Dallas Cowboys

27. Byron Jones   CB   Connecticut

60. Randy Gregory   DE   Nebraska

91. Chaz Green   OT   Florida

127. Damien Wilson   ILB   Minnesota

163. Ryan Russell   DE   Purdue

236. Mark Nzeocha   OLB   Wyoming

243. Laurence Gibson   OT   Virginia Tech

246. Geoff Swaim   TE   Texas

Immediate Impact:   CB Byron Jones

Brandon Carr hasn’t lived up to his lofty contract, Morris Claiborne has been a draft bust and Orlando Scandrick is unhappy with his contract which leaves the Cowboys with more questions than answers at CB.  Enter the uber-athletic Byron Jones and his 12’3 broad jump.  Jones missed a lot of time last year but he seems fully recovered from his injury and he could be a fantastic CB for the Cowboys.  He may allow them to cut Brandon Carr or let Orlando Scandrick walk and he certainly spells the end of Claiborne’s time with the franchise.  Jones has the potential to be a #1 CB but it may take some time.

Best Value:  DE Randy Gregory

I’m basing this purely on Gregory’s on the field potential because it is immense.  Gregory could be a top-flight edge pass rusher that the Cowboys have been looking for since DeMarcus Ware’s heyday.  They were obviously desperate to get one when they signed Greg Hardy in free agency and then the league handed down a 10 game suspension making Hardy a virtual non-factor.  Gregory is a great pure speed rusher and he could form a nice duo with last year’s rookie Demarcus Lawrence.  This is obviously all contingent on Gregory staying on the straight and narrow and avoiding the same fate as players like Josh Gordon and Justin Blackmon.

Sleepers:  WRs Antwan Goodley, George Farmer and Deontay Greenberry

I’m going a bit off-script with these choices as they were not draft picks but I’m not impressed with any of the Cowboys later choices.  These three WRs are undrafted free agents the team signed after the draft and while WR doesn’t seem like a big need given the presence of Dez Bryant, Terrence Williams and Cole Beasley the Cowboys are casting a wide net to find some help.  Goodley was highly productive in Baylor’s high flying offense, Farmer is a great athlete that struggled with injury issues at USC and Deontay Greenberry has a lot of upside.  One or more of these players could make this roster and contribute down the line.

Overall Analysis:

Jones and Gregory are both going to be counted on early by the Cowboys given the need they have at both CB and DE.  I’ve said I wasn’t as high on Jones before but my only issue was with the idea of him going in the upper half of round 1, being taken 27^th overall was an appropriate choice.  Gregory is the definition of a boom or bust pick, he could lead the league in sacks or he could be a year-long suspension waiting to happen.  OT Chaz Green is an interesting player because he has versatility and he could be Doug Free’s eventual replacement at RT.  He also seems to be injured a lot so he could continue that trend and never last.  LB Damien Wilson adds nice depth at LB and Laurence Gibson could do the same on the offensive line but neither player profiles as a starter.  I don’t like DE Ryan Russell simply because he wasn’t very productive at Purdue and TE Geoff Swaim has a chance to make the roster because the Cowboys need depth at TE but I think undrafted free agent TE Ray Hamilton has just as good of a chance.

Jerry Jones is crazy like a fox:  LSU OT La’el Collins was supposed to be drafted in round 1 until his pregnant ex-girlfriend was murdered and the police wanted to talk to him the week before the draft.  It was a tragic situation that unfolded slowly and every team decided not to take a chance drafting Collins in case he was involved.  After the draft was over Collins sat down with police to answer their questions and apparently take a polygraph test.  He reportedly passed the polygraph test and learned he was not the father of the unborn child.  Collins was an undrafted free agent just like dozens of other players except he was now coveted as it appears he had nothing to do with his ex-girlfriend’s death.  The Cowboys have arguably the best offensive line in the league but Collins wanted to be a Cowboy so he signed a guaranteed 3 year contract, something no other rookie free agent would get.  Jones took a chance on Randy Gregory during the draft and while some may see this as taking a chance too it’s looking more and more like Collins was unfortunately tied to a tragedy he had nothing to do with.  It’s still possible other evidence could surface but at this point the gamble seems worth it.  Collins may not break into the starting lineup right away given how good the Cowboys offensive line is but RT Doug Free isn’t getting any younger and Collins would form a nice set of bookend OTs in the future with LT Tyron Smith.

New York Giants

9. Ereck Flowers   OT   Miami

33. Landon Collins   SS   Alabama

74. Owa Odighizuwa   DE   UCLA

144. Mykkele Thompson   S   Texas

186. Geremy Davis   WR   Connecticut

226. Bobby Hart   OT   Florida St.

Immediate Impact:  OT Ereck Flowers, SS Landon Collins

When your first two picks are day one, no doubt starters you probably did alright.  I think Flowers went too high and if the Giants think he’s an eventual LT they will be highly disappointed but he’s a big upgrade at RT and having him pushes Justin Pugh inside to OG so that actually upgrades two spots.  Collins is already the best safety on the team he will become the enforcer on the defense.  He was seen as an in-the-box safety with limited coverage skills and the Giants will use that to their advantage because they lack that type of force at safety and at LB.  Collins is actually better in coverage than he’s being given credit for so he’s a major upgrade overall.

Best Value:  DE Owa Odighizuwa

Getting a versatile pass rusher like Odighizuwa in the third round is an absolute steal.  There are questions about his health due to some leg injuries he had previously at UCLA which is why he dropped and the Giants are the beneficiaries of that drop.  The Giants have won Super Bowls on the strength of their pass rush and that has been lacking the past few years.  Robert Ayers is not a great complement to Jason Pierre-Paul and Odighizuwa could step in pretty quickly to replace him.  He’ll be a starter before you know it and he will excel.

Sleeper:  S Mykkele Thompson

If the Giants line up rookie safeties Landon Collins and Mykkele Thompson in their starting lineup on opening day of the NFL season I won’t be the least bit shocked.  Thompson isn’t a great player but he’s a solid prospect and the Giants safety depth chart is seriously lacking.  Thompson has the range to be a FS and would make a nice complement to Collins’ more attacking style.

Overall Analysis:

I didn’t like Flowers at #9 overall but with Brandon Scherff off the board the Giants took the next best RT they could find.  I love the Landon Collins pick and he was fantastic value, same goes with Odighizuwa.  The last choice is interesting as Bobby Hart played OT at Florida St. but he profiles as an OG in the NFL.  He is athletically limited but at OG that wouldn’t be a problem and he has some time to grow since the Giants will have veteran Geoff Schwartz and new guard Justin Pugh holding down the fort around OC Weston Richburg.  Hart could develop over the next year or two and eventually replace Schwartz.  He’s probably never going to be a Pro Bowl type of player but he can be a better than average starter.

