Nuggets Hire Brian Shaw

After being passed over as head coach many times, Brian Shaw finally gets an opportunity to show his value in Denver. Shaw will take over a team that far exceeded expectations in the regular season, but once again floundered in the playoffs.

Shaw has been an assistant for both the Lakers and the Pacers and has done very well with young player development. That is good news for the Nuggets because they are full of young players. Fournier will be in for more minutes this season so it will be interesting to see if Shaw can help him come along in his development.

There are a couple of things that will be interesting to see how Shaw handles. One of them is the starting center situation. McGee is obviously the most talented center on the team, but is he able to lead the team as a starter? There is obviously the asthma issue, but he can still start and play short bursts of minutes. He also needs to cut Andre Miller's minutes. I believe Shaw understands that Lawson is not a shooting guard and that he should be running the point every moment he is on the court. That means Miller would have less time on the court because he is not a shooting guard either.

I believe Shaw will be a successful coach in Denver. He has experienced a myriad of different offensive schemes in his many years as a head coach and will find one that works in Denver. I am assuming he will let them run at a fast pace, but he will instill some defensive discipline in a team that could use some. I am very happy with the Shaw hiring and I believe that the Nuggets will win 50+ games next season.

Celtics Trade Doc Rivers

The Boston Celtics traded Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers for a 2015 first round pick. The pick is also unprotected, but I don't think that will become an issue. This is the first time, in a really long time, that a coach has been traded in the NBA. The last coach trade that I remember involved Jon Gruden, when he was traded from Oakland to Tampa Bay.

This was a good trade for Boston because Rivers was unlikely to return to the team this season. Getting a first round pick in exchange should be considered a steal. Boston is now saddled with finding a new coach, but they would have had to anyways. They likely will not find a coach as good as Rivers was, but they are in full rebuilding mode now. They will likely be back with a lot of new players next season in an effort to get young.

Chris Paul's decision to come back or not will make or break this deal for Rivers. If he does not return, this would be a big bust because they are not a championship contender without him. If this Rivers deal convinces him to return, this would be a good deal because a late first round draft pick would not be too much to part with in return for one of the better coaches in the league.

It will also be interesting to see if the Clippers decide to pursue Garnett. Garnett was a part of the original deal, but the league struck down the proposed deal. The Clippers should try to pursue him because he has a nice report with Doc Rivers.

I think this is a good deal for both teams, but only if Chris Paul returns to the Clippers. I do believe the Celtics got the best part of the deal because there was little to no chance he would return next season.

NBA Mock Draft 4.0

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Alex Len C Maryland 

The Cavs have expressed interest in drafting Len with the number one pick. If they are expressing this interest now, he must be pretty high up on their draft board. I have no idea why they don't want Otto Porter. Len might not even start right away if Varejao impresses again in training camp. Len has to work on his offensive game, but his defense and rebounding are pretty solid. I like Len more than Noel at this pick because he is not coming off of injury and he is a better player right now. 

2. Orlando Magic: Ben McLemore SG Kansas
Aside from the rumored trade of Arron Afflalo for Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler, there have also been rumors that McLemore is on top of the Magic big board. If that is true, they should draft him, whether or not Afflalo is traded by the time of the draft. McLemore would give them a top scoring option from inside and out, which is something the Magic dearly need.

3. Washington Wizards: Otto Porter SF Georgetown
Since the Cavs are passing up on Porter, the Wizards should take him. Porter would start right away and he, Wall and Beal would make a nice, young trio. Porter needs to work on his shot, but he can score inside very well. The Wizards can afford to pass on Noel because they have Nene and Okafor under contract for next season.


4. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Bennett PF/SF UNLV
With McLemore off the board, the Bobcats should take the best player available. Luckily for them, Anthony Bennett is the best player available and he fills a dire need. Byron Mullins is a free agent and he is not a good starter anyways. Bennett would provide Charlotte with a big man who can score in a variety of ways.

5. Phoenix Suns: Nerlens Noel PF/C Kentucky
Noel is finally taken off of the board by the Suns, who could desperately use front court help. Luis Scola is good, but is getting old. Marcin Gortat had a very bad year after Steve Nash left for the LA Lakers. Noel could provide bench depth in his first year, after he comes back from his ACL injury. He would likely be a starter by his second season. The Suns could use help in a lot of areas, but Noel has the most potential and they would be lucky if he fell this far.

6. New Orleans Pelicans: Shabazz Muhammad SF/SG UCLA
The Pelicans would like to take a center, but Len is off of the board at this point. Eric Gordon is either injured or pouting and he may not be on the team this coming season. The Pelicans could use a wing scorer and Muhammad is the best option at this point. He needs to work on his shot selection, but he would provide some big scoring games for the Pelicans that they really missed last season.

7. Sacramento Kings: Victor Oladipo SG Indiana
Oladipo might fall this far if Len is picked with the number one pick. The best case scenario for the Kings would be not to resign Evans and start Oladipo right away. Oldapio would provide a defensive presence and has the ability to improve his overall offensive game. Even if he does not, he would still be a lockdown defender. I would compare him to Andre Iguodala.


