Risen Star
Likes Collector
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http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...-kiper-runs-winners-questions-first-day-picks
Liking it
St. Louis Rams
The picks: OT Greg Robinson at No. 2, DT Aaron Donald at No. 13
Summary: I had wide receiver as a need for the Rams, but it's also the deepest position in the draft, and they added two potential Pro Bowl players with their two picks. Robinson needs work as a pass protector, because he's far more dominating as a run-blocker and, as colleague Jon Gruden noted, can grab too often, but he's a freak athlete with a sharp learning curve. He can be very good, and helps Sam Bradford potentially as much as a very good wide receiver. Donald helps make that D-line scary. I mean, think about how dominating Robert Quinn was last year, then factor in Chris Long, and the emerging Michael Brockers. Yikes. I think the secondary could have used a little help, but it actually gets help in the form of more pressure. Donald is bordering on a steal at No. 13.
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Atlanta Falcons
The pick: OT Jake Matthews, No. 6
Summary: Nothing sexy about this pick, all it does is immediately help an offensive line that not only desperately needed a right tackle, but could use an eventual solution on the left side. And not only can Matthews play both, he can play them both well. Matt Ryan got pummeled last year, and he's the franchise. Atlanta stayed put and made a move to not only improve their team, but improve their best player.
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Green Bay Packers
The pick: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at No. 21
Summary: Clinton-Dix fills a huge need for this team, and I consider him a great value at this slot. I don't even know what else to say about it, except for the fact that I thought Dallas could go with Clinton-Dix, and he also could have been in play for the Jets. So to have your No. 1 need filled by what I consider the safety they had rated as the best guy to fill that need makes for a pretty good night.
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More: I really like the Vikings getting Teddy Bridgewater at the end of Round 1, I just think Anthony Barr was a reach at No. 9. Trading down, and adding an extra pick, can allow you to justify reaching a little. That said, Mike Zimmer has a new pass-rushing piece to work with. ... The Texans got the best player in the draft. That's a good night. ... The Raiders got one of the top players in the draft, Khalil Mack, at No. 5. Also a good night. ... I really like Cincy getting Darqueze Dennard where they did. I thought he'd be off the board at that point. The Bears and Chargers also hit big needs at cornerback with Kyle Fuller and Jason Verrett. ... I'm buying fantasy stock in Brandin Cooks.
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Questioning it
Carolina Panthers
The pick: WR Kelvin Benjamin at No. 28
Summary: The Panthers need to find help for Cam Newton, and they got a big pass-catcher in Benjamin, who measures at a full 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds. But he comes with question marks, as he has shown inconsistent hands and really isn't a speed threat. I wonder if a Marqise Lee is a better immediate help. I think my pal Todd McShay might argue that Cody Latimer also could be a better value at that point. Not a big question, really, but a question.
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New England Patriots
The picks: DT Dominique Easley at No. 29
Summary: Easley has flashed tremendous ability, and I think New England can ease him into the rotation and limit his snaps to make sure they maximize his value. But we're talking about a significant injury history here, with two ACL repairs before he has played a snap of NFL football. Yes, I can admit it reflexively can feel odd to question the Patriots, who clearly did their homework here. But I just hope Easley stays healthy. I'll say this: If he's 100 percent coming down the stretch next season, that could be a big help.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
The pick: QB Blake Bortles at No. 3
Summary: I have few gripes with how the Jags have rebuilt over the past two years under a new regime. I think they've consistently added quality. My question for this pick is whether they drafted a QB they feel can make the team better in 2014. In my perfect scenario, Bortles gets a full year to wait his turn, so in terms of actually making this team better for the coming season, I liked an option such as Sammy Watkins or Khalil Mack here. Clearly the Jags felt they couldn't move down and still get Bortles later on -- and they could be right -- but they placed a big bet, and I think they need to show caution.
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More: I realize Philly moved down and added some value before they drafted him, but I think Marcus Smith is a reach. That said, they didn't have glaring needs and went with a player they think can help. ... I adore Watkins as a prospect -- he's my No. 2 player in the draft -- but Buffalo sure gave up a lot. Love the player, but that's a major cost. They really need to take a step forward this season and hope that first-rounder isn't too high in 2015. ... I didn't mind the Dee Ford pick to Kansas City as much as I was a little surprised they weren't able to move down. What can't be argued is that when they lost some pass rush because of injuries last season, the defense really suffered.
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Cleveland's crazy night
The picks: CB Justin Gilbert at No. 8; QB Johnny Manziel at No. 22; added picks
Summary: Forget about the players they added for a second, and just think about the fact that they again added a major draft haul to move down a handful of spots. During the season Cleveland traded Trent Richardson for a first-rounder, and now they've added a first-rounder for 2015, as well as a fourth-rounder. While doing so, they still managed to hit two big needs. And while they gave up the chance to draft Watkins, they did so in a year where they can get a pass-catcher to complement Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron further down the board, perhaps early in Round 2, with some good ones available. I consider Gilbert a bit of a reach at No. 8 -- I actually expect him to struggle with his transition -- but he does hit a need, and teams feel like they can reach a little after adding that kind of a draft haul (look at Buffalo last year, in fact).
And yes, there's Manziel. Two things: First, he has a chance to succeed here. They have some weapons in place, and they can block for him -- and really, he doesn't have to start immediately. Second, remember that by drafting him where they did, Manziel actually becomes a pretty good value. Cleveland is a winner because of the total value added. It's just how they manage that value, and the considerable noise and expectations that come with Manziel, that will dictate how we view this draft four or five years from now.
