Winners

Arizona - OT Levi Brown, DT Alan Branch, LB Buster Davis
The Cards are a big winner on draft day, adding toughness and a mean streak on the lines and up the middle of the defense. All three of these guys may start, and it's clear that these new coaches are bringing the mean Pittsburgh mentality with them to Arizona. They know that you win the games in the trenches and made sure they started rebuilding there. This is the draft people will look back on at the end of the year when the Cards make the playoffs.

Atlanta - DE Jamaal Anderson, OG Justin Blalock, CB Chris Houston, WR Laurent Robinson
The Falcons did well to stay put and get over the dreams of Calvin Johnson. They are better off letting Vick mature with his current receivers and rebuilding the line and defense, like they did. Anderson and Houston will both start and do well, and Blalock will be a long time starter on the line. They did well to stay the course and fill needs.

Buffalo - RB Marshawn Lynch, LB Paul Posluszny, QB Trent Edwards
The Bills had a lot of areas to address, and they didn't get them all, but they did a great job adding talent with their picks today. Pos was a great second round pickup and he'll absolutely start right away. Lynch is a great complement to Thomas, and you have to assume his durability and character issues have checked out to be taken that high. Edwards was a great late 3rd round pickup and could turn into a starter in a year or two if Losman doesn't progress. Many expected him to be the third QB off the board, maybe even in the end of the first.

New England - S Brandon Meriweather
Really, the Pats are day one winners with only one pick, and that being a guy with major character issues? Well, if there's a team that handles those situations well, it is New England, and Meriweather has all the talent in the world. But what you don't see here is how the Pats set themselves up for a monster draft next year, where the draft class is supposed to be a great one. They traded a low #1 this year for a 4th rounder and the 49ers' #1 next year, probably a top 15 pick. Then they traded a very low #3 for a 7th and the Raiders' #3 next year, surely a high pick. So not much help now, but you'll know next year why they are winners this year.

Carolina - LB Jon Beason, WR Dwayne Jarrett, C Ryan Kalil, DE Charles Johnson
Great draft overall by the Panthers thus far. They got the LB they wanted in the first, but traded down to do it and landed a center who can start for them for a long time. Then in the second they sat pat and landed a WR with a lot of upside for that pick no matter how llittle you like him. Add in Johnson who was taken a round late, and you get a great draft for John Fox et al.


Losers

San Diego - WR Craig Davis, S Eric Weddle, LB Anthony Waters
San Diego's front office has really set itself up for failure. With the firing of Schotty after going 14-2, AJ Smith made it clear whose fault the early playoff exit was and put all of the pressure squarely on his own shoulders. Then he used a first round pick on a WR who was behind at least five other WRs on most boards. And to compound the problem, a few picks later he packaged a 2, 3, 5, AND next year's 3 to move way up in the second for a safety do-it-all type guy that most scouts don't think is good enough to do anything consistently other than play special teams. My guess is that if the Chargers slip to even 8 or 9 wins this year, there's going to be a lot of finger pointing at AJ next offseason.

Green Bay - DT Justin Harrell, RB Brandon Jackson, WR James Jones, S Aaron Rouse
What is there to say? Harrell was taken 20 picks too early, and neither Jackson nor Jones should have even been sniffed on the first day. Looks like Green Bay's front office took the weekend off.

Miami - WR Ted Ginn, QB John Beck, C Samson Satele, RB Lorenzo Booker
Not a good pick in the bunch. Ginn at #9 was a shocker, and it's never good when your head coach tries to sell a #9 pick by talking about his family and his punt return abilities. Beck is not the answer at QB, Satele was a round early and was taken when Kalil was there and better. Booker was a couple rounds too early and was just a weird pick. Overall, Cameron has a lot of explaining to do after this one.


Jury's Out

Cleveland - OT Joe Thomas, QB Brady Quinn, CB Eric Wright
It's tough to know what to make of this one. When the dust settles on this draft 3-4 years from now, it's very possible the Browns could have 3 of the top 10 or 15 players in the draft, and it could be one that turned their franchise around. There's definitely the potential for it, but it's hard to call them a winner just yet. It cost them a 3 and 4 for Wright, and they paid a monster deal with a high 2 and next year's likely top 10 #1 for Quinn. If these players don't hit, it's going to set the franchise back yet again.

