Below are my reactions to each
pick, mostly written up as I was watching the draft. I’ve already covered the
players in detail—offensive, defensive, and
quarterbacks—so I’ll instead focus on how each selection fits into his
new team.
1)
Houston Texans – Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
No surprises here. Clowney is the
best player in the draft, and the Texans made him the first pick. Ultimately
their only other option would have been to trade the selection, but when no one
made a worthwhile offer they decided just to take advantage of this opportunity
to add a rare talent. It will be interesting to see how they integrate him into
their defense, but it will also be a lot of fun. With JJ Watt and Clowney they
have the most physically impressive defensive front in the NFL. They will have
to find a way to make their defense work with two extremely talented players
best suited for different schemes, but this is a fantastic problem for any
defensive coordinator to have.
2) St
Louis Rams – Greg Robinson, OL, Auburn
I’ve made my thoughts perfectly
clear on Greg Robinson. I like my offensive linemen to be able to pass block,
and Robinson simply cannot do that as a tackle in the NFL. It’s already being
reported that the Rams plan to begin with him at guard, which at least means
that he won’t get Bradford killed on a regular
basis. Maybe he can develop into a reliable tackle down the road, but he will
do very little to help them win now, which is important for a coaching staff
and front office who are fighting for their jobs this season.
3) Jacksonville Jaguars – Blake
Bortles, QB, UCF
Well, that came out of nowhere. I
thought this pick was down to Mack or Watkins. I expected that the Jaguars
would wait and get their quarterback in the second round. I’m still not certain
this is a great idea, but at least Bortles won’t be under pressure to win
immediately. He needs time to develop, and in Jacksonville he will be given more leeway
than anywhere else. I think he has a decent chance to develop into a very good
starting quarterback, but there is also a decent chance that the Jaguars may
need to pick a quarterback again three years from now.
4) Buffalo Bills – Sammy
Watkins, WR, Clemson
The Bills needed to get EJ Manuel
some help on offense, and they decided to get him the best help in the draft. Watkins
is a great addition, and he will immediately bring explosiveness to the perimeter
of their offense that they lacked last season. The only problem I have with
this is the cost of moving up this far. It is almost always a mistake to give
up a future first round selection, and based on the history and roster of the
Bills I expect that the Browns just obtained a top fifteen selection next year.
5) Oakland Raiders – Khalil
Mack, OLB, Buffalo
The Raiders tried desperately to
trade this pick, but they didn’t get an offer they felt was worthwhile. I’m
surprised no one was willing to give up a future first round pick for Mack, but
since no one did this was a no brainer decision for the Raiders. Mack was the
best player available, even though he plays the one position that seems
relatively set in Oakland.
They signed Lamarr Woodley and Justin Tuck in free agency, and I really like
last year’s third round pick Sio Moore as an outside linebacker. But I can’t
fault them for taking one of the four best players in the draft when he fell to
them.
6) Atlanta Falcons – Jake
Matthews, OT, Texas
A&M
This is another predictable pick.
Matthews is the best player left on the board, and he fits a clear need on the
Falcons team. He is the most complete offensive lineman in the draft, and he
can step in at either tackle this season. Matt Ryan doesn’t have great
escapability, and his sack numbers have increased every year he’s been in the
league. They need to protect the face of their franchise, and they drafted a
player who can help them do that.
7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
I don’t have a lot to say about
this pick. It was expected, and it fills a major need on Tampa Bay’s
offense. With the tall and athletic duo of Evans and Vincent Jackson, Josh
McCown has a reasonable facsimile of the offense he found so much success with
last year in Chicago. You can protest that they should have done more to
diversify the skillsets of their wide receivers, but it’s hard to fault them
for taking a playmaker with the upside of Evans.
8) Cleveland Browns – Justin
Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma
State
I’m not a big fan of Gilbert. In
my mind I lump him with Greg Robinson as the most overrated player in the
draft. He is big and athletic, but his coverage abilities are lacking. He plays
the ball well when it’s in the air but doesn’t make sharp breaks on underneath
routes. He doesn’t get his hips turned well and can be beaten over the top. He
made up for his mistakes in college thanks to his length and his speed, but
against NFL receivers and quarterbacks I expect him to be routinely burned.
9) Minnesota Vikings – Anthony
Barr, OLB, UCLA
I’m not sure how the Vikings will
fit Barr into their scheme, but there wasn’t a player worth taking here who
really fits their needs, so I have no problem with them taking Barr. They have
invested a lot into the four players on their defensive line, and if Barr is
going to get much playing time he will have to play as a full time linebacker.
