Baltimore Ravens
6. Ronnie Stanley OT Notre Dame
42. Kamalei Correa OLB Boise St.
70. Bronson Kaufusi DE BYU
104. Tavon Young CB Temple
107. Chris Moore WR Cincinnati
130. Alex Lewis OT Nebraska
132. Willie Henry DT Michigan
134. Kenneth Dixon RB Louisiana Tech
146. Matt Judon DE Grand Valley St.
182. Keenan Reynolds ATH Navy
209. Maurice Canady CB Virginia
Immediate Impact: OT Ronnie Stanley, OLB Kamalei Correa
Eugene Monroe hasn’t been as good as the Ravens had hoped when they traded for him from the Jaguars and he’s struggled to stay healthy the last couple years. Stanley could replace Ricky Wagner at RT but he might make Monroe expended very soon. Correa isn’t a household name because he played at Boise St. and they haven’t been as visible lately but he’s a player. The Ravens have the aging Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs who is returning from a torn Achilles tendon at age 33 so Correa is highly needed on this defense.
Best Value: RB Kenneth Dixon
Dixon has the skill set to really help a team and even though the Ravens have Justin Forsett and Buck Allen they could really use Dixon’s abilities. Forsett got hurt last year and Allen did a nice job filling in but Dixon has starting caliber skills and they Ravens stole him in the fourth round.
Sleeper: DE Bronson Kaufusi
At 6’6 281 lbs. Kaufusi has the size to go along with the skills to be a 3-4 DE in the Ravens defense. They could use some depth and potentially a starter opposite Timmy Jernigan and Kaufusi could be that guy. Not a lot of people know about him but the Ravens see his fit in their defense.
Overall Analysis
Ozzie Newsome is one of the best GMs in NFL history and this kind of draft is exactly why. Stanley fills a need right now and Correa is the type of guy that comes in and contributes as a sub before stepping into a starting role in a year or two. Kaufusi is a steal that could become a starter in short order and Willie Henry brings depth on the defensive line. Dixon was a fantastic value pick. The team needs help at WR so they grabbed Chris Moore and Keenan Reynolds who should develop into a nice weapon in time. Newsome didn’t stop with Stanley on the offensive line he grabbed Alex Lewis who has some nice upside. They needed depth in the defensive backfield so in comes Tavon Young and Maurice Canady. Also Matt Judon is a good small school prospect that could develop into an OLB in time and given the Ravens track record I wouldn’t bet against it.
Cincinnati Bengals
24. William Jackson CB Houston
55. Tyler Boyd WR Pittsburgh
87. Nick Vigil ILB Utah St.
122. Andrew Billings DT Baylor
161. Christian Westerman OG Arizona St.
199. Cody Core WR Ole Miss
245. Clayton Fejedelem SS Illinois
Immediate Impact: CB William Jackson, WR Tyler Boyd, DT Andrew Billings
The Bengals went with value over need when they grabbed Jackson in the first round but he’s too good to keep off the field. They have Dre Kirkpatrick, Adam Jones and Darqueze Dennard but he’ll find a way to help out. Boyd is going to find himself playing a lot and I would bet it won’t be too long before he’s starting opposite AJ Green because Brandon LaFell is not a lot of competition. Billings fell to the fourth round because he’s seen as only a two-down DT but he’s going to play a lot on those first two downs and Domata Peko and Pat Sims should be worried about their playing time and roster spots.
Best Value: DT Andrew Billings
Billings is a beast, he’s a wide-bodied run-stuffing tackle who is a perfect complement inside next to Geno Atkins. Peko and Sims aren’t getting any younger and Billings is a future starter which makes getting him #122 overall a complete steal.
Sleeper: OG Christian Westerman
Westerman isn’t an immediate need because the Bengals have two in-their-prime OGs in Kevin Zeitler and Clint Boling but this is the type of pick that helps teams in the future. Westerman is a nice backup for now and he’s insurance in case Zeitler or Boling start to get too expensive. He’s a starting caliber OG and they got him in the 5th round. The Bengals have gotten really good at drafting over the last half decade or so and that’s why they keep making the playoffs, this is one of those sneaky smart picks.
Overall Analysis
It’s becoming a yearly thing where I love the Bengals draft and this is no exception. Jackson is a future starter and may usurp former first rounder Darqueze Dennard, Tyler Boyd is one of my favorite players in this draft and a dark horse for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Billings and Westerman were grand theft level steals in the round 4 and 5 and LB Nick Vigil is a nice future investment as newcomer Karlos Dansby isn’t a long-term investment and Rey Maualuga isn’t getting any younger. Core and Fejedelem will have to try to make the team on special teams. My only concern was Boyd was the only real help at WR unless Core steps up big time and that’s unlikely.
