Mark Craig's draft analysis

April 27, 2009 at 3:48AM

MARK CRAIG'S DRAFT ANALYSIS

Winners

Buffalo: The Bills got the pass rusher they needed at No. 11 (Aaron Maybin) and three probable starters on Day 1 in 310-pound C Eric Wood, CB Jairus Byrd and G Andrew Levitre. No question the Bills are more of a force on both lines.

Green Bay: The Packers turned two first-round picks into two integral pieces for their new 3-4 defense. They got a hard-to-budge NT in B.J. Raji and OLB Clay Matthews III. The Packers also stocked the shelves with two OTs, a very good FB and a CB.

Vikings: Percy Harvin at No. 22 is worth the risk for a good team desperate for his great playmaking abilities. The Vikings also found a likely starting RT, and Antoine Winfield's heir apparent in the third round. They also addressed a need I didn't think they would: A potential playmaker at S in Jamarca Sanford.

Loser

Oakland: The poor Raiders make everybody's "losers list." But that's what they get for passing up Michael Crabtree for Darius Hayward-Bey at No. 7 and picking Ohio University S Michael Mitchell, a fifth-round projection, in the second.

about the writer

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

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