NFL Draft Analysis

Giving out NFL Draft grades is a strange task.  In 3 or 4 years, it makes sense.  In the NBA, a team is best served waiting a few years to grade a draft, but it is easier to do the day after the draft because most players make an impact in year 1 or 2 or could have their 2 year team options declined.  In the NFL, a pick might watch for 5 years, and then become league MVP.  For that reason, I have decided to avoid giving out draft grades, and instead talk about a few picks I liked, and I few I am questioning.  Just because I question the picks, it does not count as a failing grade- rather that I need to have the pick proven to me.  Without further ado, here are my likes and dislikes:

Likes: 
St. Louis- You have to like what St. Louis added.  Last year the receiving corps was nearly pathetic in St. Louis, and, Amendola left via free agency.  They added college teammates Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey- 2 players that will have an impact right away.  Adding in 2nd round pick last year Brian Quick and St. Louis has a very good core of young receivers.  Add in Alec Ogletree, the centerpiece of a good Georgia defense, hard-hitting safety TJ McDonald and versatile offensive lineman Barrett Jones and you have a very good draft.  I am impressed.

Green Bay- Green Bay's biggest weakness in their offense was the run game.  In rounds 2 and 4, respectively, they added Eddie Lacy and Jonathan Franklin, who will most likely team up to split carries.  The Cheeseheads also added help on the offensive line, and a value 5th rd. corner in Micah Hyde.  Their draft wasn't sexy, but this team is much improved.

Philadelphia-  Chip Kelly's first draft is off to a good start.  He took 4 players from the Pac-12, 3 of whom slipped far past where they were expected to be drafted (Barkley, Kruger, Poyer).  Their pick of Lane Johnson in rd. 1 was a great pick, as his offense requires athletic tackles to run the system.  Zach Ertz gives Vick (at least Vick is the favorite now) a reliable target at TE, as Celek was unreliable.  Bennie Logan could be a very good DT.

Other picks I liked:  Monte Ball at 58 to Denver- he could win ROY.  Cincinnati's 2nd rd- Bernard could be a Sproles-like weapon for Dalton, and Hunt is raw but extraordinarily athletic.  I liked it.  Minnesota added Floyd at 23- the steal of rd. 1.  SF took Lattimore as a "redshirt" running back.  If healthy we are talking about a major steal.  They also added a solid WR in the 4th rd in Quinton Patton.  New Orleans took a VERY athletic future LT in Terron Armstead.  He could pay off in 3 years as a huge steal.

Questions I have?
Buffalo:  Had to know this was coming.  I truly don't hate the pick of EJ Manuel.  If Doug Marrone and Buddy Nix thought he was the best QB in the draft, then he was the correct pick.  My big question is whether he offers an upgrade in year one over Tarvaris Jackson or Kevin Kolb.  I would sit Manuel for a year and start Jackson, before letting Manuel loose on the league in year 2.  If he is thrown into the fire too early, he could be a bust.  Patience could lead to a Kaepernick type player.   I also love the Robert Woods pick.  Didn't they need a pass-rusher though?

Washington:  Last year, Robert Griffin III's top receivers were the unreliable Pierre Garcon and the aging Santana Moss.  I would have loved to see the Redskins give Griffin a reliable target he could grow with, and they added TE Jordan Reed, but not 1 WR?  Solid WR's like Keenan Allen, Terrance Williams and Quinton Patton all slipped to the 3rd or 4th rounds, and I think they should have taken a WR for Griffin.  Without reliable targets Griffin may scramble his way to another injury.  I see 9 wins as the best case scenario for Washington.

Dallas:  Travis Frederick at 31?  He could become a very good center in the league, in which case people will forget he was drafted in the first round.  But center was a need that could have been filled in the 2nd or 3rd rounds at the earliest (potentially still by Frederick- no joke).  They needed help at safety, tackle and defensive end, and didn't even address two of these positions.  I like Escobar's future, and Williams is a good WR in rd. 3, but this is a team that couldn't afford luxury picks like this.  They could prove me wrong, but this does not look like a better team than Washington or the NY Giants.

Other picks I question:  Cleveland took Mingo at 6, which is a solid pick, but doesn't he duplicate what they added in free agency?  DJ Hayden was taken much too high at #12.  He could be a great corner, but this seems like an Al Davis pick from the grave (trust me- not a compliment).  Tampa Bay made a great trade for Revis, and then took Jonathan Banks as their top selection in rd. 2?  Mike Glennon is not going to succeed Freeman, and they could have used a WR instead.  San Diego took a RT (looks to have more of a future at G than LT) and Mant'i Teo as their first 2 picks.  Rivers should have somewhat better protection, and T'eo will be an above average player in the NFL, but San Diego didn't add anything to take them out of the cellar in the AFC west.  7 wins seems optimistic for the Chargers.  Seattle added a RB in rd. 2 despite having Lynch and Turbin already.  Michael could develop into a starter one day, but I would have rather seen the right side of the offensive line addressed.  Chris Harper could be a good pick for Seattle, but Quinton Patton will probably have a better career (and he wound up in SF).  Schneider has made his living out of finding draft value, so I trust his judgement, but his picks seem lukewarm at best.