You can lose a draft before you make a pick. The Cardinals did it at the trade table, overpaying to chase players the board did not price nearly as high. Solid and sensible more than spectacular: a B.

They punted on quarterback, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. That Newton pick is the receipt they will wave around later.

Stockpiling next year's capital is patient, if unglamorous, asset work. They came away with juice, if not much beef up front.

Add it up and it is a good, unfussy class.