2013 AFC Draft Grades
My 2013 AFC Draft Grades are based strictly on what each team did during the Draft. It will not reflect any off season moves or acquisitions. These grades will not reflect how I think each team will perform this upcoming season. That being said my grades will probably be a little rough on some of the teams that made (in my opinion) some bad off season moves that hurt their Draft strategy.
AFC West
Denver Broncos B-
There's no doubt in my mind that Von Miller is the centerpiece of the Broncos Defense. With that in mind John Elway used his first pick on Defensive Tackle Sylvester Williams from North Carolina. If Williams becomes a force in the middle of that Defense Von Miller could be the NFL Defensive Player of the Year next season. In the third round Denver went with Kayvon Webster, a Corner from South Florida. Webster now has a chance to learn from All Pro Cornerback Champ Bailey. In the second round the Broncos selected Montee Ball from Wisconsin. Ball has a chance to be the starter come Week 1 which would allow Ronnie Hillman and Knowshon Moreno to play to their strengths as number two backs. With all of that in mind I'm giving the Broncos a B- grade for their Draft.
There's no doubt in my mind that Von Miller is the centerpiece of the Broncos Defense. With that in mind John Elway used his first pick on Defensive Tackle Sylvester Williams from North Carolina. If Williams becomes a force in the middle of that Defense Von Miller could be the NFL Defensive Player of the Year next season. In the third round Denver went with Kayvon Webster, a Corner from South Florida. Webster now has a chance to learn from All Pro Cornerback Champ Bailey. In the second round the Broncos selected Montee Ball from Wisconsin. Ball has a chance to be the starter come Week 1 which would allow Ronnie Hillman and Knowshon Moreno to play to their strengths as number two backs. With all of that in mind I'm giving the Broncos a B- grade for their Draft.
| Kansas City Chiefs B Brandon Albert avoided a big issue when the Chiefs selected Eric Fisher number one overall as opposed to Luke Joeckel. Fisher's athleticism allows Albert to stay at Left Tackle as Fisher will almost certainly take over as the team's Right Tackle. The Chiefs then went Tight End (Travis Kelce) and Running Back (Knile Davis), before selecting Alabama Linebacker Nico Johnson in the fourth round. Kansas City took care of some needs but they will have to rely on new Head Coach Andy Reid to turn them into a .500 team this year. I'm giving the Chiefs a B grade. | 
kansascity.com
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Oakland Raiders C
I love the selections of Menelik Watson, Sio Moore and Tyler Wilson as the team's second, third and fourth round picks. I was not happy with Oakland's first round pick of D.J. Hayden. Hayden seemed to be a bit of a reach in my opinion; however, the team did fill out a specific need in drafting him. I would have liked to see Oakland stay and select Dee Milliner with the third overall pick rather than trade down with Miami. For that blunder I'm giving them a C grade.
San Diego Chargers A-
The Chargers took D.J. Fluker, Manti Te'o and Keenan Allen with their first three picks. Those picks alone force me to give the Bolts an A- grade for this year's draft.
I love the selections of Menelik Watson, Sio Moore and Tyler Wilson as the team's second, third and fourth round picks. I was not happy with Oakland's first round pick of D.J. Hayden. Hayden seemed to be a bit of a reach in my opinion; however, the team did fill out a specific need in drafting him. I would have liked to see Oakland stay and select Dee Milliner with the third overall pick rather than trade down with Miami. For that blunder I'm giving them a C grade.
San Diego Chargers A-
The Chargers took D.J. Fluker, Manti Te'o and Keenan Allen with their first three picks. Those picks alone force me to give the Bolts an A- grade for this year's draft.
AFC South
Houston Texans B+
The Texans did a terrific job of filling the weak spots on their roster during the draft. They needed a number two Wide Receiver; enter DeAndre Hopkins. They needed to sure up their Secondary; enter D.J. Swearinger. They needed to sure up their Offensive line; enter Brennan Williams and David Quessenberry. They also needed, most importantly, to find a sidekick for J.J. Watts; enter their third round selection of Sam Montgomery. The Texans will once again compete with the big boys in the AFC this year. I'm giving them a B+ for their Draft picks.
