Risen Star
Likes Collector
- Messages
- 89,416
- Reaction score
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Liking it
Yes, that's the first time I've used a college logo in this file. What's the deal? Well ...
Detroit Lions: Detroit needed a big, run-stuffing type on the defensive line, and I couldn't have imagined they'd get a player like A'Shawn Robinson all the way down at No. 46. This was my 20th-ranked player overall. And I think Robinson has a little pass-rush in him that can be developed.
Seattle Seahawks: Goodbye Brandon Mebane, hello Jarran Reed. Again, like Detroit, the Seahawks got a player at No. 49 I had rated far higher (No. 21). This guy has big-time talent as a run defender, and he's more athletic than he looks. Seattle moved down in Round 1 and added a draft pick, and they used a little of that added currency to move up. Nice work. Seattle is having a great draft so far.
Cleveland Browns
When you move down in Round 1 two times, you have a really good chance to improve your roster on the second day of the draft, and the Browns have done that. They got a pair of guys who have proven they can get to the passer in Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib -- I thought Ogbah could have gone on Thursday night -- and then addressed a clear need at tackle with Shon Coleman in Round 3. And then there's that extra Round 3 selection, where they added Cody Kessler at quarterback, a guy who might have starter potential but is a useful backup. When you want to build a deeper roster, piling up picks and building from the inside out is a good way to go. Nice Friday evening for this franchise.
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have put the pieces together on the offensive side of the ball, with a very good line in front of the emerging Derek Carr, and the focus has been on defense thus far in the 2016 draft. On Friday, they added a pair of defensive lineman who were both rated higher on my board than where they landed. Jihad Ward was a first-round sleeper who they bagged at No. 44, and Shilique Calhoun is a player I, at one time, thought of as a likely first-round player, and they got him at No. 75. The defensive line now looks quite formidable. Reggie McKenzie is on a good run.
Jacksonville Jaguars
We all know there are medical concerns surrounding Myles Jack and his knee, but at 100 percent this is a player who easily projects as a top-10 pick. To get him at No. 36 overall means you get all the upside and at a meager cap hit. This is a great example of managing risk. The Jags then added a developmental edge-rusher in Yannick Ngakoue, which offers them some insurance as Dante Fowler Jr. works his way back from the knee injury that kept him off the field as a rookie.
More I liked: I know they have other needs, but the Giants got a wide receiver who is destined to be productive in Sterling Shepard. He's one of my favorite players in the draft, and it's going to be no fun trying to keep both him and Odell Beckham covered. ... Someone is listening to Rex Ryan in Buffalo. They got Shaq Lawson on Thursday and added a first-round talent in Reggie Ragland on Friday. ... The Bengals took a major hit at wide receiver in free agency but added a really good one with Tyler Boyd in Round 2. ... Kamalei Correa and Bronson Kaufusi make the Ravens look a lot better along the defensive line. ... Cody Whitehair is a plug-and-play guard for the Bears, andJonathan Bullard is a disruptive defensive lineman who should thrive in Vic Fangio's scheme. ... Vonn Bell was a flat-out steal for the Saints all the way down at No. 61. ... Jordan Jenkins was a good value for the Jets at No. 83 overall. He's not the athlete Leonard Floyd is, but he was the more productive player at Georgia. The Colts continued a solid draft Friday night with the additions of T.J. Green and Le'Raven Clark. Green, in particular, was a great value late in Round 2.
Questioning it
Dallas Cowboys
Jaylon Smith is one of the best players in the entire draft -- arguably the best player period -- if he's 100 percent. But the knee injury he suffered and the rehabilitation he's facing clouds the potential. For the second straight season, the Cowboys drafted a player who is essentially a redshirt. Last year, Randy Gregory was added in Round 2, and his future is still in doubt because of off-field concerns. Smith is simply a medical question. Again, there is star potential, but in Round 2 you're looking for starters, so this is yet another risk. Hopefully he comes back strong.
