Risen Star
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Best picks
1. Seattle Seahawks: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (No. 49 pick): This guy is the best interior run defender in this class. But Reed isn't just a space-eater; he's a true playmaker who has some upside as a pass-rusher. Everyone at Alabama spoke very highly of Reed's football character. GM John Schneider got crazy-good value here -- Reed was the No. 19 player on my board -- and filled a big need in the process. The Seahawks also did well to select RB C.J. Prosise and TE Nick Vannett late in the third round. Those were two good value picks.
2. Denver Broncos: Adam Gotsis, DE, Georgia Tech (No. 63 pick): No joke: I remember watching Gotsis on tape and thinkingThis might be Malik Jackson. Seems as if the Broncos are hoping Gotsis can help replace Jackson on the D-line. Gotsis is a perfect fit for Wade Phillips' system. He can get penetration when lining up inside and also play 5-technique DE. Great pick.
3. New Orleans Saints: Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State (No. 61 pick): The Saints need all the help they can get on the backend after allowing 4,544 passing yards last season, and Bell is the best cover safety in this draft. It was great value, too: Bell is the No. 30 player on my board, and the Saints got him toward the end of the second round. The other highlight of New Orleans' night? Getting WR Michael Thomas at No. 47. He's a great fit for what the Saints like to do on offense, and he'll give Drew Brees a bigger WR to play opposite Brandin Cooks.
4. Buffalo Bills: Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama (No. 41 pick): I had Ragland as the 18th-best player in this draft class. He's not great in coverage, but he is a heat-seeking missile against the run. A pro's pro and a tone-setter on the practice field, Ragland started all 29 games the past two seasons. He's a big upgrade for the Bills, too; Preston Brown really struggled last season.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA (No. 36 pick): The Jaguars got a player at No. 36 who ranked No. 8 on my board and was in the initial conversation for them at No. 5. What's not to love about that? After getting Jalen Ramsey in Round 1, it's hard to imagine a defense upgrading its raw athleticism even more in its first two picks. While concerns over Jack's knee caused him to drop, there's no doubting he has an elite combination of fluidity and speed.
6. Chicago Bears: Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State (No. 56 pick): The Bears traded back twice in the second round, recouping two fourth-round picks this year and one next year. This came a day after they gave up a fourth to move up and select Leonard Floyd No. 9 overall. It was another excellent maneuver on the Bears' part. Whitehair is a Day 1 starter with the versatility to play multiple positions up front. This move should help solidify Chicago's entire O-line.
7. Cincinnati Bengals: Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh (No. 55 pick): Boyd is a perfect fit for the Bengals, who entered the draft needing a No. 2 receiver to play opposite A.J. Green. Boyd doesn't have great top-end speed (4.5 range), but he's a silky smooth route runner with the savvy to find holes in zone coverage.
8. San Diego Chargers: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas (No. 35 pick):The Chargers needed to draft a TE of the future, and they got the No. 1 guy at the position in a class limited on impact tight ends. Henry, who's 6-foot-5 and runs in the 4.6s -- can learn from one of the best ever (Antonio Gates), while making an impact with his exceptional ball skills.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (No. 37 pick): Jones comes with some risk because of an inconsistent motor, but I put him here because of value. His tape was better than Robert Nkemdiche's, and the Ole Miss product went No. 29 overall on Thursday night to Arizona. Jones was the No. 28 player on my final board, and he has a higher upside than any DT in this class with the physical tools to be special. Length, strength, pass-rush ability -- it's all there.
10. Denver Broncos: Justin Simmons, S, Boston College (No. 98 pick): The Broncos needed to add more depth at safety, and they did so with Simmons, who played in all 50 games of his career at Boston College. His combine numbers were off the charts -- a 3.85-second short shuttle is mind boggling -- and on tape, he's a good man-to-man coverage safety with a nose for the ball.
Riskiest picks
1. Cleveland Browns: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State (No. 32 pick): Ogbah was my No. 57 overall player, so this was a bit of a reach. You see flashes on tape of him being an elite straight-line explosive player. But Ogbah's motor is up and down, and he's limited as a lateral athlete. How are the Browns going to utilize him in that scheme? I don't see an ideal fit.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers: Sean Davis, CB, Maryland (No. 58 pick): Based on his tape, I gave Davis a fourth-round grade, so taking him in Round 2 was a reach. His play never quite matched up with his height-weight-speed combination. But I'll say this: If anyone can get the most out of Davis, it's Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin. I'll be interested to see how he pans out there.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Brandon Williams, CB, Texas A&M (No. 92 pick): This was the most surprising pick of the night for me. We had a late-round developmental grade on Williams, and the Cardinals took him in the third. They clearly see something and have proven over the years that their coaching staff is adept at maximizing talent in the secondary, but this was still a big reach.
4. Cleveland Browns: Cody Kessler, QB, USC (No. 93): The fit here just seems a little off. The No. 209 player on my board, Kessler has below-average arm strength, and he'll be playing in a division where windy weather is commonplace.
