2005 Draft class final grades come this year

[Fanman]

2005 draft class:

Rd. Player School
1 WR Mark Clayton Oklahoma: right now a bust for a first round pick. He needs a big year to get a C or better.

2 LB Dan Cody Oklahoma: total bust...never healthy. Final grade - F.

2 OL Adam Terry Syracuse: Still has potential if he keeps improving. A solid C+ so far. Expect him to be a FT starter this year.

4 OL Jason Brown North Carolina: A solid B- so far. Expect him to be a FT starter this year at center. I hope he can mentor Grubbs too.

5 RB Justin Green Montana: Bust...grade D

6 QB Derek Anderson Oregon State: Gets an A...for the Browns. The Browns getting this guy is something the Ravens will never live down until they draft AND develop a legit franchise QB. Ravens grade: F

7 LB Mike Smith Texas Tech: Correct me if I am wrong but he has been on ST since he got here. C+

FM

[Galen Sevinne]

2005 draft class:

Rd. Player School
1 WR Mark Clayton Oklahoma: right now a bust for a first round pick. He needs a big year to get a C or better.

2 LB Dan Cody Oklahoma: total bust...never healthy. Final grade - F.

2 OL Adam Terry Syracuse: Still has potential if he keeps improving. A solid C+ so far. Expect him to be a FT starter this year.

4 OL Jason Brown North Carolina: A solid B- so far. Expect him to be a FT starter this year at center. I hope he can mentor Grubbs too.

5 RB Justin Green Montana: Bust...grade D

6 QB Derek Anderson Oregon State: Gets an A...for the Browns. The Browns getting this guy is something the Ravens will never live down until they draft AND develop a legit franchise QB. Ravens grade: F

7 LB Mike Smith Texas Tech: Correct me if I am wrong but he has been on ST since he got here. C+

FM

This is interesting. Everyone is so quick to praise our drafts but 2005 is very debateable.

Cody and Smith with their injuries are certainly disappointments but not sure if that is F.O.s fault. I think Cody was a risk to begin with so there was some predraft knowledge that this guy might not work out. Neutral/poor.

Derek Anderson looks like a pretty sharp 6th round pick and he would probably be our QB if it wasn't for Savage. Good draft.

Terry and Brown still playing out as far as prospects and could probably go either way. This year should be their years to prove their worth. So far I would say that they have been good drafts.

Justin Green probably has played out like you would expect a 5th round pick to be. I see this as neutral.

Clayton so far has not been a first round pick. Hard to say if he has been a product of our QB problems and general offensive problems. Could he have been better if he was on another team? I would have to say at this point he was a poor draft.

So I have three good drafts, two neutrals, two poors. As well as the one F.O. blunder with Anderson. My final statement to 2005 is there is not much for Ozzie and Co. to hang their hats on here.

[Jeremiah W]

You can't blame the GM for injuries unless they happened before they drafted the guy.
Cody was a beast at one of the top factories in the country. He did not miss much time in college, way less than Adrian Peterson. He was a first round pick in a lot of mock drafts and considered a great pick at the time.
Clayton also was a major part of a top offense and team every year he has been healthy, and did not show a knack for getting hurt in college.
He did show his potential in 2006, and if he can build on that performance his grade would have to be a lot higher.

Football is a violent sport, and some of the best players there ever were, never survived the beating they took in college. How good would Jamal Lewis have been if he had not blown out his knees in college? Willis McGahee if he had not had his leg reversed, may have been on track for a Barry Sanders like start.

The Lions get a lot of flack for drafting "busts" at Wr, but before he got hurt Charles Rodgers was one of the best prospects ever. Mike Williams may have had a totally different career if he had not been forced to sit out of football for what would have been his JR season at USC, but as a Soph WR was one of the best to ever play college ball. Perhaps the personality thing was somewhat predictable and they missed it, but most likely they just never recovered from getting injured and out of shape.

