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Chiefs

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports.com found KC to be a big winner in the 2008 NFL draft.

The Chiefs’ draft started with defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and offensive tackle Branden Albert in the first round and they continued right through the draft. Even sixth-round pick Kevin Robinson, a return man from Utah State, could be an immediate contributor.

From start to finish, the Chiefs cashed in big. That’s why they get the only premium grade in this report card.

Kansas City Chiefs

Best pick: They saw Dorsey fall to them with the fifth pick. He was the top player on half the boards in the league.

Questionable move: I like Texas running back Jamaal Charles, but do the Chiefs really need to be using a third-round pick on a back with Larry Johnson on the roster?

Second-day gem: Sixth-round pick Barry Richardson, a tackle out of Clemson, is massive (6-7, 338) and was once considered a first-day possibility.

Overall grade: A+. They had a lot of picks and used them well. Good thing, too. They need a lot of help.

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Redskins

Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports graded the draft for the NFC.

Washington came out a winner.

Washington Redskins
Picks: WR Devin Thomas, TE Fred Davis, WR Malcolm Kelly, OL Chad Rinehart, DB Justin Tryon, P Durant Brooks, DB Kareem Moore, QB Colt Brennan, DL Rob Jackson, DB Chris Horton
Positives: Thomas, Davis, Kelly, Brooks
Negative: Defensive end not addressed until the seventh round.
Bottom line:A. Ten overall picks with lots of potential from top to bottom. The two wideouts slipped a little and could all end up providing great value. Thomas and Kelly could develop into quality big targets, and an AFC scout told Yahoo! Sports in February that Davis was the best overall talent at tight end in this draft. The punter need was addressed with the best one the college game had to offer in Brooks. Brennan is an intriguing pick late in the sixth round. A lot of potential starters in this draft.
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Too bad there is no trophy for the draft victory.

Even worse is the fact that no one really knows what will happen with all these picks for a couple of years.

NFL Football special comment It feels good if your team is a draft winner, but it feels better if they win in the regular season.

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It is a great draft year for running backs. The 2008 NFL draft is loaded with running backs. If your team needs a running back and wants to use one of its first 4 picks, then odds are, your team will get their man.

Thanks to an influx of underclassmen, this year’s NFL draft has excellence and depth at running back. As many as five are projected as first-round prospects, and eight could hear their names called on the draft’s first day, according to ratings by NFLDraftScout.com. The top five are underclassmen, and only two of the top eight completed their college eligibility.

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Let’s take a look at some of the prospects.

1. *Darren McFadden, Arkansas, 6-1, 211, 1st: probably don’t need to say much here. Already enough has been written.

Darren McFadden has the speed to burn

Image details: SEC Football Championship: Florida v Arkansas served by picapp.com

2. *Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois, 5-10, 225, 1st: Mendenhall is moving to the NFL after a very productive junior season in 2007, when his 1,681 yards on the ground set a single-season school record. He was the Big Ten Conference offensive player of the year and ranked eighth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in rushing (129.3 yards a game).

Mendenhall is short, compact and runs with a low center of gravity. He shows a good instinct for knowing when to be patient behind blockers and when to use his explosive running ability. He gained more believers at the combine, where he ran a 4.41 in the 40, benched 225 pounds 26 times and had a 331/2-inch vertical jump.

Although he was featured for only one season in Champaign, Mendenhall was able to show traits beyond running that NFL teams like to see. As a receiver, he has good hands and seems to be able to adjust to poorly thrown balls. His ability as a blocker was evident on many assignments he had in Illinois’ spread-read offense.

For his career, Mendenhall started 14 of his 35 games and carried 388 times for 2,539 yards (6.5-yard average) and 22 touchdowns. That ranks seventh on the school’s career rushing yardage list. He also caught 59 passes for 564 yards and five scores.

(Some say the Lions will pick Mendenhall).

3. *Jonathan Stewart, Oregon, 5-10, 235, 1st: Has it all, but coming back from toe surgery.

4. *Jamaal Charles, Texas, 5-11, 200, 1st-2nd: Fast, but can he play every down?

5. *Felix Jones, Arkansas, 5-10, 207, 1st-2nd: Get this, Felix is the man behind Darren McFadden.

All five are underclassmen and all five may go in the first round.

Gentlemen, start your draft selections.

NFL Football special comment Will this be called the year of the running back?

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Rashard Mendenhall does the happy dance after Rivals ranks him number 2 after Darren McFadden

Rivals.com lists the running backs. Go there and learn about each one.

1. Darren McFadden, 6-1, 217, Arkansas
Arkansas’s best.

2. Rashard Mendenhall, 5-11, 225, Illinois
Only a junior. Dominated Big 10.

3. Jonathan Stewart, 5-10, 230, Oregon

4. Felix Jones, 5-11, 200, Arkansas

5. Chris Johnson, 5-11, 195, East Carolina
Fastest player at the NFL combines.

6. Kevin Smith, 6-0, 210, Central Florida

7. Jamaal Charles, 6-0, 200, Texas

8. Matt Forte, 6-1, 220, Tulane

9. Steve Slaton, 5-9, 195, West Virginia

10. Ray Rice, 5-9, 200, Rutgers

You know your team should take an offensive lineman first, but these guys are hard to pass up.

NFL Football Fan Question Will your team draft an offensive lineman?

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