The 2017 NFL Draft was full of surprises, shocks and excitement throughout it's three days. What a great three days it ended up being. Here, I'm breaking down team by team the NFL Draft, telling you what to expect from each rookie class brought into town.
Arizona Cardinals
1 13 13 LB Haason Reddick, Temple
2 4 36 S Budda Baker, Washington
3 34 98 WR Chad Williams, Grambling
4 8 115 OG Dorian Johnson, Pittsburgh
5 13 157 OT Will Holden, Vanderbilt
5 36 179 RB TJ Logan, North Carolina
6 24 208 S Rudy Ford, Auburn
Honestly, it looks like the Cardinals are planning for the future. Reddick and Baker both won't start right away, but will backup seasoned veterans like Karlos Dansby and Tyrann Mathieu. Both Reddick and Baker can and will be long term starters in the future... Chad Williams has good size (6'2", 195 lbs) to play as a receiver in the NFL, however his tape shows he can't catch contesting for the ball and has hand issues. He's a long way from playing on an NFL field... Johnson is a very physical punisher with the football and has a lot of upside as a long term starter inside the offensive line... Holden is a depth pick and has a lot of bust potential. Don't expect to see him around too long... Logan joins a crowded backfield but has potential to make the team and get limited playing time the next few years. Insctinctive runner. Can help the passing game as a valuable screen receiver.
Grade - 79 (C+)
The Cardinals grabbed a couple of guys early who won't impact right away, and the rest of the players we probably won't make any impact. The Cardinals failed to address their quarterback situation, and this class won't help them when Carson Palmer really starts struggling this season.
Atlanta Falcons
1 26 26 DE Takkarist McKinley, UCLA
3 11 75 LB Duke Riley, LSU
4 30 136 C Sean Harlow, Oregon State
5 5 149 CB Damontae Kazee, San Diego State
5 12 156 RB Brian Hill, Wyoming
5 31 174 TE Eric Saubert, Drake
McKinley and Riley are both run plugging beasts, but don't expect to see either of them starying right away on the field. McKinley has a lot of upside as a pass rusher, but he also has a lot of bust potential... Riley played solidly at LSU, and is a strong tackler. Can start full time as soon as year 2... Harlow is a depth pick. Falcons hope he can take over Alex Macks position in the near future... Kazee is undersized, but extremely athletic. Insctinctive and a touch run stopper. Needs time to develop better... Hill is an average running back at best. Played well in lower level FBS. Has decent receiving ability.
Grade - 77 (C)
Atlanta collected, at tops, two players that we will see playing at all next season. They return pretty much everyone who helped them make the Super Bowl run last season, but the NFC South should be a little more contested this season. Not much of an impact can be expected from this class.
Baltimore Ravens
1 16 16 CB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
2 15 47 LB Tyus Bowser, Houston
3 10 74 DL Chris Wormley, Michigan
3 14 78 DE Tim Williams, Alabama
4 16 122 G Nico Siragusa, San Diego State
5 15 159 OT Jermaine Eluemunor, Texas A&M
6 2 186 S Chuck Clark, Virginia Tech
Marlon Humphreys is a physical cornerback, and I would expect to see him playing well as the nickelback this season alongside Brandon Carr and Jimmy Smith... Tyus Bowser has a good chance to start as an outside linebacker. Gifted with elite burst and speed on the edge, Bowser is a vicious player with tremendous upside... Expect Wormley and Williams to serve as servicable backups but see a lot of playing time. Both have tremendous upside... Siragusa is a depth player and shouldn't see the field often.
Grade - 88 (B+)
The Ravens got four different players that we could see on the defensive side of the ball playing often next season, playmakers galore for a top defensive division. Very exciting season for Ravens fans and this draft really couldn't have been better.
Buffalo Bills
1 27 27 CB Tre'Davious White, LSU
2 5 37 WR Zay Jones, East Carolina
2 31 63 OT Dion Dawkins, Temple
5 19 163 LB Matt Milano, Boston College
5 28 171 QB Nathan Peterman, Pittsburgh
6 11 195 LB Tanner Vallejo, Boise State
White brings the physicality that is desired by Buffalo to the opposite side of Ronald Darby. Not possessing elite end speed, White has the smarts and technique to easily make up for it... The new receivers coach in Buffalo was Jones' receivers coach at East Carolina. Expect him to replace Robert Woods immediately, if not effectively... Dion Dawkins is also expected to start at right tackle. Lots of potential and upside... Milano is an underrated prospect. Very solid tackler, high motor player. Could end up starting by the season end... Peterman caught the attention of scouts after an impressive senior bowl performance, and with proper coaching can become a good starter in the NFL. Servicable backup at the very worst.
Grade - 81 (B-)
The Bills grabbed 2 potential opening day starters, and a quarterback who could possibly take over after the Bills let Tyrod Taylor go his own way. Besides that trio, it's a lot of depth picks and players we won't see on the field. Not much of an impact class.
Carolina Panthers
1 8 8 RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
2 8 40 WR Curtis Samuel, Ohio State
2 32 64 OT Taylor Moton, Western Michigan
3 13 77 DE Daeshon Hall, Texas A&M
5 8 152 CB Corn Elder, Miami Fl.
