I prefer to do grading for drafts after 3 years. However, everyone else seems to be spouting off about the draft so here goes my off the cuff analysis. With my grading system to get an A the team must have value at every pick.
Seahawks A-
The trade getting Harvin automatically makes this a good draft. RB Christine Michael (62) was a reach and has character issues. If they can get his head straight he can be a RB/FB that will be solid. WR Chris Harper (123) is under rated and was a value.
49ers B+
I am not an FS Eric Reid (18) fan but most think he is solid. I loved the pick of DE Cornellius Carradine (40). He is under rated. TE Vance McDonald (55) was under-utilized at Rice. WR Quinton Patton (128) was a steal. If RB Marcus Lattimore recovers, this could be a great draft.
Bengals B+
The Bagels filled needs effectively but did not get any super values. DE Margus Hunt (53) is a risk because of his lack of experience. I am not a fan of OL Tanner Hawkinson (156).
Vikings B+
DT Sharrif Floyd was a steal at 23. He was a top 5 value on my chart. CB Xavier Rhodes (25) was a good value as well. They paid a lot to move back into the 1st round to get WR Cordarrelle Patterson but the team needs weapons on O. The rest of the draft was nothing to brag about.
Raiders B+
I would have stayed away from CB D.J. Hayden (12) due to his injury. But they got good value in OT Menelik Watson (42) and OLB Sio Moore (66) who was much higher on my board than others. QB Tyler Wilson should end up starting.
Eagles B+
OT Lane Johnson (4) should develop into a great player. TE Zach Ertz (35) will be big in the new O. DT Bennie Logan was a serious reach and has been an under producer. QB Matt Barkley (98) doesn’t seem to fit the new O. It will be interesting to see how he works out. DB Jordan Poyer (218) could be the steal of the draft.
Rams B
The Rams took both WRs from West Virginia. They traded up to get WR Tavon Austin (8) and got WR Stedman Bailey (92) in the 3rd round. Both will help the team. Austin is the most explosive weapon in the draft. The rest of the draft was just average.
Steelers B
OLB Jarvis Jones (17) could be good if he stays healthy. RB Le’Veon Bell (48) and WR Markus Wheaton (79) should help the O. QB Landry Jones (115) was an interesting choice. They did need a backup.
Texans B
WR DeAndre Hopkins (27) should be a solid receiver opposite Johnson. FS D.J. Swearinger (57) is a under rated player as well. DE/OB Sam Montgomery (95) was a good value.
Redskins B
They get a little credit for the trade last year to get QB RG3. CB Amerson (51) is good. TE Reed (85) was a bit of a reach but filled a big hole. FS Thomas (119) and Rambo (191) were good values and should help to limit the number of big plays the D gives up.
Browns B-
OLB Barkevious Mingo is a solid choice and fills a black hole in the D. CB Leon McFadden (68) was a reach and Jamoris Slaughter, a strong safety that looks like Ward 2, was a major reach. DE Armonty Bryant is on probation for 5 years and will likely face suspension by the league. The one redeeming value is the 3rd and 4th round picks in 2014 they got for trading down. Adding WR Josh Gordon to the draft helps a bunch. He would have been the top outside WR in the draft. Of course this regiem can not claim credit for that pick. At least they didn’t trade up to get QB Smith.
Falcons B-
CB Desmond Trufant is better than most think and 2nd round pick CB Robert Alford should be solid as well. TE Levine Toilolo (133) and DE Stansly Maponga (153) were major reaches.
Saints C+
FS Kenny Vaccaro (15) should be fine. They will have to build a fire under the plentiful behind of DT John Jenkins (82) to get value from that pick. I loved the pick of WR Kenny Stills (144). His speed should help the O.
Cowboys C+
OL Travis Frederick was a candidate for the reach of the draft. The pick has Jerry Jones’ finger prints all over it. I like CB B.W. Webb (114), RB Joseph Randle (151) and OLB DeVonte Holloman (185) better than most.
