NFL Draft: New beginnings

The 2008 NFL draft was about re-establishing an offensive identity for the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins.

Carolina reiterated its commitment to the running game with first-round selections of power back Jonathan Stewart and tackle Jeff Otah.

In Atlanta, the Falcons cut ties with the Michael Vick era by bringing quarterback Matt Ryan into the fold, passing on defensive difference-maker Glenn Dorsey.

Washington’s plan was not as bold, but nonetheless was a shift away from recent history. In taking big, physical receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, the Redskins signaled a willingness to shift the focus away from the finesse games of Santana Moss and Antwan Randle-El.

The three local teams weren’t the only ones to cut ties with their past. In fact, the entire league appeared to reaffirm its commitment to strong trench play and pass defense.

Without further ado, the grades:

LOCALS

CAROLINA PANTHERS

BEST PICK: OT Jeff Otah (1st round)

SLEEPER: TE Gary Barnidge (5th)

COMMENT: With two picks, the Panthers reasserted their run-first philosophy. RB Jonathan Stewart is a difference-maker and Otah will be the line’s anchor. Defensive line remains in arrears, however.

GRADE: B

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

BEST PICK: TE Fred Davis (2nd)

SLEEPER: CB Justin Tryon (4th)

COMMENT: If this was based solely on the second round (Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, Davis), Washington would get an ‘A’. However, as the draft progress, the team did nothing to address its flagging defensive line.

GRADE: B-minus

ATLANTA FALCONS

BEST PICK: QB Matt Ryan (1st)

SLEEPER: LB Curtis Lofton (2nd)

COMMENT: Atlanta gets an ‘A’ for getting someone to rehab its Vick-stained image. Lofton is a big hitting throwback. OT Sam Baker was a horrific reach.

GRADE: B

THE REST

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

BEST PICK: DT Glenn Dorsey (1st)

SLEEPER: WR Will Franklin (4th)

COMMENT: Were the Chiefs really savvy in picking Dorsey? After all, it was the four teams in front of them who mystifyingly passed on him. With 12 picks, it was difficult for KC to screw this one up.

GRADE: A

GREEN BAY PACKERS

BEST PICK: WR Jordy Nelson (2nd)

SLEEPER: TE Jermichael Finley (3rd)

COMMENT: The Packers spent their picks on physical, underrated players. ESPN’s Mel Kiper compares Nelson to Dwight Clark. Meanwhile, cap-wise, the team is positioned to make a free agent splash in 2009.

GRADE: B-plus

CINCINNATI BENGALS

BEST PICK: WR Jerome Simpson (2nd)

SLEEPER: S Corey Lynch (6th)

COMMENT: This was a good, potentially great draft for the Bengals. Simpson and receiver Andre Caldwell give them what they need if they trade Chad Johnson. DE Pat Sims and Lynch could evolve into playmakers.

GRADE: B-plus

DALLAS COWBOYS

BEST PICK: CB Mike Jenkins (1st)

SLEEPER: RB Tashard Choice (4th)

COMMENT: RB Felix Jones was a given, but adding Choice gives Dallas some Marion Barber insurance. TE Martellus Bennett could make things interesting. Where are the receivers?

GRADE: B-plus

MIAMI DOLPHINS

BEST PICK: T Jake Long (1st)

SLEEPER: DE Kendal Langford (3rd)

COMMENT: Miami really couldn’t go wrong with Long, and DE Phillip Merling was a nice gift in the second round. Unfortunately Miami didn’t address the decrepit situations at receiver and linebacker.

GRADE: B-plus

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

BEST PICK: RB Rashard Mendenhall (1st)

SLEEPER: QB Dennis Dixon (5th)

COMMENT: Pittsburgh was a team that had players fall in its lap. Mendenhall is a luxury who makes the running game scary as Willie Parker’s complement. WR Limas Sweed could be good, and Dixon could be a “Slash.�

GRADE: B

ARIZONA CARDINALS

BEST PICK: CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (1st)

SLEEPER: WR Early Doucet (3rd)

COMMENT: There’s a lot to like about what the Cardinals did this year. Rodgers-Cromartie was a no-brainer; Doucet can be a solid slot receiver. DE Calais Campbell also has potential.

GRADE: B

BUFFALO BILLS

BEST PICK: CB Leodis McKelvin (1st)

SLEEPER: RB Xavier Omon (6th)

COMMENT: The Bills addressed all their needs, beginning with McKelvin, who was the best available player for their situation. Omon rushed for at least 1,500 yards each in his four collegiate seasons.

GRADE: B

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

BEST PICK: C Mike Pollack (2nd)

SLEEPER: WR Pierre Garcon (7th)

COMMENT: Pollack was the consensus No. 1 center and just about everyone else Indy took fits its system. You’ve got to root for anyone drafted out of D-III powerhouse Mt. Union (Garcon).

GRADE: B

DENVER BRONCOS

BEST PICK: T Ryan Clady (1st)

SLEEPER: RB Ryan Torain (5th)

COMMENT: This is just one of those teams that knows exactly what it wants. Clady was the next best tackle available after Jake Long; Torain is another of those one-cut backs who excels in the Broncos’ running game.

GRADE: B

DETROIT

BEST PICK: RB Kevin Smith (3rd)

SLEEPER: S Caleb Campbell (7th)

COMMENT: What’s this? A good draft from the Detroit Lions? Good for them, anyway. With Smith and Furman FB Jerome Felton, the Lions’ bread-and-butter play-action instantly improves.

