The Jets loaded up before the draft, the Patriots then proceeded to close the gap during the draft.
The Giants need to coach up DE Jason Pierre-Paul in a hurry because Tony Romo better not have the time to throw to Dez Bryant and Miles Austin in the fourth quarter.
Here are the grades:
AFC EAST
JETS: Hell, the Browns nearly took CB Kyle Wilson with the seventh pick, and somehow he fell to the Hard Knockers at No. 29. LG Vladimir Ducasse, Alan Faneca’s replacement, won’t be a Haitian sensation until offensive line coach Bill Callahan teaches him how to pass block. RB Joe McKnight is a playmaker. One nitpick: They didn’t get younger at defensive end, and please don’t tell me that Vernon Gholston is the answer there. GRADE: B
PATRIOTS: CB/special team demon Devin McCourty and 6-foot-6, 264-pound red-zone threat TE Rob Gronkowski (iffy back) should start. ILB Brandon Spikes (one of three Urban Meyer Gators drafted) will be Jerod Mayo’s tag-team partner. DE Jermaine Cunningham could be much-needed edge rusher. Zoltan Mesko was best punter in draft. Bill Belichick: “We’re definitely better.” GRADE: A
DOLPHINS: DE Jared Odrick and G John Jerry will start right away. OLB Koa Misi helps the pass rush with Jason Taylor and Joey Porter gone. But how come no free safety? “You guys are more concerned about it than I am,” GM Jeff Ireland said. GRADE: B
BILLS: Imagine if RB-KR C.J. Spiller was handed the ball behind an offensive line that could open holes for him. “Great backs can get through smaller creases and great backs can get on the edge faster,” Chan Gailey said. . . . NT Torell Troup and DE Alex Carrington needed in new 3-4 against upcoming Shonn Greene assault. But who plays quarterback? Grade: B minus
NFC EAST
GIANTS: We’ll have to trust Jerry Reese on Freak II Jason Pierre-Paul and waiting until the fourth round to pick a middle linebacker, Phillip Dillard. How many times do you suppose G Mitch Petrus can bench press disruptive DT Linval Joseph? Grade: B
COWBOYS: WR Dez Bryant, a steal, is acknowledgement of the Roy Williams error. ILB Sean Lee, if his knee is healthy, could haunt Giants. Grade: B minus
EAGLES: DE Brandon Graham is Hugh Douglas opposite Trent Cole. FS Nate Allen should fill Brian Dawkins’ void. “Eagles fans are going to love him,” coach Andy Reid said. TE Clay Harbor could serve as QB Kevin Kolb’s Dallas Clark. One major nitpick: Cornerback remains an issue. Grade: B
REDSKINS: LT Trent Williams steps right in for Chris Samuels. But no picks in the second or third rounds. Grade: D
REST OF THE NFL
BEARS: No first- or second-round picks. S Major Wright is a faster, stronger Mike Brown, and DE Corey Wooten was a fourth-round steal. Nice job by GM Jerry Angelo. Grade: B
BENGALS: TE Jermaine Gresham and possession receiver/PR Shipley should help Carson Palmer considerably. “Our No. 1 goal this offseason has been to give Carson more weapons and threats,” Marvin Lewis said. DE Carlos Dunlap, if there are no more DUIs, can bolster pass rush. Grade: B
BRONCOS: QB Tim Tebow is a bold, developmental gamble by coach Josh McDaniels. WR Demaryius Thomas is a Calvin Johnson clone. WR Eric Decker is a 6-foot-3 inch target. G Zane Beadles and C J.D. Walton could start. Grade: A plus, if they’re right on Tebow.
