The 2014 NFL Draft is in the books so of course I’m moving on to the 2015 prospects and trying to get a handle on the guys I should be watching throughout the season.  There are a number of prospects I’ve already watched because they were possible early entry candidates this last season and some of the guys I mention may not be in the 2015 draft because they are underclassmen that may return to school.  The best quarterbacks are always a big priority because they have the chance to be the top pick so Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston and Brett Hundley are three to watch but 2014 was the latest example of early projections not meaning much.  Last year at this time Teddy Bridgewater was the top signal-caller and Blake Bortles was barely on anyone’s radar.  Jadeveon Clowney was obviously well known but Khalil Mack wasn’t even a blip on most people’s radar.  I’m not going to try to do a mock draft like so many of the clowns out there try to do at this time of year because trying to forecast a draft a year out is like trying to forecast the weather a year out, completely useless.  The toughest part isn’t trying to predict players it’s trying to predict the order teams will finish in.  Did anyone see the Texans having the top pick in the 2014 draft?  No.  Hell I had them playing in the Super Bowl and I wasn’t the only one.  I’m not ranking the guys either because this is just a look at each position and the players to watch.  If you’re a college football fan keep these names in the back of head and when you’re up late on a Saturday night in the fall and you flip to an Arizona St. game and they start talking about Jaelen Strong you will have some idea who he is.  I’ll start with the offensive side of the ball because everyone loves the playmakers.  Like I said it’s like predicting the weather a year from now so this list is subject to change and that’s an understatement.  Here are the top guys to watch throughout the season (this list is in no way complete and there are inevitably some players that I’ve missed for now).

2015 NFL Draft Offensive Prospects to Watch

Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks are the most often chosen position at #1 overall and if you read most mock drafts on the internet right now you’ll see Oregon’s Marcus Mariota projected first to whatever team they deem the worst in the league.  He certainly possesses the ability to be a top pick but he’s going to have competition and not just at the QB position.  If a team like the Jaguars or the Raiders end up with the first pick they won’t be spending it on a QB after they just drafted their QB’s of the future in Blake Bortles and Derek Carr.  If the Jets or the Texans (again) end up with the worst record then a QB will most likely be at the top of their lists. A terrible record for those teams means their guy didn’t work out (the Jets with Geno Smith and Michael Vick) or they never found their guy (the Texans with Tom Savage, Ryan Fitzpatrick or Case Keenum).  Oh and if you think Mariota has “best QB in the draft” locked up let me remind you that last year it was Bridgewater (he was the third QB taken) and two years ago it was Matt Barkley (he was drafted in the fourth round) at this time of the year who were considered the best in the next year’s draft.

Marcus Mariota   Junior   Oregon:

Mariota might have been the #1 pick for the Texans if he had entered the 2014 draft and he certainly would have been the first QB off the board.  He is most often compared to the 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick but that isn’t completely fair.  Mariota is farther along as a passer than Kaepernick was at the same stage but that isn’t to say he is a complete player just yet.  He still needs to work on his passing and Oregon’s system doesn’t ask him to read defenses the way an NFL team would.  Kaepernick needed time to adjust to the NFL which is why he was Alex Smith’s backup his rookie season and Mariota might need that same sort of situation.

Jameis Winston   RS Sophomore   Florida St.:

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner has previously said he wants to stay in college two more years so he may not be in the 2015 draft and I would say that would be a wise choice.  Winston has all the measurables and he’s proven to be a winner but he’s got baggage and he’s far from a perfect prospect.  His off-the-field issues (the sexual assault allegation and his recent shoplifting charge) need to be farther in the rearview mirror for NFL teams.  Winston needs to get his head on straight and stay out of trouble and show executives that he’s not that guy.  As far as his on-the-field game goes he has some mechanical issues to work out with his throwing motion (it’s long and slow) and those are correctable things he needs to work out with his college coaches.  He’s a better bet for the 2016 draft but he may pull a Johnny Manziel and leave after his redshirt sophomore season, he did follow Manziel as a redshirt freshman Heisman Trophy winner after all.

Brett Hundley   Junior      UCLA:

A big strong physical athlete with a good arm and a couple of years’ worth of starting experience is exactly what NFL teams love to see but Hundley didn’t make the progress last year that teams thought he would and so there are questions about him.  He fits the profile of an NFL QB but he makes too many mistakes and relies too much on his athleticism.  If he takes the next step he could give Mariota a run for the #1 spot, the sky is the limit with his potential, but for now it’s still just potential.

Bryce Petty   Senior   Baylor:

In a year where the top QB’s are all great athlete’s this guy is the best passer.  The only question about Petty is whether or not he’s actually as good as his stats say or is he just a product of the Baylor passing game.  Petty has the size and the arm strength teams want but Baylor’s system doesn’t call for Petty to do a lot of defense reading.  The last QB with great size that played in a spread system like this was Blaine Gabbert, that’s not a ringing endorsement.

Connor Cook   Junior   Michigan St.:

Cook burst onto the scene last year when he led the Spartans to a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl victory over Stanford.  He’s 6’4 215 lbs. so he certainly measures up to NFL standards and he plays in a pro-style system.  Teams are going to take a long hard look at him and watch his progression because he only has a year of starting experience so they don’t have a lot of tape on him just yet.  He has great potential and he could be the guy that emerges this season.

The others to watch out for:

Kevin Hogan Sr. Stanford;  Sean Mannion Sr.  Oregon St;  Taylor Kelly Sr.  Arizona St.

The Pac-12 is stacked at the QB position with Mariota and Hundley joined by Hogan, Mannion and Kelly.  Kevin Hogan looked like a possible top prospect two years ago when he took over for Andrew Luck but he regressed a bit last year.  He still has great potential and he could really emerge with a bounce back season.  Mannion is a 6’5 220 lbs. guy who fits the NFL profile and he’s got the arm to make it.  He’ll have to do it this season without superstar WR Brandin Cooks but NFL teams have taken notice.  Kelly isn’t the biggest guy but he knows how to sling it and he will be watched pretty closely along with his top WR Jaelen Strong.  They make a pretty dynamic pair out in the desert.

The great college QB that doesn’t translate to the NFL:  Braxton Miller  Senior   Ohio St.

Miller is a phenomenal athlete playing QB for Urban Meyer but he just isn’t a great QB prospect.  He’s listed at 6’2 215 lbs. but he’s got a slight build, he doesn’t have the arm and he’s too quick to leave the pocket for NFL teams.  Miller lacks polish throwing the ball and he doesn’t have to read defenses so he doesn’t fit the profile.  Urban Meyer’s offense doesn’t lend itself to creating NFL QB’s but it certainly wins a lot of college football games.