Derrick Anderson was clearly a good 6th round pick. The circumstances that led to him getting cut with the intention of putting him on the practice squad, really is a totally different story with other responsible parties than the scouts and department that discovered and drafted him.

So we will see if Clayton makes or breaks this draft, and if Cody ever sees the feild, If they can heal up then it may not turn out be the worst class we have had, but when compared to a lot of other teams that same year who drafted higher, is still not that bad.

[Fanman]

I have to agree w/ you GS. The only impact players I can think of from drafts 2005 - 2007 are Ngata and Landry.

FM

[Fcowher]

What is your definition of impact?

Grubbs- starter
Yanda-starter
Figurs-Punt Returner
Ngata-starter
Landry-starter
Sypniewski-#2 TE
Koch-starter
Chester-starter
D. Williams-starter

My definition and yours are clearly different.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

That draft as well as the 04 draft really hurt this franchise.

Imagine if Brown didn't pan out...

[highwater]

I wouldn't call Clayton a bust just yet. I think he's going to have a very good year this season if he stays healthy (which could be a big "if" given his hamstring problems).

Cody unfortunately has just never been healthy at all -- it looks like a wasted draft pick, because it basically is, but it's not really his fault.

Terry could turn out to be a solid pick. I think we'll finally find out this year, if they play him at LT.

[Losac]

Everyone is so quick to bash Clayton. The guy can play. Let's see how he looks in Cam's offense.

Cody has been a huge disappointment, but that's not the FO's fault. As someone said, he was projected to go in the 1st in many mocks and was considered a steal for us in the 2nd. The guy just cannot stay healthy. Anyone know what his status is for this year? Is he nursing another knee injury?

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Clayton is an OK WR...he just isn't a #1 IMHO.

[ExiledRaven]

The 2003/2004 drafts killed this franchise. Well, mainly the boller trade hurts and then the picks in the '04 draft are downright terrible.

Edwards will never be anything more than a rotation guy. Certainly not even up to the level of Anthony Weaver (any other second round De, but at least he started somewhat).

clayton for a first is debatable at the moment, but I think a lot of it has to do with an inept offensive system and QB issues last year. He looked like a legit player in 2006. If things pick up this year back to where they were before then it won't be a terrible pick though I can see what people say when you want a 1st rounder to be a dominant/scary guy like Braylon Edwards, Roy Williams, Andre Johnson, Fitzgerald - Clayton isn't really like them. His top side is more along the lines of D. Mason version 2.

things will be better this year...right?

[Ravenswarrior19]

I wouldn't call Clayton a bust. He is a very servicable possesion style reciever. Almost a Mason clone.

The problem is, the FO saw him turning into a Steve Smith/Santana Moss type. Someone who can run past people, go verticle, or turn a quick slant into a long touchdown.

I don't know that that will ever happen, but it'll be good to see him run a slant in our new offense.

[Fanman]

Impact players have to do more than just walk on the field.

Grubbs- starter: started 12 games. So far so good...but only 1 year
Yanda-starter: started 12 games. So far so good...but only 1 year
Figurs-Punt Returner: did next to nothing last year, had like 2 good games. Def not an impact player yet IMO.
Ngata-starter - Agree
Landry-starter - Agree
Sypniewski-#2 TE - Blocks well and 1 TD...you call that an impact player?
Koch-starter - yes, but he had nobody to beat out really. Has played well.
Chester-starter: has started 9 games total in 2 years and last year he was prolly the weakest link on the line. He got destroyed in the Cleveland game. He is in NO way an impact player so far.
D. Williams-starter - He's never been a starter yet and caught 20 passes last year. Again, little impact so far. I expect a big comeback this year.

If these guys are all impact players in your book....you need a new book.

FM

[Jeremiah W]

If a guy starts and is a pretty good player as a rookie, you have to admit that he is an impact draft pick. If a guy is in his 3rd year and has not seen a starting snap, then that is a guy with no impact.

