2016 NFL draft grades: How all 32 teams fared
Three days and 253 picks later, the 2016 NFL draft is in the books. Although the top two picks went according to script after the smoke cleared from two blockbuster pre-draft trades, not much else did from then on. The first draft for the Browns’ new progressive front office left some scratching their heads, while the Titans made solid use of the draft picks they received for trading out of the No. 1 pick. The defending Super Bowl champs grabbed their next quarterback of the future, while last year’s runners-up reloaded at the position where they found themselves surprisingly thin after letting a superstar walk.
Find out who received our highest and lowest marks below, as Chris Burke and Doug Farrar grade each and every team.
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AFC: Bengals | Bills | Broncos | Browns | Chargers | Chiefs | Colts | Dolphins | Jaguars | Jets | Patriots | Raiders | Ravens | Steelers | Texans | Titans
NFC: 49ers | Bears | Bucs | Cardinals | Cowboys | Eagles | Falcons | Giants | Lions | Packers | Panthers | Rams | Redskins | Saints | Seahawks | Vikings
Arizona Cardinals: B
First pick: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss (No. 29)
Other notable picks: Brandon Williams, CB, Texas A&M (92); Marqui Christian, S, Midwestern State (167); Cole Toner, OT, Harvard (170)
Nkemdiche has among the best tape of anyone in this draft class, but he dropped to 29th because of on- and off-field concerns. If Cardinals coach Bruce Arians can corral Nkemdiche’s talent and keep him on the straight and narrow as he has done with Tyrann Mathieu, the Cardinals got a real steal. Williams, a third-round cornerback from Texas A&M is a former running back with top-level athleticism, but he’s a project at the NFL level. Missouri center Evan Boehm could start right away if Arizona can work around his lack of athleticism. Christian is one to watch—winner of the Cliff Harris Award as the nation’s best small-school defensive player last year, he is a concussive hitter. Toner jumped up in national awareness after a nice week at the Senior Bowl. Overall, the Cards are going on future potential here, as opposed to filling immediate needs. The Nkemdiche pick will determine the success or failure of this draft, and that’s a bit of a risk. —DF
Atlanta Falcons: D
First pick: Keanu Neal, S, Florida (No. 17)
Other notable picks: Deion Jones, LB, LSU (52); Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford (81); De'Vondre Campbell, OLB, Minnesota (115)
The Falcons’s personnel braintrust of Scott Pioli and Thomas Dimitroff has had iffy results in the last few drafts, with Dimitroff as the more tenured veteran in the organization. On its face, this draft looks like another head-scratcher. The Falcons did little to address their defensive line needs, instead spending the 17th pick on Neal, who looks like a reach there. Jones is a speed linebacker with some safety-level assets—not a bad player, but perhaps another reach. Hooper should help fill a need that’s been glaring since Tony Gonzalez retired, and Campbell is another speed ’backer. In the larger view, it appears Atlanta spent draft capital on players it could have traded down to get and didn’t address its defensive line need early in a draft that has as much D-line talent as any in recent NFL history. That’s hard to swallow. —DF
Baltimore Ravens: B+
First pick: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame (No. 6)
Other notable picks: Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State (42); Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech (134); Keenan Reynolds, WR, Navy (182)
True to Ozzie Newsome’s reputation, the Ravens did yeoman’s work on Days 2 and 3 of the draft. They didn’t start off too poorly either in nabbing Stanley. Would that pick have been Laremy Tunsil under different circumstances? Either way, Newsome found a long-term left tackle to replace Eugene Monroe, sooner rather than later. Bronson Kaufusi and Willie Henry will boost a depth-starved defensive front; Correa and Matt Judon could be good for 10-plus sacks between them off the edge next season if all goes well. Offensively, Dixon and Reynolds just happened to finish 1-2 all time on the NCAA touchdowns list. The former looks like a significant value as a fourth-round compensatory pick, and he could ascend to the top of the Ravens’ RB depth chart in short order. The only potential negative from Baltimore’s weekend: It failed to land any help at inside linebacker. —CB
• McCANN: Potential legal fallout from Laremy Tunsil’s tweet crisis
Buffalo Bills: A-
First pick: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson (No. 19)
Other notable picks: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama (41); Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State (139); Jonathan Williams, RB, Arkansas (156)