Liking it
St. Louis Rams
The picks: OT Greg Robinson at No. 2, DT Aaron Donald at No. 13
Summary: I had wide receiver as a need for the Rams, but it's also the deepest position in the draft, and they added two potential Pro Bowl players with their two picks. Robinson needs work as a pass protector, because he's far more dominating as a run-blocker and, as colleague Jon Gruden noted, can grab too often, but he's a freak athlete with a sharp learning curve. He can be very good, and helps Sam Bradford potentially as much as a very good wide receiver. Donald helps make that D-line scary. I mean, think about how dominating Robert Quinn was last year, then factor in Chris Long, and the emerging Michael Brockers. Yikes. I think the secondary could have used a little help, but it actually gets help in the form of more pressure. Donald is bordering on a steal at No. 13.
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Atlanta Falcons
The pick: OT Jake Matthews, No. 6
Summary: Nothing sexy about this pick, all it does is immediately help an offensive line that not only desperately needed a right tackle, but could use an eventual solution on the left side. And not only can Matthews play both, he can play them both well. Matt Ryan got pummeled last year, and he's the franchise. Atlanta stayed put and made a move to not only improve their team, but improve their best player.
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Green Bay Packers
The pick: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at No. 21
Summary: Clinton-Dix fills a huge need for this team, and I consider him a great value at this slot. I don't even know what else to say about it, except for the fact that I thought Dallas could go with Clinton-Dix, and he also could have been in play for the Jets. So to have your No. 1 need filled by what I consider the safety they had rated as the best guy to fill that need makes for a pretty good night.
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More: I really like the Vikings getting Teddy Bridgewater at the end of Round 1, I just think Anthony Barr was a reach at No. 9. Trading down, and adding an extra pick, can allow you to justify reaching a little. That said, Mike Zimmer has a new pass-rushing piece to work with. ... The Texans got the best player in the draft. That's a good night. ... The Raiders got one of the top players in the draft, Khalil Mack, at No. 5. Also a good night. ... I really like Cincy getting Darqueze Dennard where they did. I thought he'd be off the board at that point. The Bears and Chargers also hit big needs at cornerback with Kyle Fuller and Jason Verrett. ... I'm buying fantasy stock in Brandin Cooks.
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Questioning it
Carolina Panthers
The pick: WR Kelvin Benjamin at No. 28
Summary: The Panthers need to find help for Cam Newton, and they got a big pass-catcher in Benjamin, who measures at a full 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds. But he comes with question marks, as he has shown inconsistent hands and really isn't a speed threat. I wonder if a Marqise Lee is a better immediate help. I think my pal Todd McShay might argue that Cody Latimer also could be a better value at that point. Not a big question, really, but a question.
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New England Patriots
The picks: DT Dominique Easley at No. 29
Summary: Easley has flashed tremendous ability, and I think New England can ease him into the rotation and limit his snaps to make sure they maximize his value. But we're talking about a significant injury history here, with two ACL repairs before he has played a snap of NFL football. Yes, I can admit it reflexively can feel odd to question the Patriots, who clearly did their homework here. But I just hope Easley stays healthy. I'll say this: If he's 100 percent coming down the stretch next season, that could be a big help.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
The pick: QB Blake Bortles at No. 3
Summary: I have few gripes with how the Jags have rebuilt over the past two years under a new regime. I think they've consistently added quality. My question for this pick is whether they drafted a QB they feel can make the team better in 2014. In my perfect scenario, Bortles gets a full year to wait his turn, so in terms of actually making this team better for the coming season, I liked an option such as Sammy Watkins or Khalil Mack here. Clearly the Jags felt they couldn't move down and still get Bortles later on -- and they could be right -- but they placed a big bet, and I think they need to show caution.
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More: I realize Philly moved down and added some value before they drafted him, but I think Marcus Smith is a reach. That said, they didn't have glaring needs and went with a player they think can help. ... I adore Watkins as a prospect -- he's my No. 2 player in the draft -- but Buffalo sure gave up a lot. Love the player, but that's a major cost. They really need to take a step forward this season and hope that first-rounder isn't too high in 2015. ... I didn't mind the Dee Ford pick to Kansas City as much as I was a little surprised they weren't able to move down. What can't be argued is that when they lost some pass rush because of injuries last season, the defense really suffered.
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Cleveland's crazy night
The picks: CB Justin Gilbert at No. 8; QB Johnny Manziel at No. 22; added picks
Summary: Forget about the players they added for a second, and just think about the fact that they again added a major draft haul to move down a handful of spots. During the season Cleveland traded Trent Richardson for a first-rounder, and now they've added a first-rounder for 2015, as well as a fourth-rounder. While doing so, they still managed to hit two big needs. And while they gave up the chance to draft Watkins, they did so in a year where they can get a pass-catcher to complement Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron further down the board, perhaps early in Round 2, with some good ones available. I consider Gilbert a bit of a reach at No. 8 -- I actually expect him to struggle with his transition -- but he does hit a need, and teams feel like they can reach a little after adding that kind of a draft haul (look at Buffalo last year, in fact).
And yes, there's Manziel. Two things: First, he has a chance to succeed here. They have some weapons in place, and they can block for him -- and really, he doesn't have to start immediately. Second, remember that by drafting him where they did, Manziel actually becomes a pretty good value. Cleveland is a winner because of the total value added. It's just how they manage that value, and the considerable noise and expectations that come with Manziel, that will dictate how we view this draft four or five years from now.
