Mel Keipers Re-Grade

 Green Bay Packers (Spring grade: A)
I said I loved what this team did with the first two picks, and I’ll stand by that. They moved to a 3-4, grabbed two players in B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews that fit Dom Capers’ system and have made huge gains. Matthews is a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate. Brad Jones is a steal in the seventh round. On the whole, four big-time contributors out of one draft on a playoff-caliber team is a lot.
Current grade: A

 New York Jets (Spring grade: A-)
They had only three picks, but I had them high because they moved decisively and landed a guy I thought we be their franchise QB. Mark Sanchez has had his struggles, but there’s no question this is his team — and there’s massive value in that. Shonn Greene has been good, and looks like a fit to follow Thomas Jones as the feature back. The future is bright in N.Y., and this draft is a reason. Grade drops just a tad: good picks, really low volume.
Current grade: B+

 Arizona Cardinals (Spring grade: B+)
Beanie Wells is a steal at the 31st pick, and has proven he’s exactly the guy they needed. I also think LaRod Stephens-Howling is a late steal, and Greg Toler, whom they got in the third round, could develop because he was really raw. When you’re in the Super Bowl, picking this late and you add a feature player and some quality depth already, you’ve done a decent job.
Current grade: B

 Buffalo Bills (Spring grade: B+)
No question Aaron Maybin has underperformed after a late start. Oddly, though, erase the disappointment of that pick and this group looks good. Eric Wood started before he was hurt, and Andy LeVitre is starting. Jairus Byrd looks like a good one. Shawn Nelson is starting. Nic Harris could develop. I’ll drop the grade because Maybin has disappointed, but depth is there, and that many starts out of any group is impressive.
Current Grade: B

Houston Texans (Spring grade B+)
This is another grade I think should stick. Brian Cushing in Round 1 has a good chance at Defensive Rookie of the Year, whereas Connor Barwin certainly needs to show them more, and I thought he’d see more of the field. I think Glover Quin should turn out well. Not amazing, but you get a guy who is already a centerpiece on defense and the draft looks good. Add a couple more guys that should contribute, and they should do pretty well.
Current grade: B+

 New England Patriots (Spring grade: B+)
Impressive draft, especially since they’ve positioned themselves beautifully for this season. They need D-lineman and this draft is loaded; they have three second-round picks. (They also have a future first rounder for Richard Seymour). What’s more, from this draft they have a bunch of guys already playing - and for a team that’s playoff-bound. Patrick Chung, Ron Brace and Sebastian Vollmer are solid picks and playing early. Then you get a seventh-round steal in Julian Edelman.
Current grade: A

[+] EnlargeDerick Hingle/Icon SMI
Ultimately, Stafford at No. 1 should turn out to be the real deal.

 San Francisco 49ers (Spring grade: B+)
It didn’t look like they could keep this grade early, but Michael Crabtree is going to be a star. Bonus points for getting him at No. 10. I know Glen Coffee hasn’t been big, but he’s a young back in limited duty. I think he still has a chance. Considering they selected five of seven players in the fifth round and beyond, they did pretty well. Crabtree’s quick learning-curve keeps them holding steady. If he’d stayed out, this would be a C.
Current grade: A-

Atlanta Falcons (Spring grade: B+)
This grade is incomplete that could become an F. Both Peria Jerry and William Moore were picks I really liked, and injuries have forced them both out. From there, some backups, but no real impact thus far. You hope those two come back.
Current grade: Incomplete

 Baltimore Ravens (Spring grade: B)
The Ravens may have done ever better than I guessed. I pointed to Michael Oher as a versatile tackle, and while he’s not on the left side, he’s been solid on the right. And while it’s not quite the same Ravens’ defense it has been, they landed two young starters in Paul Kruger and Lardarius Webb. Jason Phillips had a knee injury but has potential. Bottom line: three starters for a playoff team from your first three picks, and starting at No. 23. Good draft.
Current grade: A-

Chicago Bears (Spring grade: B)
I was kind to the Bears because they didn’t pick until Round 3 — part of the Jay Cutler deal — and they’ll get to do it again next year. Looking back, they have two of the top late-round finds in Al Afalava and Johnny Knox, but overall, it was weak. Afalava is good, but the Bears may have started him early out of necessity. What’s more, a potentially disastrous Gaines Adams trade (combined with Cutler’s) has them skipping the action until Round 3 again in 2010.
Current grade: C+

Cincinnati Bengals (Spring grade: B)
Andre Smith is still an incomplete, but Rey Maualuga looks like a steal in Round 2 on a greatly improved defense. Morgan Trent and Bernard Scott have both stuck and contributed out of Round 6, which is impressive. If Smith comes along, this could be an A-, but even if he’s no star, they added solid depth to a deepening roster. A good draft.
Current grade: B+

