Grading a draft is just as pointless as a post-draft power ranking. There is just no way of knowing how the prospects turn out. A high overall pick could become a flop. A seventh-rounder might become a future Hall-of-Famer. An injury, heaven forbid, could stall the rebuilding process for another year. Nonetheless, teams expect their first-round choices to become starters and others are expected to make an immediate impact. Let's see whether the 49ers drafted potential starters and impact players.

The 49ers did a great job in free agency, addressing their need for a deeper and more talented receiver corps. With the exception of maybe a right guard San Francisco didn't need to draft a designated first-year starter. The Niners could use all their picks to add depth and slowly transition the draftees into impact players.

San Francisco selected WR A.J. Jenkins (first round), RB LaMichael James (second), G Joe Looney (fourth), OLB Darius Fleming (fifth), FS Trenton Robinson (sixth), OT Jason Slowey (sixth) and DE Cam Johnson (seventh).

A.J. Jenkins won't be a starter in his first season with the team. He is more of a safety net in case the WR Randy Moss experiment backfires. Jenkins can do everything the 49ers are expecting to get out of Randy Moss. Expect him to catch one or two passes per game with an opportunity to earn an increased role.

The selection of LaMichael James in the second round makes little sense at first. RB Frank Gore and RB Kendall Hunter will almost certainly be ahead of him once the season kicks off and RB Brandon Jacobs and RB Anthony Dixon are set to compete for the short-yardage downs. In the long run, however, James could be groomed to form a one-two-punch with Kendall Hunter once the Frank Gore era has come to an end.

G Joe Looney provides competition at the guard spot and could end up starting on opening day. Looney and G Daniel Kilgore are unproven though. The search for a right guard might not be over yet and a trade seems a possibility, considering the 49ers have a number of additional draft picks in 2013.

OLB Darius Fleming adds depth to the linebacker corps and could make an impact on special teams.

FS Trenton Robinson and T Jason Slowey provide depth but may not survive the cut.

DE Cam Johnson dropped down the draft boards but could turn out to be a steal in the seventh round. Teams were concerned about his history of injuries but if he is healthy he could continue where OLB Aldon Smith left off last season.

It is possible that none of the drafted players wind up starting in 2012. From this angle the draft hasn't made the 49ers a better team but San Francisco was drafting for depth and did just that. Depth is something you can never have enough of. A.J. Jenkins, Joe Looney and Cam Johnson are the most likely players to make an immediate impact. With the exception of the guard spot San Francisco has an overall improved roster compared to last season.

San Francisco 49ers

On the final day of the draft the San Francisco 49ers selected G Joe Looney, OLB Darius Fleming, FS Trenton Robinson, OT Jason Slowey and DE Cam Johnson. Going into the draft the 49ers felt comfortable with G Daniel Kilgore as the projected starter in 2012 but Joe Looney may make this an interesting position battle. Darius Fleming adds depth to San Francisco's outside linebacker position but may not be used beyond special teams as a rookie. Trenton Robinson adds depth to the defensive backfield and Jason Slowey is a versatile player, who can play every position on the offensive line. Cam Johnson is a steal in the seventh round, considering he had second round potential. He gives San Francisco's ageing defensive some youth and could play a role similar to OLB Aldon Smith's last season.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals took care of their offensive line on the third day of this year's draft. They selected OT Bobby Massie, G Senio Kelemete, CB Justin Bethel, QB Ryan Lindley and OT Nate Potter. Bobby Massie has to be considered a slam-dunk, seeing that most projected him to be gone early in the second round. He could become an immediate starter. Senio Kelemete is versatile and adds depth to Arizona's offensive line. Justin Bethel could become an immediate impact player on special teams. Ryan Lindley seems like a dubious decision to draft and may find himself cut at some point before the season kicks off. Nate Potter is an undersized offensive lineman and needs to gain more weight in order to challenge for a roster spot.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks chose RB Robert Turbin, DT Jaye Howard, LB Korey Toomer, CB Jeremy Lane, SS Winston Guy Jr., DT J.R. Sweezy and DE Greg Scruggs. Robert Turbin is an all-round running back and could give RB Marshawn Lynch the occasional breather. He figures to play on special teams as well. Jaye Howard brings versatility to the team, as he can play any position on the defensive line. Korey Toomer can play on the inside as well as the outside and could even line up as a defensive end. Jeremey Lane and Winston Guy Jr. provide Seattle's defensive backfield with versatility. J.R. Sweezy is a defensive tackle by trade but the Seahawks will work on converting him to guard. Greg Scruggs can play any position on the defensive line and the Seahawks intend to use him as defensive end as well as defensive tackle.

