Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Final Draft Grades: AFC



The 2017 NFL Draft from Philadelphia is in the books. With over 250,000 in attendance and higher ratings across the board, there is a chance that the NFL will return to Philly again before coming to Dallas but that is yet to be decided. And if that means Round 2 of Drew Pearson vs 100K Eagles Fans I am in! But what is decided is the actual business of selecting players for the upcoming 2017 season for each team. And while it is completely arbitrary and mostly impossible to determine how these draft classes will turn out (due to injury, position fit, coaching, etc), it is still fun to evaluate HOW the teams drafted and addressed their needs as well as the talent they acquired where. So here is my NFL Draft grades for 2017:

1.       Miami DolphinsGrade A+
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (22)
Charles Harris
DE
Missouri
2 (54)
Raekwon McMillan
LB
Ohio State
3 (97)
Cordrea Tankersley
CB
Clemson
5 (164)
Isaac Asiata
G
Utah
5 (178)
Davon Godchaux
DT
LSU
6 (194)
Vincent Taylor
DT
Oklahoma St
7 (237)
Isiah Ford
WR
Virginia Tech

Summary: The Dolphins had a great weekend in Philly; getting the pass rusher they wanted in Harris to slide to them due to QB madness, nabbing a starter at MLB in McMillan, a potential starter at corner in Tankersley, a potential starter at guard in Asiata and quality rotational players Godchaux, Taylor and Ford on Day 3. Every one of these players should contribute to a playoff team this season.

2.       Buffalo BillsGrade A
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (27)
Tre’Davious White
CB
LSU
2 (37)
Zay Jones
WR
E Carolina
2 (63)
Dion Dawkins
G/T
Temple
5 (163)
Matt Milano
LB
Boston College
5 (171)
Nathan Peterman
QB
Pitt
6 (195)
Tanner Vallejo
LB
Boise State

Summary: Despite firing their GM Doug Whaley and the entire scouting team right after this draft, the Bills had a great haul and got Kansas City’s 1st round pick next year too. White can play both outside and in the slot, Zay Jones immediately becomes the Bills #2 WR and Dawkins will start either at RT or G. In addition, new Head Coach Sean McDermott knows how to coach some linebackers after coordinating the Panthers defense for years. And they might have landed their starting QB or at least a reliable backup in Peterman in the 5th round.

3.       New England PatriotsGrade A
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
3 (83)
Derek Rivers
DE
Youngstown St
3 (85)
Antonio Garcia
OT
Troy
4 (131)
Deatrich Wise Jr
DE
Arkansas
6 (211)
Conor McDermott
OT
UCLA

Summary: This just in: The Patriots know what they are doing. Despite not picking until round 3 (trading away their first 2 picks in the acquisition of Saints WR Brandin Cooks and Panthers DE Kony Ealy), the Patriots still found 4 guys that will likely see time in 2017. Rivers and Garcia were both scene as 2nd round talents acquired in the 3rd. Wise and McDermott were starters on Power 5 schools that have a chance to emerge in that Patriot way.

4.       Cleveland BrownsGrade B+
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (1)
Myles Garrett
DE
Texas A&M
1 (25)
Jabril Peppers
S
Michigan
1 (29)
David Njoku
TE
Miami
2 (52)
Deshone Kizer
QB
Notre Dame
3 (65)
Larry Ogunjobi
DT
Charlotte
4 (126)
Howard Wilson
CB
Houston
5 (160)
Roderick Johnson
OT
Florida State
6 (185)
Caleb Brantley
DT
Florida
7 (224)
Zane Gonzalez
K
Arizona St
7 (252)
Matthew Dayes
RB
NC State

Summary: It’s not often that the #1 overall pick gets overshadowed, but all the QB insanity did just that. However, the Browns add three 1st round picks in Garrett, Peppers and Njoku and get a QB to groom in Kizer. The rest of their draft has potential as Ogunjobi and Wilson will be rotational pieces and Johnson has talent but needs a lot of coaching up. The curious pick was grabbing the sliding 2nd round talent Caleb Brantley, who faces assault charges, without any due diligence at all. But then the Browns are the Browns.

5.       Cincinnati BengalsGrade B+
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (9)
John Ross
WR
Washington
2 (48)
Joe Mixon
RB
Oklahoma
3 (73)
Jordan Willis
DE
Kansas St
4 (116)
Carl Lawson
LB
Auburn
4 (128)
Josh Malone
WR
Tennessee
4 (138)
Ryan Glasgow
DT
Michigan
5 (153)
Jake Elliott
K
Memphis
6 (193)
Jordan Evans
LB
Oklahoma
6 (207)
Brandon Wilson
DB
Houston
7 (251)
Mason Schrek
TE
Buffalo

Summary: The Bengals march to the beat of their own drummer when it comes to draft time and it seemed to work out for them this year. While many teams took Ross off their 1st round board due to injury concerns, the Bengals said they cleared him and took the blazing fast wide receiver in the 1st. While many teams took Mixon completely off their board for his past incidents, the Bengals took potentially the best overall RB in this class in the 2nd. They then land 2nd round pass rushers in the 3rd and 4th rounds in Willis and Lawson.