It sounds to me like someone here expects every draft pick to go to the pro bowl or he was a bust. You have to draft almost every starter you have, and they are not all going to be great. That does not mean they were not a great pick, particuarally if they were a late rounder Like Brown and Landry who should have already gone to the probowl.

Injuries are a different story than solid drafting. Name the draft picks that not only did not work out, but were also a bad idea.
Taylor was a need and he at least stuck in the NFL for a while after we let him go. Boller is an NFL player, he never turned into what they hoped, but the need was obvious and the chance was worth taking.

[jonboy79]

I think a final grade is coming one year too early. Evidence of this is the OP questioning himself, basically saying that most of these guys have another year to show what they can do... doesn't sound too final to me.

That said, I agree with the above poster that stated that Green started for a couple of years and contributed on special teams as being a HIT that late in the draft. Most teams cut their day 2 picks, most of the time.

03 and 04 drafts are more inline for final grades at this point. 05 gave us a lot of staters, that in itself makes it a decent draft. The ravens have certainly had drafts that were both better and worse.

[Ravens0587]

i take major issue with giving us an F for drafting Derek Anderson. If your calling him an A hes an A.

You're grading the draft not personal moves that occurred afterwards.

[Dont Know]

I think a final grade is comign one year too early.

I have to agree. A draft class needs to play out their rookie contracts and then we can assess whether they contributed to the team or not during their time here.

With that said, the 2004 draft class is the latest one I think it would be fair to evaluate and no need for any further comments on that debacle.

Next off season would be the time for the final grade of the 2005 class. Looks better than the 2004 class so far but that's not saying much.

[UKRavenGordon]

Jason Brown is an A. Simple as. To get the production out of a 4th rounder like we've gotten out of him, worthy of an A alone.

[purplepoe]

I wouldn't call Clayton a bust. He is a very servicable possesion style reciever. Almost a Mason clone.

The problem is, the FO saw him turning into a Steve Smith/Santana Moss type. Someone who can run past people, go verticle, or turn a quick slant into a long touchdown.

I don't know that that will ever happen, but it'll be good to see him run a slant in our new offense.

When my team drafts a WR at 22, I want him to be much more than serviceable.

Clayton doesn't have Smith's power or Moss' speed IMO. He was overvalued and will never be a #1.

And when you draft a WR at #22, he should be a #1 WR.

While he might be a complete "bust", he certainly is a major disappointment.

PP

[B-more Ravor]

2005 draft class:

Rd. Player School
1 WR Mark Clayton Oklahoma: right now a bust for a first round pick. He needs a big year to get a C or better.

2 LB Dan Cody Oklahoma: total bust...never healthy. Final grade - F.

2 OL Adam Terry Syracuse: Still has potential if he keeps improving. A solid C+ so far. Expect him to be a FT starter this year.

4 OL Jason Brown North Carolina: A solid B- so far. Expect him to be a FT starter this year at center. I hope he can mentor Grubbs too.

5 RB Justin Green Montana: Bust...grade D

6 QB Derek Anderson Oregon State: Gets an A...for the Browns. The Browns getting this guy is something the Ravens will never live down until they draft AND develop a legit franchise QB. Ravens grade: F

7 LB Mike Smith Texas Tech: Correct me if I am wrong but he has been on ST since he got here. C+

FM

1. Clayton - Agreed. I'm hoping that he rebounds to at least 2006 form.

2. Cody. Injuries always make giving grades difficult. There was nothing to indicate that Cody would be injured this much. I don't see how that can be held against the Scouting staff. Had they taken a risk on an already injured player, then, yes, it's on them. But, in this case, I can't say they were wrong to take Cody there. In the end, it's still a wasted pick, but I'm not going to blame the Scouting staff for missing on Cody, when we simply never got to see whether he could be good or not.