6 8 192 DE Alexander Armah, West Georgia
7 15 233 K Harrison Butker, Georgia Tech
McCaffrey brings a new edge to the Carolina offense as a do-it-all kind of player. He can not only play running back, but line up in the slot as a receiver and still bring elite competition... Samuel brings that Ted Ginn Jr threat back to Carolina with a fast, explosive return specialist who should be effective immediately as a #3 receiver... Moton and Hall provide young depth behind aging talent. Hall can be a full time starter if developed correctly next season... Elder can start at the nickel day 1, but needs time before taking any starting jobs. Slightly undersized...
Grade - 94 (A)
The big deal about what Carolina has accomplished with this draft is the stability Cam Newton needs on offense. Getting a new, versitle running back and bringing the Ted Ginn Jr type player back into the equation has seriously revamped the offense. They addressed their weakness on the defensive line with the age of Julius Peppers and nabbed a guy they want to fill their nickel slot. Solid draft day for the Panthers.
Chicago Bears
1 2 2 QB Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina
2 13 45 TE Adam Shaheen, Ashland
4 5 112 S Eddie Jackson, Alabama
4 13 119 RB Tarik Cohen, North Carolina A&T
5 3 147 OG Jordan Morgan, Kutztown
The trade to move up one spot and get Trubisky was a serious head scratcher. Trubisky has a lot of potential and upside, but only if he lands in a stable situation. Chicago is not stable, and I don't believe the Bears can provide him proper coaching and mentoring... Shaheen is a big dude (6'6", 278 lbs) who ran 4.79 40 yard dash at the NFL combine and shows great strength. He has a ton of upside and can be a huge help to the offense as soon as this season... Jackson can be a servicable starter week 1, limited upside... Cohen shows promise as a long term #2 running back. Need time and coaching to develop... Morgan is a depth pick, don't expect him to hang around too long.
Grade - 72 (C-)
The Bears blew this draft class completely when they traded the world to the 49ers to move up one spot to take Trubisky. I wouldn't expect to see much out of him during his stay in the NFL. Shaheen is a risky pick due to the level of competition he played against, and Jackson has a low ceiling. It really turned out to be a shoddy year for Bears fans in the draft.
Cincinnati Bengals
1 9 9 WR John Ross, Washington
2 16 48 RB Joe Mixon, Oklahoma
3 9 73 DE Jordan Willis, Kansas State
4 9 116 DE Carl Lawson, Auburn
4 22 128 WR Josh Malone, Tennessee
4 32 138 DT Ryan Glasgow, Michigan
5 9 153 K Jake Elliot, Memphis
5 33 176 C JJ Dielman, Utah
6 9 193 LB Jordan Evans, Oklahoma
6 23 207 CB Brandon Wilson, Houston
7 33 251 TE Mason Schreck, Buffalo
The Bengals hope to start Ross over Brandon LaFell immediately, and Ross might be able to win the starting job. He owns the NFL Combine record with a 4.22 40 yard dash. Struggles against bigger, more physical cornerbacks... Mixon should play as the #3 running back behind Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill. Has serious character concerns. Very explosive on the field. Not sure why Cincinnati grabbed him there... Jordan Willis shows some upside, and is hoped to replace Michael Johnson in a few short years... Lawson has the upside to challenge Willis for the spot, very balanced player in both run and pass defense... Malone has struggled with injuries and consistency, but played at a high level of competition and has a big body. Can become a servicable #3 receiver... Glasgow had an outstanding 2016 season, has a lot of upside as an interior defender... Elliot is a serious reach by the Bengals who will probably regret drafting him so high... Dielman has versatility and can play inside the offensive line. Can become a servicable backup... Evans is a solid tackler and can make a difference in a few short seasons. Will probably start career on the Practice Squad... Wilson is a very athletic player with a very high ceiling. Most famous for returning a 109 yard missed field goal for a touchdown against Oklahoma. Solid man coverage player, can develop into a long term starter. An absolute steal in the 6th round.
Grade - 75 (C)
The Bills might feel like they don't have a lot to address, but they wasted some of their higher picks on players they really don't need. A lot of the picks really didn't make sense this season, and they started to make up for the lousy job with some lower end talent later in the draft. Not impressed with the Bengals drat class and what impact they bring to the team.
Cleveland Browns
1 1 1 DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
1 25 25 S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
1 29 29 TE David Njoku, Miami, Fl.
2 20 52 QB DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame
3 1 65 DL Larry Ogunjobi, Charlotte
4 20 126 CB Howard Wilson, Houston
5 16 160 OT Roderick Johnson, Florida State
6 1 185 DT Caleb Brantley, Florida
7 6 224 K Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State
7 34 252 RB Matthew Dayes, North Carolina State
Garrett brings the double dose of speed to the edge combined with Emmanuel Ogbah on the opposite side. He's a freak and with Ogbah on the other end, Garrett can easily play for a decade in the league as an elite pass rusher... Peppers brings some stability to the secondary, and should play more as a nickel safety... Njoku replaces Gary Barnidge as the starting tight end, and could have a big season... Kizer can be the face of the franchise, but the Browns will need to hold down the fort until he can be properly developed... Ogunjobi gives Cleveland a full rotation in their defensive line, and should see servicable time... Wilson is a tremendous athlete with a lot of upside. Could see him serving time as a #2 cornerback sometime this season... Brantley has Day 2 talent. Very strong interior defender, can make an impact as soon as week 1 Personality concerns, charged with punching a woman in the face April 21st. He may be cut later this season if the Browns investigation finds him guilty... Gonzalez has an accurate leg with a current range of about 55 yards. Should solidify their kicking position for several years.
