I comprised my list of eligible players for the NFL draft and gave them statistical values based on other pro scouts and guru's, like Mike Mayock, Gil Brandt, and Todd McShay. I also factored in things such as awards won, All-American Team status, etc., and used that value to have a better understanding of how good a player is, a consensus if you will.
For the ratings a team receives I will be using helmets instead of stars and they mean the following:
5 Helmets: Definate Playoff team/SuperBowl contender
4 Helmets: High Playoff probability
3 Helmets: Playoffs aren't entirely out of question
2 Helmets: Slim to no playoff hope
1 Helmet: This team is now on the clock for the 2014 NFL Draft.
For Baltimore and Arizona, click here.
For Buffalo and Atlanta, click here.
For Cincinnati and Carolina, click here.
And now for two teams known for grinding it out...
Cleveland Browns
2012 Review:
Record: 5-11-0, Finished 4th in AFC North Division
Scored 302 points (18.9/g), 24th of 32 in the NFL.
Allowed 368 points (23.0/g), 19th.
Differential of -66 points (-4.1/g), 24th.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +3 (0.2/g), 12th.
Coached by Pat Shurmur
Offensive Coordinator: Brad Childress
Defensive Coordinator: Dick Jauron
Other Notable Asst.: Gil Haskell (Senior Advisor)
Special Note:
On August 2, team owner Randy Lerner sold the controlling interest of the Browns to Tennessee businessman Jimmy Haslam. Haslam is the owner of Pilot Flying J travel centers and was previously a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The amount of the sale was in excess of US $1 billion
Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3[a] | Trent Richardson | RB | Alabama |
22[b] | Brandon Weeden | QB | Oklahoma State | |
2 | 37 | Mitchell Schwartz | T | California |
3 | 87[c] | John Hughes | DT | Cincinnati |
4 | 100 | Travis Benjamin | WR | Miami (FL) |
120[c] | James-Michael Johnson | LB | Nevada | |
5 | 160[d] | Ryan Miller | G | Colorado |
6[e] | 204[f] | Emmanuel Acho | LB | Texas |
205[f] | Billy Winn | DT | Boise State | |
7 | 245[f] | Trevin Wade | CB | Arizona |
247[f] | Brad Smelley | FB | Alabama |
- ^[a] On Draft Day, The Browns acquired the Minnesota Vikings' first-round pick (No. 3) for their own first- (No. 4), fourth- (No. 118), fifth- (No. 139) and seventh- (No. 211) round selections.
- ^[b] The Browns acquired the Atlanta Falcons' 2012 first- (No. 22) and fourth- (No. 118, traded to Minnesota) round selections and 2011 first-, second-, and fourth-round selections for Cleveland's 2011 first-round selection.
- ^[c] The Browns traded their third-round pick (No. 67) to the Denver Broncos for their third- (No. 87) and fourth- (No. 120) round picks picks.
- ^[d] The Browns acquired the Denver Broncos' fifth-round selection, as well as a 2011 sixth-round selection and RB Peyton Hillis in exchange for QB Brady Quinn during the 2010 offseason.[29]
- ^[e] Although the Browns have two sixth-round selections, they traded their original selection in this round to the Minnesota Vikings for DE Jayme Mitchell.[29]
- ^[f] Compensatory selection[29]
Undrafted Free Agents
Pos | Player | College | Signed | Released |
---|---|---|---|---|
CB | Mike Allen | James Madison | April 30[30] | May 30[31] |
G | Matt Cleveland | Idaho | April 30 [30] | August 26[32] |
WR | Josh Cooper | Oklahoma State | April 30[30] | August 31[33] |
CB | Emanuel Davis | East Carolina | April 30[30] | August 26[32] |
LB | JoJo Dickson | Idaho | May 14[34] | August 26[32] |
C | Garth Gerhart | Arizona State | April 30[30] | August 31[33] |
S | Tashaun Gipson | Wyoming | April 30[30] | |
DE | William Green | Florida | April 30[30] | August 31[33] |
WR | Antwuan Reed | Pittsburgh | April 30[30] | August 26[32] |
WR | Bert Reed | Florida State | April 30[30] | August 26[32] |
