With fellow wide receiver Victor Cruz a restricted free agent and currently in his own battle with the Giants for a new long-term deal, this really isn’t the time for Nicks to be putting his foot to the ground. However, per Cole, that’s exactly what he’s doing.

It’s also interesting that Nicks would make a fuss about his deal now, considering he spent much of the 2012 season hindered my leg injuries. In fact, despite immense talent and hype, Nicks has yet to play more than 15 games in a single season, and has topped seven touchdowns in a season just once. Few would say that Hakeem Nicks is undeserving of a high-dollar contract, but even fewer would balk at the Giants’ line of thinking here.

As good as Nicks is at just 25, Cruz has proven to be the healthier and more explosive weapon in the passing game. In four seasons, Hakeem Nicks has missed at least one game every year, and at least two games in three of the four seasons. There is no denying Nicks’ ball skills and upside, but it’s also not crazy for New York to play it safe as he enters a contract year at less than 100%.

If Hakeem Nicks continues on like this, he could end up holding out (just like Cruz could) into the preseason, neither of which would be good situations for the Giants. However, paying up to a wide receiver who is constantly hurt and not meeting expectations wouldn’t be an ideal situation, either.

Look for the Giants to attempt to lock up Cruz before they even begin to try to deal with their latest distraction.

The post New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks Unhappy With Contract? appeared first on NFL Soup.

Even before the 2013 NFL Draft, they could go right back to work and would stand a decent chance at getting back to the Super Bowl again. However, they did lose a few pieces in free agency, and there were some other issues (on their defense, believe it or not), that could use addressing. They looked to do that with their 2013 draft picks, and it looks like for the most part they did just that.

The news of Michael Crabtree going down with a torn Achilles hurts, but this is still a deep team that is poised for another playoff run. Let’s take a closer look at Jim Harbaugh’s scouting work as we grade and analyze the San Francisco 49ers 2013 draft class:

Round 1 (Pick 18) – Eric Reid, S, LSU

Reid is a solid safety with some nice upside. He’s big, physical, and has solid range. I’m not sure he’s the perfect replacement for a ball hawk like Dashon Goldson, but the San Francisco 49ers badly needed a safety and they went and got the one they liked. I can’t knock that.

Grade: B

Round 2 (Pick 40) – Tank Carridine, DE, Florida State

Justin Smith was banged up a lot last year, so the San Francisco 49ers needed to grab a nice defensive end they can groom to toss on the line. Carridine was a first round prospect so he’s a steal here in my book. He can rush the passer and help against the run, as well.

Grade: B+

Round 2 (Pick 55) – Vance McDonald, TE, Rice

McDonald will be Delanie Walker’s replacement and will backup Vernon Davis. He fills a need and will ultimately be an upgrade over Walker, as he’s a fluid athlete and offers better size.

Grade: B

Round 3 (Pick 88) – Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn

Another skilled pass-rusher to add to the heap. Lemonier is actually fairly versatile, too, but he’ll be used as a pure pass-rusher. The 49ers defensive line just got even deeper, which is crazy.

Grade: B+

Round 4 (Pick 128) – Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech

Patton isn’t big or ultra fast, but he has good ball skills and was very productive in college. I don’t expect him to make a huge impact as a rookie, but he’ll certainly have the opportunity to show what he can do with Crabtree down.

Grade: B

Round 4 (Pick 131) – Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

Lattimore is such a natural runner with a great feel for the game. Obviously his knee injury was brutal and the road back won’t be easy. I doubt he plays in 2013, but he’s very possibly the future starter once Gore leaves. He’s that good.

Grade: A

Round 5 (Pick 157) – Quinton Dial, DE, Alabama

The 49ers won’t stop adding to a strength. Dial is a pure power guy who is going to help the 49ers’ elite run defense get even better. At the very worst he’ll be great depth as a rookie. I don’t see how he doesn’t make the final roster.

Grade: C+

Round 6 (Pick 180) – Nick Moody, OLB, Florida State

The 49ers grab some linebacker depth here, but I don’t love Moody’s size or strength. The nice thing is he has good athleticism and versatility. He can play linebacker or safety, but will likely be a strong special teamer for them as a rook.

Grade: C-

Round 7 (Pick 237) – B.J. Daniels, QB, South Florida

Daniels is probably too small to ever be a traditional quarterback. However, he has good speed and overall athleticism, so he can actually develop into the perfect backup behind Kaepernick.