Mike Zimmer’s defensive scheme doesn’t call for a lot of blitzing, but I have
to imagine that will change if they install Barr at linebacker. It will be fun
to watch how they use him and Everson Griffen, two freak athletes on the
outside.
10) Detroit Lions – Eric
Ebron, TE, North Carolina
This is another one that caught
me off guard. The Lions retained disappointing first round pick Brandon
Pettigrew this offseason, so it is a bit surprising that they would spend a top
ten pick on a tight end. They should be able to make it work though, as Ebron
and Pettigrew play very different styles. Pettigrew is a good blocker with
stones for hands, while Ebron is one of the most gifted receivers in the draft.
I don’t exactly have faith that their coaches will use them correctly, but it
certainly can be done.
11) Tennessee Titans – Taylor
Lewan, OT, Michigan
I didn’t see this pick coming,
but I really like it. Lewan is the best pass blocker in the draft, and he is
great value at number eleven. The only problem I have with this selection is
that the Titans really don’t need an offensive lineman. They invested a top ten
pick in Chance Warmack last year, and they have given out big free agent
contracts to Michael Oher and Andy Levitre over the past two years. Lewan
likely won’t get a chance to play until starting left tackle Michael Roos
leaves as a free agent after the season. But the Titans franchise has always
been built around a strong offensive line, and I still believe Lewan will be a
great player long term.
12) New York Giants – Odell
Beckham, WR, LSU
I don’t like Odell Beckham, and I
really don’t like him to the Giants. They already have a player who can do
everything he does in Reuben Randle. There is no justification for taking a
player in the top twelve who tops out as only a number two receiver, especially
in a draft where a number two receiver can be found in the second or third
round. They absolutely should have taken Aaron Donald, and if they were
committed to the idea of a wide receiver they should have gone with the higher
upside of Brandin Cooks or Marqise Lee.
13) St
Louis Rams – Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
My God, the Rams have a
terrifying defensive line. In addition to the best pair of defensive ends in
the league, third year player Michael Brockers has developed into a very good
player on the interior. But it is possible that Donald could be the best of all
of them. He was the best defensive player in college football last year, he
dominated the Senior Bowl, and he tore apart the NFL Combine. He should have
gone in the top ten, and my only complaint about this selection is that the
Rams have invested so much in one unit while leaving holes across the rest of
their roster.
14) Chicago Bears – Kyle
Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
Fuller isn’t quite as long as
Justin Gilbert, but in every other way they are very similar players physically.
The difference is that Fuller is excellent in coverage in addition to being an
elite athlete. He played a great deal of both zone and man coverage in college,
and he is as ready to play in the NFL as any cornerback in this draft. It will
be interesting to see how the Bears manage a secondary with Jennings, Tillman, and Fuller, but having
three quality cornerbacks is never a concern. If they really think Fuller can
step into a starting role, they can move the aging Tillman to fill one of their
holes at safety.
15) Pittsburgh Steelers – Ryan
Shazier, LB, Ohio
State
This is a reach for Shazier. He
is very talented, with stunning speed for a player his size. But he struggles
playing through congested areas, and he might not be suited to play inside
linebacker in a 3-4 defense. But I have to trust the coaches of the Steelers,
especially with the success they had drafting a similar player in Lawrence
Timmons in 2007. Shazier is a similar size to Timmons but even faster, and long
term he may fill in at the weak side spot while Timmons adds bulk and moves
over to the strong side.
16) Dallas Cowboys – Zach
Martin, OL, Notre Dame
To the credit of the Cowboys,
they didn’t select Manziel. But they still don’t have anything on defense!
Offensive line is not a major hole for them, not considering how devoid of
talent their defense is. They could have taken either of the safeties. They
could have taken a defensive lineman or a cornerback or somebody who would give
them some hope of stopping an opposing offense. Martin has the potential to be
a good tackle or a very good guard, but I have to feel sorry for anyone stuck
in the toxic situation that is the Cowboys.
17) Baltimore Ravens – CJ
Mosely, ILB, Alabama
Daryl Smith filled in well at the
middle linebacker position last year, but long term Mosely can be a replacement
to Ray Lewis, someone to build around as the anchor of their defense. Mosely
will stuff up teams that try to run into the heart of their defense, which was
a surprising weakness for them last season. He won’t be able to cover ground sideline
to sideline in the way Lewis did at the beginning of his career, but he can be
as effective as an interior pillar as Lewis was during their most recent Super
Bowl run.