Running Backs

The past two drafts have led to the belief that the running back position is dying in the NFL and that teams have so devalued the position that we may never see another running back drafted in the first round ever again…not so fast.  There is a quartet of running backs that will look to dispel that notion this next season and yes it is possible that as many as four RB’s could go in the first round of the 2015 draft.  I would actually venture to say that if the underclassmen come out there will absolutely be four RB’s go in the first round.

Todd Gurley   Junior   Georgia

Two of the best teams in the NFL are the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers and while the NFL has become a passing league these two teams have built their offenses around a power running game.  Gurley could be the next Marshawn Lynch if he can stay healthy.  He is an absolute beast and while most teams are trying to get faster on defense the best way to counter fast defenders is with power runners.  The NFL is a copycat league and with the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl built around a big powerful defense and a big powerful running back Gurley will be high on teams’ boards next season.

Melvin Gordon   Junior   Wisconsin

Gordon’s game is predicated on his speed and he’s a homerun hitter with the ball in his hands.  He had 3 runs of over 70 yards last year alone but don’t mistake the fact that his game is predicated on speed for Gordon being a scat back.  He isn’t some 5’9 180 lbs. runner he’s 6’1 and just shy of 210 lbs.  He hasn’t had to carry the load sharing the backfield at Wisconsin with the likes of Montee Ball and James White and he will share it this year with Corey Clement but that just means his legs are fresh.  Gordon is definitely more LeSean McCoy than he is Marshawn Lynch but that is what many NFL teams are looking for.  Gordon is a star waiting to happen.

TJ Yeldon   Junior   Alabama

Yeldon is the best of both worlds because he’s got great speed but he’s 6’2 220 lbs.  He might be the most misunderstood RB in college football because teams think he’s some sort of speed back because he has great speed.  Yeldon started his career sharing the backfield with Eddie Lacy so yes he was the change-of-pace guy but he’s built to carry the load.  He hasn’t had to at Alabama because the Tide are always stocked at RB but Yeldon will prove what he is this year even while sharing the rock.

Karlos Williams   Senior   Florida St.

Last season Williams was the third man in a three man backfield with Devonte Freeman and James Wilder but he showed the potential to be a dynamic workhorse.  Williams has great size at 6’1 229 lbs. and he’s just scratching the surface of what he can be.  He began his college career on defense and languished on the bench until Jimbo Fisher convinced him to move to the offensive side.  With Freeman and Wilder gone Williams will be the go-to guy on arguably the best team in the country.  Everyone is always looking for the Adrian Peterson, well here’s the closest thing we’ve seen in quite some time.

  Two more RB’s to keep an eye on:  Mike Davis Jr. South Carolina; Ameer Abdullah Sr. Nebraska

Davis was overshadowed last year playing on a team that featured Jadeveon Clowney and QB Connor Shaw.  He ran for almost 1200 yards and he did it with little fanfare.  He’s only 5’9 but he’s 216 lbs. so he’s plenty thick and he can handle the workload.  The Gamecocks will be breaking in a new starting QB so they will lean heavily on Davis.  I don’t think he’s a first round pick but he’s a very good RB.  Abdullah is slightly smaller than Davis but he’s proven over the last two years that he can carry a large workload.  Last season he ran for over 1600 yards and had over 300 touches, he basically was the Cornhusker offense after Taylor Martinez went down with an injury.  Abdullah isn’t the biggest or the fastest but he’s a very solid back and no one comes back from limping off the field quite as well as Abdullah, seriously I’ve never seen a guy leave a game with a seemingly bad injury and return just a few plays later as often as he does.  It’s uncanny.

Wide Receiver

Next year’s WR draft class doesn’t have the depth or the elite talent that this last year’s class had.  At this point there is no Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans level talent but that doesn’t mean a few guys couldn’t make that leap.  We had a very weak crop of WR’s in 2013 and an unusually strong group in 2014 but next year’s class looks like it will be much closer to the middle.

Amari Cooper   Junior   Alabama

This kid oozes talent but he plays for an Alabama team that relies on a great defense and a powerful running game so he doesn’t put up great numbers.  AJ McCarron was a good QB but he’s not a guy taking big shots down the field so Cooper hasn’t shown everything he can do.  You have to watch Cooper to understand the type of potential he has and NFL teams see it and Cooper isn’t going to stick around Alabama any longer than he has too.

Antwan Goodley   Senior   Baylor

Goodley might be the product of a great passing attack or he might be the reason the passing attack is so great.  Baylor has had a string of good WR’s lately; Kendall Wright, Terrence Williams and even Josh Gordon (he was at Baylor originally) and Goodley is the next one.  He isn’t big at only 5’10 but he’s well-built and extremely productive.  He and Bryce Petty make a dynamic combination and any WR that puts up numbers like Goodley  gets noticed by the NFL.

Jaelen Strong   Junior   Arizona St.

At 6’4 205 lbs. Strong is the prototype for the new WR in the NFL.  He’s big, strong and highly productive.  He was Taylor Kelly’s favorite target after transferring in from JUCO.  Strong could push to the top of the WR group and give Cooper a run for his money.  He isn’t as big as Mike Evans but he’s a dynamic playmaker.

Nelson Algohor   Junior   USC

A 6’0 185 lbs. WR from USC is bound to be compared to former Trojans Marqise Lee and Robert Woods and it’s a fair comparison.  He’s not the biggest and he’s not the fastest but like Lee and Woods he knows how to get open and he’s a natural receiver.

Rashad Greene   Senior   Florida St.

He’s only 6’0 180 lbs. but it was Greene and not the more heralded 6’5 243 lbs. Kelvin Benjamin that was the best WR on the Seminoles last year.  Greene doesn’t wow you with his physical ability but he’s a very good receiver that understands the position and always produces.

DeVante Parker   Senior   Louisville

The 6’3 204 lbs. Parker was Teddy Bridgewater’s big-play receiver and while Parker is going to miss playing with Bridgewater something tells me his production won’t drop off in Bobby Petrino’s pass-happy offense.  It’s never really mattered who Petrino lines up at QB his offenses have always produced and Parker is a great place to start.  Teams love his size and he’s an experienced player too.

The Wildcard:  Dorial Green-Beckham   Junior   Formerly Missouri

Green-Beckham would have been high on the list of top receivers but at the moment the 6’5 225 lbs. freak doesn’t have a team.  The former #1 overall recruit in the nation had a very good sophomore season on a very good Missouri team and he was expected to have a breakout year in 2014.  Unfortunately his off-the-field issues got him kicked off the Tigers and where he ends up at this point is a mystery.  He could have been the closest thing to Calvin Johnson in many years but multiple arrests for drug possession and another incident led to his dismissal from the team and have left his future in doubt.