GRADE: B

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

BEST PICK: LB Jerod Mayo (1st)

SLEEPER: CB Jonathan Wilhite (4th)

COMMENT: The Patriots needed a linebacker and got one in Mayo. Beyond that, the draft was gravy and they treated it that way. Wilhite gets flagged a lot but could be good if he improves his discipline.

GRADE: B-minus

NEW YORK GIANTS

BEST PICK: S Kenny Phillips (1st)

SLEEPER: LB Jonathan Goff (5th)

COMMENT: Like most Super Bowl champions, there wasn’t much the Giants could do with this year’s draft other than create depth. Phillips fills a need. Goff has potential as an OLB. Keep an eye on QB Andre Woodson.

GRADE: B-minus

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

BEST PICK: DT Sedrick Ellis (2nd)

SLEEPER: DT DeMario Pressley (5th)

COMMENT: It’s feasible Ellis could eclipse Glenn Dorsey as the better lineman. If Pressley can recapture the drive he had at the beginning of his college career, he also could shine.

GRADE: B-minus

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

BEST PICK: CB Aqib Talib (1st)

SLEEPER: QB Josh Johnson (5th)

COMMENT: Talib is a classic Cover-2 corner, since he occasionally can be burned on post routes. Johnson: 42 touchdowns, one interception. Wow. We’ll have to see if he can do it in the NFL.

GRADE: C-plus

ST. LOUIS RAMS

BEST PICK: DE Chris Long (1st)

SLEEPER: LB David Vobora (7th)

COMMENT: It was difficult for the Rams to go wrong at No. 2 overall. Long has all the skills and intangibles to be great. WR Donnie Avery was a reach. Vobora might be the best Mr. Irrelevant in years (stop laughing).

GRADE: C-plus

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

BEST PICK: WR DeSean Jackson (2nd)

SLEEPER: G Michael McGlynn (4th)

COMMENT: Did a nice job of taking players who arguably were among the best available. McGlynn could be a steal; same for Jackson if he develops properly.

GRADE: C-plus

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

BEST PICK: S Tyrell Johnson (2nd)

SLEEPER: QB John David Booty (5th)

COMMENT: This is another team with very few picks and none in the first round. That said, Johnson had first-round projectability and Booty (best-case) could push Tavaris Jackson.

GRADE: C

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

BEST PICK: DT Kentwan Balmer (1st)

SLEEPER: G Chilo Rachal (2nd)

COMMENT: Balmer was available at No. 29 because too many teams think he’s a one-year wonder. If he’s the real deal, he’s a huge steal. Rachal is solid. A shame they didn’t draft a receiver sooner.

GRADE: C

BALTIMORE RAVENS

BEST PICK: S Tom Zbikowski (3rd)

SLEEPER: T David Hale (4th)

COMMENT: This assumes Zbikowski returns to 2006 form. If he’s the guy who wasted a jersey in 2007, this draft becomes a train wreck. No issue with the Joe Flacco selection. He was the QB they wanted.

GRADE: C

NEW YORK JETS

BEST PICK: DE Vernon Gholston (1st)

SLEEPER: QB Erik Ainge (5th)

COMMENT: This was a nondescript draft for the Jets, and beyond Gholston, they didn’t really address their needs. Ainge is a worthy project. They needed a corner or linebacker rather than TE Dustin Keller at No. 30.

GRADE: C

CHICAGO BEARS

BEST PICK: OT Chris Williams (1st)

SLEEPER: WR Earl Bennett (3rd)

COMMENT: Like the Chiefs, Chicago had 12 picks. Unlike the Chiefs, five of those were in the seventh round and none were used on its biggest need (QB). Williams is a fine pick, though.

GRADE: C-minus

OAKLAND RAIDERS

BEST PICK: RB Darren McFadden (1st)

SLEEPER: None

COMMENT: Make no mistake: McFadden is as good as it gets, but this clearly was a case of owner Al Davis getting blinded by a shiny object. McFadden won’t get on the field because Oakland can’t stop the run.

GRADE: C-minus

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

BEST PICK: K Brandon Coutu (7th)

SLEEPER: LS Tyler Schmitt (6th)

COMMENT: Well, they got the best kicker and long snapper in the draft. Don’t know why they drafted DE Lawrence Jackson in the first round and TE John Carlson is slower than dirt. Otherwise, yippee!

GRADE: D

HOUSTON TEXANS

BEST PICK: None

SLEEPER: CB Antwaun Molden (3rd)

COMMENT: Not sure what they were doing with OT Duane Brown in the first round, and beyond Molden, its tough to see how anyone else will make an impact. RB Steve Slaton, maybe?

GRADE: D

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

BEST PICK: None

SLEEPER: CB Trae Williams (5th)

COMMENT: There are no words to explain what the Jags were doing in the first round, drafting DE Derrick Harvey at No. 8 while taking DE Quentin Groves in the second round. Both are reaches. Williams could be good.

GRADE: D

TENNESSEE TITANS

BEST PICK: None

SLEEPER: CB Cary Williams (7th)

COMMENT: The Titans apparently see their team in a way that’s entirely alien to the rest of the NFL. For the third consecutive year, they took a running back in the first round. Meanwhile, the defensive line rots.

GRADE: F

CLEVELAND BROWNS

BEST PICK: LB Beau Bell (4th)

SLEEPER: None

COMMENT: The Browns traded away their first three picks in various deals leading up to the draft, so by the time they picked, nothing worthwhile remained from a need standpoint.

GRADE: Incomplete