That has to be the worst draft ever.

I think Dustin Fox is working at Home Depot

Marcus Johnson at “Carls Jr.”

In terms of futility in this decade, especially that latter half, the Raider and the Lions both led the league. The only surprise is that the Raiders didn’t pull off 0-16 before the Lions.

We can talk all day about what a fruity nut-job Al Davis is, but the sad truth is that no matter how crazy he is, or how he’s run that franchise, the Raiders made a trip to the Super Bowl during the oughts. The Vikings haven’t.

It’s more of an initial potential grade. Also, it’s the offseason; what else is there to do? Those of us who have tried (and failed) to get interested into other sports have nothing better to do than try and figure out who drafted well, who didn’t, and who any steals might be.

Sure, you can’t really grade a draft until three, four years down the line, but it’s still fun to speculate how the teams did. Kiper himself says you have to wait that long. So, of course, take all these grades and whatnot with the knowledge that they are purely speculation, just like all the mock drafts were, and know that it’s all in fun.

I mean, I was PISSED that we didnt get mike williams haha. he was a bigger bust then troy williamson.

I think it’s awesome we took Percy, he’s who I wanted, and I can’t stop smiling. Loadholt should be an instant upgrade at tackle. I think Allen is a little small, yet not many people throw at him, so he could indeed be a steal. Brinkley is a solid addition, and Sanford is intriguing. I also think McCauley has played his last game in purple. Impressions? I’m sorry I don’t do impressions.

I always enjoy seeing first impression grades based on talent vs. risk, value over remaining talent in the draft or FA, and impact potential (filling a need vs. depth). It’s not always completely meaningless, but rather something that adds context. The Raiders’ low draft grade this year is somewhat a product of the Vikings high grade in ’05, and had there been no draft grade then, there would have been less of an impetus to learn from that mistake and move forward a bit differently.

I wish Kiper and McShay and a few others had a special which aired the week before the draft in which they discussed their own grades and rankings from 3-5 years ago and had some sort of scoring system per draft class and an ongoing head-to-head record. I also wish that these guys were required to say who the Vikings should have taken instead of Harvin at #22 (and at #54 if an OT at #22) and review that in 3-5 years.

I’m surprised to have not found a grade A or even B+ for the Vikes this year. Some said Harvin was a top 15 talent or better, so why isn’t he a bargain at #22? Some said that WR and OT were major needs, and both were filled. It is funny to me that draft analysts will award an A to a team for taking their best player available while ignoring a need and a C+ to another team that drafts a bargain relative to the pick which also fills a need. Kiper said during the draft that the Lions had selected 2 of his top 10 players in Stafford and Pettigrew, and both fill needs, but no A for them?

It proves to me that BPA is always a nonexistent idea because no team can completely separate filling a need at certain positions with a finite number of draft picks from prospects’ rankings/grades. It is not wise to get zero value by drafting an expensive backup at an area of strength and youth already when a very similarly talented player is available at a position of need (and may also represent a bigger difference in value over other potential draftees or free agents).

A single day 1 draft pick makes a ton of difference.

Had the Vikes drafted WR DeSean Jackson last year, that draft would have impacted 2008 in 2 major areas instead of 1 (Jared Allen). It also would have allowed the Vikes to draft CB Darius Butler in the 1st this year (and move C. Griffin to safety), possibly upgrading 2 positions in the Vikings’ disappointing secondary over last year with all of the same changes on offense. 2 more defensive positions could have been upgraded (plus whatever improvement DSJ and DB could provide) with the same needs filled (WR, RT, S etc.).

Rating wines the day after they were bottled.

rated the Vikes draft a “C” while the Quackers got an “A”??? The slobbery love affair between ESPN (Empty-headed Sports Personalities Network) and Green Bay continues…update tomorrow on Soap Opera Digest…

Loadholt

Grading later is horsecrap. That’s like giving someone a hard time because they thought last year’s Super Bowl champ has the chops to repeat this year, and this year it doesn’t happen. The person catches hell because his middle name isn’t “Nostradamus”?

