Denver Broncos
26. Paxton Lynch QB Memphis
63. Adam Gotsis DT Georgia Tech
98. Justin Simmons FS Boston College
136. Devontae Booker RB Utah
144. Connor McGovern OG Missouri
176. Andy Janovich FB Nebraska
219. Will Parks SS Arizona
228. Riley Dixon P Syracuse
Immediate Impact: QB Paxton Lynch
Just because I said immediate impact doesn’t mean I mean a positive impact. The growing pains are going to be substantial with Lynch because he has a major transition to make. He is a less experienced version of Brock Osweiler who will need to rely on his athleticism behind a suspect offensive line. Regardless of his issues he’s still a better option than Mark Sanchez and he is the type of roll-out QB Gary Kubiak likes.
Best Value: RB Devontae Booker
Getting Booker in the 4th round is grand larceny. He is my favorite RB in this draft after Ezekiel Elliott and I don’t care how much money they are paying CJ Anderson after matching the Dolphins’ offer sheet he better be looking over his shoulder and if I were Ronnie Hillman I would be worried about my place on the roster. Booker is a fantastic all-around RB and if he’s healthy he’s stealing Anderson’s job. I would venture to guess that if John Elway knew he was going to get Booker in the 4th round he may have reconsidered matching that offer for Anderson.
Sleeper: FS Justin Simmons
FS Darian Stewart had a really good year last year for the Broncos but then again who didn’t on that Bronco defense but Simmons is a very good prospect. I really like his deep range and in today’s NFL you can never have too many people who can cover deep. He may have to make his bones on special teams this year but he’s a future starter.
Overall Analysis
John Elway surprised me not only be taking Paxton Lynch in the first round but by trading up to be sure he got him. After all the different scenarios went by the wayside (trading for Kaepernick, signing RGIII and all other options) Elway made the decision that the future starts now. Lynch has a few advantages like having a fantastic defense and some very talented WRs around him but it could be an ugly early transition for him. DL Adam Gotsis could surprise because he should work well as a five-technique DE and give them some versatility up front on defense. Simmons and Booker are great picks especially where they got them. The last four picks might find it hard to make the roster and it’s not because they aren’t any good it’s because it’s the defending Super Bowl Champions roster they are trying to make.
Kansas City Chiefs
37. Chris Jones DL Mississippi St.
74. KeiVarae Russell CB Notre Dame
105. Parker Ehinger OG Cincinnati
106. Eric Murray CB Minnesota
126. Demarcus Robinson WR Florida
162. Kevin Hogan QB Stanford
165. Tyreek Hill WR West Alabama
178. DJ White CB Georgia Tech
203. Dadi Lhomme Nicolas OLB Virginia Tech
Immediate Impact: DL Chris Jones, CB KeiVarae Russell
Jones is a big, long DL prospect who should be able to play the DE position in Kansas City’s 3-4 defense and while veteran Allen Bailey is likely to step into the vacated spot of Mike DeVito Jones might be good enough very quickly to keep Bailey in his backup role. Sean Smith’s departure in free agency leaves a big whole opposite Defensive Rookie of the Year Marcus Peters and while Phillip Gaines, Jamell Fleming and Steven Nelson will all try to fill the spot KeiVarae Russell is as good of a bet as any of them.
Best Value: OG Parker Ehinger
I don’t think the Chiefs had any outstanding value picks this year but the thing about Ehinger is that he played both OT and OG and started for four years in college and the Chiefs interior offensive line is pretty week especially at OG. Ehinger has a legitimate shot to come in and still a starting spot and that’s pretty good value in the fourth round.
Sleeper: CB DJ White
I actually like White a bit more than Eric Murray and the fact that the Chiefs drafted three CBs in this draft should tell you how they feel about their depth behind Peters. White was a three-year starter at Georgia Tech and he could be a really solid slot corner right away and develop down the line.
Overall Analysis
Jones, Russell and Ehinger will all have an opportunity to contribute this year but none of them will be counted on to be major impact players and that’s to be expected on a team with a solid roster. I question why the offensive line wasn’t addressed more with Ehinger being the only help. They certainly addressed the secondary with Russell, Murray and White. WR Tyreek Hill has blazing speed and he could bring immediate help in the return game. QB Kevin Hogan may have just been too good of value to pass up in the fifth round but this team already has Aaron Murray and Tyler Bray behind Alex Smith and Hogan isn’t an upgrade over either of those two so it just kind of muddies the water. I suppose Andy Reid might have been looking for a challenge with WR Demarcus Robinson and OLB Dadi Nicholas because both of these guys are head cases. I think Robinson had as many suspensions as he had TDs last year and even if he didn’t the numbers are too close together. Nicholas has character issues too and maybe Reid straightens them both out but that’s asking a lot (piece of advice, don’t let them hang out together it’s just asking for problems).
