2014 NFL Draft Grades: NFC West

It's hard to imagine that back in 2010 the NFC West was the butt of jokes throughout the league for having a team with a losing record win the division. Not any more. The Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are the two best teams in the NFL, and Seattle capped off their 2013 season with a rout of Denver to win their first Super Bowl title. Arizona narrowly missed the playoffs and St. Louis has one of the most talented rosters in the league and all four teams only seem to get better. Arizona Cardinals: B- Best Pick: Deone Bucannon Late Round Sleeper: Logan Thomas The Cardinals added to a tough defense with the hard hitting Deone Bucannon in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, and then picked up Kareem Martin to the defensive line rotation in Round 3. The offense got a boost with the selection of Troy Niklas, the big tight end in Round 2 and the small but speedy John Brown to play the slot receiver in Round 4. A late round sleeper pick could be Logan Thomas, who will have time to learn the pro game at quarterback and should eventually replace Carson Palmer at quarterback for Arizona. San Francisco 49ers: A Best Pick: Carlos Hyde Late Round Sleeper: Bruce Ellington The rich get richer, as San Francisco continues to make excellent picks in the NFL Draft. First Rounder Jimmie Ward will team with last years first pick Eric Reid to form one of the best safety tandems in the league. Carlos Hyde should eventually replace Frank Gore at running back, and will provide a great change of pace when sharing the ball carrying duties with Gore. Three third round picks add depth and are future plans for San Francisco, with Marcus Martin able to play guard or center, Chris Borland can spell NaVarro Bowman while the latte rehabs a knee injury, and Brandon Thomas is coming off his own ACL tear and and basically redshirt in 2014. A late round sleeper looks to be Bruce Ellington, who can add another target for Colin Kaepernick to develop the 49ers passing game. Seattle Seahawks: C Best Pick: Kevin Norwood Late Round Sleeper: Kevin Norwood The Seahawks roster is loaded with talent from top to bottom, and it looks like the current crop of draft picks will have a tough time finding playing time with the World Champions. Paul Richardson and Justin Britt flashed in spots last year, but both were seen as reaches as high as they were selected. Kevin Norwood might have the best chance to make an impact on the field in Seattle. St. Louis Rams: A Best Pick: Aaron Donald Late Round Sleeper: Maurice Alexander The Rams had two first round picks, courtesy of the trade with Washington in 2012. They had that pick at #2 and selected the powerful tackle Greg Robinson, and with their own pick in Round 1 the Rams added Aaron Donald at defensive tackle. Robinson will give Sam Bradford some much needed protection and the big tackle excels in the run game, where he will shine the most for St. Louis. Donald rounds out the best front 4 in the NFL, and will the youth up front the Rams will be a force on defense for years to come. The running game was upgraded with the selection of Tre Mason, and the secondary got help from LaMarcus Joyner, E.J. Gaines and late round sleeper Maurice Alexander. With a compensatory pick in Round 7, the Rams selected Michael Sam, the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC and the first openly gay player picked in the NFL Draft. Sam will have a tough time finding playing time with the Rams talented front 4 but he has a chance to shine on special teams and make his mark there for now.

Super Sunday from New Jersey

The loyal readers of the TMG Draft Zone will remember the comments I made about the Super Bowl being held in an outdoor stadium at a cold weather location from back in May 2010, right after the announcement came down that the big game would be in New Jersey following the 2013 season. I said back then that the big weather concern would be the wind, and it looks like it may play a part after all. How much the wind swirls is going to directly affect how the ducks of Peyton Manning flutter around the yard, and in a close game as most seem to think we will have, I can see the outcome being determined by the kicking game. A little breeze here, a gust there, and the ball is wide right or left, and Super Dreams are lost. My prediction for the game: Denver 23, Seattle 20. Matt Prater makes the game winning kick, his third of the day, in spite of the conditions at the buzzer, and no one remembers because Manning will get all the press. Perhaps in time they will, as has happened with Adam Vinateri and his game winner for New England. But for now, the quarterbacks will be all the talk of the game. Just like they will be come draft day in May.

