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Vinnie Iyer
Sporting News
Although it’s fun to grade on potential immediately after players are drafted, it takes a full three seasons to provide a fair evaluation of a draft class.
Looking back at the 2008 draft, one team easily stood out with its haul that April—which was part of the winning foundation for a division title in 2010.
In what would turn out to be Carl Peterson's final season as general manager and Herm Edwards' final season as head coach, the Kansas City Chiefs put together an amazing draft class for which the current leadership of Scott Pioli and Todd Haley should be grateful.
The team had 12 selections, and made the most of the team. That includes five players who were regular starters last season: Glenn Dorsey (No. 5 overall), offensive tackles Branden Albert (No. 15) and Barry Richardson (No. 170), and cornerbacks Brandon Flowers (No. 35) and Brandon Carr (No. 140).
What has helped some of those players develop quickly was the chance to play from Day One. The Chiefs were in the early stages of a youth movement.
"We needed players we could put on the field right away," Edwards said. "We didn't think the pressure would get to them, and they could handle it mentally and emotionally."
There was also one notable "second-string" player: Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles, quite a steal in the third round (No. 73). Edwards recalls the Chiefs were fortunate that Charles had yet to show he could be an elite all-purpose back at the University of Texas.
"You knew he had speed, but you didn't really didn't see him finish out a lot of games because of how good they were," Edwards said. "You didn't know just how good he could be as a receiver."
When you look at the past five years, the Chiefs have done well in general with impact first-round picks, such as outside linebacker Tamba Hali, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and most recently, safety Eric Berry.
It all adds up to an exciting young nucleus, something the Chiefs have in common with the four runner-ups for the best '08 draft:
2. Atlanta Falcons. They came in a close second to K.C. in Thomas Dimitroff's first year as general manager. The big hit was franchise passer Matt Ryan at No. 3 overall, but with the top pick in the second round, they landed the quarterback of their defense, middle linebacker Curtis Lofton.
Their second first-round pick, offensive tackle Sam Baker, has settled in as Ryan's blindside protector. They also landed underrated playmaking safety Thomas DeCoud (No. 98 overall) and defensive end Kroy Biermann (No. 158).
3. New Orleans Saints. Let's focus on quality over quantity here, as the Saints had only six picks, but hit on three of them. After two injury-filled seasons, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (No. 7 overall in 2008) delivered as a consistent run stopper and fine inside pass rusher in 2010.
Also, 6-5, 343-pound Carl Nicks (a fifth-round steal at No. 164) emerged as a force at left guard this season.
Cornerback Tracy Porter (No. 40 overall) has yet to stay healthy for a whole season, but when he is, he's been a savvy playmaker — as evidenced by his game-sealing, 75-yard interception return for a TD against Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLIV. After the 2008 draft, the team added another future Super Bowl hero, kicker Garrett Hartley, as an undrafted free agent.
4. Green Bay Packers. Even without a first-round pick, Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy brought in three key offensive standouts: wide receiver Jordy Nelson (No. 36), tight end Jermichael Finley (No. 91) and guard Josh Sitton (No. 135).
They even landed two important reserve players in Round 7: quarterback Matt Flynn and wide receiver Brett Swain.
5. Baltimore Ravens. Although overall it was a decent haul that added some good depth, the Ravens' 2008 draft will be remembered for its Round 1-Round 2 punch of offensive cornerstones Joe Flacco and Ray Rice.
Sporting News
Although it’s fun to grade on potential immediately after players are drafted, it takes a full three seasons to provide a fair evaluation of a draft class.
Looking back at the 2008 draft, one team easily stood out with its haul that April—which was part of the winning foundation for a division title in 2010.
In what would turn out to be Carl Peterson's final season as general manager and Herm Edwards' final season as head coach, the Kansas City Chiefs put together an amazing draft class for which the current leadership of Scott Pioli and Todd Haley should be grateful.
The team had 12 selections, and made the most of the team. That includes five players who were regular starters last season: Glenn Dorsey (No. 5 overall), offensive tackles Branden Albert (No. 15) and Barry Richardson (No. 170), and cornerbacks Brandon Flowers (No. 35) and Brandon Carr (No. 140).
What has helped some of those players develop quickly was the chance to play from Day One. The Chiefs were in the early stages of a youth movement.
"We needed players we could put on the field right away," Edwards said. "We didn't think the pressure would get to them, and they could handle it mentally and emotionally."
There was also one notable "second-string" player: Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles, quite a steal in the third round (No. 73). Edwards recalls the Chiefs were fortunate that Charles had yet to show he could be an elite all-purpose back at the University of Texas.
"You knew he had speed, but you didn't really didn't see him finish out a lot of games because of how good they were," Edwards said. "You didn't know just how good he could be as a receiver."
When you look at the past five years, the Chiefs have done well in general with impact first-round picks, such as outside linebacker Tamba Hali, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and most recently, safety Eric Berry.
It all adds up to an exciting young nucleus, something the Chiefs have in common with the four runner-ups for the best '08 draft:
2. Atlanta Falcons. They came in a close second to K.C. in Thomas Dimitroff's first year as general manager. The big hit was franchise passer Matt Ryan at No. 3 overall, but with the top pick in the second round, they landed the quarterback of their defense, middle linebacker Curtis Lofton.
Their second first-round pick, offensive tackle Sam Baker, has settled in as Ryan's blindside protector. They also landed underrated playmaking safety Thomas DeCoud (No. 98 overall) and defensive end Kroy Biermann (No. 158).
3. New Orleans Saints. Let's focus on quality over quantity here, as the Saints had only six picks, but hit on three of them. After two injury-filled seasons, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (No. 7 overall in 2008) delivered as a consistent run stopper and fine inside pass rusher in 2010.
Also, 6-5, 343-pound Carl Nicks (a fifth-round steal at No. 164) emerged as a force at left guard this season.
Cornerback Tracy Porter (No. 40 overall) has yet to stay healthy for a whole season, but when he is, he's been a savvy playmaker — as evidenced by his game-sealing, 75-yard interception return for a TD against Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLIV. After the 2008 draft, the team added another future Super Bowl hero, kicker Garrett Hartley, as an undrafted free agent.
4. Green Bay Packers. Even without a first-round pick, Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy brought in three key offensive standouts: wide receiver Jordy Nelson (No. 36), tight end Jermichael Finley (No. 91) and guard Josh Sitton (No. 135).
They even landed two important reserve players in Round 7: quarterback Matt Flynn and wide receiver Brett Swain.
5. Baltimore Ravens. Although overall it was a decent haul that added some good depth, the Ravens' 2008 draft will be remembered for its Round 1-Round 2 punch of offensive cornerstones Joe Flacco and Ray Rice.