8. Detroit Pistons: Trey Burke PG Michigan
The Pistons catch a break with Burke falling this far. They could use more help at shooting guard or small forward, but Burke would be a welcomed addition as an outside scorer. There is nothing wrong with Calderon at point, but Burke is a long term solution. I reckon Burke would start right away or at least get big minutes off of the bench.


9. Minnesota Timberwolves: CJ McCollum SG Lehigh
The Timberwolves need a shooting guard in the worst possible way. McCollum is more of a combo guard, but he has the skills to play shooting guard, the only thing holding him back is his height. He should be starting as soon as possible because the Timberwolves absolutely need immediate help at this position.


10. Portland Trailblazers: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope SG Georgia
The Trailblazers really lacked a presence off of the bench last season. Caldwell-Pope would be a nice shooter to have coming off of the bench in his first couple of seasons and maybe he could carve out a starting position in the near future. They could use a center also, but they will have a hard time finding a true center and they would be better off trying to resign Hickson.


11. Philadelphia 76ers: Cody Zeller PF/C Indiana 
Zeller needs to put on some muscle and become stronger, in order for him to become a full fledged starting center. In is first couple of years, he could be a nice asset to have coming off of the bench. Zeller is a good offensive player, who plays smart, but defers to lesser teammates too often. If he gets stronger and gets a mean streak going, he could be a very good player in 2-3 years.


12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Rudy Gobert C France
The Thunder need to replace Perkins immediately, which is why I am tempted to think that they will pick Kelly Olynyk out of Gonzaga, but Gobert's potential is too great to pass up on. He needs to work on his offensive game a lot, but his defense and size are too good to pass up on. Even if his offensive game never fully develops, he will still be a better player than Kendrick Perkins.


13. Dallas Mavericks: Michael Carter-Williams PG Syracuse
I have had Kentavious Caldwell-Pope mocked to Dallas for a while now, but with Portland taking him, Dallas will have to settle on taking Carter-Williams. He will give the Mavs a much needed distributive point guard. They do not want Darren Collison back and Carter-Williams should make them forget about him.


14. Utah Jazz: Dennis Schroeder PG Germany
With Carter-Williams off of the board, the Jazz will have to settle with Schroeder. That should be OK with them, Schroeder is not the distributer that Carter-Williams is, but he is a better scorer. He has a slight frame, but he should be able to put on some weight before the season ends. He is very quick and will be able to leave many defenders in the dust. He should start right away and get around 30 minutes a game in his rookie season.

15. Milwaukee Bucks: Sergey Karasev SF Russia
Karasev has been slowly climbing up draft boards and I think his likely landing spot is Milwaukee. Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings could both be gone and the Bucks need to find a new scorer. Karasev is very crafty, but he needs to settle for less three pointers and try to get easier shots in the paint.


16. Boston Celtics: Kelly Olynyk C Gonzaga
The Celtics need a center, Kevin Garnett is not a center and even if he was, he is nearing the end of his illustrious career and he might be traded. Olynyk would provide a nice inside-outside offensive presence. He is not quite as polished inside, but he will have a lot of time work on that. He is not much of a defensive player, but his offensive game should be enough to nullify his weaknesses. He should start right away and have a very good and productive career.

17. Atlanta Hawks: Allen Crabbe SG California
The Hawks need a shooting guard who can score and Crabbe fits that bill. Crabbe often settles for three point shots more often than he should. He also has trouble creating on his own. However, of he uses his three point shot as a tool to get open elsewhere on the floor, he could become very dangerous.


18. Atlanta Hawks: Lucas Nogueira C Brazil
Nogueira's stock is starting to rise quickly, due to his showing at the Adidas Eurocamp. I still don't think he should be drafted this high, but teams love his potential and for him to show it on the court, that will have teams drooling for him. He won't start right away, but he will be a key bench player for the Hawks for a couple of seasons, until he is ready to take over.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers: Giannas Adetokoubo SF Greece
Giannas would fill the small forward need after the Cavs passes on Porter with the first pick. He needs to work on his outside game, but he could develop into a dangerous point forward. He is very athletic and can score inside very well. If he develops an outside game, he could become one of the best small forwards in the league.

20. Chicago Bulls: Steven Adams C Pittsburg
Steven Adams is a developmental project, but he has enough skills to get some rotational minutes early in his career. He has an NBA ready body and he can play solid defense, but he really needs to work on his offensive game because it is really broken. The Bulls could use a center to backup Noah and Adams reminds me of Asik early in his career.


21. Utah Jazz: Tony Mitchell SF North Texas
The Jazz need some small forward help and Tony Mitchell would bring it. He is very athletic and can from the inside. He could use some work on his outside shooting, but they have Gordon Hayward for that.


22. Brooklyn Nets: Mason Plumlee PF Duke
The Nets need some big man help. Reggie Evans played well toward the end of last season, but he may not be able to keep it up for an entire season. Plumlee would be able to help, he is a decent scoring presence, unlike Evans. He plays OK defense and is very active on the boards, much like Evans. I also think Evans would be better suited for a bench role.


23. Indiana Pacers: Tim Hardaway Jr SG Michigan
The Pacers need some backcourt depth in general, but if they snag someone who can shoot, that will be an added bonus. Hardaway can shoot, but he has a hard time creating his own shot. Having a three point shooter on the roster will really help them in the playoffs when they need a reliable shooter.


