What does it mean when players are graded?

[Filmstudy]

I'm always a little amused by player gradings at this time of year. What's the real question we want answered?:

1. Who has been the best over the last several seasons?
2. Who played the best last season?
3. Who will be the best in 2009?
4. Who will be the best over the next several seasons?
5. Which player at the position would be the one with which you would start your franchise?

When you look at grades on line or in the preview magazines, I think they are almost always answering questions 1 and 2 above.

I think I speak for most fans when I say we want to know the answer to questions 3, 4, and 5.

[Rxdoxx]

And the preview mags also heavily factor in pro-bowl which for some positions is system numbers and not actual value on the field.

Rankings like that are interesting for discussion's sake (how many ProBowls would Mason have if he was paired with Brees?)
For the Ravens, all I'm concerned about is can they do the job we need them to do (without help)