The Bills used their first three picks on defense, even trading up to get Ragland (at a steep cost: the No. 49 selection and two fourth-rounders). He was a potential first-round fit for their defense, so finding the ILB hammer still available at the 41st pick has to be considered a win. The same really goes for Lawson, who was considered a possibility for teams like Tampa Bay and the Giants within the top 10. Third-round DT Adolphus Washington rounded out the Buffalo run, and the brothers Ryan have to like his versatility. What the Bills did on the other side of the ball is intriguing, to say the least. Cardale Jones is an ideal developmental candidate behind starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor—it does not require much imagination to see Jones uncorking deep balls to burner Kolby Listenbee in the near future. Running back Jonathan Williams will outplay his draft slot if he’s healthy, although he enters a crowded backfield. —CB
Carolina Panthers: C
First pick: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech (No. 30)
Other notable picks: James Bradberry, S, Samford (62); Daryl Worley, CB, West Virginia (77); Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma (141)
You think Panthers GM Dave Gettleman was loading up on cornerbacks after dropping Josh Norman? After selecting Butler in the first round—a no-argument player who may be the next Muhammad Wilkerson—the Panthers went CB with three straight picks. The most intriguing could be Bradberry. He transferred from Arkansas State when then coach Hugh Freeze wouldn’t let him move from safety and played well enough at Samford to gain a Senior Bowl invitation. He’s a big press cornerback who needs development, like Norman once was. Worley led the Big 12 in picks last season and has every attribute but blazing speed downfield. Sanchez is an interception monster whose size may keep him in the slot, but he’s a real player. The debit in the grade here goes to the fact that the Panthers didn’t do anything to address the offensive line that may have kept them from winning Super Bowl 50.—DF
Chicago Bears: B
First pick: Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia (No. 9)
Other notable picks: Cody Whitehair, OL, Kansas State (56); Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida (72); DeAndre Houston-Carson, S, William & Mary (185)
The Bears may have reached a tad for Floyd unless they can turn him into an NFL-level pass rusher, but there’s not much to argue with otherwise. Second-rounder Whitehair is a plug-and-play guy at either guard or right tackle, and he’ll add toughness and consistency to that line. Bullard is a perfect fit in Vic Fangio’s defense with his ability to play multiple gaps very well. Miami safety Deon Bush will add value on special teams and could crack the defensive starting lineup over time. Watch out for the sixth-round cornerback Houston-Carson from William & Mary—the small-school star has what it takes to succeed in the NFL. —DF
Cincinnati Bengals: A+
First pick: William Jackson III, CB, Houston (No. 24)
Other notable picks: Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh (55); Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor (122); Christian Westerman, G, Arizona State (161)
Just about every time the draft had one of those "it feels like player X is falling" moments, along came the Bengals to scoop up a steal. Jackson might wind up being this class’s best cornerback—landing him one pick before the CB-needy Steelers hit the clock was a bonus. Boyd should be a favorite of Andy Dalton, due to the number of ways he can excel with the football. And Billings and Westerman back-to-back in Rounds 4 and 5 was downright stunning. How either of those players was still available when the Bengals drafted them almost defies logic. In all, that’s four players capable of starting immediately. Sixth-round WR Cody Core is a name to remember from Cincinnati’s picks. He was the Robin to Laquon Treadwell’s Batman at Ole Miss but can be a big-play threat in his own right. LB Nick Vigil was a slight reach in the third round at a position where the Bengals have some depth. —CB
Cleveland Browns: C+
First pick: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (No. 15)
Other notable picks: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE/OLB, Oklahoma State (32); Joe Schobert, LB, Wisconsin (99); Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State (172)
In its first draft, Cleveland’s revamped front office took four wide receivers plus a pass-catching tight end. The Browns need Coleman to prove himself worthy of being the first receiver off the board, period. Their best bet for production in 2016 otherwise probably comes from Higgins, the last of the WR/TE burst. He saw a heavy volume of target at Colorado State and could do the same for Hue Jackson now. The Browns also sound as if they like QB Cody Kessler a ton, straying quite a bit from the feeling outside their building. But how the Browns’ class looks in hindsight will depend on how well Ogbah, Carl Nassib and offensive tackle Shon Coleman fit. Both Ogbah and Nassib would have been obvious fits in a 4–3 scheme and are more projections for a 3–4, so we’ll see. Schobert led off the fourth round and is one of the draft’s better under-the-radar picks—an effective, active linebacker. We have to take into account the extra picks Cleveland got in future drafts for trading down twice from the No. 2 pick. How many of this year’s 14 newcomers will stick? —CB