Philadelphia Eagles

20. Nelson Agholor   WR   USC

47. Eric Rowe   DB   Utah

84. Jordan Hicks   ILB   Texas

191. JaCorey Shepherd   CB   Kansas

196. Randall Evans   CB   Kansas St.

237. Brian Mihalik   DE   Boston College

Immediate Impact:  WR Nelson Agholor, DB Eric Rowe

The Eagles did well grabbing Jordan Matthews last year in the second round of the draft and he and Riley Cooper offer nice size at the position but over the past two off seasons the Eagles have lost DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, well Agholor is their replacement.  Agholor offers good deep speed and is a shiftier player than Matthews or Cooper and he brings the added element of being a return man.  Rowe is 6’1 205 lbs. and the Eagles will give him every opportunity to grab the starting CB spot opposite Byron Maxwell.  He offers great size and physicality at CB much like Maxwell and would allow Walter Thurmond to play the nickel position but it may not be his best position.  Luckily for the Eagles Rowe’s best position, free safety, is also a huge need.  Rowe will find a place to make a difference no matter what and he’ll be a starter early whether it’s at CB or FS.

Best Value:  DB Eric Rowe

Rowe had moved up the draft board late in the process as teams looked at him more.  He’s a good athlete with great versatility and there was a lot of talk about him possibly going in the late first round.  Teams are looking for CBs that fit the Seahawks mold of bigger and stronger guys and Rowe is that.  Getting him at #47 overall was a very good value.

Sleeper:  CB JaCorey Shepherd

Shepherd was a WR that converted to CB so his technique is lacking and he’s not a good tackler but he has great ball skills and a feel for the passing game.  He may never be more than a nickel corner but if you’re going to take a shot on a player in the 6^th round of the draft you could do a whole lot worse.  He has ability and he just needs good coaching.

Overall Analysis:

I really like the Agholor and Rowe choices early on and they fill two great needs on this roster and I also like the additions of JaCorey Shepherd and Randall Evans later in the draft because it adds depth in the secondary.  My only question is with 3^rd round choice Jordan Hicks.  Hicks is an ILB in the Eagles scheme and with Kiki Alonso, DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks on the roster Hicks isn’t likely to contribute unless it’s on special teams.  In the 3^rd round the Eagles had a chance to grab a safety or a guard prospect that would have helped them immediately and those are two positions they didn’t really address.  Hicks is a limited player and he has an injury history that doesn’t inspire confidence.

Washington Redskins

5. Brandon Scherff   OT   Iowa

38. Preston Smith   DE   Mississippi St.

95. Matt Jones   RB   Florida

105. Jamison Crowder   WR   Duke

112. Arie Kouandjio   OG   Alabama

141. Martrell Spaight   LB   Arkansas

181. Kyshoen Jarrett   S   Virginia Tech

182. Tevin Mitchel   CB   Arkansas

187. Evan Spencer   WR   Ohio St.

222. Austin Reiter   OC   South Florida

Immediate Impact:  OT Brandon Scherff, OG Arie Kouandjio, DE Preston Smith

Two of the biggest issues the Redskins faced last season was poor protection for RGIII and not enough push in the running game to give Alfred Morris a fighting chance.  Brandon Scherff is an immediate starter at RT and while he may struggle with some pass rushers on the outside he is light years ahead of where the team was last season.  Scherff is one of the most dominating run blockers you’ll see and they should take advantage by running right.  Adding Arie Kouandjio in the middle of the fourth round means the entire right side of the offensive line may get a makeover.  Chris Chester is getting a little long in the tooth at RG and while Kouandjio isn’t a for sure starter I think he will take that job.  If the Redskins line up with Scherff and Kouandjio on the right side of their line their running game will be seriously improved.  DE Preston Smith will come in and take the OLB job vacated by Brian Orakpo and line up opposite Ryan Kerrigan but Smith has a lot of versatility and they will be able to move him all over including lining him up as a DE and at DT in passing situations.

Best Value:  DE Preston Smith

Smith’s value is in his versatility because he can line up as a pass rushing OLB, play with his hand in the dirt as a DE and when the Redskins want to use Trent Murphy on passing downs and keep their big DEs in the game Smith can move inside and rush from there.  In the right scheme with the right defensive play-caller Smith is weapon that the offense has to identify all over the field.

Sleeper:  RB Matt Jones

The Redskins have one power back in Alfred Morris but he’s backed up by smaller backs that can’t do what he does.  Enter Matt Jones the 6’2 231 lbs. back out of Florida.  I’m not a huge fan of Jones but he fits this team’s need for a backup RB that can sustain what Morris gives them.  With the addition of Scherff and Kouandjio on the line the Redskins should be a power running team and now with Jones they have more than one back that can do it.

Overall Analysis:

GM Scott McCloughan loaded up on the offensive side of the ball in an attempt to give RGIII one last chance to succeed or the team will move on.  Scherff and Kouandjio solidify the line, Jones gives them another power back and even WR Jamison Crowder can help.  The Redskins top three WRs are set with DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Andre Roberts but Crowder can make the team as a 4^th WR and his return ability can take some pressure off of Jackson and Roberts and make them more effective in their primary roles.  Smith filled their major need on defense for a pass rusher and while Spaight and Mitchel are unlikely to make the active roster they bring some possible depth.  The Redskins addressed their defense in free agency and their offense in the draft.  It’s probably safe to let Daniel Snyder out of the broom closet now but the Redskins should make sure McCloughan is making all the personnel decisions from now on.

Arizona Cardinals

24. DJ Humphries   OT   Florida

58. Markus Golden   DE   Missouri

86. David Johnson   RB   Northern Iowa

116. Rodney Gunter   DT   Delaware St.

158. Shaq Riddick   OLB   West Virginia

159. JJ Nelson   WR   UAB

256. Gerald Christian   TE   Louisville

Immediate Impact:  OT DJ Humphries, RB David Johnson

I’ve made no secret that I have little faith in DJ Humphries becoming a great OT in the league and I didn’t think he should go in the first round.  I hate him here even more.  Humphries is an athletic guy that lacks power and isn’t a drive blocker in the run game but the Cardinals already have Jared Veldheer at LT so Humphries is going to have to play the right side.  He’ll be a better pass blocker for Bruce Arians offense but if they want to improve the run game this won’t help.  I love the Johnson pick.  Johnson is bigger than Andre Ellington and can be a far better between the tackles runner.  He will hold up carrying the ball better than Ellington and while Ellington is a good pass catcher and an outside runner Johnson can do those two things when Ellington get hurt.  Johnson is actually a fantastic receiver out the backfield and if you don’t believe me just ask any Iowa Hawkeye defender from last season, they’re still trying to tackle him.

Best Value:  RB David Johnson

I can’t sing his praises enough and he’ll really upgrade their running game.  He’s a starting RB for them since Ellington is best used situationally, he may not actually start to start the season but once Ellington goes down in week 3 or so he’ll take the job and not give it back.  Your new starting RB in round 3 is pretty good value.

Sleeper:  DE Shaq Riddick

Riddick is 6’6 242 lbs. so he’s skinny as a rail and needs to add size but he struggled to produce last year at West Virginia because he played on the line instead of as a rush OLB like he should be.  He’s going to need some work and he has to hit the weights but he’s got a far higher ceiling than their 2^nd round pick Markus Golden because he’s a superior athlete.

