2008 NFL Draft Recap

The NFL draft has become one of the league's most popular events, far behind the Super Bowl, but well ahead of an average Monday Night Football game. Despite the ever-increasing importance of free agency, the draft remains the most important event of the offseason, and the teams who do well can gain a substantial advantage over those who don't. So who were the winners this weekend?

2008 Draft Winners

* Fans — The new 10-minute time restriction gave us the shortest first round in memory. The picks came faster, the waits got shorter, and plenty of trades got made even without the extra five minutes. Terrific new policy.

* Kansas City Chiefs — They did very well in the draft, but don't forget that the team also gave up its best player (DE Jared Allen) to get some of those picks. That said, it's hard not to like what Kansas City accomplished, especially in the first two rounds. The Chiefs landed LSU's Glenn Dorsey, who was probably the best player in this year's draft. They traded up to address their offensive line with Branden Albert, and used their second-round pick on CB Brandon Flowers, addressing a real need in the defensive backfield. All three players went lower than they were projected, and it's hard not to think that Kansas City got some very good deals. The team also had three third-round picks and should be able to find at least one impact player among the group.

* Minnesota Vikings — A number of people have questioned what the Vikings gave up to acquire Jared Allen, but he's the best defensive end in NFL, and if he stays on the field — meaning he avoids injury and suspension — he'll be worth everything the team paid to get him.

* USC — With four first-round selections (the most of any school) and three second-rounders (also the most of any school), the Trojans clearly made their mark on the first day of the draft.

* Miami Dolphins — This team has a ton of problems, but I love what it did this weekend. First, the Dolphins signed Jake Long before the draft, meaning they won't have to worry about a holdout. Then they stole Clemson DE Phillip Merling at the top of the second round, used their extra pick from the Chris Chambers trade on Michigan QB Chad Henne, and added two more linemen — one on offense, one on defense — in the third and fourth rounds. Rebuilding doesn't happen overnight, but this is a great start.

* Philadelphia Eagles — Traded down twice before finally making a selection at 47th overall, Notre Dame DT Trevor Laws. The main reason the Eagles are in the winner's circle is their early trade with Carolina. In exchange for its first-round pick, 19th overall, Philadelphia landed Carolina's 2009 first-rounder, plus the 43rd overall selection and an early fourth-round pick in this year's draft. Besides significantly bolstering next year's draft with that trade, the Eagles picked up Cal WR DeSean Jackson to give the offense a new weapon, and used three fourth-round choices to bolster their offensive line and defensive backfield. It might be a year or two before Philadelphia sees all the benefits of this year's draft, but it looks to have been a very good one.

* Buffalo Bills — I don't know if anyone but the Chiefs and Dolphins did better with their first two picks than the Bills did. They got the draft's top corner in Leodis McKelvin, then picked up the big receiver they needed in the second round, selecting Indiana's James Hardy, who should be a perfect complement to Lee Evans.

* The Green Room — In recent years, we've seen players wait around the Green Room room in Radio City Music Hall for over an hour, most notably QBs Aaron Rodgers and Brady Quinn. This year, the six players in New York for the draft were the first six off the board.

* New York Giants — Smart first-round selection with Miami safety Kenny Phillips, who will replace the departed Gibril Wilson. The Giants also addressed needs by adding another defensive back (Terrell Thomas) in the second round and a wide receiver (Mario Manningham) in the third. A pair of fourth-round picks went to linebackers, addressing the team's other obvious need.

* New England Patriots — The rich get richer. New England addressed four clear needs in the first four rounds, taking versatile LB Jerod Mayo, a pair of cornerbacks, a pass-rusher for their 3-4, and a backup QB to develop behind Tom Brady. They also picked up a second-round pick for 2009.

* Offensive Linemen — Eight first-round selections, including the first overall pick in the draft, were offensive linemen. This position may be underrated by fans, but it's getting plenty of love from NFL coaches and executives.