3. Terry - Agreed. Has played relatively well on the left side, but hasn't been much when playing on the right - for whatever reason. But, he's still got 2 years left and is likely to play on the left side from here on out, so hopefully he shows better.

4. Brown. I think you are grading Jason Brown a bit too harshly. Only a B-? If Terry is a C+, then Brown as got to be at least a B+.

5. Green. I'm not sure how you can call a 5th round pick a bust? Many of the 5th round picks from 2005 aren't even in the league anymore, much less still with their original team. If you are going to hold Clayton's first round status against him (which I think is fair), then I think the same factor of context has to be applied to 5th round picks. The odds are against 5th round picks to start with. As such, Green has done enough to warrant still being on the team and has been solid on ST, thus since he's a 5th round pick, IMO, he should get a C.

6. Anderson. As others have said, when evaluating the draft and the scouting staff, Anderson is an A. Just because he was released in a personnel move does not change the fact that Ozzie and Co. had a great 6th round pick.

7. Mike Smith is another one that just can't stay healthy. When he has been, he's looked pretty decent. That said, he's a 7th round pick, so it's impossible, IMO, to grade the pick too harshly (which you didn't).

[psuasskicker]

The OP's grades are way too harsh and have two major flaws. First, the definition of "bust" is not "starting player who doesn't live up to first round status." Ryan Leaf is a bust. Akili Smith is a bust. Mark Clayton is not a bust. Second, you're grading everyone as though they're a first round pick.

1 WR Mark Clayton: C-
Not worthy of a first round pick, but still produces well enough to make the roster and get at least a slot spot on most NFL teams.

2 LB Dan Cody: F
Injuries were the problem. Realistically we'll never know how good he could have been.

2 OL Adam Terry: B-
Solid starter that needs to improve at the end of the second round. This is pretty much producing at expectations for a late second round pick. He's not a star, but he's worth a starting role.

4 OL Jason Brown: A
Fourth rounder that may soon be a Pro Bowl player. This guy's a rock, and any time you get quality like this in the second day, it's a great pick.

5 RB Justin Green: C
Not a great pick, but he's produced, and you get a producer in the 5th round and it's not a terrible thing.

6 QB Derek Anderson: A
Regardless of where he went afterward, you get a 6th round QB that has a year like he did, and it's a great pick.

7 LB Mike Smith: B
Solid ST contributor in the final round. Most of these picks don't have a job four months after the draft...anyone making the roster three straight years is worthy of being called a solid seventh round pick.

Final Grade: B-
Poor production up top, but found some good role players later in the draft, including Brown who's a special player. You need better from the 1st round and maybe the 2nd round, but this draft was nothing near as bad as '04 or even '03 (Suggs exception).

- C -

[ExiledRaven]

That seems about right to me. I'd give Clayton a C for now, but let's hold our breath to see what happens this year.

Definite A for Brown, that's been pretty huge. I didn't realize smith was a 7th rounder. Not too shabby.

Shame about Dan Cody. either way, the 2004 class makes the 2005 class look like hall of famers.

[awalt]

IMHO I think you guys are way too hard on Clayton. It's easy to rag on the WR (see Randy Moss 2006).

In the ONLY year of three that he had any kind of consistent QB play, he had 67 receptions, averaged 14 yards a catch, and 5 TDs. That's better than serviceable especially for a 2nd year guy. WR is one of the most difficult positions in the NFL to learn, given changes in routes based on blitz packages and defensive alignments.

Even with horrible QB play in 2005, he caught 48 passes. Everyone was thrilled with him then. So last year, he has 44 catches with some of the worst QB play and play calling we have seen in a long time. How you can discount all that and wonder why he doesn't look like Randy Moss is perplexing to me.

So in 3 years, two of which have had QB and play calling so bad neither the QBs or coach are here (or in Boller's case will be here more than 1 more year), he has 159 catches. Averaging 53 catches a year. Note that Chad Johnson averaged 48 catches a year before Carson Palmer arrived. Randy Moss averaged 51 catches where he did not have a quality QB and offensive system (ie Oakland).

