The Browns have positioned themselves well. Trading down again (from the 1st pick of round 2) is a mistake in my eyes. Eventually you need to start selecting your guys. I'd take Cook with the first pick of the second round if I were them. You could easily have a one two punch very similar to their division rivals in 2011. Cincinnati landed AJ Green and Andy Dalton in the 1st and 2nd rounds respectively back then. The Browns already took WR Corey Coleman at #15 overall and Cook is waiting for them with their next pick. Pull the trigger Hue!
As for the rest of the league, here are my grades... Pick by Pick:
1) Rams/ Goff/ QB/ Grade: C ... They passed on an amazing rare talent in Wentz. This draft could end up like Tim Couch and Donavan McNabb going 1 and 2. The long term answer goes 2nd. The Rams have really rolled the dice here. If Goff is mediocre and Wentz becomes the next Cam Newton, the L.A. experiment will be a disaster. However I do think Goff could be a serviceable player, so only time can tell.
2) Eagles/ Wentz/ QB/ Grade: A ... It would be an A+ if they hadn't committed nearly 30 million to free agent QB's already in free agency. Very murky waters in Philly right now. Very crowded QB meeting room. Can a rookie HC work all of this out? We shall see. As for Wentz, he's a stud!
3) Chargers/ Bosa/ LB/ Grade: A ... They needed a playmaker on defense and they did a masterful job of disguising their interest in this player. Don't trade just to trade. If he's the next Von Miller this pick is obviously more valuable then whatever compensation was dangled out there.
4) Cowboys/ Elliott/ RB/ Grade: A+ ... It's been a long time since I was this excited about a RB, or felt that one was worth a top 5 selection. I see the complete package and an Adrian Peterson clone. The only way he ends up as a bust is if he gets some catastrophic injury early in his career. Otherwise hes cash money. Perfect fit.
5) Jaguars/ Ramsey/ CB/ Grade: B+ ... I had him ranked out of the top 10, but still ranked very high. I like Dodd or Buckner a bit more in this spot. Frankly think they should have traded down, which I say rarely. But if he can hang as a true #1 shut down CB in this league it's a good pick. I hate the word "IF' in the top 10. That's why I ranked him #13 on my board.
6) Ravens/ Stanley/ OT/ Grade: A ... #3 on my board, 10 year starter. Very well rounded. No brainer. Expect nothing less from Newsome.
7) 49ers/ Buckner/ DE/ Grade: A+ ... I actually ranked him #7 on my board, so I guess I can't criticize. I love that he is reunited with his teammate from Oregon, Armstead. Cool dynamic. Long term starter here. Good value.
8) Titans/ Conklin/ OT/ Grade: D ... I only had 2 Offensive Linemen in my top 15, and Conklin wasn't one of them. The whole idea of a top 15 pick is a guy who can be a true game changer and have a massive impact on your franchise. Conklin is a late 1st rounder. Yes they have a need at this position but they also have other holes to fill. Guys like Sheldon Rankins, Myles Jack, Vernon Hargreaves and Josh Doctson were still on the board. Passing on them to reach for need is a mistake, especially when you traded back up 7 spots to land him. Ask Jacksonville and Tennessee who both passed on JJ Watt in 2011 to reach for developmental QB's who should have been late 1st or 2nd round picks. I can understand that with all of the last minute drama surrounding Tunsil that they didn't take him, but Conklin? In this spot? FAIL.
9) Bears/ Floyd/ OLB/ Grade: C ... I think Floyd is another Vernon Gholson. A guy who only LOOKS like an NFL LB. But I do give them credit for having the guts to move up to get the guy they wanted. So they get a C for having balls, sadly he's a future bust.
10) Giants/ Apple/ CB/ Grade: F ... All I'm going to say is this is a developmental player (who I admit has upside) who is at least 2 years from starting and plays a position that you already have over 20 million committed to this year alone. He would have been available much lower. On top of everything the Giants admit they had a trade partner but didn't like the compensation. This pick is the straw that will break Jerry Reece's back and send him to the unemployment line. Way too big of a gamble. The G men paid Damien Harrison in free agency 10 million a year when there was 2 or 3 dominate bluechip quality DT's waiting for them with this pick who would have cost a fraction of that salary. I'm lost New York. SMH
11) Bucs/ Hargreaves/ CB/ Grade: A ... They traded back and got the best CB in the draft IMHO. Great fit and they added an additional 4th round pick. Love it. A team on the rise. Too bad Lovie Smith isn't their to be a part of it. #12 on my board, missed by one LOL
12) Saints/ Rankins/ DT-DE/ Grade: A ... So many holes to fill, but they got a game changer to help that poor defense. Well done. #15 on my board, pretty close.
13) Dolphins/ Tunsil/ LT/ Grade: A ... I don't know what to say here. I had him #1 overall. He's a complete physical freak, the best OL I've seen in the draft in many, many years. But all of this drama with drugs and now a scandal involving money being paid by a coach at Ole' Miss, and the crazy step dad high jacking his twitter account. I don't know. This was a major gamble by Tannenbaum in Miami. Especially because they have two solid tackles. Mr T traded down from #8 and gained two very overpriced players one of which is very fragile. Then he uses the #13 on a guy with major red flags. He doesn't seem to understand the locker room dynamic. But I can't give a grade lower than an A for the #1 player on my board going outside of the top 10. I guess it's worth the gamble.