WR | Jermaine Saffold | Missouri State | April 30[30] | August 26[32] |
G | J.B. Shugarts | Ohio State | April 30[30] | August 31[33] |
LB | Andrew Sweat | Ohio State | April 30[30] | May 14[23][35] |
RB | Adonis Thomas | Toledo | May 14[34] | August 31[33] |
Supplemental Draft
On July 12, 2012, the Browns selected WR Josh Gordon of Baylor with a second round pick in the supplemental draft. The Browns will forfeit their second round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.[36] Gordon became only the second player drafted by the Browns in the supplemental draft, the other being QB Bernie Kosar in 1985.2013 Preview:
Coached by Rob Chudzinski
Offensive Coordinator: Norv Turner
Defensive Coordinator: Ray Horton
Other Notable Asst.: Ken Flajole (Inside Linebackers) and Gil Haskell (Senior Advisor)
2013 Draft with DT's Grades:
Team | Overall | Round | Round Pick | Player | Position | School | Grade |
Browns | 6 | 1 | 6 | Barkevious Mingo | OLB | LSU | 171.32 | Average= | 87.42 |
Browns | 68 | 3 | 6 | Leon McFadden | CB | San Diego State | 94.39 | ||
Browns (from Browns through 49ers) | 175 | 6 | 7 | Jamoris Slaughter | SS | Notre Dame | 28.46 | ||
Browns (from Dolphins ) | 217 | 7 | 11 | Armonty Bryant | OLB | East Central | 64.05 | ||
Browns (from Bengals through 49ers) | 227 | 7 | 21 | Garrett Gilkey | OT | Chadron State | 78.89 |
2013 Undrafted Rookies:
Eastern Kentucky OT Aaron Adams; Arkansas State QB Ryan Aplin; Northern Illinois WR Perez Ashford; Stephan F Austin CB Josh Aubrey; Notre Dame C Braxston Cave; Youngstown State RB Jamaine Cook; Central Arkansas WR Dominique Croom; Iowa WR Keenan Davis; UTEP WR Michael Edwards; Hawaii DE Paipai Falemalu; LSU OT Chris Faulk; Florida International OG Caylin Hauptmann; Eastern Michigan FB Garrett Hoskins; Utah DT Dave Kruger; Wisconsin-Platteville SS Ryan McWethy; Stephen F. Austin WR Cordell Roberson; Illinois DE Justin Staples; Kansas State TE Travis Tannahill; Delaware SS Ricky Tunstall; Temple OT Martin Wallace
DT's Draft Grade: C
Notable Free Agents Lost:
Scott Fujita, LB, Free Agent
Chris Gocong, LB, Free Agent
Frostee Rucker, DE, Arizona
Alex Smith, TE, Cincinnati
Phil Dawson, K, San Francisco
Josh Cribbs, WR, Oakland
Benjamin Watson, TE, New Orleans
Notable Free Agents Acquired:
Paul Kruger, LB, Baltimore
What to Watch for in 2013:
This team's record is not a true indicator of how well they played last year. Bill Parcell's once said "You are what your record says you are", however in Cleveland's case, they lost 5 games by a touchdown or less and another 2 games by 10 points or less; pending a play or two each of those games going Cleveland's way, this team could have stacked another 7 W's in the win column and been a serious play-off team possibly with the bye and home-field advantage. Looking forward to 2013; Barkevious "Kiki" Mingo drafted sixth overall under new general manager Michael Lombardi and company should be very interesting to watch. He was the 3rd highest outside linebacker on my board behind Jarvis Jones and Dion Jordan. This team is a ground and pound offense behind sophomores at running back Trent Richardson, quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Josh Gordon make up an aerial attack that still leaves something to be desired. The defense last year kept this team in most games and should do the same this year with improvements through free agency and the draft. Watch for Cleveland to make a push in their division with Pittsburgh losing key components this non-playing season. Members of the Dog Pound should never give up hope as long as Cleveland has a team.
Rating for 2013 NFL Season:
3 Helmets out of 5.
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Chicago Bears
Can anyone replace this legend? |
Scored 375 points (23.4/g), 16th of 32 in the NFL.
Allowed 277 points (17.3/g), 3rd.