Grade: D+

Round 7 (Pick 246) – Carter Bykowski, OT, Iowa State

The San Francisco 49ers beeg up their offensive line depth her. Bykowski has the ideal size for a tackle and is actually a remarkable athlete thanks to his days as a tight end. He has the potential to be a solid backup left tackle, but might be best suited to start out on the right side.

Grade: D+

Round 7 (Pick 252) – Marcus Cooper, CB, Rutgers

San Francisco had issues in the secondary last season, so it’s nice to finally see them addressing corner. A little too late for my liking, but Cooper does have really good size and solid speed. He just needs to work on angles and consistency.

Grade: C+

Summary

The San Francisco 49ers had a very good draft. From top to bottom, there was excellent value, and they filled some big needs. They badly needed a starting safety and got one. They needed some extra help on the defensive line with Justin Smith always banged up, and got two guys who can help right away. Landing Lattimore was a steal that will end up panning out down the road. McDonald was another value pick that should help their offense.

This remains an insanely deep and balanced team. The injury to Michael Crabtree might mess up their flow a bit, but they’ll be back in the playoffs again and should stand a decent chance at getting back to the Super Bowl. If it doesn’t work out that way, I doubt it will be because of this draft. It was one of the better showings of the year.

Overall Draft Grade: B+

The post San Francisco 49ers: Grading Quinton Patton and the 2013 NFL Draft Class appeared first on NFL Soup.

Michael Crabtree sustained a complete Achilles tear, but is not likely to be placed on season-ending injured reserve, as his recovery time table starts at six months. The 49ers have not made a public decision on their best wide receiver just yet, but it is assumed that he would begin the season on the PUP list, or be placed on the temporary injured reserve list. Either list would allow the receiver to be activated and return to action at some point after week six.

While the surgery appears to have gone well and a six-month time table could have Crabtree back on the field before the regular season is over, it’s important to note that Achilles injuries are not easy to return from – especially from wide receivers.

The only receiver known to have done so in a relatively short amount of time is Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who returned after a seven month layoff, but wasn’t quite the player he was used to being.

“It’s a little difficult. You’ve just got to take your time,” Thomas said on Wednesday. “He’s [Crabtree] a great player, and I’m sure he’s going to work hard to get back. But it’s difficult at first, because it took a while for me to be able to do anything”.

Thomas returned to action late in his rookie season, but didn’t give the Broncos a whole lot at the time, and arguably wasn’t remotely close to full health until his second season in the league.

That could easily be the case for Michael Crabtree, and if so, it could be foolish for the 49ers to attempt to rush him back. San Francisco remains a strong playoff contender and could even make it back to the Super Bowl again in 2013, however. Their good odds to continue playing beyond the regular season could push both the coaching staff and Crabtree himself to come back earlier than he should.

Whatever the case, Michael Crabtree is certainly going to miss at least the majority of the 2013 season and probably won’t be the same player that broke out last season.

Fantasy Analysis

Even if Michael Crabtree does come back this year, you shouldn’t hold your breath. He now has virtually no value in re-draft leagues. Anquan Boldin shoots up considerably, while we now have to monitor A.J. Jenkins and Quinton Patton.

The post Michael Crabtree: Jim Harbaugh Thinks Receiver Will Play in 2013 appeared first on NFL Soup.

Players have made it back from Achilles injuries (Terrell Suggs last year), but typically they are never the same. It’s also asking a lot more out of a wide receiver to come back from such an injury, as there is much more pressure being put on the tendon from that position.

Michael Crabtree’s injury forces recently acquired wide receiver Anquan Boldin into the number one slot, and could potentially have the 49ers looking to free agency to bolster up their passing game. Second-year receiver A.J. Jenkins would bump up to the number two spot, as well, while rookie wide receiver Quinton Patton would likely have to help round out the top three spots until veteran Mario Manningham can return from his own injury (torn ACL).

It’s bad news for a 49ers offense that was really clicking from mid-season all the way to the Super Bowl in 2012, and will now be without their number one target in the passing game for at least a large portion of 2013, if not the entire season.

Fantasy Analysis

Go-go Gadget jaw drop. Yowzas. This is huge and terrible news in the same breath, as Michael Crabtree was really coming into his own and was about to rapidly ascend the ranks in fantasy football. It is what it is, however, and this almost certainly means Crabtree is lost for the year. That makes Boldin more valuable than anyone would have pegged him before, and he’ll suddenly have rock solid WR2 value. The jury remains out on Jenkins, Patton and Manningham, but one of those three will likely step up and at least hold WR3 value at some point. Last, but certainly not least, with Colin Kaepernick‘s security blanket now gone, tight end Vernon Davis becomes a safer pick as a TE1 in fantasy leagues. He should rise from his curreny 8-9 round ADP.

