Grading the draft is somewhat pointless. No one really knows how these players will turn out. No one knows anything really. If you look back at any draft grade report from the day after a draft from five years ago, I'm sure it would look very strange. Five years ago is an interesting one. The 2011 draft was one of the greatest infusions of talent the sport has ever seen. The first seven picks are all studs:
1.) Cam Newton
2.) Von Miller
3.) Marcell Dareus
4.) AJ Green
5.) Patrick Peterson
6.) Julio Jones
7.) Aldon Smith (when he was good)
There's no miss in there, but of course people dinged Carolina for going after a high variance choice at QB and pilloried the Falcons for trading essentially giving the Browns their 2012 first rounder - which was used to pick Brandon Weeden. Guess what, the Falcons won that deal.
Grading the draft is pointless even moreso because most people don't have any clue who these guys are beyond like pick #30, apart from a few stragglers and random objects of fancy.
That all said.... here are my draft grades for all the first round picks! I tried to be more objective in terms of grading fit vs. need and where each team is in their development pattern.
1.) St. Louis Rams select Jared Goff (QB, Cal) - Grade: B
If Jared Goff is a Matt Ryan at QB, this is an A. Those type of guys are worth tarding the haul that the Rams did to go from 15(!) to 1. Put it this way, the Rams themselves got far more in the RGIII trade when Washington was going from 6 to 2. The Rams definitely have needs beyond QB, but no need is bigger or greater. I fully question whether the people there can get the most out of him, but the pick and given the Rams situation in a new market and close enough to smell a wild card spot, the pick and trade is more defensible than most.
2.) Philadelphia Eagles select Carson Wentz (QB, ND State) - Grade: C
Here's the reasons why I'm more down on Philadelphia than I was on St. Louis. First, the Eagles are further away from contention, entering a rebuilding phase under new direction after losing Chip Kelly. Second, You gave a ton of money to Sam Bradford and to Chase Daniels. If one of those two works, great. If not, you can pick a QB really high in a year or two when those guys are off the books and there are better prospects. And third, Wentz's strengths don't seem to mesh well with what is needed in Pederson's offense. I may be proven wrong, but I am not a real fan of the Wentz pick.
3.) San Diego Chargers select Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio State) - Grade: B
I get the criticisms of the pick, that Bosa does not fit their defense, that he has a limited ceiling (though an admitted high floor), but I don't pay them much heed. It is clear the Chargers saw Bosa as their #1 player on their board. Maybe he isn't a natural fit in their defense, but then you can always adjust the defense. The Chargers are thinking long term here. They don't have the Cowboys luck of explaining away a 4-12 record on an injured QB. There are many problems there, and they see Bosa as the best guy to them that can contribute in 2019-2022. I respect that decision making process.
4.) Dallas Cowboys select Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio State) - Grade: D
Honestly. I hate this pick. I don't much believe that a RB is useless or that you can pick one on the street. We just saw Carolina ride a run-first attack to a 500-point season. That said, the reason you draft three lineman in the 1st round and create this monster o-line is so you don't need to spend the #4 pick on a RB when you have serious holes on defense. I love that the reasoning is they went 12-4 in 2014 when Demarco Murray was healthy. First, Murray himself was a 2nd round pick. And second, they went 12-4 in 2014 because Romo was the most efficient QB in the league. The reason 12-4 became 4-12 is not the loss of Murray, it was the loss of Romo and Dez.
5.) Jacksonville Jaguars select Jalen Ramsay (CB, Florida State) - Grade: A
The league's trendy sleeper is Oakland, a team that two years in a row got a player that was one of the top prospects in the draft because he fell. In 2014, it was Khalil Mack, who fell to #5 after the Jags picked Bortles and the Bills traded up for Watkins. In 2015, it was Amari Cooper, who fell to #4 after the QBs went #1-2. The Jags essentially did the same thing. The two QBs going ahead of their slot at #1-2 essentially guaranteed them a really good pick, and the Cowboys taking Elliott gave them one of the consensus top talents. Great pick, now they have to turn him into what he can be like the Raiders have done with Mack and are doing with Cooper.
6.) Baltimore Ravens select Ronnie Stanley (T, Notre Dame) - Grade: B
OK, I guess I have to talk about the Tunsil issue. I honestly want to give the teams a break. I truly believe it that video was released one week before the draft, Tunsil goes as high as this pick, and definitely doesn't slide to #13. Having it be released literally as the draft was beginning gave the teams no real time to plan, or even investigate the situation. To me, the bigger story isn't that he lit up, it is that there are people in his life so against him to sabotage him. Anyway, for the Ravens, who got a rare opportunity to pick a premier player, they did get a guy they can reasonably say was tied with Tunsil on their board. In fairness, I heard that there were teams that had Stanley above Tunsil before the bong video came out. After a couple exoduses, O-Line was definitely a need also.
