Houston Texans
20th Overall -- Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama
58th Overall (from Arizona through New England) -- Ben Tate, RB, Auburn
81st Overall -- Earl Mitchell, DT, Arizona
102nd Overall (from Kansas City) -- Darryl Sharpton, MLB, Miami (FL)
118th Overall -- Garrett Graham, TE, Wisconsin
144th Overall (from Carolina through Kansas City) -- Sherrick McManis, CB, Northwestern
187th Overall -- Shelley Smith, OG, Colorado State
197th Overall (from San Diego) -- Trindon Holliday, WR/KR, LSU
227th Overall -- Dorin Dickerson, FB/TE/WR, Pittsburgh
Houston found it's replacement for Dunta Robinson with Kareem Jackson. I like Jackson a lot more for Houston's scheme then Robinson, so I like the pick, but Houston failed to address their nose tackle situation. Ben Tate could be an early candidate for OROY if he can get hot enough to steal the majority of the carries. Not a huge fan of the undersized Earl Mitchell, but he should be fine in nickel packages with Amobi Okoye pinning his ears back. Darryl Sharpton was a pure depth pick in the 4th round, as the Texans linebacking corps is one of the best in the NFL with Zac Diles, DeMeco Ryans, and Brian Cushing. Trindon Holliday could be explosive on returns and Gary Kubiak wants to use project Dorin Dickerson as a wide receiver, so they might not see a ton of return from this class.
Grade: C
Reasoning: Very little immediate impact, and the chances of projects like Dorin Dickerson succeeding are slim.
Indianapolis Colts
31st Overall -- Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU
63rd Overall -- Pat Angerer, ILB, Iowa
94th Overall -- Kevin Thomas, CB, USC
129th Overall -- Jacques McClendon, OG, Tennessee
162nd Overall -- Brody Eldridge, TE, Oklahoma
238th Overall -- Ricardo Matthews, DT, Cincinnati
240th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Kavell Connor, LB, Clemson
246th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Ray Fisher, DB, Indiana
Well the Colts addition of Jerry Hughes is pretty terrifying. Whether he plays linebacker or is simply the nickel end and the breather for Freeney/Mathis, Hughes is going to put up numbers like Mark Anderson did as a rookie. The Colts big passing game gives them a lead and they tell their pass rushers to pin their ears back and it becomes very difficult to stop them. Indianapolis realizes that they've got to keep that pass rush as good as possible, and adding a situational pass rusher with their first round pick is worth it for a team like Indy. They could have a situational rusher come close to if not pass double digits in sacks. Pat Angerer was a good selection as he can start off on the strong side and eventually kick to the middle when Gary Brackett hangs it up.
Kevin Thomas adds to the bevy of corners that the Colts already sport, and while he doesn't have much upside, coming from a pro-style defense he's an able cover man and tackler. He could develop into a solid number two corner. Jacques McClendon was a nice pick in the fourth as he should really add size to the Colts line that they need. He's a very solid interior pass blocker. Blocking tight end Brody Eldridge is sure to carve a niche for himself as well. Look for Ray Fisher to compete for a job as a return man.
Grade: B
Reasoning: I see three eventual starters, but the only true immediate impact could come from Hughes and McClendon with Ray Fisher possible making an impact as a return man. Indianapolis didn't address DT early which means they must have a little faith in last year's 2nd round pick Fili Moala.
Jacksonville Jaguars
10th Overall -- Tyson Alualu, DT/DE, California
74th Overall -- D'Anthony Smith, DT, Louisiana Tech
143rd Overall -- Larry Hart, DE/OLB, Central Arkansas
153rd Overall (from New England through Tampa Bay and Oakland) -- Austen Lane, DE, Murray State
180th Overall -- Deji Karim, RB, Southern Illinois
203rd Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Scotty McGee, KR, James Madison
Boy the Jaguars certainly wanted to add depth and versatility to their line. John Henderson is on the outs, but Terrence Knighton is a brilliant nose tackle. One would think that the Jaguars would want to grab a pass rushing tackle, and they did...but nobody knows if he's going to play end or tackle in Jacksonville. The Jags moved Derrick Harvey to LE...but that's where Alualu is best fit if at end. The Jags also signed Aaron Kampmann with the intention of him playing right end. D'Anthony Smith was a major reach in the third round and he could have replaced John Henderson, but I think Alualu will actually do that...it's all very confusing. Jacksonville is a mess, and this could be the draft that gets the front office and coaching staff blown up.
Larry Hart and Austen Lane weren't both necessary. Two project pass rushers? Hart may even move to OLB full-time in a 4-3. I also thought the Jags were high on Rashad Jennings as the back-up to MJD...so what's with Deji Karim?
Grade: F
Reasoning: One good selection and that was the 10th overall despite it being a major reach (Alualu would have gone no higher then 29th overall to New York) and they may play him out of position and off the bench to spell another former first round pick who they just said they had a vote of confidence in. This honestly doesn't seem like a good use of resources. If Alualu does move to DT I'll bump this up to a D-. For now, it's an F with a major reach in the first round and a bunch of project picks on Days Two and Three. This one could be the one that gets Jacksonville out of Jacksonville.
Tennessee Titans
16th Overall -- Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
77th Overall -- Damian Williams, WR, USC
97th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Rennie Curran, OLB, Georgia
104th Overall (from Seattle) -- Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
148th Overall -- Robert Johnson, CB/S, Utah
176th Overall (from Seattle) -- Rusty Smith, QB, Florida Atlantic
207th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Myron Rolle, SS, Florida State
222nd Overall -- Marc Mariani, WR, Montana
241st Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- David Howard, DT, Brown
Tennessee easily had the best draft in their division. They got an absolute steal with Derrick Morgan at 16th overall who will have enough playing time to tackle the top five in DROY voting. Damian Williams is a round two talent and will be a terrific possession receiver at the next level who does have good separation ability. Rennie Curran is a high motor guy who projects to be the replacement of Keith Bulluck. He's the dark horse for DROY and probably has the best chance of any player not taken in round one.
I'm not a huge Alterraun Verner fan, but the ball hawk from UCLA would be a nice compliment to Cortland Finnegan and should get a shot at the job as Roderick Hood really struggled last year. Robert Johnson is a really good pick-up as he can double as a sub-package corner and a rotational safety. Chris Hope had a major fall last year, and the Titans clearly aren't sold on him anymore. 6th round pick Myron Rolle has a very good chance to steal his job despite poor timed speed. David Brown is a project pick in the 7th round...which is when projects should be taken.
Grade: A
Reasoning: I see at bare minimum four future starters, probably five, and maybe even six if David Brown develops into anything. The Titans hit every need, and hit it with value picks. They also have two early candidates for DROY on their squad and BOTH could be starting this season. The Titans may be young, but they're going to be dangerous in 2010. Their receiving corps now has a ton of potential as well with up and comer Kenny Britt, speedster Nate Washington, sideline man and good possession receiver Justin Gage, rookie Damian Williams and tight ends Bo Scaife and Jared Cook (who is a major mismatch for linebackers and safeties). Along with Chris Johnson who is coming off of a 2000 yard season and a very good offensive line that hopes that switching Eugene Amano to center and putting Leroy Harris at guard will keep the line youthful and fresh. If Vince Young delivers on his promising 09 campaign (and forgets his bad last two starts) the Titans will compete for a wildcard spot, if not a division title this year.
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