Risen Star
Likes Collector
- Messages
- 98,913
- Reaction score
- 250,774
http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2018/i...-mel-kiper-picks-questions-reaches-rounds-2-3
Winners
Chicago Bears
Iowa's James Daniels is going to play immediately. Plug him in at guard or center, and he's going to be a good player. The Bears got him at No. 39, which is right around where I had him ranked on my Big Board. Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz produces technically sound offensive linemen. Daniels fits that mold, though he needs to get stronger. And he doesn't turn 21 until September, so he isn't fully developed yet.
Chicago GM Ryan Pace also traded up to get one of my favorite players in this draft, Memphis wide receiver Anthony Miller. Yes, it cost a 2019 second-round pick and fourth-rounder this year, and that's a lot to give up. But Miller is going to be a good player, and he's going to play right away. He is my third-ranked receiver in this class. Chicago needed weapons around Mitchell Trubisky, and it did well in free agency to get Allen Robinson, Trey Burton and Taylor Gabriel. Miller in Round 2 is a good get, even for what it cost.
Houston Texans
The Texans getting Stanford safety Justin Reid at No. 68 is the early favorite for one of the steals of the draft. I thought he could go at the end of the first round, and I've already said I expect him to make an instant impact. He tested really well at the combine, and he can play in the slot. Now, with the addition of Tyrann Mathieuthis offseason, the Houston secondary looks upgraded. Reid should compete to start.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs added two second-round picks when the Bills traded up for Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen in Round 1, so that means they had three second-round picks. And Tampa Bay ended up adding an extra fourth-round pick, too, by moving down a few spots on one of those picks. GM Jason Licht ended up with a solid three-down back in Ronald Jones II (USC) and two talented cornerbacks in M.J. Stewart (North Carolina) and Carlton Davis(Auburn). Those are two major need positions addressed with premier picks. That roster looks much better this offseason. Humboldt State offensive tackle Alex Cappa is a developmental prospect.
Dallas Cowboys
One of my favorite picks in the third round was the Cowboys filling a need -- and not reaching -- for Colorado State wide receiver Michael Gallup. He has good hands and is strong after the catch, and he had 100 catches in 2017. This is a Dallas team in dire need of pass-catchers after the release of Dez Bryant and the potential retirement of Jason Witten. Gallup has a lot of potential, though he shouldn't be expected to fill Bryant's shoes immediately. Give him some time, and Gallup could be a solid No. 2 wideout.
Green Bay Packers
I like new Packers GM Brian Gutekunst's restructuring of the team's cornerback position, and Iowa's Josh Jackson was the best player on the board when Green Bay picked him at 45. Now, that's corners with the first two picks -- Louisville's Jaire Alexander in Round 1, after trading down and then back up -- but that's what Green Bay needed. These are two solid players to pair with second-year stud Kevin King. And don't forget, Gutekunst added a 2019 first-round pick on Thursday when the Saints got desperate for a pass-rusher.
Arizona Cardinals
Christian Kirk is the best slot receiver in this draft, and the Cardinals got him at 47. He's not going to be Larry Fitzgerald's replacement, but he's going to make plays. And he's also the best punt returner in this draft -- he had six punt return touchdowns in college. Arizona is trying to build up its skill positions after it lost a lot of talent over the past two offseasons. Grabbing quarterback Josh Rosen in the first round and Kirk on Day 2 helps.
More moves I liked
Question marks
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts reached a little on my board at the top of Day 2, though I see what they're doing. They got another guard -- Auburn's Braden Smith -- at pick 37, after taking Notre Dame's Quenton Nelson in the first round. This is all about protecting Andrew Luck. And yes, Smith was the next guard on my board, but he was my No. 70 overall prospect. I would have taken a cornerback there. Indianapolis also added South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard, who I thought might go early on Day 3. So that's early for him, though he does fit in the Colts' move to a 4-3 defense.
Rutgers edge rusher Kemoko Turay at pick 49 is a raw defender with upside. And the Colts' fourth pick in Round 2 -- No. 64, after trading up with Cleveland -- was for Ohio State defensive end Tyquan Lewis, who was inconsistent throughout his career.
Detroit Lions
The Lions definitely needed to take a running back -- they finished last in rushing yards and yards per rush last season -- but Auburn's Kerryon Johnson was my ninth-ranked back, and Detroit took him at pick 43. That's high. To make matters worse, the Lions traded up eight spots and forfeited pick 117 to get him. Look, he's a bigger, athletic back, but can he be a three-down player? That's what Detroit needs. I'm not sold. He also dealt with a few injuries in college.
