NFC West Draft Review

The Rams rule the roost out west in the NFC with the Seahawks trying to keep pace. Both teams have taken a few hits to the roster while Arizona is in full rebuild mode and San Francisco is waiting for Jimmy G to get back so they can get their rebuild back on track. This draft changed the course of the Cardinals, the 49ers stayed the course, the Seahawks tried to supplement the Russell Wilson led roster and the Rams found a few helpful pieces.

Arizona Cardinals

(1) Kyler Murray QB
(33) Byron Murphy CB
(62) Andy Isabella WR
(65) Zach Allen DE
(103) Hakeem Butler WR
(139) Deionte Thompson S
(174) KeeSean Johnson WR
(179) Lamont Gaillard OL
(248) Joshua Miles OL
(249) Michael Dogbe DL
(254) Caleb Wilson TE

Immediate Impact: QB Kyler Murray, CB Byron Murphy, WR Andy Isabella
For better or for worse Kyler Murray is going to make an immediate impact on the Cardinals and they hope it’s a positive and long-lasting one. I’ve been pretty clear about my feelings towards Murray as a prospect but here he is and Kliff Kingsbury better get the best out of him or this franchise will be set back about five years. Byron Murphy was slated to be the nickel back behind Patrick Peterson and Robert Alford but with Peterson’s 6 game suspension to start the season Murphy will be counted on to start right now. He’s a solid prospect and I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays in the lineup when Peterson returns. Kingsbury’s offense is going to be predicated and speedy WR’s taking Murray’s passes and making something from them, that’s Isabella’s game, he will excel.

Best Value: S Deionte Thompson
Thompson entered the college season as a potential first-round pick and even after the season he looked like a potential first-round pick. A wrist injury hurt him a little bit and the fact that he didn’t make a ton of plays for Alabama knocked him back a bit but the Cardinals stole him in the fifth round. That’s crazy, he’s got great talent and if I were a betting man, I would bet he ends up starting at safety for this team for a large part of the season. They have Budda Baker but their other starter is DJ Swearinger and he’s not exactly a modern coverage safety. Thompson might be the best value pick of the entire draft.

Sleepers: WR Hakeem Butler, TE Caleb Wilson
Butler was a fourth-round pick but he brings a dimension to the WR corps no one else brings. He’s a huge target at 6’6 227 lbs. and he’ll make a great red zone target. The Cardinals are not deep at WR and Butler will make them better. He has some consistency issues with catching the ball but that can be developed. TE Caleb Wilson was the last pick of the draft but he will outplay that draft slot. He’s a good pass catcher who played on a pretty rough UCLA squad. The Cardinals TE position is a mishmash of odd ball players. Ricky Seals-Jones is a converted WR, Charles Clay can’t seem to stay healthy, and Maxx Williams never lived up to his draft slot in Baltimore. There is room to move up on this TE chart and Wilson is talented enough to do it.

Overall Analysis
I don’t like the Murray pick, but I actually love the rest of this draft. Byron Murphy wasn’t my favorite CB in this draft but he was a very solid 2nd round pick. Andy Isabella was one of my favorite WRs in the draft and was a steal in round three. DE Zach Allen isn’t a flashy pick but he’s a good one and he’ll be a contributor on the defensive line. Hakeem Butler in the fourth round and Deionte Thompson in the fifth round were fantastic picks, no one else did that well with their fourth and fifth round picks combined. KeeSean Johnson adds depth at WR which is something Kliff Kingsbury’s offense really needs. The offensive linemen, Lamont Gaillard and Joshua Miles, are really just developmental players but that’s okay at that point. The team did address offensive line with a free agent (JR Sweezy) and a trade (Marcus Gilbert). Michael Dogbe might add some competition to the end of the roster for training camp but he probably won’t stick. Caleb Wilson was Mr. Irrelevant at the draft but he won’t be irrelevant for the Cardinals.

Los Angeles Rams

(61) Taylor Rapp S
(70) Darrell Henderson RB
(79) David Long CB
(97) Bobby Evans OT
(134) Greg Gaines DT
(169) David Edwards OT
(243) Nick Scott S
(251) Dakota Allen LB

Immediate Impact: RB Darrell Henderson
On a team that went to the Super Bowl there are not a lot of holes to be filled and they didn’t really address their biggest ones early in the draft they did it in free agency. That said, Todd Gurley had some issues at the end of last season and the team had to rely on CJ Anderson, a street free agent. Anderson did well but now he’s off to Detroit so they will need someone to take some pressure off Gurley. Henderson is a different sort of back, he’s smaller with explosive speed. He can play in place of Gurley or just complement him, either way he’s the most likely rookie to make an impact next season.

Best Value: OT Bobby Evans
Evans is probably a little shorter than your typical LT but he has the ability to play the position. He’s excellent in pass protection and the team has an aging LT. Evans should backup Andrew Whitworth this season and he could eventually take over at the position next season. A potential starting LT in the 3rd round is pretty good value.

Sleeper: OT David Edwards
Well if Bobby Evans doesn’t work out it’s possible Edwards ends up starting at OT for the Rams someday. Wisconsin offensive linemen aren’t a bad investment, especially late in the draft. Edwards is solid but unspectacular but the last Wisconsin o-lineman the Rams drafted started at RT in the Super Bowl last year, Rob Haverstein. At the very least, Edwards is a very solid swing tackle for a long time.

Overall Analysis
The Rams first pick came in round two and they took S Taylor Rapp who was a highly productive college player who had a terrible workout at the combine that really hurt him. It was also a good safety class overall so he dropped a bit. For now, he’ll back up free agent signee Eric Weddle but Rapp has long-term starting potential for sure. Henderson will be a useful change-of-pace back at the least. CB David Long isn’t a great athlete but he’s a solid player. With the long-term future of Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib in doubt Long has a chance to be a future starter. He’s a good coverage guy who doesn’t jump off the page but does a steady job. OTs Evans and Edwards are good depth at the least and potential starters down the road. The team needed to get help at DT and they took Greg Gaines but it wasn’t until the fourth round and he’s not going to replace Ndamukong Suh. I don’t think S Nick Scott is going to make the roster but LB Dakota Allen brings a nice skill set and he has a good shot to stick around.