Oakland Raiders
14. Karl Joseph SS West Virginia
44. Jihad Ward DT Illinois
75. Shilique Calhoun DE Michigan St.
100. Connor Cook QB Michigan St.
143. DeAndre Washington RB Texas Tech
194. Cory James OLB Colorado St.
234. Vadal Alexander OG LSU
Immediate Impact: SS Karl Joseph
I can knock the fact that Joseph went a bit high at #14 overall but the Raiders needed a safety badly with the retirement of Charles Woodson and Joseph should pair quite nicely with veteran free agent pickup Reggie Nelson and give the Raiders defense and nice last line of defense. The Raiders are looking to make a move and they are poised to do so.
Best Value: DE Shilique Calhoun
Calhoun is a superior athlete that can be very disruptive in the pass game and the Raiders are building their defense much the same way the Broncos did by building it to get after the quarterback. Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin and Calhoun should all bring great pressure off the edge and the biggest knock on Calhoun was he plays a bit soft and takes plays off but on this defense they will only need to use him to do what he does best and I don’t think Mack will let him take plays off.
Sleeper: OL Vadal Alexander
Alexander is a monster of a man at 6’5 326 lbs. and he has great versatility. The Raiders have put together the best offensive line they have had in years and while Alexander won’t crack the starting lineup right away he gives them a great depth piece at 4 positions. He is good enough to eventually be a starter and if Austin Howard and Menelik Watson falter at RT Alexander could step in.
Overall Analysis
After a few years of loving the Raiders drafts I just like this one. Joseph was an over draft because of need and the fact that safety was a week position. I’m not a big fan of Jihad Ward because he is raw and I’m not sure if he’s a DE or DT and neither is he. I like Calhoun but he does have some question marks because if his lack of aggression gets the better of him he could wash out of the league quickly. He needs to make the most of his physical gifts not just count on them being enough. Getting Connor Cook in the fourth round was nice but they traded up to do so and that seems strange. He is a nice investment as a future trade chip but probably unnecessary. RB DeAndre Washington could be a really nice complement to Latavius Murray and give them the dimension out of the backfield they hoped they would get from Roy Helu Jr. but really haven’t. OLB Cory James will have to prove some worth on special teams. I really like the Alexander pick late.
San Diego Chargers
3. Joey Bosa DE Ohio St.
35. Hunter Henry TE Arkansas
66. Max Tuerk C USC
102. Joshua Perry OLB Ohio St.
175. Jatavis Brown OLB Akron
179. Drew Kaser P Texas A&M
198. Derek Watt FB Wisconsin
224. Donavon Clark OG Michigan St.
Immediate Impact: DE Joey Bosa, TE Hunter Henry, C Max Tuerk (potentially)
The Chargers passed on potential LT starters Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley and uber stud Jalen Ramsey to take Joey Bosa so he better have an instant impact. Bosa isn’t JJ Watt but the Chargers better try to use him the way the Texans use Watt in their 3-4 defense. He should line up at DE and bring some pass rush along with OLB Melvin Ingram. TE Hunter Henry was the best one in a very thin group but he’ll become a favorite of Phillip Rivers and two-TE sets with him and Antonio Gates should be a huge part of the offense. C Max Tuerk is coming off a knee injury but if he’s healthy to start next season beating out the likes of Matt Slauson, Chris Watt and Trevor Robinson at center should be a piece of cake. Tuerk could really solidify an offensive line that just needs to get and stay healthy.
Best Value: P Drew Kaser
So I don’t think I’ve ever done this before and I usually don’t bring up punters or kickers but I’m making an exception here. I have no problem when a team has plenty of draft picks and grabs a punter or kicker in a late round and that’s exactly what San Diego did. Kaser comes from Texas A&M where all he did was break records previously held by Shane Lechler, that’s pretty damn good company to be in and the Chargers may have just filled their punter position for the next 15 years.
Sleeper: LB Joshua Perry
Perry is unbelievably skilled and he could literally play any of the four LB positions in the Chargers defense. He could bring some pass rush skills if needed on the outside but more than likely he’ll line up as an ILB and Manti Te’o might not want to get too comfortable. Perry is a big LB and would be a very good match with the undersized Denzel Perryman.
Overall Analysis
The Chargers got five future starters out of this draft with Bosa, Henry, Tuerk, Perry and Kaser and that’s a pretty good hall for one draft. Jatavis Brown is an undersized LB that could find himself useful at SS since the Chargers are pretty weak at the position. Derek Watt and Donovan Clark are two Big Ten guys that were drafted to potentially help the running game that was pretty bad behind Melvin Gordon, perhaps having a Wisconsin Badger around to pave the way would help and that may help Watt make the team. The only issue with the overall class here is the lack of any help in the secondary especially safety. It’s fine to go into the season with Jason Verrett, Brandon Flowers and Casey Heyward as your top 3 CBs but after losing Eric Weddle in free agency the safety position is a major concern.
The Hott Read 