Overall Analysis:

Absolutely love the David Johnson pick but it’s probably not a good sign that I like their last three picks better than their first two.  I’ve said my piece about Humphries but Golden is a different story.  The second round was too high for an athletically limited player that tries hard but lacks great pass rush ability.  Golden might be better if he dropped down to 245-250 lbs. range and played ILB.  It’s also too high when better pass rushers like Eli Harold and Lorenzo Mauldin were still available.  WR JJ Nelson is a tiny speed demon that had one of the fastest 40 times at in combine history at 4.25.  The Cardinals have their top 3 WRs in Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown but Nelson might make the team as a return man.  TE Gerald Christian was the final pick of the draft and while that isn’t always optimal for the player Christian could make this roster at TE because with the recent retirement of John Carlson there is room to move on this roster.

San Francisco 49ers

17. Arik Armstead   DE   Oregon

46. Jaquiski Tartt   SS   Samford

79. Eli Harold   OLB   Virginia

117. Blake Bell   TE   Oklahoma

126. Mike Davis   RB   South Carolina

132. DeAndre Smelter   WR   Georgia Tech

165. Bradley Pinion   PT   Clemson

190. Ian Silberman   OG   Boston College

244. Trent Brown   OG   Florida

254. Rory Anderson   TE   South Carolina

Immediate Impact:  DE Arik Armstead

The 49ers have Darnell Dockett and they might still have Justin Smith at DE but Dockett is 33 years old and he’s the young one of those two.  Whether Armstead starts or not he’ll see plenty of playing time and he’s a fantastic fit in the 49ers defense.  He’s still a bit raw but playing the five-technique in a 3-4 defense doesn’t have to be all that complicated and he should have some good veterans around him and his head coach Jim Tomsula knows a thing or two about defensive line play.

Best Value:  OLB Eli Harold

Harold earned a reputation during the scouting process as being soft and while that’s not completely untrue it’s a bit blown out of proportion.  He’s a speed rusher that really has no power move, he isn’t going to bull rush anyone.  If a strong blocker gets ahold of him he’s done.  He needs to gain functional playing strength and learn how to use leverage to beat power.  The 49ers have had edge rushers like this for a while and new defensive coordinator Eric Mangini had them in his previous stops so they will teach him some new tricks.  The good news is he won’t be called on to do anything except speed rush unless the 49ers have numerous injuries at OLB.

Sleeper:  WR DeAndre Smelter

This kid is going to be a real sleeper because he tore his ACL late in the year and I would say there is a better than average chance he spends this season on injured reserve.  Smelter played WR at Georgia Tech which means you can’t base his projection on his college production because Georgia Tech runs the triple option.  Smelter is a strong physical WR and while he isn’t big like Calvin Johnson he is big like Dez Bryant.  Smelter has a lot to learn about the WR position so he should take the year, heal up from his injury and learn everything he can from veterans Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith.

Overall Analysis:

Armstead and Harold are good players that fit the 49ers system and should help in time.  SS Jaquiski Tartt wasn’t my favorite safety on the board (Eric Rowe went one pick later) but he brings a physical presence to the position even more so than the guy he will eventually replace Antoine Bethea.  RB Mike Davis could actually stick on the roster because while he isn’t big he is a power runner and current backups Reggie Bush and Kendall Hunter are not and having a player similar to starter Carlos Hyde isn’t a bad idea.  The two TEs Blake Bell and Rory Anderson might actually end up making the team and Bell is a nice addition considering Vernon Davis’ production fell off a cliff last year.  I have no idea if the punter they took is any good and it’s unlikely we ever hear from their late OG picks.

Seattle Seahawks

63. Frank Clark   DE   Michigan

69. Tyler Lockett   WR   Kansas St.

130. Terry Poole   OL   San Diego St.

134. Mark Glowinski   OG   West Virginia

170. Tye Smith   CB   Towson

209. Obum Gwacham   DE   Oregon St.

214. Kristjan Sokoli   DE   Buffalo

248. Ryan Smith-Murphy   S   Oregon St.

Immediate Impact:  TE Jimmy Graham

I know this is a total cop out but on a team that just went to back-to-back Super Bowls it’s hard for draft picks to have much impact.  It’s even harder when you trade your first round pick to get a veteran.  It’s even harder still when you throw away your late second round pick on a guy that has as much chance of ending up in jail as he does getting a second NFL contract.  Graham becomes the #1 playmaker in the passing game and I’m just glad they didn’t have him in the Super Bowl because he makes that catch and no one ever knows who that Malcolm whatshisname is.

Best Value:  WR Tyler Lockett

Lockett is the only player they drafted that I can actually say I like.  It’s unfortunate that they had to draft him because they drafted virtually the same player in the second round last year WR Paul Richardson.  Richardson tore his ACL in the playoffs and it will be a miracle if he doesn’t spend the season on injured reserve.  I think Lockett might actually be a better WR which is good because Richardson had little effect on the offense last year and Lockett is a dynamite return man.

Sleepers:  CB Tye Smith, S Ryan Smith-Murphy

Tye Smith is from a small school but he has great athletic ability and Ryan Smith-Murphy is from Oregon St. and he’s 6’3 214 lbs. so he has the size the Seahawks like.  I’m not real familiar with these two prospects but I am familiar with the Seattle coaching staff and if they like these two guys I’m not going to doubt them.

Overall Analysis:

The Seahawks have always marched to the beat of their own drummer but the Frank Clark pick is atrocious.  Clark has a checkered past to say the least and he was kicked off the Michigan team because of a domestic violence incident.  The charges were reduced by the witness statements paint an ugly picture and the prosecutor acknowledged they were probably accurate.  Unlike the extensive background check the Buccaneers did on Jameis Winston the Seahawks did not do their due diligence.  When this pick comes back to bite them they will have no one to blame but themselves.  As an on the field note I don’t think Clark was worth the 63^rd pick.  The two offensive linemen they got in the middle rounds are nice depth but they needed to do better than depth on the offensive line.  Marshawn Lynch is going to find it hard to find room to run after the interior of the Seahawks o-line was decimated in the off season.  It’s safe to say I’m not impressed with this draft.

St. Louis Rams

10. Todd Gurley   RB   Georgia

57. Rob Havenstein   RT   Wisconsin

72. Jamon Brown   OL   Louisville

89. Sean Mannion   QB   Oregon St.

119. Andrew Donnal   OL   Iowa

201. Bud Sasser   WR   Missouri

215. Cody Wichmann   OG   Fresno St.

224. Bryce Hager   ILB   Baylor

227. Martin Ifedi   DE   Memphis

Immediate Impact:  RB Todd Gurley, RT Rob Havenstein

Jeff Fisher is building a team in the mold of the Seahawks with an outstanding defense and a great running game.  Gurley is a beast with both exceptional power and outstanding speed.  Anybody that thinks you shouldn’t draft a RB this high hasn’t watched Gurley play.  He may not have a 10-12 year career because of his running style but he will be one of the best RBs in the game for the six years or so.  I think last year’s RT Joe Barksdale won’t be returning because Rob Havenstein just took his job.  Havenstein is never going to win a bodybuilding competition but he is a road grading RT and he will be Gurley’s favorite teammate.

