Talking Points: Grade the NFL draft

1

Supposedly, it takes three years to grade a draft choice. Well, the NFL is a win-now league, where quick turnarounds are possible with one good draft — like the 2012 Indianapolis Colts.

The Seahawks were given a grade of B- for their selections in the 2013 draft by Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News.

Here’s what he wrote: “Having already taken care of their major immediate holes in free agency, the Seahawks could just take intriguing projects with all 11 picks, including two running backs, Texas A&M’s Christine Michael and LSU’s Spencer Ware. Kansas State’s Chris Harper can develop into a good possession receiver. They did come away with needed defensive tackle depth in Penn State’s Jordan Hill and Alabama’s Jesse Williams.”

So who had the best 2013 draft?

Iyer gave a A to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Green Bay San Francisco and Jacksonville. He gave A-minus to Cincinnati, Minnesota, Arizona and Houston.

B+ went to Baltimore, Indianapolis, Miami and St. Louis. Getting Bs were the New York Giants, San Diego, New Orleans, Atlanta and Detroit. Other teams getting a B- besides Seattle were Carolina and New England.

On the C list were Dallas, Buffalo and Chicago. C-minus went to Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Kansas City, Denver and Oakland. At the bottom of the draft getting Ds were the New York Jets, Washington and Cleveland.

2

Portland’s win over Sporting Kansas City is making the Timbers a new favorite in the MLS. Both bleacherreport.com and Soccer America slot the Timbers at No. 5 in this week’s power ratings.

“The Timbers pulled off the shock of the week in Kansas City as they took down Sporting in their home fortress,” according to bleacherreport.