Grade - 80 (B-)
The Browns, thank God, did not screw up the first overall pick. I'm honestly not sure if the NFL could have handled that again. However, the other two first round picks were really questionable. Njoku will end up working out because of Gary Barnidge being cut earlier Friday. Peppers doesn't have a standout position, and may not be the answer in the secondary. I'm not convinced that Kiser is a good quarterback for the future, he is very raw as of now. Gonzalez was a nice addition late in the draft.
Dallas Cowboys
1 28 28 DE Taco Charlton, Michigan
2 28 60 CB Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado
3 28 92 CB Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
4 27 133 WR Ryan Switzer, North Carolina
6 7 191 S Xavier Woods, Louisiana Tech
6 33 216 CB Marquez White, Florida State
7 10 228 DT Joey Ivie, Florida
7 21 239 WR Noah Brown, Ohio State
7 28 246 DT Jordan Carrell, Colorado
Charlton should be a backup who plays limited snaps early on, but can develop into a fine starter with time... Awuzie and Lewis are both talented players in need of development, and can start seasons down the road from now... Switzer can easily take the place of Cole Beasley after this season, plays very well out of the slot and may have a special teams role... White will be fighting to get time in the nickel and dime formations. He is a very talented man and press corner... Brown was once considered a Day 2 pick, however concerns about his real speed knocked him down the charts. Has nice hands and game speed, can break some big plays open.
Grade - 79 (C+)
Dallas did their best to fill the cornerback positions, and landed two guys who can make a difference next season, but are question marks in general. After that, they grabbed a bunch of players they really didn't need, and this won't be a big class of impact on the franchise. Switzer and Brown give it a chance if they can work their way into the playing rotation.
Denver Broncos
1 20 20 OT Garrett Bolles, Utah
2 19 51 DE DeMarcus Walker, Florida State
3 18 82 WR Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech
3 37 101 CB Brendan Langley, Lamar
5 1 145 TE Jake Butt, Michigan
5 29 172 WR Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia
6 19 203 RB De'Angelo Henderson, Coastal Carolina
7 35 253 QB Chad Kelly, Ole Miss
The Broncos are picking up depth for their roster, with their only real weakness last season being inconsistant quarterback play. Bolles, Walker, Henderson and Langley all expect to be listed on the depth chart as #2's, and will be worked into starting roles over the next few years... Walker shows a lot of bust potential... Butt is Day 2 talent who's stock took a tumble after tearing his ACL in Michigan's Bowl game. Lots of talent and production will be there if he can stay healthy... McKenzie was a special team wizard at Georgia. Can handle the same role here while developing into a good slot receiver... Kelly has tremendous upside if he can keep his knees healthy. Was a Day 1 talent until his ACL injury. Personality issues. Very strong arm and good mobility.
Grade - 84 (B)
John Elway, in my opinion, made some very questionable moves in rounds 2 and 3m talking Walker and Carlos Henderson who are what I believe to be busts. They bounced back late and picked up a lot of quality talent in Butt, McKenzie and Kelly that salvaged his draft class.
Detriot Lions
1 21 21 LB Jarrad Davis, Florida
2 21 53 CB Jalen Tabor, Florida
3 32 96 WR Kenny Golladay, Northern Illinois
4 18 124 LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee
4 21 127 TE Michael Roberts, Toledo
5 21 165 CB Jamal Agnew, San Diego
6 21 205 DE Jeremiah Ledbetter, Arkansas
6 32 215 QB Brad Kaaya, Miami Fl.
7 32 250 DE Pat O'Connor, Eastern Michigan
Jarrad Davis is a good strongside linebacker who should start day 1 and play a big role in Detroit's run defense. Has a lot of bust potential... Tabor will line up as a nickelback week 1, lacks top end speed but plays extremely physical and could have easily been selected in the 1st round... Kenny Golladay has a lot of bust potential as well, but has 6'4" size and can be developed into a reliable #3 option... Reeves-Maybin has 1st round grades before an ACL injury knocked him out of the entire 2016 season. Tremendous player in space. Can become Pro Bowl Caliber if he stays healthy... Roberts can develop into a servicable backup behind Eric Ebron. Needs time to adjust to NFL level competition... Ledbetter has a ton of upside on any position on the defensive line. Can be a starter a couple of years down the road... Kaaya is probably one of the best quarterbacks in this draft. He is a steal for the Lions in the 6th round. Solid accuracy and good mechanics.
Grade - 88 (B+)
The Lions filled their linebackers in very well, added a corner to start on the other side of Darius Slay, and some great depth all across the board, including a good backup for Matthew Stafford. It was well done and although some of the picks I feel could have been better in the later rounds, the Lions did great.