7.) San Francisco 49ers select DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon) - Grade: A-
I have no idea if he is a good player, but the pick made a ton of sense. The 49ers have seen so much attrition for their once great defense, and Buckner projects as a really high-impact player. I will have a lot to say of their second first round selection, but for now I understand completely the pick, the reasoning and the fit.
8.) Tennessee Titans select Jack Conklin (T, Michigan State) - Grade: C
OK, this is where the Tunsil issue gets more interesting. There were already rumors the Titans would consider using some of the capital acquired from the Eagles trade to move back up if Tunsil fell, and they did that... but didn't pick Tunsil? No one had Conklin ahead of Tunsil as far as I can tell. Plus, the Titans gave up a 3rd and a 2nd for this pick. I understand the position importance, but really? I hesitate to say this because they have more information than we do, but there is a reasonably chance Conklin is available lower than 8.
9.) Chicago Bears select Leonard Floyd (OLB, Georgia) - Grade: A-
Again, I have no idea if he will be good, but just like Buckner, the pick makes total sense. The Bears need a 3-4 OLB presence to play in Vic Fangio's defense. They have a guy who has all the physical talents. They did give up a 4th rounder to move from #11 to #9, but the indication is the Giants were going to pick Floyd, so I am fine with that move. The Bears get a nice player to fill an immediate need and be a fixture long term. No real issues.
10.) New York Giants select Eli Apple (CB, Ohio State) - Grade: C-
The Giants, it seems, were going to pick Conklin or Floyd and it seems everyone knew, as the two teams who got those guys jumped them to do so. The Giants then were left scrambling, and someone decided on a guy most had as either the 4th or 5th best D-Back in the draft? Eli Apple is a fascinating story, what with the whole 'he doesn't know how to cook!' meme that was so great early in draft, but he was not the consensus best QB available, and the this was not particularly a position of need for the Giants. The best that can be said is that they were caught off-guard with the Titans and Bears moves and panicked and took the best guy on their board, who happened to not be the best on anyone else's.
11.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Vernon Hargreaves (CB, Florida) - Grade: B+
The beneficiary of the Giants move was Tampa Bay, who took a guy they arguably would have taken in their original slot at #9, definitely the consensus #2 CB on the board and best after Ramsey. Hargreaves looks like a nice player. The only reason I ding the pick is this isn't the highest need, and since the team still looks to run Cover-2 principles, CB isn't the highest value position in that defense. They desperately need pass rushers, and they could have traded down again to where the puss rushers sat and stockpiled more picks. Anyway, decent value at #11.
12.) New Orleans Saints select Sheldon Rankins (DT, Louisville) - Grade: A-
For once, the Saints didn't mess around with a RB or WR, or even a Corner, which has long been a pet favorite of the Loomis / Payton duo. Instead, they took a guy who was in this range on most boards and fit a position of serious need. The defense could upgrade basically everywhere, but Rankins as a potential pocket-pusher was a key one they just had to address. They also have to start thinking of life after Brees, so I'm happy they went for a player at a position that could help bolster the defense if and when the offense starts to lag as Brees ages / retires / leaves.
13.) Miami Dolphins select Laremy Tunsil (T, Ole Miss) - Grade: A+
The Dolphins really were the big winners. Sure, Tunsil could be a Justin Blackmon where the fears become a larger, sadder reality and he's effectively out of the league because of substance abuse. Or, he could be a Randy Moss or Warren Sapp and end up having a hall of fame career. Or be somewhere in between. Anyway, this is excellent value for a guy who was a serious contender for #1 overall before the QB trades and the gas masks. Also, this completes the offseason trade with Philadelphia, which ends up being the #8 pick, for Kiko Alonso, Byron Maxwell (two overpaid, if still effective players) and #13, and at #13 they picked a guy they were probably thinking wouldn't be available at #8 when they traded it away!
14.) Oakland Raiders select Karl Joseph (S, West Virginia) - Grade: B-
Apparently, Joseph was seen as a sure-fire first rounder midway through last college season before he got injured. The Raiders clearly believe he is over the injury and drafted him where he would have gone if healthy. Either they knew other teams felt the same way, or Reggie McKenzie passed up the opportunity to trade back. It go with the latter, as generally McKenzie has been loathe to do so. Anyway, Joseph projects as a great complement to what the Raiders are building on that defense. I had a dream when Tunsil started falling that the Raiders could get a falling superstar three straight years, instead they went with something of a boom or bust choice.