Tight Ends

There are currently only two TE to look out for this season and neither one of them seem like the type of top-notch prospect that we’ve seen in the past few years.

Nick O’Leary   Senior   Florida St.

O’Leary isn’t going to set the world on fire and at 6’3 246 lbs. he isn’t exactly a huge matchup nightmare.  He’s a good pass catcher and solid blocker but he’s not the seam stretching playmaker that guys like Eric Ebron or Jace Amaro were this last year.

Devin Funchess   Junior   Michigan

The 6’5 235 lbs. Funchess is basically a jacked-up WR and he can be a dynamic playmaker for the Wolverines, which is something their offense needs.  Perhaps new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier will figure out a way to better utilize Funchess great athleticism in the passing game.  He isn’t an inline blocker and being a junior he still could fill out his frame a bit.

The Sleeper:  Ray Hamilton   Senior   Iowa

You can call me a homer if you want but Hamilton is the non-talked about prospect on the Hawkeyes.  OT Brandon Scherff and DT Carl Davis are being talked about in the media as top prospects (I’ll get to them later) but Hamilton should emerge now that the rather large shadow of CJ Fiedorowicz is gone.  Hamilton is a very good blocker and he’s shown good hands when he has had his opportunities and while there haven’t been a lot of those scouts know who he is.  They also know that you can’t ignore any TE out of Iowa and while Hamilton isn’t as big as Fiedorowicz is or as athletic as a guy like Eric Ebron he is good enough to play in the NFL and he may just surprise people this year.

Offensive Line

If I were putting money on a position group this year to keep a QB out of the #1 overall selection in the draft I would bet on the offensive tackle position.  The last two years have given us Eric Fisher, Luke Joeckel, and Lane Johnson in 2013 and Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews and Taylor Lewan in 2014 but this year has even more potential.  Seniors Cedric Ogbuehi, Brandon Scherff, Cameron Erving and La’el Collins along with junior Andrus Peat give us five top tackle prospects and senior guard Tre Jackson is first round worthy too.

Cedric Ogbuehi   Senior   Texas A&M   OT

The top OT prospect and possibly the top prospect overall Ogbuehi is hardly a household name and it’s hard to blame households for that.  He hasn’t even played LT yet at A&M as he had to wait his turn behind Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews but Ogbuehi has proven himself at other positions in the meantime.  He started as a right guard playing next to Matthews two years ago when Joeckel was the LT and when Matthews flipped to the left side last year Ogbuehi took over as at RT.  He is 6’5 300 lbs. and he’s light on his feet and has a perfect build to be a blindside protector in the NFL.  Ogbuehi has to prove it this year but his potential is immense.

Brandon Scherff   Senior   Iowa   OT

Scherff is simply the best run blocker in college football and he’s an absolute beast.  At 6’5 315 lbs. he is a prototypical tackle and while his pass blocking can use some work he’s devastating in the run game.  He moves extremely well for a man his size and he gets to the second level and destroys defenders down the field.  Scherff brings a nasty streak and has the attitude of a mauler.  Many think he could end up as a RT in the NFL due to his aggressive run blocking but he has the skills and the athleticism to be a LT.  While Taylor Lewan garnered most of the attention in the Big Ten last year on the offensive line if you ask scouts who the best offensive lineman was in the conference a lot of them would tell you it was Scherff.

Cameron Erving   Senior   Florida St.   OT

Erving came on last year at LT for the National Champion Seminoles blocking for Jameis Winston.  He started his career on the defensive line so he’s still a bit raw but he’s an excellent prospect.  He’s big and powerful but light on his feet and while he needs technique work he’s got everything you look for in a franchise LT.

Andrus Peat   Junior   Stanford   OT

The 6’7 308 lbs. junior has the size, the feet and the wingspan every top LT needs.  He’s maturing and filling out his body but the sky is limit for this athletic LT prospect.  Peat will have a decision to make because he’s a first round pick in 2015 but the depth at the position may push him down, if he stays in school he’s a lock to be a very high pick in 2016.

La’el Collins   Senior   LSU   T/G

Collins considered entering the 2014 draft but decided to return to LSU for his senior year and while he plays LT for the Tigers and I think he can play OT in the NFL a lot of people are projecting him inside at guard.  Either way Collins is a fantastic prospect and he’ll probably be a first round pick who can line up at either tackle or guard for whatever team drafts him.

Tre Jackson   Senior   Florida St.   OG

Yes this is the 6^th player from Florida St’s offense on this list and now you know half of the reason the defending National Champions are going to be the preseason #1 team, I’ll get to the other half when I cover the defensive side.  Jackson is a huge mauling guard who teams with Erving to make the left side of the Seminoles offensive line incredible.  He is 6’4 330 lbs. and he will be a rare first round guard.

 

 

 

 

Arizona Cardinals

27. Deone Bucannon  SS  Washington St.

52. Troy Niklas  TE  Notre Dame

84. Kareem Martin  DE  North Carolina

91. John Brown  WR  Pittsburg St.

120. Logan Thomas  QB  Virginia Tech

160. Ed Stinson  DE  Alabama

196. Walt Powell  WR  Murray St.

Immediate Impact:  SS Deone Bucannon, TE Troy Niklas

The Cardinals play in a division with the toughest defenses in the league and their defense was really good last year too.  They did need to address the strong safety spot because it was the weakness in their secondary.  Deone Bucannon will take over for Tony Jefferson and pairing him with Tyrann Mathieu will give them a great set of safeties.  Niklas is a work in progress but he immediately becomes the blocking TE and he has potential as a pass catcher and should become a safety valve for Carson Palmer.

Best Value:  DE Kareem Martin

Martin is an interesting prospect because he became a better pass rusher his senior year with 11 sacks but never showed that ability consistently before.  He is actually a better run-stuffer and he projects as the five-technique DE in a 3-4 which is exactly where Arizona will play him.  He adds nice depth behind DE’s Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell.  Dockett is 32 so Martin could be his replacement in a year or two.

Sleeper:  WR John Brown

Everyone wants to tell you that QB Logan Thomas is the sleeper here because Bruce Arians will develop his talent, I’m not buying it.  WR John Brown on the other hand could make some noise.  The Cardinals have Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd but they lost slot receiver Andre Roberts in free agency and while they signed Ted Ginn he has never proven to be a productive WR in the NFL.  Brown is built for the slot and he will excel there.  He is fluid, explosive and a better natural receiver than Ginn.

