Draft Grades

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys B+
They addressed needs for now and the future. Byron Jones is a very athletic corner that fils a need now in the dime and next year when Morris Claiborne is a free agent. I also love the gamble on Randy Gregory at where they got him as they need a puss rusher. I like the pick of Chaz Green for depth but would have loved to see them draft a WR at some point.

New York Giants A-
They did overdraft Ereck Flowers but they needed to if they wanted him because the Rams could have taken him with the next pick. The reason for this stellar grade is getting Landon Collins in the second even though they had to move up. That filled a huge need and they drafted O.O out of UCLA as pass rusher depth. I did want to see them take a DT.

Philadelphia Eagles C
I am not all that high on Agholor as I can see some issues with his game and should have been a second round pick. I liked the pick of Rowe but they failed to address the RG position and I am not a fan of Jordan Hicks who plays a position they don’t need. I do like the pick of JaCorey Sheppard in the 6th round.

Washington Redskins B
I do like Scherff very much as a player but they could have moved back maybe 3 spots and still got hit. I do understand the need to take him as that offensive line aside from Trent Williams is crap and they will need to protect the new 1st round QB they will take in 2016. I love the pick of Jameson Crowder in the 4th who will play in the slot and Preston Smith can help rush the passer. I don’t like the pick of Matt Jones.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills D
They took the wrong FSU corner in Darby and Karlos Williams isn’t very good. There where better lineman available than John Miller but I liked the pick of Nick O’Leary in the 6th as I think he can be used effectively as a 2nd TE. Even without the 1st round pick a lackluster draft.

Miami Dolphins B+
They got lucky when DeVante Parker fell to them at 14 and they did the right thing in taking him. I see why they would draft Jordan Phillips who could turn into a good pro but they have other bigger needs such as corner and linebacker. We will see how much PHillips plays this season. They can also sign Lael Collins which would be an unbelievable haul.

New England Patriots B
I love the value of drafting Malcolm Brown with the last pick of the first round and he could immediately be implemented into their rotation. I don’t like their second round pick of Jordan Richards in the second round but I like the pick of Tre Jackson in the 4th whom they could groom for a guard position. I also like the pick of Trey Flowers from Arkansas. I would have liked for them to grab a RB.

New York Jets A
I could only imagine the look in that draft room when Leonard Williams fell into their lap at 6. I had him as my top overall player in the draft. They addressed needs across the board with players I generally like in Devin Smith at WR in the 2nd Lorenzo Mauldin at OLB in the 3rd and Jarvis Harrison at RG in the 5th. I am not crazy on Bryce Petty but in the 4th I can understand the gamble. An excellent draft to pair with a active free agency.

NFC North

Chicago Bears A-
They had an overall great draft addressing needs now and in the future. Kevin White has a very high ceiling but I think DeVante Parker has a much higher floor and is a safer prospect but both at some point will make a trip to Hawaii for the pro bowl. I loved the pick of Eddie Goldman as the new Nose Tackle and Hroniss Grasu to be the long term center. I didn’t like the pick of Langford in the 4th as they have credible RB depth already.

Detroit Lions C-
They got a player who I am very high on but would thought could be had in the second in Laken Tomlinson to play LG. They also got Manny Ramirez in that trade who will provide depth along the interior Oline. I didn’t like the pick of Ameer Abdullah as I think he’s too slow for the NFL. I thought the Alex Carter pick was good value in the 3rd but he has a relatively low ceiling. They failed to address RT, DE pass rusher and wide receiver.

Green Bay Packers C
They addressed needs in the secondary grabbing safety Damarious Randall in the 1st and Quinten Rollins in the 2nd. After that though I am lukewarm on Jake Ryan but not big on any of their other picks. I would have liked to see some beef be selected on the defensive line.

