Gore, Tatupu were draft-day steals
In the NFC West, the same team that drafted a borderline bust with the first overall pick (QB Alex Smith) hit a home run with Pro Bowl RB Frank Gore. The Cardinals' draft picks never lived up to their potential. The Seahawks drafted one of the best middle linebackers in Lofa Tatupu, while the Rams added some key pieces to their secondary and offensive line. Let's take a team-by-team look at the NFC West's 2005 draft class.
Arizona Cardinals
At one time, this draft class looked like it had some potential, but the group has not developed as expected. CB Antrel Rolle has been inconsistent on the outside and is moving inside to free safety next season. RB J.J. Arrington is hanging on by a thread, and CB Eric Green has talent but can't stay healthy. Darryl Blackstock, Lance Mitchell and LeRon McCoy are not on the roster. But the biggest disappointment has to be G Elton Brown, who showed promise as a rookie before displaying poor work ethic, something that dropped his stock on draft day.To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Don't be too quick to judge a team's draft
Scouts Inc. tests the theory that it takes three years to fully evaluate a team's draft class by looking back at the '05 draft. The lesson learned is grades handed out on draft day do not always match the grades handed out three years later.
Re-grading the 2005 draft
If the 49ers knew LB Shawne Merriman was going terrorize the NFL, would they have taken him first overall instead of QB Alex Smith? We think so.
Check out the rest of Scouts Inc.'s 2005 re-draft.
Top-10 offensive and defensive players in '05 class
We spent most of our time breaking down and re-grading each team's draft class. 
• AFC East
• AFC North
• AFC South
• AFC West
• NFC East
• NFC North
• NFC South
• NFC West
- Schefter: On Gary Kubiak's future
- Rumors: Crabtree's plan for SF offense
- Tools: PickCenter | Game Predictor
- Draft: Mel's Big Board (11/18) | NFL draft blog