The post San Francisco 49ers: Michael Crabtree Likely Lost For Season With Torn Achilles appeared first on NFL Soup.

Drafted out of New Mexico in the year 2000, Brian Urlacher spent 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears, helping them reach one Super Bowl, which they lost to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

“Although I could continue playing, I’m not sure I would bring a level of performance or passion that’s up to my standards,” Brian Urlacher said in a statement found on his Twitter page.

Brian Urlacher could always get the itch and return to a linebacker-needy team after the season starts. At almost 35, his best days are long behind him and his knees are in rough shape, but he still has good instincts, tackles well, and would be a strong locker room presence. With that said, it doesn’t sound as if Urlacher is all that interested in playing for anyone but the Bears.

Chicago declined to give Urlacher the contract he wanted earlier in the off-season, and the two sides appeared to go on their separate ways. Had Urlacher agreed to a hometown discount, things could have been different. Instead, Urlacher’s time in the NFL comes to an end. The Bears legend is a near-lock for the Hall of Fame, as he finishes his Chicago career with 1,229 tackles, 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles, and eight Pro Bowl selections.

The post Brian Urlacher: Ex-Chicago Bears Linebacker Retires From NFL appeared first on NFL Soup.

Last season three guys I targeted on a regular basis in the middle rounds of fantasy football drafts were Michael Vick, Robert Griffin III and Tony Romo. Vick was a flat-out bust, but RG3 and Romo were excellent fantasy quarterbacks, through and through. RG3 was the clear winner there, and the point is to aim for that type of pay-off each year, while getting good value. The best way to do that is to analyze the average draft position (ADP) of your targeted players according to your league type and size.

To keep things standard, we’ll roll with a 10-team league and see who the nice value buys are from rounds 7-10 at all four major offensive positions:

Quarterbacks

Round 7 – Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) and Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks)

Anytime two top-10 fantasy passers are available in round seven, you have to feel good. Ryan was the #7 fantasy quarterback last year, and Wilson the #10. Wilson has more upside due to his running ability, but Ryan is the more proven passer and is more experienced. These are two guys that are likely on the fringe and won’t be available this late in every 2013 fantasy football league.

Round 8 – Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) and Robert Griffin III (Washington Redskins)

Stafford’s stock is down because he dropped in TDs in 2012, but he was still the #11 fantasy quarterback because of his insane yardage. RG3 was the #5 fantasy quarterback, but his knee injury understandably has him in round eight. I am targeting both of these guys here, and I’ll safely get one of them in most 10-team 2013 fantasy football leagues.

Round 9 – Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts) and Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys)

If I don’t land Stafford or RG3, I could settle for Luck or Romo in rounds eight or nine. Romo might even dip a bit due to a recent back surgery (although he shouldn’t, as it’s minor), while Luck could easily ascend just because he’s going to be much better than last season. Both of these guys are tremendous value, as they actually both finished above Russell Wilson and Matthew Stafford in 2012.

Round 10 – Eli Manning (New York Giants)

Eli wasn’t his normal self for all of 2012, but he was still good for 15th place among fantasy quarterbacks. That’s about right where I like him, if not potentially a little higher. He could have to throw more with Ahmad Bradshaw gone, but he needs a healthy Hakeem Nicks to maximize his value. Still, in round 10, you could do a lot worse.

And…

Beyond these excellent options in rounds 7-10, you can still find guys with nice upside like Ben Roethlisberger, Jay Cutler, Philip Rivers and Carson Palmer. All four of these guys ranked outside of the top-15 in 2012, but all have enough changes around them that could sneak them into the top half of the league if all goes well.

Running Backs

Round 7 – BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Cincinnati Bengals) and Rashard Mendenhall (Arizona Cardinals)

Clearly the talent at running back is dreadful compared to the talent at quarterback as round seven gets going. If Law Firm is one of your best bets, you know you’re going to have to take your top backs way, way earlier. Still, with that said, BJGE is still starting and should be good for red-zone duty, while Mendenhall is also starting and could be a potential bounce back candidate.