San Francisco 49ers

(2) Nick Bosa DE
(36) Deebo Samuel WR
(67) Jalen Hurd WR
(110) Mitch Wishnowsky P
(148) Dre Greenlaw LB
(176) Kaden Smith TE
(183) Justin Skule OL
(198) Tim Harris CB

Immediate Impact: DE Nick Bosa, WR Deebo Samuel
They probably drafted the best player in the draft in Bosa. You can make an argument for Quinnen Williams or Josh Allen but Bosa probably wins the argument in the end. The team has spent a lot of early draft capital over the past several years on the defensive line (DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas, Arik Armstead) but Bosa is a playmaker. This is a great pick. Samuel doesn’t look like a WR who is going to beat you, he’s not tall (he’s only 5’11), he’s not particularly fast or even quick but he will beat you, just wait for it. He’s one of my favorite players in this draft, he just knows how to play the position and get open. Jimmy G is going to love this kid. He can line up anywhere and be effective. He has a legitimate chance to lead t he 49ers in catches this year (although George Kittle will be hard to beat).

Best Value: Samuel
He was my favorite WR in this draft and they got him in round two. He was expected to go around the range of where he went but he’s a steal.

Sleeper: CB Tim Harris
The team has Richard Sherman at one CB spot and he played well last year. However, Ahkello Witherspoon took a step back last year, Jimmie Ward is really only a nickel guy and newly signed Jason Verrett has a long injury history. Harris is a long, athletic CB who had injury problems in college but if he can stay healthy, he could really make a move here.

Overall Analysis
The first two picks, Bosa and Samuel, will be starters on opening day. These two are just simply better than any veteran alternative the 49ers currently have. Bosa is a double-digit sack guy and Samuel is headed to an 80-catch season, minimum. I didn’t like the Jalen Hurd pick, there were better and more accomplished WRs available; Terry McLaurin, Mile Boykin, Hakeem Butler and Riley Ridley to name a few. The 49ers need more help at WR right now, Hurd is a bit of a project. The team needed a punter but they have plenty of other holes to fill and drafting one in the fourth round is not wise. The team clearly wants to get smaller and faster at LB with the signing of Kwon Alexander so drafting Dre Greenlaw fits the new mold. TE Kaden Smith isn’t the most natural route runner and he probably won’t play much with Kittle and Garrett Celek in front of him but he’s not a bad investment in the future of the position in round six. Not sure if OT Justin Skule will make the team but they aren’t very deep at OT and Skule did start in the SEC. He’s not the prettiest blocker but he was effective. Harris was the typical really good athlete with injury problems that teams take a shot on late in the draft, they could have done worse. This draft was hit and miss but Bosa and Samuel are excellent picks.

Seattle Seahawks

(29) LJ Collier DE
(47) Marquise Blair S
(64) DK Metcalf WR
(88) Cody Barton LB
(120) Gary Jennings WR
(124) Phil Haynes OL
(132) Ugochukwu Amadi S
(142) Ben Burr-Kirven LB
(204) Travis Homer RB
(209) Demarcus Christmas DL
(236) John Ursua WR

Immediate Impact: None? Unless my sleeper comes through (more on that in a minute)
I’m not a fan of the top of their draft. Collier will now have to sit behind Ziggy Ansah until Ansah gets hurt. Blair is alright but he was the third safety off the board and he shouldn’t have been. DK Metcalf is big and fast but he lacks innate WR skills and he will struggle against NFL coverages.

Best Value: LB Ben Burr-Kirven
Burr-Kirven is a fantastic LB with great coverage skills and his skill set will work well in the NFL. He’s always around the ball and he was an absolute steal in the fifth round. He’s going to have a hard time finding time right away unless one of the starters gets injured.

Sleeper: WR Gary Jennings
The team just lost Doug Baldwin to retirement and while many are penciling in DK Metcalf to start opposite Tyler Lockett, I have my doubts. If a WR in this draft is going to make a splash I think it’s Jennings. He was the “other” WR at West Virginia to David Sills III but he was highly productive and if anyone is going to fill the Doug Baldwin role in Seattle it’s him. Russell Wilson will find him very reliable and highly effective. He’s not the biggest, not the tallest and not the fastest WR but he’s just solid all-around, kind of like Doug Baldwin.

Overall Analysis
I didn’t think Collier was the best DE available, I know Blair wasn’t the best safety available and while DK Metcalf was a solid choice late in the second round, he is a better athlete than he is a WR at the moment. The team took both Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven at LB and while LB didn’t look like a huge need these are two really good picks. They are very modern LBs. Jennings is my favorite pick of this draft. OG Phil Haynes is not a well-known name but he could really give them some good depth at OG and if Mike Iupati’s age catches up with him or DJ Fluker has issues Haynes could be a valuable piece. Ugochukwu Amadi is a small defensive back who is more of a nickel back and could find a place but I wouldn’t count on it. RB Travis Homer is a decent back but they have a lot of decent backs and I don’t think he’ll be able to beat them out. DT Demarcus Christmas is probably just a run-stuffing interior player but those guys can find a role in the NFL so he just might in Seattle. WR John Ursua has a chance to make the roster but there are a lot of bodies fighting for position on the roster so it will be an uphill battle.

 

NFC South Draft Review

The Saints ran away with this division last year and while they have lost a few key players, as long as they have Drew Brees slinging it, they are the favorites. Atlanta did some work in the draft to really improve their offensive line and that should seriously help the offense. They are hoping for better health on the defense to turn that side around. Carolina was just as disappointing as Atlanta last year and they are hoping for a healthy season out of Cam Newton and a better year out of their defense. Tampa Bay brought in Bruce Arians in the hope he can salvage Jameis Winston’s career and turn the Bucs fortunes around. There is plenty of work to do in Tampa Bay.

Atlanta Falcons

(14) Chris Lindstrom OG
(31) Kaleb McGary OT
(111) Kendall Sheffield CB
(135) John Cominsky DE
(152) Qadree Ollison RB
(172) Jordan Miller CB
(203) Marcus Green WR

Immediate Impact: OG Chris Lindstrom, OT Kaleb McGary
The Falcons offensive line was terrible last season and so they went out and drafted an entirely new right side of the line in the first round of the draft. Lindstrom wasn’t the most talked about prospect but he’s rock solid at OG. Then they traded back into the first round to grab Kaleb McGary at 31, just ahead of the Patriots. McGary is big and physical and he should be plenty good at RT where he excelled for Washington. These weren’t the flashiest picks of the first round but they may pay bigger dividends than anybody in terms of helping a team improve over last season.

Best Value: None
The Falcons got solid picks but they didn’t get anybody at a great value. All their picks came at around their expected slots.