St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams finished their draft by selecting WR Chris Givens, G Rokevious Watkins, K Greg Zuerlein, LB Aaron Brown and RB Daryl Richardson in the final rounds. Chris Givens set a single-season school record at Wake Forest with 1,330 yards and can also be used as a kickoff returner. Rokevious Watkins can play guard as well as offensive tackle and could end up as St. Louis' starting right guard. The selection of Greg Zuerlein spells the end of K Josh Brown with the team. Head coach Jeff Fisher made it clear that Zuerlein will be St. Louis' kicker this season and Josh Brown will be released in a move that will save the team $3m in salary cap space. Aaron Brown has a realistic chance to stay on the team as the Rams have only four linebackers on their current roster. Daryl Richardson will have to prove that he deserves a spot on the final roster.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers chose RB LaMichael James with the 61^st overall pick. G Kelechi Osemele, DT Kendall Reyes and DT Derek Wolfe were no longer available at this point. The running back from Oregon joins a crowded backfield, which includes RB Frank Gore, RB Kendall Hunter, RB Brandon Jacobs and RB Anthony Dixon. Gore and Hunter will carry the main load and Brandon Jacobs could be used as short-yardage and goal line back. LaMichael James is an explosive running back who will compete for playing time. Anthony Dixon seems to be the odd man out at this point.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona's Cardinals didn't have a second-round pick because it was part of the Kevin Kolb deal last season. They decided to take CB Jamell Fleming with the 80^th overall pick, much to the surprise of basically everyone. The Cardinals need an offensive tackle and could have drafted Bobby Massie, whom some considered good enough to be taken in the first round. Jamell Fleming is a strong and versatile defensive back but needs to improve as a tackler. It would be very optimistic to project him as a starter in 2012 but he provides depth.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks drafted ILB Bobby Wagner in the second round and QB Russell Wilson in the third round. Seattle traded down five spots in the second round and acquired the fifth-round and a seventh-round pick from the New York Jets in the process. By the time the Seahawks were on the clock ILB Mychal Kendricks had already gone to the Philadelphia Eagles (did I not suggest to draft ILB Dont'a Hightower in the first round?), which made Wagner the next best option at this position. Bobby Wagner can play on the outside as well as the inside and will compete for the starting job at middle linebacker. QB Russell Wilson could make the quarterback situation very interesting. QB Matt Flynn is unproven and QB Tarvaris Jackson is average at best. The Seahawks feel that Wilson could make an immediate impact if he had to take some snaps. His only downside appears to be his height of 5'10".

St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams had four draft picks between 33^rd and 65^th overall and took care of position needs. They selected WR Brian Quick, CB Janoris Jenkins, RB Isaiah Pead and CB Trumaine Johnson. Brian Quick impressed the Rams on several occasions. He is big and strong with exceptional hand-eye coordination. The Rams were desperate for a receiver after Brandon Lloyd's departure in the offseason. Janoris Jenkins had several run-ins with the law but there is no doubt about his talent. He is a shutdown corner, something teams value in a pass-happy league. Isaiah Pead could take some workload off RB Steven Jackson. He's also a dangerous punt returner. Trumaine Johnson has the right size, speed and skill-set to succeed in the NFL.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers chose WR A.J. Jenkins with the 30^th overall pick. The wideout from Illinois was projected to go early in the second round. This is why the 49ers refused to trade down with the Minnesota Vikings, fearing Jenkins would no longer be around when the Niners would finally be on the clock. A.J. Jenkins adds quality depth to a receiver corps that's slowly but surely beginning to look impressive. He is fast, has good hands and an excellent route running ability. San Francisco could target G Kelechi Osemele in the second round. DT Kendall Reyes or DT Derek Wolfe seem possible as well.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals picked WR Michael Floyd as the 13^th player overall. This caught me off guard as I expected the team to address run defense or even pass protection with their first pick. I had them down for OLB Shea McClellin and ILB Dont'a Hightower was still available also. I understand the logic behind the choice though. Apart from DE Chandler Jones, Floyd was the best player available. WR Larry Fitzgerald has practically been a one-man show since WR Anquan Boldin's departure in 2010. Michael Floyd is a physical receiver who is hard to bring down. He holds seven records at Notre Dame. The Cardinals should have plenty of options in the second round and may look at the likes of DT Devon Still, OT Bobby Massie, DT Brandon Thompson and OLB Lavonte David.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks traded down three spots to acquire the 15^th overall pick and two late-round selections from the Philadelphia Eagles and went to great lengths to add a pass rusher to the roster. DE Bruce Irvin from West Virginia was widely tipped to go early in the second round. DE Chandler Jones, DE Quinton Coples, OLB Melvin Ingram and DE Courtney Upshaw were still available but head coach Pete Carroll is convinced that Irvin is the better fit for the team. Bruce Irvin is an athletic player with an explosive speed burst. Though I still believe that ILB Dont'a Hightower would have been a better choice it is safe to assume that Pete Carroll knows more about football than I do. It's hard to predict Seattle's next move but OLB Lavonte David could be on their radar.