BROWNS: QB Colt McCoy is an excellent third-round value pick. CB Joe Haden is a quality kid who starts immediately. Some think S T.J. Ward was a reach. Power RB Montario Hardesty, if healthy, could be feature back. Grade: B
BUCS: DTs Gerald McCoy and Brian Price upgrade run defense. WRs Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams, a fourth-round steal if he buries troubled past, should help QB Josh Freeman. “It almost feels like Christmas,” Freeman said. Grade: A minus
CARDINALS: NT Dan Williams was a gift, and athletic ILB Daryl Washington, the 12th-rated player on their board, replaces Karlos Dansby. WR Andre Roberts eases kickoff return burden on new starting wideout Steve Breaston. Fordham QB John Skelton will watch Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson for a while. Grade: A
CHARGERS: A.J. Smith traded way up for RB Ryan Mathews and gave up 40th pick to do it. “When you’ve been around great backs like I have [Emmitt Smith, LaDainian Tomlinson], you sense it when you see the tape,” coach Norv Turner said. NT (Cam Thomas) not addressed until fifth round, but could be a steal. Grade: B
CHIEFS: You know S Eric Berry is special when GM Scott Pioli takes that position at No. 5. RB-WR Dexter McCluster is a matchup nightmare, and upgrades return game along with CB Arenas. G Jon Asamoah could start. Grade: A
COLTS: DE Jerry Hughes is a young Robert Mathis. LB Pat Angerer is a 6-foot, 235-pound Gary Brackett. “If you like the way Gary plays, you’ll like the way Pat plays,” GM Bill Polian said. Didn’t address offensive line, however. Grade: B
FALCONS: Loudmouth OLB Sean Weatherspoon will aid ailing pass rush. DT Corey Peters is disruptive and 6-foot-6, 312-pound G Mike Johnson has versatility. Grade: B
49ERS: OT Anthony Davis and G Mike Iupati means Mike Singletary’s fingerprints were all over this draft. Big S Taylor Mays adds additional toughness. Grade: A
JAGUARS: Should have traded down for DT Tyson Alualu. DEs Larry Hart and Austen Lane are needed to shore up woeful pass rush (14 sacks). “My goal is to hurt they quarterback,” Lane said. Didn’t land a free safety. Grade: D
LIONS: DT Ndamukong Suh is an animal, and RB Jahvid Best is gamebreaker. Beat Bears to CB Amari Spivey. Grade: B plus
PACKERS: OT Bryan Bulaga dropping was manna from heaven. S Morgan Burnett is a ballhawk. Grade: A minus
PANTHERS: No first-round pick, but credit GM Marty Hurney and John Fox for stealing QB Jimmy Clausen when they can’t be certain they will be around to coach him in 2011. Grade: C plus
RAIDERS: Jason Campbell ends JaMarcus Russell nightmare. ILB Rolando McClain and DT Lamarr Houston dramatically upgrade woeful run defense. WR Jacoby Ford has Cliff Branch speed. Kudos to Al Davis — Just Reach, Baby went out the window. Grade: B plus
RAMS: QB Sam Bradford was much-needed face of the franchise. His shoulder better be sound OL Rodger Saffold should start. WR Mardy Gilyard helps return game. Grade: B plus
RAVENS: Pass-rushing OLB Sergio Kindle, if healthy, should be Terrell Suggs bookend. NT Terrance “Mount” Cody, if he stays away from the biscuits, will help Haloti Ngata keep Ray Lewis fresh. Added big TE targets for Joe Flacco after missing out on Bryant and Gronkowski. But passed on Wilson, whom the Jets snagged, and tried but failed to trade up for Hughes. Grade: B plus
SAINTS: CB Patrick Robinson provides depth. The champs lost out to Colts on Hughes. OT Charles Brown eventually will replace Jammal Brown. But no pass rush help. Grade: C minus
SEAHAWKS: OT Russell Okung replaces Walter Jones, and coach Pete Carroll doesn’t need to apologize to Taylor Mays for picking instinctive ball-hawking S Earl Thomas. Press CB Walter Thurmond, once he’s healthy, will wow, as will 230-pound SS Kam Chancellor. Grade: A plus
STEELERS: C-G Maurkice Pouncey will start on right side and maybe help protect Ben Roethlisberger from himself. OLBs Jason Worilds and Thaddeus Gibson eventually can bolster pass rush. RB Jonathan Dwyer helps Rashard Mendenhall pound the rock. But should they have drafted CBs Wilson or Jackson to replace William Gay? Grade: C
TEXANS: CB Kareem Jackson better be better than Wilson with Peyton Manning targeting him early and often. RB Ben Tate isn’t Mathews, but he’s a big back with 4.4 speed to complement Steve Slaton. “I like the fact that he’s going to hit the home run,” coach Gary Kubiak said. Added H-Back insurance for Owen Daniels. Grade: B minus
TITANS: Craved Pierre-Paul, grabbed DE Derrick Morgan to replace Kyle Vanden Bosch. WR Damian Williams helps return game. CB Alterraun Verner returned four picks for touchdowns. Grade: B minus
VIKINGS: Traded away first-round pick to Lions (bad move). Big CB Chris Cook (39-inch vertical leap, 4.4 speed) is insurance for the rehabbing Cedric Griffin, and RB Toby Gerhart replaces Chester Taylor as Adrian Peterson’s backup. Please come back, Brett. Grade: C plus