Sleeper: RB Qadree Ollison
The Falcons like to run the ball and Davonte Freeman is a very good starter for them. They also have Ito Smith who proved to be solid last year in limited duty. They did lose Tevin Coleman in free agency and it pays to have some depth in the NFL. Ollison is a bigger back so he will complement Freeman and Smith who are both smaller backs. Ollison’s running style also fits Atlanta’s zone based running scheme quite well.

Overall Analysis
Lindstrom and McGary fix the major need this team had last year. They should protect the Falcons major investment, Matt Ryan, far better than he was protected last season, and improve the run game. On the defensive front they need a return to health and they took a shot on a talented small school prospect in John Cominsky. He may not help a lot this season but perhaps he gives them something situationally. Where the team really took losses in the off season was in the secondary where they lost two CBs; Robert Alford and Brian Poole. They already have Isaiah Oliver to step in as a starter on the outside but they are hoping Kendall Sheffield can become their nickel back. Sheffield is a better athlete than he is a corner but he is small and fast so perhaps playing in the slot will suit him. I like the Ollison pick, it’s always good to have a variety of RBs with different skill sets. CB John Miller is a bit stiff but he’s a very good athlete with the size you look for at CB. With the depth issues the team has in the secondary he has a very good chance to stick and perhaps even contribute in the dime defense. WR Marcus Green has virtually no shot at getting playing time on offense, the team is pretty stacked at WR. Maybe he finds a place on special teams but I would say he’s a practice squad guy at best.

Carolina Panthers

(16) Brian Burns DE
(37) Greg Little OT
(100) Will Grier QB
(115) Christian Miller OLB
(154) Jordan Scarlett RB
(212) Dennis Daley OL
(237) Terry Godwin WR

Immediate Impact: DE Brian Burns
The Panthers have very little at DE with Mario Addison the only established guy at the position. They signed Bruce Irvin but he’s never been a full-time DE. Burns is a speed rusher who can bend the edge and get to the QB, they need that desperately. He added some weight before the combine and still showed great athleticism, if he can keep his weight up, he can be a good all-around DE.

Best Value: OT Greg Little
I’m a little torn on Little. He has great talent and he looks the part of a future Pro Bowl LT; he just doesn’t always play that way. He could be a long-time starter for an NFL team or he could wash out in two years. He’s arguably the biggest boom-or-bust pick in this draft not named Kyler Murray. If he plays to his elite talent the Panthers stole a great LT at #37 overall.

Sleeper: OLB Christian Miller
Miller is an edge rusher who is built like an OLB. It seems the Panthers are going for a type as they signed Bruce Irvin and drafted Brian Burns in the first round. They must have a plan to use undersized DEs to create pressure and if that’s the case they might find a way to use Miller. He wasn’t a high usage player at Alabama but he was effective when he played.

Overall Analysis
The Burns pick was necessary and they got a really good DE prospect who should start right away. That’s what you want in a first-round pick, good value and fills a major need. Little is a lottery ticket, he’s all or nothing. The team likes Taylor Moton at LT and with the return of a healthy Daryl Williams they can have Little compete for a job without needing him to win one. If he plays to his potential, he could kick Moton to LG and really improve the Panthers offensive line overall. QB Will Grier seems like a bit of a luxury pick but with Cam Newton’s health issues he may be needed. He’s probably an upgrade over their other backups but they probably could have drafted someone who could help them a lot sooner with the pick they used on Grier. Miller was my pick as a sleeper but I could have included Jordan Scarlett there too. Scarlett played on a less than stellar UCLA team but he has talent and the Panthers are not exactly stacked behind Christian McCaffrey. I’m not sure OL Dennis Daley or WR Terry Godwin will make the roster but they were decent picks to take a chance on.

New Orleans Saints

(48) Erik McCoy OC
(105) Chauncey Gardner-Johnson S
(177) Saquan Hampton S
(231) Alize Mack TE
(244) Kaden Ellis LB

Immediate Impact: OC Erik McCoy
The Saints lost Max Unger to retirement and they need a new starter at center. Drew Brees likes a clean pocket and protecting him is priority #1. McCoy is a solid if unspectacular pick and while center isn’t a sexy position to draft it is a vital one for this offense. McCoy will have to earn the starting job but I expect he will without much problem.

Best Value: S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
Gardner-Johnson was talked about a potential first-round pick at one point but certainly seemed like a lock for round 2. He went 105th overall which put him in round 4. He brings a nice skill set as both a center fielder and potentially a nickel back. The Saints have a solid starting safety duo in Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams but Gardner-Johnson adds a nice piece to the secondary at the very reasonable price of a fourth-round pick.

Sleeper: TE Alize Mack
Mack certainly looks the part of a very good TE he just struggles a bit at getting open and presenting an enticing target for his QB. That can be worked on as he gets better with his technique getting off the line of scrimmage and running better routes. It will also help that he now has one of the most accurate passers ever throwing to him, Drew Brees has never needed a whole lot of space to get the ball to his targets.

Overall Analysis
This is a very small draft class of only five guys but the Saints may have made the most of it. McCoy fills a huge need and he could be the starting center for the next decade in New Orleans. Gardner-Johnson adds a nice chess piece on defense that Dennis Allen can make use of. The team signed TE Jared Cook in the off season but they don’t have many weapons at TE and Drew Brees will find Alize Mack often if he can work his way onto the field. Saquan Hampton and Kaden Ellis are going to find it hard to make the roster but if the Saints found three contributors out of five picks that’s a pretty solid hit rate for a draft class.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(5) Devin White LB
(39) Sean Bunting CB
(94) Jamel Dean CB
(99) Mike Edwards S
(107) Anthony Nelson DE
(145) Matt Gay K
(208) Scott Miller WR
(215) Terry Beckner Jr. DL

Immediate Impact: LB Devin White
White is a three-down LB who immediately steps into Kwon Alexander’s old ILB position. He’s a fast, twitchy LB who can run and can cover. New defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will understand how best to deploy White to take advantage of his elite skill set.

Best Value: DE Anthony Nelson
Nelson is a long, linear DE who can bend the edge and he’ll play the run quite well. He was talked about as a potential 2nd round pick and they got him early in round 4. He could end up with a starting job sooner rather than later given Jason Pierre-Paul’s recent neck injury, the fact that Carl Nassib is okay but not great and Noah Spence is still trying to prove he can be a productive player. New coaches tend to prefer the guys they picked so Nelson has that going for him too.