15.) Cleveland Browns select Corey Coleman (WR, Baylor) - Grade: B
I give the Browns credit for consistently trading down and stockpiling picks. I do warn that before we heap praise on them for doing so, what is more important is who they got from those moves. The same thing happened with the Baalke / Harbaugh 49ers, who spend their trove of picks on high-upside, injury concerned guys who mostly all failed (Tank Carradine, etc.). Anyway, the Browns needed a receiver and got some additional value, but from reading what type of player Coleman is, I fear they got a better version of what they already have at WR, and not a larger, bigger-bodied type who could complement that.
16.) Detroit Lions select Taylor Decker (T, Ohio State) - Grade: B-
I have no real thoughts on this pick. I guess o-line is a place of need. I guess Decker was projected to go around here. I am a bit surprised they didn't go WR to try to begin to replace Calvin's value, especially since picking a WR wouldn't have been a huge reach. Guessing they just went by their board and picked a 'safe' lineman.
17.) Atlanta Falcons select Keanu Neal (S. Florida) - Grade: C
I also have no real thoughts on this pick, or to be more accurate, no positive thoughts. I guess safety is a need, but the Falcons have spent a lot of capital on the secondary recently. Other than last year's underwhelming return from Vic Beasley, they haven't up front. The key of Dan Quinn's Seattle defense was the corners to a point, but largely the success of their d-line. The Falcons could have used some of the bevy of pass rush options here to beef up their most glaring weakness instead of slightly overdraft a safety.
18.) Indianapolis Colts select Ryan Kelly (C, Alabama) - Grade: B+
There seems to be two schools of thought about the Kelly pick. The first is those that are just so damn happy the Colts picked a lineman to help protect Andrew Luck. Then there are those that realize a lot of Luck's protection issues are self inflicted and interior o-line is relatively poor value. I'm somewhere in the middle. I saw the value that Jeff Saturday brought to the Colts, or even Ryan Kalil as the fulcrum of the Panthers' o-line last year. A very good center is worth more than a very good guard in a lot of intangible ways. If he is that type of player, this is a good pick. I still would have preferred defense here, as that is still the weak link against any competent offense.
19.) Buffalo Bills select Shaq Lawson (DE, Clemson) - Grade: A-
Shaq Lawson is a tremendous talent who should seem like a natural fit to tear off the edge of the Bills 3-4 defense. Rex Ryan's stuff never really worked with Mario Williams, but Lawson projects really nicely. Some of the Ryan shine is starting to dwindle, especially when he inherited a great defense and turned them into an average one, but the Bills got a really nice player who when focused and motivated can be dominant. It remains to be seen if Rex can turn him into that, though.
20.) New York Jets select Darron Lee (OLB, Ohio State) - Grade: A-
I believe the Jets plan is to turn Lee into an inside linebacker, which makes more sense from a need perspective. Not sure I totally like converting a player's position like that, but the Jets, dating back to the height of the Rex era with David Harris and Demorrio Davis and their ilk, have never had true speed in inside linebacker. Lee presents that option. He was projected to go even above this, so this was good value for the Jets as well. They are building a really great, on paper, defense and this is another piece for the chessmaster that is Todd Bowles to play with.
21.) Houston Texans select Will Fuller (WR, Notre Dame) - Grade: B+
The way I remember WRs is that Coleman was the short one, Treadwell the slow, big one, and Fuller is the speedy one. I don't know if the Texans really needed the speedy one, though. They have DeAndre Hopkins on one side, and while there is definitely a need to pair someone there, I really don't know if Fuller is the right guy. Then again, he was seen as right there with those other two and Josh Doctson, so I can't fault the Texans for the value. I can at least look at them skeptically for trading up one slot for this. I guess their fear was the Redskins would draft Fuller.
22.) Washington Redskins select Josh Doctson (WR, TCU) - Grade: B
Those fears seem to be unfounded, because if they wanted Fuller they would have just stayed. Anyway, from the extremely limited film (aka highlights) I watched, I liked Doctson the best out of the big-4 receivers. The Redskins, though, don't really need a receiver, at least right now. Doctson projects as DeSean Jackson's replacement, but for now they have just added a piece to a crowded offense when their defense is sorely in need of some additional youth. I trust in Scott McLoughlan, and he generally has drafted for need, which is why I'm thinking my view of the Redskins is off.
23.) Minnesota Vikings select Laquon Treadwell (WR, Ole Miss) - Grade: A
I personally like Treadwell. I generally like the guys with high production and big frames that are slightly slow. The best case is Larry Fitzgerald of course. The worst case is pretty bad, but most of these guys (Anquan Boldin is another) end up doing pretty well. The real kicker here is that the Vikings really needed this type of player. Their passing offense was miserable last year, they need someone reliable for Bridgewater to throw to. The Vikings had few other glaring needs so this was a really nice pick.
