Well, the draft is over, so I can't make mock drafts anymore. Buuuuuuut what I can now do is scrutinize the Cowboys and Giants and pray that Wentz works out for the Eagles!
Anyways, I'm going to do an initial-analysis round-up of the first round, and how I feel every team did with their first choice (minus the Patriots, who didn't have a first-rounder). There were a lot of surprises, rises, falls, etc. this year, as Goodell lovingly said, "It's what makes the draft so exciting," about Laremy Tunsil's fall, and impending loss of money. What a nice guy, that Goodell.
Again, I'm no expert but I've been following the draft since the Eagles were out of the playoffs. Take my grades how you will.
1. Las Angeles Rams- QB Jared Goff
What a surprise! The Rams grabbed Goff, as expected, and he is the franchise-QB hopeful. The top QB in the draft, he gets a B- in hopes that he and the Rams didn't blow it here.
Grade: B-
2. Philadelphia Eagles- QB Carson Wentz
Another surprise! These two picks were almost certain since the two blockbuster trades. Wentz will be in a better position than Goff, sitting behind Sam Bradford (if he stays) and/or Chase Daniel, where he can develop as a QB for the future. Thanks to his position as a backup, he gets a slightly better grade than Goff.
Grade: B
3. San Diego Chargers- EDGE Joey Bosa
This is widely considered the first actual pick of the draft, and it was a surprise. Bosa was often seen as a top-10 talent, but not the best non-QB. I stand by my mocks in thinking the Chargers will regret not getting Ramsey.
Grade: C
4. Dallas Cowboys- RB Ezekiel Elliot
The best running back in the draft, considered the best prospect since Adrian Peterson, going to the best offensive line in the NFL. That's a (potentially) dangerous combination. With the possibility of Romo retiring soon, and Dez Bryant's shaky season, to establish a future running game could really help the Cowboys while they find or develop Romo's future replacement. However, with Ramsey on the board, and Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden on their roster, the Cowboys could have been wiser on value and draft-positioning, perhaps trading back a few spots to still get their feature back, and an extra pick. No. 4 is way to early for Elliot to go, especially to a team with a few solid RBs on the roster. This is one of the hardest picks to grade.
Grade: B
5. Jacksonville Jaguars- CB/S Jalen Ramsey
The best player in the draft, the Jags get phenomenal value here (and later getting Myles Jack... I can't handle it). This is how you draft in the NFL if you're building a defense, and a soon-to-be contender.
Grade: A+
6. Baltimore Ravens- OT Ronnie Stanley
I don't like this pick very much. With Tunsil falling this far, he would've been a great value-pick, regardless of pre-draft social media mayhem. Stanley is a solid O-lineman, but there have been questions about his love of the game, and his physical strength, compared to other linemen in the draft.
Grade: C-
7. San Francisco 49ers- DL DeForest Buckner
This pick was pretty expected, and is a solid one across the board. Experts have said that Buckner may be close to his full potential already, with not much room to grow, but he is still going to be a rock-solid and versatile piece to a rebuilding 49ers defense.
Grade: A
8. Tennessee Titans- OT Jack Conklin
Tunsil just kept on falling, as the Titans take an entirely different offensive tackle than they had been mocked to get all offseason. Conklin is a very physical tackle, and my favorite offensive lineman in the draft. I still think this pick is a slight reach, however.
Grade: B-
9. Chicago Bears- EDGE Leonard Floyd
I also saw this pick as a bit of a reach, especially factoring in the fact that the Bears traded up for this pick. Nonetheless, Floyd is one of the best edge-rushers in the draft, but I just don't see the need for the movement up to this spot.
Grade: C+
10. New York Giants- CB Eli Apple
Another reach. The Giants were in a prime position to get Vernon Hargreaves, as the Bears and the Bucs swapped picks (the Bucs have been linked to Hargreaves all offseason), but instead took a riser in the draft at pick 10. Pick 10!! Apple has potential, but not this early, especially with Hargreaves on the board.
Grade: D
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- CB Vernon Hargreaves III
With the Giants reaching for Apple, and with the trade back to pick 11, the Bucs look like geniuses. I'm a big fan of Hargreaves.
Grade: A+
12. New Orleans Saints- DL Sheldon Rankins
No issues here. Solid choice for a defense-needy Saints.
Grade: A
13. Miami Dolphins- OT Laremy Tunsil
Finally, the once-foreseen first overall pick gets taken twelve selections later. I am still a Tunsil fan, so I see this as one of the best picks, value-wise, in the draft.
Grade: A+
14. Oakland Raiders- S Karl Joseph
Karl Joseph, in my opinion, is the best safety in this draft (depending on if you count Ramsey as a safety), but this is still a bit of a reach. Joseph is more of a cusp-of-the-second-round pick. Raiders probably could've traded back, got another pick, and still taken Joseph. Great player, though.
