The task was simple, if arduous: using the NFL's unofficial Draft Value chart, determine exactly how teams spent their draft dollars over the past decade.

 

If you're unfamiliar with the Draft Value chart, it's what NFL teams use to try and pull off Draught Day trades. The No. 1 pick, for example, is worth 3,000 points. If you want the No. 1 pick, you need to come up with 3,000 points worth of selections to close the deal.

 

As an example of the Draft Value system, if you offered:

... you'd have 3,000.2 draft points to trade, and the No. 1 pick would fairly be yours.

 

It's not that complicated -- the draft value number is just a way of figuring out how much power each selection holds. And what more accurate way to track how each team allocated their precious picks?

 

So we attached the appropriate number value to each player selected in the last 10 drafts, then grouped the values by team and position. After all of that work was done (it felt like it took a calendar year, although it surely couldn't have), we sat back and tried our best to make sense of the findings.

 

Whose draft strategy paid off? Whose didn't? Did the teams who put the most stock in a certain position find success at that position? Is Matt Millen really as dumb as we think he is? 

 

And where the hell did we leave that fifth of Crown Royal? We need a drink!

 

Here's a team-by-team look at each of the 32 NFL franchises, examining how much draft value they used at each position (QB, RB, WR, OL, DL, LB, DB), where that ranked them league wide, and how it all translated to the field.

 

Editor's Note: If you'd like to refer to the teams' master draft list while making your own judgments, check out DraftHistory.com, which is a wonderful resource for NFL draftniks.

 

Let's look at the AFC below. Check out the lovely, hourglass curves of the NFC here.

 

QB	RB	WR	OL	DL	LB	DB
1114..8 (20th)	2342.4 (8th)	3637.9 (11th)	962.6 (32nd)	5653.2 (7th)	729.4 (31st)	4401.3 (8th)

Pet position: RB, DL
Least concerned with: OL, LB
First-round breakdown: QB, RB, 2 WR, TE, 2 DE, DT

Steals: DB Dawan Landry (5th round, 2006), RB Chester Taylor (6th, 2002), LB Ed Hartwell (4th, 2001), DE Adalius Thomas (6th, 2000), G Edwin Mulitalo (5th, 1999), C Jeff Mitchell (5th, 1997)

Is the plan working? The Ravens have put significant draft power toward the defensive line, and that’s paying off big time –  Baltimore was the clear leader atop our Defensive Hog Index in 2006. Amazingly enough, they rank 31st in drafting linebackers despite all the success they've had at the position. Clearly, the Ravens know how to pick em on defense. However, they’ve struggled to develop the offensive side of the ball despite drafting five first-round skill players since 2000. Baltimore had one of the best offensive years in its history when it ranked 12th in scoring, hobbled by a No. 31 ranking in yards per carry (3.44).

Summary: The Ravens have drafted as well as anyone over the past decade – there are really no glaring busts in the batch. All of their five Pro Bowlers in 2006 were drafted by Baltimore , and that’s been a trend nearly a decade long (as we learned earlier this year, teams usually find Pro Bowlers through the draft, not through trades). They set the tone with their first draft in Baltimore , getting future Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden in the first round of 1996, and haven't slowed down since.

Overall grade: A

Pet position: DB
Least concerned with: LB
First-round breakdown: QB, 2 RB, WR, T, DT, DE, S, 2 CB
Steals: CB Terrence McGee (4th round, 2003), DE Aaron Schobel (2nd, 2001), DE Bryce Fisher (7th, 1999)

Is the plan working? Buffalo has gone with an across-the-board approach. It's left them in bad shape across the board. Although the Bills were 7-9 last year, the only thing they did well on occasion as a team was stop the pass (6.39 yards per pass against, 3rd in the NFL, but just 19th in the all-important defensive passer rating category). You would expect some production out of the secondary, since they have focused as much on that area as they have anything over the past decade. The Bills have had several poor teams over the last 10 years, which means they've often had high draft picks. Yet only four teams have had less draft power than Buffalo – the result of too much wheeling and dealing.

