Risen Star
Likes Collector
- Messages
- 89,462
- Reaction score
- 212,407
http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2017/i...winners-question-marks-reaches-2017-nfl-draft
Winners
1. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore got my No. 2 corner in the first round with Marlon Humphrey, and then it got my Nos. 3 and 6 outside linebackers on Day 2. Tyus Bowser (No. 47) and Tim Williams (No. 78) are perfect fits in the Ravens' 3-4 defense. Terrell Suggs will be 35 when the season starts, and the Ravens ranked 24th overall in sacks last season (31.0). I had outside linebacker as their top need, and they went out and got immediate help.
And the reason Baltimore is No. 1 here? They got my top-ranked defensive tackle in the third round (No. 74) in Chris Wormley, who is 36th on my board. He has tremendous size (6-foot-5, 298 pounds) and could be the replacement for Timmy Jernigan, who was traded to the Eagles. Wormley can rush the passer a little as well. This is a stellar draft for the Ravens so far, whose top four picks have all been on defense.
2. Green Bay Packers
After moving out of Round 1, Green Bay stayed put at the top of the second round, taking cornerback Kevin King, a guy I thought would go in the 20s. He's a 6-foot-3, 200-pound, rangy defender who ran a 4.43 at the combine. At pick No. 61, the Packers got a value pick in Josh Jones, a big (6-1, 220) athletic safety who tackles like a linebacker and has cornerback-type speed (4.41 40 at the combine). He is my 38th-ranked prospect. The Packers finished their day by taking mammoth Montravius Adams (No. 93), a defensive tackle with first-round ability but inconsistent tape. If they can get him to play every down at his best, this could be a steal.
3. Buffalo Bills
Yes, Buffalo had to trade up on both of their Day 2 picks, but the Bills got two of my favorite players in the entire class. I thought wide receiver Zay Jones (No. 37) might sneak into the first round. He's a versatile, smart pass-catcher who lit up the combine and Senior Bowl. Oh, and he had 158 catches last season, setting an FBS record. That's a win as a replacement for Robert Woods. At No. 63, they got a dominant, polished run-blocker in Dion Dawkins, who will likely move from tackle at Temple to guard in the NFL.
More moves I liked
Question marks
1. Los Angeles Rams
All three of the Rams' picks on Day 2 were reaches on my board, starting with tight end Gerald Everett at No. 44. In a deep tight end class, he is eighth on my board -- No. 111 overall -- and I ranked Adam Shaheen, Jake Butt, Cole Hikutini and Jordan Leggett all higher. I like the 6-3, 239-pound Everett as a player, but he's a pass-catcher only at this point, and his 4.62 40 at the combine didn't pop. He's not an inline blocker.
I had wide receiver and defensive back (along with offensive line) as bigger needs, and Los Angeles addressed those with their other two picks. But Cooper Kupp (No. 69) went a little high, and Chris Godwin and Josh Malone were both still on the board. Kupp should contribute immediately in a team that desperately needs pass-catchers, but Godwin has a higher ceiling. With John Johnson at No. 91, the Rams got a safety who didn't test well at the combine (4.61 40) and doesn't have ideal size (6-0, 208). I thought he'd be a Day 3 pick -- he is No. 143 on my board. He does have a knack for interceptions, with three last season and two more in the Senior Bowl.
2. Cleveland Browns
I've said all along that DeShone Kizer should have stayed in school. He has a big-time arm, but he's light years away from being ready to play in the NFL. That's why taking him at No. 52 is a head-scratcher for the Browns. The fit just isn't there.
Do they expect him to play right away? I wrote on Thursday that I didn't begrudge them passing on Deshaun Watson at No. 12, but I didn't expect them to come after Kizer this high. He needs a year or two behind a veteran, and the Browns don't have that in Cody Kessler, who was decent when healthy last year and likely still will take the snaps in 2017. Maybe Hue Jackson thinks he can coach up Kizer in practice without throwing the young QB into the fire. Maybe Kizer's upside was to pass up. Either way, I had Nathan Peterman and Joshua Dobbs rated higher, and both were safer picks. Kizer could be a boom-or-bust guy. For Browns' fans sake, here's hoping it's the former.