Differential of 98 points (6.1/g), 6th.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +20 (1.2/g), 2nd.
Coached by Lovie Smith
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Tice
Defensive Coordinator: Rod Marinelli
Other Notable Asst.: Bob Babich (Linebackers) and Jeremy Bates (Quarterbacks)
2012 Draft Review:
Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 19 | Shea McClellin | Defensive end | Boise State |
2 | 45 | Alshon Jeffery | Wide receiver | South Carolina |
3 | 79 | Brandon Hardin | Safety | Oregon State |
4 | 111 | Evan Rodriguez | Fullback/Tight End | Temple |
6 | 184 | Isaiah Frey | Cornerback | Nevada |
7 | 220 | Greg McCoy | Cornerback/Kick Returner | TCU |
Round | Overall | Team | Received |
---|---|---|---|
2 | 50 | to St. Louis Rams | St. Louis's second round pick (45th overall) |
5 | 150 |
2013Outlook:
Now Coached by Marc Trestman
Offensive Coordinator: Aaron Kromer
Defensive Coordinator: Mel Tucker
2013 Draft with DT's Grades:
Team | Overall | Round | Round Pick | Player | Position | School | Grade |
Bears | 20 | 1 | 20 | Kyle Long | OG | Oregon | 130.02 | Average= | 107.06 |
Bears | 50 | 2 | 18 | Jon Bostic | ILB | Florida | 101.34 | ||
Bears | 117 | 4 | 20 | Khaseem Greene | OLB | Rutgers | 145.35 | ||
Bears (from Falcons) | 163 | 5 | 30 | Jordan Mills | OT | Louisiana Tech | 93.49 | ||
Bears | 188 | 6 | 20 | Cornelius Washington | DE | Georgia | 92.95 | ||
Bears (from Falcons) | 236 | 7 | 30 | Marquess Wilson | WR | Washington State | 79.21 |
2013 Undrafted Rookies:
LSU RB Michael Ford; Rutgers WR Mark Harrison; Oklahoma CB Demontre Hurst; Iowa State WR Josh Lenz; LSU C P.J. Lonergan; Montana State DT Zach Minter; Memphis WR Marcus Rucker; Georgia Southern DT Brent Russell; Oklahoma P Tress Way; N.C. State CB Curtis Wilson
DT's Draft Grade: B
Notable Free Agents Lost:
Brian Urlacher, ILB, Retirement
Andre Gurode, C, Oakland
Notable Free Agent Acquisitions:
Leonard Pope, TE from Pittsburgh
Martellus Bennett, TE from NY Giants
Tom Zbikowski, S from Indianapolis
D.J. Williams, LB from Denver
Sedrick Ellis, DE from New Orleans
Jermon Bushrod, T from New Orleans
What to Watch For:
With the retirement of Brian Urlacher the Bears defense now has to prove they can go out and win without
him. The coaching change to Marc Trestman from longtime coach Lovie Smith will also be interesting to watch. Rookie Kyle Long should bring some intensity to this offensive line which time will tell if it helps keep Cutler upright or not. Brandon Marshall, Jay Cutler and Matt Forte should remain solid options for most fantasy football leagues with the exception being Cutler unless you can get him in later rounds. Julius Peppers, Henry Melton and Lance "Bam Bam" Briggs still anchor this defense with Charles "Peanut" Tillman being one of the better corners in the league. The Bears drafted Bostic and Greene with consecutive picks and clearly showed they understand the void left by Urlacher's departure. Injuries usually do this team in as well, either at RB, offensive line, or on defense. Did this team make enough moves in the non-playing season to compete with Minnesota and Green Bay for the NFC North?
Rating for 2013 NFL Season: 3 Helmets out of 5.
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Review of 8 teams Previewed thus far by Draft Grades:
Overall | Team | Average | Grade |
6 | Cardinals | 61.81 | A- |
9 | Panthers | 60.30 | A- |
11 | Bengals | 57.04 | B+ |
13 | Bills | 55.16 | B+ |
15 | Bears | 53.53 | B |
18 | Ravens | 52.78 | B |
25 | Falcons | 49.04 | C+ |
30 | Browns | 43.71 | C |