Round 8 – Giovani Bernard (Cincinnati Bengals) and Daryl Richardson (St. Louis Rams)

I’d actually draft Bernard over Green-Ellis if this is what the talent pool offers, simply because he has more upside and sooner or later I expect him to be the starter. Richardson is a major risk, as he’s no lock to be the starter with Isaiah Pea and Zac Stacy competing with him for carries.

Round 9 – Andre Brown (New York Giants), Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers), Shane Vereen (New England Patriots) and Mark Ingram (New Orleans Saints)

I like the value showing up in round nine in 10-team leagues way more than round seven or eight. That should change over the next month or so, but right now Brown is the main TD guy for the Giants, Vereen is the main third down guy for the Patriots, and Ingram is the Saints’ starter. All three of these guys have some really nice upside, and while they’re sharing the load, they could end up having RB2 value in 2013 fantasy football if all goes well.

Round 10 – Fred Jackson (Buffalo Bills) and Mikel Leshoure (Detroit Lions)

Both F-Jax and Leshoure still have value, but it’s important to be very aware that they’re dropping quite a bit. We don’t know how big of a role Jackson will have now that the Bills are turning to C.J. Spiller, and the same for Leshoure with Reggie Bush in town. With that said, Jackson should still factor in to a certain degree, while Leshoure will at the worst be a TD vulture.

And…

As thin as running back is, there are still some solid sleepers to be had beyond the 10th round. They’re not guaranteed roles, but Johnathan Franklin, Isaiah Pead, Ben Tate and Bernard Pierce are all at least interesting handcuffs.

Wide Receivers

Round 7 – Pierre Garcon (Washington Redskins), Eric Decker (Denver Broncos), Torrey Smith (Baltimore Ravens), Antonio Brown (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Tavon Austin (St. Louis Rams)

Garcon is tricky due to a foot injury that robbed him of what was looking like a fantastic debut season with the Redskins. However, he’s a burner in a good offense and he’s worth the risk in round seven. You have to love Decker here, as he’s sure to keep scoring touchdowns, while Smith and Brown have expanded roles in their offenses and Tavon Austin is a major rookie sleeper. I love all of these guys here in round seven, and all could serve as outstanding WR2′s, if not much better.

Round 8 – James Jones (Green Bay Packers), Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers), Greg Jennings (Minnesota Vikings), Danario Alexander (San Diego Chargers) and T.Y. Hilton (Indianapolis Colts)

James Jones isn’t likely to rack up the touchdowns in 2013 fantasy football like he did a year ago, but he’s still going to be a very solid WR2 or WR3 in Green Bay. Steve Smith in round eight is always a steal, while Hilton is a player very much on the rise. Round eight isn’t a bad place to take a chance on Jennings in a new environment. I’m weary about DX, however, as he has a checkered injury history.

Round 9 – DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles), Stevie Johnson (Buffalo Bills), Miles Austin (Dallas Cowboys) and Cecil Shorts III (Jacksonville Jaguars)

All of these guys have injury issues or other question marks, so it’s no surprise that they’re lasting this long. Johnson and Shorts have the most upside in terms of role at the moment, though, and could be nice steals if they stand around here. D-Jax certainly has the talent, but he’s not a big TD threat and he tends to play soft. If Austin could just stay healthy, he’d be a rock solid WR2. Instead, you might be drafting him as a WR3 here.

Round 10 – Josh Gordon (Cleveland Browns), Jeremy Maclin (Philadelphia Eagles) and Lance Moore (New Orleans Saints)

I’m always scared of Maclin’s health woes, but you know he’s talented and can produce when on the field. Moore is a very strong WR3 but is limited a bit in the slot, and is probably more suited for PPR leagues. I’m high on Gordon heading into 2013, as he has major big-play ability and has worked his way into Cleveland’s top receiver spot. If he is here in round 10, I’m taking him every single time.

And…

The wide receiver position is so deep that you can still find starting options with nice upside such as Kenny Britt, Emmanuel Sanders, DeAndre Hopkins and more. All three of these guys are locked-in starters and could carry monster upside. Britt has a history of injuries and off-field issues, Sanders lacks experience and Hopkins is a rookie, but if you can get past those red flags, these are three guys who could be drafted as WR3′s and put up solid WR2 value, if not better.

Tight Ends

Round 7 – Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta Falcons)

I know he’s 37, but talk about no respect. Gonzo was an elite TE once again in 2012, but here he is, taken in round seven. It’s probably for the best, as he’ll eventually regress at some point. But he’ll still have solid overall numbers and you’re getting a steal for the 2013 fantasy football season.

