NFL Draft Round 1 Grades for every team
Arizona Cardinals:B+
Selections: Haason Reddick, OLB(13)
Reddick is a really solid player. He can rush the passer, stop the run, and even play a bit of coverage. I wonder about the value of the value of this pick due to their glaring needs at ILB and CB2. I think Foster would have been ideal here, but Reddick is certainly a great backup plan.
Atlanta Falcons:B+
Selections: Takkarist McKinley, OLB(26)
McKinley is a big time player with a big time personality. The Falcons desperately needed a rusher to take some pressure off of superstar Vic Beasley. McKinley can provide a real spark in the pass rush, especially in a division loaded with talented offenses.
Baltimore Ravens:B+
Selections: Marlon Humphrey, CB(16)
The secondary of the Ravens is aging, with players such as Eric Weddle and Ladarius Webb regressing. Humphrey is a really tough kid who is a great long term option for Baltimore.
Buffalo Bills:B+
Selections: Tre’Davious White, CB(27)
After the loss of Stephon Gilmore, a cornerback was a priority in the draft. White is a very NFL ready player, a 4 year starter and captain at LSU. He is coming in under a great defensive coach in Sean McDermott. I wonder why the Bills traded down so far when the best corner was on the board at 10.
Carolina Panthers:A-
Selections: Christian McCaffrey, RB/WR/ATH(8)
I don’t know where McCaffrey is going to play in the Panthers offense, and by all means, this is an amazing things. We all know about how talented McCaffrey is as a runner, breaking the record for all time FBS yards. He is an exceptional returner, and an above average slot receiver. He spent the entire pre draft process working as a receiver. Mcaffrey is surely to be a deadly weapon for Cam Newton for years to come.
Chicago Bears:C+
Selections: Mitchell Trubisky, QB(2)
The Bears gave up a lot, far too much in my eyes, to move up a grand total of one spot to select a quarterback. This is a very curious pick due to the immense contract they gave to Mike Glennon this offseason. Trubisky is immensely talented and could fix the Bears woes at the signal caller that they have had for a long time.
Cincinnati Bengals:B-
Selections: John Ross, WR(9)
The Bengals have bigger needs than receiver, and this is a curious pick especially with defensive studs such as Jonathan Allen, Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore, and Derek Barnett. Ross though is incredibly talented and has blazing speed. He helps make the Bengals offense very scary.
Cleveland Browns:A
Selections: Myles Garrett, DE(1), Jabrill Peppers, S(25), David Njoku, TE(29)
The Browns get an A for selecting the best player in the class. Garrett can be a top player in the NFL in a few years. I am not a big fan of Peppers. He is a boom or bust player whose versatility could be extremely useful is used correctly. Njoku is an athletic pass catcher who will benefit for whoever ends up under center in Cleveland.
Dallas Cowboys:A
Selections: Taco Charlton, DE(28)
Charlton is a steal at 28. He will be able to elevate the play of the Cowboys defense, especially the pass rush. I expected Charlton to go much higher than where he did.
Denver Broncos:A
Selections: Garrett Bolles, OT(20)
The Broncos have a very rough tackle situation. Bolles has great balance and footwork to go along with good technique. He will help the running backs get some space and protect the quarterback of the Broncos, whoever it ends up being.
Detroit Lions:B
Selections: Jarrad Davis, ILB(21)
Davis is a really good plan for the future on an aging Lions defense. David has great character and is a solid player. He could be an impact player in the future.
Houston Texans:C-
Selections: Deshaun Watson, QB(12)
The Texans traded up high to pick up a franchise quarterback. Watson is a proven winner and could be good player in the league. Watson had a bad combine and pro day, and has a questionable arm. I wish he had gone to a team where he would not be expected to start right away like Mahomes.
Indianapolis Colts:A+
Selections: Malik Hooker, S(15)
This was the first of a few steals in the middle of the round. Most saw Hooker as a top 10 prospect, and had him mocked even higher. But somehow, he managed to fall due to a run on offensive players, which is perfect for the Colts who are desperate for a playmaker on defense. Hard to pass up on a player who has drawn comparisons to Ed Reed.
Jacksonville Jaguars:A+
Selections: Leonard Fournette, RB(4),
Here we have the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson. The Jaguars have quietly been building a top defense, and got some much needed firepower in Fournette. He has the chance to be the best back in the league if the Jags can fix their offensive line.