Best Value: RT Rob Havenstein

Getting your no doubt starting RT at 57^th overall is a steal.  Havenstein isn’t pretty to watch but after starting for three years at Wisconsin he knows what he’s doing.  He has better footwork than you would think looking at him and Melvin Gordon seemed to do just fine running behind him.

Sleeper:  OL Andrew Donnal

This isn’t even a homer pick for me Donnal is just the guy no one is talking about.  He can back up four positions on the offensive line and I wouldn’t count him out as a center except he’d be a damn tall center.  He’s not the most athletic player but he understands technique and uses his hands well and he always plays hard.  Donnal will make the roster because he offers great positional versatility but I actually like him better than their second round pick Jamon Brown.

Overall Analysis:

If there was any doubt about where the problems are for the Rams this draft pointed directly at them.  The Rams had nine picks and the first seven were spent on offensive players and out of those seven four were offensive linemen.  The law of averages says that they will find somebody to help their offensive line out of Havenstein, Brown, Donnal and Cody Wichmann.  Their other 3^rd round pick QB Sean Mannion was a serious reach and I actually don’t see him beating out Austin Davis or Case Keenum for a roster spot behind starter Nick Foles.  They probably won’t have a hard time slipping him onto the practice squad if they want to, no one else is going to want him, but that’s a high price to pay for a fourth QB.  The Rams WR corps is not exactly top-notch but I don’t see Bud Sasser making big splash and their two later round picks on defense face an uphill battle to make this roster.  They didn’t really address their need for a #1 WR but with Todd Gurley on board they may not need one.

Atlanta Falcons

8. Vic Beasley   OLB   Clemson

42. Jalen Collins   CB   LSU

73. Tevin Coleman   RB   Indiana

107. Justin Hardy   WR   East Carolina

137. Grady Jarrett   DT   Clemson

225. Jake Rodgers   OT   Eastern Washington

248. Akeem King   S   San Jose St.

Immediate Impact:  OLB Vic Beasley, RB Tevin Coleman

The Falcons signed some players they hoped could generate a pass rush during free agency but that wasn’t enough for new head coach Dan Quinn so he grabbed my favorite pass rusher in this draft Vic Beasley.  Beasley will fill the similar DE/OLB hybrid role that Bruce Irvin fills in Seattle but I’m betting Beasley does it better.  Teams wonder if he can hold up against the run but I say he can and he will.  Coleman isn’t the power back I thought Quinn would go for but he’s better than Devonta Freeman or Antone Smith and he never had a problem carrying the load at Indiana.  I think Coleman wins the starting job in training camp.

Best Value:  DT Grady Jarrett

Jarrett is an undersized, penetrating DT but on the Falcons defensive line that has giants like Ra’Shede Hageman and Paul Soliai his size shouldn’t be an issue.  He’s an excellent 1-gap player and he’ll be a monster on passing downs.  Jarrett will be reunited with his college teammate Vic Beasley and if they can cause the same type of havoc in Atlanta that they did at Clemson Dan Quinn’s defense will be off to a good start.  Getting a disruptive force like Jarrett in the fifth round is highway robbery.

Sleeper:  WR Justin Hardy

The Falcons lost Harry Douglas to free agency in the off season and Hardy can step into his 3^rd WR role without missing a beat.  I’m sure the team was planning on that but Hardy is more than just a 3^rd receiver that’s good in the slot.  Long time WR Roddy White is going to be 34 years old this season and he’s had some injury issues lately so he isn’t going to last forever.  Hardy is a legitimate option to take over White’s spot opposite Julio Jones in 2016.

Overall Analysis:

This is arguably my favorite draft this year.  Beasley, Coleman, Hardy and Jarrett are all fantastic players that weren’t taken too early and some were even taken later than they should have been.  Second round CB Jalen Collins was considered a first round prospect for much of the draft process until some character issues and inexperience pushed him down the board.  He is a very physically gifted player and Dan Quinn worked with some excellent secondary players in Seattle so he may be able to mold the very raw talent of Collins into something special.  Jake Rodgers and Akeem King may never contribute to the active roster but given the potential of the first five players on the board that won’t matter.  I do have one issue with the Falcons draft and that is the complete lack of attention paid to the offensive line.  Matt Ryan can’t run an offense if he’s running for his life and it doesn’t matter if it’s Tevin Coleman or someone else at RB if the Falcons don’t block better the running game isn’t going anywhere.

Carolina Panthers

25. Shaq Thompson   LB   Washington

41, Devin Funchess   WR   Michigan

102. Daryl Williams   OT   Oklahoma

169. David Mayo   ILB   Texas St.

174. Cameron Artis-Payne   RB   Auburn

Immediate Impact:  WR Devin Funchess????

I almost left this space blank because I’m not seeing a lot of help coming from this group this year unless someone surprises.  It’s possible the Panthers will get production from Devin Funchess this year like they did Kelvin Benjamin last year but the truth is that because they are so similar it could hurt Funchess’ production.  Neither of these guys is a deep threat that can take the top off the defense and while their size creates mismatches their lack of deep speed means teams can crowd them and make it harder for them to get open.

Best Value:   ??????

Sleeper:  RB Cameron Artis-Payne

Say hello to the new DeAngelo Williams.  Everyone knows Jonathan Stewart isn’t staying healthy for 16 games and with Williams cut for salary purposes Stewart needs a new running mate.  Artis-Payne is built quite similar to Williams with a matching running style and he could fair quite well.

Overall Analysis:

As much as I love Atlanta’s draft is the same amount I hate Carolina’s.  I am a fan of Shaq Thompson and in time I think he’ll be a very good linebacker.  However, watching NFL Man of the Year Thomas Davis announce Thompson’s selection was awkward.  Davis is 32 years old and coming to the end of his career sooner rather than later and he had to walk on stage and announce the selection of the man that will most likely replace him.  Thompson will be a good player this year in certain defensive alignments but he won’t make a huge difference unless Davis gets hurt.  Drafting Funchess when there were players like Jaelen Strong and Sammie Coates still on the board also surprised me because those two bring a complementary set of skills to Kelvin Benjamin instead of duplicating them.  OL Daryl Williams has a chance to be a good player but he is basically a RT only and if he wins the RT job it means Michael Oher will be playing the left side and that’s not good for anyone.  When fifth round pick Cameron Artis-Payne is your best choice I can’t feel good about a draft.  I also wonder how the Panthers failed to address OT sooner and how they failed to address their secondary at all.