Oakland Raiders
Jon Gruden and Oakland got an FCS game-wrecker in Sam Houston State defensive tackle P.J. Hall at pick No. 57, but I thought he'd be a sixth-rounder. Yes, he dominated for the Bearkats, but it's a big step up to the NFL. He was my 15th-ranked tackle. The Raiders' pick of North Carolina A&T offensive tackle Brandon Parker at 65 was also a reach on my board. I had several other tackles ranked higher.
Oakland also took a chance on talented edge rusher Arden Key (LSU) late in the third round. If his head's on straight, he has first-round traits. But he had a poor 2017 season and pre-draft process, and that's why he dropped.
More reaches based on my Big Board
Winners
Chicago Bears
Iowa's James Daniels is going to play immediately. Plug him in at guard or center, and he's going to be a good player. The Bears got him at No. 39, which is right around where I had him ranked on my Big Board. Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz produces technically sound offensive linemen. Daniels fits that mold, though he needs to get stronger. And he doesn't turn 21 until September, so he isn't fully developed yet.
Chicago GM Ryan Pace also traded up to get one of my favorite players in this draft, Memphis wide receiver Anthony Miller. Yes, it cost a 2019 second-round pick and fourth-rounder this year, and that's a lot to give up. But Miller is going to be a good player, and he's going to play right away. He is my third-ranked receiver in this class. Chicago needed weapons around Mitchell Trubisky, and it did well in free agency to get Allen Robinson, Trey Burton and Taylor Gabriel. Miller in Round 2 is a good get, even for what it cost.
Houston Texans
The Texans getting Stanford safety Justin Reid at No. 68 is the early favorite for one of the steals of the draft. I thought he could go at the end of the first round, and I've already said I expect him to make an instant impact. He tested really well at the combine, and he can play in the slot. Now, with the addition of Tyrann Mathieuthis offseason, the Houston secondary looks upgraded. Reid should compete to start.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs added two second-round picks when the Bills traded up for Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen in Round 1, so that means they had three second-round picks. And Tampa Bay ended up adding an extra fourth-round pick, too, by moving down a few spots on one of those picks. GM Jason Licht ended up with a solid three-down back in Ronald Jones II (USC) and two talented cornerbacks in M.J. Stewart (North Carolina) and Carlton Davis(Auburn). Those are two major need positions addressed with premier picks. That roster looks much better this offseason. Humboldt State offensive tackle Alex Cappa is a developmental prospect.
Dallas Cowboys
One of my favorite picks in the third round was the Cowboys filling a need -- and not reaching -- for Colorado State wide receiver Michael Gallup. He has good hands and is strong after the catch, and he had 100 catches in 2017. This is a Dallas team in dire need of pass-catchers after the release of Dez Bryant and the potential retirement of Jason Witten. Gallup has a lot of potential, though he shouldn't be expected to fill Bryant's shoes immediately. Give him some time, and Gallup could be a solid No. 2 wideout.
Green Bay Packers
I like new Packers GM Brian Gutekunst's restructuring of the team's cornerback position, and Iowa's Josh Jackson was the best player on the board when Green Bay picked him at 45. Now, that's corners with the first two picks -- Louisville's Jaire Alexander in Round 1, after trading down and then back up -- but that's what Green Bay needed. These are two solid players to pair with second-year stud Kevin King. And don't forget, Gutekunst added a 2019 first-round pick on Thursday when the Saints got desperate for a pass-rusher.
Arizona Cardinals
Christian Kirk is the best slot receiver in this draft, and the Cardinals got him at 47. He's not going to be Larry Fitzgerald's replacement, but he's going to make plays. And he's also the best punt returner in this draft -- he had six punt return touchdowns in college. Arizona is trying to build up its skill positions after it lost a lot of talent over the past two offseasons. Grabbing quarterback Josh Rosen in the first round and Kirk on Day 2 helps.
More moves I liked
- I love the Giants adding UTEP guard Will Hernandez at No. 34. He's one of the best run-blockers I've ever graded, and if they're going to take a running back at the top of Round 1, they're going to need to create some running room for him. They also got a perfect fit for their new 3-4 defense in outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter. I thought he might sneak into the top 40 picks.
- New England made some trades down to add picks, and Bill Belichick & Co. also picked up the best slot corner in this draft in Florida's Duke Dawson at No. 56.
- How cool was it to see Browns legend Jim Brown announce the pick of Georgia running back Nick Chubb to Cleveland? And Chubb is a really good player. I had Derrius Guice (LSU) and Ronald Jones II (USC) rated slightly higher, but I can't fault this pick, and Chubb could be a three-down back. He impressed teams at the combine.
- It's also fun to see the Steelers take two college teammates who were so good together. James Washington (No. 60) and Mason Rudolph (No. 76) were one of the best duos in college football the past few years, and Pittsburgh got a replacement for Martavis Bryant and potential successor to Ben Roethlisberger. That system at Oklahoma State isn't the most complex, so it's a big step up to the NFL.