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AFC: Bengals | Bills | Broncos | Browns | Chargers | Chiefs | Colts | Dolphins | Jaguars | Jets | Patriots | Raiders | Ravens | Steelers | Texans | Titans
NFC: 49ers | Bears | Bucs | Cardinals | Cowboys | Eagles | Falcons | Giants | Lions | Packers | Panthers | Rams | Redskins | Saints | Seahawks | Vikings
Dallas Cowboys: A-
First pick: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (No. 4)
Other notable picks: Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame (34); Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska (67); Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State (135)
If Smith is able to return from the knee issues that now hamper his NFL future, this is a lead-pipe A+. He was the best player in this class, and the Cowboys took a manageable risk in spending their second-round pick on him. There’s no question that Elliott will help the Dallas offense return to form. Fourth overall is a high pick for a back, but Elliott does it all and does it well. Collins is a bit of a project, but he’s a good athlete who will vie for a rotational slot early on. Oklahoma defensive end Charles Tapper is a more developed player who will be an asset against the run, with pass rush as a bonus attribute. Prescott is a big, mobile quarterback who has shown a lot of mental development over time, and he’s in the perfect situation to continue to grow—as long as Tony Romo stays healthy. —DF
• Watch: Jaylon Smith, other prospects react to being drafted
Denver Broncos: B+
First pick: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis (No. 26)
Other notable picks: Justin Simmons, S, Boston College (98); Devontae Booker, RB, Utah (138); Connor McGovern, G, Missouri (144)
Denver put an end to its off-season-long quarterback conundrum by moving up to nab Lynch, who still found himself available 24 picks after Jared Goff and Carson Wentz landed 1-2. He (eventually) should be a nice fit within the Gary Kubiak offensive scheme; it’s probably Mark Sanchez’s team in Week 1. Second-rounder Adam Gotsis will help replace Malik Jackson—he is coming back off an injury but has definite starter qualities. Simmons, Booker and McGovern are the types of picks that can help keep a team on top. Booker actually may wind up as the Broncos’ starting running back before all is said and done, despite John Elway’s recent financial commitment to C.J. Anderson. Elway did not find a linebacker he liked in the draft. Simmons and Will Parks (sixth round) may help fill the gap, allowing Denver to get creative with multiple safeties. —CB
Detroit Lions: B
First pick: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State (No. 16)
Other notable picks: A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (46); Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah (111); Anthony Zettel, DE, Penn State (202)
Decker should be able to stave off the increasing number of pass rushers who have been able to harass Matthew Stafford, through there is some concern about his viability as a left tackle at the next level. Robinson has top-20 talent, but many teams overlooked him because they thought (incorrectly) that he can’t penetrate as a one-gap player. Apparently, his 2013 tape was unavailable. Center Graham Glasgow is a reliable player who fills an immediate need. Killebrew is a player to watch—if he can keep his aggressiveness under control, he’s an enforcer safety in the Kam Chancellor mold. Guard Joe Dahl may take some time to adjust to the NFL after time in Mike Leach’s Washington State offense, but he’s a talented athlete. Zettel is the sleeper here, with the ability to play end and tackle. —DF
Green Bay Packers: B
First pick: Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA (27)
Other notable picks: Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana (48); Kyler Fackrell, OLB, Utah State (88); Blake Martinez, LB, Stanford (131)
It’s not a sexy draft, but Ted Thompson doesn’t do sexy. Clark isn’t a pass rusher, but he has the ability to push any offensive lineman around. On the other side of the trenches, Spriggs is a move athlete with all kinds of agility and All-Pro potential as soon as he gets his play strength together. Fackrell will pump up a position group so thin that Clay Matthews was forced to play inside. Fackrell is doubly valuable if he can get Matthews back outside where he belongs. Likewise, Martinez should help inside over time—he’s a pure thumper. Getting Stanford tackle Kyle Murphy in the sixth round could look like a pure genius move in a couple years. —DF
