Post by Juggs on May 11, 2014 10:20:16 GMT -5
Every pick, graded with at least a quick comment, as well as how I thought each team did. Here's the AFC East to start.
AFC EAST:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Team grade: C+. I like picking Easley, but Garoppolo was a wasted pick as far as next season, or maybe even for a few years is concerned. The Patriots got some great depth later in the draft, but only getting one immediate starter and failing to address tight end entirely earns them a paltry grade.
Dominique Easley, DE, Florida.
Grade: B+
Great value for the talent you're getting, but the injury concerns and lack of size at defensive tackle worries me. Easley is the best pass rushing defensive tackle in this class, although he needs some work at holding his gap in the run game.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois.
Grade: D-
Your second round pick needs to be an effective starter in two years, and should be a valuable contributor as a rookie. As it stands, Garoppolo would be battling for a backup job, or at worst, being an emergency quarterback. That's not a valuable impact on your team in the near future. I also though Garoppolo is a reach at this point with better QBs (Mett, McCarron, Fales) still available. The fact that the Patriots have no third round pick makes this waste even more ridiculous. I can't imagine BB was happy with this one.
Bryan Stork, C, Florida St.
Grade: A-
Trading down to get a valuable starting contributor in the third round is a nice job. The Pats did have bigger needs though.
James White, RB, Wisconsin
Grade: C
Even with Lagarrete Blount gone, I don't see White getting enough touches to make an impact. He's not a great talent for the fourth round.
Cameron Fleming, OT, Stanford
Grade: A
There's a major steal who can start at either tackle position right away. He's consistent and a hard work with limited upside.
Jon Halapio, OG, Florida
Grade: A
Another very nice depth piece at a bargain price.
Zach Moore, DE, Concordia
Grade: D
He looks the part and he checks all the boxes as a scout, but he's a massive project that I don't think the Patriots have time for. They needed a rotational guy who would make an impact right away.
Jemea Thomas, CB, Georgia Tech
Grade: B+
He was much higher on my board than this. He looks great in coverage and he had a great combine workout. I'm worried about his size and durability. He's a liability against the run.
Jeremy Gallon, WR, Michigan
Grade: C
I'm not sure what impact this guy makes, in fact, I don't see him cracking the roster at all with the log jam at WR. He could be a kick return specialist and contribute on special teams.
NEW YORK JETS: Team grade: A-. I thought Pryor was a reach, but the depth and quantity of talent the Jets got in this draft is insane. A few picks are major head-scratchers.
Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville.
Grade: B-
Pryor was an okay selection considering how late the top safeties went in this draft. I have huge concerns about his coverage ability and his readiness to start for the Jets. In addition, HaHa Clinton-Dix and Deone Bucannon were both available, making this a reach. All that being said, if Rex Ryan feels that he can make Pryor work as a hard hitting safety, the pick could pan out in the long run. Finally, failing to address corner or WR in round 1 docked this pick from a B to a B-.
Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech.
Grade A-.
Amaro's tape is more impressive than any other tight end in the class, and he played against some high level competition as well. Amaro's great route running and vertical ability add a dimension the Jets didn't have while taking a cover corner off of Eric Decker. This isn't an A because the Jets are a run first offense and Amaro needs to improve his blocking strength and technique.
Dexter McDougle, CB, McDonald's University.
Grade: B-.
If the jets are looking for an immediate impact player, McDougle gives them that at KR. Other than that, I'm not sure he'll be ready to start until year two or three, at which point his speed means high upside for a third round corner. The minus is because I don't think he does much for you on defense in years one and two, and that will make him seem like a disappointment for Jets fans.
Jalen Saunders, WR, Oklahoma
Grade: D
Saunders talent makes him a great selection in round 4, but he's tiny at 5'9'' 165. One hit and he's done injury wise, and you can't use him for much. This is a massive gamble when you just drafted McDougle to fill a similar role.
Shaw Evans, WR, UCLA
Grade: C
And then you went and got the exact opposite guy in the next round? Shaq has the size you want, but his route running and vertical game need a lot of polishing. The Jets really could have just gone for an all around better prospect first and saved the draft pick.