24. New York Knicks: Shane Larkin PG Miami
I think the Knicks would take a player like Larkin in the first round. I do not think he belongs in the first round, but he will intrigue some team with his athleticism. New York needs a point guard since Jason Kidd retired and Pablo Prigioni is 36 years old and will not be around long. Ray Felton is still the starter, but Larkin would make a decent backup.

25. LA Clippers: Jamaal Franklin SG San Diego State
The Clippers need a shooting guard. Chauncey Billups is getting old and has not been able to hold up in recent years. Jamal Crawford played great last season, but he is also getting up there in age and he is better suited as a sixth man. Franklin would bring athleticism, but he could use some work on his jump shot.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jeff Withey C Kansas
The Timberwolves need some front court depth behind Pekovic and Love. Withey would provide a shot blocking and defensive presence, something that neither Pekovic or Love can provide. Withey's offensive game is raw, but it improved in his senior year. However, there is not much potential there.


27. Denver Nuggets: Gorgui Dieng C Louisville
The Nuggets would be very lucky if Dieng fell to them. With Lucas Nogueira souring up draft boards, there is a chance that Dieng fell to them. He would give Denver an actual defensive presence on the inside, while brining an offensive game that no other Nugget center has. He can hit the mid range shot, which will give Ty Lawson a lot of options when he drives into the lane. Dieng would be a day one starter for the Nuggets since he is not only the best center, but there is no more George Karl to hold back rookies.

28. San Antonio Spurs: Reggie Bullock SG/SF UNC

Bullock would provide a very good three point shooting presence off of the bench for the Spurs. Ginobli is in the last year of his contract and he may not be retained, while Kawhi Leonard does not have a proper backup. Bullock has a hard time creating his own shot, but with Tony Parker running the show, he wont have to. 

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Ricky Ledo G/F Providence 
The Thunder need someone behind Durant so he can actually get some rest. Ledo has loads of potential, but he did not get to play since he was ruled ineligible.


30. Phoenix Suns: Glen Rice JR NBADL
The Suns need a small forward and Rice would be the best one on the board at this point. Rice is good at a lot of things, but not great at one. Add that to his off the court issues, he falls to the end of the first round.

2009 NFL Draft Grading

I am a staunch believer drafts should only be graded after 3 years. Mist sites are grading this years draft already and none of those players have stepped foot on an NFL field yet. In this article there will be a grade for every team.

Arizona Cardinals: 

Chris "Beanie" Wells was their first pick of the draft. He had a successful rookie season rushing for 793 yards at 4.3 a clip and racking up 7 touchdowns, all without starting a single game. In his second season he suffered through sophomore slump where we saw his production drop across the board. He was held under 400 yards of rushing, his average went below 4 yards per carry and he had less attempts. Wells had a resurgence in his 3rd year when he broke 1000 yards and started 13 games while getting to double digit TDs on the season. The Cardinals 2nd pick of the draft never even played for them, he was injured before he got a snap in and he was waived the following offseason, he is currently without an NFL team. Gregory Toler and Rashad Johnson turned into decent players. Although, Toler missed all of last season. Herman Johnson, Will Davis and Trevor Canfield do not play for the team anymore while LaRod Stephens-Howlings does not make much of an impact.

Draft Grade: D
5 of the players do not play on the team anymore and Chris Wells is the only one who might turn into a star. This was not the worst draft for 2009 as we will see later

Atlanta Falcons:

Peria Jerry was the falcons first pick in the draft and he has been an utter disappointment having only started 6 games in his 3 year career. He only has 2 sacks and 15 tackles throughout his career. He all really need to step it up in training camp for the Falcons not to cut him. The second pick was William Moore who has had a solid career up to this point. He only played 2 games in his rookie season , but he started 15 games and had 5 interceptions and 8 pass deflections. He missed 4 games last season, but still had 2 picks and 9 passes defended. If he can consistently play he will continue on an upward trend. They also selected CB Christopher Owens who has been decent, but his numbers have trended downward since his rookie year. He has started less games and has had less interceptions each year. That is not the direction the Falcons want to see him going. Lawrence Sidbury had 4 sacks last year, but didn't make a start. William Middleton doesn't play for the team anymore. Garrett Reynolds and Vance Walker haven't done anything note worthy over their careers.

Draft Grade: F-

The Falcons missed on their first pick and just about every other pick. William Moore is the only player who has a chance of being a good player out of this draft class.

Baltimore Ravens:

Michael Oher has started every game of his career while switch from RT to LT and back to RT last season. He has done well for himself, he anchors the O line and he is easily one of the best picks in the 2009 draft. Paul Kruger has only started 1 game in his entire career, but he is a good spot play. He had 5.5 sacks last season, he is a cog in the Ravens D that helps it run. If he wants to live up to his draft spot he needs to push for a starting position. Ladarius Webb is becoming one of the best corners in the league and was rewarded with a 6 year 52 million dollar contract including a 10 million dollar signing bonus. The Ravens really hit on this pick. Jason Phillips, Davon Drew and and Cedric Peerman never made it with the Ravens, Phillips and Peerman are both off of the team.