6.       Indianapolis ColtsGrade B+
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (15)
Malik Hooker
S
Ohio State
2 (46)
Quincy Wilson
CB
Florida
3 (80)
Tarrell Basham
DE
Ohio
4 (137)
Zach Banner
T
USC
4 (143)
Marlon Mack
RB
USF
4 (144)
Grover Stewart
DT
Albany State
5 (158)
Nate Hairston
DB
Temple
5 (161)
Anthony Walker Jr
LB
Northwestern

Summary: With the chaos and tumult of the draft spinning all around them, the Colts stuck to their board and took the best player available at almost every pick. Hooker falling to 15 was a dream come true as was Wilson in the 2nd and Basham in the 3rd. The Banner pick might be a reach but does fill a need if he can play. Getting Mack in the 4th when many projected him into 2nd-3rd area was magic as he might be their starter at some point next year.

7.       Baltimore RavensGrade B+ or C
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (18)
Marlon Humphrey
CB
Alabama
2 (47)
Tyus Bowser
LB
Houston
3 (74)
Chris Wormley
DE
Michigan
3 (78)
Tim Williams
LB
Alabama
4 (122)
Nico Siragusa
G
San Diego St
5 (159)
Jermaine Eluemunor
G
Texas A&M
6 (186)
Chuck Clark
DB
Virginia Tech

Summary: The Ravens had the most boom/bust draft of anyone this year, thus the grade. It starts with the extremely talented but troubled Tim Williams. If he can stay out of the Commissioner’s Office, he can, paired with Bowser and Wormley, put some real teeth back in that Ravens pass rush. Siragusa is a great pick in the 4th, as is Eluemunor in the 5th IF he can unlock all the potential in that frame.

8.       Pittsburgh SteelersGrade B
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (30)
TJ Watt
OLB
Wisconsin
2 (62)
JuJu Smith-Schuster
WR
USC
3 (94)
Cameron Sutton
DB
Tennessee
3 (105)
James Conner
RB
Pitt
4 (135)
Joshua Dobbs
QB
Tennessee
5 (173)
Brian Allen
DB
Utah
6 (213)
Colin Holba
LS
Louisville
7 (248)
Keion Adams
LB
W Michigan


Summary: The Steelers did what they came to do on draft weekend. No more and no less. Watt is likely to start on the strongside from the jump. JuJu should give a nice compliment to Antonio Brown as a possession receiver. Cam Sutton, when healthy, is a very smart safety/corner hybrid. The most intriguing pick is Josh Dobbs, a QB that many said was this year’s “Dak Prescott” and was selected at the exact same pick as Prescott.

Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (7)
Mike Williams
WR
Clemson
2 (38)
Forest Lamp
G
Western Kentucky
3 (71)
Dan Feeney
G
Indiana
4 (113)
Rayshawn Jenkins
S
Miami
5 (151)
Desmond King
DB
Iowa
6 (190)
Sam Tevi
OT
Utah
7 (225)
Isaac Rochell
DE
Notre Dame
9.       Los Angeles ChargersGrade B
















           


Summary: Like the Steelers, the Chargers had a solid but not flashy draft weekend. Mike Williams was a small surprise at 7 though they did need a #1 target. Bolstering the OL with Lamp and Feeney were great value and should fix a long-time problem up front. However, the primary need most saw for the Chargers heading into the draft was FS and that wasn’t addressed until Day 3. Jenkins or King might turn out to fill that need but the jury is still out.



10.   Denver BroncosGrade B
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (20)
Garrett Boles
OT
Utah
2 (51)
DeMarcus Walker
DE
Florida St
3 (82)
Carlos Henderson
WR
Louisiana Tech
3 (101)
Brendan Langley
CB
Lamar
5 (145)
Jake Butt
TE
Michigan
5 (172)
Isiah McKenzie
WR
Georgia
6 (203)
De’Angelo Henderson
RB
Coastal Carolina
7 (253)
Chad Kelly
QB
Ole Miss


Summary: The Broncos got what might be their starting LT in Bolles and a starting DE in Walker. Henderson should add some big play ability to their WR core from the slot. Langley is a sleeper pick with a lot of potential. Thought he will likely have to miss all of 2017, Jake Butt could be a Jason Witten for the Broncos.



