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Making the grade

April 28, 2008 11:47 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

I'll be in the air for much of the day, but I have a couple of minutes to look around and see how our experts are evaluating each team's draft. I would've enjoyed having Mel Kiper Jr. as a college professor because he seems to grade on a curve.

The lowest grade he gave was a C- to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Like many of us, he thought giving up three picks to go from No. 26 to No. 8 was somewhat foolish. I think Derrick Harvey's an outstanding player, but the Jaguars paid a high price to get him. Mel thinks the Jags should've traded for Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor.

I was amused to see Mel only give the Ravens a B. After the Kyle Boller disaster, I'm told that Mel gave up his 50-yard line seats at M&T Bank Stadium. He was hoping his Ravens would land Matt Ryan, but Joe Flacco is also one of his favorites. I'm guessing that he renews his season tickets this season.

As I've said before, Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and college scouting director Eric DeCosta see Flacco as a more athletic and accurate version of Derek Anderson. The organization drafted Anderson in the sixth round in 2005, but released him to make room for the great Kordell Stewart.

NFL draft, Ozzie Newsome, Eric DeCosta, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco

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