Dakota Dozier, T, Furman
Grade: A
Way to stick to your board and grab a falling sleeper. Dozier's size and technique don't leave any question marks with this pick.
Jeremiah George, ILB, Iowa St.
Grade: C-
This was a serious reach considering the talent left on the board. In the fifth round, there's no reason not to gamble on a prospect with more upside. George is undersized at 5'11'' 234 lbs.
Brandon Dixon, CB, Northewst Missouri St.
Grade: C
WHO? This pick starts a chain of three guys I don't even think get drafted if the Jets don't look at them. Rex Ryan must have something special in mind.
Quincy Enunwa, WR, Nebraska
Grade: D
Again, I have never heard of him. The talent you're passing at WR here is pretty noticable.
Ikemefuna Chinedum-Ro Enemkpali, OLB, Louisiana Tech
Grade: F
I love his name, but other than that, why did you draft him? He's a non athletic tweener without college production, and you never brought him in for a workout or anything. I don't get this.
Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
Grade: A
I have no idea how he fell this far when you consider the production at Clemson, the arm talent, and his amazing pro day workout. He's a great developmental QB to sit behind Vick and Smith.
Trevor Reilly, OLB, Utah
Grade: A
I understand he fell this far due to character concerns. That's what seventh round picks are for. Nail a massive talent to your roster, and if it doesn't work out, you don't lose much.
MIAMI DOLPHINS: Team grade: A. I want to give this draft an A+. The talent is that good. The depth is that good. This is the kind of draft that builds a franchise and wins super bowls. The only reason it's not an A+ is because the first round pick is underwhelming, but it still filled a crucial need.
JuWuan James, RT, Tennessee.
Grade: B
I don't think Miami could have gotten him in the second round, and they stuck to their board on this one while filling a need. I question the board, but I can't really hammer a team for sticking to their guns, and frankly, I would have blasted the pick if it wasn't an offensive lineman. James has great size and he'll put pass rusher on the ground, but he plays pretty slow to start week 1.
Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU
Grade: A
Landry's tape might be the best of any wide receiver in the draft, and his measurable's aren't anything that would make him fall or rise. I don't know why he was available this late. Great pick, even though it wasn't a huge need.
Billy Turner, LT, North Dakota State.
Grade: A
He flat out dominated competition for 4 years at North Dakota State, didn't allow a sack his senior season, so people figured he was just beating up on the little kids, but then he showed up at the senior bowl and dominated there too. He'll be quality starter at offensive tackle and could very well steal JuWuan's job right out of the preseason. He's that good.
Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty
Grade: B
Great value pick on a corner with top tier athleticism. I have concerns though that he's not ready for what NFL receivers bring in terms of routes and physicality. He's not ready to start at all, but he could be great in a few years. That's a nice pick in the end of the fourth.
Arthur Lynch, TE, Georgia
Grade: A
Miami got a top tier blocker with the upside to develop into a do-it-all in line tight end. Nice choice.
Jordan Tripp, LB, Montana
Grade: A
It's absurd that Tripp's combination of size, athleticism and intelligence is sitting here practically in the sixth round. Miami got a future starter extremely late in the draft.
Matt Hazel, WR, Coastal Carolina
Grade: C
I get the feeling he doesn't make the roster because he's got inconsistent hands and he's not fast or a smooth runner. What he does is go get jump balls, and Miami just got the best in the business at doing that in Jarvis Landry.
Terrence Fede, DE, Marist
Grade: A+
What? Who? WHERE?!??!?! Fede is the first player ever drafted from Marist, a college that I haven't even heard of. That said, he's a 6'4'' 267 4-3 DE who will probably rush from the edge in Miami. You can't get Clowney like measurables in the 7th round and not get an A+.
BUFFALO BILLS: Team Grade: C. It doesn't matter how talented this Bills class is. Throwing the future in the garbage can when you're not ready to challenge for the division was the worst decision any team made in this draft.
Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
Grade: C-
The trade was atrocious for the Bills. Highway robbery is the term that comes to mind. Two first round picks and a day 3 pick next year for a developing team is too steep a price to pay for anyone other than a sure franchise quarterback. For all we know, Buffalo will pick top ten next year, and Watkins is not the once-in-five-year prospect he's been hyped as. He's a one trick pony who made his money within five yards of the line of scrimmage and needs time to develop. He gets good seperation and he's great in space, but those WR's are a dime a dozen. I don't see anything that Watkins does that Donte Moncrief or D'anthony Thomas can't do for you. This isn't my worst grade, but it is the greatest organizational failure of the draft so far. This pick will set the Bills back years. Decisions like this one are why Buffalo hasn't made the playoffs in 14 years, not the solutions to getting there.
Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama
Grade: B+
He's a great value in the second round, but the injury concerns and his position are problematic for Buffalo. They waned a LT so they could move Cordy Glenn around but they didn't get one in Kouandjio even though he played LT in college. In the end, he's a talented RT who they really could't pass up.
Preston Brown, ILB, Louisiville
Grade: B
An underwhelming ILB who hits harder than he is big. He does a lot of things well, but he doesn't jump off the tape in any other area but closing speed and filling a gap for you. I think he could compete for a job as a rookie though, and that's solid value for round 3.
Ross Cockrell, CB, Duke
Grade: A-
Cockrell gave Manziel and A&M nightmares in the Chick Fill-A bowl, and he's a natural leader with the talent to start in the NFL. Nice pick. He doesn't have top tier speed, so he's not a great man cover guy on the sidelines.
Cyril Richardson, G, Baylor
Grade: B
He HAD huge weight concerns, but he showed he can lose the weight and stay in shape if motivated. I'm concerned that won't always be the case, but the Bills might have gotten a steal at guard or center.
Randell Johnson, OLB, Florida Atlantic
Grade: C
He's big enough for the move to 3-4 Sam, and that's a hard position to find. The pick fills a need, but only in an emergency since Johnson isn't nearly ready to start.
Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami
Grade: A-
The character concerns probably make him a bust. But I love that Buffalo took him because he could be an elite tackle prospect if he stays out of trouble.
AFC EAST:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Team grade: C+. I like picking Easley, but Garoppolo was a wasted pick as far as next season, or maybe even for a few years is concerned. The Patriots got some great depth later in the draft, but only getting one immediate starter and failing to address tight end entirely earns them a paltry grade.
Dominique Easley, DE, Florida.
Grade: B+
Great value for the talent you're getting, but the injury concerns and lack of size at defensive tackle worries me. Easley is the best pass rushing defensive tackle in this class, although he needs some work at holding his gap in the run game.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois.
Grade: D-
Your second round pick needs to be an effective starter in two years, and should be a valuable contributor as a rookie. As it stands, Garoppolo would be battling for a backup job, or at worst, being an emergency quarterback. That's not a valuable impact on your team in the near future. I also though Garoppolo is a reach at this point with better QBs (Mett, McCarron, Fales) still available. The fact that the Patriots have no third round pick makes this waste even more ridiculous. I can't imagine BB was happy with this one.
Bryan Stork, C, Florida St.
Grade: A-
Trading down to get a valuable starting contributor in the third round is a nice job. The Pats did have bigger needs though.
James White, RB, Wisconsin
Grade: C
Even with Lagarrete Blount gone, I don't see White getting enough touches to make an impact. He's not a great talent for the fourth round.
Cameron Fleming, OT, Stanford
Grade: A
There's a major steal who can start at either tackle position right away. He's consistent and a hard work with limited upside.
Jon Halapio, OG, Florida
Grade: A
Another very nice depth piece at a bargain price.
Zach Moore, DE, Concordia
Grade: D
He looks the part and he checks all the boxes as a scout, but he's a massive project that I don't think the Patriots have time for. They needed a rotational guy who would make an impact right away.
Jemea Thomas, CB, Georgia Tech
Grade: B+
He was much higher on my board than this. He looks great in coverage and he had a great combine workout. I'm worried about his size and durability. He's a liability against the run.
