2010 NFL Draft: AFC North Draft Grades
By Editorial Staff
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Grade: B-
Players: 2nd Sergio Kindle- OLB- Texas, 2nd Terrence Cody- NT- Alabama, 3rd Ed Dickson- TE- Oregon, 4th Dennis Pitta- TE- BYU, 5th David Reed- WR- Utah, 5th Arthur Jones- DT- Syracuse, 6th Ramon Harewood- OT- Moorehouse College
Thoughts: This is a nice solid draft for the Baltimore Ravens. They got good value in the 2nd round with both Kindle and Cody. However, these guys slipped to the 2nd for a reason and if Kindle has health issues and Cody can’t stay in shape these picks won’t look so good. The Ravens add playmakers in both tight ends Pitta and Dickson and gives Joe Flacco more weapons. Arthur Jones is another one of those question mark players that if healthy can provide a big lift. Ramon Harewood is a massive offensive lineman that has a chance to develop.
Pittsburg Steelers
Grade: B
Players: 1st Maurkice Pouncey- C/G- Florida, 2nd Jason Worilds- OLB- Virginia Tech, 3rd Emmanuel Sanders- WR- SMU, 4th Thaddeus Gibson- OLB- Ohio State, 5th Chris Scott- G- Tennessee, 5th Crezdon Butler- CB- Clemson, 5th Stevenson Sylvester- OLB- Utah, 6th Jonathan Dwyer- RB- Georgia Tech, 6th Antonio Brown- WR- Central Michigan, 7th Doug Worthington- DE- Ohio State
Thoughts: The Steelers added some instant contributors in this draft. Pouncey will step in and start from day 1. He will help bring back the hard nose Steeler running attack. Outside Linebacker’s Worilds, Gibson, and Sylvester add depth and youth to an aging unit. All three will be fighting for playing time and each could register some sacks this season. Chris Scott is another big bodied lineman that could develop into a starting guard. I love the Jonathan Dwyer pick and feel he adds another tough runner to the Steelers running attack. I would watch for him to have plenty of carries this season.
Cleveland Browns
Grade: A-
Players: 1st Joe Haden- CB- Florida, 2nd TJ Ward- S- Oregon, 2nd Montario Hardesty- RB- Tennessee, 3rd Colt McCoy- QB- Texas, 3rd Shawn Lauvao- G- Arizona State, 5th Larry Asante- S- Nebraska, 6th Carlton Mitchell- WR- South Florida, 6th Clifton Geathers- DE- South Carolina
Thoughts: I really really liked the Browns draft. For a team that needs help in a lot of positions I think they improved at several of them. At the beginning of the offseason the secondary was one of the weakest spots on the team but after the additions of Sheldon Brown, Haden, Ward, and Asante they now have talent. I think both Haden and Ward start from day 1 and Asante has the potential to work is way into the lineup. I am really high on Montario Hardesty and believe he will complements Jerome Harrison very well. I predict that Hardesty will be getting the majority of the carries by the end of the season. Shawn Lauvao is a good guard prospect and has a chance to develop into a starter. Carlton Mitchell has talent and will have an opportunity to show what he is capable of. Then you talk about the Browns getting their quarterback of the future in Colt McCoy. What I think was the most impressive was the fact that the Browns got several players before they selected McCoy. They gambled that McCoy would still be around and it paid off.
Cincinnati Bengals
Grade: A-
Players: 1st Jermaine Gresham- TE- Oklahoma, 2nd Carlos Dunlap- DE- Florida, 3rd Jordan Shipley- WR- Texas, 3rd Brandon Ghee- CB- Wake Forest, 4th Geno Atkins- DT- Georgia, 4th Roddrick Muckelroy- LB- Texas, 5th Otis Hudson- OT- East Illinois, 6th Dezmon Briscoe- WR- Kansas, 7th Reginald Stephens- G- Iowa State
Thoughts: This draft class is littered with potential starters and stars. Tight end was probably the biggest need and they got the best one in the draft in Jermaine Gresham. Dunlap fell to the 2nd round because of character issues but he has talent and if he could put it together he can be a double digit sack guy. Receiver Jordan Shipley and Dezmon Briscoe were great value picks and both have a shot to contribute right away. I also like the Brandon Ghee pick and feel he could be one of the sleeper cornerbacks in this draft. Ghee has really good speed and decent size which will allow him to fight for immediate playing time. Both Hudson and Stephens add depth to the offensive line.