18) New
York Jets – Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
It was always a toss up over which
of the top two safeties would go off the board first. The Jets end up deciding
that they want the playmaker Pryor over the more reliable Clinton-Dix. Pryor
plays much faster on the field than he ran in the Combine, and he can make
plays at any level of the defense. The Jets have needs on offense, but they
could also use a playmaker in their secondary. It isn’t surprising that Rex
Ryan chose to go with a defensive player, as the Jets have gone defense with
their last five first round picks.
19) Miami Dolphins –
Ja’Wuan James, OT, Tennessee
Okay, I’ll be completely honest.
I had not heard of James when this pick was made. But I have since gone through
and watched tape of him from last season, and I saw a player who left me very
conflicted. He has outstanding size and physical tools but he struggles with
technique. He catches rather than attacks during his pass sets, and he has poor
footwork that regularly knocks him off balance. This is a reach at number
nineteen, but I can understand why the Dolphins did it. They need immediate
improvement on the offensive line, specifically at the right tackle position.
The other top tackles in the draft all played on the left side in college, and
it will be less adjustment for James, as he played right tackle at Tennessee. This isn’t to
say that I agree with the pick—they should have gone with Morgan Moses if they
wanted an offensive lineman—but it isn’t as poor a choice as I initially
thought.
20) New
Orleans Saints – Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
I want to take some credit for
this one. I had Cooks going to the Saints in my mock draft, though I had them
waiting until number twenty-seven to get him. Instead they decided to move up
seven spots, sacrificing a third round pick to guarantee that they would be
able to draft the player they wanted. Cooks can fill in for the departed Darren
Sproles and give Drew Brees the deep threat he’s lacked over the past couple
years. He is the sort of player who can immediately contribute on a team
competing for a Super Bowl. A third round pick is a reasonable price to pay,
especially for a team that has already paid so much this offseason.
21) Green
Bay Packers – Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
A very good player falls to the
Packers, and he happens to fill their most pressing need on defense. A safety
over the top will help prevent big plays and give their pass rush more
opportunity to get after the quarterback. Clinton-Dix is also capable of
dropping into the box and playing in a linebacker role, which will shore up the
run defense that has struggled occasionally over the past couple years. The
only thing Clinton-Dix lacks is elite speed, and the Packers may have preferred
the chance to select Pryor over him. But they took the player who fell into
their lap, and I doubt they will regret this selection.
22) Cleveland Browns – Johnny
Manziel, QB, Texas
A&M
I really like what the Browns did
with their second pick. Manziel is extremely talented with incredible upside,
and I wouldn’t have been upset if they had taken him with the fourth overall
selection. Getting him at twenty-two is a steal, even though it cost them a
third round pick to move up four spots. Manziel could be a bust like the last
two quarterbacks they took with the twenty-second pick (Quinn in 2007 and
Weeden in 2012, because the world is funny sometimes) but if he finds the same
success in the NFL as he did in college he could turn Cleveland into a contender within the next
year or two.
23) Kansas
City Chiefs – Dee Ford, OLB, Auburn
This doesn’t make a lot of sense.
This is a bit of a reach for Ford, by a team that doesn’t need someone of his
skills. He fits well into their 3-4 scheme as an outside linebacker, but they
are set at that position with Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. Hali’s contract
makes it reasonable to part ways with him after this season, but Ford probably
won’t have much chance to contribute during his rookie year. I don’t like this
pick for a team that has immediate needs on both lines and at wide receiver.
24) Cincinnati Bengals –
Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan
State
I laid out my reasons for Dennard
to Cincinnati
when I projected him here in my mock draft (shameless brag alert!) but I’ll
repeat them here. The two positions of real uncertainty for Cincinnati are on their defensive line and in
their secondary, but they have a strong track record of finding defensive
linemen in later rounds. Dennard fell in the draft because he lacks the
athleticism of the other cornerbacks, but he will bring stability to a
secondary in the midst of a transition. If the Bengals can find a way to
develop Dre Kirkpatrick, they could have the best pair of cornerbacks in the
league.
25) San Diego Chargers – Jason
Verrett, CB, TCU
I had San Diego going with Bradley Roby here, and I
still believe that he is a more talented player than Verrett. But various concerns
scared them away from Roby, and they decided to go with the cornerback who is
more stable both on and off the field. Verrett is smaller than the other
cornerbacks in the first round, and he may be best suited to play in the slot
long term. But San Diego
is so bare in their defensive backfield that there is a very good chance that
he starts from day one on the outside of the field.