Sleeper: WR Scott Miller
This is a bit of a deep sleeper but that’s because I put Nelson as my best value choice. The Bucs have Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the outside at WR but they lost the very productive Adam Humphries in free agency, he was their slot receiver. They really don’t have a slot receiver on the roster and that is where Miller is likely to play. Bruce Arians needs to get the best out of QB Jameis Winston so giving him a reliable player in the slot would help a lot.

Overall Analysis
Devin White is a good player but I was surprised to see the Bucs pass on Josh Allen after he fell out of the top four when Oakland passed on him. The team needs pass rushing help and Allen would have provided that and White’s ILB position is usually of lesser value than pass rusher. Then the team went CB, CB, S, which should tell you what they think of their current secondary group, it’s not good. Sean Bunting is more potential than polish at this point but he has plenty of skill for Bowles to mold into a competent CB. They took CB Jamel Dean and S Mike Edwards in round three and while I like the fact they are looking to remake their secondary there were guys left on the board I like better than those two; S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB Julian Love, S Amani Hooker, maybe even CB Iman Marshall. DE Anthony Nelson and WR Scott Miller are two picks I like that were sandwiched around a kicker. Matt Gay out of Utah was taken in round five, while they certainly need competition for Cairo Santos taking a kicker in round five is not a great idea, although at least they didn’t trade up in round two to get one (Roberto Aguayo anybody?). Normally, I would say a seventh round DT who had a poor combine probably isn’t making the roster but Beckner has a little versatility and with Jason Pierre-Paul most likely out for the year, Gerald McCoy likely on the move out of town, and the overall lack of good players at d-line, I would give Beckner a decent shot at making the team.

AFC East Draft Review

The AFC East is home of the Super Bowl winning New England Patriots and until Tom Brady and Bill Belichick retire the division belongs to them. The Dolphins, Bills and Jets didn’t do enough to take the division away from the Patriots yet so they have to just keep trying to get better and hopefully compete for a wild card spot. All three teams do have young QBs to build around and coincidently they all entered the league a year ago. Buffalo (Josh Allen, not the DE the Jags just drafted), the Jets (Sam Darnold) and the Dolphins (Josh Rosen, arrived in a trade) were all top 10 picks in the 2018 draft, for reference Tom Brady was pick #199 in 2000 (in case you’re wondering Bill Belichick is riding that pick all the way to the Hall of Fame).

Buffalo Bills

(9) Ed Oliver DT
(38) Cody Ford OL
(74) Devin Singletary RB
(96) Dawson Knox TE
(147) Vosean Joseph LB
(181) Jaquan Johnson S
(225) Darryl Johnson Jr. DE
(228) Tommy Sweeney TE

Immediate Impact: DT Ed Oliver, OL Cody Ford
Ed Oliver has been compared to Aaron Donald but that’s not really fair, no one is Donald and he doesn’t actually play like him he’s only slightly built like him. A more apt contemporary comparison is Geno Atkins or if you want an older comparison, John Randle. Randle is a Hall of Famer and Atkins is a fantastic player for Cincinnati, Oliver is that good and he’ll start immediately replacing Kyle Williams. Cody Ford could end up the starting RT or the starting RG, too bad he can’t play both. I think he gets the RT job and he’ll make their line much better. He’s a beast and he’ll make Josh Allen’s life a lot easier.

Best Value: Ford
The stole Ford in round 2. He has first round talent and there are going to be a few teams that passed on him that are going to regret it (I’m talking about you Houston). He may not always be the prettiest looking player out there but he can dominate.

Sleepers: LB Vosean Joseph, S Jaquan Johnson
The Bills did a nice job adding a couple of day three picks that could really help on defense. Joseph is a run-and-chase LB with solid coverage skills and isn’t blocked easily. He will give them someone to take some of the load off of 35-year-old Lorenzo Alexander whom they like to use as a pass rusher. Johnson is a smaller safety but he’s got good coverage skills and he’ll be a nice matchup piece for the defense, he can play some slot corner. Beyond starter Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, the Bills aren’t stacked at safety and while Poyer had a solid year last year but he’s been inconsistent in his career.

Overall Analysis
The Bills had an excellent draft, they aren’t quite ready to take the division from the Patriots but they could compete for the wild card. Oliver fills a huge hole on the defensive line left by the retirement of stalwart Kyle Williams. Ford upgrades the offensive line no matter where he ends up lining up and that will only make Josh Allen better and will improve the running game. Devin Singletary is a nice pickup at RB and while they already have LeSean McCoy and they added Frank Gore and TJ Yeldon, Singletary’s skill set will come in handy. McCoy is over 30 and Gore may be ageless but he’s not as effective as he once was. Singletary might make TJ Yeldon redundant because he’s a very good receiving back. TE Dawson Knox should find some playmaking opportunities he never got in college as they team looks to make Josh Allen’s life easier. Knox has more skills than he ever got to show at Ole Miss. Joseph and Johnson are really solid additions to what was a pretty solid defense last year. Not sure DE Darryl Johnson Jr. or TE Tommy Sweeney are going to make the roster but if there are two positions the Bills can use some young competition it’s at DE and TE so the picks are worthwhile.

Miami Dolphins

(13) Christian Wilkins DT
(78) Michael Dieter OL
(151) Andrew Van Ginkel LB
(202) Isaiah Prince OL
(233) Chandler Cox FB
(234) Myles Gaskin RB

Immediate Impact: DT Christian Wilkins
Wilkins is a beast and the Dolphins defensive line is pretty brutal at the moment. They lost a lot in the off season but Wilkins is a very solid cornerstone piece to start to rebuild around. He isn’t the flashiest player but he’s exceptionally talented and very experienced after starting many years at Clemson and winning multiple National Championships.

Best Value: QB Josh Rosen
Rosen was the 10th overall pick of last year’s draft and the Dolphins stole him from the Cardinals for a late second round pick. The Cardinals already paid him the bulk of his contract so the Dolphins only owe Rosen about $6 million over the next three years with an option on his fifth year in the league. I love Rosen and he could finally be the long-term QB the Dolphins have been looking for since Dan Marino retired. That’s incredible value.

Sleeper: RB Myles Gaskin
Gaskin is undersized but that didn’t stop him form being a work horse for four years at Washington. The man wears like iron. He has a lot of miles on his tires so his career could be short but the Dolphins only have Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage at RB right now. Gaskin is a jack-of-all-trades and can fill in doing anything they need him to do. He could also carry the load if needed. He’s a good 7th round pick.