New Orleans Saints

13. Andrus Peat   OT   Stanford

31. Stephone Anthony   ILB   Clemson

44. Hau’oli Kikaha   OLB   Washington

75. Garrett Grayson   QB   Colorado St.

78. PJ Williams   CB   Florida St.

148. Davis Tull   OLB   Chattanooga

154. Tyeler Davison   DT   Fresno St.

167. Damian Swann   CB   Georgia

230. Marcus Murphy   RB   Missouri

Immediate Impact:  ILB Stephone Anthony, OLB Hau’oli Kikaha

I sort of misspoke in my initial first round reaction when I said the Saints don’t need an ILB, I should have said they had bigger needs.  If Dannell Ellerbe is as bad as he was for the Dolphins last year they really will need someone inside next to David Hawthorne.  Anthony wasn’t my favorite ILB and while I would have preferred to see the Saints go in another direction I can see Anthony beating out Ellerbe to start inside.  Kikaha is a player with his warts but he led the nation in sacks last year and he’s a better option at OLB than Parys Haralson.  These two players could add some much need punch and playmaking to Rob Ryan’s LB corps.

Best Value:  CB PJ Williams

Williams was a potential first rounder at one time and while his game has been picked apart and over analyzed it was more his drunken driving arrest that dropped him to this spot.  Williams is a starting caliber CB and he went in the 3^rd round.  The Saints signed Brandon Browner this off season to go with Keenan Lewis whom they signed last year but the depth behind them is two former high draft picks that have failed to live up to their hype (Kyle Wilson from the Jets and Stanley Jean-Baptiste).  Williams gives them a good cover corner with good size and he could also potentially play safety.

Sleeper:  QB Garrett Grayson

I haven’t been Grayson’s biggest fan but I actually love this pick.  Drew Brees is 36 years old, his backup last season was Luke McCown who is 33 years old and is best known as “the other McCown”, not exactly impressive.  Ryan Griffin, a second year player out of Tulane no one has ever heard of, was expected to compete with McCown for the backup job.  To say the Saints don’t have a long-term plan at QB is an understatement.  Grayson needs time, to work on his throwing motion (it needs to be quicker), learn to make better decisions and to figure out the speed of the NFL game.  Grayson has loads of potential and he’s a very accurate deep ball thrower just like Brees.  The Saints have never had a plan at QB after Brees and regardless of what Brees or anyone else thinks playing QB until your 40 is not the norm.  Brady and Manning are trying their best but they are the exception not the rule.

Overall Analysis:
Sean Payton has said he doesn’t expect OT Andrus Peat to compete with veterans Terron Armstead or Zach Strief for a starting spot and just because that’s what he expects doesn’t mean it won’t happen.  Peat is an upgrade over Strief at RT and in two years he’s likely the starting LT.  It’s nice that they aren’t putting pressure on him but the talent will win out.  I like that they got better at LB with Anthony and Kikaha, Williams was a steal for the secondary and Grayson gives them at least some chance at having a QB beyond Brees.  I’m not sure what to expect out of the last four picks and they may not amount to much more than camp bodies but RB Marcus Murphy could be interesting.  He’s a small RB that’s good in the passing game and Payton has had good luck with those types of players.  He had Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles and last season he had Travaris Cadet who was a bigger back but had that sort of skillset.  The Saints signed CJ Spiller in the off season to serve as the complement to Mark Ingram but Murphy could be valuable when Spiller inevitably gets hurt.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1. Jameis Winston   QB   Florida St.

34. Donovan Smith   OT   Penn St.

61. Ali Marpet   OG   Hobart

124. Kwon Alexander   OLB   LSU

162. Kenny Bell   WR   Nebraska

184. Kaelin Clay   WR   Utah

231. Joey Iosefa   FB   Hawaii

Immediate Impact:  QB Jameis Winston, OT Donovan Smith

Obviously when a team drafts a QB #1 overall they expect an immediate impact and the Buccaneers will get just that.  Winston gets an advantage most #1 overall QB picks don’t get and that is two top-notch WRs in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans.  Jackson is veteran presence and Evans is the exciting young guy.  Winston also has some nice talent at TE with second year man Austin Seferian-Jenkins and veteran Brandon Myers.  Donovan Smith may actually be the key to all of this working out because the one thing on offense the Bucs need to improve besides QB is the offensive line.  Smith played LT at Penn St. and he may be asked to do that in Tampa but his best position would be as a road grading RT.  He’s an upgrade at either spot but his long-term future is at RT.

Best Value:  OT Donovan Smith

I’m not the biggest Smith fan but good OTs were flying off the board so Tampa grabbed Smith early in the second round.  He’s a starting OT on either the right or the left side which means he’s worth the pick.

Sleeper:  OG Ali Marpet

Can a third round guard from a Division III school be overhyped?  Obviously I pay closer attention to the draft than most (I realize that’s the understatement of the year) but there was a lot of talk about Marpet before the draft.  He was a LT at Division III school Hobart and he was beyond dominant (he was co-offensive player of the year in his conference) and then he was invited to the Senior Bowl.  He wowed everyone there because he more than held his own while playing guard.  I’m calling him a sleeper because I think he earns a starting job at OG for the Buccaneers and since most people have no idea who he is he’s a sleeper.  Many scouts and coaches won’t be surprised but the media will be because it’s a major step up in competition from Division III football to the NFL (runner-up for understatement of the year).

Overall Analysis:

This draft will certainly be judged by how Winston turns out and that’s just life with the #1 pick.  Smith and Marpet have a chance to seriously upgrade two spots on the Buccaneers offensive line and that will go a long way towards deciding if Winston succeeds or not.  Kwon Alexander is a nice addition late and he’ll add depth at LB and be a core special team’s player.  I’m not sure if the Bucs know what to do with WRs that are under 6’5 but Kenny Bell and Kaelin Clay have a chance to crack a depth chart that is underwhelming beyond Jackson and Evans.  The last guy, Iosefa, was a RB in college but he’s pushing 250 lbs. so he either plays FB and special teams or  he’s not making the team.

Chicago Bears

7. Kevin White   WR   West Virginia

39. Eddie Goldman   DT   Florida St.

71. Hroniss Grasu   OC   Oregon

106. Jeremy Langford   RB   Michigan St.

142. Adrian Amos   S   Penn St.

183. Tayo Fabuluje   OT   TCU

Immediate Impact:  WR Kevin White, DT Eddie Goldman, OC Hroniss Grasu

No offense to Marquess Wilson but White will be lining up opposite Alshon Jeffery on day one and he will be just as productive as Brandon Marshall was last year, he’ll be far less of a headache too.  The Bears didn’t have a NT to plug into their 3-4 defense until Goldman slipped to them at 39.  He’s a big man will nice athleticism and he fits exactly what they need and they have virtually no competition for him so he starts now.  After letting long-time veteran Roberto Garza go it looked like they would go with Will Montgomery at OC and they still might but Grasu is good and he’ll push for the starting job right out of the gate.

Best Value:  S Adrian Amos

In a draft that lacked quality at safety the Bears got a pretty solid player in the fifth round.  Amos doesn’t wow you with his skills but he has good athleticism and he knows what he’s supposed to do and where he’s supposed to be.  Those two traits alone give him a leg up on the Bears roster.  Amos brings value because he’s a fifth round pick that could see a lot of action because the Bears safeties are terrible.  Free agent pickup Antrel Rolle isn’t a kid anymore and Brock Vereen and Ryan Mundy aren’t making the Pro Bowl roster anytime soon.