TMG DraftZone 2013 NFL Draft Grades: NFC West

Two years ago, the NFC West was a joke. The Seattle Seahawks won the division with a 7-9 record, and it did not look like things would get any better any time soon. But the arrival of Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco sparked a rebirth by the bay, Jeff Fisher is turning the St. Louis Rams around, Pete Carroll has one of the toughest defenses in the league in Seattle, along with a quarterback playing with a chip on his shoulder as big as all outdoors, and the Arizona Cardinals have brought in Bruce Arians to see if he can work the same magic in the desert that he did as interim coach in Indianapolis last year. Looking at the draft this year, all four teams hit it out of the park. The grade Seattle gets may not look like a reflection of that, but their first round pick went to Minnesota to bring in Percy Harvin, the explosive playmaker that gives Russell Wilson another weapon and who can loosen up the defense and open holes for Marshawn Lynch. St. Louis is reaping the bounty of their picks from the Robert Griffin III trade, and used the first rounder they acquired in that trade to move down for more picks and then add Alec Ogletree to the defense. San Francisco may have the best and deepest roster in the NFL, and the 49ers went into the draft with the most picks. That depth shows in the fact that they drafted two players very high who are coming off of knee injuries in college, Cornelious Carradine and Marcus Lattimore, who can essentially redshirt, get healty and make an impact in 2014. But the draft pick who is going to get the most attention was a third rounder in Arizona. Tyrann Mattieu was suspended in 2012 at LSU for a number of team rules violations, and whether he gets it now and can act like a professional or if he doesn't and still thinks he is the Big Man on Campus who can do what he wants because he is a football player remains to be seen. So here are the TMG DraftZone 2013 NFL Draft Grades for the NFC West, with key selections and sleeper picks: Arizona: A- Jonathon Cooper (G) Stephan Taylor/Andre Ellington (RB) The selection of Matthieu raised some eyebrows, but the hope is that Patrick Peterson can be his mentor much in the way that Cris Carter was for Randy Moss. But the fact that Matthieu say out last year is going to affect him more than anything. Arizona is strong at cornerback, and Matthieu looks to move into a safety slot if he is going to have an impact. But the trade for Carson Palmer is what has the fans in Arizona excited. Larry Fitzgerald finally has a quarterback who can get him the ball, but having watched Palmer since his elbow injury in 2008 with Cincinnati, it reamins to be seen if he can regain his Pro Bowl form. Palmer was at his best in cincinnati when he had a powerful offensive line in front of him, and a strong running game behind him. The Cardinals wanted one of the top tackles, but they were gone after the first 4 picks. They then went after the most athletic guard in the draft in Cooper. He can pass and run block, and the running game got an infusion of talent late in the draft with Taylor and Ellington. The defense got a shot in the arm when Kevin Minter fell to the middle of the second round. Minter will have an immediate impact shoring up the defense for the Cardinals. St. Louis: A Tavon Austin (WR) Barrett Jones (C) Having two first round picks gives a team the flexibility to move up, and the Rams made the move up to #8 and gave Sam Bradford the playmaker he really needs. The Rams then recouped the picks they traded to Buffalo to move up when the moved down and got Alec Ogletree at the end of the first round. If Ogletree can put his checkered past behind, he will be a steal of the draft. But the Rams great draft did not stop there. T.J. McDonald is a strong, physical safety who will help to stop the run game, and Austin's running mate at West Virginia, Stedman Bailey, adds to the passing game. But the Rams got the biggest steal of the draft when they got Barrett Jones in Round 4. Jones can play anywhere on the line, is tough, physical and very nasty. He even got in a shouting match with his quarterback late in the BCS Championship Game last year. Basically, he don't take crap from no one. He will anchor the Rams line for years to come. San Francisco: A Eric Reid (S) Quinton Patton (WR) The 49ers had the ammunition to move up to #18 and trade with Dallas to get Reid. This move shows the difference in management of the two franchises. San Francisco really knows what they are doing. Reid will move into the starting spot vacated by Dashon Goldson when he moved to Tampa Bay. But the biggest problem with the 49ers draft is that most of the players they selected won't make the team. Patton has a chance to move into the spot once occupied by Randy Moss, an dsecond round pick Vance McDonald gives San Francisco versatility in setting up two tight end sets. But this draft will be made when Carradine and Lattimore are fully healthy and can get on the field. Carradine looks to be the eventual replacement for Justin Smith, and Lattimore will relieve Frank Gore and then take over the role in the future. Seattle: B- Christine Michael (RB) Jesse Williams (DT) Michael has the talent, but he needs to get his head screwed on straight if he is going to make an impact. As good as Lynch has been, he could use some relief before he gets completely worn down from the wear and tear of the NFL. And along with Barrett Jones, his teammate at Alabama, Jesse Williams will be another steal of the draft. I'm still trying to figure out how he fell to the 5th Round. The Seahawks defense as become one of the toughest and most physical in the league, and Williams will only add to that. Russell Wilson gets a couple of potential targets to pass to in Chris Harper and Luke Wilson.