It's easy to show how top-flight WRs play mediocre in a bad system and with bad QBs. I think Clayton has done fine for a young guy in a horrible system. To me, his numbers point to him being at least an 80 catches a year guy if he played for the Colts or Pats, and not everyone can do that -- and if he did, he would be one of the best, bright young WRs in the league. So the problem isn't the WR.

[Fanman]

As I said in the thread title...the final grades for this class will come at the end of this year. The grades I gave were "as of now".

As for Anderson, IMO, the actual pick and what / how the organization does w/ the pick are all part of the final grade. Since Anderson was let go and they got no value from the pick...it must be an F.

Good posts here....

FM

[jonboy79]

Holy Copout... These final grades aren'tfinal at all, but I felt the need to use the word final because,,,,

[Fanman]

2005 Draft class final grades come this year

jonboy..see the words..."come this year"

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuh

[B-more Ravor]

As for Anderson, IMO, the actual pick and what / how the organization does w/ the pick are all part of the final grade. Since Anderson was let go and they got no value from the pick...it must be an F.


Well, at least from my perspective, when grading drafts, all I care about is did Ozzie, DeCosta and the scouts do their jobs. In Anderson's case, the answer is ...... absolutely!

What happened subsequent to that has too many variables, including the roster make up, injuries to the player (see Cody) and others on the roster that can affect personnel decisions (as it did in Anderson's case) and coaching staff decisions.

All the scouting staff can do is bring in the players, beyond that it is out of their control. They made a great 6th round pick in Anderson. If they keep doing that, then we'll be fine. That is all I care about when grading past drafts.

[Fanman]

"Well, at least from my perspective, when grading drafts, all I care about is did Ozzie, DeCosta and the scouts do their jobs. In Anderson's case, the answer is ...... absolutely!"

I agree w/ this...but I find it hard to separate the FO from the rest of the organization. You are dead on saying the FO made a great pick in Anderson, but in the end the team got no value from that pick. Isn't there something to be said for knowing which players to keep and develop after the draft?

FM

FM

[B-more Ravor]

I agree w/ this...but I find it hard to separate the FO from the rest of the organization. You are dead on saying the FO made a great pick in Anderson, but in the end the team got no value from that pick. Isn't there something to be said for knowing which players to keep and develop after the draft?


Yes, absolutely. But, IMO, that has more to do with the coaching staff and doesn't have much to do with the player evaluations that go into selecting the players in the draft. If you are grading the draft and the selection of players, then IMO, what happens after that is of less importants. If the critique is of the players that were drafted and whether they made good picks, then I, personally, am not focused on whether the player remains with the team or not, because, as I said, there are a lot of other variables that go into that part of the equation.

Or, at least, that's the perspective that I approach it from. :D

[4G63]

Why have we kept Dan Cody on the roster? THAT's the real question.

[Fanman]

That is a good question about Cody. I would think he would be released this summer. Can you really afford to give a player 4 years to get healthy?

Also...WTF is taking Ogden SO long to decide about retiring or not? This is getting to be a total joke.

FM

[jonboy79]

That is a good question about Cody. I would think he would be released this summer. Can you really afford to give a player 4 years to get healthy?

Also...WTF is taking Ogden SO long to decide about retiring or not? This is getting to be a total joke.

FM

On Cody, the expense has already been paid, it's called a signing bonus. He hasn't been on the roster enough to worry abotu his salary, as it became injury payouts each year... The question is, can you afford to cut ties with a guy you already invested so much in, jsut to let him finally get healhty(during your exclusive rights days) and succeed for another team. I expect that he would not be retained after this year unless he shows some apparent value.


I'm not sure JO would be welcome if he didn't retire. I don't care how long he takes, as I don't think he really has a decision to make. The team is pretty obviously moving in another direction with two mid-round tackels recently drafted.