Sleeper:  RB Jeremy Langford

I’m a big fan of Langford because he has a great NFL skillset.  He is absolutely fantastic in the screen game which the Bears have run for quite some time because Matt Forte excels at it too.  Langford will give Kadeem Carey a run for his money as Forte’s backup and he has a little more speed than Carey.  He carried the ball plenty at Michigan St. so he can handle the workload if needed.  Langford has similar skills to Forte so if the offense is designed to use Forte it will suit him too.

Overall Analysis:

I certainly can’t object to the first five players the Bears drafted and while I’m not all that familiar with Tayo Fabuluje you certainly can’t complain about taking a chance on a gigantic OT in the sixth round of the draft.  White and Goldman are major contributors from day one and I think Grasu and Amos could be starters on this team.  Grasu is a little light and that worked in Oregon’s offense but he needs to get a little stronger.  The Bears did an excellent job of getting value at their picks especially with Goldman at 39 and Langford in the fourth round.  I only have one issue with this draft and that is that they didn’t address their glaring need for a pass rushing OLB.  I assume they believe they can turn Willie Young and Jared Allen into OLBs to play opposite Pernell McPhee but that’s a dangerous assumption.  The 3-4 defense is predicated on getting pass rush from the OLB position and it could be a long year on defense.

Detroit Lions

28. Laken Tomlinson   OG   Duke

54. Ameer Abdullah   RB   Nebraska

80. Alex Carter   CB   Stanford

113. Gabe Wright   DT   Auburn

168. Michael Burton   FB   Rutgers

200. Quandre Diggs   CB   Texas

240. Corey Robinson   OT   South Carolina

Immediate Impact:  OG Laken Tomlinson

The Lions needed offensive line help and since the best OT prospects were off the board at #28 they grabbed one of the best guards in the draft.  Tomlinson is a 6’3 323 lbs. behemoth that knows how to move people off the line of scrimmage and pairing him with Larry Warford gives the Lions serious strength at offensive guard.  Tomlinson will slide right into the starting lineup and improve their running game.

Best Value:  DT Gabe Wright

The Lions neglected to get one of the top ranked DTs early in the draft but they were able to secure Auburn’s Gabe Wright in the fourth round and while he has never been as productive as his skills would lead you to believe he’s a pretty good player to get that late.  The team needs help at DT next to Haloti Ngata and perhaps Ngata’s work ethic will rub off on Wright and he will live up to his potential.  The DT depth chart isn’t great and Wright can make noise quickly.

Sleepers:  CB Quandre Diggs, OT Corey Robinson

Diggs started for four years at Texas and he’s got very natural cover skills.  He is small and he’s not going to be a great matchup against big WRs but he’s got fight and knowhow and he is a physical presence despite his size.  He will come up in run support and he could be a very good slot corner right away.  Robinson is a 6’7 324 lbs. mountain with great length but he’s probably limited to RT duties and that’s actually alright in Detroit.  The Lions RT options are terrible and Robinson has as good a shot at the job as anyone.

Overall Analysis:

The Tomlinson pick was fantastic because the Lions needed to get better on the offensive line.  I’m not a fan of Abdullah and I think they should have addressed RT or DT in the second round instead because there were solid players at those positions still available.  I will say that Abdullah could make a nice complement to Joique Bell but anyone expecting Abdullah to be the bell cow RB will be disappointed.  CB Alex Carter was a nice addition to a secondary that needs an infusion of youth and he and Diggs will both help.  Robinson is never going to be an All-Pro but if he can play RT and just get in the way of opposing pass rushers he would be an upgrade to what they have otherwise.  I would have liked this draft a lot more if they would have taken a DT in the second round instead of Abdullah and then grabbed a RB in round four where they got Wright.

Green Bay Packers

30. Damarious Randall   FS   Arizona St.

62. Quinten Rollins  CB   Miami (OH)

94. Ty Montgomery   WR   Stanford

129. Jake Ryan   LB   Michigan

147. Brett Hundley   QB   UCLA

206. Aaron Ripkowski   FB   Oklahoma

210. Christian Ringo   DE   Louisiana-Lafayette

213. Kennard Backman   TE   UAB

Immediate Impact:  LB Jake Ryan

The Packers better hope that their fourth round draft pick can make an immediate impact.  They are woefully thin at ILB and while that is probably Ryan’s best position in a 3-4 defense it isn’t like he’s a sure thing.  I’m assuming they think differently but they did wait until the fourth round to take him.  When I look at Ryan I see a poor man’s AJ Hawk and considering the Packers cut ties with Hawk in the off season I’m not sure how this helps.

Best Value:  QB Brett Hundley

I was absolutely floored to see Hundley still on the board in the fifth round of this draft and I’m sure Ted Thompson was too.  Obviously the Packers don’t need a QB and barring an injury Hundley will be holding a clipboard all year but he was too good to pass up.  He could develop into a very solid backup to Rodgers for a couple of years and then he could bring excellent value as a trade chip down the line.  Hundley was always going to need time and he won’t be rushed at all in Green Bay.

Sleepers:  CB Quinten Rollins

It’s a little hard to call a second round pick a sleeper but I’m saying it here because I think Rollins ceiling is sky high.  Rollins played basketball for 4 years at Miami (OH) and joined the football team by chance and then he excelled.  He got by on pure talent alone and once he gets NFL level coaching there is no telling how good he could be.

Overall Analysis:

I understand that the Packers see Randall as a nickel corner playing over the slot and while that is a need taking him in the first round and Rollins in the second round seems redundant especially when you have a huge need at ILB.  They could have had their choice of any of the top ILBs at Randall’s spot and they passed again in the second and third rounds too.  WR Ty Montgomery was over drafted in the third round.  He brings value as a return man but so do many players that went later.  Ryan isn’t a bad player for depth but they needed more help at LB.  FB Aaron Ripkowski is the type of player the Packers have had in John Kuhn so he couldn’t have found a better place to go.  The last two players are only making the Packers if they are outstanding special team’s players.

Minnesota Vikings  

11. Trae Waynes   CB   Michigan St.

45. Eric Kendricks   LB   UCLA

88. Danielle Hunter   DE   LSU

110. TJ Clemmings   OT   Pittsburgh

143. Mycole Pruitt   TE   Southern Illinois

146. Stefon Diggs   WR   Maryland

185. Tyrus Thompson   OT   Oklahoma

193. BJ Dubose   DE   Louisville

228. Austin Shepherd   OT   Alabama

232. Edmond Robinson   OLB   Newberry

Immediate Impact:  CB Trae Waynes, LB Eric Kendricks

Mike Zimmer likes press CBs and now he can pair Waynes with Xavier Rhodes and he has the best set of press corners in his division.  The two of them are big, strong and not afraid to take on anyone and in this division that is worth its weight in gold.  Kendricks is a smart player that will slide right into the middle LB spot this year for the Vikings because they need him there but it’s not his ultimate position.  He isn’t built to play MLB in a 4-3 defense so a year from now they will likely slide him over to replace Chad Greenway on the weakside (I’m a little sad about that but Chad’s had a long career that’s coming to an end).

