NFC West Draft Grades (Rounds 1-3) According to NFL.com

[CtCardinals78]

St Louis Rams:
Sam Bradford-8.7
Rodger Saffold-8.1
Jerome Murphy-7.7

Total Score=24.5
Avg Score=8.17

Seattle Seahawks
Russell Okung-8.7
Earl Thomas-8.7
Golden Tate-7.9

Total Score=25.3
Avg Score=8.43

San Francisco 49ers:
Anthony Davis-8.3
Mike Iupati-8.4
Taylor Mays-8.1
Navorro Bowman-7.9

Total Score=32.7
Avg Score=8.18

Arizona Cardinals
Dan Williams-8.5
Darryl Washington-8.1
Andre Roberts-6.9

Total Score=23.5
Avg Score=7.83

 

[vince56]

yay on our 6.9. We need cornerbacks.

 

[FrustratedFan04]

Tell them to stick those scores in their A++.

 

[FrustratedFan04]

Bowman was on drug probation and tested positive twice AFTER already being on probation

 

[joeshmo]

I would hope they had better averages considering they all had much higher and multiple higher picks.

 

[slinslin]

According to ESPN's scout.com chart we got the highest graded player in the entire 2nd round in Washington and one of the highest rated players in the first round.

We got the best NT in the draft and probably the 3rd best ILB with the best coverage and sideline to sideline skills.

 

[Chopper0080]

Despite the grades, our draft hinges on a couple of points.

First, if Daryl Washington can bolster our nickel packages by the end of the year. This is the key point of our draft because we decided to trade a third rounder to grab this need player. Last year, the Cardinals were not very good in nickel packages, and improving our athleticism in this package was critical. If Washington turns out to be just another special teams contributer, we have wasted 2 very valuable opportunities to upgrade our roster.

Second, if Andre Roberts can be a difference maker as a punt returner. I expect Roberts to win the 4th receiver spot from Onrae Jones, but if he isn't anything more than the average returner that Steve Breaston is, we have wasted another pick. We reached for a player that will hopefully fill two needs spots in WR & PR. I just hope that we didn't chase two chickens, only to end up not catching any.

Facts are that we have only 3 picks left in this draft, and still have some need areas that could lead us to reaching for more players which really worries me. QB, TE, ILB, & CB are all areas that we definitely need to upgrade, but I worry that TE & QB might get pushed ahead of ILB & CB which are positions that are being scooped up fast.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Despite the grades, our draft hinges on a couple of points.

First, if Daryl Washington can bolster our nickel packages by the end of the year. This is the key point of our draft because we decided to trade a third rounder to grab this need player. Last year, the Cardinals were not very good in nickel packages, and improving our athleticism in this package was critical. If Washington turns out to be just another special teams contributer, we have wasted 2 very valuable opportunities to upgrade our roster.

Second, if Andre Roberts can be a difference maker as a punt returner. I expect Roberts to win the 4th receiver spot from Onrae Jones, but if he isn't anything more than the average returner that Steve Breaston is, we have wasted another pick. We reached for a player that will hopefully fill two needs spots in WR & PR. I just hope that we didn't chase two chickens, only to end up not catching any.

Facts are that we have only 3 picks left in this draft, and still have some need areas that could lead us to reaching for more players which really worries me. QB, TE, ILB, & CB are all areas that we definitely need to upgrade, but I worry that TE & QB might get pushed ahead of ILB & CB which are positions that are being scooped up fast.

I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more. How do you have QB as our biggest need??? You thought we were gonna pick a starting QB in this draft? I hate to break it to you but...


TE isn't gonna happen either. Last year we had a worse TE group headed into the draft and that was a better group of TE's in the draft. Did we take any??? Whiz doesn't value it as much as you guys do. We need a CB and probably another SILB. Aside from those spots we will take the BPA, unless a great FB is available.

 

[Zeno]

Facts are that we have only 3 picks left in this draft, and still have some need areas that could lead us to reaching for more players which really worries me. QB, TE, ILB, & CB are all areas that we definitely need to upgrade, but I worry that TE & QB might get pushed ahead of ILB & CB which are positions that are being scooped up fast.

I am beginning to think the coaches don't have TE down as a need area. We will go in to camp with Becht, Byrd, Patrick, Spach and maybe an undrafted guy and only carry 3 in to the season(with maybe 1 on the practice squad).

We MUST get another ILB with our next couple of picks.