Overall Analysis
The choice of Christian Wilkins was fantastic and he’s an immediate starter but this draft will be remembered for them trading for Josh Rosen. They sat back and waited and eventually the Cardinals had to pull the trigger on trading Rosen after they had no leverage left when they took Kyler Murray 1st overall. The Dolphins were all set to wait until next year’s draft to find their QB of the future but Rosen came at such a cheap price they couldn’t pass him up. They will give him the year to show if he is their guy going forward and if they don’t think he is his contract is so cheap he just makes for a really solid backup. OL Michael Dieter isn’t spectacular but he is versatile and he could play OG or OT and he gives the Dolphins some much needed help up front. Andrew Van Ginkel might be a bit of a specialist for now because he’s pretty slight for a LB but he has potential. OL Isaiah Prince might make for a decent backup lineman but I’m not sure he’s going to stick on the roster. Not sure why they drafted a FB since most teams don’t use them but maybe new coach Brian Flores and new offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea wanted their own version of the Patriots’ James Develin. Gaskin is, at worst, great depth on a team that doesn’t have much at RB.

New England Patriots

(32) N’Keal Harry WR
(45) Joejuan Williams CB
(77) Chase Winovich DE
(87) Damien Harris RB
(101) Yodney Cajuste OT
(118) Hjalte Froholdt OG
(133) Jarrett Stidham QB
(159) Byron Cowart DT
(163) Jake Bailey P
(252) Ken Webster CB

Immediate Impact: WR N’Keal Harry, DE Chase Winovich
The Patriots have Julian Edelman but not much else at WR unless you count Phillip Dorsett, and I don’t. Josh Gordon might come back and I might win the lottery, neither of those things should be counted on. N’Keal Harry is a big-bodied WR who wins jump balls and gives the Patriots a legitimate red zone threat on the outside. They didn’t replace Gronk with a TE but they may have gotten someone who can replace some of his production in the red zone. Winovich isn’t likely to start but the Pats need help rushing the passer and Winovich is a productive player. He also just seems like Belichick guy, he could be the new Rob Ninkovich.

Best Value: RB Damien Harris
Harris was one of the better backs in the draft and the Patriots got him in the third round. Sony Michel was really good last year but he had some injury issues at times and it’s not a bad idea to have someone to take the load off of him. The team still has James White as the pass catching back but Harris may make Rex Burkhead expendable. Harris brings more power than Burkhead and he played for Nick Saban so Bill Belichick loves that fact.

Sleepers: OT Yodny Cajuste, DT Byron Cowart

I would really like to put QB Jarrett Stidham here, the Patriots did once turn Matt Cassell into a legitimate NFL starter but I’m not sure on Stidham, he needs to work on his accuracy. Instead I’ll throw Cajuste and Cowart in this category. The Patriots are counting on last season’s first round pick Isaiah Wynn playing LT but he missed last year with an Achilles tear. If Wynn can’t hold up it’s possible Cajuste ends up playing LT. He played it just fine in college. Cowart was a high school star who never really lived up to the hype. The Pats could use some depth at DT and maybe a disruptive guy to get some pressure, perhaps Belichick can turn Cowart’s talent into actual production.

Overall Analysis
If you’re one of the three teams in the division chasing the Patriots you really don’t like this draft. Harry brings an outside dimension in the passing game they have been missing. The team was already deep in the secondary and the added Joejuan Williams who could play corner or he could be Devin McCourty’s eventual replacement at safety. DE Chase Winovich and RB Damien Harris are depth pieces that could pay dividends in the short-term and the long-term. Cajuste along with OG Hjalte Froholdt add depth to an offensive line that returns four good starters, that’s not making the Patriots easier to beat. The scariest part for everyone in the NFL is the possibility that the Patriots could turn Jarrett Stidham into their next starting QB, they got Brady at pick #199, Stidham came at #133. Cowart has talent, what he does with it is up to him. They even drafted competition for their punter Ryan Allen with Jake Bailey. The Patriots secondary is pretty deep and seventh-round pick Ken Webster will have a hard time making the team.

New York Jets

(3) Quinnen Williams DT
(68) Jachai Polite OLB
(92) Chuma Edogu OL
(121) Trevon Wesco FB/HB
(157) Blake Cashman LB
(196) Blessuan Austin CB

Immediate Impact: DT Quinnen Williams
Williams is arguably the best player in this draft and the Jets defense is looking to transition to more of a 4-man front that will now feature him and Leonard Williams at DT. That’s a hell of a starting block up front and Quinnen Williams is a freak on the field. He’s powerful, disruptive and dominant.

Best Value: LB Blake Cashman
The Jets signed CJ Mosley and they already have Avery Williamson so they have some expensive LBs. Cashman came cheap as a fifth-round pick. He’s not the sexiest player out there but he’s always around the ball. When Cashman plays, he will make plays. Kid is a baller.

Sleeper: OLB Jachai Polite
Polite put on a clinic on how not to handle the pre-draft process. He had a horrible combine and then perhaps a worse pro day. He didn’t interview well and apparently didn’t receive glowing recommendations from the coaching staff at Florida. He went from a surefire 1st round pick to luckily getting drafted in the 3rd round. He has talent and the Jets need pass rushers so he can find a place here if he gets his act together. Gregg Williams has put together some great defenses in his career, if he can get something out of Polite, he will be on the right track to another good one in New York.

Overall Analysis
It’s a small draft class so it’s tough to say it’s going to turn around their fortunes but they did well on the defensive side of the ball. Williams is a stud and he could be an unstoppable force inside. Polite is a talented kid who needs some direction and some discipline. Gregg Williams can give him both it’s just up to him to accept it and be his best self. I like the Cashman pick a lot, he’s the type of LB that produces for a long time. The sixth round CB Blessaun Austin has an uphill battle to make the roster but you can do worse things than take a big, athletic CB with a sixth rounder. On the offensive side OT Chuma Edogu is a solid pass blocker but his run blocking leaves a lot to be desired. He’s a developmental guy. FB Trevon Wesco is basically an extra offensive guard who will line up in the backfield, not a lot of those guys in the league anymore, maybe he sticks due to special teams.

AFC North Draft Review

This division should be quite interesting this season. Just about everyone is picking Cleveland to take a major jump and win it given the way they finished last year and their additions during the off season. This is definitely the best Browns team in I don’t know how long but the Steelers and Ravens aren’t going to just roll over and hand them the division title. Pittsburgh should be a more harmonious locker room and yes a less talented one too. Baltimore is in full transition to the Lamar Jackson era with a lot of changes on defense too. The Bengals…well they are the Bengals, with a new coach but still with Andy Dalton at the controls, let’s assume they really aren’t in contention here.

