This whole week, I will be reviewing the biggest player or players drafted by every team by division. Let's get started with the North divisions! AFC North now, NFC North should be up later.
AFC North
Cleveland Browns Beau Bell, LB, UNLV I like the pick, and in my opinion, I don't know how this guy got skipped over to the 4th round, because I had him going in the late first-early second about two weeks ago, but definitely a steal by Cleveland, and he should immediately help out that defense that had some glaring holes last year. Grade: C+
Cincinnati Bengals Keith Rivers, LB, USC By far the best linebacker in the draft, and this guy will be a force that no RB will wanna go up against in 2008. Best move Cincy could have made at their position. Jerome Simpson, WR, Coastal Carolina Coming from a small school, it's hard to know what to expect out of thi guy, but I se big progression in his rookie year. Chad Johnson and TJ (SOMETHIN-ZADABER) look like they will be the starting wideouts, but Chad may make room for Simpson by whining and moaning. Grade: B-
Pittsburgh Steelers Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois Wow, I wasn't expecting this, but I couldn't be happier. This was probably the smartest late-first round pick, and this guy is a beast. Second only to Darren McFadden, and not by much. Definitely a ROTY pre-season candidate. Limas Sweed, WR, Texas This may be the taller wideout Ben had asked for. 6-foot-5, and quite a physical player. His speed and agility, despite being that tall, are terrific, and I expect a good season outta this guy. Watch out for the Steelers. Grade: A-
Baltimore Ravens Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware My favorite QB in this class, Joe Flacco, ended up a 1st-rounder to the Ravens. I'm feeling that he's a Week 1 starter over Boller and Smith. This guy has great leadership ability, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if he started the first game. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers This guy is small and quick, and I would compare him to Maurice Jones-Drew out of Jacksonville, and I think he could have a similar rookie season impact. With McGahee and Rice, the Ravens have been building all off-season, and could make a real run at the AFC North division title. Grade: A
Thanks for reading! Check back in later or tomorrow for the NFC North report!
i dont know about the steelers running back i feel he hasnt shown too much before his senior year but apparently thats all you need, instead of mike hart who has been a four year star at michigan who got picked in the sixth round. i dont understand how you can pick a one and done player in the first round
r dog- For starters, Mendenhall was a better player in 2007 than Hart was in that very tough Big Ten conference. You must be a Michigan fan to say that, right?
Hart was overrated in my opinion, and I've said it since November, he won't transition into the pros well at all.
Mendenhall stood out more in people's minds, and that's why he got drafted 5 rounds earlier.
Greenspire...This season will be very tough for the Steelers to win the division. With the free agent additions of Cleveland, that will be quite a battle! I think Sweed will be a nice target for Big Ben.
Smith has a chance to be the starter for the Ravens...he just needs a chance. If Flutie could do it, so can he.
I want some of what pittnbrownhater was smoking! as for your grade on the bungles, I thought I heard on day 2 that they drafted more players with questionable methics. That puts their grade at c- in my book. I would have left Baltimoreorless at a-, but the Steelers will be a B-, I dont think the last 3 picks were what everyone else thinks they will be, 'specially Dixon.
I would have to agree with netsteeler on what the other guy was smoking. Cleveland last, That's a bit of wishful thinking. I do think the steelers had the best draft in div. though
brownout....I was more or less thinking the Ravens were in Sincinattis place! I think the Steelers will win the division, but the Browns have a WAY better shot at the division than the BLEEPvens have!
Sincy and Baldymore will fight for the no. 4 finish!
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I am Mike Greenspire and I am a sports writer for FOX Sports and I love the NFL! I was born and raised in the greatest city in the world, Pittsburgh, PA. Being a Die-Hard Steelers fan, I love my team, but I will show as little bias as I can in my blog. FOX Sports has really helped me to become noticed around the blog site, as well as around some other sites, and I hope that I can work for them some day! Please leave a comment on my blog, I love feedback. My blog is fun, and I enjoy writing it, and I hope that you will enjoy reading it! Keep comments clean! Thanks!