Summary: The Bills have drafted fairly decent players, but their top picks all seem to be playing elsewhere. Willis McGahee (2003) is in Baltimore , Mike Williams (2002) is in Jacksonville , Nate Clements (2001) is in San Francisco . Buffalo is hoping the J.P. Losman to Lee Evans combo will lead them back to respectability, but it's been awhile. The Bills haven't won more than nine games in a season since the Doug Flutie-led squad went 11-5 in 1999. They haven't won a playoff game since 1995.

Overall grade: C-minus.

 

 

 

Pet positions: WR, DL, LB
Least concerned with: OL, DB
First-round breakdown: QB, RB, WR, TE, C, DE, DT, LB
Steals: Anthony Henry (4th round, 2001)

Is the plan working? If you're looking for an organization that's attempted to build its offense ass-backwards, you've found it here in Cleveland. The Browns had the worst offensive line in the NFL last year according to our Hog Index, and for good reason – with more total draft value at their disposal than any other team, they ranked 29th when it came time to put those picks toward offensive linemen. This seemed to defeat the purpose of putting more draft value toward skill position players than any other team. However, their secondary was surprisingly good in 2006 (10th in defensive passer rating) despite a lack of draft focus. This is largely thanks to the success of safety Sean Jones, a second-round pick in 2004 who last year proved to have first-round talent (111 tackles, 5 INT).

Summary: The Browns are 40-88 (.312) since rejoining the league in 1999 and there's a very good reason why: They've shit the bed on Draught Day. Despite having more total draft value than any other team in the NFL (the equivalent of 20 mid first-rounders over 8 seasons), they have yet to have a Pro Bowler from any of their eight drafts. When you start out your new franchise with Tim Couch, Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren – all in the top 3! – you’re in trouble. And they’ve been terrible in the later rounds, with not a single second-day star in the bunch. However, they have gotten three straight good players in the first round of the past three drafts (Kellen Winslow, Braylon Edwards, Kamerion Wimbley), and this keeps them – barely – from rock bottom.

Overall grade: D-minus

 

Pet position: LB
Least concerned with: OL, DL
First-round breakdown: QB, 2 WR, T, DE, 2 LB, 2 CB
Steals: RB Clinton Portis (2nd round, 2002), C Ben Hamilton (4th, 2001), RB Mike Anderson (6th, 2000), TE Desmond Clark (6th, 1999), G Dan Neil (3rd, 1997)

Is the plan working? Denver's philosophy of building their ground game with later draft choices has been an incredible success. Almost every lineman and running back they’ve selected has been successful, and their running game has annually been among the league’s best. This has allowed them to draft heavily for their back seven on defense – with mixed results. They were ninth in defensive passer rating last year, but Champ Bailey appeared to be a one-man gang back there (85 tackles, 10 INT, 11 passes defended). They’ve also managed to field competitive defensive lines despite very low draft allotment at that position. Last year the Denver DL featured a rotating crew of veteran castoffs.

Summary: The Broncos have been one of the most balanced (and most successful) teams in the NFL over the past decade, and it shows in their drafting technique. Denver has had some good late-round success, and has done a brilliant job trading picks and players to improve its team. They’ve had their first-round flops (Ashley Lelie, anyone?), but they’ve made up for it from the second round on.

Overall grade: B-plus.

 

 * numbers pro-rated to 10 seasons

Pet position: QB, WR, DL
Least concerned with: LB, DB
First-round breakdown: QB, WR, 2 DE, DT, DB
Steals: S Glenn Earl (4th round, 2004)

Is the plan working? Houston has invested heavily in its passing game and in the pass rush. Neither plan has worked . QB David Carr (No. 1 overall) and WR Andre Johnson (No. 3 overall) hooked up 103 times last year, but the Texans were 27th in yards per pass attempt and 29th in touchdown passes. And now Carr is gone, replaced by career back-up Matt Schaub. They’ve picked DLs in the first round of the past three drafts: Jason Babin (2004), Travis Johnson (2005) and Mario Williams (2006). But the three combined for 9.5 sacks in 2006 while Houston ranked a pathetic 31st in our Defensive Hog Index. They’ve also drafted six running backs in five years, none of whom will be the man in 2007 (free agent Ahman Green was signed to start).