3. San Francisco 49ers
I thought the 49ers had the best Day 1 of any team, but taking quarterback C.J. Beathard at No. 104 was just plain confusing. I said it on the broadcast: I think he's a career backup. San Francisco took him in the third round over Peterman, Dobbs and Brad Kaaya. All three have higher upsides. Beathard is my 10th-ranked QB, and I even had Penn's Alek Torgersen rated higher. I wrote Thursday that the Niners should take a flier on a developmental QB in the middle rounds, but this is too high for Beathard. He was No. 243 overall on my board.
The quarterbacks now on the Niners' roster are: Beathard, Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley. Does that inspire confidence at the beginning of a long rebuild?
Biggest reaches based on my board
Winners
1. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore got my No. 2 corner in the first round with Marlon Humphrey, and then it got my Nos. 3 and 6 outside linebackers on Day 2. Tyus Bowser (No. 47) and Tim Williams (No. 78) are perfect fits in the Ravens' 3-4 defense. Terrell Suggs will be 35 when the season starts, and the Ravens ranked 24th overall in sacks last season (31.0). I had outside linebacker as their top need, and they went out and got immediate help.
And the reason Baltimore is No. 1 here? They got my top-ranked defensive tackle in the third round (No. 74) in Chris Wormley, who is 36th on my board. He has tremendous size (6-foot-5, 298 pounds) and could be the replacement for Timmy Jernigan, who was traded to the Eagles. Wormley can rush the passer a little as well. This is a stellar draft for the Ravens so far, whose top four picks have all been on defense.
2. Green Bay Packers
After moving out of Round 1, Green Bay stayed put at the top of the second round, taking cornerback Kevin King, a guy I thought would go in the 20s. He's a 6-foot-3, 200-pound, rangy defender who ran a 4.43 at the combine. At pick No. 61, the Packers got a value pick in Josh Jones, a big (6-1, 220) athletic safety who tackles like a linebacker and has cornerback-type speed (4.41 40 at the combine). He is my 38th-ranked prospect. The Packers finished their day by taking mammoth Montravius Adams (No. 93), a defensive tackle with first-round ability but inconsistent tape. If they can get him to play every down at his best, this could be a steal.
3. Buffalo Bills
Yes, Buffalo had to trade up on both of their Day 2 picks, but the Bills got two of my favorite players in the entire class. I thought wide receiver Zay Jones (No. 37) might sneak into the first round. He's a versatile, smart pass-catcher who lit up the combine and Senior Bowl. Oh, and he had 158 catches last season, setting an FBS record. That's a win as a replacement for Robert Woods. At No. 63, they got a dominant, polished run-blocker in Dion Dawkins, who will likely move from tackle at Temple to guard in the NFL.
More moves I liked
- The Bengals got two first-round talents in running back Joe Mixon (No. 48) and defensive end Jordan Willis (No. 73). Mixon's off-field issues are well known and awful, but he's one of the most talented backs in the class, an all-around threat who will help in the return game. Willis had 11.5 sacks last season.
- I loved the Broncos' pick of DeMarcus Walker at No. 51. He is my 31st-ranked player. He's a 3-4 end in the Broncos' scheme, and he'll get after quarterbacks -- he had 16.0 sacks last season.
- Dallas addressed its biggest need on Day 2, taking cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie (No. 60) and Jourdan Lewis (No. 92). Awuzie is the best tackling corner in this draft and Lewis is one of the best true cover guys. Lewis dropped because of a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence, for which he pleaded not guilty last month.
- Linebacker Zach Cunningham (No. 57) should be a Day 1 starter for the Texans. I thought he might sneak into the first round. Running back D'Onta Foreman is a bargain at No. 89. He's my fifth-ranked running back.
- How about the Chargers taking two interior offensive linemen on Day 2? Forrest Lamp (No. 38) is the best guard in the class and an immediate starter. He could play center, too. Dan Feeney (No. 71) is my third-ranked guard.