Draft Grade: B+

Michael Oher and Ladarius Webb make this draft a good one with a top flight RT and a top flight CB. Kruger has done well in spot duty.
Buffalo Bills

Arron Maybin out of Penn State did absolutely nothing for the Bills and only started one game his entire career. He was released before last season and signed with the Jets. He had 6 sacks last year and if he becomes the player the Bills thought he might be, while playing on the Jets it would be a huge blow to them. Center and Guard Eric Wood has become a starter, but he hasn't played a full season yet, maxing out at 14 games on 2010. He only played 9 last year. Offensive line play is about chemistry and they need Wood to be healthy for a full season. FS Jarius Byrd came out in fury in his rookie season, intercepting 9 passes and having 11 pass defensed. He has slowed down on the interceptions since his rookie year, he only has 4 since, but he has stepped up on tackles and forced fumbles, acquiring 6 the past 2 years. He will be a starter for a long time in this league. OG Andy Levitre has started every game in his career which is great because they wanted this guy when they traded a 3rd and a 4th to move back into the second round. TE Shawn Nelson started 12 games his rookie season, but he only caught 17 passes. In his Sophomore year he only played in 5 games, he now plays for the New York Jets. LB Nic Harris only played 1 season in Buffalo making 2 starts, but failed a physical and was released. CB Cary Harris was waived on the final round of cuts in his second season. CB Ellis Lankster played some nickel in his rookie season, but was released in 2010.

Draft Grade: C+

Jarius Byrd, Eric Wood and Andy Levitre are quality starters out of this draft. They had a major bust in Arron Maybin and missed on their late round picks.

Carolina Panthers:

The Panthers didn't pick until the 2nd round of the draft. They went with Everett Brown which was not a great decision. He tallied 6 sacks in two seasons as a Panther. After 2 seasons he was waived by the Panthers. Sherrod Martin was good pick for the Panthers he has started all of the games he has played in the last 2 years. He has 7 interceptions in 3 seasons including 3 last year. He had 8 pass defensed last year. Corvey Irvin has been a bust and literally hasn't done anything in his entire career. Mike Goodsen had a good second year when he started 3 games, he had 452 rushing yards on 4.4 YPC and had 3 TDs. He has been utilized in the KR game, but his second year was his best all around. It would be best if Jonathan Stuart left at the trade deadline then Goodsen could really shine. Tony Fiammetta doesn't play for the Panther anymore and when he was there he didn't get much playing time anyways. For the supposed best fullback in the draft he was a bust. Duke Robinson has never played and is a complete bust. Captain Munnerlyn started 14 games last year, but didnt do much on D. In his second year he did better with 3 interceptions.

Draft Grade: D-

Sherrod Martin and Munnerlyn keep this from being the worst draft of they year.

Chicago Bears: 

The Bears didn't have a pick until the 3rd round due to the Jay Cutler trade. Which is still hanging in the balance. With their first pick in the 3rd round they selected DT Jarron Gilbert who played in 4 games and only had 1 tackle in his 1 year in Chicago, he has not had any success elsewhere. With the 99th pick they selected WR Juaquin Iglesias who was another terrible pick. He has only played in 1 game his entire career. DE Henry Melton was the next pick, he didn't play in his rookie season and didn't start in his second. He did start 15 games last year and he had 7 sacks and 18 total tackles. He was one of the only decent picks by the Bears in the draft. CB DJ Moore was picked in the 4th round. He has only started 1 game, but he has 8 interceptions in the last 2 years combined. The Bears seemed to draft better players in the later rounds. They drafted WR Johnny Knox in the 5th round and he had a breakout year in his second year with almost 1000 yards. Some thought he would be on his way to being a good reviver, but he took a step back last year when he fought injuries and didn't seem to have much chemistry with Jay Cutler. Marcus Freeman, Al Afalava and Derek Kinder never did anything for the Bears. Lance Louis started 13 games last season. He wasn't too bad and has done well for a late round pick.

Draft Grade: C

Getting Jay Cutler with their first 2 picks helped out this grade. Melton, Moore and Knox make this a respectable draft. Also finding Lance Louis in the late round helps round out this average draft.

Cincinnati Bengals:

With the first pick in the draft the Bengals took T Andre Smith. Smith got off to a slow start in his career because of weight problems, but he started 14 games last year and he looks to continue starting this year. In the second round they took Rey Maualuga who has started every game he has played in except one. He has been effective, but not quite a super star, but to get a starter in the second round is nice. With their first pick in the first round they selected DE Michael Johnson, he has started 10 games, but none last year. He is used as a pass rusher, racking up 6 sacks last season which was his most productive. Their second pick was Chase Coffman a TE from Missouri, but he has made no impact in his career and is off the team. They also selected C Jonathan Luigs, but he never played. In the 5th round P Kevin Huber, which normally never happens. When you pick a K/P before the 7th round he better be an all-pro, but he isn't. RB Bernard Scott has been a solid backup running back. None of the other picks have made an impact.

Draft Grade: D+

Smith and Maualuga have been starter, but none of the other players have made a significant impact.

Cleveland Brown:

With their first pick in the draft they selected C Alex Mack who has started every single game since he has been in the league. He is a solid center and is considered one of the best in the league. WR Brian Robiskie made little impact and no longer plays for the team. His WR counterpart Mohamed Massaquoi is a starter who has had more than 30 catches and 380 yards each season, but he has gotten worse since his rookie season. LB David Veikune has made 0 impact. Kaluka Maiava has had somewhat of an impact, he started 6 games last season and it looks like he may start this year. None of the other pick made an impact for the Browns or any other team.