Green Bay Packers
2 1 33 CB Kevin King, Washington
2 29 61 S Josh Jones, North Carolina State
3 29 92 DL Montravius Adams, Auburn
4 1 108 LB Vince Biegel, Wisconsin
4 28 134 RB Jamaal Williams, BYU
5 32 175 WR Deangelo Yancey, Purdue
5 39 182 RB Aaron Jones, UTEP
6 29 212 OT Kofi Amichia, USF
7 20 238 RB Devante Mays, Utah State
7 29 247 WR Malachi Dupre, LSU
Kevin King will be coached into replacing Davon House as a #2 cornerback, and shows a lot of potential as a zone cover guy, has very good size (6'3", 200 lbs) and length... Josh Jones is a hard hitting playmaker at safety, he will back up HaHa Clinton-Dix... Adams shows a ton of potential as a run plugger, doesn't have much upside as a pass rusher. Can develop into a good starter over the next two or three seasons... Biegel can learn from Clay Matthews and Nick Perry the perks to playing their position and replace Matthews inthe somewhat near future. Most likely will be more of a depth player... Williams is a very explosive running back with elite burst and acceleration. should share time immediately in the Packers backfield. Got kicked out of BYU for sex... Aaron Jones brings a lot of speed to the Packers backfield, needs to work on a lot of fundementals. May begin career on Practice Squad... Dupre was underused at LSU, and should be a complete steal for the Packers. Very soft hands and great leaping ability.
Grade - 81 (B-)
The Packers draft board got turned inside out after the crazy first round. However, they bounced back and were able to grab some quality talent. But seriously, did they really pick three different running backs? 'Fraid so, Packers fans. Not a great set of moves on the part of the Packers. Nice quality pickups however in King, Adams and Dupre.
Houston Texans
1 12 12 QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson
2 25 57 LB Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
3 25 89 RB D'Onta Foreman, Texas
4 24 130 OT Julien Davenport, Bucknell
4 36 142 DT Carlos Watkins, Clemson
5 25 169 DB Treston Decoud, Oregon State
7 25 243 C Kyle Fuller, Baylor
Houston is thinking about the long term future, trading up to grab Watson in the first round, and then nabbing their local college star Foreman in the 3rd. Watson has potential to be a solid starter in the NFL, perhaps a Pro Bowl player, but needs to better improve his decision-making. Expect him to be on the All-Rookie squad... Cunningham is a solid tackler who should start as an outside linebacker his rookie season... Foreman has the ability to make a splash year one, but expect him to be used more as a replacement down the road for Lamar Miller... Davenport is also part of this offense of the future and will have time to develop into a fiersome starter... Watkins is a fierce pass rusher and run plugger and possesses Day 2 talents. Serious character concerns. Can step in and start immediately.
Grade - 93 (A)
The Texans have filled the quarterback position, added another offensive weapon, gave the offensive line some depth, and added a couple more playmakers to their already very strong defense. The Texans will be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC South.
Indianapolis Colts
1 15 15 S Malik Hooker, Ohio State
2 14 46 CB Quincy Wilson, Florida
3 16 80 DE Tarell Basham, Ohio
4 31 137 OT Zach Banner, USC
4 37 143 RB Marlon Mack, USF
4 38 144 DT Grover Stewart, Albany State
5 14 158 CB Nate Hairston, Temple
5 17 161 LB Anthony Walker Jr, Northwestern
The Colts are very confident in their offense, but the defense has been terrible for several seasons now. Hooker brings a coverage playmaking safety to the back end, with elite speed. He is a very raw prospect at the moment but possesses All-Pro potential... Wilson brings smarts and technique to the cornerback position and should play in the nickel slot immediately... Basham can make a run for the starting defensive tackle position over Margus Hunt... Banner can start week 1 if the Colts need him to, he is a punishing player solid in both pass protection and run support. Seriously underrated... Mack is a very good running back with a lot of explosion and field vision. Could end up starting before the end of the season... Stewart is a depth pick, has potential to be a long term starter... Hairston is a solid depth pickup who can start years down the road from now.
Grade - 89 (B+)
The Colts attacked their biggest weaknesses (Ahem, the secondary) and did so efficiently. Hooker and Wilson are both quality defenders capable of being stars, and every pick made has a great chance of succeeding with the team. Solid class for the Colts.
Jacksonville Jaguars
1 4 4 RB Leonard Fournette, LSU
2 2 34 OT Cam Robinson, Alabama
3 4 68 DE Dawuane Smoot, Illinois
4 3 110 WR Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma
5 4 148 LB Blair Brown, Ohio
7 4 222 CB Jalen Myrick, Minnesota
7 22 240 FB Marquez Williams, Miami Fl.
I love what Jacksonville is doing here. In the first round, they grab Fournette, a very physical downhill runner, and then grab Cam Robinson who is a very physical downhill run blocker. Great combination by Jacksonville to boost the offense... Smoot shows a lot of potential as a pass rusher for future life after Calais Campbell... Westbrook gives Blake Bortles more depth at the wide receiver position... Brown shows a lot of upside. Solid tackler. Needs to adjust to better competition.
Grade - 90 (A)
The Jaguars drafted very well by showing confidence in Blake Bortles after a down year last season. Adding Fournette to play with Chris Ivory and TJ Yeldon, and a powerful run blocker in Cam Robinson, the offense on paper looks almost as good as the defense. The Jaguars are back, ladies and gentlemen.
Kansas City Chiefs
1 10 10 QB Patrick Mahomes II, Texas Tech
2 27 59 DL Tanoh Kpassagnon, Villanova
3 22 86 RB Kareem Hunt, Toledo
4 33 139 WR Jehu Chesson, Michigan
5 40 183 LB Ukeme Eligwe, Georgia Southern
6 35 218 S Leon Mcquay III, USC
Kansas City appears to have chosen their successor to Alex Smith by trading up in the 1st round to take Mahomes out of Texas Tech. A strong armed player compared to Drew Brees in New Orleans, Mahomes has the most upside out of any of the quarterbacks in this draft. At his Pro Day, Mahomes lauched a 78 yard pass. On NFL Network, Mahomed was clocked throwing balls at 60 MPH... Kpassagnon, Hunt and Chesson will both serve as depth players for the future. Chesson has the highest upside out of the trio and is most likely to succeed...