Baltimore Ravens

(25) Marquise Brown WR
(85) Jaylon Ferguson OLB
(93) Miles Boykin WR
(113) Justice Hill RB
(123) Ben Powers OG
(127) Iman Marshall CB
(160) Daylon Mack DT
(197) Trace McSorley QB/Ath

Immediate Impact: WR Marquise Brown, OLB Jaylon Ferguson
The Ravens desperately need help at WR and Brown is pro ready and he’s a gamebreaker. His speed is deadly and while he’s small, he will find a way to get open and make big plays. Ferguson is a bit raw but the team lost Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith in the off season and Tim Williams hasn’t exactly busted out. The team needs pass rushers and there is one thing Ferguson is really good at and that’s getting to the QB.

Best Value: WR Miles Boykin
There is an outside chance Boykin could become a starter pretty quickly. He’s the opposite of Brown in the fact that he’s a 6’4 big-bodied WR and the Ravens could use that too. He really only has to beat out Jordan Lasley and Chris Moore for playing time because Willie Snead lines up in the slot. Lasley and Moore aren’t that big of an obstacle for a guy like Boykin.

Sleepers: CB Iman Marshall, DT Daylon Mack
Marshall was a high-profile recruit at USC who never really lived up to the hype but was always good. He’s a really good athlete with solid cover skills and Brandon Carr is 32 and Jimmy Smith is 30 and hasn’t always been the picture of health. Marlon Humphrey is going to need a long-term running mate at CB and Marshall might be that guy. Mack is slightly shorter than your typical DT at 6’1 and he is best suited to play NT but it just so happens the Ravens use a NT. Their starter Brandon Williams happens to be 30 so he could use someone to take some snaps away from him to keep him fresh, Mack can do that and eventually replace Williams.

Overall Analysis
I really like this draft. Marquise Brown had a foot injury so he didn’t get a lot of pub before the draft but the kid is a player. Ferguson and Boykin may be a bit raw but they need players at those positions so they will play. RB Justice Hill is another speed demon type of back and he should be a great complement to newly signed Mark Ingram and holdover Gus Edwards. OG Ben Powers needs a little work but he adds some nice depth inside where the Ravens can really use it. Marshall and Mack were well worth their draft slots and could really pay off down the road. I’m not overly enthusiastic about Trace McSorley because he’s not an NFL QB but as a 6th round flyer on a kid who’s a good athlete and willing to play just about anywhere, I have no problem with that. He could be this team’s version of the Saints Taysom Hill and if he runs some gadget plays and takes some of the hits Lamar Jackson would otherwise take, he’s totally worth a 6th round pick.

Cincinnati Bengals

(11) Jonah Williams OT
(52) Drew Sample TE
(72) Germaine Pratt LB
(104) Ryan Finley QB
(125) Renell Wren DT
(136) Michael Jordan OL
(182) Trayveon Williams RB
(210) Deshaun Davis LB
(211) Rodney Anderson RB
(223) Jordan Brown CB

Immediate Impact: OT Jonah Williams
The Bengals offensive line wasn’t good last year and one of the major reasons was Bobby Hart at RT. Hart was basically a turnstile and it just so happens Williams is best suited at RT. He played LT at Alabama too but in the NFL, he will be at his best on the right side. It shouldn’t take long for him to push Hart to the bench or possibly off the roster.

Best Value: QB Ryan Finley
I might like Finley a little more than most but I think he’s more pro ready than a lot of this year’s QB class. He doesn’t have overwhelming arm strength but he makes up for it with good anticipation and better accuracy than most. He should fit into Zac Taylor’s offense quite well. It should be similar to the one the Rams run that Jared Goff excels in. Finley could give Andy Dalton a little competition, it’s not like Dalton has set the world on fire and Taylor has no allegiance to him. At worst, Finley is a solid backup QB.

Sleeper: DT Renell Wren
Wren has great size and a quick first step on the interior defensive line. The Bengals have Geno Atkins and Andrew Billings as starters but their backups aren’t anything to write home about. Atkins is also undersized and on the wrong side of 30. Wren was a good prospect to get in round 4 and I think he has a chance to actually make a difference on their defense.

Overall Analysis
Williams isn’t a flashy pick and he may never be a Pro Bowl player but he’s a solid addition on the right side of the line and fills a big need. TE Drew Sample wasn’t very productive in college but Washington doesn’t feature their TEs so he may produce more in the pros if given the chance, one thing he will do is block. I didn’t love the pick as there were more productive TEs available (Jace Sternberger) and if you are going to pick an underutilized college TE I would have gone for Dawson Knox from Ole Miss. Germaine Pratt fills a need because the Bengals desperately need LBs but I think there were better LBs on the board. Finley and Wren were value picks in the fourth round. I also like their other fourth rounder OL Michael Jordan out of Ohio St. I’m not sure he will make the starting unit but he can compete for the RG spot and he has plenty of versatility and will be a great bench piece as a rookie. The Bengals took two RBs in round six, Trayveon Williams and Rodney Anderson. Williams is a smaller back who flashed at times but lacks consistency while Anderson is a big back who missed time with injury. Neither is a perfect addition nor are they as threat to Joe Mixon but they are very talented depth added in a late round, smart moves. They were sandwiched around another LB, Deshaun Davis, who is a run-stuffer and probably a special-teamer. Don’t be surprised if Davis finds his way onto the field, the LB corps isn’t very good and Davis can play. 7th round CB Jordan Brown looks the part but he’s raw and the CB group is fairly solid, he’s a practice squad guy for now.

Cleveland Browns

(46) Greedy Williams CB
(80) Sione Takitaki LB
(119) Sheldrick Redwine S
(155) Mack Wilson LB
(170) Austin Seibert K
(189) Drew Forbes OL
(221) Donnie Lewis Jr. CB

Immediate Impact: CB Greedy Williams
Considering the team traded its first-round pick for Odell Beckham Jr. it probably shouldn’t have ended up with someone who could start right away yet here we are. Williams fell to 46th overall most likely because he isn’t much of a tackler but the man can cover. The Browns hit big with Denzel Ward last year in round one but that puts pressure on their #2 CB. Terrance Mitchell and TJ Carrie are veterans but Williams has elite coverage skills. He doesn’t like to tackle but I think the team will get over that when they see just how good he is at sticking to his man.

Best Value: Williams (and it’s not even close)
The greatest cover corner in history was Deion Sanders and he couldn’t tackle worth a damn. I’m not saying Williams is Sanders but he’s functional enough as a tackler to let it slide and take advantage of his coverage skills. A top-notch cover corner at #46 overall is a frickin’ steal.