Overall Analysis:

Bucannon, Niklas, Martin and Brown were a great start to this draft and each one will contribute now and well into the future. Bucannon will bring a nasty demeanor to the back end of the defense meaning he’ll fit right in in this division.  QB Logan Thomas has all of the physical markers you look for in a QB prospect but he has never put it all together and my biggest concern is his poor completion percentage.  Bruce Arians is one of the best QB teachers in the NFL but I’m not sure even he can mold a competent starting QB out of Thomas.  Arians knows Thomas well and that will make Thomas more comfortable but I think his future position might be TE not QB.  DE Ed Stinson is a good schematic fit coming from Alabama’s 3-4 defense and while Walt Powell may seem like a long shot coming out of Murray St. the WR depth chart isn’t exactly intimidating.  The one thing the Cardinals didn’t do was address the offensive line but with the signing of LT Jared Veldheer in free agency and the return of OG Jonathan Cooper, the rookie who missed all of last year with an injury, it wasn’t as much of need as it has been previously.

San Francisco 49ers

30. Jimmie Ward  S  Northern Illinois

57. Carlos Hyde  RB  Ohio St.

70. Marcus Martin  C  USC

77. Chris Borland  ILB  Wisconsin

100. Brandon Thomas  OG  Clemson

106. Bruce Ellington  WR  South Carolina

129. Dontae Johnson  CB  North Carolina St.

150. Aaron Lynch  DE  South Florida

170. Keith Reaser  CB  Florida Atlantic

180. Kenneth Acker  CB  Southern Methodist

243. Kaleb Ramsey  DT  Boston College

245. Trey Millard  FB  Oklahoma

Immediate Impact:  C Marcus Martin

It may seem unusual to have a 3^rd rounder as the only immediate impact guy but veteran C Jonathan Goodwin was not re-signed and no one is exactly sure if Daniel Kilgore can actually replace him.  Martin only played one year at center for the Trojans but he’s big, he’s physical and he’s nasty.  The 49ers have one of the best offensive lines in football but they fell off a bit last year in the run game and Martin will plug right in and be a mauler on the interior.

Best Value:  RB Carlos Hyde

Yeah, I know another RB.  Hyde is a beast and the 49ers have built their return to glory on the legs of Frank Gore and a power running game.  Gore has been fending off father time for a few years and he could lose that battle any day now.  He has been a rock and while the 49ers took a chance on the injured Marcus Lattimore last year no one knows if his knee will ever hold up so the 49ers hedged their bet.  Having Gore along with Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James and possibly Lattimore it is conceivable that they don’t need Hyde this season but Gore is aging, Hunter is a free agent at the end of the year, no one thinks James is a workhorse and Lattimore is an unknown.  Hyde is the future of the position.

Sleeper: WR Bruce Ellington

The 49ers have Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin and they traded for Stevie Johnson from Buffalo during the draft.  They expect Quinton Patton, last year’s rookie, to step up this year but look out for Ellington.  He is small but athletic and he has the speed they are lacking at the position. Former first round Chiefs bust Jonathan Baldwin and veteran Brandon Lloyd shouldn’t expect to make the team.

Overall Analysis:

It’s hard not to like a draft with 12 picks but GM Trent Baalke hit on more than his fair share here.  S Jimmie Ward doesn’t look like a need but he can be the nickel corner for now and he is insurance for 30 year old free agent signee Antoine Bethea.  Eventually Ward will team with Eric Reid to make an outstanding safety combo.  Hyde is the power back they need to replace Frank Gore assuming Gore isn’t actually immortal (I’m not convinced he isn’t).  Martin fills their biggest weakness on offense.  ILB Chris Borland was a great pickup given Navorro Bowman’s late season knee injury.  Borland can fill in and he’s a tackling machine.  OG Brandon Thomas is just like the Lattimore and Tank Carradine picks last year, a guy with an injury that needs a year to rehab and can be stashed on injured reserve.  Thomas can be a stud and has the flexibility to be a guard or a tackle and the 49ers aren’t going to be able to pay all of their great offensive linemen so Thomas is an investment in the future.  Ellington will surprise and that makes six draft picks to make this team (five really since Thomas will go on IR).  It will be tough for more than that to make this very deep 49er roster but I can see two that just might.  DE Aaron Lynch has all the talent in the world but he lacks discipline which is something Jim Harbaugh can provide.  If Lynch keeps his weight at about 250 he could be an OLB and he would give the 49ers some coverage given Aldon Smith’s murky future.  If he bulks up to 270 or so he could play DE the way Justin Smith does and Justin Smith isn’t getting any younger.  The other player that could make the roster is FB Trey Millard.  Being one of the few teams that still employs a true fullback the 49ers have a good one in Bruce Miller but if Millard can contribute on special teams he can make the team doing that and being the backup fullback.  The 49ers lost some depth at the CB position this offseason so they threw some darts at the board and they are hoping that one of their three late round picks; Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser or Kenneth Acker, will surprise them and make the team.  At the very least they provide camp competition.  I would be shocked if DT Kaleb Ramsey makes the roster.

Seattle Seahawks

45. Paul Richardson  WR  Colorado

64. Justin Britt  OT  Missouri

108. Cassius Marsh  DE  UCLA

123. Kevin Norwood  WR  Alabama

132. Kevin Pierre-Louis  OLB  Boston College

172. Jimmy Staten  DT  Middle Tennessee St.

199. Garrett Scott  OT  Marshall

208. Eric Pinkins  S  San Diego St.

227. Kiero Small  FB  Arkansas

Immediate Impact:  Probably no one.

It shouldn’t be surprising that the Super Bowl Champions don’t need to rely on any rookies to help them this year but it also shows that they drafted guys that need some time to develop.

Best Value:  WR Kevin Norwood

Overshadowed on an Alabama team with many draft prospects and an underclassman WR like Amari Cooper Norwood was certainly under-the-radar.  He is experienced enough to contribute and since the Seahawks are counting on oft-injured vets like Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice they may need Norwood this year.  He is more physically prepared to contribute than 2^nd rounder Paul Richardson who has some filling out to do.

Sleeper:  DE Cassius Marsh

Marsh also played with more heralded teammates like Anthony Barr, Jordan Zumwaldt and underclassman Myles Jack but he was a good productive player.  The Seahawks lost veterans Chris Clemons and Red Bryant at DE in free agency so there is an opening and Marsh will make the most of the snaps he gets.

Overall Analysis:

I’m not crazy about the Paul Richardson selection especially considering guys like Davante Adams, Cody Latimer and Allen Robinson were available.  Richardson is a speed demon and playmaker but he is skinny as a rail and I think he is going to struggle against physical corners like the ones in the Seahawks division.  OT Justin Britt fills a need and he might win the RT job but he felt like a bit of reach.  He was only taken with the last pick of the second round so it wasn’t a major reach but I like Morgan Moses and even Billy Turner better and both were still available.  Marsh and Norwood were the two best picks in this draft and they should contribute as backups this year at least.  The Seahawks have been building this team for years and it’s a tough roster to make so the last five guys will struggle to do so but as they have proven in the past they do very well in the later rounds finding fits for them so it’s tough to doubt them.

