Philadelphia Eagles:
1, OT- The Philadelphia Eagles’ first round draft pick can almost be locked in now. Where they are drafting there will be a group of offensive tackles available, and they have a highly valuable quarterback who took a number of sacks in 2010, and has shown vulnerability to injury before. The Eagles ranked 29th in sacks last year, and if their offense is going to be as potent as it was in 2010 this year, the Eagles need to keep Michael Vick healthy, and a new offensive tackle will help that. While the current regime does not have a track record of high draft picks used on an offensive line, this year would be the year to change that, as protecting Vick becomes the single most important thing for this offense going into 2011.
2, CB- the coming draft is deep at the cornerback position, and the Eagles should take advantage of this in the early rounds. Statistically, Asante Samuel had a strong 2010, but corners with high interception numbers have to be thrown to. He was thrown to because he makes mistakes. Across the field from Samuel is not very much. A second round corner who is not spectacular but solid enough fundamentally to come in and start straight away for Philadelphia would be of great use to this defense. It would mean offenses would not have an obvious side of the field to pick on, and should help the Eagles pass defense, which managed to give up the third highest amount of touchdowns in 2010. In most respects it was average, as was the rest of the defense, but pull the defense up a level to get close to the offense and the Eagles are a Super Bowl contender.
3, DT- the Eagles run defense was just like the pass defense in 2010: average. Another way of helping out the defense is to bring in a strong defensive tackle to add to the rotation. There is no need for a mega-trade to go and get Nick Fairley, but the Eagles would like to have another talent at defensive tackle to keep their guys fresh and keep their run defense solid. Philadelphia has a great opportunity in this off-season, as it does not have any significant holes, except for tackle, on offense, so it can fill up the defense with young talent to match that on the other side of the ball.
4, C- Nick Cole is a decent centre, but can be upgraded. The Eagles struggled with injuries at the position in 2010, and ought to be looking for an upgrade at some point in this offseason. Mike Pouncey is the only ‘centre’ likely to go high in the draft, so the Eagles will be able to target one in the mid-rounds, and this would help them out, giving them a better back-up to Cole, who could shift over to play guard, and giving them a young players to develop to replace Cole. This goes along with the mantra of protecting your best asset, and MIke Vick is the Eagles best asset. Keep him healthy and hungry, and this team have a shot.
5, QB- Whoa, whoa, whoa. Quarterback? Did you see Mike Vick last year? Do you know about this Kevin Kolb kid they have warming the bench? Yeah, I saw them both. The problem is that Kolb will be traded, no matter what Andy Reid wants us to believe, and Mike Vick is prone to injury. Ah that’s fine, they have Mike Kafka, he is progressing well. Correct, he is, but he is more of a Kolb than a Vick. The Eagles need a back-up to Vick who can give them some kind of threat with his feet, which Kafka does not. I’m not saying go out and draft Cam Newton, but if there is a guy who has good feet and who Andy reid feels can be developed into an adequate passer, the Eagles should go out and get him in round five or six. With an offense built around a dual threat quarterback, an injury to said quarterback does not therefore need the entire playbook to be left on a train somewhere as the team have to rewrite it for Mike Kafka.
New York Giants:
1, OLB- This Giants team is statistically very good, the offense is in the top ten for most statistics, and the defense is close too. The area that the Giants are in most desperate need of an upgrade is at linebacker, although their run defense has been good, and their third down percentage is the best in the league. That may be in part because their linebackers tend to be the smaller, athletic types who excel in pass coverage but have trouble getting off blocks. A big guy to play the run at outside linebacker would be a big upgrade for the Giants, and a guy who could come in and replace the ailing Keith Bulluck would be a great pick up for this team. They don’t need added pass rush, although it would be nice if they could get it, so this type of linebacker should be available in the middle rounds of the draft.
2, DT- With possibly the best set of defensive ends in the league, the Giants have the makings of a very good defensive line. Their defensive tackles however are just average. The defense is not massively harmed by this, as the other units are all good, but defensive tackle is a deep position in this draft, albeit many of them better suited to playing in a 3-4 system. The Giants may be looking at a few early round defensive tackles to add to their system and go alongside last year’s first round talent Jason Pierre-Paul. If they hit on a good quality d-tackle, they will have a line to be feared in the future with Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck already in place.