Draft Grade: C-

Alex Mack is one of the best centers in the league. Massaquoi starts, but he wouldn't on most other teams.

Dallas Cowboys:

This may be the worst draft in the 2009 draft. LB Jason Williams, OT Robert Brewster, QB Stephen McGee, DE Victor Butler, CB DeAngelo Smith and FS Michael Hamlin never made any impact. This is terrible.

Draft Grade: FO should be embarrassed.

This is terrible.

Denver Broncos:

With the first pick in the draft the Broncos selected RB Knowshon Moreno who is a decent 3rd down back, but not what you are looking for in the 12th pick. He also may be off the team next year. DE Robert Ayers is a solid run stopping DE who is a starter. He did have 6 sacks last season if you count the playoffs so that is a step forward. In the second round they drafted Alfonso Smith, but they traded a first rounder for him and he was cut after his rookie season. FS Darcel McBath is also gone as is TE Richard Quinn who has caught a total of 1 pass in his career. David Bruton is a special teamer, who is good at his job, that is a good pick up in the 5th round. Seth Olsen, Tom Brandstater and Blake Shlueter don't play for the team. WR Kenny McKinley looked promising, but in a sad turn of events he killed himself when he was injured.

Draft Grade: F+

Moreno is decent and Ayers is a starter, but that is all the Broncos really have from this draft.

Detroit Lions: 

Matt Stafford was the first pick and the draft and he has panned out real well for the Lions. He is one if the top QB's in the league when healthy he just needs to cut down on the interceptions. TE Brandon Pettigrew was picked to help out Stafford and he has done well too. He has gotten better every year topping it off with 83 catches 777 yards and 5 TD's, I think it is safe to say he has done his job. FS Louis Delmas started 11 games last season, but it doesn't look like he will start this year. He isn't a ball hawk and he is a big hitter, only. LB DeAndre Levy started every single game last year and has improved every year he has been in the league and he is a solid starter. WR Derrick Williams was used as a kick returner his rookie season, but he hasn't done anything else. DT Sammie Lee Hill has been a solid rotational player, but he is not quite a starter. Arron Brown, Lydon Murtha and Zack Follet have done nothing in their careers worth noting. The only thing Dan Gronkowski has done is being related to Rob Gronkowski.

Draft Grade: A-

Stafford and Pettigrew are 2 of the top players at their positions and Levy has been a solid starter.

Green Bay Packers:

DT BJ Raji has started all 16 games the past 2 years adding 9.5 sacks combined. He clogs the holes and teams have to game plan for him causing him to make room for the other D linemen and line backers. LB Clay Matthews had 23.5 sacks combined in his first 2 years, but last year some of the hype go to him and he finished with only 6. He is still one of the best pass rushers in the league and should be recognized as one. T TJ Lang became a starter last season and it turned out well for them even though they still have a porous offensive line. FB Quinn Johnson played in a couple of games for the Packers, but he doesn't play for them anymore. G-T Jamon Meredith never played for the Packers. DE Jarius Wynn played well in spot duty, he had 3 sacks last year, not bad for a 6th round draft pick. CB Brandon Underwood never barely played for Green Bay and is currently not on a team. LB Brad Jones  still plays in spot duty, but his number of snaps have gone down since his rookie season.

Draft Grade: A

Raji and Matthews have become very good players. Lang and Wynn have been solid. They got 3 starters in the first 3 rounds which helps their grade.

Houston Texans:

The Texans looked like they got the next great linebacker with their first pick, Brian Cushing, but he tested positive for PED's after his rookie season. He hasn't been the same since. Connor Barwin tore it up lat season, he finished with 11.5 sacks and started all 16 games. With Mario Williams gone expect him to have another good year and a few more after that. G Antoine Caldwell has been a serviceable backup, but he isn't anything else. S Golver Quin started every game last season, but he isn't much of a difference maker, he didn't have any picks or forced fumbles. He is solid and that is it. They drafted a pair of TE's, Anthony Hill and James Casey, Casey is the only one who has done anything in his career, but he hasn't done much. CB Brice McCain is a dime back and that is it, he did have 2 picks last season. Troy Nolan has been decent in his 2 seasons, but his stats dropped off from 2010. Bonus Pick: Arian Foster, Foster was undrafted, but he is the best running back in the NFL so you have to include him.

Draft Grade: B+

Houston had a very solid draft and they got a lot of players that contribute.

Indianapolis Colts:

RB Donald Brown has been decent, but since Joseph Addai may be gone this season he could be full time starter which will help his stats. DT Fili Moala has started every game he has been healthy the last 2 seasons. He only had 2 sacks last season, but he stuffs the run well which makes up for his lack of pass rushing ability. CB Powers has a issue with injuries, but he is solid with 2 interceptions the past 2 seasons. It remains to be seen whether WR Austin Collie can be the same without Peyton Manning, but he should remain the 2nd best target this season. P Pat McAfee has been a very successful punter in the league and he should have a long career. DT Terrance Taylor, QB Curtis Painter and OT Jaimie Thomas have all been busts.