St. Louis Rams

2. Greg Robinson  OT  Auburn

13. Aaron Donald  DT  Pittsburgh

41. Lamarcus Joyner  S  Florida St.

75. Tre Mason  RB  Auburn

110. Maurice Alexander  S  Utah St.

188. EJ Gaines  CB  Missouri

214. Garrett Gilbert  QB  SMU

226. Mitchell Van Dyk  OT  Portland St.

241. CB Bryant  S  Ohio St.

249. Michael Sam  DE  Missouri

250. Demetrius Rhaney  C  Tennessee St.

Immediate Impact:  OT Greg Robinson, DT Aaron Donald, S Lamarcus Joyner, RB Tre Mason

Robinson is the left-tackle-in-waiting but how long he has to wait and where he plays in the meantime are up for debate.  For now the Rams are hoping that Jake Long returns quickly off his injury and that Joseph Barksdale can hold down the RT spot leaving Robinson to line up at LG.  This would be the Jonathan Ogden approach to development allowing Robinson to get his feet wet before eventually replacing Long.  However it turns out Robinson improves the offensive line immediately.  Aaron Donald will slide in at DT next to Michael Brockers and give the Rams arguably the best defensive line in football.  The pass rush generated by Donald on the inside and Robert Quinn on the edge will keep offensive coordinators up at night.  Joyner is St. Louis’ version of Tyrann Mathieu and he will team with TJ McDonald to solve the defense’s back end problems.  Mason replaces the recently released Daryl Richardson as Zac Stacy’s new running mate in the backfield and Mason is big play waiting to happen every time he touches the ball.

Best Value:  RB Tre Mason

Mason is a steal in round 3 and teaming him with last year’s rookie find Zac Stacy is going to make life much easier on Sam Bradford especially with an improved line in front of all of them.

Sleeper:  CB EJ Gaines

The Rams have starter Janoris Jenkins returning and Trumaine Johnson is expected to take over for the departed Courtland Finnegan but after that it’s a crapshoot.  Many believe Lamarcus Joyner will be a CB but I think he ends up at safety (he will be the nickel corner either way).  The rest of the depth chart is less than impressive meaning Gaines has a shot to step in.  He’s a tough and experienced player that could surprise.

Overall Analysis:

Robinson, Donald, Joyner and Mason are going to make this a successful draft no matter what and of all of the bigger draft classes this is my favorite.  The Rams addressed their defense’s weakness not only with Joyner and Gaines but with safeties Maurice Alexander and C.B. Bryant giving them options and competition.  Mitchell Van Dyk and Demetrius Rhaney give them some developmental players on the offensive line and QB Garrett Gilbert will give Austin Davis a run for the 3^rd QB spot.  The Michael Sam pick was obviously a historic pick and it has been covered on that level by many, from a football standpoint I understand it completely.  As good as the starting front four on defense look given the addition of Aaron Donald there isn’t a lot of depth at DE.  New defensive coordinator Greg Williams is the aggressive type and sending an extra edge blitzer is his style and being a nickel rusher is Sam’s exact position.  He isn’t big enough to be an every down DE but his natural pass rushing skills are built to come off the edge on third and long and Williams will find the best way to use him.  Some will argue there were better prospects left but Sam was in the group and was just as deserving to hear his name called as anyone.  I’m not sure Sam will make this team but I won’t be surprised if he does.

 

Atlanta Falcons

6. Jake Matthews  OT  Texas A&M

37. Ra’Shede Hageman  DT  Minnesota

68. Dez Southward  S  Wisconsin

103. Devonta Freeman  RB  Florida St.

139. Prince Shembo  OLB  Notre Dame

147. Ricardo Allen  CB  Purdue

168. Marquis Spruill  OLB  Syracuse

253. Yawin Smallwood  ILB  Connecticut

255. Tyler Starr  OLB  South Dakota

Immediate Impact:  OT Jake Matthews

The best combination of need, fit and value anywhere in the draft happened when the Falcons took Jake Matthews at #6 overall.  The Falcons desperately needed help on their offensive line and Matthews is one of my favorite players in this draft.  He is a day one starter and while everyone seems to be penciling him in at RT in place of the underwhelming Lamar Holmes I don’t think it will be long before he replaces Sam Baker at LT.  Matthews is the surest thing in this draft and I actually think his ceiling is higher than most give him credit for.

Best Value:  RB Devonta Freeman

Running backs have been so devalued in the draft that the best value comes from getting a good running back later in the draft.  Freeman shared time at Florida St. but he can handle the load and with Steven Jackson’s advancing age the Falcons are going to need a help sooner rather than later.

Sleeper:  CB Ricardo Allen

He’s not the biggest CB, he’s not the strongest CB, he’s not the fastest CB but he never was any of those things and he started for four years at Purdue.  Allen was one of the toughest competitors in college football and I wouldn’t bet against him making it in the NFL.  After starters Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford the depth chart at CB isn’t exactly stacked so Allen can make this team.  He can play in the slot and while his small stature and physical style may not lend itself to him having a long career he will become a coaching staff favorite very quickly.

Overall Analysis:

I can’t express how lucky Matt Ryan is to get Jake Matthews to help protect him, every good QB needs a great LT in front of him and Ryan will finally have his.  Ra’Shede Hageman will likely line up as a five-technique DE in the Falcons new 3-4 defense.  Newly signed free agent Tyson Jackson better step up his play or Hageman will take his job, Hageman wasn’t known for his motor in college but Jackson didn’t exactly light it up in Kansas City.  S Dez Southward was a reach early in round 3 but the Falcons need safety help and the position wasn’t deep in this draft.  I would have taken Terrence Brooks who went a few picks later but apparently Atlanta saw something they liked in Southward, I’m still a little fuzzy on what that was.  Freeman was great value in the fourth round.  LBs Prince Shembo, Marquis Spruill and Yawin Smallwood are good additions given the change in defensive scheme and the need at the position but Shembo is a character risk and his off-the-field baggage is a concern.  Smallwood could make the team simply because with four LB spots the Falcons need bodies.  I don’t know anything about OLB Tyler Starr but it seems unlikely four rookies will make the squad at LB.