St. Louis Rams

St. Louis' sixth spot wasn't high enough to draft HB Trent Richardson or WR Justin Blackmon so they orchestrated a last-minute trade with the Dallas Cowboys that would give them another draft choice in the second round in addition to Dallas' 14^th overall pick. The Rams eventually drafted DT Michael Brockers, a borderline first-round prospect. Brockers has a lot of upside and stood out on LSU's defensive line. St. Louis now has three picks in the second round to take care of positional needs at wide receiver, cornerback, running back and linebacker. WR Stephen Hill, CB Casey Hayward and OLB Lavonte David could all be in a St. Louis Rams uniform soon.

I have to admit that the NFL draft never thrilled me as much as it probably should. I try to watch as many college football games as I can but I just don't know the players as well as the NFL pros. For the sake of predicting the draft choices of the NFC West teams I had to simulate a draft though. Due to a lack of time I ignored any suggestions from all the other mock drafts around. I also ignored information from teams regarding certain players. NFL teams are secretive and while this kind of information could be true, it could also be misleading. Lastly, I didn't factor in any potential trades, although it is to be expected that they will take place in bunches. I considered team needs, best player available for that matter and position depth. I am no draft expert but this is what I came up with:

1. Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins: QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor

3. Minnesota Vikings: CB Morris Clairborne, LSU

4. Cleveland Browns: RB Trent Richardson, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: ILB Luke Kuechly, Boston College

6. St. Louis Rams: SS Mark Barron, Alabama

This choice is a long shot but the Rams lack depth at the safety position and there aren't a lot of good safeties in this year's draft. Earlier this week I suggested that the Rams need a wide receiver but this can be addressed in the second round.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Chandler Jones, Syracuse

8. Miami Dolphins: Matt Kalil, USC

I should probably elaborate on my train of thought here. The teams picking before Miami fill their primary need with the best player available. Matt Kalil is an exceptional prospect but good offensive tackles can still be had in the second round. The Dolphins jump at the opportunity and decide to move forward with QB Matt Moore, who deserves a second look in my opinion.

9. Carolina Panthers: CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

10. Buffalo Bills: WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

11. Kansas City Chiefs: DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State

12. Seattle Seahawks: ILB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama

The Seahawks need a pass rusher but they also need to fill the void left by LB David Hawthorne's departure.

13. Arizona Cardinals: OLB Shea McClellin, Boise State

Shea McClellin adds quality depth to Arizona's linebacker corps and could become an immediate impact player.

14. Dallas Cowboys: DT Dontari Poe, Memphis

15. Philadelphia Eagles: OLB Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

16. New York Jets: WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

17. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Kendall Wright, Baylor

18. San Diego Chargers: DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina

19. Chicago Bears: OT Riley Reiff, Iowa

20. Tennessee Titans: DE Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

21. Cincinnati Bengals: G David DeCastro, Stanford

22. Cleveland Browns: OT Cordy Glenn, Georgia

23. Detroit Lions: RB, Doug Martin, Boise State

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: OLB Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

25. Denver Broncos: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

QB Peyton Manning can only be a short-term solution for Denver. Ryan Tannehill could be mentored to succeed Manning once he retires.

26. Houston Texans: G Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin

27. New England Patriots: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

28. Green Bay Packers: SS Harrison Smith, Notre Dame

29. Baltimore Ravens: DE Vinny Curry, Marshall

30. San Francisco 49ers: DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State

The 49ers have the luxury of drafting for depth. Potential first-round guards are gone unless you want to reach for G Amini Silatolu. San Francisco's defensive line is ageing and needs depth. G Kelechi Osemele could still be around in round two.

31. New England Patriots: RB David Wilson, Virginia Tech

32. New York Giants: TE Coby Fleener, Stanford 

In the final part of this evaluation I'll take a look at the St. Louis Rams and try to determine whether their free agency moves are going to make them more competitive in the NFC West. Click on the highlighted links to view reviews for the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.

Last season the St. Louis Rams had the second worst overall offense in the league. They gained 179.4 yards per game through the air (30^th) and 104.2 yards per game on the ground (23^rd). Their overall defense ranked 21^st. The Rams allowed 206.7 passing yards per game (7^th) and 151.7 rushing yards per game (31^st). They surrendered the most sacks in the NFL with 55 and recorded 39 on defense (18^th). St. Louis' punting average of 44.3 yards ranked 19^th in the league. They averaged 23.3 yards per kickoff return (20^th) and 11.0 yards per punt return (10^th). St. Louis' opponents averaged 25.1 yards per kickoff return (24^th) and 12.3 yards per punt return (26^th).