 

[CtCardinals78]

I know a lot of the pundits would disagree with me, but I think SF draft is horrible. Anthony Davis has some huge questions with his work ethic and maturity. Taylor Mays is horrible in coverage and is going to be exposed terribly by teams that love to pass. Bowman has off the field issues and is better suited for a 4-3. For all of their picks, i think they blew it and set this team back a few years if their picks don't pan out.

 

[WildBB]

St Louis Rams:

Total Score=25.3
Avg Score=8.43

San Francisco 49ers:
Anthony Davis-8.3
Mike Iupati-8.4
Taylor Mays-8.1
Navorro Bowman-7.9

Total Score=32.7
Avg Score=8.18

Me thinks enough teams passed to dispute this score some.

Arizona Cardinals
Dan Williams-8.5
Darryl Washington-8.1
Andre Roberts-6.9

Total Score=23.5
Avg Score=7.83

He's going to disprove that low of a ranking. I think the Cards got a good one here as well.

 

[gohard83]

I know a lot of the pundits would disagree with me, but I think SF draft is horrible. Anthony Davis has some huge questions with his work ethic and maturity. Taylor Mays is horrible in coverage and is going to be exposed terribly by teams that love to pass. Bowman has off the field issues and is better suited for a 4-3. For all of their picks, i think they blew it and set this team back a few years if their picks don't pan out.

Anthony Davis has character issues? since when? that's why GB and DAL were gonna trade up to grab him? DAL has historically picked up great linemen. Singletary and Solari had a few personal meetings with Davis and were on record co-signing Davis as a great worker. Iupati and Davis couple with Mike Solari = WIN.

Mays was a liability in coverage at times because, at USC, he always played 20 yards away from everybody. With the 49ers, he will be Mike Lewis' replacement. He won't have to step in right away because Lewis is solid barring all his concussions. Mays will step in at SS when he's ready. He brings speed, athleticism, and power close to the LOS. He also excels in the middle of the field. Mays and Willis in the middle bring alot of heat to the opposing offense.

Bowman was a 4-3 OLB. He's 6'2 242 lbs, same exact size as Takeo Spikes. Same as Mays, Bowman won't need to step in until a year or two later. He has chance to learn under some of the best linebackers in the game. His physicality and nose for the ball are something that couldn't be taught. Yes, he's ran into trouble in the past, that's why he dropped out of the 1st-2nd round. We took him late in the 3rd so it wasn't that much of a risk for the type of player that he could become. If you listened to his press conference call, you'd know that he's a kid with alot to prove. He has a chip on his shoulder so he's gonna work extra hard.

 

[CtCardinals78]

Anthony Davis has character issues? since when? that's why GB and DAL were gonna trade up to grab him? DAL has historically picked up great linemen. Singletary and Solari had a few personal meetings with Davis and were on record co-signing Davis as a great worker. Iupati and Davis couple with Mike Solari = WIN.

Read any scouting report on him and the word immature pops up many times. Boom or bust also comes up quite a bit because of his inconsistent motor.

Mays was a liability in coverage at times because, at USC, he always played 20 yards away from everybody. With the 49ers, he will be Mike Lewis' replacement. He won't have to step in right away because Lewis is solid barring all his concussions. Mays will step in at SS when he's ready. He brings speed, athleticism, and power close to the LOS. He also excels in the middle of the field. Mays and Willis in the middle bring alot of heat to the opposing offense.

Maybe so, but Pete Carrol didn't want the guy. That doesn't bode well.

Bowman was a 4-3 OLB. He's 6'2 242 lbs, same exact size as Takeo Spikes. Same as Mays, Bowman won't need to step in until a year or two later. He has chance to learn under some of the best linebackers in the game. His physicality and nose for the ball are something that couldn't be taught. Yes, he's ran into trouble in the past, that's why he dropped out of the 1st-2nd round. We took him late in the 3rd so it wasn't that much of a risk for the type of player that he could become. If you listened to his press conference call, you'd know that he's a kid with alot to prove. He has a chip on his shoulder so he's gonna work extra hard.

Arrested for felony assault and then admitted to smoking dope, which violated his probation. Just like Davis his maturity is a big question mark. Not the greatest pass rusher either.

Sorry gohard, despite the numerous picks I don't thinkthe 9ers made the best of their opportunities with them.