New York Jets
I really liked the addition of Jordan Jenkins in Round 3, as I noted above. Christian Hackenberg is a boom-or-bust selection in Round 2, a guy with the upside of an NFL starter -- maybe even a pretty good one if you watch his freshman tape and factor in the overall skill set -- but you don't want to have to play him early. The question then isn't as much about the selection, it's about what the depth chart looks like going into Week 1. If Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't around, it's looking pretty dicey.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans hit a home run when they traded down from No. 1 overall and got a pile of picks from the Rams. They were then able to get a really good offensive tackle when they moved back up and got Jack Conklin at No. 8. The addition of Kevin Dodd is a good one, because he gives them needed help in the pass rush. After that, I think the value was a question.Austin Johnson was a bit of a reach for me at No. 43 (I have him ranked No. 75), and though Derrick Henry is really good, there were a ton of good players available at No. 45. Kevin Byard is a good safety prospect, but a reach for me in Round 3. There's no question they got better, I just didn't love some of the Day 2 value.
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers got one of the best players in the draft in Round 1 when they added Joey Bosa. They got the best tight end in the draft -- in an admittedly weak class -- in Round 2 when they drafted Hunter Henry. They did get a versatile interior blocker with the addition of Max Tuerk in Round 3, but the question so far is whether they'll be able to stay healthier up front and protect quarterback Philip Rivers.
More: I'm a big fan of Cyrus Jones for New England, and I agree with Mr. McShay that he'll be a really good player for Bill Belichick and his staff to develop, but I didn't love the value of the next two picks. That said, they've built a deep and impressive roster and can draft for fit. ... Carolina is drafting for traits at cornerback and added a pair of players with good length in James Bradberry and Daryl Worley. Bradberry was a bit of a reach for me in Round 2, as I had several other cornerbacks rated higher at that point. ... The value on Mackensie Alexander wasn't bad for the Vikings in Round 2, but Vonn Bell would have been a decent fit there as well.
Yes, that's the first time I've used a college logo in this file. What's the deal? Well ...
Detroit Lions: Detroit needed a big, run-stuffing type on the defensive line, and I couldn't have imagined they'd get a player like A'Shawn Robinson all the way down at No. 46. This was my 20th-ranked player overall. And I think Robinson has a little pass-rush in him that can be developed.
Seattle Seahawks: Goodbye Brandon Mebane, hello Jarran Reed. Again, like Detroit, the Seahawks got a player at No. 49 I had rated far higher (No. 21). This guy has big-time talent as a run defender, and he's more athletic than he looks. Seattle moved down in Round 1 and added a draft pick, and they used a little of that added currency to move up. Nice work. Seattle is having a great draft so far.
Cleveland Browns
When you move down in Round 1 two times, you have a really good chance to improve your roster on the second day of the draft, and the Browns have done that. They got a pair of guys who have proven they can get to the passer in Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib -- I thought Ogbah could have gone on Thursday night -- and then addressed a clear need at tackle with Shon Coleman in Round 3. And then there's that extra Round 3 selection, where they added Cody Kessler at quarterback, a guy who might have starter potential but is a useful backup. When you want to build a deeper roster, piling up picks and building from the inside out is a good way to go. Nice Friday evening for this franchise.
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have put the pieces together on the offensive side of the ball, with a very good line in front of the emerging Derek Carr, and the focus has been on defense thus far in the 2016 draft. On Friday, they added a pair of defensive lineman who were both rated higher on my board than where they landed. Jihad Ward was a first-round sleeper who they bagged at No. 44, and Shilique Calhoun is a player I, at one time, thought of as a likely first-round player, and they got him at No. 75. The defensive line now looks quite formidable. Reggie McKenzie is on a good run.
