cobb is, that’s not who he is.
Seattle Seahawks (7-9)- Ryan Mallett- QB- Arkansas, Allen Bailey- DT/DE- Miami
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B
Here’s another situation with more than one risky selection. Bailey looks the part, but doesn’t always play up to his potential. How he’d do in Seattle’s scheme is unknown. He’s good when playing inside, but wants to work to the outside in the NFL. Mallett is one of the greater mysteries of this draft. The talent is there, obviously. The mentality may not be.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys (6-10)- Tyron Smith- OT- USC, Rahim Moore- S- UCLA, Andrew Jackson- G- Fresno State
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: A
Even though the cornerback position isn’t addressed, this is the draft that Dallas needs. If the team truly considers Tony Romo the future at quarterback, they need to protect him.
Washington Redskins (6-10)- A.J. Green- WR- Georgia, Christian Ponder- QB- Florida State
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: A-
This would represent Washington hitting the reset switch on offense. Green would be a tremendous value pick and Ponder has the look of a good NFL starting quarterback. The question is whether or not Mike Shanahan, at almost 60, has the time to start over on offense with young talent.
New York Giants(10-6)- Gabe Carimi- OT- Wisconsin, Quan Sturdivant- LB- North Carolina, John Moffitt- G- Wisconsin
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: A+
I really like the idea of taking offensive linemen who are that good who played together. Sturdivant is an underrated talent who was outshined at North Carolina by his more highly touted teammates.
Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)- Jimmy Smith- CB- Colorado, Marcus Cannon- G- TCU, Kelvin Sheppard- LB- LSU
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade:B+
This grade is dependent on Smith not being a bonehead and Cannon not eating his way out of the league. Both could be impact players for the Eagles unless they flame out.
AFC West
Denver Broncos (4-12)- Marcell Dareus- DT- Alabama, Kyle Rudolph-TE-Notre Dame, Aaron Williams- CB/S- Texas, Drake Nevis- DT- LSU
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: A
This is the draft the Broncos need. It gives them two starters on the defensive line, a good developmental secondary piece and a playmaker on the offense.
San Diego Chargers (9-7)- Muhammad Wilkerson- DE/DT- Temple, Jon Baldwin- WR- Pittsburgh, Marcus Gilbert- OT- Florida, Marcus Gilchrist- DB- Clemson, Virgel Green- TE- Nevada
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: A
The Chargers have quite a few holes to fill, and that’s what this draft class would do. Wilkerson is what they need on the line. Baldwin is similar to the receivers they have. Gilchrist is a player to watch in this draft. He could develop into something really good.
Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)- Mike Pouncey- G/C- Florida, Torrey Smith- WR- Maryland Terrell McClain- DL- South Florida
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B+
The only knock on this mock is that the Chiefs didn’t add a nose tackle. Smith would be a great compliment opposite Dwayne Bowe and give them insurance if he leaves after the 2011 season. Pouncey could be a solid center as long as he doesn’t have issues snapping the ball.
Oakland Raiders- Clint Boling- G- Georgia, DeMarcus Van Dyke- CB- Miami
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: D
There’s not much about Boling to be excited about. Van Dyke fits the mold of Raiders picks. Unfortunately, he’s little more than a dime corner in the NFL.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills (4-12)- Von Miller- OLB- Texas A&M, Cameron Heyward- DT/DE- Ohio State, Colin Kaepernick- QB- Nevada
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: A+
If the Bills can get Jake Locker in round two or Kaepernick in round three, they’ll get a good grade. Miller should be a good pass rusher at the next level and Heyward is an incredible value choice in the second round.
New England Patriots (from Oakland 8-8)- Cameron Jordan- DE/DT- California, Mikel Leshore- RB- Illinois, Brooks Reed- OLB- Arizona, Leonard Hankerson- WR- Miami, William Rackley- G- Leigh, Quinton Carter- S- Oklahoma
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: A
Of all the picks done in this three-round mock, the Patriots selections seem the mostly likely to actually happen. New England could get four starters out of this group.
Miami Dolphins (7-9)- Mark Ingram- RB- Alabama, Stefen Wisniewski- G/C- Penn State
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: A
I don’t get the talk about Ingram falling down draft boards. Even if he’s not 100 percent as a rookie, he’ll get there eventually. You can’t coach his vision. Wisniewski is the kind of interior lineman who will start for a decade.
New York Jets (11-5)- Phil Taylor- NT- Baylor, Tandon Doss- WR- Indiana
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B+
The Jets have to hope Taylor drops to them, and it’s possible. Doss will be a reliable but probably unspectacular receiver in the NFL. His selection would probably also mean Braylon Edwards is out in New York.
AFC North
Cleveland Browns (5-11)- Da'Quan Bowers- DE- Clemson, Akeem Ayers- LB- UCLA, Jarvis Jenkins- DT- Clemson
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B
This grade could improve if Bowers’ knee issues are unfounded. The Browns need a lot of help defensive line and would get two good players in this scenario. It would be hard to see them passing on a speed receiver in the first three rounds, though.
Cincinnati Bengals (4-12)- Blaine Gabbert- QB- Missouri, Ryan Williams-RB- Virginia Tech, Jaiquawn Jarrett- S- Temple
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B
What happens if the Bengals draft a quarterback in the first round and Carson Palmer decides he’s not retired? Williams is a good choice in the second round. No one is really talking about the Bengals needing a running back.
Baltimore Ravens (12-4)- Nate Solder- OT- Colorado, Titus Young- WR- Boise State, Johnny Patrick- CB- Louisville
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: A
This wouldn’t be fair. The Ravens get the big left tackle to allow Michael Oher to go back on the right side. They get the speed receiver they don’t have. They get a good cornerback who could probably start for them.
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)- Steven Paea- DT- Oregon State, Jah Reid- OT- UCF, Austin Pettis- WR- Boise State
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B-
The first two are solid players who would fit the Steelers pretty well, but probably never be stars. Pettis doesn’t really fit the mold of what they like in wide receivers, though. Two offensive linemen for Pittsburgh in the first three rounds wouldn’t be a shock.
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)- Justin Houston- DE/OLB- Georgia, Martez Wilson- LB- Illinois, Curtis Brown- CB- Texas
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: C
The Jaguars have a bunch of linebackers, just not many good ones. Still, the team has big-time needs at wide receiver and arguably quarterback. To not address either position early may not bode well for the Jaguars.
Indianapolis Colts (10-6)- Anthony Castonzo- OT- Boston College, Marvin Austin- DT- North Carolina, DeMarcus Love- G/T- Arkansas
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B
This grade gets pushed back based on the third pick. The first two are fine. I’m just not sure Indianapolis can get out of the first three rounds without taking a safety somewhere in there.
Houston Texans (6-10)- Prince Amukamara- CB- Nebraska, Jabaal Sheard- OLB/DE- Pittsburgh, Jerrell Jernigan- WR- Troy
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B+ The Amukamara pick is an excellent one, though I’m not sure he’ll be around by the 11th pick. Sheard and Jernigan are solid players.
Tennessee Titans (6-10)- Nick Fairley- DT- Auburn, Andy Dalton- QB- TCU, Colin McCarthy- LB- Miami
- Dan Kadar’s Grade/Thoughts:
Grade: B-
If there is a mock trend, it’s Tennessee going with Fairley in the first and Dalton in the second. How many of you have something different? I’ve never been as high on Dalton as others, and view him more as a third-round player. Can he lead a team to a Super Bowl? As for Fairley, we know at this point that he’ll either be a star or bust big time. It would be interesting to see Mike Munchak coach him.
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