Carolina Panthers

28. Kelvin Benjamin  WR  Florida St.

60. Kony Ealy  DE  Missouri

92. Trai Turner  OG  LSU

128. Tre Boston  S  North Carolina

148. Bene Benwikere  CB  San Jose St.

204. Tyler Gaffney  RB  Stanford

Immediate Impact:  WR Kelvin Benjamin, OG Trai Turner

My bust radar goes into high gear when I see Kelvin Benjamin and I’m pretty convinced he won’t be in the league that long but given the depth chart at WR in Carolina he will have every opportunity to prove me wrong this season.  He is WR1 from day one until he proves otherwise.  Turner will take about five minutes to take over a starting OG spot on this team and while he always played OG in college and he’s built like a OG he might be the best OT on this team and he’s already the second best offensive lineman behind C Ryan Kalil.

Best Value:  DE Kony Ealy

I thought Ealy was a total luxury pick for a team that has Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy at DE and needs so much help in other places and then Greg Hardy got himself arrested this last week.  Ealy was a steal at #60 because he had first round potential so it was understandable that the Panthers passed on bigger needs to grab him but if Hardy gets suspended, I mean when Hardy gets suspended, Ealy can step right in.  Carolina’s defensive line was their biggest strength and the reason the defense was so good last year and while Ealy isn’t at Hardy’s level he’s pretty solid and he will hold his own.

Sleeper:  OG Trai Turner

Turner isn’t the typical sleeper in the way that people don’t know who he is but I’m calling him a sleeper because I think even the people who know who he is are underestimating him.  I think Turner is a potential Pro Bowl guard in the not too distant future.  He has the physical ability and the tenacity to become dominant and he will learn a lot playing next to C Ryan Kalil.

Overall Analysis:

It’s tough to address needs when you only have six picks but I’m not impressed with many of the choices the Panthers made.  Ealy and Turner are good picks and good value but I question the rest.  Benjamin is a gamble and maybe it pays off but I would have gone for Marqise Lee or Allen Robinson instead.  S Tre Boston and CB Bene Benwikere were the fourth and fifth round picks and Boston is unlikely to make a dent at safety given the signings of free agents Thomas DeCoud and Roman Harper and holdovers Robert Lester and Charles Godfrey.  There were offensive linemen still on the board at that point (Dakota Dozier, Cameron Fleming and David Yankey) who could have made this team’s offensive line better.  The CB position is not one of strength but Benwikere would have to really surprise to make a difference.  RB Tyler Gaffney is a tough hard-nosed guy you want to root for but a team that has DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Kenjon Barner at RB and Mike Tolbert at FB should have taken a shot on a WR like Tevin Reese or Jeff Janis or a TE like Ted Bolser instead.  It’s one thing to say you are sticking to your board but ignoring some talented players at positions you so desperately need like OT and WR just seems strange.

New Orleans Saints

20. Brandin Cooks  WR  Oregon St.

58. Stan Jean-Baptiste  CB  Nebraska

126. Khairi Fortt  OLB  California

167. Vinnie Sunseri  S  Alabama

169. Ronald Powell  OLB  Florida

202. Tavon Rooks  OT  Kansas St.

Immediate Impact:  WR Brandin Cooks

The Saints traded Darren Sproles and released Lance Moore before the draft and Sean Payton must have been giddy when the Saints were able to trade up in the first round to get the ready-made replacement for these guys in the slot.  They still have Brees favorite Marques Colston and the emerging Kenny Stills outside but Payton has always loved his slot guys like Sproles, Moore and Reggie Bush before them and now he has Brandin Cooks.  Cooks becomes my early choice for Offensive Rookie of the Year because no one is a better fit for their new offense than Cooks.

Best Value:  I kind of want to go with Cooks again.

The Saints didn’t really get anyone well below their value and Cooks was always a middle of round one kind of guy but he’s going to be a star in this offense.  They did have to trade up so it cost them more than just the 20^th overall pick so it’s hard to say it was great value.

Sleeper:  LB Ronald Powell

A supreme athlete that was on his way to a dominating career at Florida until it was derailed by twice tearing the same ACL, once in the spring of 2012 and  again in the fall of that same year.  Powell played last season but he wasn’t at full strength and the question is can he get back to it.  The Saints need another outside pass rusher opposite OLB Junior Galette and Powell could be that guy if he is healthy.  He would be the steal of the draft if he could return to his pre-injury form.

Overall Analysis:

Cooks is a star in the making.  CB Stan Jean-Baptiste is more potential than production but he has the size that teams are looking for and taking him towards the end of the second round was understandable.  Some analysts (Mike Mayock) had him as a possible late first rounder and that would have been a reach and while I liked the potential of guys like Keith McGill or Phillip Gaines better Jean-Baptiste was in that group and he went about where he should have.  The Saints need depth in the LB corps for Rob Ryan to play with and both Powell and 4^th round pick Khairi Fortt bring the versatility to play either OLB or ILB in the Saints 3-4 defense.  S Vinnie Sunseri is coming off an injury but he was well worth the 167^th pick and he’ll make a heady back-up safety for Kenny Vaccaro and Jairus Byrd.  The Saints only made six picks and while you could argue they needed to address their offensive line drafting offensive linemen high has never been their way.  Sixth round OT Tavon Rooks is exactly the type of developmental athlete they go for at the position and they have done well with it in the past.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

7. Mike Evans  WR  Texas A&M

38. Austin Seferian-Jenkins  TE  Washington

69. Charles Sims  RB  West Virginia

143. Kadeem Edwards  OG  Tennessee St.

149. Kevin Pamphile  OT  Purdue

185. Robert Herron  WR  Wyoming

Immediate Impact:  WR Mike Evans, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins

Evans doesn’t have the polish that Sammy Watkins has to his game but at 6’5 225 lbs. Evans doesn’t need polish to get the job done.  Lovie Smith was obviously paying attention to his old team in Chicago last season and decided to go with his own set of twin tower receivers by drafting Evans to team with Vincent Jackson.  With Evans the sky is the limit on his ability and the only thing that can stop him is his immaturity.  Having veterans QB Josh McCown and WR Vincent Jackson around should help his development.  Seferian-Jenkins adds another big pass catcher and he should team with free agent Brandon Myers to seriously upgrade the TE position for the Buccaneers.

Best Value:  RB Charles Sims

Sims is the best pass-catching back in the draft and he has a pretty good all-around game.  Yes I am going with a RB as the Best Value again because Sims was a steal with the 69^th pick in the draft and after the injury to Doug Martin last season the Bucs know what it’s like to not have their top weapon.  Sims will be a fantastic backup because he has a similar skillset and if Martin goes down again the offense won’t miss a beat.