New York Giants (Spring grade: B)
The Giants had an odd draft in some ways. They got Hakeem Nicks, who appears to be a solid pick, but other WRs have stepped up on that roster. Elsewhere, they added depth, but there haven’t been opportunities. They might regret not getting a secondary steal with their picks in Round 6 (DeAndre Wright) or Round 7 (Stoney Woodson), but you don’t punish a team for not finding stars late as much as you reward them when it does. You just can’t expect first-year contributions in that range.
Current grade: B-

 Pittsburgh Steelers (Spring grade: B)
I said then I loved Mike Wallace’s speed for this WR corp, and he’s been a revelation. Definitely a get for the Steelers. We know they had to pick late, and there’s nothing to say that Evander Hood in Round 1 was a miss. In all, they found enough guys to stick on a Super Bowl team while picking late, and a possible star in Wallace. That’s not bad at all.
Current grade: B+

Seattle Seahawks (Spring grade: B)
I disagreed with the Aaron Curry pick, but understood it. He hasn’t been a breakthrough, but he’s been on the field from Day 1, and it’s not easy to step into their system and be a star from the get-go. They believed Max Unger could step right in, and he has. Deon Butler is a good player behind more seasoned WRs. In all, this is on Curry. If he becomes a star, the grade can rise, but for now, it is what we thought it might be.
Current grade: B

Getty Images
Orakpo has been a menace on D for the Skins in his rookie year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Spring grade: B)
I thought the Bucs made a mistake to trade up for Josh Freeman, but they believe they have their guy now. That’s all you can ask for a Round 1 quarterback pick, circumstances aside. Considering Freeman was more of a physical tools guy, that he’s shown promise this early is in some ways impressive. I like both Kyle Moore and Roy Miller. The real find is Sammie Stroughter in the seventh round. So the season was a wreck, but they got some players.
Current grade: B+

 Cleveland Browns (Spring grade: B)
Alex Mack was a good first-round pick, no surprise. Round 2 is a mix. Brian Robiskie was supposed to be pro-ready and wasn’t, Mohamed Massoquoi I saw as more of an enigma (but if he holds onto the ball, he’s a real talent). Some good value with their LB picks, and James Davis was a major find late until he got hurt. I think the grade stays the same, but improvement could raise it.
Current grade: B

Detroit Lions (Spring grade: B-)
Detroit’s grade goes up, just forget the record. That’s because the Lions went searching for a franchise QB — when some previous picks of Jr. QBs at No. 1 overall have been disasters - and they found what I think is a big-time player. Matthew Stafford is the real deal. Same with Brandon Pettigrew; he’s big-time. Same with Louis Delmas. No, it doesn’t flatter the roster that the rookies stand out so much, but nailing your top three and landing starting-level talent with guys such as DeAndre Levy and Aaron Brown just adds.
Current grade: A

 Philadelphia Eagles (Spring grade: B-)
I think Philly moves up. This team wanted offensive weapons, and Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy already frighten defenses. The Eagles have been superb in finding weapons — and even were able to trade a sixth-round pick (Brandon Gibson) to the Rams to fill a defensive need. Gibson has been productive. Not remarkable late, but two home runs for a playoff team is impressive. This grade could rise.
Current grade: B+

 Indianapolis Colts (Spring grade: C+)
Austin Collie is a good find in the fourth round, but he’s also a guy who may not exist without Peyton Manning; you just don’t know how much of what he does is Manning’s doing. Donald Brown’s grade is incomplete, due to injuries. The team didn’t have major needs, but it has had nothing resembling a breakthrough either.
Current grade: C-

Jacksonville Jaguars (Spring grade: C+)
I understood the Eugene Monroe pick and thought Eben Britton was a reach. I also thought Derek Cox was a reach, and was convinced the later rounds were good. But those early picks have panned out. Each of the guys mentioned are starters, and the later picks add depth. Will Britton and Monroe be stars? There’s work to be done, but if filling needs is the goal, objectives were met.
Current grade: B

 Minnesota Vikings (Spring grade: C+)
Forgotten in the shadow of top pick Percy Harvin is that Phil Loadholt has been a starter on a good offensive line from the get-go. That’s a good pick. While Harvin has been a revelation, his health and durability remains a concern — if in a different form. Jasper Brinkley has played, but only as a necessity after E.J. Henderson was hurt. I think the draft was better than expected, but some of the same questions remain, really. If Harvin bounces back, the grade could rise.
Current grade: B

 Tennessee Titans (Spring grade: C+)
There’s not a hecukva lot to say about this group. Kenny Britt has held his own, and you have some guys that will stick, but in terms of impact, it’s pretty light. I loved the Jared Cook selection, but he’s been out of the offensive equation. You hope to see more.
Current grade: C-

 Washington Redskins (Spring grade: C+)
The Redskins’ draft was extremely top-heavy. Brian Orakpo looks like a star, which will allow the grade to stick. But you get no real offensive contribution at all unless Marko Mitchell develops. Anything else? Did we mention how good Orakpo is?
Current grade: C+

[+] EnlargeKirby Lee/US Presswire
This pick is a complete head-scratcher.