 

[TJ]

Anthony Davis has character issues? since when? that's why GB and DAL were gonna trade up to grab him? DAL has historically picked up great linemen. Singletary and Solari had a few personal meetings with Davis and were on record co-signing Davis as a great worker. Iupati and Davis couple with Mike Solari = WIN.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/blog...spn.go.com/nfl/blog?name=nfl_draft&id=4988543

You kind of blew up your own argument when you tried to supplement it with Dallas trying to trade up to get him. They traded up to get Dez Bryant, a bad character guy.

Mays was a liability in coverage at times because, at USC, he always played 20 yards away from everybody. With the 49ers, he will be Mike Lewis' replacement. He won't have to step in right away because Lewis is solid barring all his concussions. Mays will step in at SS when he's ready. He brings speed, athleticism, and power close to the LOS. He also excels in the middle of the field. Mays and Willis in the middle bring alot of heat to the opposing offense.

Mays is a poor mans Adrian Wilson. A hard hitter and.....a hard hitter. That's all you're going to get. At least AW has some coverage skills. He has poor range and will only excel in zone coverage, if lucky.

Bowman was a 4-3 OLB. He's 6'2 242 lbs, same exact size as Takeo Spikes. Same as Mays, Bowman won't need to step in until a year or two later. He has chance to learn under some of the best linebackers in the game. His physicality and nose for the ball are something that couldn't be taught. Yes, he's ran into trouble in the past, that's why he dropped out of the 1st-2nd round. We took him late in the 3rd so it wasn't that much of a risk for the type of player that he could become. If you listened to his press conference call, you'd know that he's a kid with alot to prove. He has a chip on his shoulder so he's gonna work extra hard.

Bowman may turn out fine for you as long as he keeps a cool head. He did come from a great linebacker school and is fast but you cant look past the character issues

 

[CtCardinals78]

Me thinks enough teams passed to dispute this score some.



He's going to disprove that low of a ranking. I think the Cards got a good one here as well.

Yeah I think so too. I like what I read about this kid. With all the success this team has had with all the small school prospects you would think that other teams would tap into this resource. Surprised they haven't.

 

[gohard83]

I think I trust Anthony Davis' past coaches and the 49ers coaching staff's report more than any beat writer's. Davis is 20 years old. Character issues? please. He's still a little kid that's still learning. Everybody is going to have an opinion and I am not going to stop you from having yours.

And say what you say about Taylor Mays. He was the BPA @ our pick that also filled a position of needs. He won't have to step in right away so there will be alot of time where he could just sit back and learn.

As far as Bowman. We risk a late 3rd rounder for a potential pro bowl LB, so what? Penn State is known for producing great LBs.

 

[Dayman]

From Mel:

Arizona keeps hanging tough and getting good players that fit what they do. Darryl Washington flies all over as a linebacker and Andre Roberts could be a steal.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Anthony Davis has character issues? since when? that's why GB and DAL were gonna trade up to grab him? DAL has historically picked up great linemen. Singletary and Solari had a few personal meetings with Davis and were on record co-signing Davis as a great worker. Iupati and Davis couple with Mike Solari = WIN.

Mays was a liability in coverage at times because, at USC, he always played 20 yards away from everybody. With the 49ers, he will be Mike Lewis' replacement. He won't have to step in right away because Lewis is solid barring all his concussions. Mays will step in at SS when he's ready. He brings speed, athleticism, and power close to the LOS. He also excels in the middle of the field. Mays and Willis in the middle bring alot of heat to the opposing offense.

Bowman was a 4-3 OLB. He's 6'2 242 lbs, same exact size as Takeo Spikes. Same as Mays, Bowman won't need to step in until a year or two later. He has chance to learn under some of the best linebackers in the game. His physicality and nose for the ball are something that couldn't be taught. Yes, he's ran into trouble in the past, that's why he dropped out of the 1st-2nd round. We took him late in the 3rd so it wasn't that much of a risk for the type of player that he could become. If you listened to his press conference call, you'd know that he's a kid with alot to prove. He has a chip on his shoulder so he's gonna work extra hard.

When is the last time Dallas selected an OL in round 1? All i needed to know about Davis was told when he selected Rutgers over OSU because he didn't want to face the stiffer competition to become a starter. He's the definition of a guy who will waste his talent.

You assessment of Mayes makes absolutely zero sense.

Jails are filled with alot of guys with chips on their shoulders, Bowman will fit right in.

 

[kerouac9]

I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more. How do you have QB as our biggest need??? You thought we were gonna pick a starting QB in this draft? I hate to break it to you but...


