Baltimore Ravens

Team Needs: OT, OLB, ILB, TE

’09 Selections:

1st – OT Michael Oher (#23)
2nd – OLB Paul Kruger (#57)
3rd – CB Lardarius Webb (#88)
5th – ILB Jason Phillips (#137), TE Davon Drew (#149)
6th – RB Cedric Peerman (#185)

Analysis: Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome is as solid as they come and he once again showed his draft acumen with this class. It’s not flashy but it gets the job done, and they’ll get a ton of production from both Oher and Kruger, who both have the ability to be dominant players sooner or later.

The second day was a bit more obscure but it also filled plenty of needs, with a fast CB in Webb to go with a big ILB in Phillips.  Neither will start, but they’ll be nice role players to use in the rotation. Overall this class should take it’s place alongside the rest of the excellent groups selected in recent memory.

Final Grade: B

Cincinnati Bengals

Team Needs: OT, LB, DT, RB, WR

’09 Selections:

1st – OT Andre Smith (#6)
2nd – LB Rey Maualuga (#38)
3rd – DE Michael Johnson (#70), TE Chase Coffman (#98)
4th – OC Jonathan Luigs (#106)
5th – P Kevin Huber (#142)
6th – CB Morgan Trent (#179), RB Bernard Scott (#209)
7th – RB Taufui Vakapuna (#215), DT Clinton McDonald (#249), WR Freddie Brown (#252)

Analysis: Cincinnati had a ton of picks to beef up their roster and for the most part, they did well with those selections. Going with Smith at #6 overall was a tough decision but one that I think will pay off for them in the long run. The pick of Maualuga in the middle of round two was a tremendous value and was the biggest no brainer in the draft for my money.

Day two started with a bang for the Bengals when they snatched up Johnson and Coffman; two players that were once considered first round talent. Both should be excellent additions and immediate contributors next fall.

Final Grade: A-

Cleveland Browns

Team Needs: RB, DT, LB, OC, WR

’09 Selections:

1st – OC Alex Mack (#21)
2nd – WR Brian Robiskie (#36), WR Mohamed Massaquoi (#50), DE David Veikune (#52)
4th – OLB Kaluka Maiava (#104)
6th – CB Don Carey (#177), CB Coye Francies (#191), RB James Davis (#195)

Analysis: The Browns traded back three separate times in the first round and when they finally did make their selection, they reached a bit to take Mack, who’s a solid center but not really worth a first round pick. Round two was much better though, as Cleveland snatched up two talented receivers in Robiskie and Massaquoi to go with a nice DE in Veikune.

In the late stages of the draft, the Browns did a good job of staying with their board and taking the guys they wanted regardless of specific value. Maiava, Francies, and Davis will all be productive players at some point in their careers, and Cleveland should benefit when they do.

Final Grade: B+

Pittsburgh Steelers

Team Needs: OG, OT, WR, DT, CB

’09 Selections:

1st – DT Evander “Ziggy” Hood (#32)
3rd – OG Kraig Urbik (#79), WR Mike Wallace (#84), CB Keenan Lewis (#96)
5th – CB Joe Burnett (#168), RB Frank Summers (#169)
6th – DT Ra’Shon Harris (#205)
7th – OC A.Q. Shipley (#226), TE David Johnson (#241)

Analysis: The first day for the Steelers was highlighted by just one pick, but it was a good one in Hood, who should be good rotational player next fall. Not having a second round pick was tough, but trading down to the third was a good move as they were able to get three excellent players in Urbik, Wallace, and Lewis.

The second half didn’t do as much for me as I would have liked, but they did get a nice prospect to develop in Shipley, who many felt could go much earlier. Overall, it’s another solid class for Pittsburgh, who seem to make that a regular occurrence each year.

Final Grade: B

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