[Fanman]

I agree w/ you jb...but then why would he be waiting to announce his decision?

I hope he does retire so the younger guys can gell as a unit and develop some chemistry.

FM

[Rxdoxx]

Why have we kept Dan Cody on the roster? THAT's the real question.
From
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2005draft/Cody,Dan-DE-Oklahoma.htm
"Cody earned All-Big 12 first-team and Academic All-Big 12 second-team honors. In his final season, he was a finalist for the Hendricks Award (nation's top defensive end) and earned All-American honors from the College Football Writers Association. The All-Big 12 first-team pick posted 42 tackles (27 solo) as he matched his career-high with 12 sacks, 12 pressures and 17 stops for losses. He even performed as a blocking tight end"

I know I usually think LB, but he is the DE/LB that we sure could use.
No arguement with keeping him this long hoping, but I'm feeling that this is the last go-round, we have enough good depth now (except pure DE) that getting production is an issue, not to mention .8 mil against cap.
I'm thinking more like the "no-fault" insurance, so far Cody is a "no-fault bust".

[4G63]

On Cody, the expense has already been paid, it's called a signing bonus. He hasn't been on the roster enough to worry abotu his salary, as it became injury payouts each year... The question is, can you afford to cut ties with a guy you already invested so much in, jsut to let him finally get healhty(during your exclusive rights days) and succeed for another team. I expect that he would not be retained after this year unless he shows some apparent value.


I'm not sure JO would be welcome if he didn't retire. I don't care how long he takes, as I don't think he really has a decision to make. The team is pretty obviously moving in another direction with two mid-round tackels recently drafted.

Yeah, I could afford to! Its been 4 years, not 1 or even 2 years!! 4 YEARS!!!

And do you really think there is a bunch of teams beating down the door for him? He's proven nothing and all the shit from college doesn't apply anymore because he hasn't played an NFL down (to my knowledge) in 4 YEARS. If he's given a minimum salary by another team and it works out (very doubtful), then more power to him and them. I wouldn't see it as any loss though, unless I'm Bisciotti!!

[jonboy79]

Yeah, I could afford to! Its been 4 years, not 1 or even 2 years!! 4 YEARS!!!

And do you really think there is a bunch of teams beating down the door for him? He's proven nothing and all the shit from college doesn't apply anymore because he hasn't played an NFL down (to my knowledge) in 4 YEARS. If he's given a minimum salary by another team and it works out (very doubtful), then more power to him and them. I wouldn't see it as any loss though, unless I'm Bisciotti!!


Put another way, it doesn't cost ANYTHING to have him in camp. If he doesn't make the team, his bonus proration is the same whether he is cut now or then... His salary, if he makes the team is still a cheap affordable number. It's a NO LOSE proposition to have him here. THIS is his 4th year.

No I don't think there are a bunch of teams beating down his door, but he would get a job. that's for SURE. He looked liek a first rounder in college and has doen nothng to say he CAN'T be that guy again. He hasn't been healthy much, but when on the field he has done admirably. I know it's a small sample set with no statistics to mention. If he plays and contributes, GREAT, if not, oh well, no loss.

[Fanman]

You say no loss...but that really isn't true. If they had used that pick on another player that contributed AT ALL, it would have been better. Unless Cody makes the team and finally does something, this is a totally wasted pick and is a loss in the end.

FM

[jonboy79]

You say no loss...but that really isn't true. If they had used that pick on another player that contributed AT ALL, it would have been better. Unless Cody makes the team and finally does something, this is a totally wasted pick and is a loss in the end.

FM

100% agree, but they DID use that pick, so at this point, there is no losing anymore. If Cody never shows anything it was indeed a failed pick, but at this point, there is NO point in cutting ties. If they want ANY production form THAT pick, then they better let Cody see if he can put a few games together. If not, then so be it, cut him and maybe he'll stay in Baltimore, and play for the Mariners like JO's brother.