1. Seattle Seahawks: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (No. 49 pick): This guy is the best interior run defender in this class. But Reed isn't just a space-eater; he's a true playmaker who has some upside as a pass-rusher. Everyone at Alabama spoke very highly of Reed's football character. GM John Schneider got crazy-good value here -- Reed was the No. 19 player on my board -- and filled a big need in the process. The Seahawks also did well to select RB C.J. Prosise and TE Nick Vannett late in the third round. Those were two good value picks.
2. Denver Broncos: Adam Gotsis, DE, Georgia Tech (No. 63 pick): No joke: I remember watching Gotsis on tape and thinkingThis might be Malik Jackson. Seems as if the Broncos are hoping Gotsis can help replace Jackson on the D-line. Gotsis is a perfect fit for Wade Phillips' system. He can get penetration when lining up inside and also play 5-technique DE. Great pick.
3. New Orleans Saints: Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State (No. 61 pick): The Saints need all the help they can get on the backend after allowing 4,544 passing yards last season, and Bell is the best cover safety in this draft. It was great value, too: Bell is the No. 30 player on my board, and the Saints got him toward the end of the second round. The other highlight of New Orleans' night? Getting WR Michael Thomas at No. 47. He's a great fit for what the Saints like to do on offense, and he'll give Drew Brees a bigger WR to play opposite Brandin Cooks.
4. Buffalo Bills: Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama (No. 41 pick): I had Ragland as the 18th-best player in this draft class. He's not great in coverage, but he is a heat-seeking missile against the run. A pro's pro and a tone-setter on the practice field, Ragland started all 29 games the past two seasons. He's a big upgrade for the Bills, too; Preston Brown really struggled last season.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA (No. 36 pick): The Jaguars got a player at No. 36 who ranked No. 8 on my board and was in the initial conversation for them at No. 5. What's not to love about that? After getting Jalen Ramsey in Round 1, it's hard to imagine a defense upgrading its raw athleticism even more in its first two picks. While concerns over Jack's knee caused him to drop, there's no doubting he has an elite combination of fluidity and speed.
6. Chicago Bears: Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State (No. 56 pick): The Bears traded back twice in the second round, recouping two fourth-round picks this year and one next year. This came a day after they gave up a fourth to move up and select Leonard Floyd No. 9 overall. It was another excellent maneuver on the Bears' part. Whitehair is a Day 1 starter with the versatility to play multiple positions up front. This move should help solidify Chicago's entire O-line.
7. Cincinnati Bengals: Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh (No. 55 pick): Boyd is a perfect fit for the Bengals, who entered the draft needing a No. 2 receiver to play opposite A.J. Green. Boyd doesn't have great top-end speed (4.5 range), but he's a silky smooth route runner with the savvy to find holes in zone coverage.
8. San Diego Chargers: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas (No. 35 pick):The Chargers needed to draft a TE of the future, and they got the No. 1 guy at the position in a class limited on impact tight ends. Henry, who's 6-foot-5 and runs in the 4.6s -- can learn from one of the best ever (Antonio Gates), while making an impact with his exceptional ball skills.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (No. 37 pick): Jones comes with some risk because of an inconsistent motor, but I put him here because of value. His tape was better than Robert Nkemdiche's, and the Ole Miss product went No. 29 overall on Thursday night to Arizona. Jones was the No. 28 player on my final board, and he has a higher upside than any DT in this class with the physical tools to be special. Length, strength, pass-rush ability -- it's all there.
10. Denver Broncos: Justin Simmons, S, Boston College (No. 98 pick): The Broncos needed to add more depth at safety, and they did so with Simmons, who played in all 50 games of his career at Boston College. His combine numbers were off the charts -- a 3.85-second short shuttle is mind boggling -- and on tape, he's a good man-to-man coverage safety with a nose for the ball.
Riskiest picks
1. Cleveland Browns: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State (No. 32 pick): Ogbah was my No. 57 overall player, so this was a bit of a reach. You see flashes on tape of him being an elite straight-line explosive player. But Ogbah's motor is up and down, and he's limited as a lateral athlete. How are the Browns going to utilize him in that scheme? I don't see an ideal fit.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers: Sean Davis, CB, Maryland (No. 58 pick): Based on his tape, I gave Davis a fourth-round grade, so taking him in Round 2 was a reach. His play never quite matched up with his height-weight-speed combination. But I'll say this: If anyone can get the most out of Davis, it's Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin. I'll be interested to see how he pans out there.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Brandon Williams, CB, Texas A&M (No. 92 pick): This was the most surprising pick of the night for me. We had a late-round developmental grade on Williams, and the Cardinals took him in the third. They clearly see something and have proven over the years that their coaching staff is adept at maximizing talent in the secondary, but this was still a big reach.
4. Cleveland Browns: Cody Kessler, QB, USC (No. 93): The fit here just seems a little off. The No. 209 player on my board, Kessler has below-average arm strength, and he'll be playing in a division where windy weather is commonplace.
