Grade your favorite team's draft

[Mayor Adam West]

Figured I'd start another thread so all the draftniks can talk about their feelings about their particular team's draft picks. I'll get things started with the Colts:

Good picks: Anthony Gonzalez (WR, tOSU, 1st rd #32), Daymeion Hughes (CB, Cal, 3rd rd #32), Quinn Pitcock (DT, tOSU, 3rd rd #35)

Questionable picks: Tony Ugoh (OT, Arkansas, 2nd rd #10), Roy Hall (WR, tOSU, 5th rd #32), Michael Coe (CB, Alabama State, 5th rd #36)

Head-scratchers: Brannon Condren (S, Troy State, 4th rd #32), Clint Sessions (LB, Pitt, 4th rd #37), Keyunta Dawson (DE, Texas Tech, 7th rd #32)

As the Colts' first rounder started rolling towards us, I started salivating at the prospect that BOTH Alan Branch and Paul Posluzny were still available...two guys that would both fill immediate needs on a shaky defense. Instead, they go offense. The funny thing is, I actually told a buddy a few weeks ago that Anthony Gonzalez would be a perfect fit with the Colts, but that they'd probably have to either take him in the 1st round or trade up to get him early in the 2nd. Marvin Harrison isn't getting any younger, and the Colts really lacked a decent third receiver with Brandon Stokley leaving town, so I don't think it was a horrible pick. I just thought Branch or Poz would have filled a greater need. I can't really question Polian at this point though; he has a pretty good track record the last 8 or so years with his high rounders.

The Tony Ugoh pick is fairly questionable. I understand the logic; there weren't ANY other starter quality tackles left in the draft, and they must have felt that it was an immediate need to get one. But giving up a 1st rounder next year for him seems pretty risky for a guy who was hardly considered a can't miss prospect. Let's hope he works out, or we'll have paid a hefty price.

Finishing off the 3rd round with Daymeion Hughes and Quinn Pitcock was superb. How often do you get two All-American defensive players that late in the third round? Hughes will be a great fit in the Tampa 2, where CB speed is not at as much a premium as in more man-coverage oriented schemes. And Pitcock is precisely the kind of big, run-stopping type of DT that I was hoping we'd draft in the 1st round. In retrospect, he's probably a much better fit than Branch would have been (who is a better fit as a NT in a 3-4 defense), and to nab him that late was a superb stroke of luck.

The rest of the draft was rather, well, typical. On day 2, I always follow along and watch as needs that I consider to be huge go unfilled, and instead the Colts take guys I've never heard of. This year was no different. Some of these guys seemed like pretty big reaches; Condren and Sessions, from all I can find on them (which isn't much), were both guys most considered would go undrafted. Did we really have to take them in the 4th round? It's definitely in the Colts' M.O. though to find guys they like that fit their system (regardless of how they're generally considered by other teams or Mel Kiper or Scouts Inc. or anyone else), and pick them without considering value. So while I feel like some of those picks were strange, I can't argue with history. Polian and Co. seem to know their stuff, so I guess I'll trust that.

What does seem bizarre to me is that we only drafted one LB (Sessions) who is pretty doubtful to be starter quality, when we have ZERO starting OLBs going into next season. I'm also stunned that we didn't use one of those 4th or 5th rounders on a RB to back up Joseph Addai. He's the only back on the roster who has ever even recorded a carry. I sure hope he stays healthy.

In summary, here's how I grade their draft (based on both talent and value of the pick at that position):
Hughes and Pitcock: A
Gonzalez and Ugoh: B
Everyone else: D
Overall: B-