24.) Cincinnati Bengals select William Jackson (CB, Houston) - Grade: B
Apparently the Bengals really wanted a WR and were the ones left without their player when the music stopped having three straight WRs go off the board before them. Instead, they did what they do so often, pick a corner. Their secondary depth has long been the secret to the Bengals defensive success in the Dalton era, so I don't mind the choice. A lot of their guys are aging (Pacman, etc) and while they have to former first round picks getting moved in, the oldest of those (Dre Kirkpatrick) may be out also. They keep their rotation going, eschewing larger current needs I guess.
25.) Pittsburgh Steelers select Artie Burns (CB, Miami) - Grade: C
From what I read this was a serious overdraft, and if anything a reaction to years of negative pressed lobbed towards Pittsburgh for not picking a CB for years and going with guys like William Gay and Bryant McFadden. Well, they picked a CB this time, just happened to also overdraft wildly to get one. The only reason the grade isn't any lower is because this is a desperate need of theirs, but there were clear better options on the board even at CB.
26.) Denver Broncos select Paxton Lynch (QB, Memphis) - Grade: A-
I have no idea if Paxton Lynch will be a good player. All I know is the Broncos were in a completely unique circumstance to make this type of pick and easily get away with it. Instead of pulling a Jaguars circa 2011 and trading up to #10 to get Gabbert, they traded up five spots, gave up one third round pick, to get a QB who can be groomed and enter a perfect situation. The Broncos have few actual needs beyond a QB. They needed something more than Mark Sanchez to sell their fans. They have a proven track record of being able to compensate for iffy QB play. This is a team that is good, will remain reasonably good, getting a guy they want who can help when the defense gets 20% worse to the point where they need good QB play again. If you look up 'Calculated Risk', this is what you see.
27.) Green Bay Packers select Kenny Clark (DT, UCLA) - Grade: B+
The biggest criticism is I heard this was a pretty clear overdraft, but given BJ Raji's retirement, this is a clear area of need for Green Bay. There were multiple options at DT, so I trust Ted Thompson went with the one that was highest on the Packers board. Hard to really argue with the track record he has of these types of picks. I'm just happy they didn't go with their umpteenth highly drafted o-lineman - they just waited to the 2nd round to do that.
28.) San Francisco 49ers select Joshua Garnett (G, Stanford) - Grade: D
I gave no 'F's' this year, but this probably came closest. The 49ers essentially gave up the same value that Denver did to trade up. Denver traded up to get a QB. The 49ers traded up to get a Guard, one who most had with a 2nd round grade at best. I have to assume there was another team that expressed interest in trading up for Garnett, because otherwise this is both against Baalke's past philosophy of not trading and a ludicrous pick. It does continue Kelly's love of Pac-12 players, even now when we've gotten past the point of him having recruited, coached against any of these guys in college. Look, the 49ers spent years trading down and taking falling, high-pedigree players and that never paid off. Maybe this will?
29.) Arizona Cardinals select Robert Nkemdiche (DT, Ole Miss) - Grade: A
It is ironic that the Cardinals picked Nkemdiche in the spot that was originally New England's, because Nkemdiche, a super talented player that fell because of some strange 'character concerns', is exactly the type of guy New England would have lapped up after the field said no thanks. Arizona, as seen by Tyrann Mathieu previously, is that team as well. I can see him doing great things in Arizona, where he also helps fill a glaring need in terms of improving that pass rush. Love the pick for a team that is getting scarily good at team building.
30.) Carolina Panthers select Vernon Butler (DT, LA Tech) - Grade: B
Part of this grade is pure 'In Gettleman and Rivera I trust' but I do understand the thinking, and more than that the thinking not to go and get a Norman replacement. In 2013, the Panthers defense was every bit as good, if not better, than it was in this past season, and Josh Norman was a non-factor. They've churned through scores of guys in the secondary and at minimum been passable. They feel they can replace Norman in house. What they realize is the d-line is the key (apart from having a stud in Kuechly), and while they have two capable D-Tackles, this gives them a rotation, insurance for any injures, and a 1st round talent player to slide in if one were to leave. It is a future need, but for a team seemingly extremely confident in their ability to manufacture a good secondary, a very understandable selection.
31.) Seattle Seahawks select Germain Ifedi (T, Texas A&M) - Grade: B
We close out the 1st round with the opposite of the Panthers choice. If any team deserved to bet on itself to develop a unit without premium talent, it is Carolina and their secondary. If any team doesn't, it is Seattle and their o-line. Finally moving past the idea of having five converted NBA players, the Seahawks decided to actually do what proved quite successful when they did it with Okung in 2010, and just draft an o-lineman. Ifedi can start right away, address a key need, and the Seahawks got a third rounder out of trading back as well.
