2017 NFL Draft: Round 1 Draft Grades (Picks 11–20)
11. New Orleans Saints: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
Here is another guy I thought the Bears would consider at No. 3, but alas I was wrong. Lattimore had some hamstring issues and actually had surgery on them. Finally healthy in 2016, he had a breakout season. He looks great on film and has all the right tools. He has great size and athleticism. He has great technique, too. If he can remain healthy, Lattimore will quickly become a top corner in the league.
He has some poor tendencies, but they are coachable. Needs to learn to get his head turned around. This was a fantastic pick for the Saints and they are probably overjoyed he fell to them. Lattimore should step in and immediately compete (and likely win) for the starting job. In terms of value, this one could end up being one we talk about in a couple years.
Strengths: Great technique, athletic, speed, size and instincts around the ball.
Weaknesses: Injury concerns, lack of experience and some minor tweaks he needs to adjust.
Draft Grade: A+
12. Houston Texans (From CLE): Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Back-to-back guys off the board I had associated with my Chicago Bears! I know, I said I calmed down, but I am still somewhat upset about how things transpired. I’m giving Pace the benefit of the doubt here (do not ask me why, because I have no clue), but this is not about the Bears. No, this is not about the Bears giving up too much for a QB I had no interest in (hoping I’m an idiot). This is about allowing the Texans to re-write their screw up of overpaying Brock Osweiler. I think they made the first step in righting their wrong.
Watson has many flaws. Not major ones, but a lot of little ones. However, I do not even care about that. He is not Johnny Manziel or Tim Tebow. He makes great NFL-type throws when given time. What I love about Watson is just watching him without breaking down tape. He is a competitor and a winner. He is a leader and a playmaker. The key word in those two sentences being playmaker. Whether it be with his feet or his arm, he finds ways to win games. I think he will wind up somewhere between a Marcus Mariota and Russell Wilson. I like this pick for the Texans and now DeAndre “Nuk” Hopkins has a guy to throw him the ball.
Strengths: Natural playmaker, leader and competitor, decent arm strength, good pocket mobility and elusiveness.
Weaknesses: Careless with the ball at times, accuracy is hot and cold at times, needs time to acclimate to a NFL system.
Draft Grade: B
13. Arizona Cardinals: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
The Cardinals missed out on all the top-tier quarterbacks in the First Round, and good for them for not panicking. Instead they draft another superb athlete who they can mold into a productive player. They were able to find spots for talented athletes like Deonne Bucannon and Tyrann Mathieu to produce at Pro Bowl levels. Look for them to do the same with Reddick.
Reddick was an under-the-radar guy until the Senior Bowl. He proved to scouts that he had good instincts and athleticism in that game. Then he followed it up with a successful combine. I don’t look at Reddick as becoming a big household name, but he will be a fan favorite for years to come in Arizona.
Strengths: Athleticism, versatility
Weaknesses: Transition to LB, may take time to develop into every down player.
Draft Grade: B-
14. Philadelphia Eagles: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
This was a great pick for the Philadelphia Eagles. They needed an upgrade to play along side Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham. Barnett has some similarities to Graham, but has the potential to be even better. He has great hand technique and a first step that allows him to rush from the outside. Hard hitter who plays both the run and pass well. Strong awareness and vision.
Barnett can struggle to get going at times. He gets inside his own head too much. Once he starts his attack, Barnett can struggle to redirect his motion. Also finds himself getting into penalty trouble as he tries to guess snap counts. The only question here is will Barnett be a better pick than Jonathan Allen who was still on the board? Only time will tell.
Strengths: Bull Rush, first-step burst, ability to use hands to get off blocks, strong motor.
Weaknesses: Over pursues and difficulty changing direction, offsides penalties from guessing snap counts.
Draft Grade: B
15. Indianapolis Colts: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
As teams were fighting to take top offensive talent in a strong defensive class, the Colts made the wise choice of grabbing a guy who has top-10 talent. Well, he either has top-10 talent or is a one-year wonder. Only time will tell, but it seems he’s closer to the top level talent than a guy who benefited from being on a defense with NFL caliber players at multiple positions.
Hooker is raw, but he seems to have excellent instincts for a guy who has only played three seasons of football (two in high school and one in college). In his only year as a starter at Ohio State, Hooker recorded 74 tackles, seven interceptions and four pass breakups. He has average speed but makes up for it by reading the play well and above-average ball skills. The value here at 15 looks to be fantastic and he should work his way into the starting lineup in year one.
Strengths: Instincts, coverage on deep balls, hands
Weaknesses: Average speed, raw with little experience, better against the pass than the run.