Grade: C+
15. Cleveland Browns- WR Corey Coleman
Not my top wide receiver in the draft, but adding a playmaker to the Browns can only do good. Coleman is dangerous with the ball, and the things he needs to work on are very coachable.
Grade: B-
16. Detroit Lions- OT Taylor Decker
Decker is a solid offensive lineman, and I can't really complain much for this pick. If anything, I can just say it's not the sexiest pick the Lions could've had after losing Megatron. Oh well.
Grade: B+
17. Atlanta Falcons- S Keanu Neal
Safeties sure are going high this year. I didn't know nearly as much about Neal coming into the draft, but he seems like a good player. Could've probably gone day two.
Grade: C-
18. Indianapolis Colts- C Ryan Kelly
Andrew Luck has a new best friend. Kelly is a bruiser of a lineman, and should be solid for years to come. For not getting Decker, the Colts had a fine backup plan (I still think they wanted Decker).
Grade: B-
19. Buffalo Bills- EDGE Shaq Lawson
This was one of those picks that, when Lawson was drafted, I was like, "Oh yeah, I forgot he hasn't been picked yet." That means that this was a good value pick. Lawson was seen as a top-10, top 15 pick. I think he will be tremendous for the Bills with Mario Williams leaving.
Grade: A
20. New York Jets- LB Darron Lee
Solid choice: a solid, athletic linebacker who ran a faster time than his teammate, Ezekiel Elliot (pick number 4 overall).
Grade: B
21. Houston Texans- WR Will Fuller
Still not the best wide receiver in the draft, in my opinion, but another good, fast choice. Fuller could be a major playmaker for the Texans, and I love the way the Texans have turned around their offense this offseason. It could've been Josh Doctson, though.
Grade: B-
22. Washington- WR Josh Doctson
This pick was an absolute shocker to me, but a good shocker at that. Doctson, in my opinion, is the best WR in the draft. This pick makes me wonder if Washington is getting weapons for a franchise QB, or tools for an average QB. Either way, it's a win-win, and Doctson alongside of Jackson and Garçon can only do further damage. This could also be a way of relieving an Alfred Morris-less running game.
Grade: A-
23. Minnesota Vikings- WR Laquon Treadwell
A tool for Teddy Bridgewater, but a strange fit in my opinion. Treadwell could become the red-zone threat to match Stefon Diggs' playmaking ability. I feel as though the Vikings wanted another playmaker type, however.
Grade: B-
24. Cincinnati Bengals- CB William Jackson III
I see Jackson as a Brandon Boykin type, where he will mostly remain as a slot corner throughout his career. If this is the case, the Bengals drafted the best slot corner in the draft. The Bengals, however, missed "Wide Receiver Row" apparently, seeing as wide receiver is a big need for them and Andy Dalton.
Grade: C-
25. Pittsburgh Steelers- CB Artie Burns
This is a pretty big reach, in my opinion. While the Steelers were picking, I had a sudden fear that there would be a Myles Jack, Ryan Shazier duo in Pittsburgh. Boy was I relieved when they took Burns.
Grade: D+
26. Denver Broncos- QB Paxton Lynch
I never noticed it before, but Paxton Lynch looks like a Denver Bronco. I think Lynch finds himself in the best possible place for him, and now he has a chance to reach that potential everyone talks about, at the hands of John Elway. Also, pretty good value at 26.
Grade: A
27. Green Bay Packers- DL Kenny Clark
This is a very Packers pick- not too sexy, but will work out well in the end.
Grade: B
28. San Francisco 49ers- OG Joshua Garnett
Learn any lessons about guards, Chip? Garnett at 28 is a slight reach, as many anticipated him to be a mid-second rounder, but better safe than sorry, right Chip?
Lots of Eagles fan spite here.
Grade: C (since it was a reach, not because it's Chip)
29. Arizona Cardinals- DL Robert Nkemdiche
I was surprised Nkemdiche went in the first round, but he has the potential to be a player who was worth a first round pick. He will need a lot of work in Arizona, so this was a fairly risky pick. I think this is a good fit, however.
Grade: C-
30. Carolina Panthers- DL Vernon Butler
Best available defensive lineman? That's up to debate (I'm a big Andrew Billings fan). Regardless, solid choice here, and a team need.
Grade: B
31. Seattle Seahawks- OL Germain Ifedi
I was surprised to see Ifedi be:
A- Picked in the first round (though it's not a reach) and
B- Moved to guard by the Seahawks.
But, such is life. I think Ifedi is a very good match with the Seahawks, and I don't see anything too wrong with this pick.
Grade: A-
Now that the draft is over, expect plenty of speculative writing on all of these draft picks, super star potential smoke screens, failed expectations, sitting quarterbacks, and some fifth round wide receiver to take the NFL by storm. Now let's get to August already!!