Overall Best Pick: Miami Dolphins select Laremy Tunsil at #13
Runner-Up: Arizona Cardinals select Robert Nkemdiche at # 29
Overall Worst Pick: Dallas Cowboys select Ezekiel Elliott at #4
Runner-Up: San Francisco 49ers select Joshua Garnett at #28
1.) Cam Newton
2.) Von Miller
3.) Marcell Dareus
4.) AJ Green
5.) Patrick Peterson
6.) Julio Jones
7.) Aldon Smith (when he was good)
There's no miss in there, but of course people dinged Carolina for going after a high variance choice at QB and pilloried the Falcons for trading essentially giving the Browns their 2012 first rounder - which was used to pick Brandon Weeden. Guess what, the Falcons won that deal.
Grading the draft is pointless even moreso because most people don't have any clue who these guys are beyond like pick #30, apart from a few stragglers and random objects of fancy.
That all said.... here are my draft grades for all the first round picks! I tried to be more objective in terms of grading fit vs. need and where each team is in their development pattern.
1.) St. Louis Rams select Jared Goff (QB, Cal) - Grade: B
If Jared Goff is a Matt Ryan at QB, this is an A. Those type of guys are worth tarding the haul that the Rams did to go from 15(!) to 1. Put it this way, the Rams themselves got far more in the RGIII trade when Washington was going from 6 to 2. The Rams definitely have needs beyond QB, but no need is bigger or greater. I fully question whether the people there can get the most out of him, but the pick and given the Rams situation in a new market and close enough to smell a wild card spot, the pick and trade is more defensible than most.
2.) Philadelphia Eagles select Carson Wentz (QB, ND State) - Grade: C
Here's the reasons why I'm more down on Philadelphia than I was on St. Louis. First, the Eagles are further away from contention, entering a rebuilding phase under new direction after losing Chip Kelly. Second, You gave a ton of money to Sam Bradford and to Chase Daniels. If one of those two works, great. If not, you can pick a QB really high in a year or two when those guys are off the books and there are better prospects. And third, Wentz's strengths don't seem to mesh well with what is needed in Pederson's offense. I may be proven wrong, but I am not a real fan of the Wentz pick.
3.) San Diego Chargers select Joey Bosa (DE, Ohio State) - Grade: B
I get the criticisms of the pick, that Bosa does not fit their defense, that he has a limited ceiling (though an admitted high floor), but I don't pay them much heed. It is clear the Chargers saw Bosa as their #1 player on their board. Maybe he isn't a natural fit in their defense, but then you can always adjust the defense. The Chargers are thinking long term here. They don't have the Cowboys luck of explaining away a 4-12 record on an injured QB. There are many problems there, and they see Bosa as the best guy to them that can contribute in 2019-2022. I respect that decision making process.
4.) Dallas Cowboys select Ezekiel Elliott (RB, Ohio State) - Grade: D
Honestly. I hate this pick. I don't much believe that a RB is useless or that you can pick one on the street. We just saw Carolina ride a run-first attack to a 500-point season. That said, the reason you draft three lineman in the 1st round and create this monster o-line is so you don't need to spend the #4 pick on a RB when you have serious holes on defense. I love that the reasoning is they went 12-4 in 2014 when Demarco Murray was healthy. First, Murray himself was a 2nd round pick. And second, they went 12-4 in 2014 because Romo was the most efficient QB in the league. The reason 12-4 became 4-12 is not the loss of Murray, it was the loss of Romo and Dez.
5.) Jacksonville Jaguars select Jalen Ramsay (CB, Florida State) - Grade: A
The league's trendy sleeper is Oakland, a team that two years in a row got a player that was one of the top prospects in the draft because he fell. In 2014, it was Khalil Mack, who fell to #5 after the Jags picked Bortles and the Bills traded up for Watkins. In 2015, it was Amari Cooper, who fell to #4 after the QBs went #1-2. The Jags essentially did the same thing. The two QBs going ahead of their slot at #1-2 essentially guaranteed them a really good pick, and the Cowboys taking Elliott gave them one of the consensus top talents. Great pick, now they have to turn him into what he can be like the Raiders have done with Mack and are doing with Cooper.
6.) Baltimore Ravens select Ronnie Stanley (T, Notre Dame) - Grade: B
OK, I guess I have to talk about the Tunsil issue. I honestly want to give the teams a break. I truly believe it that video was released one week before the draft, Tunsil goes as high as this pick, and definitely doesn't slide to #13. Having it be released literally as the draft was beginning gave the teams no real time to plan, or even investigate the situation. To me, the bigger story isn't that he lit up, it is that there are people in his life so against him to sabotage him. Anyway, for the Ravens, who got a rare opportunity to pick a premier player, they did get a guy they can reasonably say was tied with Tunsil on their board. In fairness, I heard that there were teams that had Stanley above Tunsil before the bong video came out. After a couple exoduses, O-Line was definitely a need also.