3, ILB- As well an outside linebacker to play the run, the Giants could do with an inside guy who does the same. Jonathan Goff is okay, he racked up 80 tackles in 2010, but that is not the return the Giants will be looking for. While they give up the 8th fewest rushing yards per game, they rank lower in both yards per carry (13th) and rushing touchdowns (12th). That will be partly due to small linebackers, who cover well but are not the best at playing the run. For the same reasons as above, an inside linebacker who can play the run will be important to the Giants, and they can pick one up in the middle rounds as well.
4, OT- The Giants offensive line is very good. Their running game ranked 6th in yards per game, 8th in first downs, 7th in yards per carry and 6th in touchdowns. They also gave up the joint fewest sacks of any team in the NFL. However, that does not mean a young body would not be useful. The Giants linemen are all getting up in age, and, having added a talented young rookie at guard last year in the fifth round (Mitch Petrus), the Giants should now be looking to add a talented young tackle as well. This could be the direction they go in the first round, as they will likely be picking just before a slew of tackles come off the board. A Castonzo or Carimi would be a useful addition to this team, could fit into a rotation straight away and would be the long-term replacement for David Diehl on the left side.
5, OG- This need is debatable for the Giants. The other four are quite clear cut, but there are a number of positions that could be slotted in here without much argument as the need is so small. The Giants went out and picked up a young guard in last year’s draft, but their starting guards are both pushing on in age, and could both do with players who can spell them for a drive or two each week. More depth will mean more healthy players, which should mean an even better offensive line for the Giants. With the right draft, these guys could be a real contender in 2011.
Dallas Cowboys:
1, CB- For me, the biggest problem on this team is the pass coverage. There are other needs which others will put in this spot, but corner is the biggest one in my opinion. Terrence Newman and Mike Jenkins are both okay at the position, but the Cowboys need an upgrade, and they need someone who has the potential to develop into an elite player. The Cowboys are in a good position to take a first round corner, and should do so if Prince Amukamara is still on the board. As the position is deep, they should not reach for a corner if Amukamara and Patrick Peterson are both gone when they pick, and they should look to address the cornerback position in the second or third round.
2, OG- Both of the Cowboys’ starting guards are getting up in age, and a young talent at the position will be a useful addition for Dallas. They ranked 16th in the NFL in terms of rushing yards per game, which would be helped by a new guard, and they should be able to improve their rank of 21st for rushing touchdowns. Dallas have needs across the offensive line and all over the defense, so a guard will not come off the board for them too high in the draft, but I feel that they need to make sure they go out and pick up a good one at some point.
3, DT- Defensive tackle? When Jay Ratliff is already playing the position? Yes. Don’t give up on me yet, I have my reasons. Ratliff is not a prototypical nose tackle (at 6’4”, 303lbs). He was able to fit into Wade Phillips’ one gap 3-4 scheme, but he will not fit into Rex Ryan’s two gap scheme, which requires players to take up space and clog up running lanes rather than penetrate the offensive line. Ratliff could make the transition to defensive end, and would do a good job there, but he will not be able to play the nose in Ryan’s scheme, assuming Ryan keeps the same scheme as he has done wherever else he has coached.
4, OT- There is another position which could fit in ahead of tackle here, but a tackle is much more important than this other position. The Cowboys should be looking for a young tackle to push Marc Colombo at right tackle, as they have a good chance to improve their offensive line here. They do not need to go with a tackle in round one, as Doug Free (should he remain in Dallas) does not need a replacement. This means they can look elsewhere (corner if possible) with their first round pick and they can pick up a right tackle later on, as they are not looking for someone who can eventually become a franchise left tackle.
5, S- This is the other position, and it is one of the bigger holes. The Cowboys struggle on third down against the pass, and some of that will be down to poor safety play, so an upgrade is needed. This is not as important as corner, but it is still a need for the Cowboys, and they will be looking to a safety early in the draft- possibly as early as round two. Should Rahim Moore be on the board at the top of the second round, a trade could be a possibility.
Washington Redskins:
1, OG- Finding this team’s top need is a little like trying to find your keys when you are already running ten minutes late. You know it’s there somewhere, but there are so many places it could be. I’ve gone for a different one to many people, at guard. The Redskins’ line was terrible last year, and worse in 2009. Trent Williams will be the left tackle for years to come, and he has grown as the season has gone on, but he is the only piece the Redskins have. They could do with a free agent guard, but they would like to bring in a young talent like Steven Wisniewski, which would mean either trading up or down into the end of the first round.