Houston Texans: B
First pick: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame (No. 21)
Other notable picks: Nick Martin G/C, Notre Dame (50); Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State (85); K.J. Dillon, S, West Virginia (159)
One thing is for certain: The Texans are much, much faster than they were before the draft began on Thursday. Fuller is an absolute burner. He is not nearly as complete a receiver as Josh Doctson or Laquon Treadwell or Sterling Shepard—all picked after him—but will provide a deep threat Houston sorely lacked. Miller also will keep secondaries on their toes, especially if the Texans find ways to move him around in the formation. Ervin is a third-down back and special teams contributor who brings even more quickness to the table. Martin should be Brock Osweiler’s starting center for years to come, and he wasn’t that far removed in talent from Ryan Kelly, the Alabama center who went in Round 1. Both fifth-round picks, S K.J. Dillon and DT D.J. Reader, are excellent depth options. Houston may regret not finding even more help for its front seven, though. —CB
Indianapolis Colts: B+
First pick: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama (No. 18)
Other notable picks: T.J. Green, S, Clemson (57); Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas (116); Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State (155)
Two rather obvious goals of GM Ryan Grigson emerged as the Colts’ draft unfolded: strengthening the offensive line and adding athleticism to the defense. Check and check. Kelly is the type of intelligent center who can make everyone on the line better. He and Andrew Luck together will get the Colts a step ahead before the ball is even snapped. Second-rounder Le’Raven Clark could slot in as the starting right tackle out of the gate—he is a big, mauling presence. Haeg, Carson Wentz’s former blindside protector, helps add depth at multiple spots. Morrison easily may wind up a better pick in Round 4 than Green was in Round 2. Green’s stock skyrocketed in recent weeks, but he’s raw, and the Colts have to decide if he is a corner or safety. —CB
• BAUMGAERTNER: Meet Joe Haeg, the other top player out of NDSU
Jacksonville Jaguars: A+
First pick: Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State (No. 5)
Other notable picks: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA (36); Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame (103); Tyrone Holmes, OLB, Montana (181)
In our SI 300 draft rankings, Ramsey was No. 2 and Jack was No. 3; the Jaguars drafted them at Nos. 5 and 36, respectively, so if Jack can stay healthy for a few seasons, this could go down as the franchise’s best draft ever. Even if Jack turns out to be an injury-related headache, the Jaguars did enough to warrant a high mark. Day, Holmes and Maryland’s Yannick Ngakoue are all movable pass rushers—Day even played defensive end extensively during Senior Bowl week and was impressive doing so. Don’t forget this team also has Dante Fowler, last year’s first-round pick, coming back from a knee injury up front. Oh, and circle Jonathan Woodard on your watch lists. Chuck Smith, who runs a training camp for defensive linemen and linebackers, called him this year’s Rodney Gunter—the Cardinals found Gunter in the fourth round last season, and he became a key cog for them. —CB
• BANKS: Jaguars’ picks have them on the cusp of a huge turnaround
Kansas City Chiefs: B-
First pick: Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (No. 37)
Other notable picks: KeiVarae Russell, CB, Notre Dame (74); Demarcus Robinson, WR, Florida (126); Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford (162)
The Chiefs traded out of the first round, joining the Patriots as the only team not to make a selection on Thursday. They scored Jones on Friday, a defensive lineman with an All-Pro ceiling but an inconsistent motor. What will they get out of Russell? He was terrific in 2013, missed ’14 due to an academic issue and struggled with an injury last year. Robinson is a wild card, too—he served several suspensions during his time at Florida but is a dangerous playmaker in the open field. Hogan may not have been able to hand-pick a better spot; he is a solid fit for Andy Reid’s offense and could bump Aaron Murray from the backup role. Count this draft as a missed opportunity to get younger at linebacker. Sixth-rounder Dadi Nicolas has a long way to go before he can be an impact pass rusher in the NFL. —CB
Los Angeles Rams: B-
First pick: Jared Goff, QB, Cal (No. 1)
Other notable picks: Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky (110); Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina (117); Mike Thomas, WR, Southern Miss (190)