Draft Grade: A (Great fit for the Colts)
16. Baltimore Ravens, Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
Humphrey was a solid choice here for the Ravens, but with other names on the board, I am going to be a little critical. Ozzie Newsome is known for his solid draft choices, but I think he missed the mark here. Humphrey is a great corner off the ball. He can jam receivers and is physical off the line. He is a solid tackler and run defender too.
The problem for Humphrey is deeper routes. He is impatient and allows separation. He needs to work on his footwork as he gets sloppy and off-balance at times. He may struggle to see the field as a starter his first year. He could be used in zone coverage packages where his responsibilities stay closer to the line of scrimmage. He has potential to become a solid corner if coaches in Baltimore can help him develop. Hard to warrant this pick though with Jonathan Allen and O.J. Howard still on the board.
Strengths: Athletic, physical off the line, strong tackler and run defender
Weaknesses: Speed, deep-route coverage, footwork
Draft Grades: C
17. Washington Redskins: Jonathan Allen, DE/DT, Alabama
When I was looking at the draft two months ago I wanted Allen to be picked by the Bears at No. 3. Then I looked into his medical history. With two shoulder surgeries, I changed my thinking to Jamal Adams. That said, if Allen’s shoulders hold up, he has the ability to be a perennial pro bowler.
Allen has some serious strengths and not many weaknesses. He is versatile and can play both inside and outside. He’s quick and has great hand techniques. His techniques are one of the best in the draft. His height is a problem for some teams, but it should not be that big of a deal. The guy is a beast and only his injury concern should be why he fell this far. The Redskins could be getting the biggest steal in this draft and must have been falling out of their chairs when they saw him available at No. 17. Allen should start immediately and fit in well with Ziggy Hood and Ryan Kerrigan. Look for Washington to compete for the division in 2017.
Strengths: Hand technique, strength, versatility, rushing technique, high motor and ability to read plays.
Weaknesses: Shoulder injuries, may struggle to produce numbers if double teamed constantly
Draft Grade: A+
18. Tennessee Titans: Adoree’ Jackson, CB, USC
Jackson is one of those freak athletes who made plays on both offense, defense and special teams. In his rookie season, Jackson had 49 tackles, 10 pass deflections, 10 catches for 138 yards, three receiving touchdowns and two kick-return touchdowns. In his Junior season, Jackson had five interceptions and scored four return touchdowns. The guy is a special talent.
All of that praise said, I am not sure his ability to contribute as a corner will carry over into the NFL. He reminds me of what Devin Hester was in Chicago. A trick-play type of weapon who will excel at the return game. He did improve drastically as a corner from his freshman year to his final year as a junior, so there is hope that coaches can help him develop. He does have excellent ball skills and takes great angles. However, he finds himself being to aggressive at times and can let up big plays. Look for him to win the return job, but he will need to develop more as a corner before having the chance to start on defense. Personally, I would have gone O.J. Howard here, but I can see the upside of Jackson.
Strengths: Speed, return game, athleticism, ability to score every time he touches the ball
Weaknesses: Size, over-aggressive, below average tackling skills
Draft Grade: C+
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
This was the Bucs taking a draft the best player available approach and I love it! I think Jameis Winston is on the verge of becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the league as we see guys like Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger contemplate retirement soon. The Bucs saw Cameron Brate come on strong last season, but that doesn’t mean they should not grab the highest graded tight end in the draft.
Howard has great size and massive hands. He has good acceleration and will be a mismatch against most defenses. He has great game speed and should see a lot of YAC. He can block too, which means he will not have to take running plays off. He will need to add some muscle handle in-line blocking, but that should not be a problem as he stands 6'6" and 251lbs. Winston now has Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Cameron Brate and Howard as targets. Not to mention they added Chris Godwin (WR) later in this year’s draft. The running game may be an issue, but look for the Bucs to improve on their 9–7 record in 2016.
Strengths: Size, hands, acceleration, blocking ability
Weaknesses: Competitiveness
Draft Grade: A-
20. Denver Broncos: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
This was a weak class for lineman. Some had Cam Robinson as the top guy to go with, but his grade was all over the board, too. Bolles comes with many off the field issues. He turned his life around and interviewed well, though. The Broncos needed line help and I am not surprised they went this route. Just feel like Robinson had more upside than Bolles.
Bolles is athletic and has great feet. He has lateral quickness and can be very aggressive. He has good balance and keeps his blocks centered. Struggles against powerful bull rushes though and is inconsistent at sustaining his blocks. Another knock on Bolles is that he is already 24-years-old, and will be 25 by fall. The Broncos must see something here though and hopefully it works out for their sake.
Strengths: Feet, quickness
Weaknesses: Strength, age, off the field issues
Draft Grade: C-
That wraps up this section. To see the grades for picks 1–10, click here. The rest of the first round to follow shortly.
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