Draft Grade: C

Brown and Collie may be good, but other than that Moala is the only other starter. Decent draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars:

The Jaguars drafted a pair of OT's with their first 2 picks, Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton, both have done well. Monroe started all of his games last season. Britton stared 3 of 4 because of injuries. Both should be starting best season. DT Terrence Knighton was very good in his first 2 season racking up 5.5 sacks and 54 tackles. Last season he was not as successful, he had 0 sacks and only 17 tackles in 13 games. CB Cox only started 6 games last season in a disappointing season, but in his first 2 he had 8 interceptions and 2 pass defensed. WR Thomas has been decent receiver and will most likely be demoted with the acquisition of Justin Blackmon. Jarret Dillard will most likely be cut in camp. TE Zach Miller, no not that one, is not playing of the Jaguars anymore. RB Rashad Jennings also does not play on the team anymore.

Draft Grade: B-

Monroe, Britton and Knighton have all been very good starters. Cox has also played very well.

Kansas City Chiefs:

DE Tyson Jackson has started games, but really hasn't produced. He only has 2 sacks combined the last 2 seasons, but had 37 tackles last season. DL Alex Magee hasn't produced and now plays on the Buccaneers. CB Donald Washington also hasn't produced and will most likely be cut in training camp. OT Colin Brown never made it on the team. K Ryan Succop is the only player worth mentioning in this draft. He is a solid kicker

Draft Grade: D-

All they got was a decent DL starter and a kicker...

Miami Dolphins:

First round pick Vontae Davis had a very good season last year racking up 4 interceptions 8 pass defensed and 39 tackles. QB Pat White might have been the worst pick in the draft, he was drafted to be a wildcat QB... IN THE SECOND ROUND!! He was nowhere near ready for the NFL. CB Sean Smith starts alongside Davis and they make a good team, Smith is not as good, but he racks up the tackles, 51. WR Brian Hartline is a decent slot WR he's had over 30 catches each season and averages around 15 YPC. TE John Nalbone never made it onto the squad. Chris Clemons lost his starting job last season, but with the departure of Yeramiah Bell he could take back his starting job. Andrew Gardner and JD Folsom never made it in the NFL.

Draft Grade: C

Davis ans Smith are starting corners and Hartline is a decent slot, but wasting a second round pick on Pat White hurts the draft.

Minnesota Vikings:

Percy Harvin won rookie of the year, but he has been battling migraines his whole career. His yardage and his receptions have improved every season, even though he has yet to complete a full season, capping off with 87 catches 967 yards and 6 TD's. T Phil Loadholt is a starter and a decent one they could improve, but they could also do worse. CB Asher Allen started 9 of 13 games last season with 1 interception. The Vikings have one of the worst pass defenses in the league so it isn't a consolation that he is starting. Jasper Brinkley is no longer on the team. 7th round pick Jamarca Sanford has been a pleasant surprise since he a starter who had 2 interceptions last season.

Draft Grade: A-

Harvin is a stud who teams have to game plan for. Brinkely is the only non starter out of the group which helps the grade.

New England Patriots:

The Patriots did a lot of trading down in the draft, but whats new? The selected Patrick Chung with their first pick and he has turned into a starter, starting 8 of 8 games last season. He has 4 interceptions in the past 2 seasons. DL Ron Brace hasn't been good, only showing up in 7 games last season and he has yet to record a sack. Darius Butler hasn't had an interception in the past 2 years and his number of games have dropped from season to season. T Sebastien Vollmer has been a decent back up, but can be easily replaced. Tyrone McKenzie never made a splash for the patriots yet and don't expect him to. Rich Ohrnberger has barely played in the NFL. WR Julian Edelmen was drafted as a QB, but he was turned into a WR and he has filled in admirably for Wes Welker when he is hurt. Nobody else in the draft class did anything.

Draft Grade: D+

Lots of trading down didn't do much, they got a starting safety and that is about it.

New Orleans Saints:

1st round pick Malcolm Jenkins was drafted as a CB, but has since moved to FS because he couldn't cut it as a CB in the NFL. No one else in the draft class has done much for the team.

Draft Class: D

Malcolm Jenkins couldn't cut it as corner and he is below average for a FS that was drafted with the 14th pick. The other 3 picks didn't do anything.

New York Giants:

Hakeem Nicks is one of the top WR's in the league, but he has a problem staying healthy. He had 76 catches for 1192 and 7 TD's last season. No one else from the draft class made an impact.

Draft Grade: C-

Nicks is one of the best WR's int the league, but they missed on every other pick in the draft.

New York Jets:

They traded up for Mark Sanchez and they traded a lot. Sanchez was not worth it, he is decent, but they trade most of their draft for this pick. He could get replaced as starter sometime in the season by Tim Tebow. RB Shonn Green had one good year, but he is not a difference maker at his position. He will be replaced soon. OG Matt Slauson is a starter and he is the best pick in this draft class.

Draft Grade: D

Sanchez and Green are decent, but will be replaced sometime in the near future. Slauson is the best pick in the draft.

