Big Winners in '07 Draft

Generally we don't get real excited about grading drafts in the days following the big event simply because NFL teams are privy to so much more information than we are here at About Football (hard to believe, I know). Using the 2006 draft as an example, how foolish would I look now had I tried to make the argument that the Chicago Bears blew it by drafting defensive end Mark Anderson instead of focusing on their offense? Who are we to sit here and tell you we know better than war rooms full of scouts, general managers, and NFL personnel directors. Sometimes we think we know better, but until we see how these picks pan out several years down the road, this is as much of a crap shoot as the draft itself.

Having said that, we feel obligated to point out the teams we felt did the best job based on our observations. Here are our top three grades for this year (not to be confused with our ongoing grading of the 2004 NFL Draft) :

1. Starting things off with the best played draft is the Atlanta Falcons. They not only picked up the top-ranked defensive end on our board in Jamaal Anderson, they got the offensive guard at the top of our list as well in Justin Blalock. They also got good value in cornerback Chris Houston, who was listed by many as a sure first-round pick. So with their first three picks, the team landed three potential first-year starters. We also liked the selection of center Doug Datish all the way down in the sixth round.

2. Our runner-up this year is the Minnesota Vikings, with the assumption that running back Adrian Peterson isn't followed by injuries his entire career. Sharing the load with another back like he will with incumbent Chester Taylor is probably the best situation for him. The Vikings also scored well with excellent value picks in the second- (WR Sidney Rice), third- (CB Marcus McCauley), and fifth (WR Aundrae Allison) rounds. And to pick up linebacker Rufus Alexander, who is a fantastic fit for the cover-two defense the Vikings run, is just icing on the cake in the sixth round.

3. And how can we ignore what the Cleveland Browns did in coming away with potential franchise players at both left tackle and quarterback, arguably the most important positions on offense? Picking up Brady Quinn after landing Joe Thomas -- although it came at the expense of next year's No. 1 -- was a huge coup for a team that has suffered through nothing but bad luck and poor decision in recent years. If third-round corner Eric Wright can keep his head on straight, this could be a huge turning point for this franchise.