Summary: The Texans still don’t have an identity – no star player, no trademark unit, no success in the draft. The flavor of the day in Houston is just plain old vanilla losing. They could have had Reggie Bush, and the excitement that went with him, with the first pick in the 2006 draft. They chose Williams instead. If the NFL traded Houston to Canada or Germany for a franchise to be named later, would anyone even notice? 

Overall grade: D

Pet position: QB, RB
Least concerned with: WR, OL, DL
First-round breakdown: QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, T, DE, LB, CB
Steals: S Bob Sanders (2nd round, 2004), WR Reggie Wayne (No. 30 overall, 2001), LB Mike Peterson (2nd, 1999), S Antoine Bethea (6th, 2006), G Jake Scott (5th, 2004), DE Robert Mathis (5th, 2004), LB Cato June (6th, 2004), LB David Thornton (4th, 2002), T Ryan Diem (4th, 2001), P Hunter Smith (6th, 1999)

Is the plan working? Gen. Eisenhower couldn't have pulled together a D-Day (Draught Day) plan better than Bill Polian. The Colts have averaged 12 wins over the past five regular seasons thanks to impeccable first-round picks and a consistent stream of Day Two starters. As we pointed out previously, the Colts have had all of their big skill-position guys in the draft pay off on the field. So the Colts haven’t had to use picks there year after year like some of the more inept organizations in football. Despite big-name players at these positions, Indy has selected just two QBs, four RBs and six WRs over the past 10 seasons – all fewest or next-fewest in the league over that span. But the Colts sure do like to draft defensive backs. They’ve picked 23 of them over the past decade, easily the most in the NFL, and 13 in the last five drafts alone. That hasn’t translated to great pass defenses (15th last year). But it has allowed Indy to dig up guys like Bob Sanders, Mike Doss, Jason David and Antoine Bethea beyond the first round.

Summary: No one does it better than Polian and the Colts.

Overall grade: A-plus.

 

Pet position: WR
Least concerned with: LB
First-round breakdown: QB, RB, 3 WR, TE, 3 DT, CB, S
Steals: RB Maurice Jones-Drew (2nd, 2006), CB Rashean Mathis (2nd, 2003), K Josh Scobee (5th, 2004), DE Bobby McCray (7th, 2004), DB Marlon McCree (7th, 2001), DT Rob Meier (7th, 2000), LB Danny Clark (7th, 2000), C John Wade (5th, 1997)

Is the plan working? The Jaguars have done a lot of things right in the draft over the past decade … with the notable exception of drafting receivers. The Lions take heat for picking three straight pass-catchers in the first round, but at least Roy Williams has panned out. The Jags are 0-for-4 with their first rounders. Sure, the jury is still out on TE Marcedes Lewis and WRs Matt Jones and Reggie Williams, but none of them has done anything special yet. The Jags were 15th in yards per pass attempt last year, respectable but not a home run either. Jacksonville has built brilliantly on the offensive line, taking six OLs in the second- or third rounds, all of whom have stuck and have performed: the Jaguars ranked No. 2 last year in our Offensive Hog Index and No. 3 in yards per rush attempt (4.95). And their back-to-back defensive tackle No. 1 picks in 2002 and 2003 (Marcus Stroud and John Henderson) has keyed an excellent defensive line: Jacksonville last year ranked No. 2 in our Defensive Hog Index and fourth overall in rushing yards per attempt allowed (3.48).

Summary: The Jaguars have been just average on first rounders, but have been great from the second round and beyond. They haven’t gone crazy in one area, but have built carefully all around the field – and it shows. They were ninth in scoring offense and fourth in scoring defense last year. This franchise knew what it was doing from the start (AFC title game in its second year), and still does. Sooner or later you would expect the smart Draught Day decisions to pay off in postseason success (two wins since 1996). 

Overall grade: B-plus.