Minnesota - RB Adrian Peterson, WR Sidney Rice, CB Marcus McCauley
It's difficult to evaluate this one. The team passed on Quinn when they don't have a surefire starting QB, and they passed on Dwayne Jarrett (twice) for another South Carolina receiver. Still, all three players are very talented and could all well end up starting, but the top two will either make or break this offense. McCauley was slipping into the first on many mocks and was a great value at a need spot.

New York Jets - CB Darrelle Revis, LB David Harris
No question about the guys they got, who both fill needs and are both first round talents. But boy did the Jets pay to get them. For Revis they gave up their 1, 2, and 5. For Harris it was 2, 3, and 6. So they got some great talent, but any time you trade six picks for two, it's a very risky endeavor. I believe the Jets will wish they had some more youth from this draft in a year or two.

Dallas - DE Anthony Spencer, OT James Marten
The Cowboys moved around a lot today, so it's hard to get a good idea of where they stand. Two trade downs added a lot of good picks, but they also gave up a lot to move up for Spencer. Both players are very solid values and good fits for the team. But the key to this draft is the piece they got from the Browns, next year's #1 and a likely top 10 pick. Plus it was the Browns who traded up again later and helped the Cowboys pay a hefty tag for Spencer.

Uh, dude, what are you smoking? Kalil was taken at #59 by the Panthers and Satele was taken at #60. As for Quinn vs any of the 2nd round QBs, I'm not convinced he's all that better, especially considering that three other teams who could've used a franchise QB passed on him.

EDIT: You might want to read this before you bust the Fins' chops for passing on Quinn.

if youre miami and youre starting new with a new coaching staff, quinn is the safest pick there. no one can fault you for taking him, and the entire fanbase desperately wants him. instead you pass on him and put all your stock in john beck, and now the entire cam cameron era as HC will live or die under whether john beck can become the next miami franchise QB. hes set himself up for failure. even if beck is decent, if quinn is better, then the dolphin fans wont let it go.

and as for the point about slipping from 9 to 22 so teams must know what theyre doing... um... not buying it. quinn slipped from 9 to 22 because of what all the teams in between had recently invested at qb:
houston - schaub (two 2nds this year)
sf - a smith (#1 overall two years ago)
buff - losman (#1 pick a few years ago)
stl - bulger (no recent investment, but team is built to win now and bulger is a pro bowler)
jets - pennington/clemens (pro bowler plus 2nd rounder last year)
steelers - roeth (#1 pick a couple years ago)
green bay - favre/rodgers (built to win now, #1 pick a few years ago)
denver - cutler (#1 pick last year)
cinci - palmer (#1 overall pick a few years ago)
tenn - young (top 3 pick last year)
giants - eli (#1 overall pick a couple years ago)
jax - leftwich (#1 pick a few years ago)

so there were 12 picks between miami and when quinn finally went. of those 12 teams in between, all but one of them (the rams) have invested at least a 2nd round pick in the last few years on their QB. 9 of the 12 have invested a 1st round pick in the last few years, including three #1 overalls. so which one of these teams was supposed to take a QB and stop quinn's fall? none of them.

if miami wanted to, they couldve traded back. there were teams that desperately wanted willis, and miami could have dialed back 5 or 10 picks and still got quinn -- or ginn for that matter. but other teams knew they were dialed in to ginn, just like i told you a week ago. cameron made the HC mistake of buying into families and friends, just like when a college coach moves up and drafts his own guys. theres just a little bit of extra stock there that throws the value off.

whether you like it or not, cameron has now put himself in a position with this draft to win with john beck in three years or get fired. ted ginn was an awful pick. you already had a player in that same mold on your roster -- kick returner extraordinaire, solid slot WR type -- and you were ecstatic to trade him for a #2 pick. but now you spent a ton more money on an injury-prone version of wes welker and cost yourself a chance at brady quinn as well. are you really telling me youd rather have beck and ginn than welker and quinn? cuz if you are, then youre drinking this koolaid just a little too much for a sunday morning.

Miami
Read the article, but I still have to agree with Da Bomb. That was a horrible first day or the Dolphins. They tried to justify their pick of Ginn, talking about how great of a "punt returner" he will be in the NFL. You have Brady Quinn right there for the taking, you really need a quarterback, and you pass on him for a wide receiver, and don't even take the best available wide receiver.