Sleeper:  WR Robert Herron

For all of the talk about the big WR’s on this team every team needs a good slot receiver.  Jackson and Evans are 6’5 guys, Chris Owusu and Louis Murphy are both 6’2 but Herron is only 5’9 and that’s perfect because he gives them a different dimension.  He has impressive straight-line speed but also has good lateral quickness.  He needs work as a route runner but he’s shown the toughness to go over the middle.  With defenses trying to shut down the big outside receivers Herron could do a lot of damage over the middle coming out of the slot.

Overall Analysis:

The Buccaneers had the most productive offseason in free agency and they followed that up with a very good draft.  Evans, Seferian-Jenkins and Herron should all be big additions in the passing game and Sims will too.   Sims gives them a legitimate backup to Doug Martin and covers them incase his injury issues become a problem again.  OG Kadeem Edwards and OT Kevin Pamphile give them two nice developmental prospects on the offensive line.  Pamphile has only been playing OT for a few years and was a late comer not only to the position but to football.  There is room to move up quickly on the Bucs offensive line especially on the right side.  Pamphile could surprise and move up quickly with some good coaching.

Dallas Cowboys

16. Zack Martin  OT  Notre Dame

34. Demarcus Lawrence  DE  Boise St.

119. Anthony Hitchens  OLB  Iowa

146. Devin Street  WR  Pittsburgh

231. Ben Gardner  DE  Stanford

238. Will Smith  ILB  Texas Tech

248. Ahmad Dixon  S  Baylor

251. Ken Bishop  DT  Northern Illinois

254. Terrance Mitchell  CB  Oregon

Immediate Impact:  OL Zack Martin, DE Demarcus Lawrence

Martin is a versatile lineman and he could line up at RT or inside at OG and Cowboys have needs in both spots.  Martin may have the chance to unseat veteran RT Doug Free but if Free holds him off he can start inside at guard and he’ll be a major upgrade there.  The Cowboys traded up in round 2 to grab Lawrence, the pass rusher out of Boise St.  They desperately need someone to get pressure and Lawrence is one of the better pass rushers in this draft he should have no problem getting playing time, forget that he’s a starter.

Best Value:  OL Zack Martin

The Cowboys needed help on their offensive line and when Taylor Lewan went 11^th overall there was a chance Martin wouldn’t make to #16 but they waited and ended up not have to reach for a need.  Martin’s versatility will come in handy and the Cowboys didn’t have move up to get the guy they wanted.

Sleepers:  LB Anthony Hitchens, WR Devin Street, CB Terrence Mitchell

The Cowboys have a nice starting unit of Justin Durant, Sean Lee and Bruce Carter at LB but all three of those guys have missed time in the past and they don’t have much depth.  Hitchens was a tackling machine in college and he is a good enough athlete to fill in at any of the spots.  Street was Tom Savage’s big play guy at Pitt last year and while the ‘Boys have Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams starting Street will give Dwayne Harris and Cole Beasley a run for their money backing them up.  Mitchell was a steal in the seventh round, he was the forgotten man at Oregon and he may only be a fifth CB this year but down the road he could be a good nickel guy for them.

Overall Analysis:

The fact that Jerry Jones didn’t snag Johnny Manziel at #16 overall makes this draft a winner for the Cowboys.  While Tony Romo is 34 years old grabbing Manziel would have been a luxury pick and getting Romo a new blocker was a far better choice.  The choice of Lawrence addressed a huge need and even though they had to trade up to do it I think Lawrence will prove worthy of the cost.  Hitchens is going to surprise people down the line and until then he can make his way on special teams but if Bruce Carter or Justin Durant miss time Hitchens will be a natural replacement.  Devin Street is still a bit raw but he will make this team’s WR corps.  Ahmad Dixon and Terrance Mitchell add depth to the secondary.  They could have used a little more help on the defensive line besides Lawrence and I don’t think DE Gardner and DT Bishop are going to push the veterans that are just hanging on.

New York Giants

12. Odell Beckham Jr.  WR  LSU

43. Weston Richburg  OC  Colorado St.

74. Jay Bromley  DT  Syracuse

113. Andre Williams  RB  Boston College

152. Nat Berhe  S  San Diego St.

174. Devon Kennard  OLB  USC

187. Bennett Jackson  CB  Notre Dame

Immediate Impact:  WR Odell Beckham Jr, C Weston Richburg

Beckham will step right in to the spot vacated by Hakeem Nicks and he will take a lot of pressure off of Victor Cruz.  The Giants like Rueben Randle too but they needed another outside WR to allow Cruz to continue in the slot where he excels.  Richburg is a technician at center and he will beat out veteran free agent JD Walton who was signed in the offseason.

Best Value:  RB Andre Williams

Williams was a Heisman finalist last year after a stellar season at Boston College and while he isn’t a pass catching threat he is a powerful runner they can use to take some pressure off of Eli Manning and the passing game.  The Giants dealt with a lot of injury problems (Andre Brown, David Wilson) and underachieving (Wilson again) last year so they signed Rashad Jennings who was good in spots for the Raiders.  Jennings has never been the full-time starter anywhere so Williams is their way of hedging their bet.

Sleepers:  DT Jay Bromley, LB Devon Kennard

The Giants have a way of finding talent on the defensive line and they need help on the interior and Bromley is a run-stuffing demon.  Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson aren’t getting any younger and Jonathan Hankins didn’t do much last year so Bromley can come in and contribute.  The Giants never invest high draft picks in linebackers and that’s why they don’t have much home grown talent at the position.  Kennard lined up all over the front seven at USC so his versatility will serve him well and he might just find a place to play.

Overall Analysis:

I love the choices of Beckham, Richburg, Bromley and Williams and they got good value out of each of those picks.  The one glaring omission here is the offensive line.  Richburg is an immediate starter but where’s the rest of the help?  The Giants didn’t have a lot of picks but they had one major need and that was to upgrade a line that was terrible last year.  Eli Manning has proven to be a very good QB but he can’t be one while lying on his back.

Philadelphia Eagles

26. Marcus Smith  OLB  Louisville

42. Jordan Matthews  WR  Vanderbilt

86. Josh Huff  WR  Oregon

101. Jaylen Watkins  CB  Florida

141. Taylor Hart  DE  Oregon

162. Ed Reynolds  S  Stanford

224. Beau Allen  DT  Wisconsin

Immediate Impact:  OLB Marcus Smith, WR Jordan Matthews, WR Josh Huff

The Eagles reached for Marcus Smith in the first round but he’ll immediately help them as a pass rushing OLB.  Trent Cole is miscast in the Eagles 3-4 defense, Connor Barwin isn’t much of pass rusher and Brandon Graham has been a bust, they hope Smith can reverse their fortunes.  DeSean Jackson was released so the Eagles need someone opposite Riley Cooper and while they hope the return of Jeremy Maclin will solve the problem they got Matthews who is ready to contribute on day one.  Jason Avant has been their slot receiver for some time but he has moved on and Josh Huff is poised to take his place.  He’s small and shifty which is just what he needs to be.