7.) San Francisco 49ers select DeForest Buckner (DE, Oregon) - Grade: A-
I have no idea if he is a good player, but the pick made a ton of sense. The 49ers have seen so much attrition for their once great defense, and Buckner projects as a really high-impact player. I will have a lot to say of their second first round selection, but for now I understand completely the pick, the reasoning and the fit.
8.) Tennessee Titans select Jack Conklin (T, Michigan State) - Grade: C
OK, this is where the Tunsil issue gets more interesting. There were already rumors the Titans would consider using some of the capital acquired from the Eagles trade to move back up if Tunsil fell, and they did that... but didn't pick Tunsil? No one had Conklin ahead of Tunsil as far as I can tell. Plus, the Titans gave up a 3rd and a 2nd for this pick. I understand the position importance, but really? I hesitate to say this because they have more information than we do, but there is a reasonably chance Conklin is available lower than 8.
9.) Chicago Bears select Leonard Floyd (OLB, Georgia) - Grade: A-
Again, I have no idea if he will be good, but just like Buckner, the pick makes total sense. The Bears need a 3-4 OLB presence to play in Vic Fangio's defense. They have a guy who has all the physical talents. They did give up a 4th rounder to move from #11 to #9, but the indication is the Giants were going to pick Floyd, so I am fine with that move. The Bears get a nice player to fill an immediate need and be a fixture long term. No real issues.
10.) New York Giants select Eli Apple (CB, Ohio State) - Grade: C-
The Giants, it seems, were going to pick Conklin or Floyd and it seems everyone knew, as the two teams who got those guys jumped them to do so. The Giants then were left scrambling, and someone decided on a guy most had as either the 4th or 5th best D-Back in the draft? Eli Apple is a fascinating story, what with the whole 'he doesn't know how to cook!' meme that was so great early in draft, but he was not the consensus best QB available, and the this was not particularly a position of need for the Giants. The best that can be said is that they were caught off-guard with the Titans and Bears moves and panicked and took the best guy on their board, who happened to not be the best on anyone else's.
11.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Vernon Hargreaves (CB, Florida) - Grade: B+
The beneficiary of the Giants move was Tampa Bay, who took a guy they arguably would have taken in their original slot at #9, definitely the consensus #2 CB on the board and best after Ramsey. Hargreaves looks like a nice player. The only reason I ding the pick is this isn't the highest need, and since the team still looks to run Cover-2 principles, CB isn't the highest value position in that defense. They desperately need pass rushers, and they could have traded down again to where the puss rushers sat and stockpiled more picks. Anyway, decent value at #11.
12.) New Orleans Saints select Sheldon Rankins (DT, Louisville) - Grade: A-
For once, the Saints didn't mess around with a RB or WR, or even a Corner, which has long been a pet favorite of the Loomis / Payton duo. Instead, they took a guy who was in this range on most boards and fit a position of serious need. The defense could upgrade basically everywhere, but Rankins as a potential pocket-pusher was a key one they just had to address. They also have to start thinking of life after Brees, so I'm happy they went for a player at a position that could help bolster the defense if and when the offense starts to lag as Brees ages / retires / leaves.
13.) Miami Dolphins select Laremy Tunsil (T, Ole Miss) - Grade: A+
The Dolphins really were the big winners. Sure, Tunsil could be a Justin Blackmon where the fears become a larger, sadder reality and he's effectively out of the league because of substance abuse. Or, he could be a Randy Moss or Warren Sapp and end up having a hall of fame career. Or be somewhere in between. Anyway, this is excellent value for a guy who was a serious contender for #1 overall before the QB trades and the gas masks. Also, this completes the offseason trade with Philadelphia, which ends up being the #8 pick, for Kiko Alonso, Byron Maxwell (two overpaid, if still effective players) and #13, and at #13 they picked a guy they were probably thinking wouldn't be available at #8 when they traded it away!
14.) Oakland Raiders select Karl Joseph (S, West Virginia) - Grade: B-
Apparently, Joseph was seen as a sure-fire first rounder midway through last college season before he got injured. The Raiders clearly believe he is over the injury and drafted him where he would have gone if healthy. Either they knew other teams felt the same way, or Reggie McKenzie passed up the opportunity to trade back. It go with the latter, as generally McKenzie has been loathe to do so. Anyway, Joseph projects as a great complement to what the Raiders are building on that defense. I had a dream when Tunsil started falling that the Raiders could get a falling superstar three straight years, instead they went with something of a boom or bust choice.
15.) Cleveland Browns select Corey Coleman (WR, Baylor) - Grade: B
I give the Browns credit for consistently trading down and stockpiling picks. I do warn that before we heap praise on them for doing so, what is more important is who they got from those moves. The same thing happened with the Baalke / Harbaugh 49ers, who spend their trove of picks on high-upside, injury concerned guys who mostly all failed (Tank Carradine, etc.). Anyway, the Browns needed a receiver and got some additional value, but from reading what type of player Coleman is, I fear they got a better version of what they already have at WR, and not a larger, bigger-bodied type who could complement that.