Best Value:  OT TJ Clemmings

I’m not privy to the medical reports teams have on prospects but everyone says that it was questions about his medical checks that dropped Clemmings all the way to fourth round; well it had to be because he has first round talent.  If he stays healthy he can steal Matt Kalil’s job at LT unless Kalil really improves his performance over last season.  Clemmings is an athletic kid that has just scratched the surface of his talent and needs time to develop offensive line skills.

Sleeper:  WR Stefon Diggs

The Vikings traded for Mike Wallace and they really like Charles Johnson on the outside too, they are hoping Cordarrelle Patterson grabs the slot receiver role but if he slips just a little Diggs is going to take it from him.  Diggs is a quick-twitch athlete with burst and speed and he can be all the things the Vikings have wanted Patterson to be and more.  He lacks discipline and he needs someone to push him but he’s such a natural playmaker he won’t be denied a spot on this team.

Overall Analysis:

This is one of my favorite overall drafts because Waynes, Kendricks, Clemmings and Diggs were all fantastic value picks.  I also like the additions of Tyrus Thompson and Austin Shepherd because the Vikings offensive line needed some depth and some competition.  Thompson could be a player if the coaching staff can light a fire under him (they should invest in 24 hour a day motivational speaker for Diggs, Thompson and Hunter).  I have two issues with this draft.  Obviously the Vikings have no plans to get rid of Adrian Peterson and every intention of having him play because they did nothing in this draft to address the position.  Even if they have no plans to get rid of him this off season Peterson isn’t going to last forever and they could have taken advantage of the RB depth in this draft and found an heir apparent.  My other issue is with Danielle Hunter.  Hunter is the second coming of Barkevious Mingo and that is not a good thing.  Hunter looks like a supreme athlete that just needs to put it all together but he had very little production at LSU and I don’t see him turning it on it the pros.  It may seem like good value to get a raw prospect like him in the third round but I just don’t see him making a difference and there were prospects on the board that will.

This is my initial reaction to each of the 32 first round picks in the NFL Draft.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:   Jameis Winston   QB   Florida St.

He’s been the pick since the beginning.  Lovie Smith and GM Jason Licht just tied their careers to Winston and they hope he can swim.  He’s not Andrew Luck but he’s not JaMarcus Russell either.

2. Tennessee Titans:   Marcus Mariota   QB   Oregon

Square peg meet round hole.  Mariota might be a franchise QB but not in Tennessee.  I just don’t see this ending well for either side and that’s a shame because Mariota deserves a better fit and Whisenhunt deserves a QB that fits what he does.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars:   Dante Fowler Jr.   OLB   Florida

Fowler said he’d be shocked if the Jaguars passed on him and he was right, even with Leonard Williams on the board they took him.  I have this vision of Gus Bradley standing in front of a white board with a marker drawing defensive alignments including Fowler and laughing like he’s Dr. Evil.

4. Oakland Raiders:   Amari Cooper   WR   Alabama

The Raiders used to roll the dice like degenerate gamblers betting their last $20 trying to win back their rent money.  Now they act like a middle-aged man maxing out his IRA and putting money is his children’s college tuition fund.  Cooper is about as sure a thing as you’ll find in this draft and I’m setting his season totals at 90 catches, 1300 yards and 10 TDs, Derek Carr has a new best friend.

5. Washington Redskins:   Brandon Scherff   OL   Iowa

If there was ever a player who could fulfill the legacy of “The Hogs” it’s Scherff.  I’m stunned by this pick not because Scherff isn’t worth it but because new GM Scott McCloughan must have locked owner Daniel Snyder in a broom closet to make this pick.  No flash, all substance.  Somebody get Mr. Snyder some bottles of water and some energy bars, you can let him out on Sunday.

6. New York Jets:   Leonard Williams   DL   USC

Wait…what the f….How in the hell did this happen?  The Jets have arguably the NFL’s best defensive line with Sheldon Richardson, Muhammed Wilkerson and Damon Harrison and they get Leonard Williams.  How did the rest of the league let that happen?  Yeah he was just too damn good to pass up.  Todd Bowles you lucky bastard.

7. Chicago Bears:   Kevin White   WR   West Virginia

John Fox had to be salivating over the possibility of Williams falling to him but White slides right in to Brandon Marshall’s old spot and gives Cutler a hell of a WR duo.  He’s a younger, faster and saner version of Marshall.

8. Atlanta Falcons:   Vic Beasley   OLB/DE   Clemson

Dan Quinn took his version of Bruce Irvin instead of his version of Marshawn Lynch and I can’t blame him.  Beasley is a stud and he and Fowler may have to have to have a fight to the death at the end of the season to see who gets Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

9. New York Giants:   Ereck Flowers   OT   Miami

There was talk during the week that Flowers was moving up the board but really?  He’s a RT upgrade over Justin Pugh but this seems high to me.  Flowers struggles with speed rushers and I don’t think he brings any versatility because he’s not going to move inside to guard and he’s not a LT.

10. St. Louis Rams:  Todd Gurley   RB   Georgia

Well I’ve been seeing the second coming of Marshawn Lynch but Jeff Fisher was seeing his next Eddie George.  Gurley says he’ll be ready for Week 1, I’m sure as hell not going to doubt him.  Beast Mode 2.0 is coming to Los Ange…sorry…St. Louis, for now.

11. Minnesota Vikings:   Trae Waynes   CB   Michigan St.

So now the division has Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White.  The Bears pick of White didn’t make this happen but it certainly made Mike Zimmer feel that much better about his decision.

12. Cleveland Browns:   Danny Shelton   NT   Washington

The Browns run defense was atrocious this last season and teams just ran all over them.  Better come up with a new plan of attack this year, Shelton is a beast.  I don’t want to say he’s going to completely solve their run defense issues because that’s a lot of pressure on a rookie but he’s going to completely solve their run defense issues

13. New Orleans Saints:   Andrus Peat   OT   Stanford

This pick got mixed reviews but I don’t see the problem, Peat is an immediate upgrade at RT over Zach Strief and he’s probably a year of two away from being an upgrade at LT over Terron Armstead.  It’s about time the Saints spend some of their draft picks on offensive linemen.

14. Miami Dolphins:   DeVante Parker   WR   Louisville

Parker joins Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings and TE Jordan Cameron and that means Ryan Tannehill has no more excuses.  Parker is stud and he’s a legitimate #1 WR so it’s time for Tannehill to prove he’s a top-flight QB.

15. San Diego Chargers (from San Francisco):   Melvin Gordon   RB   Wisconsin

When Gurley went off the board at #10 the Chargers had to fear Gordon might go soon after so they moved up two spots to get him.  Gordon is the best RB the Chargers have had since Tomlinson’s heyday and this is an excellent move.  Gordon is a day one starter and he’ll make Phillip Rivers’ life easier, for as long as Rivers sticks around.

16. Houston Texans:   Kevin Johnson   CB   Wake Forest

I’m surprised at this only because Bud Dupree is still available but Johnson is a nice pick up.  Kareem Jackson just signed an extension but Jonathan Joseph is 31 and his contract is up next year.  Johnson makes a hell of a third CB for now and in a division where Andrew Luck is ruling the roost loading up on cover guys isn’t a bad idea.