2, DT- The Redskins have a pair of serviceable defensive ends, but their defensive tackle situation is horrible. Albert Haynesworth was supposed to be the answer at d-tackle, but he has proven to be a massive flop, and a problematic one at that, who should be on his way out of Washington come the signing of the CBA. A nose tackle is necessary for the Redskins, as their run defense is not the best in the league. There should be a nose tackle available when they pick in the second, although they may also want a late first round pick to take a defensive tackle as well as guard.
3, CB- DeAngelo Hall managed to get some positive attention this year as he had good interception numbers, and he turned a high percentage of them into touchdown runs. However, he is not a good cornerback, and neither are the rest of the corners on the Redskins’ roster. The Redskins really have a high number of holes, but their worst unit is possibly their pass coverage. They ranked 31st in the league in terms of passing yards per game, 29th in passing first downs and 28th in yards per pass. A top level cornerback is required, and this is one position which could still be on the board when the Redskins make their round one pick.
4, OT- Trent Williams is fine at left tackle- not faultless, but he needs to learn on the job. The Redskins need a right tackle, and should be able to pick up a player to develop in this draft. Just as with the guard, the Redskins need to give their running backs a chance to show what they can do, and they will want to rank better than 28th in sacks as well. The Redskins need to address as many needs as they can in this draft as free agency will not be as extensive as in previous years, so Dan Synder needs to get his head screwed on properly this year.
5, OLB- This could easily have been a wide receiver, a running back, a defensive end or a safety, but I have gone for an outside linebacker to play opposite Brian Orakopo. The Redskins ranked 25th in sacks this year, and with a player like Orakopo, they should be doing better than this, and they need to do so if they are to improve their defense. It is a defense which desperately needs improving if the Redskins are not going to be picking Andrew Luck in 2012, which I personally think they will be looking at.
NFC North:
Chicago Bears:
1, OT- The Bears’ offense was statistically terrible this year, with just one category which ranked the team higher than 20th in the NFL (yards per pass). Much of that is down to poor offensive line play, and this area must be addressed by the Bears in the 2011 NFL Draft. Unlike last year, the Bears have first and second round picks, so they will be able to address their needs early. The Bears’ running game struggled last season, although Matt Forte was able to boost his own stats by being a good dump-off receiver, and the offensive line needs to be looked at for that, and they also managed to lead the league in sacks given up. A franchise left tackle must be found, although the Bears are unfortunate there is not likely to be one at number 30, where they draft in round 1.
2, OG- Continuing the offensive line trend here as the Bears really, desperately need to sort that unit. For the exact same reasons as above, the Bears need to draft a guard who can come in and start straight away, and a guy like Wisniewski or Pouncey could be where they address this need at the bottom of the first round. They already have one developmental player in Edwin Williams, who can play any of three interior positions, but they may be best suited by concentrating him on the centre position as Olin Keutz’s long-term successor, and bringing in help at guard as soon as possible.
3, DT- The Bears made the playoffs on the back of their defense this year. They ranked highly in most categories, and their run defense was generally very good (2nd in rushing yards per game behind the Steelers). They gave up more rushing first downs than they would have liked however, and 14 rushing touchdowns is definitely too many for this team to be happy with. A big run stuffer to play defensive tackle would be highly useful for Chicago, and if they could find one who can penetrate into the backfield that would also help their sack numbers. The pressure for sacks is almost entirely on their talented defensive ends, and an interior pass rush would be useful if they could find it.
4, WR- On paper, the Bears’ receiving core is okay. Johnny Knox is a good speedster, Devin Hester gives yards after the catch potential, and Earl Bennett has developed over the course of 2010. However, the Bears rank 28th in passing yards in the NFL and 20th in passing touchdowns. In a scheme so focussed on the pass as they employ, those numbers must be worrying for Chicago. If they can find a receiver in the mid-rounds of the draft who can come in and help them out, they should go for them, and finding a receiver who fits into Mike Martz’s complicated system has to be a priority.