Jacksonville Jaguars
We all know there are medical concerns surrounding Myles Jack and his knee, but at 100 percent this is a player who easily projects as a top-10 pick. To get him at No. 36 overall means you get all the upside and at a meager cap hit. This is a great example of managing risk. The Jags then added a developmental edge-rusher in Yannick Ngakoue, which offers them some insurance as Dante Fowler Jr. works his way back from the knee injury that kept him off the field as a rookie.
More I liked: I know they have other needs, but the Giants got a wide receiver who is destined to be productive in Sterling Shepard. He's one of my favorite players in the draft, and it's going to be no fun trying to keep both him and Odell Beckham covered. ... Someone is listening to Rex Ryan in Buffalo. They got Shaq Lawson on Thursday and added a first-round talent in Reggie Ragland on Friday. ... The Bengals took a major hit at wide receiver in free agency but added a really good one with Tyler Boyd in Round 2. ... Kamalei Correa and Bronson Kaufusi make the Ravens look a lot better along the defensive line. ... Cody Whitehair is a plug-and-play guard for the Bears, andJonathan Bullard is a disruptive defensive lineman who should thrive in Vic Fangio's scheme. ... Vonn Bell was a flat-out steal for the Saints all the way down at No. 61. ... Jordan Jenkins was a good value for the Jets at No. 83 overall. He's not the athlete Leonard Floyd is, but he was the more productive player at Georgia. The Colts continued a solid draft Friday night with the additions of T.J. Green and Le'Raven Clark. Green, in particular, was a great value late in Round 2.
Questioning it
Dallas Cowboys
Jaylon Smith is one of the best players in the entire draft -- arguably the best player period -- if he's 100 percent. But the knee injury he suffered and the rehabilitation he's facing clouds the potential. For the second straight season, the Cowboys drafted a player who is essentially a redshirt. Last year, Randy Gregory was added in Round 2, and his future is still in doubt because of off-field concerns. Smith is simply a medical question. Again, there is star potential, but in Round 2 you're looking for starters, so this is yet another risk. Hopefully he comes back strong.
New York Jets
I really liked the addition of Jordan Jenkins in Round 3, as I noted above. Christian Hackenberg is a boom-or-bust selection in Round 2, a guy with the upside of an NFL starter -- maybe even a pretty good one if you watch his freshman tape and factor in the overall skill set -- but you don't want to have to play him early. The question then isn't as much about the selection, it's about what the depth chart looks like going into Week 1. If Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't around, it's looking pretty dicey.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans hit a home run when they traded down from No. 1 overall and got a pile of picks from the Rams. They were then able to get a really good offensive tackle when they moved back up and got Jack Conklin at No. 8. The addition of Kevin Dodd is a good one, because he gives them needed help in the pass rush. After that, I think the value was a question.Austin Johnson was a bit of a reach for me at No. 43 (I have him ranked No. 75), and though Derrick Henry is really good, there were a ton of good players available at No. 45. Kevin Byard is a good safety prospect, but a reach for me in Round 3. There's no question they got better, I just didn't love some of the Day 2 value.
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers got one of the best players in the draft in Round 1 when they added Joey Bosa. They got the best tight end in the draft -- in an admittedly weak class -- in Round 2 when they drafted Hunter Henry. They did get a versatile interior blocker with the addition of Max Tuerk in Round 3, but the question so far is whether they'll be able to stay healthier up front and protect quarterback Philip Rivers.
More: I'm a big fan of Cyrus Jones for New England, and I agree with Mr. McShay that he'll be a really good player for Bill Belichick and his staff to develop, but I didn't love the value of the next two picks. That said, they've built a deep and impressive roster and can draft for fit. ... Carolina is drafting for traits at cornerback and added a pair of players with good length in James Bradberry and Daryl Worley. Bradberry was a bit of a reach for me in Round 2, as I had several other cornerbacks rated higher at that point. ... The value on Mackensie Alexander wasn't bad for the Vikings in Round 2, but Vonn Bell would have been a decent fit there as well.
