The Dallas Cowboys get an A. So does New England, the New York Giants and San Diego. For the 2005 draft.
Those four represent the two Super Bowl teams from last season, a team that reached the AFC title game and the one with the NFC’s best regular-season record. In the 2007 season and playoffs they were a combined 58-17.
The worst three-year drafts also are reflected in the 2007 standings: Oakland, San Francisco, Detroit and St. Louis, a combined 19-45.
Drafts can’t be rated with grades the day after the draft although fans seem to consider them must reading. But NFL personnel consider three years the period needed to determine who can play and who can’t. So 2005 grades are the ones given this year.
1. Dallas (13-4). The draft was run by Jerry Jones and two guys who are now the Dolphins’ brain trust — Bill Parcells and Mike Ireland (have faith for 2010, Dolphins fans.) They took two Pro Bowlers (running back Marion Barber and linebacker DeMarcus Ware) and the three starters on the 3-4 defensive line (Chris Canty, Marcus Spears and Jay Ratliff, a seventh-rounder who took over at nose tackle when Jason Ferguson was hurt).
You can’t overlook a draft that netted two Pro Bowlers and an entire defensive line.
2. and 2a. San Diego (13-6), New York Giants (14-6). These are related because of the deal during the 2004 draft that landed Eli Manning with the Giants and Philip Rivers with the Chargers.
Ernie Accorsi, then the Giants general manager, included his first pick in 2005 instead of a raw young defensive end Osi Umenyiora, whom the Chargers said they would take instead.
It worked for both teams: Umenyiora developed into a two-time Pro Bowler and is one of those fearsome pass rushers who terrorized Tom Brady in the Giants’ Super Bowl upset. The Chargers used the pick obtained from New York on Shawne Merriman, the game’s best pass-rushing outside linebacker — Ware is probably the second best.
New York had only four picks in 2005. But its second-rounder was cornerback Corey Webster. Its third was defensive lineman Justin Tuck, and its fourth was starting running back Brandon Jacobs.
Tuck had two sacks of Brady in the Super Bowl. Jacobs was a solid replacement for Tiki Barber with help from one of the 2007 rookies, Ahmad Bradshaw. Webster was a disappointment until late in his third season.
In addition to Merriman, San Diego added starting defensive tackle Luis Castillo with its second first-round pick; wide receiver Vincent Jackson in the second round; and kick returner extraordinaire Darren Sproles in the fourth.
The Broncos had a draft that probably wouldn’t earn the highest of grades.
Dearly departed cornerback Darrent Williams was the lone bright spot of a draft that was comprised of corners Karl Paymah and Domonique Foxworth, running back Maurice Clarett, who did not make the team, Chris Myers, who was traded to Houston this past offseason and kicker Paul Ernster.
The 49ers used the first overall pick on QB Alex Smith, who showed promise in 2006 then regressed last season.
The Raiders’ first-round pick was cornerback Fabian Washington. He was worth a fourth-round pick Sunday, when Oakland traded him to Baltimore.