Minnesota Vikings A
A really solid draft all around. Trae Waynes in the first to give them a partner to pair with the young Xavier Rhodes for a long long time. They got Eric Kendricks in the 2nd who will start right away and is a dynamic tackler at the MLB position. They addressed positions of need in Danielle Hunter as DE depth. TJ Clemmings as a developmental LT and Stefon Diggs as Wide Receiver depth. An excellent draft by Rick Spielman and Co.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens B+
Ozzie Newsome is one of the best in the business. The selection of Maxx Williams is perfect for Baltimore and he will be one of the top Tight Ends in the league one day. Perriman has blazing speed but is a little bit one dimensional. They got Carl Davis at decent value but where is he going to play and can he rush the passer from the inside? I do like their 4th round pick out of Kentucky in Smith as pass rushing depth.

Cleveland Browns C-
This was an up and down draft for them. I love the pick of Danny Shelton to help the leagues worst run defense. I thought the pick of Erving was ok but hey have other needs they need to address. Erving will play
RG this year and slide over to center when Alex Mack leaves. I don’t like the pick of Nate Orchard in the 2nd round or Xavier Cooper in the 3rd. Taking Duke Johnson could have a big effect but people question his longevity being sized short. They failed to address their biggest areas of need early in WR and TE.

Cincinnati Bengals C
They drafted for need rather than best player truly available I feel. I don’t like them picking Ogbuehi at 21 as that was way too high. I do like the Jake Fisher pick in the second round and they are lucky that he fell to them. I also like the Paul Dawson pick in the third and am alright with the Tyler Kroft selection as their 2nd TE. We will see how Josh Shaw does but he already lied to the world once.

Pittsburgh Steelers B
They were surprised when Bud Dupree was still on the board at 22 and that fills a big need as well for the future. This means all their linebackers are now 1st round picks and 3 in the last 3 years. I like the pick of Senquez Golson in the 2nd even though his height is a problem. Sammie Coates is a burner but in the 3rd round I understand how it fits the role. They addressed depth throughout the draft but didn’t touch much along the defensive line.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons A+
This is a team that had truly lots of holes coming in and did a fine job of addressing many of those holes. Beasley in the 1st at OLB Jalen Collins in the 2nd at corner to replace the awful Robert Alford. Tevin Coleman in the 3rd who could be a fantasy steal and Justin Hardy in the 4th who is a personal favorite of mine and will play in the slot and finally Grady Jarrett for defensive line depth in the 5th. An overall excellent draft although they need offensive lineman.

Carolina Panthers D-
This was a very lackluster draft in my perspective and they not only missed on some prospects they drafted but failed to fill holes on their roster such as LT. Shaq Thompson I see as an average 4-3 OLB but hose can usually get picked in the later rounds. Devin Funchess is an odd player because he doesn’t have the separation speed to be a WR or the physicality to be a TE. They traded up for him as well. They needed depth and other positions to fill and they didn’t do it. A really bad draft.

New Orleans Saints C+
They had a lot of high picks and the results do vary. Andrus Peat I think will one day become a good left tackle but thats not a position of need. Stephone Anthony fills a long term role but was a bit over drafted. Kikaha was high on many peoples wish lists and can rush the passer which is much needed on this team. I love their third round grabbing my second rated QB in Garrett Grayson and one of my favorite corners in this draft in PJ Williams who I had a first round grade on. They failed to address Guard, Defensive line and Tight End.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers F
I am not a Winston fan at all and think they just threw the 1st overall pick into the garbage. Donavan Smith isn’t a top talent and will likely bust while Ali Marpet needs time to develop and refine his skills. I am lukewarm on Kwon Alexander but that is not a position of immediate need. A big F for the Bucs.

AFC South

Houston Texans A
They addressed needs and got top level players at great spots n the draft. Kevin Johnson reminds me of a young Cortland Finnegan and should help their secondary this year and beyond. Bednardrick McKinney was my top rated ILB and I love that pick to play next to Cushing. They got Strong in the 3rd round who will not only complement their WR corps but become an integral part of it. A solid draft but I would have addressed the defensive line earlier than the 6th round.