Oakland Raiders:

The Raiders surprised everyone by taking Darrius Heyward-Bey with their first pick in front of Michael Crabtree. He had a rough 2 years, but he seemed to turn it on last year with 64 catches with 975 yards and 4 TD's which was better than Crabtree. S Michael Mitchell hasn't done much since entering the NFL, he only plays in spot duty, but he will get to compete for a starting job this season. DE Matt Shaughnessy only played in 3 games last season, but in the previous season he had 7 sacks and it looked like he would turn into a top DE in the league. They drafted another receiver, Louis Murphy, and he looked like he could be decent. IN his second season he had 41 catches and 601 yards and 2 TDs, but last season he only started 1 game and played in 11 in an overall disappointing year. None of the other picks made an impact.

Draft Grade: C+

Heyward-Bey could turn into a good receiver and Shaughnessy could be an elite DE, but the other picks are nothing more than role players.

Philadelphia Eagles:

WR Jeremy Maclin and Percy Harvin are the 2 best receivers in the draft. Maclin had his best year in his second year ending up with 70 catches 964 receiving yards and 10 TD's. Last year he only played 13 games because of injuries. He still had a good season and he should continue to improve. RB LeSean McCoy was their second pick and he turned into one of the best running backs in the league. McCoy had 1309 yards and 17 TD's last season, he also added on 315 receiving yards and another 3 TD's. The only other pick that has made noise was Moise Fouko, he is a part time starter at LB, but the Eagles are terrible at LB so it isn't a consolation prize.

Draft Grade: B

Maclin and McCoy are both pro bowl talents, but they didn't land on any other picks.

Pittsburgh Steelers:

First round pick Evander Hood looks like a good rotation player, but he had a nice season last year. He started 7 games racking up 1.5 sacks and 23 tackles. WR Mike Wallace has turned into a top receiver, racking up 70 catches 1193 yards and 8 TD's last season in only 14 starts. CB Keenan Lewis is not a starter and is at best a nickel back. None of the other picks are worth talking about besides RB Issac Redman who is a good backup and could be starter in the absence of Mendenhall.

Draft Grade: C

Hood is a decent rotation player. They only impact player in Wallace who is one of the best WR's in the league.

San Diego Chargers:

First Round pick Larry English is basically a bust now. He was supposed to be an elite pass rusher, but he hasn't had more than 3 sacks in a season. G Louis Vasquez is a starter, but he hasn't competed a full season yet which has hurt his stock. DT Vaughn Martin is a good run stuffer, he started 15 games last season and had 27 tackles. LG Tyronne Green is also a starter, it is a plus to get 2 starting guards in the same draft. None of the other picks made any kind of splash.

Draft Grade: C+

They got 3 starters on the front lines. Getting 2 starting guards in the same draft is a definite plus.

San Francisco 49ers:

WR Michael Crabtree has improved each season which is good since he sat out a lot of his rookie season. He had 72 catches 872 yards and 4 TD's last season. It also helped that he had improved QB play last season. Glen Coffee had a decent rookie season, but he abruptly retired because he heart wasn't in the game. 3rd round pick Scott McKillop also only played 1 season. QB Nate Davis has been overshadowed by Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick so it looks like he might never see the field. Again, none of the other picks did much for the 49ers.

Draft Grade: D

Crabtree may be a good receiver, but he isn't there yet.

Seattle Seahawks: 

LB Aaron Curry was the 4th overall pick and he was a complete bust. He was released last season because he could not make it on the team. T Max Unger has been decent, but he is nothing special. WR Deon Butler had 36 catches 385 yards and 4 TD's in his second season, but he only played in 5 games last season leading to bad stats and dropping down the depth chart. None of the other picks have had much playing time or don't play on the team anymore

Draft Grade: F

Curry was a compete bust and the best player might be Unger and he isn't even that good.

St. Louis Rams:

The Rams wanted a mainstay at LT so they drafted Jason Smith who is a starter, but he is often injured so he hasn't developed a rhythm in the NFL. LB James Laurinaitis is the starting MLB who averages 100 tackles a season. He is becoming one of the better MLB's in the league. CB Bradley Fletcher is decent, but he wasn't healthy last season which hurts his stock. None of the other players are worth mentioning.

Draft Grade: C

James Laurinaitus is a really good MLB and Jason Smith is a starter, but he needs to stay healthy.

Tama Bay Buccaneers:

QB Josh Freeman looks like he could be the QB of the future. He had a down year last year, but he should bounce back and have a solid year like his second year. DT Roy Miller is nothing more than a below average rotational player. After that the quality of the players severely falls off into nothing.

Draft Class: D

Freeman is the only good player, but he wont be a star in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans:

WR Kenny Britt looked like he was about to turn it on this year, but he was injured 2 1/2 games in. He had 17 Catches 289 yards and 3 TD's in those games, expect big things from him this year. DT Sen'Derrick Marks might be cut this offseason, he doesn't seem to be a top notch DT which is what you are looking for in a second round pick. TE Jared Cook had a career year last season with 49 catches 759 yards and 3 TD's. Ryan Mouton no longer plays in the NFL. LB Gerald McRath looks to be a solid back up, but that is it he is not starting material. OL TRy Kropog doesn't play at all. RB Javon Ringer is a back up to one of the best running backs in the league so he does not get a lot of playing time to show off his skills. 6th round pick Jason McCourty looks to be a late you steal. He is a starter on the team and he ended up with 13 pass defensed last season. None of the other late round picks did anything either.

Draft Grade: C+

Britt is going to be a top notch WR and the same with Cook at his position. McCourty was a late round steal.