Round 8 – Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers)

Davis was pretty solid with Alex Smith at the helm last year, but he didn’t do much until the playoffs once Colin Kaepernick took over. Hopefully they can work on their chemistry and the ultra-talented Davis can provide monster value for you in round eight.

Round 9 – Dennis Pitta (Baltimore Ravens)

Pitta was definitely inconsistent in his first season as a full-time starter, but he got hot down the stretch and proved to be big in the playoffs, as well. With Anquan Boldin gone, Pitta is going to be a big-time breakout candidate in 2013. I doubt he lasts until round nine once the season gets closer.

Round 10 – Kyle Rudolph (Minnesota Vikings)

Rudolph is held back by his offense and quarterback play a bit, but with Percy Harvin gone, it’s only natural to expect his targets to increase. He’ll always stay a red-zone factor no matter what, though, which makes him a terrific get in round 10.

And…

Tight end isn’t necessarily so deep, but it’s just not valued as high. The top-end of the position should be, but once you get past the top four of five options, they do all seem to blend together. Even so, beyond round 10 you can still find Antonio Gates, Owen Daniels, Jermichael Finley and Jared Cook on average.

Keep in mind this is all operating under a 10-team, 15-round 2013 fantasy football league.

For more from Kevin Roberts, follow him on Twitter @NFLSoupKevin!

The post 2013 Fantasy Football: Tony Romo and the Top Mid-Round Draft Targets appeared first on NFL Soup.

The deal is worth a maximum of $4.3 million including built-in incentives. Charles Woodson elected to go back to Oakland, the team that originally drafted him back in the 1998 NFL Draft. It’s a peculiar move, as Woodson passed up an opportunity to play with the Denver Broncos, who are a legit Super Bowl contender. Denver reportedly offered Woodson a contract worth a maximum of $3.7 million, including incentives.

It’s pretty clear Charles Woodson followed the money here. Perhaps Denver’s incentives would have been impossible to reach and Oakland’s base salary plus easier incentives had him deciding that a return home to the team that drafted him was best. Whatever the case, instead of playing for a Super Bowl in his likely final season, Woodson will instead be playing with a bottom feeder that isn’t even likely to sniff the playoffs.

Woodson was originally drafted by the Raiders, where he spent his first eight NFL seasons as a cover corner and return man. He fled to the Green Bay Packers in free agency in 2006 for more money and a shot at a Super Bowl. Woodson spent the next seven seasons with the Packers, finally claiming a ring in 2010.

While Charles Woodson has been long known as an elite cornerback and return man, he made the switch to safety in 2012, due to age and a decline in overall skills. At age 37, he will continue to play safety for the Raiders, likely starting along side fellow safety Tyvon Branch.

Fantasy Analysis

The presence of a savvy veteran like Charles Woodson can’t be underrated, as Woodson is a ball hawk and will freely roam the back of the defense in Oakland. He’ll make Tyvon Branch even better and his presence should help the Raiders’ dreadful secondary improve. Even at 37, Charles Woodson could still be worth a flier as an IDP option in fantasy football. However, his presence isn’t going to be enough to use the Raiders’ team defense in 2013.

The post Charles Woodson Chooses Money With Oakland Raiders Over a Super Bowl? appeared first on NFL Soup.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Mark Dominik has a less than stellar draft record since taking charge in 2009, with some really awful second-round clunkers in Brian Price and Arrelious Benn in 2010. His first pick, quarterback Josh Freeman in 2009, keeps showing flashes of potential but has not yet shown that he has what it takes to be a championship-caliber leader and reliable week-to-week performer. The defense, once the definition of the franchise, was repeated strafed last year in the air, finishing 28th or worse in most pass defense categories with 4,758 yards and 30 TDs against – basically every QB becomes Matt Ryan against them. That’s understandable as they play the Falcons twice a year, but bad against the 24 teams that had worse QB play.

Round 1 (Pick 13) – Traded to New York Jets for Darrelle Revis, CB

It was a poorly-guarded secret that the Jets were unwilling to pay Revis the money he’d earned as the best shutdown corner in the league, so they traded him to the Bucs for their first-round pick, plus a conditional fourth-round pick in 2014. If Revis is fully recovered from his knee injury, then this is an obvious “A” and fantastic move for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – one that vaults them right into the playoffs. If Revis’s injury is serious, though, this is a total waste – a total boom-or-bust deal.