- Stanford's Harrison Phillips is a terrific 4-3 defensive tackle, and I'm surprised he lasted until pick 96 to Buffalo. He's extremely strong, and I don't know if he'll ever get many sacks, but he has a nose for the football.
- Look, we weren't in the room for LSU running back Derrius Guice's interviews with teams. But he dropped for some reason, and he's a steal at the end of the second round for Washington (No. 59). I wouldn't be surprised if he won that starting job as a rookie. Guice just runs angry. The Commanders also got one of my favorite offensive tackles in Louisville's Geron Christian(No. 74). He's raw, but he could be a starting left tackle in the NFL.
- Baltimore went with two Sooners in the third round with offensive tackle Orlando Brown (No. 83) and tight end Mark Andrews (No. 86). Brown had a disastrous combine, but his tape protecting Baker Mayfield's blind side is fantastic. Could he start at right tackle for Baltimore? Andrews is basically a big slot receiver -- he's not going to block anyone. So, yes, Baltimore got South Carolina's Hayden Hurst in Round 1, but we could see Andrews play out wide and in the slot.
- The Jets got a really good raw defensive tackle in Nathan Shepherd, a Canadian who ended his college career at Fort Hays State. He showed he belonged with the big boys at the Senior Bowl, before a broken hand ended his strong week of practices.
- I like Jacksonville grabbing LSU wide receiver D.J. Chark at pick 61. He's a big 6-3 player with 4.34 40 speed. He's inconsistent as a body catcher, but he can take the top off defenses and be a deep threat for Blake Bortles. And Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison late in the third round (No. 93) could help in 2018. He's not afraid to hit, but speed is the question -- we never saw an official 40 time before the draft.
Question marks
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts reached a little on my board at the top of Day 2, though I see what they're doing. They got another guard -- Auburn's Braden Smith -- at pick 37, after taking Notre Dame's Quenton Nelson in the first round. This is all about protecting Andrew Luck. And yes, Smith was the next guard on my board, but he was my No. 70 overall prospect. I would have taken a cornerback there. Indianapolis also added South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard, who I thought might go early on Day 3. So that's early for him, though he does fit in the Colts' move to a 4-3 defense.
Rutgers edge rusher Kemoko Turay at pick 49 is a raw defender with upside. And the Colts' fourth pick in Round 2 -- No. 64, after trading up with Cleveland -- was for Ohio State defensive end Tyquan Lewis, who was inconsistent throughout his career.
Detroit Lions
The Lions definitely needed to take a running back -- they finished last in rushing yards and yards per rush last season -- but Auburn's Kerryon Johnson was my ninth-ranked back, and Detroit took him at pick 43. That's high. To make matters worse, the Lions traded up eight spots and forfeited pick 117 to get him. Look, he's a bigger, athletic back, but can he be a three-down player? That's what Detroit needs. I'm not sold. He also dealt with a few injuries in college.
Oakland Raiders
Jon Gruden and Oakland got an FCS game-wrecker in Sam Houston State defensive tackle P.J. Hall at pick No. 57, but I thought he'd be a sixth-rounder. Yes, he dominated for the Bearkats, but it's a big step up to the NFL. He was my 15th-ranked tackle. The Raiders' pick of North Carolina A&T offensive tackle Brandon Parker at 65 was also a reach on my board. I had several other tackles ranked higher.
Oakland also took a chance on talented edge rusher Arden Key (LSU) late in the third round. If his head's on straight, he has first-round traits. But he had a poor 2017 season and pre-draft process, and that's why he dropped.
More reaches based on my Big Board
- The defensive end position is not strong in this draft. That's why I thought the Chiefs trading up to take Ole Miss end/tackle Breeland Speaks at No. 46 was a little high. I graded him as a late third-round pick. There were better players available on my board. He's probably going to play end in the Chiefs' 3-4.
- There were a slew of cornerbacks available when the Panthers took Tennessee's Rashaan Gaulden, and he's more of a sixth-round prospect in my view.
- Louisiana-Lafayette safety Tracy Walker was a fast riser, and I kept hearing he was going to go higher than most thought. But I thought that meant early on Day 3, not at No. 82 to the Lions. This is a deep safety class.
- Miami (Fla.) pass-rusher Chad Thomas is not a fully formed sack artist, and he's more of a fifth-round talent. Cleveland took him at the top of the third round (pick 67). There were better players there.
- The Chargers had to get a nose tackle in this draft, but they reached for NC State's Justin Jones, who was No. 225 overall on my board. They took him at pick 84.
