2010 NFL Draft: NFC Central Grades
ByChicago
Picks: (3) #75 Major Wright S, (4) #109 Corey Wootton DE, (5) #141 Joshua Moore CB, (6) #181 Dan LeFevour QB, (7) #218 J’marcus Webb OT
Overview: Chicago didn’t have a plethora of picks but they got value with many of them. Wright is athletic enough to have been considered as a second round selection by some at points in his career and the same can be said for Wootton. LeFevour can learn under Jay Cutler and Mike Matrz’s offense might fit his athleticism perfectly.
Grade: B-
Detroit
Picks: (1) #2 Ndamukong Suh DT, (1) #30 Jahvid Best RB, (3) #66 Amari Spievey CB, (4) #128 Jason Fox OT, (7) #213 Willie Young DE, (7) #255 Tim Toone WR
Overview: The Lions had one of the best Drafts in the NFL. Suh will be a staple in their defense for the next decade and trading up to get Best was a brilliant move. Best brings athleticism and excitement that nobody on their current roster gives them. Spievey gives them athleticism at corner and possibly in the return game. Fox never lived up to the hype at Miami but has great size and length. The Lions addressed many of their issues through the Draft which is what they will have to do in order to become a factor in the league from now on.
Grade: A-
Green Bay
Picks: (1) #23 Bryan Bulaga OT, (2) #56 Michael Neal DT, (3) #71 Morgan Burnett S, (5) #154 Andrew Quarless TE, (5) #169 Marshall Newhouse OG, (6) #193 James Starks RB, (7) #230 C.J. Wilson DE
Overview: Aaron Rodgers was the happiest man in the room when the Packers were able to get Bulaga at such a premium price. Bulaga doesn’t have as much experience as the other big name tackles that went before him in the Draft but he does have a ton of athleticism and great footwork that can be coached into a Pro Bowl-type player. Burnett will help with defensive depth immediately while Starks could be one of the biggest steals in this year’s class. 2010 will be his first full season off a torn ACL but if the Packers are patient they could have another game-changing back on their hands.
Grade: B
Minnesota
Picks: (2) #34 Chris Cook CB, (2) #51 Toby Gerhart RB, (4) #100 Everson Griffen DE, (5) #161 Chris DeGeare OG, (5) #167 Nathan Triplett ILB, (6) #199 Joe Webb WR, (7) #214 Mickey Shuler TE, (7) #237 Ryan D’Imperio
Overview: The Vikings may have reached a little bit on Cook but they got great value with Gerhart and Griffen. Gerhart will be an immediate impact in the backfield with Adrian Peterson next season and should give the Vikings insurance in case anything was to happen with Peterson. Griffen is an athletic freak that can cause problems for opposition in certain packages, opposite Jared Allen. The top three picks aren’t fantastic by themselves but when you put them with Minnesota’s cast of stars they become impact personnel.