Grade - 76 (C)
The Chiefs didn't grab anyone who will make an instant impact, and Mahomes is still a project at quarterback. Chesson has the best chance of going somewhere with the class, and the rest won't make an impact for the next couple of seasons. Might be a forgettable class period.
Los Angeles Chargers
1 7 7 WR Mike Williams, Clemson
2 6 38 OG Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky
3 7 71 OG Dan Feeney, Indiana
4 6 113 S Rayshawn Jenkins, Miami Fl.
5 7 151 CB Desmond King, Iowa
6 6 190 OT Sam Tevi, Utah
7 7 225 DE Isaac Rochell, Notre Dame
The focus has been on offense for the LA Chargers. Grabbing a big playmaker in Williams gives Phillip Rivers another big target to throw to, with the ability to go up and catch the contested ball... Lamp and Feeney solidify the inside of the Chargers line, Feeney may see more playing time this season then Lamp, but expect these two to both be full time starters as soon as 2019... Jenkins will serve as depth on the roster... King is day 2 talent, slipped over injury concerns. Talented in coverage and can start as soon as day 1.
Grade - 84 (B)
Mike Williams was really an unneccessary pick for the Chargers to make. There were defensive guys on the boardslipping down who could make a bigger impact then Williams, but it's another offensive weapon for San Diego. Nabbed the top 2 guards in the draft so that Rivers and his successor are well protected. King was a nice late pickup, and can make an impact early. Good class for San Diego overall.
Los Angeles Rams
2 12 44 TE Gerald Everett, South Alabama
3 5 69 WR Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
3 27 91 S John Johnson, Boston College
4 10 117 WR Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
4 19 125 LB Samson Ebukam, Eastern Washington
6 5 189 DT Tanzel Smart, Tulane
6 22 206 FB Sam Rogers, Virginia Tech
7 16 234 LB Ejuan Price, Pittsburgh
Everett, Kupp and Reynolds give the Rams young quarterback, Jared Goff, some much needed support on offense to give the passing game a much needed boose. Everett doesn't offer much run support... Reynolds is effective as a deep threat, and should be a good player for years to come... Johnson has a lot of bust potential and seems like a good bit of a reach for the Rams... Ebukam has a lot of potential as a solid linebacker. Needs a lot of development... Rogers can start at Fullback day 1. Solid blocker and receiver, could have acually gone higher... Price has a low ceiling but can develop into a solid backup.
Grade - 83 (B)
Clearly, the focus this draft season was on getting Jared Goff more weapons, however the Rams were still paying off the price they paid for Goff, but did the best that they could. Kupp can produce and produce big early, and Rogers should help stabilize the backfield, but those are about the only impact players out of this class.
Miami Dolphins
1 22 22 DE Charles Harris, Missouri
2 22 54 LB Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
3 33 97 CB Cordrea Tankersley, Clemson
5 20 164 G Isaac Asiata, Utah
5 25 178 DT Davon Godchaux, LSU
6 10 194 DT Vincent Taylor, Oklahoma State
7 19 237 WR Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech
Charles Harris completes the defensive line for the Dolphins and is a fine pick for the future of the franchise. Harris is a great pass rusher and has good speed and strength to play for several seasons ahead... McMillan will probably start at weakside linebacker, and has the speed to play sideline to sideline... Tankersley has a lot of bust potential and might not stay in the league for very long... Asiata is a very good run blocker with a lot of upside. Exciting addition to Miami's offensive line, can start sooner rather then later... Godchaux brings depth to the Dolphins interior defensive line. May be seen in rotation during run downs... Ford is a very instinctive, mature football player. Has soft hands and good speed. Slightly undersized for the position, athleticism makes up for it.
Grade - 86 (B)
Miami did a really nice job collecting players that will compliment the foundation that they have already laid down, building some depth and future for the franchise. The Dolphins snatched a weapon in Ford, he can break out this season if injuries plague the Dolphins receiving corps.
Minnesota Vikings
2 9 41 RB Dalvin Cook, Florida State
3 6 70 C Pat Elflein, Ohio State
4 2 109 DT Jaleel Johnson, Iowa
4 14 120 LB Ben Gedeon, Michigan
5 27 170 WR Rodney Adams, USF
5 37 180 OG Danny Isidora, Miami Fl.
6 17 201 TE Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech
7 1 219 WR Stacy Coley, Miami Fl.
7 2 220 DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, Northwestern
7 14 232 LB Elijah Lee, Kansas State
7 27 245 CB Jack Tocho, North Carolina State
Minnesota snatches their successor to Adrian Peterson with Dalvin Cook who should start immediately for the Vikings. I would expect him fully to be named to the All-Rookie team, and put up close to a 1000 yard season. Elflein should back up Joe Berger this season, whos contract expires next season. Elflein should be a good starter. Johnson gives the Vikings depth on the inside of their aging defensive line. Gedeon is a depth pick, and won't see much playing time... Hodges easily could have been selected Day 2. Strong blocker and receiver, Hodges is a steal for the Vikings in the 6th round. Expect to see him play limited time behind Kyle Rudolph.
Grade - 78 (C+)
With the exceptions of Dalvin Cook and Bucky Hodges, there are no splash players in this class. Minnesota may find another couple impact players, but its overall a weak class from Minnesota.