NFC West Draft Grades: Seattle Seahawks

In his first season as head coach, Pete Carroll led the Seattle Seahawks to the NFC West title. Some saw this as a hollow championship, as the Seahawks became the first team to make the playoffs with a losing record. But a win against the defending Super Bowl champions New Orleans Saints led to some vindication for their regular season record.

A strong draft in 2010 looks to be a nucleus for the Seahawks to build upon, but the 2011 Draft looks to be filled with players who may have been reaches at many positions.

The 25th Overall selection brought James Carpenter, an offensive tackle out of Alabama. Carpenter plays on the right side, and with last years #1 pick Russell Okung on the left, they should form bookends for the line for a long time. But Carpenter was a player the Seahawks could have gotten later in the draft, and the possibility of trading down could have brought additional picks.

Seattle did not have a second round pick, and in Round 3 selected John Moffitt, a guard from Wisconsin. Moffitt will add depth to the offensive line, and could start right away. Fourth round picks K.J. Wright and Kris Durham should be able to find a place on special teams right away, but Seattle could have gotten both players later in the draft.

A late round sleeper pick looks to be Mark Legree, a defensive back from Appalachian State selected in Round 5. Legree is a ball hawking safety, and should be a contributor on special teams for the Seahawks.

Draft Grade: C

Draft Grades: Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off of a 4-12 season in which two cornerstones of the franchise spent much of the season injured. Matt Hasslebeck and Walter Jones help lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl in 2005, but their lack of playing time in 2009 was evident. Seattle went out during the offseason and acquired Charlie Whitehurst from San Diego. Whitehurst looks to be the quarterback of the future, but he is still a question mark as he has not thrown a pass in 4 NFL seasons.

The draft addressed the void left by the retirement of Jones. You don't replace a Hall of Fame left tackle overnight, but Seattle was able to select the tackle many had at the top of their draft boards in Russell Okung with the 6th overall selection. With a second pick in the first round Seattle was then able to pick Earl Thomas, a safety from Texas that some had rated higher than Eric Berry, who went 5th overall. Thomas is strongest in pass coverage, and he has the ability to play cornerback as well.

The Whitehurst trade cost Seattle their regular second round pick higher up in that round, but it also brought the Chargers pick at near the end of the second round. With that selection Seattle got one of the biggest steals of the draft when they were able to select Golden Tate. The wide receiver from Notre Dame was seen by many as the #1 or #2 wideout in the draft, and with injuries to T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch it looks like Tate will get a chance to play right away.

Seattle also got two late round sleepers in Kam Chancellor and Anthony McCoy. Chancellor can team up with Earl Thomas and the two of them will be patrolling the secondary for many years to come. McCoy is a big, physical tight end who can block as well as catch passes, and his draft stock fell due to a positive drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine. But his old college coach from USC was Pete Carroll, who now coaches the Seahawks. Carroll knows what he is getting with McCoy, and if he can stay clean then Seattle got a tight end who will help solidify their passing game.