Indianapolis Colts D+
I thought this was an overall lackluster draft for the Colts that failed to address needs. I do very much like the pick of Henry Anderson in the 3rd round and he should fit right into the system. I wouldn’t have taken Dorsett in the 1st round especially with the wide receivers they already have. They addressed corner in the third with D’Joun Smith but I don’t think that was a good pick. They will look back on this draft as a “what if” draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars B-
I am not as high on their draft as other people. I love the pick of Sample in the 4th round and he will be their free safety of the future. I don’t see the real need to draft a RB in the 2nd round or while I like AJ Cann the need to draft him with 2 good guards unless he will play Center. Rashaad Greene has a relatively low ceiling. Dante Fowler I thought was over drafted but he should become a good player. They should have taken Leonard Williams.

Tennessee Titans A-
Mariota was my top rated QB and I had Dorial Green-Beckham as a top 10 talent in this draft. After those two I am not all that crazy on the rest of their draft. Poutasi is a little bit of a developmental project but could be a potential mauler inside. Blackson will play a role for them along the defensive line and could be useful against the run. A pretty good draft for the Titans but DO NOT START MARIOTA FROM DAY 1.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals C+
I do like the pick of DJ Humphries who will likely be their RT. Other than that in was a meddling draft with them selecting for need at OLB with Markus Golden but I don’t believe that was the top player at the position still on the board. David Johnson should challenge Andre Ellington for playing time and potentially his job this season. I wanted them to select a Nose Tackle.

San Fransisco 49ers C-
I really do like the pick of Arik Armstead who will take the spot of Justin Smith and could turn into a beast. After that I understand the pick of Eli Harold but I am not crazy on him as a prospect. They have taken a first round safety the past 2 years so I don’t know why they took Tartt instead of addressing other needs such as ILB. I really am only a big fan of their 1st pick.

Seattle Seahawks C-
I know they didn’t have a first round pick due to the Jimmy Graham trade but this was still a lackluster draft. I don’t understand the selection of Frank Clark when there were much more talented players available. They made a big and bold move to move up for Tyler Lockett which I think is a good move and he will be a good player. They selected 3 offensive lineman who will be needed and relied on this season.

St. Louis Rams B+
Todd Gurley was a surprising pick but he is a game changing talent that could force 8 men in the box. They got a road grater at RT in Havenstein out of Wisconsin. I would have liked to see a receiver selected but they didn’t. I do like the pick of Jamon Brown who I currently see as the favorite for their RG position. Mannion at QB could be a nice backup but I am not crazy on his prospects of starting in the NFL.

AFC West

Denver Broncos B+
They had an overall pretty good draft addressing major needs such as RT. They moved up for Shane Ray but he is the replacement for DeMarcus Ware and can help rush the passer on latter downs and in the 4th quarter which is needed for them. Sambrailo should be the opening day starter at RT which would move Chris Clark inside to LG. Hueremen provides nice depth for them at TE.

Kansas City Chiefs C+
I really did like the pick of Marcus Peters as he is both a very highly rated player of mine and he helps a big position of need. After that I really didn’t love the rest of the draft especially Mike Morse who I don’t think can hold up at RT in the NFL. Chris Conley has some upside and I think can help them this year at the #3 and #4 wide receiving positions. They got one right but the rest is a little murky.

Oakland Raiders B
Amari Cooper was a top 3 player for me in this draft and one of the safest picks in this draft. He also fits the Raiders biggest need and will help Derek Carr immensely. Mario Edwards wasn’t my favorite pick or my favorite fit for the system. I really like the pick of Clive Walford who fell due to disciplinary issues. An overall good quality draft class by Reggie McKenzie.

San Diego Chargers B-
The trade up for Melvin Gordon cost them some picks in the later rounds but Gordon is still a quality RB and gives the Chargers a nice spark. The Pick of Perryman will help solidify the ILB position of that defense next to Manti Teo. After those two I don’t see any real long term NFL talent unless Mager shows real refinement.