Sleeper: LB Mack Wilson
Wilson didn’t dominate later in his Alabama career the way it looked like he might early on. There is still a lot to like and he could fill a position of need if the team doesn’t re-sign Joe Schobert at MLB next year. Wilson will be a solid backup this year for sure and he has starting potential in the future.

Overall Analysis
The Browns traded their first-round pick for Odell Beckham Jr. so they already won this draft. Greedy Williams is icing on the cake and I think he’ll be a starter earlier than some might think. LB Sione Takitaki was a decent choice in the third round and the team needed LB depth. S Sheldrick Redwine may prove to be a smart pickup as free agent Morgan Burnett is a stop-gap measure at best and his best football may be behind him. Wilson was a value pick. K Austin Seibert isn’t a bad choice after watching the team struggle at kicker last season. Greg Joseph stabilized the position eventually but he’s far from a sure thing and Seibert brings the added value of having punting experience too. Sixth round pick OL Drew Forbes and seventh round pick Donnie Lewis Jr. are developmental prospects that are likely to be stashed on the practice squad if they show some promise in training camp. It’s been a long time since the Browns had a deep enough roster to not be looking for contributors late in the draft but here we are. I’m not crowning this team Super Bowl champs like some people but this is the best Browns roster in 20 years and they are a legitimate threat to win the AFC North.

Pittsburgh Steelers

(10) Devin Bush LB
(66) Diontae Johnson WR
(83) Justin Layne CB
(122) Benny Snell RB
(141) Zach Gentry TE
(175) Sutton Smith OLB
(192) Isaiah Buggs DL
(207) Ulysees Gilbert III LB
(219) Derwin Grey OL

Immediate Impact: LB Devin Bush, CB Justin Layne
The Steelers defense misses Ryan Shazier a whole lot so they drafted his clone in Devin Bush. That’s a high standard to live up to but Bush is an exceptional athlete and talent and he should slide right in at ILB for the Steelers. They spent some draft capital to move up to get him but he will prove to be well worth it. The team may have signed Steven Nelson in free agency to replace Artie Burns opposite Joe Haden but Nelson may want to watch out. Layne is a big CB with great ball skills (he used to be a WR) and he will compete for a starting job. At worst, Layne probably spells the end for Burns on the roster.

Best Value: Layne
Seriously, he had first-round potential and they got him in the third round. He could kick Steven Nelson to the nickel roll and start opposite Haden on the outside. He’s a big CB with the physical skills to be a #1 corner and Joe Haden isn’t going to be around forever.

Sleeper: OLB Sutton Smith
The Steelers defense has always had great pass rushing OLBs but right now they only have TJ Watt. Bud Dupree has been a serviceable starter but he’s in the fifth year of his contract and I think the team will be moving on. Smith is undersized but he played as an undersized DE in college and he made it work. He has a lot of pass rush moves and the team can find a way to use him. As a situational pass rusher for now and who knows down the road.

Overall Analysis
It’s hard to argue with the Steelers draft. Moving up for Devin Bush was costly but he fills a huge need. WR Diontae Johnson is a smaller WR out of the MAC and I’m not going to argue with the Steelers when drafting WRs, they are exceptionally good at it. Justin Layne was a steal. Fourth round RB Benny Snell isn’t fancy but he’s effective and he should help them save some wear and tear on James Connor. Zach Gentry may have been a little bit of a reach which is hard to be in the fifth round but he’s pretty raw and wasn’t very productive. I guess if you’re going to bet on a TE there are worse ones to choose. Sutton Smith could bring some pass rushing value now and in the future. DL Isaiah Buggs is never going to stuff the stat sheet but he’s actually very versatile and makes for nice depth on a Steelers defensive line that has never been about stats. Gilbert and Grey are longshots for this roster but they were worth the risk in the last two rounds.

AFC South Draft Review

The Texans won the division last year but the Colts will be nipping at their heels. The Colts had a better draft and a better off season so they may have made up the difference. Jacksonville is hoping Nick Foles can lead their offense to get them back into contention. The Titans are hoping for a big leap from Marcus Mariota and if they don’t get it, they will be a middling team again. Mariota has plenty of weapons so he’s out of excuses.

Houston Texans

(23) Tytus Howard OT
(54) Lonnie Johnson CB
(55) Max Scharping OL
(86) Kahale Warring TE
(161) Charles Omenihu DE
(195) Xavier Crawford CB
(220) Cullen Gillaspia RB/FB

Immediate Impact: CB Lonnie Johnson
Jonathan Joseph is 35 and Bradley Roby is on a one-year contract. Johnson has the size and skill to be a fantastic outside CB. The team needs the depth too because Aaron Colvin, their nickel corner, wasn’t very good last year. Johnson will be a starter at some point this season and I think it happens sooner rather than later.

Best Value: Johnson
The team got an eventual starting CB at the #54 pick overall, that’s good value.

Sleeper: DE Charles Omenihu
I wouldn’t want to compare a later round pick with a multiple-time Defensive Player of the Year like JJ Watt but Omenihu is a big DE and Watt is 30 years old. Omenihu isn’t going to be Watt but he could be his eventual replacement and for now he can give Watt a break now and again. He’s a solid player who wasn’t always used well at Texas, he should be a better pro than he was a college player.

Overall Analysis
You’ll see I didn’t include the offensive linemen in any of the above categories, that’s because I can’t figure out what the Texans were doing. They clearly got snaked by Philadelphia when the Eagles moved one spot ahead of them and stole Andre Dillard, but apparently, they lost their minds because Tytus Howard wasn’t a great choice. They need help now and Howard isn’t ready to start right now, he may be better than Julie’n Davenport at LT but not by much. With guys like Jawaan Taylor, Kaleb McGary, Greg Little, Cody Ford, and Dalton Risner still on the board, Howard was a reach. The second offensive lineman they grabbed was Max Scharping, clearly, they didn’t watch him play last season against Iowa. He was destroyed by AJ Epenesa, while that’s not unusual for many guys, it doesn’t bode well for him against NFL talent. TE Kahale Warring is an interesting prospect with some upside, he needs some work but he could pay off in the end. Omenihu is a very good 5th round pick. CB Xavier Crawford could make the roster given the state of the Texans secondary. The last player, RB/FB Cullen Gillaspia is only making this team as a special team’s player.