Indianapolis Colts B-
The Colts Draft was successful from the standpoint that they took some solid Offensive and Defensive Lineman. Andrew Luck now has an above average Offensive Line to work with which could mean big trouble for everyone else in the AFC South. I'm giving the Colts a B- grade.
The Texans did a terrific job of filling the weak spots on their roster during the draft. They needed a number two Wide Receiver; enter DeAndre Hopkins. They needed to sure up their Secondary; enter D.J. Swearinger. They needed to sure up their Offensive line; enter Brennan Williams and David Quessenberry. They also needed, most importantly, to find a sidekick for J.J. Watts; enter their third round selection of Sam Montgomery. The Texans will once again compete with the big boys in the AFC this year. I'm giving them a B+ for their Draft picks.
Indianapolis Colts B-
The Colts Draft was successful from the standpoint that they took some solid Offensive and Defensive Lineman. Andrew Luck now has an above average Offensive Line to work with which could mean big trouble for everyone else in the AFC South. I'm giving the Colts a B- grade.
| Jacksonville Jaguars B I thought Jacksonville did a good job not over thinking some of their selections. Luke Joeckel, Jonathan Cyprien and Dwayne Gratz were smart and safe moves; all three will probably end up starting this year. Their fourth round pick of Ace Sanders also has a chance to start as Justin Blackmon will open the year serving a four game suspension for failing a drug test. General Manager Dave Caldwell took a chance with his fifth round pick scooping up Michigan's Denard Robinson. Even if it doesn't workout on the field it could pay dividends by placing people in the stands. I'm giving the Jags a B grade. | 
freep.com
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Tennessee Titans B+
The Titans added some size on Offense and some speed on Defense during their Draft. Zavier Gooden, Blidi-Wreh Wilson and Lavar Edwards all add plus-speed to a Defense looking to earn some respect this season. Chance Warmack and Brian Schwenke add big size to an interior line that struggled all of last season. The Titans also added one of the most refined Wide Outs coming out of college this year in Justin Hunter. I'm giving the Titans a B+ grade for their Draft.
The Titans added some size on Offense and some speed on Defense during their Draft. Zavier Gooden, Blidi-Wreh Wilson and Lavar Edwards all add plus-speed to a Defense looking to earn some respect this season. Chance Warmack and Brian Schwenke add big size to an interior line that struggled all of last season. The Titans also added one of the most refined Wide Outs coming out of college this year in Justin Hunter. I'm giving the Titans a B+ grade for their Draft.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens B
Goodbye Bernard Pollard, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, hello Matt Elam and Arthur Brown. I thought Baltimore did a great job of filling out their roster after losing several key players this off season. It's going to be a hard to repeat but credit GM Ozzie Newsome for putting together another solid Draft. Baltimore gets a B grade.
Goodbye Bernard Pollard, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, hello Matt Elam and Arthur Brown. I thought Baltimore did a great job of filling out their roster after losing several key players this off season. It's going to be a hard to repeat but credit GM Ozzie Newsome for putting together another solid Draft. Baltimore gets a B grade.
| Cincinnati Bengals A I love the Bengals Draft this year for one reason; their aggressiveness. They went after the most dynamic Tight End in the player pool (Tyler Eifert) and they weren't afraid to take their guy Giovani Bernard as the first Running Back off the board. I thought they did a great job adding depth to their team which leads me to believe the Bengals are ready to make a serious run in the playoffs. I think Eifert is a Pro Bowl caliber Tight End who will open things up for A.J. Green all season long. I'm giving the Bengals an A grade. | 
wcpo.com
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Cleveland Browns C+
The previous management only left this year's Brown's team with five selections in the draft. One of those picks; however, ended up being Barkevious Mingo. Mingo was selected 6th overall with the hopes that he'll give a good Brown's Defense an elite outside pass rusher. Cleveland spent their third round pick on Leon McFadden from San Diego State to play opposite of Joe Haden. Despite the lack of picks I'm giving the Browns a C+ grade for their Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers A
The Steelers rocked the Draft this year by taking Jarvis Jones, Le'Veon Bell, Markus Wheaton and Shamarko Thomas with their first four picks. Their fifth pick, Landry Jones, was the cherry on top as the team finally found a backup to Big Ben whose name is not Charlie Batch. For the Landry Jones' pick alone they deserve an A.