Washington Redskins:

LB brian Orakpo was one of the best pass rushers in this draft. He had 11 sacks in his rookie season, but he hasn't had double digits since, getting 8.5 and 9 the past 2 seasons. CB Kevin Barnes is decent, but nothing special, however he did end up with 2 picks last season. Cody Glenn never got started in the NFL. The late round picks never mad an impact.

Draft Grade: C-

Orakpo was the best player, he and Barnes were the only players to have made an impact.

JD Walton Sidelined

Broncos starting center JD Walton has been sidelined until at least mid-October because of an addition procedure that was done on his ankle recently. Walton missed most of last season because of an ankle injury and it looks as if he will start this season off on the PUP list. I was thinking this could be Walton's last season as a starter because of his on the field play, but this injury might put the lid on his starting days in Denver.

The Broncos need to find out a way to replace their starting center and I believe they should go and sign Dan Koppen. Koppen started 12 games last season after Walton went down with an injury. He knows how to interact with Manning and he fits in on the offensive line. Koppen is a good pass blocker and he would solidify a solid pass blocking line, but he lacks in the run blocking arena.

The Broncos could also stay within the team to find a starting center until Walton comes back. Manny Ramirez took reps at starting center when Walton was not present. He played guard last season, but not very well. He may be better at center, but I doubt it. Phillip Blake could also get some reps down the road, but it is a bit disconcerting that Ramirez received reps before him, considering he was a mid-round draft pick.

Walton should not be too difficult to replace. He is not a spectacular player and since the Broncos just signed Dan Koppen, I don't expect Walton to start another game in Denver.

Why the NBA Needs to Change Draft Age Rules

The NBA would be wise to start looking at ways they can change the age limit for hopeful prospects. It was not long ago when the NBA allowed players to come out of high school, this led to mixed results. There are great stories of NBA players coming out of high school like Kevin Garnett, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard. Then there are some horror stories such as Kwame Brown, Eddie Curry and Sebastian Telfair. Not every player coming out of college can be Lebron James although they all think they can. This leads to players who were clearly not ready leaving for the pros one year after college. This has lead to the destruction of the college game because teams are not able to build dynasties because players will be leaving after one year.

 That brings me to my point that NBA prospects should spend at least three years in college before being eligible for the draft. Players like John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis and Bradley Beal will or have had success in the NBA, but there are many players who will follow in their footsteps who won't. There are others that simply aren't ready and two more years in college would do them well. Players like Brandan Wright could have put on more muscles, a bigger frame would have helped his NBA career tremendously. Derrick Rose has turned into a sensation after becoming a pro after only one year in college, but the 2nd pick in that draft, Michael Beasley, has not been as prosperous. Besides those two 8 other freshmen were taken in the 1st round, only Kevin Love is a star. OJ Mayo and Eric Gordon were also taken, but I need to see more from both of them before I call them stars. There is always bust potential for any NBA player, but at least if a senior bust he will have something to fall back on, while if a freshman or even sophomore bust they lose their scholarship and most likely will not be able to pay for more school.

If the NBA moved the limit up to completing three years of college the players could be more adept to making his own decision, whether to stay in school or not. If a player has completed three years of college the player will know whether or not it is worth the risk to go into the NBA draft. If they don't have what it takes to be a first rounder they can stay in school because the 2nd round in the NBA draft is normally a sign that the player will not make it.

Besides that fact that it could potentially save the players from themselves it would ultimately put a better product on the court in the NBA and in college ball. In college, players would develop better chemistry and freshmen would not be thrusted on to the court when they aren't ready. In the NBA it raises the talent level available in the lottery. The players would have honed their skills and found what works best for them before they come to the NBA. Kwame Brown could have been a very good player had he went to college for 3 years.

My message to potential NBA players is to stay in school unless you are a sure fire lottery pick because there is a big chance that you won't make it so you better have a good back up plan, college degree is normally the best, or the very thing that brought you up can tear you down.

Florida Gators Weak Side Linebacker Competition

With Jelani Jenkins leaving for the NFL, the Gators are looking for another playmaker at the weak side linebacker position. This is a neck and neck race between Darrin Kitchens and Michael Taylor. Kitchens is raw for a player who is entering his senior season because he has not gotten a lot of playing time, but he does have a lot potential. He is a good run stopper and is decent in pass coverage. He could use some refinement in some of his technique, but if he won the battle as he is now, he should be good enough.

Michael Taylor is a bit more talented than Kitchens, but he is not used to playing outside linebacker. If he can find his niche at outside linebacker, he will win the starting job and should be very successful. He finished last season with 32 tackles, 1.5 for a loss and 1 sack. That is a step down from the season before, but it is still pretty good for a backup linebacker. Taylor is not that good in pass coverage, but he is a good run stopper, which is needed from a weak side linebacker. He will get more playing time this season, whether or nor he wins this job, since he will be a backup middle linebacker as well as a backup weak side linebacker.

 I believe Taylor will end up winning the starting position because he is more talented than Kitchens and I think he will find his niche at outside linebacker. He will not only play good this season, but as a redshirt sophomore, he will almost certainly be around next season as well. Taylor wont be on the field in dime and maybe nickel situations, but he will be a good two down player, at least this season.