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Buffalo Bills

Round 1 #8 S Donte Whitner, Ohio State
Round 1 #26 DT John McCargo, North Carolina State
Round 3 #70 CB Ashton Youboty, Ohio State
Round 4 #105 S Ko Simpson, South Carolina
Round 5 #134 DT Kyle Williams, LSU
Round 5 #143 OT Brad Butler, Virginia
Round 6 #178 LB Keith Ellison, Oregon State
Round 7 #216 OT Terrance Pennington, New Mexico
Round 7 #248 G Aaron Merz, California

Overall Grade: C

Fantasy Outlook: The Bills reached for almost every pick on Day 1 and drafted mainly steals on Day 2, thus they earned their C grade. Even though the Bills might have been able to trade down to get Whitner and McCargo , they both should contribute right away on defense. Williams could turn out to be the best value player they drafted, as the were able to snag him in the fifth round. If these young players can mature quickly, Buffalo might end up being a more than respectable fantasy defense as the season progresses.

Miami Dolphins

Round 1 #16 CB Jason Allen, Tennessee
Round 3 #82 WR Derek Hagan, Arizona State
Round 4 #114 OT Joe Toledo, Washington
Round 7 #212 DT Fred Evans, Texas State
Round 7 #226 DT Rodrique Wright, Texas
Round 7 #233 WR Devin Aromashodu, Auburn

Overall Grade: C+

Fantasy Outlook: Allen is a versatile defender that can play corner or safety.  However, the Dolphins will have to hope that Allen can remain healthy, especially if he is to live up to being picked sixteenth overall. Hagan could end up being the No. 3 or even No. 2 wideout by the end of the season, and he is worth serious consideration in keeper leagues. Wright could prove to be a gem that was discovered in the seventh round, but he will have will to fight to land a spot on the roster as Miami already possesses a defense that warrants strong fantasy consideration.

New England Patriots

Round 1 #21 RB Laurence Maroney, Minnesota
Round 2 #36 WR Chad Jackson, Florida
Round 3 #86 TE Dave Thomas, Texas
Round 4 #106 TE Garrett Mills, Tulsa
Round 4 #118 K Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis
Round 5 #136 G Ryan O’Callaghan, California
Round 6 #191 DE Jeremy Mincey, Florida
Round 6 #205 G Dan Stevenson, Notre Dame
Round 6 #206 DT Le Kevin Smith, Nebraska
Round 7 #229 CB Willie Andrews, Baylor

Overall Grade: A

Fantasy Outlook: I don’t think the Patriots drafted Maroney to sit behind Corey Dillon all season.  In other words, I think Maroney belongs on the fantasy radar as he is going to be given the opportunity to put up some decent numbers.  I think getting Jackson in the second round was the steal of the draft.  Once Jackson earns the confidence of Tom Brady, the duo will be virtually unstoppable. Jackson, to say the least, is a very intriguing fantasy draft pick.  Mills and Thomas will help contribute in the passing game as well, not to mention open holes for the running game. Speaking of opening things up in the running game, O’Callaghan should be able to play right away and help create plenty of running room for Maroney and Dillon. I normally would not condone a kicker being selected in the fourth round, let alone even being drafted, but Gostkowski is a very accurate kicker. New England did their homework with that pick and did very well on paper in this draft.

New York Jets

Round 1 #4 OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia
Round 1 #29 C Nick Mangold, Ohio State
Round 2 #49 QB Kellen Clemens, Oregon
Round 3 #76 LB Anthony Schlegel, Ohio State
Round 3 #97 S Eric Smith, Michigan State
Round 4 #103 WR Brad Smith, Missouri
Round 4 #117 RB Leon Washington, Florida State
Round 5 #150 TE Jason Pociask, Wisconsin
Round 6 #189 CB Drew Coleman, Texas Christian
Round 7 #220 DT Titus Adams, Nebraska

Overall Grade: A-

Fantasy Outlook: Ferguson and Mangold should be instant starters and will help protect whoever lines up behind center for the Jets.  They will also make the ageless Curtis Martin appear even younger than he has looked in previous years.  Clemens was the quarterback they were seeking and will be the future for the Jets. What Clemens will eventually bring to the offense warrants fantasy consideration in keeper leagues. Brad Smith also should help the offense with his athleticism as he makes the transition to wide receiver. However, I think it will take him at least a year to succeed in the NFL as a receiver, but he might be worth a look in keeper leagues. Eric Smith was a nice pick and has a chance to be the starting safety. However, the Jets worked so hard to improve their offense that their defense was forgotten about. Ironically, their defense will also be forgotten by several fantasy owners this season. 