 

Pet position: LB
Least concerned with: QB, DB
First-round breakdown: RB, WR, TE, 2 T, DE, DT, LB
Steals: DE Jared Allen (5th round, 2004), T Jordan Black (5th, 2003), LB Scott Fujita (5th, 2002), KR Dante Hall (5th, 2000)

Is the plan working? The Chiefs have traded draft picks for veterans more than any other team. As a result they have had the least total draft value of any team over the last decade. Kansas City hasn't picked a Day One QB since 1992 (Matt Blundin, 2nd round ... 'member him?), and has used less draft value on defensive backs than almost anyone in the league (31st). KC filled those needs with a rotating cast of veterans, which has paid off with playoff spots (three playoff appearances in 10 season) but no playoff runs (zero playoff victories since 1993). The Chiefs have gone defense with their first pick in five of the last six years, which seemed to pay off as they went from 29th in scoring defense in 2004 to 16th in 2005 and 11th in 2006.

Summary: The Chiefs have been competitive for two decades straight (just three losing seasons over the past 18). But they have rarely been exceptional. They haven’t tried to draft a franchise QB since Todd Blackledge in 1983, and perhaps it’s time to think in those terms.

Overall grade: C-plus.

 

Pet position: RB
Least concerned with: QB, WR, DL
First-round breakdown: 2 RB, WR, OL, 2 CB

Steals: WR Chris Chambers (2nd round, 2001), CB Patrick Surtain (2nd, 1998), CB Sam Madison (2nd, 1997), TE Randy McMichael (4th, 2002)

Is the plan working? Definitely not. Since 1999, the Dolphins have traded away four first-rounders and three second rounders, and they have had only 10 first-day picks over the last five seasons. This lack of young talent has caught up to the Dolphins, who are 19-29 over the past three seasons. They haven’t tried to pick up a top-flight young QB since Dan Marino in 1983 – amazingly, their entire Draught Day allottment to quarterbacks over the past decade has been just a pair of sixth-rounders. Not surprisingly, it's been years since Miami matriculated the ball down the field effectively through the air. They ranked 28th last year in passing yards per attempt (5.2 YPA). Meanwhile, they’ve been obsessed with looking for running backs, as evidenced by their No. 2 ranking in draft value allocation there – and this is in addition to trading two No. 1s for RB Ricky Williams. It’s as if they were still looking for that great complement to Marino eight years after No. 13’s retirement.

 

QB	RB	WR	OL	DL	LB	DB
84 (31st)	2893 (5th)	3739.1 (8th)	2900.2 (14th)	4574.8 (13th)	747.7 (30th)	2928.7 (23rd)

Pet position: RB, WR
Least concerned with: QB, LB
First-round breakdown: 2 RB, 2 TE, 2 OL, 2 DT, DE, LB, 2 DB
Steals: CB Asante Samuel (4th round, 2003), LB Tully Banta-Cain (7th, 2003), WR David Givens (7th, 2002), QB Tom Brady (6th, 2000)

Is the plan working? Obviously, things are working nicely in New England, as evidenced by their record 59 victories (including playoffs) over the past four seasons . The most remarkable part of the organization's draft strategy is that their defensive back seven has been so good year after year – the Patriots haven’t drafted a linebacker above the sixth round since 1999! They haven’t used a first-rounder on a defensive back since 1998 (Tebucky Jones). The "pundits" seem to think that this lack of focus on LBs and DBs is catching up to them, which is why just about every mock draft has the Patriots going DB/LB with their two first-round picks. But the Cold, Hard Football Facts show it's not yet a problem: New England ranked No. 2 in defensive passer rating last year and No. 2 in scoring defense. And, of course, the most successful part of New England's plan – draft Hall of Fame QB in the sixth round – has worked to perfection. Why didn’t the other 31 teams think of that? Luck certainly played a part. But then-quarterbacks coach Dick Rehbein (now deceased) saw something in Tom Brady and lobbied hard for the organization to draft him.

Summary: They’ve had a few misses, mostly in the pre-Belichick period, but have been very good over the past five years. They haven’t had a high-profile flop since Adrian Klemm (2nd round in 2000), and their three Super Bowl teams were built primarily through the draft. They move all around the draft board as it suits them, and have had an average of two extra picks per season. Compare their 12 first-round picks over the last 10 years to the six for Miami.

Overall grade: A-minus.