Grade: A, because most reports are that Jets owner Woody Johnson is cheap and still angry at Revis for holding out three years ago. New GM John Idzik and Head Coach Rex Ryan seemed upset to see Revis go.

Round 2 (Pick 43) – Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

With the retirement of Ronde Barber and the awfulness of the rest of the secondary, the Bucs went need here with Banks, a tall 6’2” corner with good physical cover skills and the ability to help against the run. Banks lacks great speed, though. Banks is a reasonable pick, who grades out significantly higher on some sheets than the CBs taken later in the round.

Grade: B

Round 3 (Pick 73) – Mike Glennon, QB, North Carolina State

Here comes the intrigue! While incumbent Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman looks like an ascending star at times, he looks like Tarvaris Jackson other plays, and Michael Jackson in some ESPN photo shoots. He has a great receiving corps and running game behind him, so Freeman does not have many excuses left. As for Glennon, he is a big, strong thrower who shows flashes of savvy but should benefit from at least half a season to learn on the bench. This pick was a reach, though, as Matt Barkley and Ryan Nassib were still available in the fourth round. They could have traded down for Glennon, or taken one of the more highly-regarded QBs instead. The Bucs must think that Glennon has higher upside than the other two, and that Freeman needed to see that his job was going to be in sort-of jeopardy.

Grade: C

Round 4 (Pick 100) – Akeem Spence, DT, Illinois

Spence fills a need to line up next to Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy. Spence is stronger as a run blocker, which wasn’t a huge issue for TB last year, but grades out as an eventual solid, if unspectacular, starter. Only DT drafted in the fourth round.

Grade: B

Round 4 (Pick 126) – William Gholston, DE, Michigan State

William is Vernon’s cousin, and like him, he has outstanding size, speed, and power, but also has plenty of questions about his mental makeup. Perhaps a tough coach like Schiano will be able to get the most out of him. The Bucs will hope he earns the DE3 spot in camp. Another boom-or-bust pick, but if it goes boom, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could soon have the best defense in the division.

Grade: C+ until he shows he’s better than Vernon

Round 5 (Pick 147) – Steven Means, OLB, Buffalo

Means will be a hybrid DE/LB type who will do what he can just to make the team. He comes out a relatively young program in Buffalo that hasn’t sent a ton of guys to the NFL, but has enough size, speed and strength that he could conceivably develop into something more than roster filler.

Grade: B-

Round 6 (Pick 189) – Mike James, RB, Miami (FL)

James is the RB3 at best, and will probably have to make his mark on special teams, though he hasn’t really returned kicks since early in his collegiate career. He does have a reputation as a polished, heady player, who made strides as a receiver last year, so perhaps some third-down duty will be in the offing. Doug Martin, last year’s second first-round pick (31), has quickly established himself as one of the top RBs in the NFL, but the Bucs would be smart to get James and Brian Leonard to lighten the load when they can, lest Martin take more punishment than necessary.

Grade: B

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Summary

This draft hinges on Revis, although there were big risks throughout, such as Glennon and Gholston. With Revis, a Jets team with an average running game and embarrassing passing game went to two conference championships. In Tampa, Revis joins a dynamic offense and an already solid run D that needed more secondary help, and got it in him, Banks and Dashon Goldson from SF. No more excuses – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needs to be a playoff team next year, and clearly has the talent to do it.

Overall Grade: A if Revis goes back to Pro Bowl form; F if his injuries linger, and Glennon has no career. As of today, we’ll call it a “B-“ for not enough immediate impact rookies.

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The post Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2013 NFL Draft Grades appeared first on NFL Soup.

They were tied for the most sacks in the league with 52, while also recording 17 interceptions and five defensive touchdowns. Offensively, the team still struggled as injuries to the wide receivers (again) caused Sam Bradford some issues.

Jeff Fisher and the Rams brass clearly wanted to address those issues in the 2013 NFL Draft, and work on making this team as playoff caliber as possible. They traded up once, and then back once again, giving up a second round pick and stockpiling Top 100 talent.

Let’s take a look at the how the Rams fared in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Round 1, Pick 8 (from Bills) – Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

I’m still not crazy about trading up into the top ten for a 5’8 174 pound wide receiver. Granted, Austin has solid hands and is an absolute burner, I question whether or not he’ll be able to take hits from NFL caliber players.