As is the case with the Eagles, the Rams' 2016 draft will live or die on the quarterback the team selected. Goff seems like a weird scheme fit in a power-based offense, and his accuracy and pocket movement— two traits most often seen as prime positives in his case—aren't always visible. Beyond Goff, third-round tight end Tyler Higbee is a talented player with a ton of off-field baggage that may not mitigate what he can do between the lines. The Rams reinforced the tight end position with Temarrick Hemingway of South Carolina State. Hemingway is more of a big receiver than a tight end, but the Rams need all the targets they can get. South Carolina receiver Pharoh Cooper will help Goff out with his ability to separate and get yards after the catch. And Southern Miss receiver Mike Thomas is a reliable possession receiver. At the very least, Jeff Fisher and Les Snead are doing everything they can to give Goff the options he needs to succeed.—DF
Miami Dolphins: B
First pick: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss (No. 13)
Other notable picks: Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor (38); Kenyan Drake, RB, Alabama (73); Leonte Carroo, WR, Rutgers (86)
Overall, just a strange draft for the Dolphins, starting with Tunsil’s gas mask bong-induced drop to them at No. 13. They were wise to stop his slide right there, because he still could be the very best player in this class. (Hopefully, they keep him at left tackle despite saying they may try him at guard.) Everything else was a beauty-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder proposition. Was the highly inconsistent Howard worth trading up for in the second round? Was Drake the right call at RB when Kenneth Dixon, Devontae Booker and others were available? The Dolphins also traded up for Carroo, despite a rather well-stocked WR group and drafted 5' 6" slot guy Jakeem Grant. There may not be a safe pick in Miami’s entire class, which either will be a great thing or a terrible one down the line. —CB
• KAPLAN: Laremy Tunsil lives out a nightmare in Round 1
Jump to your favorite team:
AFC: Bengals | Bills | Broncos | Browns | Chargers | Chiefs | Colts | Dolphins | Jaguars | Jets | Patriots | Raiders | Ravens | Steelers | Texans | Titans
NFC: 49ers | Bears | Bucs | Cardinals | Cowboys | Eagles | Falcons | Giants | Lions | Packers | Panthers | Rams | Redskins | Saints | Seahawks | Vikings
Minnesota Vikings: B
First pick: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Other notable picks: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (54); Willie Beavers, G, Western Michigan (121); Moritz Boehringer, WR (180)
The addition of Laquon Treadwell in the first round gives Teddy Briddgewater the kind of big, aggressive receiver he hasn't yet had with his NFL team. Size issues with Treadwell are overblown, and he should succeed. And second-round cornerback Mackensie Alexander is a great value with the ability to play outside and in the slot. Of course, the big story of the Vikings' class is the fifth-round selection of Moritz Boehringer, who previously played with the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns of the German Football League. Boehringer , who’s the first draft pick to come from straight out of Europe, got into football a few years back after watching new teammate Adrian Peterson on YouTube. He has the base athleticism to make it in the NFL, and now comes the task of learning advanced routes and dealing with NFL competition. Western Michigan tackle Willie Beavers could also be a standout in this class in time. Like T.J. Clemmings, last year's developmental offensive lineman, Beavers has a lot of talent, and a lot of learning to do. Also, keep an eye on Vanderbilt end Stephen Weatherly. —DF
• VRENTAS: Meet the draft’s mystery German
New England Patriots: C+
First pick: Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama (No. 60)
Other notable picks: Joe Thuney, OL, N.C. State (78); Jacoby Brissett, QB, N.C. State (91); Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia (112)
Their banishment from the first round meant the Patriots were set up to have an unusual draft from the onset. The script played out that way, right up to and including trading up for Miami’s spot at 147 and then flipping that pick for a profit. As for the actual players headed to New England, the standouts are Jones and Mitchell: The former will spend time at the nickel and as a return man, while the latter could be a surprise star if his size and route running translate to the pros. Thuney rebuilds some depth up front, and ditto for the beefy Vincent Valentine at nose tackle. The Brissett pick raised some eyebrows, both because the Patriots have two quarterbacks (Tom Brady, facing a four-game suspension, and Jimmy Garoppolo) and because they nabbed Brissett ahead of QBs like Connor Cook. A very Belichickian draft. —CB
• McCANN: Hiring Ted Olson shows Brady isn’t done fighting NFL
New Orleans Saints: B
First pick: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville (No. 12)
Other notable picks: Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State (47); Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State (61); Daniel Lasco, RB, Cal (237)