26) Philadelphia Eagles – Marcus
Smith, OLB, Louisville
Philadelphia has a number of options at the
outside linebacker position, but none of them are very good. Trent Cole is over
the hill, Connor Barwin was a bust as a free agent signing, and Brandon Graham
isn’t a great fit for their system. I saw Smith projected mostly as a second
round pick prior to the draft and didn’t watch any tape of him until tonight,
but from what I’ve seen I wouldn’t consider this selection a reach. He has
tremendous explosion off the ball, and if he can develop better technique with
his hands he could become a disruptive pass rusher. Philadelphia’s depth at the position will
allow them to rotate him in and out of their defense as he develops his
abilities.
27) Arizona Cardinals – Deone
Bucannon, S, Washington
State
Bucannon is a cover first safety
who can play in a deep zone or matched up man to man with a slot receiver, and
he fits well with Arizona’s
defensive personnel. Last year’s third round pick Tyrann Mathieu is a playmaker
who flies across the field, but he was consistently exposed when he was put
into coverage against a quick receiver or a large tight end. Bucannon can fill
this hole in their defense, but he has enough flaws that I think this was too
high for him to be taken. He rarely becomes involved in the running game, and
when he does he usually either misses the tackle or is wiped out by a blocker. Safety
isn’t a desperate need for the Cardinals, and they should have just taken the
best player available.
28) Carolina Panthers – Kelvin
Benjamin, WR, Florida
State
Carolina is facing major holes at cornerback
and offensive tackle, but they decided to address their equally pressing need
at wide receiver. With Jericho Cotchery and Jason Avant as their top two
receivers they will need Benjamin to contribute immediately, which isn’t the
ideal circumstance for him. He has a lot he needs to work on, specifically route
running and avoiding drops. He will give them a weapon down the field who can
win contested balls, but if they wanted someone to be their number one receiver
immediately they should have taken Marqise Lee.
29) New England
Patriots – Dominique Easley, DL, Florida
Easley is one of the most
talented players in the draft, and he should be a disruptive force for the
Patriots. He can play anywhere on the defensive line, though he will likely
spend most of his time as a penetrating under tackle. Some people thought he
was among the top ten players in the draft in terms of raw talent, and while I
think that is a bit of an overstatement I would consider him worthy of a higher
pick than this. But everything I just said comes with a major caveat: if he can
stay healthy. Easley tore both his ACLs in college, and there is no guarantee
that he won’t suffer similar injuries during his NFL career. This could either
be a major steal or a major bust. I don’t see much middle ground.
30) San
Francisco 49ers – Jimmie Ward, S, Northern
Illinois
At first glance it doesn’t appear
that San Francisco
needs a safety. Eric Reid is coming off a stellar rookie season, and they
signed Antoine Bethea to a four year free agent contract. But they have already
said that they plan to use Ward as a nickel cornerback during his rookie
season, likely to cover the slot as he did during much of his time in college.
This isn’t a pressing need, but San
Francisco doesn’t have many pressing needs. This is a
team that is well stocked with talent, and they can probably afford a luxury
pick.
31) Denver Broncos – Bradley
Roby, CB, Ohio State
I am a big fan of Roby, despite
his struggles over the past year. He is capable of more flash plays than any
other cornerback in the draft. He makes remarkably sharp breaks on the ball and
will add a playmaking element to the Broncos defense. Down the line they might
be able to coach him into a consistent cornerback, but for this year they will
have to accept the occasional big play over his head. They certainly have an
offense that can endure and respond to such big plays.
32) Minnesota Vikings – Teddy
Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
I’m going to pound my chest here
for a few sentences. I was certain that Bridgewater
wouldn’t make it out of the first round. I all but guaranteed that some team
would trade up to grab him before the run of quarterbacks began the second
round. The presence of a fifth year option in the contracts of first round selections
only makes it more tantalizing to hop a few picks to grab a quarterback.
The one thing I didn’t expect:
that this trade would be made by the Vikings. I was floored when I saw that
they were on the clock, and I still believed that they were going to draft Derek
Carr up until I heard the second syllable of Bridgewater’s first name. At that point I
leapt into the air in celebration, spilling my computer off my lap onto the
floor, and shrieked in a higher register than I ever realized my voice could
reach. When I discussed the selection of Khalil Mack above, I called Mack “one
of the four best players in the draft.” In my mind those four players are Mack,
Clowney, Watkins, and Bridgewater.
I think that Bridgewater
should start from day one for the Vikings, and I believe that with him under
center they will field a team that can compete for a playoff spot this year.
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