16.) Detroit Lions select Taylor Decker (T, Ohio State) - Grade: B-
I have no real thoughts on this pick. I guess o-line is a place of need. I guess Decker was projected to go around here. I am a bit surprised they didn't go WR to try to begin to replace Calvin's value, especially since picking a WR wouldn't have been a huge reach. Guessing they just went by their board and picked a 'safe' lineman.
17.) Atlanta Falcons select Keanu Neal (S. Florida) - Grade: C
I also have no real thoughts on this pick, or to be more accurate, no positive thoughts. I guess safety is a need, but the Falcons have spent a lot of capital on the secondary recently. Other than last year's underwhelming return from Vic Beasley, they haven't up front. The key of Dan Quinn's Seattle defense was the corners to a point, but largely the success of their d-line. The Falcons could have used some of the bevy of pass rush options here to beef up their most glaring weakness instead of slightly overdraft a safety.
18.) Indianapolis Colts select Ryan Kelly (C, Alabama) - Grade: B+
There seems to be two schools of thought about the Kelly pick. The first is those that are just so damn happy the Colts picked a lineman to help protect Andrew Luck. Then there are those that realize a lot of Luck's protection issues are self inflicted and interior o-line is relatively poor value. I'm somewhere in the middle. I saw the value that Jeff Saturday brought to the Colts, or even Ryan Kalil as the fulcrum of the Panthers' o-line last year. A very good center is worth more than a very good guard in a lot of intangible ways. If he is that type of player, this is a good pick. I still would have preferred defense here, as that is still the weak link against any competent offense.
19.) Buffalo Bills select Shaq Lawson (DE, Clemson) - Grade: A-
Shaq Lawson is a tremendous talent who should seem like a natural fit to tear off the edge of the Bills 3-4 defense. Rex Ryan's stuff never really worked with Mario Williams, but Lawson projects really nicely. Some of the Ryan shine is starting to dwindle, especially when he inherited a great defense and turned them into an average one, but the Bills got a really nice player who when focused and motivated can be dominant. It remains to be seen if Rex can turn him into that, though.
20.) New York Jets select Darron Lee (OLB, Ohio State) - Grade: A-
I believe the Jets plan is to turn Lee into an inside linebacker, which makes more sense from a need perspective. Not sure I totally like converting a player's position like that, but the Jets, dating back to the height of the Rex era with David Harris and Demorrio Davis and their ilk, have never had true speed in inside linebacker. Lee presents that option. He was projected to go even above this, so this was good value for the Jets as well. They are building a really great, on paper, defense and this is another piece for the chessmaster that is Todd Bowles to play with.
21.) Houston Texans select Will Fuller (WR, Notre Dame) - Grade: B+
The way I remember WRs is that Coleman was the short one, Treadwell the slow, big one, and Fuller is the speedy one. I don't know if the Texans really needed the speedy one, though. They have DeAndre Hopkins on one side, and while there is definitely a need to pair someone there, I really don't know if Fuller is the right guy. Then again, he was seen as right there with those other two and Josh Doctson, so I can't fault the Texans for the value. I can at least look at them skeptically for trading up one slot for this. I guess their fear was the Redskins would draft Fuller.
22.) Washington Redskins select Josh Doctson (WR, TCU) - Grade: B
Those fears seem to be unfounded, because if they wanted Fuller they would have just stayed. Anyway, from the extremely limited film (aka highlights) I watched, I liked Doctson the best out of the big-4 receivers. The Redskins, though, don't really need a receiver, at least right now. Doctson projects as DeSean Jackson's replacement, but for now they have just added a piece to a crowded offense when their defense is sorely in need of some additional youth. I trust in Scott McLoughlan, and he generally has drafted for need, which is why I'm thinking my view of the Redskins is off.
23.) Minnesota Vikings select Laquon Treadwell (WR, Ole Miss) - Grade: A
I personally like Treadwell. I generally like the guys with high production and big frames that are slightly slow. The best case is Larry Fitzgerald of course. The worst case is pretty bad, but most of these guys (Anquan Boldin is another) end up doing pretty well. The real kicker here is that the Vikings really needed this type of player. Their passing offense was miserable last year, they need someone reliable for Bridgewater to throw to. The Vikings had few other glaring needs so this was a really nice pick.
24.) Cincinnati Bengals select William Jackson (CB, Houston) - Grade: B
Apparently the Bengals really wanted a WR and were the ones left without their player when the music stopped having three straight WRs go off the board before them. Instead, they did what they do so often, pick a corner. Their secondary depth has long been the secret to the Bengals defensive success in the Dalton era, so I don't mind the choice. A lot of their guys are aging (Pacman, etc) and while they have to former first round picks getting moved in, the oldest of those (Dre Kirkpatrick) may be out also. They keep their rotation going, eschewing larger current needs I guess.