TE isn't gonna happen either. Last year we had a worse TE group headed into the draft and that was a better group of TE's in the draft. Did we take any??? Whiz doesn't value it as much as you guys do. We need a CB and probably another SILB. Aside from those spots we will take the BPA, unless a great FB is available.

Just like how we had gaping roster holes at NT and ILB before Thursday so we also have a huge void where our #3 QB is supposed to be. Whether you like it or not, the Cards are going to get one--and probably 2--QBs from this draft class on their roster.

This TE group might be the best and deepest EVER. That's why you see yeams waiting so long to take one. Chase Coffman sucks and was chosen in the third round last year. There are players like Pitta and Hernandez who are going to go in the 4th or 5th round that are way better prospects.

 

[CtCardinals78]

When is the last time Dallas selected an OL in round 1? All i needed to know about Davis was told when he selected Rutgers over OSU because he didn't want to face the stiffer competition to become a starter. He's the definition of a guy who will waste his talent.

You assessment of Mayes makes absolutely zero sense.

Jails are filled with alot of guys with chips on their shoulders, Bowman will fit right in.

Mays has done nothing so far about whine and cry that Carrol didn't select him. I have heard very little from him being happy that the 9ers took him, but I have heard him do boatloads of whining about Carrol. This is going to work well

"I wish I would have known why I wouldn't be taken in the first round," he said Friday, "At least have been shown what I needed work on. Here's my head coach, the person I trust most, telling me I had nothing to worry about and then I'm worrying about it [when it's too late] because I'm not getting picked."

"I put my future in his hands,"

"I look forward to playing 16 games for [Coach] Singletary, 16 games a year than I do playing Coach Carroll twice a year,"
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/news/story?id=5131914

 

[Chopper0080]

I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more. How do you have QB as our biggest need??? You thought we were gonna pick a starting QB in this draft? I hate to break it to you but...


TE isn't gonna happen either. Last year we had a worse TE group headed into the draft and that was a better group of TE's in the draft. Did we take any??? Whiz doesn't value it as much as you guys do. We need a CB and probably another SILB. Aside from those spots we will take the BPA, unless a great FB is available.

Ummm, I guess I should have stipulated that those were not in any particular order. We need a developmental QB behind Leinart and D Anderson, TE presents value with the players remaining, and the defensive players will go fast. I look for us to stick with our current strategy of filling needs and grab a CB in 4, and an ILB & QB with the 6th and 7th picks. The only way that I see us upgrading TE is if there is a run of CB's, and some of the top guys are left (Pitta, Hernandez).

 

[Chopper0080]

Just like how we had gaping roster holes at NT and ILB before Thursday so we also have a huge void where our #3 QB is supposed to be. Whether you like it or not, the Cards are going to get one--and probably 2--QBs from this draft class on their roster.

This TE group might be the best and deepest EVER. That's why you see yeams waiting so long to take one. Chase Coffman sucks and was chosen in the third round last year. There are players like Pitta and Hernandez who are going to go in the 4th or 5th round that are way better prospects.

We are going to miss that 5th round pick.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Ummm, I guess I should have stipulated that those were not in any particular order. We need a developmental QB behind Leinart and D Anderson, TE presents value with the players remaining, and the defensive players will go fast. I look for us to stick with our current strategy of filling needs and grab a CB in 4, and an ILB & QB with the 6th and 7th picks. The only way that I see us upgrading TE is if there is a run of CB's, and some of the top guys are left (Pitta, Hernandez).

my thinking is why waste a pick on a QB? I think they will, but Leinart is still young, Anderson is still young, another young QB is not going to help thi team out. You can get one next year after you see what Leinart does.

 

[TJ]

To add to the Frisco draft discussion:

Mays is already complaining about Carroll taking Earl Thomas over him, saying that he was told he'd have "nothing to worry about" when going into the NFL.

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/news/story?id=5131914

49er fans had better hope that his focus is more on proving Carroll wrong for the next 10 years than ruminating over being slighted by him.

He should ask Everson Griffin how he feels about being slighted by Carroll.....4 times this weekend

 

[kerouac9]

my thinking is why waste a pick on a QB? I think they will, but Leinart is still young, Anderson is still young, another young QB is not going to help thi team out. You can get one next year after you see what Leinart does.

It's a good question, but if Leinart falters, he's not going to be around next season. If Leinart falters and Anderson falters, neither of them are going to be around next year.

You're going to need another two arms for camp next year, anyway. You can settle on whomever is willing to sign with you as an undrafted free agent, or you can guarantee yourself a guy whose skills you like by drafting him late in the draft.