DRAFT GRADES: JAGS ROAR, EAGLES WHIFF CAnalysis: D Analysis:
Vikings come up aces; Cowboys, Saints pick poorly
None of the 253 players picked in the NFL draft has stepped onto the practice field with his team, so it’s certainly too early to tell exactly how any of them will fare in the league. But that’s not going to stop us from grading each team’s draft. A JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Analysis:
Jacksonville’s hot offseason continued. The Jags snagged DB Jalen Ramsey, whom many considered to be the draft’s best defensive player, at No. 5 and landed LB Myles Jack in the second round. Jack might be a longterm medical risk with concerns about his knee, but it’s fun to imagine this revamped defense that includes 2015 first-round DE Dante Fowler Jr., who missed his rookie year. A MINNESOTA VIKINGS Analysis:
It’s hard to find fault with any of the early picks. WR Laquon Treadwell fills a need on offense and should be a nice complement to Stefon Diggs, while CB Mackensie Alexander could contribute immediately in nickel packages. The most surprising pick came Saturday in German WR Moritz Boehringer, the first European player drafted into the NFL without playing in the NCAA. A- CINCINNATI BENGALS Analysis:
CB William Jackson III didn’t fill a direct need in the first round, but teams cannot have enough good corners in today’s NFL. Jackson looks like a player who should immediately improve the secondary. DT Andrew Billings is an interesting third-day addition in the fourth round. Even if he can’t play all three downs, he looks like a stud on run plays. BALTIMORE RAVENS B+ Analysis:
This felt like a classic Ozzie Newsome draft, which is a good thing. The Ravens got one of the draft’s best offensive tackles at No. 6 in Ronnie Stanley. But the best two picks might have come Friday, when they added DE-LB Kamalei Correa and DE Bronson Kaufusi to reinvigorate the pass rush. The most interesting pick came Saturday with the selection of Navy QB Keenan Reynolds, who has said he intends to serve a two-year military commitment before starting an NFL career playing a new position. B+ CHICAGO BEARS Analysis:
The Bears did a good job addressing their many needs, especially with their first-rounder, LB Leonard Floyd, who fits the profile of the type of pass rusher coach John Fox loves to coach. The Bears added at least one player to every position group on defense, which should help rebuild the unit’s depth. B+ DENVER BRONCOS Analysis:
Give John Elway credit for the way he played his quarterback situation. Though a battle between Mark Sanchez and Paxton Lynch, whom Denver traded up to No. 26 to select, is far from ideal for the defending Super Bowl champions, Lynch is a good long-term prospect and a far better bargain than any of the veterans the Broncos pursued. Denver also addressed needs on the second day with DL Adam Gotsis and S Justin Simmons. B+ HOUSTON TEXANS Analysis:
Houston is trying to do everything it can to help new starting QB Brock Osweiler. WR Will Fuller should stretch the field while working opposite DeAndre Hopkins. But two of the best picks might end up being interior OL Nick Martin, who has an NFL pedigree as the brother of Dallas Cowboys OL Zack Martin, and WR Braxton Miller, who doesn’t appear close to reaching his potential yet at that new position. B+ MIAMI DOLPHINS Analysis:
The Dolphins might have gotten the steal of the first round thanks to OT Laremy Tunsil’s bizarre fall. Now the Dolphins face questions about where to play him as he deals with off-the-field baggage. But he immediately improves the offensive line, and Miami gets credit for addressing other major needs: cornerback (Xavien Howard, Round 2) and running back (Kenyan Drake, Round 3). B+ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Analysis:
The Seahawks had no choice but to address their offensive line, and they did so with the final pick of the first round, Germain Ifedi. It’s also interesting to note they drafted two running backs, C.J. Prosise and Alex Collins, who will join 2015 undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls in trying to replace Marshawn Lynch. B ARIZONA CARDINALS Analysis:
If DT Robert Nkemdiche landed with nearly any other team, the pick probably would have earned a low grade. But not for the Cardinals. This is a perfect fit for the team, which desperately needed passrushing help, and the player, who lands in a strong locker room full of leaders and big personalities. The Cardinals also addressed a weakness on the offensive line by drafting two linemen, including a future starting center in Evan Boehm. B CLEVELAND BROWNS Analysis:
Two years ago, the Browns were hammered for not taking a single receiver despite a glaring need. So to be fair, we probably should praise Cleveland for taking five over the weekend (though the team lists Seth Devalve as a tight end). Now the questions are whether Cleveland opted for quantity over quality and how many of its 14 draftees will even make the 53-man roster. The Browns also gambled on QB Cody Kessler in the third round, but Hue Jackson’s track record with passers should give the organization the initial benefit of the doubt on the selection. B INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Analysis:
GM Ryan Grigson had to hit on this draft after a disastrous 2015 season, and he deserves credit for addressing the offensive line and QB Andrew Luck’s protection. First-round pick Ryan Kelly looks like a Day 1 starter at center, so that’s a good first step, as was picking up two more offensive tackles. B LOS ANGELES RAMS Analysis:
This is a boomor-bust draft class for GM Les Snead and coach Jeff Fisher. Right now, the Rams have to be judged on the needs they filled, and they got their favorite QB at No. 1 with Jared Goff after trading a big haul of draft picks to move up 14 spots. The long-term success of this class will hinge on whether he was the right pick. The team was wise to give Goff additional weapons by selecting two tight ends and two wide receivers. B PITTSBURGH STEELERS Analysis:
The Steelers had to improve their pass defense, and using their first two picks on defensive backs is a solid start. Artie Burns and Sean Davis are both at least 6-0, which gives the secondary size. B TENNESSEE TITANS Analysis:
The Titans made the most of the picks haul they got from the Rams in exchange for the No. 1 selection. Taking OT Jack Conkin at No. 8 was a safe move, and the Titans might have a steal in the second round in DE Kevin Dodd. The most confusing pick might have been second-round RB Derrick Henry. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner playing with QB Marcus Mariota might sound appealing, but what does it mean for DeMarco Murray? BNEW YORK GIANTS Analysis:
The Giants made two smart picks early with CB Eli Apple, who still has plenty of room to grow, and WR Sterling Shepard. The Giants need to protect themselves in case WR Victor Cruz never returns to full health and help take pressure off Odell Beckham Jr. Shepard should help do both. BOAKLAND RAIDERS Analysis:
The secondary needs help, and Oakland got the draft’s best safety at No. 14 overall in Karl Joseph. Moving up in the fourth round to draft QB Connor Cook is a sign GM Reggie McKenzie hasn’t forgotten his Green Bay Packers roots. While this isn’t an ideal situation for Cook, who will be competing for a backup job, it’s a long-game move for the Raiders. C ATLANTA FALCONS Analysis: You can see the influence of Dan Quinn in his second draft as head coach, especially with the first two picks: big-hitting S Keanu Neal and Deion Jones, a speedy, undersized linebacker who can be used in a variety of ways. Though the Falcons drafted TE Austin Hooper in the third round, they did little else to upgrade the offense. C BUFFALO BILLS Analysis:
Rex Ryan’s defense underperformed in his first year in Buffalo, and the Bills used their first three picks there with DE Shaq Lawson, LB Reggie Ragland and DT Adolphus Washington. The development of QB Cardale Jones, a fourth-round pick, could be an important subplot for this class. C DETROIT LIONS Analysis:
The first two picks weren’t too sexy — OT Taylor Decker in the first and DT A’Shawn Robinson in the second — but the Lions needed help in the trenches. They built depth on the final day with six picks in Rounds 5 to 7, but it’s hard to project how any of those late picks will perform. C GREEN BAY PACKERS Analysis:
Old school football fans will love this draft class. Of the seven picks, one is a skill-position player (fifth-round WR Trevor Davis). But Green Bay filled needs, especially in adding DT Kenny Clark in the first round to help replace recently retired B.J. Raji. C NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Analysis:
Former Patriots RB Kevin Faulk gave Tom Brady a shout-out when making the second-round pick of OL Joe Thuney, but Brady likely would have liked to see New England add even more depth up front after the beating he took late last season. QB Jacoby Brissett, taken in the third round, is an interesting pick. Will he challenge Jimmy Garoppolo to be Brady’s backup? C SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Analysis: Defensive coor- dinator John Pagano has to like this class, but how do you think QB Philip Rivers feels about it? The defense is better and deeper, thanks to DE Joey Bosa and LB Joshua Perry. But other than picking C Max Tuerk, the Chargers did little in the draft to improve their ability to protect Rivers. C WASHINGTON REDSKINS Analysis:
Washington’s first-round pick, Josh Doctson, might wind up as the best receiver in this class, and he’ll help QB Kirk Cousins right away. Other highlights included CB Kyle Fuller, who might have been a value in the fourth round despite his knee injury, and seventh-round RB Keith Marshall, who could flourish in Jay Gruden’s offense. CKANSAS CITY CHIEFS Analysis:
This might be one of those classes that will look better in a couple years, as there wasn’t a single sexy pick that was a complete need-value fit. But DT Chris Jones gives the Chiefs more depth up front (and protection in case Dontari Poe eventually leaves in free agency), and the Chiefs might have found a new backup for QB Alex Smith in Kevin Hogan. That pick is not good news for 2014 draft pick Aaron Murray. CNEW YORK JETS Analysis:
The Jets seem to love QB Christian Hackenberg more than the masses do, but picking him early in the second round seems like a gamble. New York did well in taking LB Darron Lee in the first round, however. He shouldn’t have to leave the field in Todd Bowles’ defense. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
The Niners needed depth at just about every position, and they used this draft to load up on cornerbacks (taking ones in the third and fourth rounds) and offensive linemen (three of them). But the biggest takeaway is they’ll be moving forward with Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert after waiting until the sixth round to draft QB Jeff Driskel. CTAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Analysis:
Even if Roberto Aguayo is the next Stephen Gostkowski, it’s hard to give a high grade to a team that traded up into the second round to draft a kicker. The Bucs seem to have made a solid value pick in the first round with CB Vernon Hargreaves III and filled a need at pass rusher with DE Noah Spence in the second. D CAROLINA PANTHERS Analysis:
It’s hard to fault them for selecting cornerbacks after letting Josh Norman go in April, but using three of the first four picks (out of five total) to address the position? That seems like a risky move given their needs on offense, especially along the line. D DALLAS COWBOYS Analysis:
Jerry Jones will love this draft class. RB Ezekiel Elliott will be exciting and sell lots of jerseys, and drafting LB Jaylon Smith early in the second round was one of the feel-good moments of the weekend given the uncertainty surrounding the star defender after his significant knee injury. But how much closer are the Cowboys to winning now? Dallas finally addressed its glaring need for a pass rusher early in the fourth round with Charles Tapper, but that might be too little, too late. D NEW ORLEANS SAINTS Analysis:
The Saints had five picks, and they didn’t seem to directly address their needs, especially at cornerback and pass rusher. WR Michael Thomas should immediately improve the receiving corps. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Eagles got the quarterback they wanted in Carson Wentz, but how much better are they? Starter Sam Bradford reportedly is unhappy after the team traded up so it could draft Wentz, who doesn’t arrive in the NFL without questions.