New England Patriots
3 19 83 DE Derek Rivers, Youngstown State
3 21 85 OT Antonio Garcia, Troy
4 25 131 DE Deatrich Wise Jr, Arkansas
6 28 211 OT Conor McDermott, UCLA
Rivers and Garcia are depth picks for Belichick and the Patriots. Garcia has the upside to be a nice starter at right tackle in the league. Wise is another backup with starter upside... McDermott was considered a 1st round pick before the 2016 season, then got shredded by Myles Garrett in the opening week, destroying his draft stock. Still has promise as a stable backup in the league.
Grade - 65 (D)
Bill Belichick went after veteran talent this offseason, and showed no regard or concern for the draft class this season. There are no impact players in this class, but it doesn't matter for New England who is stronger then ever.
New Orleans Saints
1 11 11 CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State
1 32 32 OT Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin
2 10 42 S Marcus Williams, Utah
3 3 67 RB Alvin Kamara, Tennessee
3 12 76 LB Alex Anzalone, Florida
3 39 103 DE Trey Hendrickson, Florida Atlantic
6 12 196 DE Al-Quadin Muhammad, Miami Fl.
Lattimore is one of the fastest corners already in the league, and has tremendous upside. Very raw, and if not developed correctly, Lattimore will fail. Ramczyk has the talent to be a day 1 starter, however will probably sit behind Zach Strief for a while before taking the position. Williams shows a ton of bust potential. I don't expect to see him stay in the league very long. Kamara is added to a very promising duo of running backs in Adrian Peterson and Mark Ingram. Kamara can be another Darren Sproles with more power. Anzalone is a good tackler, and can be a good player if he can stay healthy. Hendrickson is a raw prospect with a ton of upside. Strong pass rusher.
Grade - 87 (B)
New Orleans filled some holes well, getting Lattimore and Ramczyk in the first round, then Williams in the 2nd. Kamara has tremendous upside, and can serve as a 3rd down back immediately. Anzalone can make a huge impact over time with proper development. Solid class for a rebuilding squad.
New York Giants
1 23 23 TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss
2 23 55 DL Dalvin Tomlinson, Alabama
3 23 87 QB Davis Webb, California
4 34 140 RB Wayne Gallman, Clemson
5 23 167 DE Avery Moss, Youngstown State
6 16 200 OG Adam Bisnowaty, Pittsburgh
Evan Engram is a very good pass catcher and can line up as a wide receiver. He gives Eli Manning and his successor another offensive weapon to use and stability to the pass game... Tomlinson is a strong run stopper who shows potential as a pass rusher. He can be a very good player assuming he stays healthy... Webb is a strong armed passer who played well at California. If developed correctly, Webb can become a long term starter and successor to Manning... Gallman stuggled with injuries last season, but is an explosive runner with a lot of bust potential... Moss is a run defender, needs to work on pass rushing skills. Serious personality issues, was dismissed from Nebraska following a public indecency charge... Bisnowaty played left tackle in school, and is a good pass blocker with strong run blocking skill. Can develop into starter on the interior.
Grade - 80 (B-)
The Giants landed a good tight end, solid defensive lineman and a future quarterback... and that's it. Engram and Tomlinson should make instant impacts while Webb will take time to develop behind Eli Manning. The rest of the class won't make an impact on this franchise.
New York Jets
1 6 6 S Jamal Adams, LSU
2 7 39 S Marcus Maye, Florida
3 15 79 WR ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
4 35 141 WR Chad Hansen, California
5 6 150 TE Jordan Leggitt, Clemson
5 38 181 DE Dylan Donahue, West Georgia
6 4 188 RB Elijah McGuire, Louisiana-Lafayette
6 13 197 CB Jeremy Clark, Michigan
6 20 204 CB Derrick Jones, Ole Miss
Adams should be a day 1 starter, can play either safety position. A very solid tackler and big playmaker, Adams will probably be on the All-Rookie team... Maye is another player very much like Adams, and could see time as a nickel safety... ArDarius Stewart is raw as a receiver and will need time to develop. If Saban allowed him to go to the Pros, though, he must be pro ready. Needs to refine his technique... Hansen shows a lot of bust potential. Don't expect to see him around for long... Leggitt is Day 2 talent. Not a blocker. Very natural as a receiver. Should be a Pro Bowl talent in the future.
Grade - 83 (B)
The Jets took their opportunities to rebuild their back end of the defense as well as upgrade a receiving corps with Stewart, Hansen and Leggitt. However, they didn't touch on their terrible offensive line, and failed to get linebacker depth. This team, honestly, had too many holes to get a truly good draft class with.
Oakland Raiders
1 24 24 CB Gareon Conley, Ohio State
2 24 56 S Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut
3 24 88 DL Eddie Vanderdoes, UCLA
4 23 129 OG David Sharpe, Florida
5 24 168 LB Marquel Lee, Wake Forest
7 3 221 S Shalom Luani, Washington State
7 13 231 OT Jylan Ware, Alabama State
7 24 242 RB Elijah Hood, North Carolina
7 26 244 DT Treyvon Hester, Toledo
Conley is another very raw cornerback prospect that is far from his ceiling, but can and will be a very good football player. Expect to see Conley start week 1. Could be Pro Bowl caliber as soon as 2018... Melifonwu is an extremely athletic player, and is part of what is becoming a long list of extreme olympic-caliber athletes out of UConn. Can become a very good player with proper coaching... Vanderdoes adds much needed depth on the defensive line... Sharpe is a depth pick and may not see the light of starting in the NFL... Hood is a strong runner in between the tackles and can make a difference if given time to develop better.