Playing at West Virginia, he didn’t face elite defenders, and pretty much ran around them. In the NFL, he’ll have some competition. Still, kudos for Jeff Fisher and the Rams for addressing a huge need offensively as they work to give their former #1 overall pick Sam Bradford a few weapons.

My biggest issue is that they could have taken a stud receiver like Cordarrelle Patterson or DeAndre Hopkins later in the first, while holding on to a few extra selections.

Grade: B

Round 1, Pick 30 (from Falcons) – Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

I had Ogletree mocked to the Rams several times throughout the off-season. It seemed like too good of a fit to grab him to play weakside linebacker like a Lance Briggs. Having James Laurinaitis has been extremely beneficial for the defense, and getting a talented, balanced linebacker in Ogletree to play next to him will help out even more.

There is not much competition at linebacker for Ogletree so look for him to get an opportunity to start right away.

Grade: A

Round 3, Pick 71 (from Bills) – T.J. McDonald, SAF, USC

McDonald could have been just a bit of a reach here, but in the third round, the prospect rankings vary heavily by each team. The Rams felt that McDonald was a better fit for their scheme and likely prefer his pedigree over guys like Duke Williams or Shamarko Thomas.

McDonald has solid upside and quietly became one of the top defenders on a struggling USC defense over the last couple of seasons. Getting a potential stud to give them additional safety depth, if not a starter, was not a bad decision.

Grade: B-

Round 3, Pick 92 (from Falcons) – Stedman Bailey, WR, West Virginia

Clearly giving Sam Bradford more help on the offensive side of the ball was one of the Rams most important off-season tasks. A bit overshadowed by Tavon Austin, former West Virginia receiver Stedman Bailey fell to the third round for a few reasons.

He’s clearly not as fast as Austin, and he’s not very physical. But what he does offer is a solid set of hands, above average route running ability, and the potential to be a top tier WR3. Bailey worked very well with Austin and having them both in the same training camp could make both of their NFL transitions a bit easier to get through. Having solid receiving ability overall as well surely doesn’t hurt the Rams pass hungry offense.

Grade: B+

Round 4, Pick 113 – Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama

Every team needs offensive line depth. Injuries happen in the trenches almost weekly it seems, and you can never seem to have enough capable lineman.

Barrett Jones was extremely underrated and I feel it’s mostly because he lacks a true position at the next level. He just plays several positions well, rather than playing one position exceptionally. We’re talking about a guy that played left tackle, right guard and finally center and excelled at all three positions.

He’s a natural leader, a great locker room character, and offers up versatility that you just cannot turn down, especially in the middle of the fourth round.

Grade: A

Round 5, Pick 149 – Brandon McGee, CB, Miami (Fl.)

Another pick that I fell in love with comes in the fifth round with Miami’s Brandon McGee. McGee has very good speed to go with his solid frame (5’11 194).

While his ball skills haven’t still developed, he has shown flashes that he could end up being a legitimate nickel corner at the next level. He’s not afraid to go in and make a tackle and I had him as a potential Top 100 selection.

The Rams added Cortland Finnegan in free agency, then drafting Janoris Jenkins in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. They still needed to add a bit of depth, and McGee should find his way getting into the mix at some point in 2013.

Grade: A-

Round 5, Pick 27 (from Texans) – Zac Stacy, RB, Vanderbilt

The Rams final selection came in the fifth round after they took a chance on an underrated rusher in Zac Stacy. They lost Steven Jackson in the off-season to the Falcons and go into the season optimistic that Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead can carry the load.

But don’t rule out Stacy to get in the mix along with Terrance Ganaway as the third rusher on the depth chart. Stacy is small, but thick. He’s more powerful than he looks between the tackles and he has fair speed for a running back (4.53 forty). The best part is that he has experience in pass protection. Keep in mind that Stacy didn’t run behind much of an offensive line, yet he still managed to put up solid statistics against SEC opponents.

Grade: B+

Overall

I know that I’ll personally be rooting for the Rams to succeed in 2013. They have a lot of great young talent and continued to add more in the 2013 NFL Draft. I’m still a bit skeptical about Tavon Austin, but the upside is there for him to become a top play maker in the NFL assuming he stays healthy and is utilized properly.

Most importantly, the Rams added talented depth at key positions on the offensive line, in the defensive backfield, and at wide receiver and running back, while getting four potential starters as well. Aside from keeping a few picks and selecting a more physical #1 receiver, I can’t possibly be disappointed with this draft if I were a Rams fan.