Kansas City Chiefs:B
Selections: Patrick Mahomes, QB(10)
This pick would an A if the Chiefs had not given up so much to get Mahomes. This is a perfect situation for Mahomes. He has a great arm and a lot of potential, but is not NFL ready. He can learn and develop under Andy Reid until he is ready to start.
Los Angeles Chargers:B
Selections: Mike Williams, RB(7)
Williams is a big target who can get the jump ball extremely well. They have a very big need on defense, and there were some great players available for them to take, but Williams will provide a consistent target for Rivers and will be good for a long time. Chargers get the top receiver on the board, even though he was the second selected.
Miami Dolphins:B
Selections: Charles Harris, DE(22)
Harris is a lethal pass rusher with a deadly spin move. He will add to an already solid Dolphins defense. He could potentially help the Dolphins move away from the mediocrity they have been in for quite a while.
New Orleans Saints:A
Selections: Marshon Lattimore, CB(11), Ryan Ramczyk, OT(32)
The Saints fixed some big needs and got some nice value. The best corner in the draft fell to them at 11. Lattimore will be able to make an impact as a lockdown corner and a centerpiece of the defense from day 1. Ramczyk is great value for where the Saints picked him; a pick that will surely make Adrian Peterson very happy.
New York Giants:C
Selections: Evan Engram, TE(23)
Engram is a gifted pass catcher which will give Eli Manning another weapon and make the Giants offense even more dangerous. Despite this, this is very bad value. David Njoku is a better player, and was on the board at the point. And Reuben Foster slid to them, a player who would have beautifully filled a huge need and turn the Giants defense into potentially the best in the league.
New York Jets:A+
Selections: Jamal Adams, S(6)
The Jets continue to go best player available here with Adams. He will be an immediate starter and impactor day 1, and a significant upgrade over Marcus Gilchrist. The Jets pass defense gave up way too many big plays last year, and Adams will help to curb that down.
Oakland Raiders:A*
Selections: Gareon Conley, CB(24)
Conley is an incredible player. At Ohio state he showed great cover skills along with good enough run defense. The Raiders desperately needed to address defense, and Conley is a steal at this slot. Of course, the asterisk is due to the rape allegations which the Raiders clearly do not feel is a concern. If everything works out, this is one of the best players in the draft.
Philadelphia Eagles:B+
Selections: Derek Barnett, DE(14)
Barnett is an incredibly talented rusher, and is the second Tennessee defensive end the Eagles have selected, the first of course being the great Reggie White. Barnett is one of the best pure rushers in the class.
Pittsburgh Steelers:B
Selections: T.J. Watt, OLB(30)
Watt will provide some more youth to the Steelers pass rush and defense. He will be able to play across from James Harrison in the 3–4 Steelers defense. This is very solid value here.
San Francisco 49ers:A+
Selections: Solomon Thomas, DL(3), Reuben Foster, ILB(31)
The 49ers got 2 of the top 5 defensive players in the draft. One was at 2, and the other at 31. Thomas is one of the cleanest prospects in the draft, an all around lineman who can make an impact in many different places on the field. Foster is arguable the best defender in the class; an all around player. Foster only fell due to off the field concerns. The 49ers will be making people look dumb if the Foster pick works out.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:B+
Selections: O.J. Howard, TE(19)
Howard somehow slid to 19, and is incredible value here. He is an all around player; he excels at blocking and receiving. This is good value, but the Bucs have much bigger needs that they could have addressed here.
Tennessee Titans:B+
Selections: Corey Davis, WR(5), Adoree Jackson, CB/ATH(18)
Davis has been one of the most productive receivers in the FBS for the past 4 years. He has good speed, good run after the catch ability, and is big at 6 foot 3. Davis can be the true number one that Mariota has never had thus far in his career. Jackson is a solid corner, but i think he is best in the nickel.
Washington Redskins:A+
Selections: Jonathan Allen, DL(17)
Along with Hooker, Allen is the steal of the draft. He is a Bednarik award winner, an amazing person, and one of the most talented players in the class. The only reason he fell is due to his shoulders, which are not a concern when he falls so far. The Skins need pass rush, and I doubt they thought they would be able to get a player like Allen here.