Jeremy Gallon, WR, Michigan
Grade: C
I'm not sure what impact this guy makes, in fact, I don't see him cracking the roster at all with the log jam at WR. He could be a kick return specialist and contribute on special teams.
NEW YORK JETS: Team grade: A-. I thought Pryor was a reach, but the depth and quantity of talent the Jets got in this draft is insane. A few picks are major head-scratchers.
Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville.
Grade: B-
Pryor was an okay selection considering how late the top safeties went in this draft. I have huge concerns about his coverage ability and his readiness to start for the Jets. In addition, HaHa Clinton-Dix and Deone Bucannon were both available, making this a reach. All that being said, if Rex Ryan feels that he can make Pryor work as a hard hitting safety, the pick could pan out in the long run. Finally, failing to address corner or WR in round 1 docked this pick from a B to a B-.
Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech.
Grade A-.
Amaro's tape is more impressive than any other tight end in the class, and he played against some high level competition as well. Amaro's great route running and vertical ability add a dimension the Jets didn't have while taking a cover corner off of Eric Decker. This isn't an A because the Jets are a run first offense and Amaro needs to improve his blocking strength and technique.
Dexter McDougle, CB, McDonald's University.
Grade: B-.
If the jets are looking for an immediate impact player, McDougle gives them that at KR. Other than that, I'm not sure he'll be ready to start until year two or three, at which point his speed means high upside for a third round corner. The minus is because I don't think he does much for you on defense in years one and two, and that will make him seem like a disappointment for Jets fans.
Jalen Saunders, WR, Oklahoma
Grade: D
Saunders talent makes him a great selection in round 4, but he's tiny at 5'9'' 165. One hit and he's done injury wise, and you can't use him for much. This is a massive gamble when you just drafted McDougle to fill a similar role.
Shaw Evans, WR, UCLA
Grade: C
And then you went and got the exact opposite guy in the next round? Shaq has the size you want, but his route running and vertical game need a lot of polishing. The Jets really could have just gone for an all around better prospect first and saved the draft pick.
Dakota Dozier, T, Furman
Grade: A
Way to stick to your board and grab a falling sleeper. Dozier's size and technique don't leave any question marks with this pick.
Jeremiah George, ILB, Iowa St.
Grade: C-
This was a serious reach considering the talent left on the board. In the fifth round, there's no reason not to gamble on a prospect with more upside. George is undersized at 5'11'' 234 lbs.
Brandon Dixon, CB, Northewst Missouri St.
Grade: C
WHO? This pick starts a chain of three guys I don't even think get drafted if the Jets don't look at them. Rex Ryan must have something special in mind.
Quincy Enunwa, WR, Nebraska
Grade: D
Again, I have never heard of him. The talent you're passing at WR here is pretty noticable.
Ikemefuna Chinedum-Ro Enemkpali, OLB, Louisiana Tech
Grade: F
I love his name, but other than that, why did you draft him? He's a non athletic tweener without college production, and you never brought him in for a workout or anything. I don't get this.
Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
Grade: A
I have no idea how he fell this far when you consider the production at Clemson, the arm talent, and his amazing pro day workout. He's a great developmental QB to sit behind Vick and Smith.
Trevor Reilly, OLB, Utah
Grade: A
I understand he fell this far due to character concerns. That's what seventh round picks are for. Nail a massive talent to your roster, and if it doesn't work out, you don't lose much.
MIAMI DOLPHINS: Team grade: A. I want to give this draft an A+. The talent is that good. The depth is that good. This is the kind of draft that builds a franchise and wins super bowls. The only reason it's not an A+ is because the first round pick is underwhelming, but it still filled a crucial need.
JuWuan James, RT, Tennessee.
Grade: B
I don't think Miami could have gotten him in the second round, and they stuck to their board on this one while filling a need. I question the board, but I can't really hammer a team for sticking to their guns, and frankly, I would have blasted the pick if it wasn't an offensive lineman. James has great size and he'll put pass rusher on the ground, but he plays pretty slow to start week 1.
Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU
Grade: A
Landry's tape might be the best of any wide receiver in the draft, and his measurable's aren't anything that would make him fall or rise. I don't know why he was available this late. Great pick, even though it wasn't a huge need.
Billy Turner, LT, North Dakota State.
Grade: A
He flat out dominated competition for 4 years at North Dakota State, didn't allow a sack his senior season, so people figured he was just beating up on the little kids, but then he showed up at the senior bowl and dominated there too. He'll be quality starter at offensive tackle and could very well steal JuWuan's job right out of the preseason. He's that good.
Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty
Grade: B
Great value pick on a corner with top tier athleticism. I have concerns though that he's not ready for what NFL receivers bring in terms of routes and physicality. He's not ready to start at all, but he could be great in a few years. That's a nice pick in the end of the fourth.
Arthur Lynch, TE, Georgia
Grade: A
Miami got a top tier blocker with the upside to develop into a do-it-all in line tight end. Nice choice.
Jordan Tripp, LB, Montana
Grade: A
It's absurd that Tripp's combination of size, athleticism and intelligence is sitting here practically in the sixth round. Miami got a future starter extremely late in the draft.
Matt Hazel, WR, Coastal Carolina
Grade: C
I get the feeling he doesn't make the roster because he's got inconsistent hands and he's not fast or a smooth runner. What he does is go get jump balls, and Miami just got the best in the business at doing that in Jarvis Landry.
Terrence Fede, DE, Marist
Grade: A+
What? Who? WHERE?!??!?! Fede is the first player ever drafted from Marist, a college that I haven't even heard of. That said, he's a 6'4'' 267 4-3 DE who will probably rush from the edge in Miami. You can't get Clowney like measurables in the 7th round and not get an A+.
BUFFALO BILLS: Team Grade: C. It doesn't matter how talented this Bills class is. Throwing the future in the garbage can when you're not ready to challenge for the division was the worst decision any team made in this draft.
Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
Grade: C-
The trade was atrocious for the Bills. Highway robbery is the term that comes to mind. Two first round picks and a day 3 pick next year for a developing team is too steep a price to pay for anyone other than a sure franchise quarterback. For all we know, Buffalo will pick top ten next year, and Watkins is not the once-in-five-year prospect he's been hyped as. He's a one trick pony who made his money within five yards of the line of scrimmage and needs time to develop. He gets good seperation and he's great in space, but those WR's are a dime a dozen. I don't see anything that Watkins does that Donte Moncrief or D'anthony Thomas can't do for you. This isn't my worst grade, but it is the greatest organizational failure of the draft so far. This pick will set the Bills back years. Decisions like this one are why Buffalo hasn't made the playoffs in 14 years, not the solutions to getting there.
Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama
Grade: B+
He's a great value in the second round, but the injury concerns and his position are problematic for Buffalo. They waned a LT so they could move Cordy Glenn around but they didn't get one in Kouandjio even though he played LT in college. In the end, he's a talented RT who they really could't pass up.
Preston Brown, ILB, Louisiville
Grade: B
An underwhelming ILB who hits harder than he is big. He does a lot of things well, but he doesn't jump off the tape in any other area but closing speed and filling a gap for you. I think he could compete for a job as a rookie though, and that's solid value for round 3.
Ross Cockrell, CB, Duke
Grade: A-
Cockrell gave Manziel and A&M nightmares in the Chick Fill-A bowl, and he's a natural leader with the talent to start in the NFL. Nice pick. He doesn't have top tier speed, so he's not a great man cover guy on the sidelines.
Cyril Richardson, G, Baylor
Grade: B
He HAD huge weight concerns, but he showed he can lose the weight and stay in shape if motivated. I'm concerned that won't always be the case, but the Bills might have gotten a steal at guard or center.
Randell Johnson, OLB, Florida Atlantic
Grade: C
He's big enough for the move to 3-4 Sam, and that's a hard position to find. The pick fills a need, but only in an emergency since Johnson isn't nearly ready to start.
Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami
Grade: A-
The character concerns probably make him a bust. But I love that Buffalo took him because he could be an elite tackle prospect if he stays out of trouble.