11.   New York JetsGrade B

Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (6)
Jamal Adams
S
LSU
2 (39)
Marcus Maye
S
Florida
3 (79)
ArDarius Stewart
WR
Alabama
4 (141)
Chad Hansen
WR
California
5 (150)
Jordan Leggett
TE
Clemson
5 (181)
Dylan Donahue
OLB
West Georgia
6 (188)
Elijah McGuire
RB
UL-Lafayette
6 (197)
Jeremy Clark
DB
Michigan
7 (204)
Derrick Jones
DB
Ole Miss


Summary: The Jets decided to cluster their picks, adding 2 safeties and 2 wide receivers with the first 4 picks. But with so many other needs that choice seems curious. Leggett is a good pass catching TE and Jeremy Clark could be a real steal once he gets healthy.



12.   Oakland RaidersGrade B
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (24)
Gareon Conley
CB
Ohio State
2 (56)
Obi Melifonwu
S
UConn
3 (88)
Eddie Vanderdoes
DE
UCLA
4 (129)
David Sharpe
OT
Florida
5 (168)
Marquel Lee
LB
Wake Forest
7 (221)
Shalom Luani
DB
Washington St
7 (231)
Jylan Ware
OT
Alabama St
7 (242)
Elijah Hood
RB
UNC
7 (244)
Treyvon Hester
DT
Toledo


Summary: The Raiders draft might work out great but could also be a disaster. Conley slid due to pending sexual assault charges. Melifonwu is very athletic but I’m not sure where he fits on this defense. Vanderdoes was a reach in the 3rd round.



13.   Jacksonville JaguarsGrade B-
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (4)
Leonard Fournette
RB
LSU
2 (34)
Cam Robinson
OT
Alabama
3 (68)
Dawuane Smoot
DE
Illinois
4 (110)
Dede Westbrook
WR
Oklahoma
5 (148)
Blair Brown
LB
Ohio
7 (222)
Jalen Myrick
CB
Minnesota
7 (240)
Marquez White
RB
Miami


Summary: Things started off ok for the Jags, getting a workhorse runner in Fournette and a road grader RT in Robinson. But the Smoot pick was a massive reach (about 2 rounds early) with much better talent at that spot on the board. And Westbrook comes with a bigger PR issues than he might be worth in talent. Brown pick was great value.


14.   Tennessee TitansGrade C+
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (5)
Corey Davis
WR
Western Michigan
1 (18)
Adoree Jackson
CB
USC
3 (72)
Taywan Taylor
WR
Western Kentucky
3 (100)
Jonnu Smith
TE
Florida Int
5 (155)
Jayon Brown
LB
UCLA
6 (217)
Corey Levin
G
UT-Chattanooga
7 (227)
Josh Carraway
LB
TCU
7 (236)
Brad Seaton
OT
Villanova
7 (241)
Khalfani Muhammad
RB
California


Summary: The poor grade for the Titans have more to do with HOW they drafted than WHO they drafted. Corey Davis might be the best WR in this class but no one, not even the Titans, can be sure as he is still recovering from a foot injury. Jackson is a real weapon in the return game and should be a solid slot corner. But considering they could have drafted the best CB in Lattimore at 6 then gotten the #1 TE in the class in Howard with the same 2 picks, their grade reflects that. Another small school WR and TE as well have a chance to be good, but could also be busts.


15.   Houston TexansGrade C+
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (12)
Deshaun Watson
QB
Clemson
2 (57)
Zach Cunningham
LB
Vanderbilt
3 (89)
D’Onta Foreman
RB
Texas
4 (130)
Julie’n Davenport
OT
Bucknell
4 (142)
Carlos Watkins
DT
Clemson
5 (169)
Treston Decoud
DB
Oregon State
7 (243)
Kyle Fuller
C
Baylor


Summary: The Texans’ desperation for a QB forced their hand to trade up and hurt their draft plan. But they did a pretty solid job of salvaging it overall, getting Cunningham for their defensive front 7, a tough runner (if he can fix fumbling issues) in Foreman and rotational DT in Watkins as well as a developmental OT in Davenport. If Watson proves to be more than smaller version of Vince Young, this grade will improve drastically.


16.   Kansas City ChiefsGrade C
Round (Pick)
Name
Position
School
1 (10)
Patrick Mahomes
QB
Texas Tech
2 (59)
Tanoh Kpassagnon
DE
Villanova
3 (86)
Kareem Hunt
RB
Toledo
4 (139)
Jehu Chesson
WR
Michigan
5 (183)
Ukeme Eligwe
LB
Georgia Southern
6 (218)
Leon McQuay
CB
USC



Summary: This draft will ultimately hinge on the career of Mahomes in KC. As a gunslinger with work to do in technique, Mahomes seemed an odd choice for the Andy Reid system. With the rest of the draft, the Chiefs did just ok. Kpassagnon is a finesse DE in the Chiefs 3-4, Hunt is a versatile back but lacks homerun threat ability and the rest of the draft were reaches.

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