17. San Francisco 49ers (from San Diego):   Arik Armstead   DE   Oregon

Too good of a fit and the 49ers picked up a later pick to drop two spots and still get the guy they want, well played.  Armstead is raw but if San Francisco can get Justin Smith to return for one more year he can learn from Smith and newly signed Darnell Dockett, that’s pretty good veteran leadership to learn from.

18. Kansas City Chiefs:   Marcus Peters   CB   Washington

Damn you Andy Reid.  Peters is the best CB in the draft and Reid went for best player available instead of need.  Peters can fill in while Sean Smith is serving his 2 game suspension to start next season but if anyone thinks he’s relinquishing his starters role when Smith returns you’re crazy.

19. Cleveland Browns:  Cameron Erving   OL   Florida St.

The first true WTF moment of the first round, I’m shocked it was the Browns.  I love Erving but his best position is OC and the Brown already have one of the league’s best OCs in Alex Mack.  Erving isn’t replacing Joe Thomas at LT so I guess he’s going to play RT?  Other players were a better fit and far more of a need. Bud Dupree, Nelson Agholor, Breshad Perriman and Jaelen Strong all spring to mind.

20. Philadelphia Eagles:   Nelson Agholor   WR   USC

See I told you Chip Kelly doesn’t hate 6’0 200 lbs. WRs in general he just didn’t like DeSean Jackson or Jeremy Maclin.  Agholor gives Kelly a great player for his offense and give Jordan Matthews some much needed help.

21. Cincinnati Bengals:   Cedric Ogbuehi   OT   Texas A&M

I had Ogbuehi moved way down the board and it wasn’t just because of the knee injury, his play wasn’t stellar last year especially compared with where he was the year before.  Ogbuehi probably won’t see the field next season as he rehabs his ACL injury but the Bengals can afford to do this because they have Andrew Whitworth, Andre Smith and Eric Winston at OT, a pick for the future.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers:   Alvin “Bud” Dupree   OLB   Kentucky

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.  The Steelers sit tight and get a really good pass rusher, we may have to make that Fowler/Beasley death match for Defensive Rookie of the Year a three way battle.  Dupree is raw but wow does he look like a great fit, this is why the Steelers are always better than the Browns (okay having Big Ben helps).

23. Denver Broncos (from Detroit):   Shane Ray   OLB   Missouri

If Ray had been in Colorado on Monday instead of Missouri he wouldn’t have been doing anything illegal I guess.  DeMarcus Ware isn’t getting any younger so grabbing his eventual replacement isn’t a bad idea but the Broncos had bigger needs, literally.  DT anyone?  RT maybe?  I guess Ray will be new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips new toy.

24. Arizona Cardinals:   DJ Humphries   OT   Florida

I’m admittedly not a Humphries fan but this makes even less sense.  They have Jared Veldheer at LT and Humphries is not the power player you want at RT if you’re trying to improve the run game.  Strange match especially since there was still a CB like Byron Jones on the board.

25. Carolina Panthers:   Shaq Thompson   LB   Washington

Thompson is a great athlete but he doesn’t have a definite NFL position and the Panthers have far bigger needs.  They may not have been in love with any of the offensive linemen left but Jake Fisher and TJ Clemmings would both have made far more sense.  Byron Jones would have helped their secondary tremendously and Breshad Perriman, Phillip Dorsett or Jaelen Strong would have made a nice complement to Kelvin Benjamin.

26. Baltimore Ravens:   Breshad Perriman   WR   Central Florida

Need meets value and the Ravens get a new #1 WR.  Perriman needs some refinement and maybe an eye exam (he drops too many easy catches) but he can learn from one of the greats, Steve Smith.  Joe Flacco said they didn’t need to draft a WR to replace Torrey Smith but he was wrong and he’ll love having Perriman around.

27. Dallas Cowboys:   Byron Jones   CB   Connecticut

I was never a believer in the pre-draft hype that Jones was going in the middle of round one and this is a far better place for him.  He has a legitimate shot at a starting job in Dallas and his arrival may spell the end for draft bust Morris Claiborne.  And Orlando Scandrick just lost any leverage he thought he had in contract negotiations.

28. Detroit Lions (from Denver):   Laken Tomlinson   OG   Duke

They must not have liked any of the OTs left on the board so they grabbed a powerful interior player.  Tomlinson can pair with their other power guard Larry Warford to really solidify the interior of the offensive line around new OC Travis Swanson.  Tomlinson should help especially in the run game.

29. Indianapolis Colts:   Phillip Dorsett   WR   Miami

TY Hilton 2.0 has arrived.  The Colts WR corps is TY Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncrief, newly signed CFL standout Duron Carter and now Dorsett.  Who even needs a running game?  Go 5 WRs and pretend you’re Baylor.  Now if someone would just block and play defense.

30. Green Bay Packers:   Damarious Randall   DB   Arizona St.

The Packers dreams come true as they have their pick of an ILB they want and they choose…an undersized FS out of Arizona St.  I’m not sure about this pick…okay I don’t like it.  Randall might be a nickel corner for now but he’s under 6’0 tall and less than 200 lbs.  For some teams Randall makes sense but the Packers need ILBs in the worst way.

31. New Orleans Saints:   Stephone Anthony   ILB   Clemson

They must have figured out that Dannell Ellerbe is actually as bad as he played in Miami and not as good as he played in Baltimore.  This is a head scratcher because they don’t really need an ILB and there were far more valuable players here.  There must be something really disturbing in Randy Gregory’s background check.

32. New England Patriots:  Malcolm Brown   DT   Texas

I wait around all night for the Patriots to pick last in the first round and just as they are on the clock they trade the pick…err…wait what…they are actually making the pick.  NO WAY.  I love this pick.  Belichick is usually very good picking defensive linemen and Brown is a beast.  I never expected him to be available but he is perfect in the Patriots defense.  He can play all over and absolutely destroy an offense.  He should slide right into the starting lineup and he should pair well with Dominique Easley.

A few notes:

-Randy Gregory’s pot issues must be far worse than reported because he’s a better talent than Shane Ray and he’s still on the board.

-I have no earthly idea if LSU OT La’el Collins has anything to do with his pregnant ex-girlfriend’s murder but I understand every teams’ reservations given the Aaron Hernandez trial.  If Collins is innocent, like he maintains, it’s very unfortunate for a young man’s future to be so devastated simply because he knew her, if he did have something to do with it, may he rot in hell.

-Jake Fisher and TJ Clemmings are still available as we start round 2 today, a couple of teams are getting good OTs today.

-Jaelen Strong should not have fallen out of Round 1.

-UCLA’s Owa Odighizuwa and Eric Kendricks are still available, that’s two pretty good, versatile defenders.

-No Landon Collins yet?  Talk about devaluing a position.  The Alabama DB stigma from Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick and Dee Milliner must be clinging to Collins.

-Yesterday was Brandon Scherff Day for Hawkeye fans, today is Carl Davis Day, unofficially anyway.