Every year, it's always the same. The draft is over and now the so-called experts who have been telling us about this defensive tackle's motor, or the hips of this rushing linebacker or the hands of a blocking tight end, now they have to weigh on everyone's draft with a few more two-cent opinions.
Hey, it's what we do. I get it.
But to put any stock in it, that's another story.
It's just always humorous how someone can feel confident enough about knowing the potential of nearly 250 prospects, plus factoring in how they will fit into the personnel groups of 32 teams, to slap a grade at the end of someone's draft.
These teams have worked on this thing for a year and in one weekend, some outsider can put a letter grade on it, seemingly without knowing all the facts.
If you think this opinion is based off something recent, you're wrong. I really haven't seen any grades this year (for a reason) but I was told that a few of the analysts for ESPN and NFL Network (guys that a paid to know their stuff and watch the film) actually graded the Cowboys pretty high, many of them giving them an A for this draft.
But even if they would've given them a D , I'd say the same . . . let's wait and see how it goes. Always.
What bothers me the most about draft grades, is that players we've heard off always seem to be graded higher. It's like Detroit is getting really good value for picking up Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore or the Titans for getting Case Keenum – and both were undrafted free agents, more than let's say, Arizona for taking Ryan Lindley in the sixth round out of San Diego State.
I got that impression from fans emails and messages on twitter. They all seemed to be pumped about both Claiborne and OU tight end James Hanna, a sixth-round hopeful, but yet think the team reached by taking a Boise State defensive end, a pass-rusher from Wake Forest and definitely a safety from Eastern Washington.
My guess is that most people hadn't even watched any of the guys, maybe even Claiborne including. We're just going off what we think the tape will tell us.
If you want to grade a draft, go ahead and analyze 2008. It's been four years and most of the guys have come and gone. If they're not gone, they might be getting close.
Normally, 2009 might be a little early, but since none of the 12 players are starters on this team – and only three of them are still around and just one other player remains on an NFL roster. So that draft is already toast.
But that's the point. It takes a few years to figure out how good or bad or average a draft is. It's certainly not a weekend.