Final Grade: A-

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However, it’s May, and there’s like nothing else going on in the NFL these days, anyway. So what better do we have to do? Nothing. That’s what.

Let’s see how the Houston Texans fared with their 2013 draft picks, shall we?

Round 1 (Pick 27) – DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

Houston finally parted ways with pedestrian pass-catcher Kevin Walter earlier this spring, opening the door for a guy to come in and start opposite the great Andre Johnson. The Texans wasted no time there, taking Clemson star DeAndre Hopkins with their first-round pick. Hopkins has good size at 6’1″, 215, and has the ability to go over-the-top, which is something the Texans’ offense has lacked in their group of receivers outside of Johnson for the last several years.

Grade: A-

Round 2 (Pick 57) – D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina

Houston lost Glover Quin to Detroit in free agency, and then added future Hall-of-Famer Ed Reed to the defensive backfield in his place. Veteran Danieal Manning is still here, as well, but the Texans could stand to add some depth and youth to the secondary, which they do by adding Swearinger. Swearinger earned a reputation as a big-hitting, physical safety during his time with the Gamecocks,

Houston’s defense under Wade Phillips plays plenty of dime, as well, so having three reliable safeties is a must. He’s a solid tackler, and, despite being physical, also has plenty of range to play the position well at the next level.

Grade: B+

Round 3 (Pick 89) – Brennan Williams, OT, North Carolina

The Texans had some issues along the right side of the offensive line last season, with Derek Newton, Andre Caldwell struggling a bit following the departure of Eric Winston to free agency. Houston reportedly had Williams higher on their board, and were pleased to be able to take him at No. 89. He’s a big body at 6’6″, 320, but has the athleticism required to fit right into the Texans’ zone blocking scheme. With the aforementioned uncertainty pertaining to the right side of the O-line, Williams has a good shot at coming in and contributing immediately.

Grade: B+

Round 3 (Pick 95) – Sam Montgomery, OLB, LSU

Montgomery reportedly fell a bit in this draft due to character concerns, but he was an extremely productive player at LSU. We hear about guys that come out of school with character concerns all the time, only to never ever hear about such issues again once they become pros and have the right people surrounding them. Plus, Montgomery’s character concerns aren’t of the law-breaking kind, they’re more of the “he’s weird and may not care about football” kind, which is clearly more favorable. The Texans lost Connor Barwin to the Eagles in free agency, and are obviously in need of additional depth at this spot, as well. If he can be the player that they seem to think he can be, then Montgomery is a total steal at 95.

Grade: B

Round 4 (Pick 124) – Trevardo Williams, DE/OLB, Connecticut

Williams is the all-time sacks leader at UConn, and clearly has a knack for getting himself into the backfield and wreaking havoc. Other than the all-world DE J.J. Watt, the Texans weren’t getting to the quarterback too often in 2012. He’s a high-motor type player that also put up some impressive numbers at the combine. It’ll be interesting to see whether the Texans have him playing down on the line, or at an OLB slot.

Grade: B

Round 6 (Pick 176) – David Quessenberry, OT, San Jose State

Quessenberry weighs-in at just over 300 pounds, which may actually be rather small for an NFL tackle at this point. However, as I mentioned with Brennan Williams, Houston likes their tackles to be able to move, and Quessenberry can most certainly do that. Add another name to the list of competitors for a starting spot along the right side of the OL in 2013.

Grade: B-

Round 6 (Pick 195) – Alan Bonner, WR, Jacksonville State

Coming from Jacksonville State, obviously this isn’t a particularly big name. Gary Kubiak said that they loved what they saw from Alan Bonner in Indianapolis, and, outside of Johnson and Hopkins, there don’t appear any other receiving spots locked-down on the roster. He may also be able to add another element to the return game, which was rather lackluster for the Texans last season.

Grade: C

Round 6 (Pick 198) – Chris Jones, DT, Bowling Green

Jones put up very good numbers as a defensive tackle in college, and he’s another guy known for having a high-motor and a tendency to make plays in the backfield. Other than Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell, the Texans don’t have a whole lot of depth on the interior of that defensive line.

Grade: C+

Round 6 (Pick 201) – Ryan Griffin, TE, Connecticut

Seems like the Texans draft a tight end every year, so they had to fill that quota by taking Griffin with their final selection. He’s a pass-catching tight end that has been compared to another Houston tight end, Garrett Graham.

Grade: C

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