Pet position: DL, LB
Least concerned with: RB, DB
First-round breakdown: QB, WR, TE, T, C, 3 DE, DT, 2 LB

Steals: RB Leon Washington (4th round, 2006), S Kerry Rhodes (4th, 2005), WR Jerricho Cotchery (4th, 2004), DT James Reed (7th, 2003), T Jason Fabini (4th, 1998), DT Jason Ferguson (7th, 1997), WR Laveranues Coles (3rd, 2000)

 

Pet position: OL, DB
Least concerned with: RB, WR
First-round breakdown: 3 T, DE, DT, 5 CB, S, K
Steals: WR Ronald Curry (7th round, 2002), P Shane Lechler (5th, 2000), LB Eric Barton (5th, 1999), DT Grady Jackson (7th, 1997)

Is the plan working? Al Davis, the Raiders and their tortured fans are finding that you get what you pay for. An organization once known for game-breaking RBs, blazing and sure-handed receivers and big-armed gunslingers has totally, bizarrely ignored the skill positions over the past decade – the Raiders have used just one top 50 pick on a QB, WR, TE or RB since 1996 (Joey Porter, 2nd round, 2000). They've also sunk a league-high 62.37 percent of their draft value into defense. So it should come as no surprise that Oakland had the worst offense in recent memory in 2006: they scored a Dead Ball Era-esque 10.5 PPG and averaged a truly abysmal 4.36 yards per passing attempt, dead last in the NFL. Hey, you can only go the free agent/waiver wire route for so long before you find you can't score points. Meanwhile, the Raiders have sunk a league-high amount of draft power into the offensive line, only to give up a league-high amount of negative pass plays and finish 29th in our Offensive Hog Index in 2006. Call it the Robert Gallery affect. Oakland's also head and shoulders above the rest of the league in draft spending on the secondary (five first-rounders!), which did pay off with a 74.1 defensive passer rating (7th) in 2006. But when you’re 2-14, nothing’s going right.

Summary: The Raiders have dug their own grave through the draft. They’ve assumed that skill players are a dime a dozen, and now they’re stuck with guys like Andrew Walter, LaMont Jordan and Randy "Mr. Mail it In" Moss. They have a nice young defense, but how long will it take to rebuild this offense? From the moment they drafted K Sebastian Janikowski in the first round back in 2000, this front office has gone a bit haywire. Good luck, JaMarcus Russell.

Overall grade: D

Pet position: WR, OL
Least concerned with: RB, DL, LB
First-round breakdown: QB, TE, 3 WR, G, 2 T, 2 CB
Steals: LB Larry Foote (4th round, 2002), T Max Starks (3rd, 2004), S Chris Hope (3rd, 2002), CB Deshea Townsend (4th, 1998), LB Joey Porter (3rd, 1999), WR Hines Ward (3rd, 1998), G Alan Faneca (26th overall pick, 1998)

Is the plan working? Pittsburgh is an organization we typically associate with gritty, rock-solid defense. But no team in the AFC has spent more draft value on offense. The Steelers, spoiled by Jerome Bettis and then the emergence of UFA Willie Parker, have spent less on running backs than any other team in the league – yet they’re annually one of the best ground attacks going. They’ve spent their money wisely on their offensive line, with a high boom-to-bust ratio. Defensively, they’ve always got dominating front sevens even though they’re 31st in draft spending on DL and 28th on LB. Remarkable stuff, and a good reason the Steelers have fielded seven winning teams and appeared in 12 playoff games over the past decade.

Summary: It hasn’t all been perfect (Troy Edwards, anyone?), but the Steelers have done a great job of replacing the talent that pours out of the Pittsburgh free-agent foundries every offseason. And when they took their shot at a franchise QB, it was a home run – Ben Roethlisberger. How much of their personnel success was thanks to the coaching of Bill Cowher? We’ll soon find out.

Overall grade: A-minus

 

QB	RB	WR	OL	DL	LB	DB
6390.4 (1st)	2123.6 (13th)	1966.2 (28th)	5101.2 (3rd)	2312 (24th)	2027.3 (13th)	4810.6 (5th)