Draft Grade: A+ (Best Draft of any team in 2010)

Seattle's Signings to Scratch Your Head

The Seattle Seahawks announced two signings that make me scratch my head. They signed Mike Williams and Reggie Williams to help out the receiving corps. When I first heard this I had to ask myself 'Why?'

Both players are talented. They were each selected in the top 10 of the draft. Reggie #9 by Jacksonville, Mike #10 by Detroit. But neither player panned out from the moment they entered the league. Now the NFL has it's share of reclamation projects, and I wish both players the best. But I can't help but think these signings are a result of the Charlie Whitehurst trade and the fact that Seattle has no 2nd and 3rd round picks.

The 2010 NFL Draft is as deep as you are going to find. There are a number of receivers who are going to go in the 2nd and 3rd rounds that are talented and can make an impact. If the Seahawks have faith and confidence that the Williams and Williams signings are going to work then they can hang onto both of their first rounders and address needs with those picks.

If you have a receiver who has been out of the league for an extended period of time the one thing they will have going against them is conditioning and timing. Mike Williams has admitted to not doing much of anything since he was last released. I'm not sure about Reggie Williams, but after his cocaine possession sentencing he seems to have gotten his life back on track. But they do have one advantage over the wideouts already at Seattle. They are measurably bigger and taller than those they are competing with, and you can't teach someone to be tall. Mike Williams played for Pete Carroll at USC, and Reggie Williams was recruited by Carroll out of high school, then signed with the University of Washington. So Carroll knows what he is getting with both players. The problem is he wasn't coaching against them in the NFL when their careers went into the dumper. It may have been in the best interest of the Seahawks to trade their 4th and 5th round picks and acquired Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn. At least they wouldn't have to worry about getting them into shape. Only getting them to produce on the field.

A short run on running backs

The 2010 NFL Draft is big on big men, with a lot of depth on both the offensive and defensive lines, but short on quarterbacks and running backs. Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen are the only sure bets for first rounders at the quarterback position, and the running backs have even less representation.

For now, it looks like the only sure bet for a first round pick at the running back position is C.J. Spiller. Spiller is seen as a Reggie Bush type player, one who is excellent in the open field, a good receiver, but one who is not seen as an every down back. It will be intriguing to see if Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks, if they don't select him 6th overall, will be able to take him with the 14th overall selection. If there is a coach who knows how to handle a Reggie Bush type player, it should be Bush's college coach. But the market for a playmaker of Spiller's caliber will be tough to pass up for a number of teams.

Marshawn Lynch has been as productive with off the field issues as he has been on the field with the ball for the Buffalo Bills. But they also need a quarterback, and if Jimmy Clausen is still available it will be tough for them to pass up on a quarterback who could be the face of the franchise for years to come.

Another option could be Jacksonville. Yes, they have a need for a pass rusher, but can you picture the Jags with their own version of Thunder and Lightning with a pairing of Spiller and Maurice Jones-Drew. The biggest need Jacksonville has is to sell tickets. Winning cures a lot of ills at the box office, but doing so while putting points on the scoreboard helps even more.

After Spiller the next back on many draft boards is Ryan Mathews. Some mock drafts have Mathews going to Houston at the #20 slot, and I have even seen him placed as high as #15 to the New York Giants. I have the Chargers taking the Fresno State back with the #28 pick. They have a glaring hole to fill in the middle of the defense that Terrence Cody could move into, but the loss of LaDanian Tomlinson leaves San Diego with Darren Sproles as the best running back on the team, but hardly the featured back that they are looking for. Mathews could fill the bill very well for San Diego.

In most years the quarterbacks and running backs are the featured players in an NFL Draft. While it looks certain that Sam Bradford will go 1st Overall to St. Louis, this is not the year teams are going to find the horses they need to carry the loads.