5, LB- Assuming the Bears can retain Celb Hanie as Jay Cutler’s back-up, they do not need to look at the offense other than the line and receivers in this draft, and the defense is good as it is, with a lot of young guys at both corner and safety. A linebacker to complete their three would be a good addition. Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher were both pushing for All-Pro selections last year, and adding a young talent to play alongside them would be of use for the Bears. It is not vital, and need not be addressed early in the draft, as the defense is getting along well with what they have at linebacker, but it is one of the areas in which a small improvement could be made.
Green Bay Packers:
1, OLB- The Packers won the Super Bowl in 2010, with a talented-filled team. They have one of the league’s best outside pass rushers in Clay Matthews, a player who is feared by offensive coordinators, offensive tackles and quarterbacks alike. Matthews started the season like an out of control freight train, but as offensive coordinators began to double team him, he became a little less effective (although just as frightening). A top outside linebacker to play alongside Matthews will mean he gets fewer double teams, and the Packers improve on their ranking on joint second in sacks.
2, DE- The run defense was the Packers’ weakest area this year. They ranked 18th in rushing yards per game and 28th in yards per rush. B. J. Raji will be the nose tackle, and they have options at end with Johnny Jolly wanting to come back, but a young 3-4 defensive end who can play the run well would be a great addition to the Packers organisation. If they can sure up their run defense in this offseason, with what they have in every other area of the field, they will be the favorites to repeat their success of 2010.
3, OT- While the Packers have Chad Clifton starting at left tackle, and first round pick from 2010 Brian Bulaga starting at right tackle, Clifton is 34, so Bulaga will likely be replacing him relatively soon. If Bulaga does replace him, the Packers need a right tackle. In 2011, as they do not have any other gaping holes, they could look for one relatively high in the draft. Depending on who is on the board, they could go for a tackle in round 2, as round 1 should not be a place where they start to look. The line should improve in 2011 as Bulaga grows into his role, and learning under Chad Clifton would be great for any rookie who comes into the NFL.
4, WR- Although the Packers currently have the best set of receivers in the NFL, they could still add one. Donald Driver is close to retirement, and there are still questions over the reliability of James Jones. Greg Jennings is elite, and Jordy Nelson is a talented young player, but the addition of another inside receiver would take some of the pressure away from Driver, who tends to pay in the slot, and will give the young player a chance to learn under a Packers legend, giving Green Bay the chance to groom their next slot receiver while Driver is still on the roster.
5, RB- I don’t see a huge need here, as Ryan Grant will be back for 2011, and James Starks and Brandon Jackson can play their role. Not to forget Jon Kuhn either. However, Grant may have issues returning from his injury, and Starks is still relatively unproven. A late round running back, like Starks in 2010, would be useful to have at the bottom of the roster or on the practice squad. Late round backs tend to be a bit of a mystery, and the Packers could strike gold with the next Arian Foster, but it is a position worth taking a gamble on at some point in the 2011 NF Draft.
Detroit Lions:
1, CB- Statistically, this pass defense is not as bad as people think. 16th in yards per game, 21st in first downs, 13th in touchdowns. It certainly could be a lot worse. However, one look at the Lions’ depth chart at corner and suddenly it all becomes clear: the Lions need a legit number one cornerback with elite potential. They managed to play themselves out of the race for Peterson and Amukamara with some good late season wins in 2010, but they could go with Jimmy Smith, who’s stock will be rising if he has the good Combine he should have, or they could look to a trade. If I was in charge, I’d be sitting at 13 and looking to trade down. They are unlikely to get good value at that pick, and with the depth in this draft they can pick up two good corners later on. The Lions have a number of needs they would like to address at some point, and accruing a number of picks would be a good way to begin addressing them.
2, OLB- Detroit are struggling at linebacker, with a number of players hitting free agency, and most of them not on the top of any team’s must-sign list. Detroit should be looking to add players at this position. Not necessarily top level guys who can rush the passer and do everything brilliantly, as they are covered quite well with the pass rush, but guys who can come into a rotation, play good solid football and sure up the run defense. Rebuilding the linebacking core will take time in Detroit, as it is not a project which can be completed with one good draft, by the 2011 NFL Draft should be a good start in the process.
3, ILB- For the same reasons as above, Detroit need to begin to rebuild their linebackers. This draft is not the best for linebackers, but they should be able to find some talented kids who can be developed, and that is what Detroit need to do. They do not need to develop one player and plug them into a specified hole, they need to redesign an entire linebacking core, and picking up young talent will help the Lions to start building a group of players who are comfortable playing together.
