With the 2011 regular season freshly over it is time to go back and evaluate every team’s draft classes based on performance this year. I will use a formula to grade each pick and calculuate a final grade for each team. The Kansas City Chiefs start off the week.
ROUND 1 – graded from a 0-5 scale
ROUND 2 – graded from a 0-4 scale
ROUND 3 – graded from a 0-3 scale
ROUND 4 – graded from a 0-2 scale
ROUND 5 – graded from a 0-1 scale
ROUND 6 & 7 – no scale, point awarded if player was productive
*I reserve the right to award a bonus point to any player who outperformed their draft position.*
FINAL GRADING SCALE
90-100 – A
80-89 - B
70-79 - C
60 – 69 - D
0-59 - F
2011 Draft Class
Round 1: Jonathan Baldwin WR, Pitt – 21 Receptions, 254 Yds, 1 TD
Analysis: Baldwin’s career in KC got off to a rough start as he broke his hand in a training camp fight. He missed the first five games of the season, and while he showed some flashes, he did not live up to his first round status.
Grade: 2/5
Round 2: Rodney Hudson G, FSU – 1 Game Started
Analysis: Hudson appeared in all 16 games and started one. He should be worked into the starting lineup in year two.
Grade: 2.5/4
Round 3: Justin Houston OLB, Georgia - 56 Tackles, 5.5 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble
Analysis: Houston proved to be an excellent choice as he blossomed into a fine edge rusher who brought the QB down 5.5 times.
Grade: 3/3
Round 3: Allen Bailey DE, Miami – 10 Tackles, 1 Sack
Analysis: Bailey appeared in 1o games, but didn’t give the Chiefs equal return on their third round investment.
Grade: 1/3
Round 4: Jalil Brown DB, Colorado – 8 Tackles
Analysis: Brown played in 14 games but his 8 tackles weren’t worth a fourth round pick.
Grade: .25/2
Round 5: Ricky Stanzi QB, Iowa – No Stats
Analysis: Stanzi wasn’t expected to play this season, but it’s a little sad he couldn’t beat out Tyler Pako for playing time. He’s the likely backup in 2012.
Grade: 0/1
Round 5: Gabe Miller LB, Oregon St. – No Stats
Analysis: Miller was placed on I.R. and had no impcat whatsoever on the outcome of the Chiefs 2011 season.
Grade; 0/1
Round 6: Jerell Powe NT, Ole Miss – 1 Game Played
Analysis: Powe played a few snaps in one game in 2011.
Grade: 0/0
Round 7: Shane Bannon FB, Yale - No Stats
Analysis: Bannon was cut by the Chiefs.
Grade: 0/0
TOTAL SCORE: 8.75/19
FINAL GRADE: 46% F
Analysis: The Chiefs 2011 draft class failed as whole in season one. There were bright spots like the play of third rounder Justin Houston but all the other immediate returns were substandard. Jonathan Baldwin was the biggest disappointment, first hurting himself in a locker room fight and then just not playing up to the high level expected of him. The Chiefs still have to be excited about the potential of this class though as Baldwin, Hudson, Houston, and Bailey should all continue to grow and gain experience in year two and I would very much expect this grade to rise in the next few seasons.
Recent comments