Ted Bartlett evaluates draft-eligible prospects in his spare time, among a number of activities he pursues, including golf, MBA classes, and dating women who are much younger than him. When his kindergarten teacher told him that he was advanced, what she was saying was that, with minimal effort, he'd be able to do better than "really passionate" people who try their hardest. He also focuses on the NFL's business and legal environment, offensive and defensive schemes, going off on unrelated tangents, and all 32 teams in the NFL. Follow along as he offers his instant analysis of tonight's NFL Draft.
| # | Team | Player |
Position School |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina | Cameron Newton |
QB Auburn |
No surprise here. It has to make you apprehensive that he has <300 throws in college. |
| 2 | Denver | Von Miller |
OLB Texas A&M |
I love Fairley, but Miller is right there with him as an elite player, and I really like the concept of going DT in round 2. |
| 3 | Buffalo | Marcell Dareus |
DT Alabama |
Fairley is better, all things equal, but I see why Buffalo would prefer Dareus given the hybrid fronts that they seem to be planning. |
| 4 | Cincinnati | AJ Green |
WR Georgia |
I'm never a big fan of taking a WR this high, but Green is going to be an excellent player. They must not have liked Gabbert. |
| 5 | Arizona | Patrick Peterson |
CB LSU |
Another team that could have been Gabbert's landing spot. DRC and PP make a pretty imposing press-man pair. |
| 6 | Atlanta (CLE) | Julio Jones |
WR Alabama |
I consider Jones to be an underachiever. I like the way he blocks and runs, but he needs to catch the ball better. Weird trade for Atlanta, given the price they paid. |
| 7 | San Francisco | Aldon Smith |
DE/OLB Missouri |
This feels a little high for Smith, but I get what they're thinking. He projects to be a good player, but he has some growing to do to get there. |
| 8 | Tennessee | Jake Locker |
QB Washington |
This shows conviction. I like him better than Gabbert too, but the conventional wisdom doesn't. DTs keep falling down, which is great for the Broncos |
| 9 | Dallas | Tyron Smith |
OT Dallas |
I like an offensive lineman here, but I like Castonzo better as a LT, and Carimi better as a RT. Should have traded down. |
| 10 | Jaguars (WAS) | Blaine Gabbert |
QB Missouri |
I don't love the guy, but good on the Jags for getting their guy if they do. This smells like an Andy Dalton play for Shanahan. |
| 11 | Houston | J.J. Watt |
DE Wisconsin |
This makes a lot of sense for a Wade Phillips defense. He's a one-gap player, like that scheme demands. |
| 12 | Minnesota | Christian Ponder |
QB Florida State |
WOW — This is a big shocker. Ponder's junior film was better than his senior film. This is loving your guy, I guess. |
| 13 | Detroit | Nick Fairley |
DT Auburn |
This is outstanding value. Fairley and Suh together could help the Lions win their division soon, if Stafford ever stays healthy. |
| 14 | St. Louis | Robert Quinn |
DE North Carolina |
This is a projection pick to me, but I like the idea of Quinn and Chris Long on opposite ends. |
| 15 | Miami | Mike Pouncey |
G/C Florida |
Mike is more of a Guard than a Center, but he's going to be a really good interior blocker quickly. I like the pick very much. |
| 16 | Washington (JAX) | Ryan Kerrigan |
DE/OLB Purdue |
This is a very interesting pick. I don't know if I think he's athletic enough to be a 3-4 Sam. Good player, but weird fit. |
| 17 | New England | Nate Solder |
OT Colorado |
I think he's an interesting player, but that Castonzo would have made a better choice, and he's from the Pats' back yard. |
| 18 | San Diego | Corey Liuget |
DT Illinois |
Good player, but kind of young and inexperienced. I don't know if I think he's a DE. |
| 19 | NY Giants | Prince Amukamara |
CB Nebraska |
He's a good player, and I like his ability to play man in a pressure-heavy scheme like the Giants play. |
| 20 | Tampa Bay | Adrian Clayborn |
DE Iowa |
I'm a little surprised that Clayborn was the guy ahead of Cameron Jordan and Da'Quan Bowers, but he's a very good player for the Bucs. |
| 21 | Cleveland (KC) | Phil Taylor |
DT Baylor |
Taylor is not just a 3-4 guy, despite what the ESPN guys are saying. I like him for the Browns, moving to an even front. |
| 22 | Indianapolis | Anthony Castonzo |
OT Boston College |
This makes a world of sense. Castonzo is the best LT in this Draft class, and the Colts got value similar to Fairley and Amukamara here. |
| 23 | Philadelphia | Danny Watkins |
G Baylor |
Philly always picks linemen highly. He's an old rookie, but he's likely to be an instant above-average starter. |
| 24 | New Orleans | Cameron Jordan |
DE California |
I think this is a great example of Best Player Available. Jordan can be a big-time starter as a LDE. |
| 25 | Seattle | James Carpenter |
OG Alabama |
Wow... I agree with Kiper. There are several better offensive linemen available here. He may be a good player, but it seems like a reach. |
| 26 | Kansas City | Jonathan Baldwin |
WR Pittsburgh |
Weird Pick. I get that they want to get another guy opposite Bowe, but I don't see how Baldwin helps stretch the field vertically. |
| 27 | Baltimore | Jimmy Smith |
CB Colorado |
This guy has all the ability to be outstanding in playing the Baltimore scheme. Ray Lewis gets unruly young guys to walk the line. |
| 28 | New Orleans (NE) | Mark Ingram |
RB Alabama |
I love this pick for the Saints, but I am a little shocked the Patriots couldn't find a spot for Ingram. |
| 29 | Chicago | Gabe Carimi |
RT Wisconsin |
Carimi can be one of the best RTs in the NFL. This filled a need, and I'm glad the Bears ignored their other need at DT. |
| 30 | NY Jets | Muhammad Wilkerson |
DE Temple |
He's more about measurables than production, but I can see why they picked him. He'll be a good 2-gap player. |
| 31 | Pittsburgh | Cameron Heyward |
DE Ohio State |
Heyward projects to be a solid rotational DE in a 3-4. This is a classic low-risk Steelers pick. |
| 32 | Green Bay | Derek Sherrod |
OT Mississippi State |
Doc Bear called this. Sherrod is going to be a very good OT for 10 years. The Packers were awful at that position 2 years ago, and now they've set themselves up to be strong there. |