Technorati Tags: 2006 NFL Draft, 2006 NFL Draft Report Card, 2006 NFL Draft Grades

“Leadership is getting someone to do what they don’t want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.”

~Tom Landry~

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NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

Round 1 #10 QB Matt Leinart, USC
Round 2 #41 G Taitusi Lutui, USC
Round 3 #72 TE Leonard Pope, Georgia
Round 4 #107 DT Gabe Watson, Michigan
Round 5 #142 LB Brandon Johnson, Louisville
Round 6 #177 DT Jonathan Lewis, Virginia Tech
Round 7 #218 WR Todd Watkins, BYU

Overall Grade: A

Fantasy Outlook: Leinart will not likely start right away, but should see action playing behind an aging Kurt Warner. Lutui will likely be a starter and should contribute to the success of Edgerrin James and the running game in Arizona.  Pope was a steal in the third round, and he should be a major threat to score touchdowns inside the red zone.  Watson was another steal for the Cardinals, and he will help contribute to a defense that deserves consideration in fantasy. 

San Francisco 49ers

Round 1 #6 TE Vernon Davis, Maryland
Round 1 #22 LB Manny Lawson, North Carolina State
Round 3 #84 WR Brandon Williams, Wisconsin
Round 4 #100 WR Michael Robinson, Penn State
Round 5 #140 DE Parys Haralson, Tennessee
Round 6 #175 WR Delanie Walker, Central Missouri State
Round 6 #192 S Marcus Hudson, North Carolina State
Round 6 #197 DE Melvin Oliver, LSU
Round 7 #254 S Vickiel Vaughn, Arkansas

Overall Grade: A-

Fantasy Outlook: Vernon Davis is supposed to be the next Antonio Gates, which should tell you that he will be highly coveted in fantasy. Lawson and Haralson will be difference makers on defense, and are talented enough to where teams can no longer laugh at the Niners defense.  Robinson could be the next Randle El, and is worthy of taking a gamble on in keeper leagues.  The 49ers also took Williams and Walker at receiver, and they both figure to see significant playing time this season.

Seattle Seahawks

Round 1 #31 CB Kelly Jennings, Miami
Round 2 #63 DE Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech
Round 4 #128 G Rob Sims, Ohio State
Round 5 #163 FB David Kirtman, USC
Round 7 #239 P Ryan Plackemeier, Wake Forest
Round 7 #249 WR Ben Obomanu, Auburn

Overall Grade: B

Fantasy Outlook: Seattle did not do anything too flashy in this draft, but when you make it to the Super Bowl the previous year, you don’t need to be.  Jennings will be a playmaker on defense, and if he gets his hands on the ball, he will likely score. Sims was a great pick in the fourth round and can only help an already solid running game. Most people probably cringe when they see their team draft a punter, but Plackemeier can punt and be a kick off specialist.  Kirtman was a steal in the fifth round and will help lead block for Shaun Alexander.

St. Louis Rams

Round 1 #15 CB Tye Hill, Clemson
Round 2 #46 TE Joe Klopfenstein, Colorado
Round 3 #77 LB Jon Alston, Stanford
Round 3 #93 TE Dominique Byrd, USC
Round 4 #113 DE Victor Adeyanju, Indiana
Round 5 #144 WR Marques Hagans, Virginia
Round 7 #221 LB Tim McGarigle, Northwestern
Round 7 #242 G Mark Setterstrom, Minnesota
Round 7 #243 G Tony Palmer, Missouri

Overall Grade: C+

Fantasy Outlook: Hill is a speedster at corner and should be a star for several years. Adeyanju also has a chance to help the defense by adding a talented pass rusher. Byrd and Klopfenstein are excellent tight ends, which was a position the Rams strongly needed to upgrade. Either tight end could put up solid fantasy numbers, but their success hinges on how much they get utilized in the Rams high powered offense.

Technorati Tags: 2006 NFL Draft, 2006 NFL Draft Report Card, 2006 NFL Draft Grades

“When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something”

~Dick Butkus~

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