25.) Pittsburgh Steelers select Artie Burns (CB, Miami) - Grade: C
From what I read this was a serious overdraft, and if anything a reaction to years of negative pressed lobbed towards Pittsburgh for not picking a CB for years and going with guys like William Gay and Bryant McFadden. Well, they picked a CB this time, just happened to also overdraft wildly to get one. The only reason the grade isn't any lower is because this is a desperate need of theirs, but there were clear better options on the board even at CB.
26.) Denver Broncos select Paxton Lynch (QB, Memphis) - Grade: A-
I have no idea if Paxton Lynch will be a good player. All I know is the Broncos were in a completely unique circumstance to make this type of pick and easily get away with it. Instead of pulling a Jaguars circa 2011 and trading up to #10 to get Gabbert, they traded up five spots, gave up one third round pick, to get a QB who can be groomed and enter a perfect situation. The Broncos have few actual needs beyond a QB. They needed something more than Mark Sanchez to sell their fans. They have a proven track record of being able to compensate for iffy QB play. This is a team that is good, will remain reasonably good, getting a guy they want who can help when the defense gets 20% worse to the point where they need good QB play again. If you look up 'Calculated Risk', this is what you see.
27.) Green Bay Packers select Kenny Clark (DT, UCLA) - Grade: B+
The biggest criticism is I heard this was a pretty clear overdraft, but given BJ Raji's retirement, this is a clear area of need for Green Bay. There were multiple options at DT, so I trust Ted Thompson went with the one that was highest on the Packers board. Hard to really argue with the track record he has of these types of picks. I'm just happy they didn't go with their umpteenth highly drafted o-lineman - they just waited to the 2nd round to do that.
28.) San Francisco 49ers select Joshua Garnett (G, Stanford) - Grade: D
I gave no 'F's' this year, but this probably came closest. The 49ers essentially gave up the same value that Denver did to trade up. Denver traded up to get a QB. The 49ers traded up to get a Guard, one who most had with a 2nd round grade at best. I have to assume there was another team that expressed interest in trading up for Garnett, because otherwise this is both against Baalke's past philosophy of not trading and a ludicrous pick. It does continue Kelly's love of Pac-12 players, even now when we've gotten past the point of him having recruited, coached against any of these guys in college. Look, the 49ers spent years trading down and taking falling, high-pedigree players and that never paid off. Maybe this will?
29.) Arizona Cardinals select Robert Nkemdiche (DT, Ole Miss) - Grade: A
It is ironic that the Cardinals picked Nkemdiche in the spot that was originally New England's, because Nkemdiche, a super talented player that fell because of some strange 'character concerns', is exactly the type of guy New England would have lapped up after the field said no thanks. Arizona, as seen by Tyrann Mathieu previously, is that team as well. I can see him doing great things in Arizona, where he also helps fill a glaring need in terms of improving that pass rush. Love the pick for a team that is getting scarily good at team building.
30.) Carolina Panthers select Vernon Butler (DT, LA Tech) - Grade: B
Part of this grade is pure 'In Gettleman and Rivera I trust' but I do understand the thinking, and more than that the thinking not to go and get a Norman replacement. In 2013, the Panthers defense was every bit as good, if not better, than it was in this past season, and Josh Norman was a non-factor. They've churned through scores of guys in the secondary and at minimum been passable. They feel they can replace Norman in house. What they realize is the d-line is the key (apart from having a stud in Kuechly), and while they have two capable D-Tackles, this gives them a rotation, insurance for any injures, and a 1st round talent player to slide in if one were to leave. It is a future need, but for a team seemingly extremely confident in their ability to manufacture a good secondary, a very understandable selection.
31.) Seattle Seahawks select Germain Ifedi (T, Texas A&M) - Grade: B
We close out the 1st round with the opposite of the Panthers choice. If any team deserved to bet on itself to develop a unit without premium talent, it is Carolina and their secondary. If any team doesn't, it is Seattle and their o-line. Finally moving past the idea of having five converted NBA players, the Seahawks decided to actually do what proved quite successful when they did it with Okung in 2010, and just draft an o-lineman. Ifedi can start right away, address a key need, and the Seahawks got a third rounder out of trading back as well.
Overall Best Pick: Miami Dolphins select Laremy Tunsil at #13
Runner-Up: Arizona Cardinals select Robert Nkemdiche at # 29
Overall Worst Pick: Dallas Cowboys select Ezekiel Elliott at #4
Runner-Up: San Francisco 49ers select Joshua Garnett at #28