The Saints needed all kinds of help on defense, and certainly got it on the line with the selection of Sheldon Rankins with the 12th overall pick. Rankins is a pass-rusher with great run strength, and has the talent to define a defensive line for the next half-decade. And third-round safety Vonn Bell from Ohio State has the play potential to replace free-agent bust Jairus Byrd. Moreover, the Saints got one of the best receivers in this class in Ohio State's Michael Thomas; he'll add to Sean Payton's offense as a bigger target for Drew Brees. Manitoba (Canada) defensive tackle David Onyemata is a project, but an interesting athlete. And Cal running back Daniel Lasco could be a seventh-round steal if he can get past the injuries that affected his 2015 season. There’s no outside pass-rusher, but Rankins could cure a lot of ills on that front seven. —DF
New York Giants: A
First pick: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State (No. 10)
Other notable picks: Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma (40); Darian Thompson, S, Boise State (71); Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA (149)
Any year Jerry Reese doesn't reach for an offensive lineman can be considered a good one, and the first-round selection of Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple is a nice move. Apple is a hyper-aggressive pass defender with a lot of athletic upside, not unlike new Giant Janoris Jenkins. The real player of note, though, could be second-round receiver Sterling Shepard. A highly productive target in college, Shepard projects very well to the slot in the NFL, and should provide some coverage relief for Odell Beckham, Jr. Boise State safety Darian Thompson is an excellent deep-coverage player who should help Big Blue's defensive backfield right away, and Reese committed larceny by taking UCLA's Paul Perkins in the fifth round. Perkins isn't seen as an every-down back due to his size, but the tape shows a player comparable to LeSean McCoy with a bit more power. After a prodigious spending spree in free agency, the Giants came back with one heck of a draft. —DF
New York Jets: B-
First pick: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State (No. 20)
Other notable picks: Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State (51); Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia (83); Juston Burris, CB, N.C. State (118)
Not even really sure how to calculate the grade on this one, if we’re being honest. The Lee selection deserves at least an A-minus—he brings much-needed athleticism (and a little blitzing ability) to the Jets’ linebacking corps. Call the pick of edge-setting OLB Jordan Jenkins a B, provided New York can get him on the field. Burris—a 6-foot tall physical corner—and seventh-round WR Charone Peake bring value to the table, but the Hackenberg pick throws a wrench into it all. Despite the late buzz about Hackenberg as a Round 1 possibility, it’s hard to even justify Round 2 given his play the last two seasons. He certainly does nothing to solve the Jets’ quarterback issue for the coming season—his problems are not a quick fix. Maybe it pays off in a few years, but that pick looks like a potentially huge misfire right now. —CB
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AFC: Bengals | Bills | Broncos | Browns | Chargers | Chiefs | Colts | Dolphins | Jaguars | Jets | Patriots | Raiders | Ravens | Steelers | Texans | Titans
NFC: 49ers | Bears | Bucs | Cardinals | Cowboys | Eagles | Falcons | Giants | Lions | Packers | Panthers | Rams | Redskins | Saints | Seahawks | Vikings
Oakland Raiders: B+
First pick: Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia (No. 14)
Other notable picks: Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State (75); Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State (100); DeAndre Washington, RB, Texas Tech (143)
May as well start with Cook, even if he is almost certainly no better than a backup for the near future. It came as a surprise when Oakland pulled the trigger, but it makes sense: the Raiders were working with an extra sixth-rounder, Cook’s contract will be about $1.6 million cheaper for 2016 than Matt McGloin’s, and the ex-Spartan could drum up his own trade market with a strong preseason or two. The Raiders’ first pick, Joseph, came off the board higher than expected (and possibly higher than deserved), yet there is no question he upgrades the secondary if he stays healthy. Calhoun is a better player right now than second-rounder Jihad Ward, a developing talent. Think of Washington as a younger, more explosive Roy Helu option out of the backfield. GM Reggie McKenzie’s lone regret may be failing to address the cornerback spot. —CB
•BANKS: Connor Cook's long-term NFL future remains bright
Philadelphia Eagles: B
First pick: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (No. 2)
Other notable picks: Wendell Smallwood, RB, West Virginia (153); Blake Countess, CB, Auburn (196); Jalen Mills, S, LSU (233)
