Yes, day after grades are a little silly. Yes, we're going to do them anyway.

The grades below were originally written for NBCSports.com, so they aren't geared towards fantasy impact. For that, check out our blog Pancake Blocks and our 724,490 posts from this weekend. And, uh, the next five months of coverage before Week 1.

Baltimore Ravens
Grade: A

GM Ozzie Newsome is one of the best, year after year. This was another year he went for talent over obvious needs, smartly moving up grab Michael Oher. He was a fantastic value who is a worthy heir to Jonathan Ogden for the next decade. Second-round DE Paul Kruger was another good value at an aging positing for the Ravens. Second-day picks like ILB Jason Phillips and RB Cedric Pearman were good examples of taking talent over need.

Buffalo Bills
Grade: C

The Bills badly needed a left tackle, but passed on Michael Oher to take Aaron Maybin, yet another undersized defensive end on a team full of them. They took two offensive linemen later with center Eric Wood and Andy Levitre, but still don't have a true left tackle. Fourth-round TE Shawn Nelson could start right away, and was their best value pick. Buffalo always sees players differently than the rest of the league, but it's only led to mediocrity.

Editor's Note: I jumped on the Twitter bandwagon this weekend, and like it despite my misgivings. So check me out there and I'll try to let you know something. I'll use it on football, not what sneakers I decide to wear that day.

Cincinnati Bengals
Grade: B-

Was there every any doubt the Bengals would draft the player with the most off-field question marks? Left tackle Andre Smith is a massive talent, but is massive risk for an undisciplined team. But he fills a huge position of need and second-round pick USC Rey Maualuga was a great value, adding toughness to an emerging defense.

Bengals went boom or bust with other picks like DE Michael Johnson and RB Bernard Scott, who was been arrested five times! The Bengals just can't change their stripes.

Cleveland Browns
Grade: B+

Eric Mangini hasn't made many fans in Cleveland, but this weekend should help win them over. They brilliantly moved down the draft board, grabbing three extra picks and three veterans. This was the perfect strategy for a thin roster in a deep draft without stars. Center Alex Mack, wideout Brian Robiskie, and OLB David Veikune all should help right away. Fourth-rounder Kaluka Maiava could be a steal out of USC.

They didn't get an A for two reasons: They may regret passing on Mark Sanchez and they didn't improve their pass rush enough.

Denver Broncos
Grade: B+

Quantity was just as important as quality for a team with so many roster holes. Denver gave up a ton to acquire five picks in the first two rounds and ten overall. But they got quality with the best running back in the draft (Knowshon Moreno), the best 3-4 outside linebacker prospect (Robert Ayers), and a nice value in second-rounder Alphonso Smith.

Giving up a first-rounder for Smith, however, gets Denver marked down. Sixth-round prospect Tom Brandstater is no Jay Cutler, though. If Cutler's unnecessary trade counted in this grade, we'd give Denver an F.

Houston Texans
Grade: C+

Every year, the Texans draft front seven defenders. And they still need more. USC linebacker Brian Cushing is solid, but unspectacular. There were better playmakers available. Second-round DE Connor Barwin is an exciting jack-of-all trades, but we don't understand why the Texans took two tight ends, but didn't fill their running back need in the second day.

Indianapolis Colts
Grade: A-

GM Bill Polian always finds starters in unlikely places. UConn running back Donald Brown is a major sleeper to be rookie of the year. He does everything well, especially in the passing game, and could displace Joseph Addai as the team's starter. USC DT Fili Moala could start on day one, shoring up their run defense. Some of their day two picks represented a possible change away from Tony Dungy'

Jacksonville Jaguars
Grade: A-

This was a draft about changing attitude. Jaguars strayed from their meat and potatoes brand of football last year because their offensive line collapsed. That won't happen again after drafting two talented tackles. Eugene Monroe might be the best pass protector in the draft, and Arizona T Eben Britton can play the right side. They should make David Garrard look a lot better next year. Some of their day two picks (DT Terrance Knighton, CB Derek Cox) looked like reaches.


Kansas City Chiefs
Mid-Term Grade: B+

New GM Scott Pioli loves to build from the defensive line out, but LSU DE Tyson Jackson was a stretch with the third pick. He was partly stuck because the draft didn't have much top-end talent, especially pass-rushers. The Chiefs earn this high grade because they stole a franchise quarterback in Matt Cassel with their second round pick while the rest of the NFL napped. They get a demerit for taking a kicker as Mr. Irrelevant.
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