2010 NFL Draft: AFC South Draft Grades

AFC South

Houston Texans

Grade: B

Players:  1st Kareem Jackson-CB-Alabama,  2nd Ben Tate-RB Auburn, 3rd Earl Mitchell-DT-Arizona, 4th Darryl Sharpton-LB-Miami (FL.), 4th Garrett Graham-TE-Wisconsin, 5th Sherrick McManis-CB-Northwestern, 6th Shelley Smith-G-Colorado State, 6th Trindon Holliday-KR/WR-LSU, 7th Dorin Dickerson-TE-Pittsburgh

Thoughts: The Houston Texans had a great draft day. They finally addressed a longtime need with the addition of corner back Kareem Jackson. Corner was one of the team’s greatest needs, but the move is questionable considering they passed over the likes of Kyle Wilson and Devin McCourty in favor of Jackson. Houston also got a big time running back to pair up with Steve Slaton, when they selected Auburn’s Ben Tate in the second-round– Tate is the perfect compliment to Slaton. Other intriguing players for the Texans were Darryl Sharpton, an instinctive but undersized linebacker with potential, Garrett Graham, a pass catching tight end from Wisconsin, and Dorin Dickerson, a talented receiving threat without a true position who fell a lot later into the draft than expected. Keep an eye out for return specialist Trindon Holliday as well. Holliday is one of the fastest player’s to be on a NFL roster, but he also happens to be one of the smallest. He could be a lot of fun to watch if he develops properly.

Indianapolis Colts

Grade: B-

Players: 1st Jerry Hughes-OLB-TCU, 2nd Pat Angerer-LB-Iowa,  3nd Kevin Thomas-CB-USC, 4th Jacques McClendon-G-Tennessee, 5th Brody Eldridge-TE/OL-Oklahoma, 7th Ricardo Matthews-DT-Cincinnati, 7th Kavell Conner-LB-Clemson, 7th Ray Fisher-CB-Indiana

Thoughts: The Indianapolis Colts got one of the weekend’s biggest steals when they grabbed pass rushing sensation Jerry Hughes at the end of round one. Hughes is a perfect fit in the Colts defensive scheme and he will fit in with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis brilliantly while he develops into the long-term replacement for Freeney. Outside of Hughes, the Colts draft class left a lot to be desired. They had a big hole at offensive tackle and failed to address that need. Indy did draft Jacques McClendon in the fourth, but the offensive guard is more of a run blocking specialist and that doesn’t really help Peyton Manning. Kevin Thomas was a solid pick up in the third-round and second-round selection Pat Angerer is a hard-nosed, quality football player, however, the lack of an offensive tackle makes this draft class incomplete.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Grade: D

Players: 1st Tyson Alualu-DT-California, 3rd D’Anthony Smith-DT-Louisiana Tech, 5th Larry Hart-DE/OLB-Central Arkansas, 5th Austen Lane-DE-Murray State, 6th Deji Karim-RB-Southern Illinois, 6th Scotty McGee-KR/CB-James Madison

Thoughts: Wow. Jacksonville’s draft class can be summed up in one word: reach. Tyson Alualu was rated by many as a second-round pick. There was talk as the draft neared that he could possibly slide into the bottom of round one, but no one in their wildest dreams could have imagined he would go in the top ten come draft day. To follow up their mind-boggling decision to select Alualu with their first pick, the Jaguars threw their draft dart at the board once again and it must have hit D’Anthony Smith as they took him in the third — yet another HUGE reach. Outside of the ridiculous picks at defensive tackle, the Jaguars made no real impact selections. Defensive end Austen Lane could develop into a solid NFL back-up, but I don’t look at anyone in this draft class and think, “star.”

Tennessee Titans

Grade: A

Players: 1st Derrick Morgan-DE-Georgia Tech, 3rd Damian Williams-WR-USC,  3rd Rennie Curran-OLB-Georgia, 4th Alterraun Verner-CB-UCLA, 5th Robert Johnson-S-Utah, 6th Rusty Smith-QB-Florida Atlantic, 6th Myron Rolle-S-Florida State, 7th Marc Mariani-WR-Montana, 7th David Howard-DT-Brown

Thoughts: My favorite draft in the AFC South went to the Tennessee Titans. They grabbed a top-five talent in Derrick Morgan in the first-round. Morgan is a player that can come in and contribute immediately. Tennessee then added Damian Williams of USC and linebacker Rennie Curran with their two third-round picks. Williams has exceptional hands and has good route running ability. He could have gone in the second and no one would have complained. Curran is another undersized linebacker, but he is a natural leader with excellent pursuit and a lot of experience. The Titans also grabbed Rusty Smith from FAU in the 6th as a project quarterback. He could turn into a jounreyman back-up. The other sixth round selection in Tennessee was safety and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle. Rolle is a physical safety with obvious intelligence. He will be a great guy to have around the locker room and despite some concerns, he has a love for football. I would take Rolle on my team any day of the week.