Cleveland Browns
15. Corey Coleman WR Baylor
32. Emmanuel Ogbah DE Oklahoma St.
65. Carl Nassib DE Penn St.
76. Shon Coleman OT Auburn
93. Cody Kessler QB USC
99. Joe Schobert OLB Wisconsin
114. Ricardo Louis WR Auburn
129. Derrick Kindred SS TCU
138. Seth DeValve WR Princeton
154. Jordan Payton WR UCLA
168. Spencer Drango OG Baylor
172. Rashard Higgins WR Colorado St.
173. Trey Caldwell CB Louisiana-Monroe
250. Scooby Wright III ILB Arizona
Immediate Impact: WR Corey Coleman, DE Emmanuel Ogbah, OT Shon Coleman
With a pretty crappy roster and 14 draft picks this year there will be more immediate impact from this class than anyone could imagine but these three stand out to me. The WR corps is terrible meaning Corey Coleman is a lock to play a lot, the pass rush needs a boost and Ogbah can help right now and the RT spot is just waiting to be filled by Shon Coleman. There could potentially be 5-6 starters out of this class as early as this season.
Best Value: WR Rashard Higgins
I wanted to make Higgins my sleeper pick here and he could qualify for sure but I went with best value because he was an extremely productive WR at Colorado St. especially back when he had Garrett Grayson throwing to him. Higgins was the fifth WR the Browns took in the draft but other than Corey Coleman who will get every opportunity to shine I’m putting my money on Higgins to break through. The Brown WR group is horrible but I doubt they go with 5 rookie WRs for the year.
Sleeper: QB Cody Kessler
The Browns’ front office and head coach Hue Jackson have been taking heat for drafting Kessler in the third round when guys like Connor Cook and Dak Prescott were still on the board but I actually happen to think if you’re going to take a shot on a QB in this draft Kessler isn’t a bad choice. I would have said if you’re passing on a QB high in this draft Kessler and Indiana QB Nate Sudfeld were the two worth taking a chance late. Kessler has tons of snaps under his belt since he’s been starting at USC for the past 9 years (that may be an exaggeration) and he’s highly accurate. He isn’t very tall but neither is Drew Brees and he played in an offense that will be fairly easy for him to transition to the NFL.
Overall Analysis
The Browns’ new brain trust knew that the team needed a complete overhaul and they got off to a good start with this draft. Not all five WRs will make the team but drafting five means you might find three good ones (my money is on Coleman, Ricardo Louis and Rashard Higgins making the roster). The offensive line needed addressing and they got a starting RT in Shon Coleman and I wouldn’t be the least bit shocked if Spencer Drango makes a quick transition to OG and wins a starting job. Their pass rush was abysmal last season so Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib were taken early and keep an eye on Wisconsin OLB Joe Schobert because he has some nice natural pass rush instincts and he could be a key player on passing downs. Finally, their last pick of Scooby Wright could pay off big time because he can step in at ILB and really lend a hand. They don’t have much depth and Wright is the type of run-stuffing thumper they need on early downs.
Pittsburgh Steelers
25. Artie Burns CB Miami
58. Sean Davis DB Maryland
89. Javon Hargrave DT South Carolina St.
123. Jerald Hawkins OT LSU
220. Travis Feeney OLB Washington
229. Demarcus Ayers WR Houston
246. Tyler Matakevich ILB Temple
Immediate Impact: CB Artie Burns, DB Sean Davis
I’m not a fan of the Artie Burns pick because I think he went too high but that doesn’t mean they don’t need him and he’s going to play. The Steelers top 3 CBs right now are William Gay, Ross Cockrell and Senquez Golson so Burns doesn’t have to be great to be an upgrade. As much as I don’t like the Burns pick I love Davis pick. He has played both CB and safety and more than likely the Steelers will line him up as the deep safety. Davis will provide great support for the CBs and pair nicely with Mike Mitchell to sure up the secondary.
Best Value: ILB Tyler Matakevich
Matakevich is an athletically limited ILB which is why he fell into the seventh round but he’s highly productive and he could develop into an eventual replacement for Lawrence Timmons who isn’t getting any younger. It isn’t a fluke when a guy puts up as many tackles as Matakevich did at Temple and even if he never becomes a starter he’ll be a fantastic special team’s player and quality backup.
Sleeper: OT Jerald Hawkins
Hawkins wasn’t rated as highly as others and was somewhat the forgotten man at OT but when you’re a three-year starter at a place like LSU you have some skills. Hawkins can play the right or left side and he’ll make a nice swing tackle for now but the Steelers have a tendency of finding lower round OTs that fit what they do and Hawkins may be the next one.
Overall Analysis
I definitely think the Steelers over drafted Burns taking him in the first round but he’s a great athlete and he has a heck of a personal story which makes me pull for him (read about it here http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25570599/youll-want-to-learn-a-bit-about-new-steelers-pick-artie-burns-backstory ). I clearly like the Davis, Hawkins and Matakevich picks but I also like the pick of OLB Travis Feeney who is still a bit raw at OLB but can bring some nice speed. DT Javon Hargrave is a nice pickup too and will bring nice depth as a replacement for Steve McClendon who left in free agency. WR Demarcus Ayers is highly versatile but he’s pretty much along the lines of their other WRs so he might find it hard to find a place on the roster, if he were a big-bodied guy it would be simpler.
The Hott Read 