* Pittsburgh Steelers — I like their second- and third-round picks, Texas WR Limas Sweed and UCLA DE Bruce Davis, who will probably play outside linebacker in Pittsburgh's 3-4 defensive scheme. I really like Rashard Mendenhall, but I'm not sure how he fits on this team. Mendenhall, more than any other RB in the 2008 draft, is ideally suited to being a workhorse back, and as long as Willie Parker is in Pittsburgh, I don't see Mendenhall or the Steelers getting the most out of this partnership. I would have rather seen the Steelers address the offensive line or defensive backfield here, but Mendenhall was probably the best player available, and the Steelers still make my list of winners.

2008 Draft Losers

* Oakland Raiders — I don't have a problem with Darren McFadden, but he was Oakland's only pick in the first three rounds. The second-rounder went to Atlanta in the DeAngelo Hall trade, so I suppose I should count Hall as part of this year's draft, but they traded their third-round pick to New England last year, moving up to take Mario Henderson. What I really, really don't like is that the Raiders once again failed to address the offensive line. They may have the quarterback (JaMarcus Russell) and running back (McFadden) now, but what those guys are going to accomplish without any blocking, I don't know.

* Washington — The idea seems to be that Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, and Antwaan Randle El just aren't very good. The problem isn't Jason Campbell, it's his receivers! Washington spent its first three picks on two WRs and a TE, without addressing holes at safety, outside linebacker, or defensive line. Another terrible draft from Daniel Snyder, though I do like the team's later-round picks, especially Durant Brooks.

* Wide Receivers — For the first time since 1990, no wideouts were taken in the first round. To make up for it, though, there were 10 in the second round. Seriously. Ten of the 32 players taken in the second round of this year's draft were wide receivers.

* Cincinnati Bengals — Washington reportedly offered first- and third-round picks for Chad Johnson, and the Bengals refused? No one doubts that Johnson is a good receiver, but in the last two seasons he has surpassed Terrell Owens as the single biggest team cancer in the league, and he's developed a drop problem. If Washington really made this offer, and the Bengals didn't leap at it, they made a huge mistake. If this much-rumored offer never actually happened, consider Cincinnati un-losered. I actually kind of like their draft, though Jerome Simpson was a puzzling selection ahead of Limas Sweed, DeSean Jackson, and Malcolm Kelly.

* Cleveland Browns — A team with no picks before the fourth round is obviously a draft loser, but those three picks helped net Brady Quinn, Corey Williams, and Shaun Rogers, so let's not put the Browns in the same sentence as Washington and Oakland. I don't know who the Browns think will play cornerback for them in 2008.

Tweeners

* Houston Texans — Everyone agrees that Houston reached by taking Duane Brown with its first selection, but offensive tackle has been a need for this team ever since Tony Boselli didn't work out, and Brown should help address that. The team gambled with its two third-round picks, taking CB Antwaun Molden — who is big and athletic but unpolished — and West Virginia RB Steve Slaton, who was a game-changer in college, but may struggle at the NFL level. Sixth-round safety Dominique Barber is an intriguing sleeper.

* Carolina Panthers — The team clearly feels that Jeff Otah is a special player, but they gave up too much to get him: a 2009 first-round pick, plus second- and fourth-round selections in this year's draft. Jonathan Stewart, whom Carolina selected 13th overall, probably would have been available lower. I don't have a problem with the players, just the price of picking them. The Panthers are listed as tweeners rather than losers mostly because of third-round selection Dan Connor, a Penn State linebacker.

* Chicago Bears — They obviously drafted for need, but who are these guys? The team's first three picks were OT Chris Williams, RB Matt Forte, WR Earl Bennett. Did the team need players at those positions? Absolutely. Are these guys the answer? I'm not so sure.

* Atlanta Falcons — Another team that addressed needs but reached for players. It's easy to understand why the Falcons selected Matt Ryan third overall, but it's equally easy to fault them for passing on Glenn Dorsey. Similarly, getting a tackle to protect Ryan was important, but there's a broad consensus that Sam Baker was a reach at 21st overall, possibly the first really shocking selection of the draft. Their second- and third-round picks were stronger.