4, SS- Another look at defense here, as Detroit can help themselves against both the run and the pass in this draft which is relatively deep with strong safeties. This could be a good place to look in the second or third round, depending on who else is on the board, as a player who can come into the box and play the run, as well as being able to cover bigger tight ends and running backs would be a valuable pick up. Rebuilding the Lions defense will be a long process, as only the defensive line is really a good unit, although that too will need some help this offseason, and this team are not going to be a 13-3 division winner straight away. Building through the draft for two or even three years will turn them into a team capable of that type of season, and adding a strong safety would be a good part of that.
5, WR- Offensive tackle is a tempting pick here, but that does not need to be addressed in this draft. Detroit ranked 6th in sacks given up this year, a good performance, and Jeff Backus has a few good years in him yet. If there is a young tackle on the board who represents good value, the Lions could look at him, but I would like to see Detroit add a receiver. Calvin Johnson is a very good player, and Nate Burleson is fine opposite him, with Sheffler and Pettigrew at tight end, but another weapon would be useful for what could be a highly explosive offense. A mid to late round developmental receiver would be a good pickup, and one who could help out in the return game straight away might prove valuable for a team who could possibly sneak into the wildcard position this year.
MInnesota Vikings:
1, S- The Vikings’ defense was good statistically in 2010. They ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in most categories, but the two most worrying categories for Vikings coaches will be the third down percentage (26th) and the passing touchdowns (23rd). Minnesota do not have a marquee safety who comes into play in the redzone, who can take a tight end out of the equation or blanket a slot receiver by themselves. Picking at 12, it will be difficult for the Vikings to address this need in the first round, but a second or third round safety is a must, and if the Vikings do not like anyone on the board at 12, a trade down to the bottom of the first could give them the chance to draft Rahim Moore, who has even been mocked as going to Minnesota at 12, a little high for my liking.
2, QB- The big question on Vikings’ fan minds is what to do about the quarterback position. Many will be in the veteran camp, as I would be, but the Vikings need to draft someone no matter what. Sending Tarvaris Jackson out into free agency seems to be the kindest thing to do for all parties, and Joe Webb has not shown a huge deal to say that he could ever be developed into a usable starter. If the VIkings were committed to finding a veteran such as Kevin Kolb or Donovan McNabb in free agnecy, whenever that may come, they need a back-up plan. There are several back-up plans available in this draft, and the second or third round would be a good place to find one. Ricky Stanzi or Andy Dalton would possibly be the best fits here.
3, DE- Ray Edwards look set to leave Minnesota for a big money free agency deal after the CBA gets signed, so the VIkings will be looking to move guys up the depth chart. They picked up Eversen Griffen in last year’s draft, and he could be moved up towards a starting spot, but the Vikings would then like to bring in another young end to take his place. The Vikings need to make sure that Jared Allen cannot be focused on by defenses, and they will need someone who can draw blockers away from Allen in the way that Edwards was able to do. Another possible use for their second or third rounder here, and a trade down to pick up additional picks in this area looks to be a good option for Minnesota.
4, OG- Steve Hutchinson is getting old, and he is getting towards the territory where a players gets by on reputation alone. He can still play, but he is not the every year Pro Bowler that people think he is. He is however a great player to learn the trade under, and a young talented guard could come in and work well under Hutchinson. If the Vikings were picking lower in the first round then guard could be a way they went there, but again, at 12 it would be a reach. I would suggest leaving the position until the mid rounds, as guards are not at a premium in the NFL draft.
5, DT- This is assuming that Sidney Rice agrees a deal which keeps him in Minnesota. If not, then Julio Jones becomes very interesting for the Vikings. Should Rice remain, a defensive tackle would be a good addition to this team, as the Williams wall are aging, and declining. Pat Williams is currently 38, and Kevin is 30, so someone who can transition into a starting job on this line would be a good pick for Minnesota. This is not their biggest need, but considering their others, it could well be the first one which is addressed in the draft. Should someone like Marcel Darreus fall with some bad workouts, he would quite possibly be the pick here, or if the VIkings think any of the 3-4 ends could project to 4-3 tackle, they may well go after them in the first round.
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