The draft is a crap shot, you rolls your dice, you takes your chances, along with everyone else. All you can honestly and reasonable grade on is whether or not the team made the best possible choices with the info and choices they had available to them at the time. Did they pick the BPA? Or did they pick the BPA at any given position to feel a real need on the team? For all we know, Stafford will get sacked in his first pre-season game and blow out his knee, derailing an otherwise brilliant career, forever. You just don’t know what’s going to happen and that means the only possible grade that means anything whatsoever, is the grade that’s given right after the draft.

The rest is smug hindsight by people who have the luxury of seeing how the future really turned out. I’d be a lot more impressed if they could have made those accurate predictions BEFORE the draft, then they might actually be useful.

Was some discussion on draft day. After seeing some film on both it seem The Load was better suited for run blocking OT. (Good for AP. )He seemed to lack a quick outside step to follow a DE continuously around the corner and buy a little extra time. Then again he had to do something right to protect a Heisman QB. Beatty was a good technique pass blocker and bought time for his QB, but seemed to be pushed around a little more in the trenches on the run. Overall I think the choice was good for for our style and running game. Should open more holes on both sides of the line. I’m sure his pass blocking will be something they will focus on and it will be a year of adjustment for him in that area.

Wish the T-wolves had the brains to rebuild as well as Chicago has after the Jordon era. Most of it is management but this frickin draft lottery sucks. All these years of nothing and we’re never in a draft position that warrents us taking one of the top 2 players )franchise picks). Only hope for this team is getting Griffin. I think we could build around him Jefferson, and Loveshack. Then a pointguard would have been good. Should have signed Billops long term when we had him. Kept Mayo or the dude we got in the 2nd round last year. Was that Chambers?
Uhggg! I’m chatting NBA now? I better call the Dr.

Jolly good show, Gonzo. This contest is more biased than Dancing with the Stars. Close the windows. I feel a draft. Cutler improves Chicago’s draft grade this year, but Jared Allen had no impact on the Viking’s grade of last year. Draft grades? Really??? Based on what? The fewest spelling errors on the cards that were handed to Goodell? I suspect the grading formula involves multiplying by both the desired Neilson ratings and the TV market size of the teams involved, while subtracting the critics own social security number from the point totals of any teams that the critic doesn’t particularly like. Are the votes in for NFL rookie of the year yet? That could decide the entire season, couldn’t it? Where are those Pat Williams Society of the Undrafted grades at? Call the Psychic Hotline! No wait… Why hasn’t the Psychic Hotline called us up yet? What kind of psychics are they, anyway? We demand to know who’s the best and now! Must we wait until Minnesota has two senators in DC or something to find out the future? Why play any football games before the decision of the judges is final on these draftees? We want immediate results! This is the 21st century! Twitter should decide the Super Bowl victor in advance. It’s Fantasy Football or nothing! Wouldn’t that have been Vince Lombardi’s view?

Minnesota Vikings: GRADE: C+
Linebacker Chad Greenway was a very good pick at No. 17, while Cedric Griffin is a solid defensive back who needs to play the ball better. Ryan Cook is a versatile center who could be moved elsewhere on the offensive line. QB Tarvaris Jackson went a bit high, but he has a chance to be the Vikings’ future quarterback. DE Ray Edwards struggled as a junior, and I thought he needed another season at Purdue.

Very good…solid…versatile…future QB…needs seasoning = C+?

I thought it was a C+ also, but that’s because I would not have described Griffin or Cook so favorably. And had I known that Artis Hicks would be as good as he was, my perception of that draft would have been in the B range. But Hicks was barely mentioned.

Another thing: good grades sometimes go to those who “go get their guys” with trades and such, but not when the VIkings do it (especially if it burns 2 late round picks to move up a handful of slots to take a project LB).