The Eagles traded a king's ransom to move up and select Carson Wentz as the future of their franchise. It's a good pick in that Wentz is the most pro-ready of all the elite quarterbacks in this class, but with so much money already tied up in Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel, Howie Roseman will be filling a lot of holes with lesser picks for a while. Philly's strategy after Wentz in this draft was... interesting. Oregon State interior lineman Isaac Seumalo could be a guard or center at the next level. West Virginia running back Wendell Smallwood is a decent player with pass-blocking ability. TCU offensive tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai is a powerful player with limited athleticism who will probably have to kick inside to guard. The steals came in the later rounds: sixth-round cornerback Blake Countess is an efficient and underrated defender, and LSU cornerback/safety Jalen Mills should have gone a lot higher than the seventh round. It was most likely Mills’s injury history that scared teams off. —DF
Pittsburgh Steelers: B
First pick: Artie Burns, CB, Miami (No. 25)
Other notable picks: Sean Davis, DB, Maryland (58); Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State (89); Travis Feeney, LB, Washington (220)
Their board may have fallen in lockstep with the best players they believed to be available, but it sure as heck looks like the Steelers drafted for need. Pittsburgh rumbled right through its holes at cornerback, safety, defensive tackle and offensive tackle before adding a couple of late linebackers. Look, GM Kevin Colbert took a couple shots here. Burns has size and speed, but he will have rough moments early in his career as he tries to clean up his technique. Davis is an outstanding athlete who can cover from the safety spot, but he too is very much a work in progress. OT Jerald Hawkins helps the depth up front, maybe not much more. In truth, the Feeney and Tyler Matakevich (246) selections could wind up being Colbert’s best of 2016—or at least Nos. 2 and 3 behind the impressive Hargrave. Both players have radars for the football and were a round or two into their value ranges. —CB
San Diego Chargers: B+
First pick: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State (No. 3)
Other notable picks: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas (35); Joshua Perry, LB, Ohio State (102); Derek Watt, FB, Wisconsin (175)
The Chargers kept the Bosa pick hush-hush right up until the moment they made it. There is no denying his talent, so this all comes down to whether or not he is as comfortable playing in a 3–4. Henry was a huge get: Ladarius Green left via free agency, Antonio Gates is on his last legs and Henry was this draft’s top TE. Perry and fifth-rounder Jatavis Brown provide talent to an underperforming linebacking corps. The Ohio State product is a good bet to find his way into the starting lineup at some point. Philip Rivers did not get any tackle help during the draft, but Tuerk, if he’s 100%, will stabilize the center spot. Interesting, though, that the Chargers took a lineman coming off injury despite being ravaged by their own health setbacks in recent years. Why is Watt, a fullback, on the notables list? Well, because he blocked for Melvin Gordon in college. Was this a pick made purely to help Gordon bounce back from a bad rookie year? —CB
San Francisco 49ers: A-
First pick: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (No. 7)
Other notable picks: Will Redmond, CB, Mississippi State (No. 68); Jeff Driskel, QB, Louisiana Tech (207); Kelvin Taylor, RB, Florida (211)
49ers GM Trent Baalke must have been grinning ear-to-ear when the Chargers reached on Joey Bosa at No. 3, leaving DeForest Buckner on the board. Buckner is the best defensive lineman in this class, and his versatility will add a ton to San Francisco's defense. And, the trade back into the first round to nab Stanford guard Josh Garnett will pay great dividends as long as Garnett can get the knack of Chip Kelly's preference for quicker, zone-based guards. Garnett is more of an agile mauler. Third-round cornerback Will Redmond would have gone higher in this draft based on pure talent, but injuries got in the way. LSU cornerback Rashard Robinson doesn't have a ton of starts either, but Baalke has never been shy about betting on upside. Louisiana Tech QB Jeff Driskel looked horrid at Florida, but he impressed after his transfer to Louisiana Tech. Florida running back Kelvin Taylor, the son of Fred Taylor, has the quickest feet of any back in this class. Watch out also for seventh-round cornerback Prince Charles Iworah, who looked like a shutdown guy against lesser competition. The 49ers have a nice combination of potential and first-day starters here. —DF
Seattle Seahawks: B-
First pick: Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M (No. 31)