 Carolina Panthers (Spring grade: C)
The worst thing about this draft wasn’t the pick of Everette Brown by itself — but that they gave up this year’s Round 1 pick to get him. When production from a Round 7 pick (Captain Munnerlyn) is a redeemer, it wasn’t a great draft. Sherrod Martin has worked out, but to lose a first-round pick from any component of this haul really hurts. Now, the team needs to draft a QB, and will have to wait until the top 3-5 are off the board in 2010.
Current grade: D+

 Denver Broncos (Spring grade: C)
Knowshon Moreno was a curious pick, and he’s really only been productive because they’ve insisted on giving him carries. You don’t see the star potential you want out of a first-round RB. I questioned the trade of a future first rounder for Alphonso Smith then — and it looks worse now. Not a bad draft, but not at all an impactful one.
Current grade: C

 New Orleans Saints (Spring grade: C)
Well, you wouldn’t know it by their record. But when a draft class has a huge impact in the first season, you likely have problems. Even by those standards, this class looks bad. I miscalculated on Malcolm Jenkins. His future may be at safety by necessity. A plus? They did get a punter.
Spring grade: D+

 St. Louis Rams (Spring grade: C)
I’ll improve the Rams’ grade a little. I said then they should have taken Mark Sanchez, but they opted to try to protect Mark Bulger’s backside one more season. Jason Smith hasn’t been a breakthrough, but at least he’s starting on the right side - and should develop further. Where they win is with James Laurinaitis in Round 2. He has been simply excellent. They were able to trade Will Weatherspoon for a WR. Not much else. If they had drafted Sanchez, I’d have them much higher.
Current grade: C+/B

 San Diego Chargers (Spring grade: C+)
The pick of Larry English was a good one to this point. The roster situation in San Diego didn’t have serious holes, so they went with a guy they felt they could develop and be used for immediate depth. They get a starting guard with Louis Vazquez in the third round, and you really have to credit their personnel folks with the pick of Kevin Ellison in Round 6. That’s a late steal that bumps up the grade.
Current grade: B

 Kansas City Chiefs (Spring grade: C-)
I called the Tyson Jackson pick a reach at the time - and it still seems that way. Classic case of trying so hard to find the player that fits your system, but you end up not trading down and getting lower value based on the position. Jackson has disappointed. They don’t get a single serious contributor to a weak roster. Well, save for Mr. Irrelevant, Ryan Succop, who handles the kicking. No movement, which isn’t a good thing.
Current grade: C

 Miami Dolphins (Spring grade: C-)
You get two starting corners and you should be happy, right? Well, in Vontae Davis and Sean Smith (Rounds 1 and 3, respectively) Miami gets good players with low ceilings. The real disappointment that lingers is the Pat White pick at No. 44. I said then he had to play WR for this to be of any value, and they appear no closer to solving the issue. You can still land serious impact at that draft spot, and this could be a total waste based on their direction now. Oddly, Hartline bumps this, as he may be a decent late value.
Current grade: B-

 Dallas Cowboys (Spring grade: D)
It was going to be hard to get any value picking so late (first pick was No. 69) and Dallas hit on about three of 12 total picks in my estimation. The Cowboys knew Victor Butler could rush the passer, and he’s shown a couple flashes. They got a kick-off weapon in David Buehler. Maybe they deserve a small bump for grabbing John Phillips. You have to credit their personnel people for finding value in Round 6, as he could be a real player. I still think they reached on their first two picks, and that can’t happen when you don’t pick until Round 3. Maybe this improves if Butler and Jason Williams develop.
Current grade: D+

 Oakland Raiders (Spring grade: D)
The pick of Darrius Heyward-Bey was — as I said then - a head-scratcher. That both Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin were available, it looks worse. That’s because Heyward-Bey’s issues now are the same ones I stressed on draft day: he drops balls, he doesn’t have a great body of work, he may not play as fast as he ran in Indy. The Michael Mitchell pick is still a puzzler. Funny thing is, if they take Crabtree at No. 7, the Raiders are huge winners at WR, because they got Louis Murphy in Round 4. Then this draft is maybe a B grade. As it is, they almost look better drafting in reverse. Murphy is the only thing that keeps them from failing completely. But a fourth-round pick that makes up for the seventh overall is never a good thing.
Current grade: D

He has certain teams that can do no right and others who he is constantly hunping thier leg like an annoying little poodle.I grade Kiper as an E+ douche bag