The previous management only left this year's Brown's team with five selections in the draft. One of those picks; however, ended up being Barkevious Mingo. Mingo was selected 6th overall with the hopes that he'll give a good Brown's Defense an elite outside pass rusher. Cleveland spent their third round pick on Leon McFadden from San Diego State to play opposite of Joe Haden. Despite the lack of picks I'm giving the Browns a C+ grade for their Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers A
The Steelers rocked the Draft this year by taking Jarvis Jones, Le'Veon Bell, Markus Wheaton and Shamarko Thomas with their first four picks. Their fifth pick, Landry Jones, was the cherry on top as the team finally found a backup to Big Ben whose name is not Charlie Batch. For the Landry Jones' pick alone they deserve an A.
AFC East
| Buffalo Bills B The Bills made several key Offensive pickups in this year's Draft but none more important than EJ Manuel. EJ will almost certainly start the season as the team's QB by default, but he will have some solid weapons to play with as the team drafted Robert Woods to play opposite of Stevie Johnson. Buffalo also selected Marquise Goodwin from Texas and Chris Gragg from Arkansas to catch passes from Manuel. On the Defensive side of the ball Buffalo made two key moves by drafting Kiko Alonso to play Inside Linebacker and Duke Williams to sure up their Secondary by playing Safety. I'm giving Buffalo a B for this year's draft. | 
cnn.com
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Miami Dolphins C
I did not like the Dion Jordan pick at number three overall but I'm not going to argue with a team that was willing to trade up in order to make thatselection. The Dolphins went Defense heavy by taking four of their first five picks on the Defensive side of the ball. I'm giving Miami a C grade for their Draft.
New England Patriots C+
It was another typical Belichick draft as the Patriots moved down again and again collecting multiple selections in the middle rounds. When it came time to make their picks the Patriots did well taking Jamie Collins and Aaron Dobson in the second round. They went Corner then Safety in the third round selecting Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon. I like what the Patriots did but I'm not overly excited with some of the players they passed up by trading out of the first round. I'm giving them a C+ grade.
I did not like the Dion Jordan pick at number three overall but I'm not going to argue with a team that was willing to trade up in order to make thatselection. The Dolphins went Defense heavy by taking four of their first five picks on the Defensive side of the ball. I'm giving Miami a C grade for their Draft.
New England Patriots C+
It was another typical Belichick draft as the Patriots moved down again and again collecting multiple selections in the middle rounds. When it came time to make their picks the Patriots did well taking Jamie Collins and Aaron Dobson in the second round. They went Corner then Safety in the third round selecting Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon. I like what the Patriots did but I'm not overly excited with some of the players they passed up by trading out of the first round. I'm giving them a C+ grade.
| New York Jets B- I thought new GM John Idzik did a terrific job replacing his best player Darrelle Revis with the best Corner in the Draft, Dee Milliner. The Jets also took Sheldon Richardson in the first round to play down in the trenches. Although Richardson is a great player, he has an issue staying on the field. The Jets made arguably the craziest selection in the entire Draft in the second round drafting Geno Smith. I don't hate the pick but it's going to be an awkward moment once Smith meets Mark Sanchez and the other 27 Quarterbacks on the Jets roster. I think I'm being generous but I'm giving the Jets a B- grade. | 
nypost.com
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To see the complete list of Draft picks please click here. If you have any comments or questions go ahead and post them in the comment section below. If you say anything stupid don't expect a reply. I'm not wasting my time with ignorance.
Alex Wiesner
May 5th, 2013
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Alex Wiesner
May 5th, 2013
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