Grade - 85 (B)
The Raiders touched on the positions of need early, then added a lot of depth that probably won't be seen. Still, they're a good team, and will probably dominate the AFC West in 2017. Just don't expect to see a lot of these rookie contributing.
Philadelphia Eagles
1 14 14 DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee
2 11 43 CB Sidney Jones, Washington
3 35 101 CB Rasul Douglas, Wast Virginia
4 12 118 WR Mack Hollins, North Carolina
4 26 132 RB Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State
5 22 166 WR Shelton Gibson, West Virginia
5 41 184 S Nathan Gerry, Nebraska
6 31 214 DT Elijah Qualls, Washington
Derek Barnett adds a very big boost to the defensive line. As talented in pass rushing as in run plugging, Barnett is a balanced defensive end with a very high ceiling and desire to win... Jones and Douglas both have the upside to be long term cornerbacks, assuming Jones can stay healthy and Douglas gets the coaching he needs... Hollins gives Carson Wentz even more depth at the receiver position and will probably serve immediately as a #4 option developing into a #3 after Alshon Jeffrey plays out his single season contract... Pumphrey should be used to replace Darren Sproles after this season. Don't expect to see him much over his rookie season... Gibson is a quick playmaker. Big play threat. Depth pick for Philadelphia, needs some help with development... Qualls is a big run eater, and addsmore depth to the Eagles front line behind Timmy Jernigan and Fletcher Cox.
Grade - 89 (B+)
Grabbing Barnett in the first was a good move, but it certainly wasn't the best. The Eagles had other weaknesses that could have been addressed first. However, they bounced back and got a top 5 cornerback in Jones, and depth with Douglas, and addressed some offensive issues. This class has a very good chance of making a big impact on the franchise.
Pittsburgh Steelers
1 30 30 DE TJ Watt, Wisconsin
2 30 62 WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC
3 30 94 CB Cameron Sutton, Tennessee
3 41 105 RB James Conner, Pittsburgh
4 29 135 QB Josh Dobbs, Tennessee
5 30 173 CB Brian Allen, Utah
6 30 213 LS Colin Holba, Louisville
7 30 248 DE Keion Adams, Western Michigan
Watt completes the Pittsburgh front 7 by giving Bud Dupree the weapon he needs to shake double teams and have a breakout season. Will have a great opportunity to learn from James Harrison. Already a solid pass rusher himself. More athletic then his big brother JJ... Sutton will play a role on special teams before getting his chance to play as a nickelback in the next few years. Big upside... Smith-Schuster joins a crowded receiver corps, and may not see playing time for a couple of seasons... Conner gives Le'Veon Bell a much needed break from pounding 3 downs and can support the run game well. Expect to see often throughout his rookie season... Dobbs appears to be the chosen successor to Roethlisburger. Very solid in the short to intermediate game, needs to work on his deep ball. Extremely athletic and smart.
Grade - 94 (A)
The Steelers were a strong playoff team last season, and didn't really loose any key players over the course of the offseason. This draft did a great job complimenting their weaknesses and strengths, grabbing another fierce pass rusher who can play linebacker, another receiver, a backup running back, a quarterback for the future, even a long snapper. The Steelers nailed their draft selections this season.
San Francisco 49ers
1 3 3 DE Solomon Thomas, Stanford
1 31 31 LB Reuben Foster, Alabama
3 2 66 CB Ahkello Witherspoon, Colorado
3 40 104 QB CJ Beathard, Iowa
4 15 121 RB Joe Williams, Utah
5 2 146 TE George Kittle, Iowa
5 34 177 WR Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech
6 14 198 DT DJ Jones, Ole Miss
6 18 202 DE Pita Taumoepenu, Utah
7 11 229 S Adrian Colbert, Miami Fl.
Thomas is a very balanced defensive linemen, as well as versitle. Has tremendous upside in this league... Foster was top 10 worthy but slipped due to a shoulder concern and some personality conflicts. Can be a starter for the next 10 seasons with All-Pro potential... Witherspoon is projected to start day 1 as a #2 cornerback. Deflected 22 passes last season opposite of Chidobe Awuzie... Beathard shows potential as a pocket passer, led Iowa to it's best seasons in school history. Efficient Alex Smith type passer... Williams almost quit football last season, but was convinced to come back and had a huge year. Explosive, runs with an angry energy. Underrated by most scouts... Kittle has good potential but is being paired with Beathard, very smart move on part of John Lynch who is looking to bring stability and familiarity to a poor franchise.
Grade - 92 (A)
Fantastic two trades to open Day 1 of draft day. John Lynch earned his team an extra 1st round pick this season and two extra Day 2 picks next season. He established his cornerstones on defense with Thomas and Foster, got himself a starting cornerback, and addressed multiple needs to his team. A very impressive first draft for Lynch and the 49ers are signifigantly better going into 2017.
