Pro Gridiron Football Draft GPA: AFC EAST
By Jay Miles jmiles@progridironfootball.com
May 6, 2008
The Pro Gridiron Football Draft GPA will grade each teams pick and giving it and overall score...Like a report card. I will look at each
player picked, the players available at the pick, the value of the pick, and how the pick will fit with the needs of their team. Highest
possible grade is 4.0
New England Patriots May 4, 2008
Round 1: Jarod Mayo, LB Tennessee Grade: A
Mayo is the most athletic linebacker in the draft and will fit very well in the Patriots system because of his ability to play inside and
outside linebacker.
Round 2: Terrence Wheatley, CB Colorado Grade: A
Despite being only 5'9, Wheatley plays like a big corner. A very aggressive corner with exceptional speed. Think Ellis Hobbs with the
potential to be better.
Round 3: Shawn Crable, LB Michigan Grade: C
A pass rushing linebacker who will a depth for the Patriots, but needs to improve in pass coverage. There were plenty of other linebackers
that where available at this time, but Crable has the potential to be a end on a 3-4 defense.
Kevin O'Connell, QB San Diego State Grade: C
Not a big fan of O'Connell, but his draft stock rose with decent workouts and a impressive senior season. Very inconsistent and a
streaky QB.
Round 4: Jonathan Wilhite, CB Auburn Grade: B
Could be a steal for the Patriots if he can stay healthy. Wilhite has good ball skills and is a very good tackler for a cornerback.
Round 5: Matt Slater, WR UCLA Grade: C
A very good return specialist at UCLA and could contribute immediately for the Patriots on special teams. Very inexperienced as a
wideout (playing mostly corner in college) and will probably need a couple of years before he can contribute.
Round 6: Bo Ruud, LB Nebraska Grade: B
A pretty good pick for a sixth rounder. Ruud, like Mayo, can play both inside and outside. A very smart linebacker who is decent in
pass coverage.
Patriots GPA: 2.85 C+
New England added much need linebacker depth and got younger at the position with drafting Mayo, Crable, and Ruud. I would have like
to seen them add some depth at the offensive tackle position. Decent draft for New England.
New York Jets May 6, 2008
Round 1: Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio State Grade: A
A good pick by the Jets. This should give them the pass rusher they have been
missing since John Abraham was dealt to Atlanta.
Dustin Keller, TE Purdue Grade: B
I like the pick, but I am not sure I like what they did to get here. Keller is more in
the mold of a receiving tight end than a blocking tight end. Has great speed for the
position, but to stay in for majority of the snaps, he has to improve on his blocking.
Round 4: Dwight Lowery, CB San Jose State Grade: C
I thought there was a chance that they would have take RB Tashard Choice out of
Georgia Tech, but they went with Lowery. Does not seem like a corner, more like a
safety.
Round 5: Erik Ainge, QB Tennessee Grade: C
Ainge was inconsistent at Tennessee, but has a chance to be a solid NFL backup.
Round 6: Marcus Henry, WR Kansas Grade: A
I really like the pick of Marcus Henry and I think he has a good chance to the make
the team with significant playing time as a late round pick. A tall receiver (6'4) with
good route running skills, but learn to fight off receivers better.
Round 7: Nate Garner, OT Arkansas Grade: C
A good run blocker for a 7th round pick, but must definitely needs to improve on
pass blocking.
Jets GPA: 2.83 C+
The New York Jets got tried to get the most out of their 6 picks, but they could have done more. Round 1 was a good round with the
Jets, but what they gave up for the chance to draft Keller could be costly.
Questions? Comments? Not agreeing with your team's grade? Send Jay Miles an E-Mail at jmiles@progridironfootball.com
Back to Bills/Dolphins GPA
Full Draft GPA Rankings
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By Jay Miles jmiles@progridironfootball.com
May 6, 2008
The Pro Gridiron Football Draft GPA will grade each teams pick and giving it and overall score...Like a report card. I will look at each
player picked, the players available at the pick, the value of the pick, and how the pick will fit with the needs of their team. Highest
possible grade is 4.0
New England Patriots May 4, 2008
Round 1: Jarod Mayo, LB Tennessee Grade: A
Mayo is the most athletic linebacker in the draft and will fit very well in the Patriots system because of his ability to play inside and
outside linebacker.
Round 2: Terrence Wheatley, CB Colorado Grade: A
Despite being only 5'9, Wheatley plays like a big corner. A very aggressive corner with exceptional speed. Think Ellis Hobbs with the
potential to be better.
Round 3: Shawn Crable, LB Michigan Grade: C
A pass rushing linebacker who will a depth for the Patriots, but needs to improve in pass coverage. There were plenty of other linebackers
that where available at this time, but Crable has the potential to be a end on a 3-4 defense.
Kevin O'Connell, QB San Diego State Grade: C
Not a big fan of O'Connell, but his draft stock rose with decent workouts and a impressive senior season. Very inconsistent and a
streaky QB.
Round 4: Jonathan Wilhite, CB Auburn Grade: B
Could be a steal for the Patriots if he can stay healthy. Wilhite has good ball skills and is a very good tackler for a cornerback.
Round 5: Matt Slater, WR UCLA Grade: C
A very good return specialist at UCLA and could contribute immediately for the Patriots on special teams. Very inexperienced as a
wideout (playing mostly corner in college) and will probably need a couple of years before he can contribute.
Round 6: Bo Ruud, LB Nebraska Grade: B
A pretty good pick for a sixth rounder. Ruud, like Mayo, can play both inside and outside. A very smart linebacker who is decent in
pass coverage.
Patriots GPA: 2.85 C+
New England added much need linebacker depth and got younger at the position with drafting Mayo, Crable, and Ruud. I would have like
to seen them add some depth at the offensive tackle position. Decent draft for New England.
New York Jets May 6, 2008
Round 1: Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio State Grade: A
A good pick by the Jets. This should give them the pass rusher they have been
missing since John Abraham was dealt to Atlanta.
Dustin Keller, TE Purdue Grade: B
I like the pick, but I am not sure I like what they did to get here. Keller is more in
the mold of a receiving tight end than a blocking tight end. Has great speed for the
position, but to stay in for majority of the snaps, he has to improve on his blocking.
Round 4: Dwight Lowery, CB San Jose State Grade: C
I thought there was a chance that they would have take RB Tashard Choice out of
Georgia Tech, but they went with Lowery. Does not seem like a corner, more like a
safety.
Round 5: Erik Ainge, QB Tennessee Grade: C
Ainge was inconsistent at Tennessee, but has a chance to be a solid NFL backup.
Round 6: Marcus Henry, WR Kansas Grade: A
I really like the pick of Marcus Henry and I think he has a good chance to the make
the team with significant playing time as a late round pick. A tall receiver (6'4) with
good route running skills, but learn to fight off receivers better.
Round 7: Nate Garner, OT Arkansas Grade: C
A good run blocker for a 7th round pick, but must definitely needs to improve on
pass blocking.
Jets GPA: 2.83 C+
The New York Jets got tried to get the most out of their 6 picks, but they could have done more. Round 1 was a good round with the
Jets, but what they gave up for the chance to draft Keller could be costly.
Questions? Comments? Not agreeing with your team's grade? Send Jay Miles an E-Mail at jmiles@progridironfootball.com
Back to Bills/Dolphins GPA
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