14) Raiders/ Joseph/ S/ Grade: F ... I don't think this guy was projected in the 1st round by anyone. Maybe some of the teams in the top 15 were so sure that they were going to get great offers for their picks they weren't prepared to take a player. This pick and the Giants at 10 are head scratchers. He's a solid player but he would have been there in the 2nd round.
15) Browns/ Coleman/ WR/ Grade: B ... I like how they moved down twice, I like the player, I just had other guys ranked higher, including WR's. But the WR class didn't have a clear #1, so this is obviously the guy they liked. They have tons of holes to fill, I would have taken Doctson. But some savvy maneuvering here for a team that has looked lost for the past decade in the draft.
16) Lions/ Decker/ OT/ Grade: B ... Solid guy, still a bit of a reach for me. Many playmaker's left on the board, but he has the potential to be a long term starter. Could have done worse.
17) Falcons/ Neal/ S/ Grade: D ... Two safeties in the mid 1st round? Shocked me. I only felt two players were absolute locks with particular teams in this draft... Elliott in Dallas and Darron Lee in Atlanta. Guess I was wrong. Really surprised they passed on a ultra fast LB who fits their system perfectly. I see this player as a 2nd round talent.
18) Colts/ Kelly/ C/ Grade: A ... Love this guy, he would have been right outside of my top 15. Nasty, smart interior linemen. He will be Luck's new BFF. Great pick, for need and value.
19) Bills/ Lawson/ LB-DE/ Grade: D ... Of coarse Rex chooses a kid from his sons college. I have this guy ranked as a major BUST and that's because he is lazy. He takes plays off. When a guy does that in college, when he's auditioning for the NFL, imagine what effort and consistency you will get now that you made him a millionaire. Perfect Rex guy, all hype.
20) Jets/ Lee/ LB/ Grade: D ... The only reason this isn't an F is because this kid is smart. He's also lightning fast. But, an undersized LB who can't tackle wasn't what I expected with the #20 overall pick. He will get swallowed up by O-linemen, and if he does get there you have a 50/50 chance he makes the tackle. I guess the hope is that he can cover Gronk. Good luck rookie! I am reserving an epic rant about what a dumpster fire the Jets last 7 to 8 drafts have been and how mismanaged their roster is for after the 2nd round. Stay tuned for some venom later this weekend.
21) Texans/ Fuller/ WR/ Grade: C ... I am on record saying this guy shouldn't be a 1st round pick. I like his 40 time, but he has the route tree of a pop warner WR. I need the whole package if I'm using a 1st round pick on a WR. He's a one trick pony. That being said the Texans desperately need speed. They got it. Considering that Fuller will have a top 3 WR lined up on the opposite side of the field, he may have some success. But trading up one spot, passing on Doctson, and then the Redskins taking Doctson could be a real PR nightmare in the next 2 years.
22) Redskins/ Doctson/ WR/ Grade: A+ ... I love this kid. The next Anquan Boldin IMHO. Perfect fit and they also got more draft picks by swapping with the Texans. Well done.
23) Vikings/ Treadwell/ WR/ Grade: C ... Too high for this guy. He's a slot WR. Taking a guy this high puts a lot of pressure on him to be something he's not. That being said, he can play. So they get a C.
24) Bengals/ Jackson III/ CB/ Grade: B ... Fills a need, maybe the 3rd or best defensive back in the draft, and he ends up going as the 6th selected. Good value. This team has consistently had the best drafts for the past 5 years or so. I'm not questioning them.
25) Steelers/ Burns/ CB/ Grade: D ... Yuck, I have to wonder if they were in heavy negotiations with Denver at this point. So many impactful players left on the board. I was sure they were taking Kevin Dodd. No one predicted this many DB's in this years first round.
26) Broncos/ Lynch/ QB/ Grade: F ... You had Osweiler and you let him walk because you are John Elway. This kid might be able to develop into another Brock in maybe 3-4 years. How does this help you in 2016? Total FAIL.
27) Packers/ Clark/ DT/ Grade: A- ... I would have rolled the dice on Myles Jack here. If he works out you enhance Mathews impact. Clark is a big, powerful hardworking run stuffer up the middle. They need one of those. Good pick, but I would have taken more of a risk.
28) 49ers/ Garnett/ G/ Grade: F ... Most experts projected him late 2nd early 3rd. Not sure what Kelly knows that everyone else doesn't, but it seems we say that about him a lot. Trading up and passing on Connor Cook was Ludacris. Head Scratcher.
29) Cardinals/ Nkemdiche/ DE/ Grade: F ... Major off field issues with this guy. He has a brother who is a REAL bad influence. The Cards apparently told him on his draft phone call they want him to stay away from his brother. Good luck with that. I'm also not a big fan of him on the field. Inconsistent.
30) Panthers/ Butler/ OT/ Grade: D ... A reach for need. He's a quality player, borderline starter. There is upside here. Kind of a shot in the dark.
31) Seahawks / Ifedi/ G/ Grade: C ... Another James Carpenter. Big powerful road grader. Too many game changers left on the board to be this conservative. But he should produce.
-Jay Wagner
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