- Washington's defense got better on the first two days of the draft. Ryan Anderson is a value pick at No. 49, a complete outside linebacker who can hold up against the run. And cornerback Fabian Moreau (No. 81) dropped a little because of a torn pectoral muscle suffered at his pro day, but he had a great combine workout (4.35 40, 38-inch vertical).
Question marks
1. Los Angeles Rams
All three of the Rams' picks on Day 2 were reaches on my board, starting with tight end Gerald Everett at No. 44. In a deep tight end class, he is eighth on my board -- No. 111 overall -- and I ranked Adam Shaheen, Jake Butt, Cole Hikutini and Jordan Leggett all higher. I like the 6-3, 239-pound Everett as a player, but he's a pass-catcher only at this point, and his 4.62 40 at the combine didn't pop. He's not an inline blocker.
I had wide receiver and defensive back (along with offensive line) as bigger needs, and Los Angeles addressed those with their other two picks. But Cooper Kupp (No. 69) went a little high, and Chris Godwin and Josh Malone were both still on the board. Kupp should contribute immediately in a team that desperately needs pass-catchers, but Godwin has a higher ceiling. With John Johnson at No. 91, the Rams got a safety who didn't test well at the combine (4.61 40) and doesn't have ideal size (6-0, 208). I thought he'd be a Day 3 pick -- he is No. 143 on my board. He does have a knack for interceptions, with three last season and two more in the Senior Bowl.
2. Cleveland Browns
I've said all along that DeShone Kizer should have stayed in school. He has a big-time arm, but he's light years away from being ready to play in the NFL. That's why taking him at No. 52 is a head-scratcher for the Browns. The fit just isn't there.
Do they expect him to play right away? I wrote on Thursday that I didn't begrudge them passing on Deshaun Watson at No. 12, but I didn't expect them to come after Kizer this high. He needs a year or two behind a veteran, and the Browns don't have that in Cody Kessler, who was decent when healthy last year and likely still will take the snaps in 2017. Maybe Hue Jackson thinks he can coach up Kizer in practice without throwing the young QB into the fire. Maybe Kizer's upside was to pass up. Either way, I had Nathan Peterman and Joshua Dobbs rated higher, and both were safer picks. Kizer could be a boom-or-bust guy. For Browns' fans sake, here's hoping it's the former.
3. San Francisco 49ers
I thought the 49ers had the best Day 1 of any team, but taking quarterback C.J. Beathard at No. 104 was just plain confusing. I said it on the broadcast: I think he's a career backup. San Francisco took him in the third round over Peterman, Dobbs and Brad Kaaya. All three have higher upsides. Beathard is my 10th-ranked QB, and I even had Penn's Alek Torgersen rated higher. I wrote Thursday that the Niners should take a flier on a developmental QB in the middle rounds, but this is too high for Beathard. He was No. 243 overall on my board.
The quarterbacks now on the Niners' roster are: Beathard, Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley. Does that inspire confidence at the beginning of a long rebuild?
Biggest reaches based on my board
- The Seahawks have their own style of defensive system, but safety Delano Hill was No. 295 on my board. Seattle took him at No. 95. Defensive tackle Nazair Jones went at 102, and he is No. 186 on my board.
- Wide receiver Kenny Golladay is No. 277 on my board. The Lions took him at No. 96. He can track the ball and has some size (6-4, 218), but I don't see it in the third round.
- Oakland is betting on a return to form for defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes, who looked like a first-round talent in 2015. Injuries derailed his career at UCLA. He is my No. 159 on my board, and the Raiders took him at No. 88.
- I thought Texas A&M defensive end Daeshon Hall, who played on the other side of top pick Myles Garrett, would be a fourth- or fifth-round pick. The Panthers took him at No. 77.
- Tight end Jonnu Smith went at No. 100 to the Titans, but Jake Butt, Cole Hikutini, Bucky Hodges, Eric Saubert were all still on the board. He is No. 164 on my board.