Titans C+
G Chance Warmack (10) was a solid pick. He will help keep the QBs upright. WR Hunter (34) and CB Wreh-Wilson were both slight reaches. However, both players are capable. The best pick was C Schwenke (107) who was a solid 3 round value.
Cards C
G Jonathan Cooper is a solid value at 7 and filled a need. CB Tyrann Mathieu needs babysitting and was a reach. The only other values were DE Alex Okafor and WR Ryan Swope. Both were steals where they were taken.
Ravens C
I am not as impressed with the Ratbirds’ draft as most. They took players about where they were expected to go. DT Kapron Lewis-Moore (200) was a serious reach.
Panthers C
OG Edmond Kugbila (108) was a serious reach. Other than that they did OK. DL Star Lotulelei is solid and the D will be better.
Broncos C
I like DL Sylvester Williams better than most. Reaches for CB Kayvon Webster (90) and DE Quanterus Smith (146) drag the overall grade way down. WR Tavarres King (161) and QB Zac Dysert (234) were good values.
Dolphins C
They traded up to get OLB Dion Jordan who just does not make enough plays for me at 3 overall. CB Jamar Taylor was a value at 54. The rest of the draft was just OK.
Pats C
The Pats had fewer picks than usual. They got more picks with trades but did not find any super values.
Giants C-
They reached for OT Justin Pugh (19) and I don’t like him as well as most. DE Damontre Moore was a value at 81. He should be part of the DL rotation. QB Ryan Nassib (110) was OK because the team needed a backup to Manning. Nassib is over rated.
Jets C-
The Jets are a mess and this draft did not help much. CB Dee Milliner (9) will help and DT Sheldon Richardson is OK. QB Geno Smith will just add to the circus that is the Jets.
Bills C-
They got the best QB according to the scouts in a bad QB draft. But I doubt Manuel is any worse than the rest of the Bills’ QBs. The rest of the picks were just OK. WR Robert Woods and K Dustin Hopkins were probably the best choices.
Bears C-
T/G Kyle Long would have been a 4th round pick if his last name was Gastasivitch. OLB Khaseem Greene was a major steal at 117. If DE Cornelius Washington is healthy he could be a value as well.
Chargers C-
OT Fluker (11) was a bit of a reach. LB Te’o (38) is over rated. WR Allen (76) was a value if he recovers. There was nothing much beyond that.
Jags C-
OT Luke Joeckel (2) would have been a middle first round pick in most drafts. Even so he should be solid. I like SS Jonathan Cyprien more than most. CB Dwayne Gratz (64) and WR Ace Sanders (101) were both reaches. WR/RB Denard Robinson (135) could surprise because he has great speed. The question will be can he stay healthy. FS Josh Evans (169) should be OK.
Packers D
RB Eddie Lacy (61) was a good value that was partially offset by the drafting of RB Johnathan Franklin. Franklin is a solid back but the team failed to fill other needs by doubling down on RBs. OLB Nate Palmer (193) and WR Charles Johnson (216) were major reaches.
Colts D
DE Bjoern Werner is a risk due to lack of experience. The rest of the draft was a series of reaches.
Chiefs D
OT Eric Fisher (1) was a logical choice. He should be fine at RT or LT. TE Travis Kelce (63) is a character risk. RB Knile Davis (96) has size and speed. The question is can he hold on to the ball. The rest of the draft was a reach.
Lions D-
DE Ezekiel Ansah is a major risk. He has a high ceiling but a very high bust risk as well. P Sam Martin (165) was a bad choice. The rest of the draft was a reach.
Bucs Incomplete
The trade for CB Revis will determine how good this draft really was. If he returns to top form, it will have been successful. They got CB Banks (43) who should be solid. The pick of QB Mike Glennon (73) was interesting. That indicates they have serious doubts about current starter Freeman. DE Gholston is a bust risk and both OLB Means (147) and RB James (189) were reaches.
That’s what I think. Tell me what you think.
Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits http://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on http://www.eBooks-Library.com/Contemporary/ and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on http://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.
He also edits http://fryingpanpolitics.org/.
To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.
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