Then to add to that, you reach on a quarterback that looks to be a #3 practice squad guy for the short amount of time that he will be in the NFL as a player.

So far, the Dolphins have my vote for the worst draft of 2007

Cleveland
They gave up a lot to move up for Brady Quinn, but they got a player that I think should have went in the top 5, so what they gave up was worth it. Gonna have to see what these guys actually do on the field, and Cleveland will miss that first round pick next year, but overall, I think this will work out well for the Browns. The AFC North will be competitive next year, but with just a little luck I think the Browns are 8-8 or better this year, and could be competing for a division title by 2008.

Minnesota
Screwed the pooch. Just like Miami, they had a franchise quarterback sitting there for the taking, and they take an injury prone running back that could possibly not even play until 2008. I like Rice, but even with that pick, I think there was better players available, at the same position.

Atlanta
May have had the best first day of all. Very solid group of players.

Dallas
Tempering my enthusiasm, waiting to see how they fill out their depth with the rest of their draft picks today. Spencer was a excellent choice, especially considering Wade Phillips use of defensive players, and the need for an increased pass rush.

New England
Love the Meriweather pick, and now they have Randy Moss. Really doesn't matter what else this team does today, they just got alot better.

Philadelphia
I think they did very well to get Kevin Kolb. The concern with this guy was whether he would be able to make NFL style throws due to the offense he played in. They put him through several tests during the week of the combine and he made every throw he was asked to throw without a problem. They need a quarterback that can come in and start if McNabb gets hurt an they got it. As for the rest of their draft so far, pretty average. Not saying that as a bad thing, just saying that got players pretty much equal to their value, nothing surprising.

Overall a good first day for the Eagles.

Oakland
This is my 2nd place loser behind Miami. While Jamarcus Russell may live up to the billing, I don't see it happening. Al Davis love of a big armed quarterback caused him to really mess up the #1 overall draft pick. On top of that, the only receiver they have that could take advantage of the one skill Russell brings to the table, Randy Moss, was traded today for a 4th round pick.

Randy Moss won't be missed though, because they now have Mike Williams, the star wide receiver from Detroit (sarcasm)

Prediction: By 2008, if the best quarterback on this team is starting, it will be Walter or McCown, not Russell.

Mike, I'm not as excited as you are about what NE is doing. They have been built by players who buy into the system and work towards one goal. It will be very interesting to see if they can get players like Moss and Merriweather to follow suit. Especially MOSS. Randy is a me guy, not a team guy, always has been. Can Brady and BB get his to "buy" in??? Not saying they can not, but they seem to be going in a different direction from what has worked in the past. I am a little reluctant to buy into this new direction.

Belichick knows what he is doing here. I know longer doubt anything this guy does. Moss is now on a team that has a quarterback who can get him the ball. I am not nearly as concerned about Moss as others. Put the guy in a good position, he will play, and play well.

Belichick is like a Cajun cook. He can take any ingredients you hand him and make something good out of it.

No, they really couldn't have. Mueller was asked about this and said that although feelers were put out for trades both up and down nobody really showed interest on draft day.

While Moss is an enignma, a selfish me first guy by all of out accounts I don't buy into all that as much as others. From what I have read the Pats spent alot of time trying to gauge Moss when they talked to him. They came away convinced that Moss now reguards getting a shot a a SuperBowl ring as more important than individual goals. Now I don't by into that comepletely either, i still expect Moss to be the whinnyest WR in New England. But I don't believe that it will be anything like Moss as the best WR on one of the worst teams either.

They couldn't trade down for the same reason other teams were unable to move at the top. They overvalue their draft slot. Teams have stopped giving up the farm to get a top pick, and until the league adjusts to this, trades are not going to get done very often at the top.

It all boils down to Moss being somewhere that he wants to be now. Moss agreed to restructure his contract to make this trade happen, and the Patriots were the only team he was willing to do this for.

When the playoffs roll around this year, the Patriots will very likely find themselves looking across the field and seeing the Colts again. New England needed to bring in a player like this too increase their offensive firepower to compete with this team.

I would say overall, Atlanta, Carolina and Arizona had a hell of a first day. Those three get my top votes for best overall IMO.