TMQ "Grades" the draft (Gregg Easterbrook)

Washington Redskins: Summing a series of trade-downs, the Redskins dropped from 10th (Blaine Gabbert) to 16th (Ryan Kerrigan) in the first round and in exchange gained third-, fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round selections. That's a nice yield for dropping only six places, and if the additional choices yield an additional starter, the Skins' strategy will be a success. Needing a quarterback, the Redskins passed on Ryan Mallett in the late second in order to trade down and add fifth- and seventh-round choices. For the Redskins to stockpile draft choices is, obviously, a major reversal of form.

Click to expand...

Denver Broncos: TMQ is a bit suspicious of second-overall selection Von Miller. He compiled his college sack stats by sprinting too far upfield, well beyond the passer, then using athletic ability to spin back. The much-better offensive tackles Miller will face in the NFL will be only too happy to ride him upfield, then drive him into the ground when he tries to spin back. Recent edge linebackers who were sack masters in college, then ineffective in the NFL after being drafted high in the first round -- Robert Ayers, Vernon Gholston, Aaron Maybin -- shared the bad habit of going too far up the field. The upfield rush move works in the NCAA. Against the better and faster linemen of the NFL, it's exactly what offensive tackles want a pass rusher to do.

Click to expand...