Other notable picks: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (49); Rees Odhiambo, G, Boise State (97); Kenny Lawler, WR, Cal (243)
Before we address the selection of Texas A&M tackle Germain Ifedi in the first round, let's say this—the fact that Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed fell into the second round is a great bounty for the Seahawks, who will use him perfectly as a one- and three-tech tackle. As for Ifedi, the first-round pick seems odd, given that he's miles away from being a finished pass-blocker. Seattle took a shot on his "ass-kicking" abilities, but may regret this when he has to show technique. Third-round back C.J. Procise from Notre Dame is a former receiver with speed and power in his new position. Seattle took two more offensive line projects in Boise State's Rees Odhiambo and TCU's Joey Hunt. It's clear this is a franchise that would prefer to build up on mild potential than take obvious talent. That's a sound strategy, unless those potential picks are high ones. Still, Seattle tends to do well in the late rounds, so keep an eye on Cal receiver Kenny Lawler and Clemson running back Zac Brooks. No matter what, though, the Ifedi pick still knocks this grade down. Oh, and this team is still woefully thin at the tackle position, regardless of what line coach Tom Cable says. —DF
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C
First pick: Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida (No. 11)
Other notable picks: Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky (39); Roberto Aguayo, K, Florida State (59); Ryan Smith, CB, North Carolina-Central (108)
Tampa Bay's first two picks were great. Getting Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves in the first round and Eastern Kentucky pass-rusher Noah Spence in the second fills two prominent needs with great players, as long as Spence continues his off-field rehabilitation. But things went off the rails after that when the Bucs traded up(!!!) to take Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo with the 59th overall pick. It really doesn't matter how good Aguayo is or isn't—you simply don't trade up in a high round for a kicker with a lot of needs still on the board. Cornerback Ryan Smith from North Carolina Central is a value pick if he can square up to a higher level of competition, but there wasn't anyone spectacular in the late rounds, which makes the Aguayo move all the more curious.—DF
Tennessee Titans: B+
First pick: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State (No. 8)
Other notable picks: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson (33); Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama (45); Kevin Byard, S, Middle Tennessee State (64)
We’ll never know if the Titans actually needed to trade back up to No. 8 to land Conklin, but he should grab the starting right tackle job and run with it. Dodd was one of many potential first-round prospects who slid to Day 2. He’s also 24 years old and will have to learn a 3–4 scheme, so TBD on that one. The Titans definitely grew their physical presence, via Henry, defensive tackle Austin Johnson and O-lineman Sebastian Tretola. They’ll like Byard quite a bit, too, if they are patient in allowing him to crack the lineup. GM Jon Robinson waited until pick 157 to address the CB spot, then found a rising talent in LeShaun Sims. He also put Mr. Irrelevant to good use, taking sleeper corner Kalan Reed from Southern Miss. This was not the type of draft that necessarily thrills anyone, but it clearly pushes along the process of making a bad team more competitive. —CB
• VRENTAS: With plenty of picks, Titans choose to build the Patriot Way
Washington Redskins: A-
First pick: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Other notable picks: Su’a Cravens, LB, USC (53); Matthew Ioannidis, DT, Temple (152); Steven Daniels, LB, Boston College (232)
Washington general manager Scot McCloughan helped build the Super Bowl teams for the 49ers and Seahawks in recent years, and as one of the best personnel men in the business, he's not going to stray from his philosophy. McCloughan loves height/weight/speed guys with great athletic potential, and the Redskins' 2016 draft is full of such players. TCU receiver Josh Doctson immediately gives quarterback Kirk Cousins a dynamic red-zone target, and Doctson has the ability to dominate on 50/50 balls. Adding Su'a Cravens in the second round gives defensive coordinator Joe Barry a safety/linebacker hybrid weapon who can do everything from deep coverage to run fills to blitzing off the edge. And third-round cornerback Kendall Fuller would have been taken sooner were it not for injuries. The guy to eye in the late rounds is Boston College linebacker Steven Daniels, a pure run-stuffer who should be able to help solve Washington's pitiful run defense. Temple DT Matthew Ioannidis serves a similar purpose. Add the gift signing of Josh Norman, and it's been a pretty good couple of weeks for McCloughan and his crew. —DF
