2009 NFL Draft Report Card-AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

Round 1 #23 OT Michael Oher, Mississippi
Round 2 #57 DE Paul Kruger, Utah
Round 3 #88 CB Lardarius Webb, Nicholls State
Round 5 #137 LB Jason Phillips, TCU
Round 5 #149 TE Davon Drew, East Carolina
Round 6 #185 RB Cedric Peerman, Virginia

Overall Grade: B+

Fantasy Outlook: Michael Oher figures to be the left tackle of the future for the Ravens. Oher should help open the holes for Willis McGahee and Ray Rice.  Baltimore devoted the next three picks after Oher towards the defensive side of the ball when they took Paul Kruger, Lardarius Webb, and Jason Phillips. The aforementioned trio should see significant playing time on an already upper echelon fantasy defense. 

Cincinnati Bengals

Round 1 #6 OT Andre Smith, Alabama
Round 2 #38 LB Rey Maualuga, USC
Round 3 #70 DE Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech
Round 3 #98 TE Chase Coffman, Missouri
Round 4 #106 C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
Round 5 #142 P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati
Round 6 #179 CB Morgan Trent, Michigan
Round 6 #209 RB Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian
Round 7 #215 FB Fui Vakapuna, BYU
Round 7 #249 DL Clinton McDonald, Memphis
Round 7 #252 WR Freddie Brown, Utah

Overall Grade: A

Fantasy Outlook: The Bengals first four picks will likely all begin the year as starters.  Andre Smith will be their left tackle and his mission will be to keep Carson Palmer upright.  They got a steal when they landed Rey Maualuga as the 38th pick overall.  Maualuga will give a new attitude to what has been a lower tier fantasy defense the last few seasons.  Chase Coffman is worth a look in fantasy as their new threat at tight end. 

Cleveland Browns

Round 1 #21 C Alex Mack, California
Round 2 #36 WR Brian Robiskie, Ohio State
Round 2 #50 WR Mohamed Massaquoi, Georgia
Round 2 #52 DL David Veikune, Hawaii
Round 4 #104 LB Kaluka Maiava, USC
Round 6 #177 CB Don Carey, Norfolk State
Round 6 #191 CB Coye Francies, San Jose State
Round 6 #195 RB James Davis, Clemson

Overall Grade: A-

Fantasy Outlook: The Browns took a couple wideouts early in the draft when they snagged Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi.  Robiskie appears to be NFL ready and catches the ball well in traffic. Massaquoi is very athletic, and with his speed and leaping ability, he will be a deep threat for Cleveland.  They both are worth a look in keeper leagues.   

Pittsburgh Steelers

Round 1 #32 DT Ziggy Hood, Missouri
Round 3 #79 OL Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin
Round 3 #84 WR Mike Wallace, Mississippi
Round 3 #96 CB Keenan Lewis, Oregon State
Round 5 #168 DB Joe Burnett, UCF
Round 5 #169 RB Frank Summers, UNLV
Round 6 #205 DT Ra’Shon Harris, Oregon
Round 7 #226 C A.Q. Shipley, Penn State
Round 7 #241 TE David Johnson, Arkansas State

Overall Grade: B-

Fantasy Outlook: The Steelers didn’t have a whole lot of needs coming into the draft, but they did make good use of their picks.  Ziggy Hood is a tough defensive tackle that will make several plays behind the line of scrimmage.  In other words, the rich just got richer, and the Steelers will again be an upper tier fantasy defense.  Mike Wallace is a bit of a project receiver, but his blazing speed is just what Pittsburgh needed at wideout.  Wallace warrants some fantasy consideration in keeper leagues.