Indianapolis Colts

(34) Rock Ya-Sin CB
(49) Ben Banogu DE
(59) Parris Campbell WR
(89) Bobby Okereke LB
(109) Khari Willis S
(144) Marvell Tell III S
(164) EJ Speed LB
(199) Gerri Green OLB
(240) Jackson Barton OL
(246) Javon Patterson OL

Immediate Impact: CB Rock Ya-Sin, WR Parris Campbell
The Colts defense played surprisingly well last season with Pierre Desir and Kenny Moore actually holding up at CB. However, there isn’t a lot of depth and Ya-Sin can step in and play some nickel and help solidify the secondary. Campbell is a slightly larger version of TY Hilton and Andrew Luck seems to have quite the rapport with Hilton. Campbell is far better than free agent signee Devin Funchess and I think he takes the starting job away from him sooner rather than later.

Best Value: Campbell
They got Campbell at the end of round two and like I said I think he becomes a starter this season. He’s a speed demon and he and Hilton could form a deadly duo.

Sleeper: S Marvell Tell III
Tell passes the eyeball test but he’s inconsistent. If someone on the Colts defensive coaching staff can get consistent effort and heady play out of him, he could be a Pro Bowler, if not he’ll be out of the league in two years. The Colts aren’t exactly stacked at safety so he could find playing time if he gets his head on straight and does what they ask him to do.

Overall Analysis
Ya-Sin and Campbell were rock solid picks. Both will contribute immediately even if they don’t start from day one. Banogu is an undersized pass rusher who will likely be a situational pass rusher this season. The Colts have a number of young pass rushers who are still finding their way, whomever finds their way first will end up sticking around long-term. Bobby Okereke, EJ Speed, and Gerri Green are depth pieces at LB but none are ready to contribute on defense. They need to contribute on special teams if they want to stick around. Khari Willis isn’t the athlete Tell is but he’s got some range and like I said the team isn’t stacked at safety. The two late round offensive linemen, Barton and Patterson, seem like longshots on a team where the offensive line actually played well last year. However, Barton has the size and length you look for in a developmental prospect while Patterson has the college experience edge and could potentially stick around.

Jacksonville Jaguars

(7) Josh Allen DE/OLB
(35) Jawaan Taylor OT
(69) Josh Oliver TE
(98) Quincy Williams LB
(140) Ryquell Armstead RB
(178) Gardner Minshew II QB
(235) Dontavius Russell DT

Immediate Impact: DE Josh Allen, OT Jawaan Taylor
The Jaguars were the luckiest team in the draft and they didn’t overthink it. First, Josh Allen fell to 7th overall, that was insane, he’s arguably the best player in this draft. Then Jawaan Taylor falls to the second round, I had them taking Taylor in round one with the seventh pick they ended up using on Allen. That’s two starters right out of the gate.

Best Value: Taylor
Apparently, the reason Taylor fell was due to some questions about the healthy of his knees. It had to be something like that because the guy has first-round talent. He’ll be an immediate starter at RT for the Jags and while there will be some growing pains, he’s a hell of a steal in round 2.

Sleeper: RB Ryquell Armstead
The Jaguars are setting their team up to have a strong running game and a great defense, the one flaw in the plan may be counting on Leonard Fournette to carry the ground game. He hasn’t been the picture of consistency, they also signed Alfred Blue to back him up, he’s not great either. They have Thomas Rawls but he’s more injury prone than Fournette. Armstead comes from Temple but he’s a big, power back who could really surprise and if he’s the only guy left standing, he might not have a choice but to carry the load. Deep sleeper but I think there’s potential.

Overall Analysis
The team covered their biggest need in free agency with QB Nick Foles so they were able to let the draft come to them, and boy did it ever. I love Josh Allen and he may just end up being the player the Jags hoped they were drafting when they took Dante Fowler Jr. a few years ago. They traded Fowler and now Allen slides in as the chess piece of the front seven. Taylor fills the biggest need on offense at RT and he should excel there. TE Josh Oliver probably won’t dominate but he’ll play as the only other guy they have is Geoff Swaim. LB Quincy Williams was a bit of a reach but he’s just depth for now. Really like the Armstead pick and he could pay dividends. Gardner Minshew is a decent QB prospect but he’s not better than Cody Kessler was, but he is better than third-stringer Tanner Lee. DT Dontavius Russell probably won’t make the team.

Tennessee Titans

(19) Jeffery Simmons DT
(51) AJ Brown WR
(82) Nate Davis OL
(116) Amani Hooker S
(168) D’Andre Walker OLB
(188) David Long Jr. LB

Immediate Impact: WR AJ Brown
WR Tajae Sharpe should really watch out for Brown. Brown can play any of the three WR positions but with Corey Davis at one outside spot and newly signed free agent Adam Humphries in the slot it’s Sharpe’s position that Brown will be gunning for and he’s good enough to take it. He’s one of my favorite WRs in the draft and a dark horse for rookie of the year if he and Mariota connect.

Best Value: S Amani Hooker
Calling Hooker a safety is a bit of an understatement. He can play safety, he can play the slot, he can line up at LB if necessary. For now, he’ll compete with veteran Kenny Vaccaro to be the starting safety alongside Kevin Byard. Hooker could win the job and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised; he has more versatility than Vaccaro. Whether he starts or not he will play a ton and as a fourth-round pick, he will far outplay his draft slot.

Sleeper: OLB D’Andre Walker
The team lost starting OLBs Brian Orakpo (retirement) and Derrick Morgan (free agency) in the off season. Cameron Wake was signed but he’s 37. Harold Landry looks solid but he needs a running mate off the edge. Walker was DE at Georgia but he has OLB size and skills so he could make a run at being the guy opposite Landry for the long haul. I like his skill set and the opportunity he has on this defense.

Overall Analysis
The team took Jeffery Simmons with their first pick and they know he probably won’t give them anything this season as he recovers from a torn ACL. That’s okay because he’s a top 5 talent and they got him 19th overall. They also made up for their first-round pick not likely contributing but hitting on so many others. Brown is a fantastic WR and he will help Marcus Mariota become a better QB, or at least expose the fact he isn’t one if he can’t pull it off. OL Nate Davis is a bit of a reach and I likely would have taken someone who was ready to contribute sooner at OG, he’s a developmental prospect and they need more help inside now. Hooker might be the steal of the draft. His versatility makes him a great matchup player in today’s NFL. Walker was more than worth his draft slot and could be a very nice addition. David Long Jr. is an undisciplined LB who will have to make the team as a special-teamer if he wants to stick around.