Seattle Seahawks
2 3 35 DL Malik McDowell, Michigan State
2 26 58 C Ethan Pocic, LSU
3 26 90 CB Shaquill Griffin, UCF
3 31 95 S Delano Hill, Michigan
3 38 102 DT Nazair Jones, North Carolina
3 42 106 WR Amara Darboh, Michigan
4 4 111 S Tedric Thompson, Colorado
6 3 187 S Mike Tyson, Cincinnati
6 26 210 OT Justin Senior, Mississippi State
7 8 226 WR David Moore, East Central
7 31 249 RB Christopher Carson, Oklahoma State
McDowell once had Top 10 grades on him as a prospect, has a lot of upside. Powerful run stopper... Pocic can become a tier 1 starter in the next 5 seasons at Center. Powerful blocker... Griffin, Hill and Thompson all show a lot of bust potential. Seattle has a tendancy to coach defensive backs to their full ceiling, so don't brush them off... Jones is a depth pick and may not be in the league 4 years from now... Darboh is a talented receiver who can work into a #2 role with time.
Grade - 87 (B)
The Seahawks made up for the picks that they forfited with the rules and regulations that they broke last season by trading down a couple of times and collecting some extra picks along the way. They addressed several positions, and while there may not be a superstar in this class, there are a few players who will make steady impacts on the franchise over the next several seasons.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 19 19 TE OJ Howard, Alabama
2 18 50 S Justin Evans, Texas A&M
3 20 84 WR Chris Godwin, Penn State
3 43 107 LB Kendell Beckwith, LSU
5 18 162 RB Jeremy McNichols, Boise State
7 5 223 DT Stevie Tu'Ikolovatu, USC
Howard takes the Buccanneer offense to the next level with his upside to produce in the passing game and provide elite run blocking. Solid pick for Tampa Bay... Evans is a solid free safety who played elite football at Texas A&M. Has some character conerns. Should produce big numbers in the pros... Godwin is still very raw in his tecnique and route-running, but can develop into a special deep threat #2 receiver... Beckwith is a solid tackler with a lot of upside. Can start at some point this season... McNichols is a strong tailback with a lot of potential and upside. Can become a servicable #2 back in the league.
Grade - 87 (B)
The Buccanneers have offensive tackle depth issues, are still weak on their right side, and don't have a servicable nickelback. These are issues they didn't even attempt to touch on. There are three potential opening day starters in this draft class, and another potential future starter in Godwin. Good job addressing the issues that they actually touched on.
Tennessee Titans
1 5 5 WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan
1 18 18 CB Adoree Jackson, USC
3 8 72 WR Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky
3 36 100 TE Jonnu Smith, Florida International
5 11 155 LB Jayon Brown, UCLA
6 34 217 OG Corey Levin, Chattanooga
7 9 227 LB Josh Carraway, TCU
7 18 236 OT Brad Seaton, Villanova
7 23 241 RB Khalfrani Muhammad, California
Corey Davis is still considered a reach, but there is no denying his talent. The all-time leading FBS record holder in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns did his job and was a man amoung boys. May need time to adjust to NFL level competition... Jackson is the fastest cornerback in the draft, yet still struggled in coverage last season against faster receivers. Slightly undersized but still a very talented player... Taylor and Smith both add depth to their respective positions, and probably won't be used much over the next couple of seasons... Brown is a good tackler but is a big project. Could become a starter if given time... Carraway is a good tackler and gives the Titans more depth from their outside linebacker position. He has a very high ceiling.
Grade - 85 (B)
I feel like the Titans did a lot of reaching throughout the early and mid rounds before settling in for deals in the later rounds. Linebackers Brown and Carraway can develop into very nice players for the future and have a lot of upside. Davis will be a good receiver, I still think he was a reach. Jackson is a nice pick, but he probably still would have been there in the 2nd round. Overall, there is a lot of potential in this draft class, but if not properly developed, there will be no impact players.
Washington Redskins
1 17 17 DL Jonathan Allen, Alabama
2 17 49 LB Ryan Anderson, Alabama
3 17 81 CB Fabian Moreau, UCLA
4 7 114 RB Semaje Perine, Oklahoma
4 17 123 S Montae Nicholson, Michigan State
5 10 154 TE Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas
6 15 199 C Chase Roullier, Wyoming
6 25 209 WR Robert Davis, Georgia State
7 12 230 S Josh Harvey-Clemons, Louisville
7 17 235 CB Josh Holsey, Auburn
The Redskins are extremely blessed to receive Jonathan Allen and they know it. A top 10 talent and versitle to play any position on the defensive line (as well as some outside linebacker), Allen is violent and impressive in all aspects to the defense... Anderson is a very solid run defender and can play multiple linebacker positions. Has the speed to cover tight ends.Used at Alabama often in pass rushing packages... Moreau is a very underrated cornerback, talented in zone coverage. Solid pass defender. Should line up immediately as a nickelback... Perine brings a brash, downhill running style to Washington. Joins a crowded backfield and won't see many carries. Very talented player nonetheless... Nicholson shows a lot of bust potential. May not be in the league in 4 years from now... Sprinkle is a big, talented tight end with a tremendous upside. Serious personality concerns, stole items from Belk outlet the night before performing in the Belk Bowl... Harvey-Clemons and Holsey shouldn't be underrated. Both have starting potential in the league with the right development.
Grade - 84 (B)
The Redskins picked up some phenominal players who can certainly make an impact right away on defense in Allen, Anderson and Moreau. Sprinkle can develop into a receiver but right now is a strong run block supporter. Perine adds more depth and competition to the running back group, and the secondary already looks much better. It was a decent draft for the Redskins. However, they missed completely on wide receivers, and that might come back to bite them.
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