When you finish the season with a 2-14 record you mustn't be surprised if your statistics look bad. Apart from passing defense and maybe the return game the Rams could do with improvement throughout the entire team. Pass protection has got to be high on the list. The same goes for an aerial attack. QB Sam Bradford missed a few games last season but the receivers weren't much of a threat either. Another primary team need is a run stuffer, a defensive tackle to be precise. Let's see if St. Louis' activities promise a more respectable record in 2012.

The St. Louis Rams re-signed QB Tom Brandstater, QB Kellen Clemens, FB Brit Miller and acquired WR Steve Smith, TE Matthew Mulligan, OL Quinn Ojinnaka, OL Robert Turner, C Scott Wells, DE William Hayes, DT Kendall Langford, DT Trevor Laws, LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar and CB Cortland Finnegan.

Tom Brandstater and Kellen Clemens return as Sam Bradford's backups. Brit Miller is Steven Jackson's lead blocker but has a history of injuries. Steve Smith has a lot to prove. He was a star at age 24 but injuries prevented him from making any further impact. Matthew Mulligan is a good blocker but not much of a receiver. Quinn Ojinnaka is versatile but provides depth rather than quality depth. Scott Wells in one of the best centers in the league. Enough said. Williams Hayes, who is a run stopper, could become a starter under head coach Jeff Fisher. Kendall Langford is expected to start at defensive tackle and defends equally well against pass and run. Trevor Laws is a work in progress and a useful run stopper. Jo-Lonn Dunbar is a versatile linebacker who will likely be St. Louis' strong-side linebacker. Cortland Finnegan, a very good conrnerback, joins one of the best defensive backfields in the league. Robert Turner will mainly be used on special teams.

St. Louis clearly attempted to improve the rushing defense, and Scott Wells alone should improve their offensive line, but the team can't be done looking for a better passing offense.

The Rams lost WR Brandon Lloyd (NE), WR Nick Miller, G Jacob Bell (CIN), C Jason Brown, DT Justin Bannan, DE James Hall, DT Fred Robbins, LB Chris Chamberlain (NO), LB David Nixon, CB Ron Bartell, CB Al Harris and P Donnie Jones (HOU).

Brandon Lloyd was St. Louis' key free agent but New England offered a long-term deal and money. Nick Miller wasn't much of a factor last season and faces a four-game suspension for violating league policy on PES. Jacob Bell was a starter for most of his time with the franchise. Jason Brown, Justin Bannan James Hall and Fred Robbins were all starters last season. It can be speculated that they were released in order to make the team younger. It's a mystery why the Rams let Chris Chamberlain go, as he was a starter and one of the better run defenders on the team. David Nixon didn't play much and became dispensable. Ron Baretell missed most of last season with a neck injury. Al Harris tore his ACL in November and retired at 37. Donnie Jones had the worst season of his five-year stint with the Rams.

It will be interesting to see if Steve Smith can replace Brandon Lloyd but it is safe to say that Jo-Lonn Dunbar is a downgrade to Chris Chamberlain. The Rams may also need a punter now, unless they want to go with 27-year old Tom Malone, who never punted in an NFL game.

St. Louis' unsigned free agents are QB A.J. Feeley, RB Jerious Norwood, WR Mark Clayton, WR Cadillac Williams, WR Danny Amendola, TE Billy Bajema, TE Stephen Spach, OL Adam Goldberg, OT Mark LeVoir, C Tony Wragge, DT Gary Gibson, DE C.J. Ah You, LB Bryan Kehl, LB Brady Poppinga, S James Butler, CB Rod Hood and CB Justin King.

Danny Amendola and Justin King, as a nickel back, are the most likely players to return. All the other players are a long shot.

Based on these free agency moves I would say the Rams are going to be a better team in 2012 but they have yet another ace up their sleeve. St. Louis traded their second overall draft pick in this year's draft to the Washington Redskins in exchange for their first round choices from 2012 through 2014 and a second-round pick this year. This gives the Rams the opportunity to bring in a lot of prospects over the next three years. Prospects who are expected to make an immediate impact. Even though teams spend an insane amount of time on scouting potential draft picks they can never know for sure how their draft choices will turn out in the NFL. For that reason it is hard to predict the outcome of the trade just yet. Regardless, the Rams have the opportunity to amass talented players who could become the core of the team in the near future.

The St. Louis Rams may not be a playoff team yet but they have the necessary tools to build something special.