Best Value:  WR Jordan Matthews

I’m a huge fan of Matthews and getting him #42 overall is a steal.  He’s polished and he’ll pick up the offense quickly.  If Maclin’s injury lingers Matthews will step right in.

Sleeper:  S Ed Reynolds

The Eagles signed Malcolm Jenkins in the offseason because their secondary was a mess last season especially at safety.  Reynolds is a heady player that could pair with Jenkins to give the Eagles a major upgrade at the position.

Overall Analysis:

I understand that the Eagles had to get a pass rushing OLB but they reached quite a bit for Marcus Smith in the first round.  I didn’t see anywhere where he was rated as a first or even second round guy.  He’ll play for them but they didn’t get a lot of value there because he would have been available later.  He’s a terrific athlete but he will be making a transition from DE so he’ll just be a pass rusher to begin with.  I love this draft after Smith though.  Matthews and Huff are great choices while CB Jaylen Watkins and Reynolds add some nice pieces to a bad secondary.  DE Taylor Hart is a known commodity to Chip Kelly and a perfect fit as a five-technique end in the 3-4 defense.  Beau Allen could be just what they are looking for as a NT and at the very least he adds great depth.  If Smith pans out this could be a huge draft for the franchise.

Washington Redskins

47. Trent Murphy  OLB  Stanford

66. Morgan Moses  OT  Virginia

78. Spencer Long  OG  Nebraska

102. Bashaud Breeland  CB  Clemson

142. Ryan Grant  WR  Tulane

186. Lache Seastrunk  RB  Baylor

217. Ted Bolser  TE  Indiana

228. Zach Hocker  K Arkansas

Immediate Impact:  OT Morgan Moses, OG Spencer Long

One of the major reasons RGIII and Alfred Morris both regressed from their amazing rookie campaigns was the poor play of the Redskins offensive line.  Morgan Moses will step right in at RT to replace the unimpressive Tyler Polumbus and Spencer Long will push newly signed free agent Shawn Lauvoa or veteran Chris Chester out of their guard spot.  These two additions should have a major impact on the health of RGIII and the effectiveness of Alfred Morris

Best Value:  RT Morgan Moses

Morgan Moses was taken early in the third round and I thought he had a chance of getting pushed up into the first round because of the lack of quality players at the tackle position.  Getting a starting tackle in the third round is the definition of value.

Sleepers:  CB Bashaud Breeland, RB Lache Seastrunk

DeAngelo Hall is 30 years old and the Redskins have to start looking for his eventual replacement.  Breeland left Clemson a year too early so he still has some maturing to do but eventually he could be a starting CB and if the Redskins have some patience he will pay off down the line.  Seastrunk brings a different element than starter Alfred Morris and back up Roy Helu because he has incredible speed.

Overall Analysis:

The Trent Murphy pick in the second round looks a bit strange with Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan already lined up at OLB but Orakpo is on a one-year franchise player deal and the Redskins might not be able to pay both him and Kerrigan.  Murphy is a relentless player and while he isn’t the athlete Orakpo is I wouldn’t bet against him.  Love both Moses and Long although I though there were better guards on the board than Long (Gabe Jackson and Trai Turner for sure) when he was picked.  Breeland and Seastrunk were solid value picks and TE Ted Bolser might be a steal too.  The Redskins have Jordan Reed and Logan Paulsen but Bolser is a good athlete and a solid TE so if either of them go down he could step in and help.  They also drafted a kicker and I have no idea if he can beat out their current kicker or not but it’s worth a try.

Chicago Bears

14. Kyle Fuller  CB  Virginia Tech

51. Ego Ferguson  DT  LSU

82. Will Sutton  DT  Arizona St.

117. Ka’Deem Carey  RB  Arizona

131. Brock Vereen  S  Minnesota

183. David Fales  QB  San Jose St.

191. Pat O’Donnell  P  Miami

246. Charles Leno  OT  Boise St.

Immediate Impact:  CB Kyle Fuller, DT Ego Ferguson, DT Will Sutton

Fuller is a future starter and that future could come quickly if Charles Tillman’s age catches up with him or Tim Jennings falters.  He is coming off an injury-riddled season but Fuller is has what it takes to be an immediate starter and he’s certainly going to be their 3^rd CB.  Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton should make a nice duo on the interior of the Bears defensive line.  Sutton needs to slim back down to his junior season weight and be the penetrating force he was then for the Sun Devils and Ferguson’s size and ability to hold the point of attack should be the perfect complement.  Jeremiah Ratliff isn’t getting any younger and Stephen Paea hasn’t impressed so Ferguson and Sutton could be playing very quickly.

Best Value:  RB Ka’Deem Carey

I’m well aware that Carey ran slow 40 times during the combine and at his workouts but he has plenty of game speed even if he lacks it in the 40.  It is crazy that he lasted until the 4^th round and the Bears stole a good one.  Matt Forte has the Bears RB job on lock down but they released Michael Bush and Carey will be Forte’s backup.  Also, Forte is 28 and we all know 30 is the magic number for saying goodbye to a RB so Carey could be Forte’s eventual replacement.

Sleeper:  S Brock Vereen

If you’ve seen the Bears depth chart at safety the idea that a late 4^th round pick could make some noise is not surprising.  Middling free agents MD Jennings and Ryan Mundy were brought in to upgrade the position so this isn’t a position of strength.  Vereen isn’t a great athlete but he’s smart and he’s played all over the defensive backfield for the Gophers so he’s well versed on what to do.  Vereen winning a starting safety spot, either starting safety spot, would be one of the least surprising things that could happen in training camp.

Overall Analysis:

The Bears fixed their offensive line problems last year with RG Kyle Long and RT Jordan Mills and if Jay Cutler stays healthy the offense should be just fine this season.  Drafting four potential starters on defense (Fuller, Ferguson, Sutton and Vereen) is a step in the right direction for a defense that needed to get younger.  Carey was too much value to pass up and QB David Fales is a very good developmental QB that head coach Marc Trestman is going to love working with.  I don’t know much about punters but drafting one in the sixth round that can compete with your incumbent sounds like a perfectly reasonable idea.  OL Charles Leno is a developmental prospect who probably ends up on the practice squad.  The only area they missed was getting younger at LB but with only eight selections they couldn’t address everything and they did very well with the eight they picked.

Detroit Lions

10. Eric Ebron  TE  North Carolina

40. Kyle Van Noy  OLB  BYU

76. Travis Swanson  C  Arkansas

133. Nevin Lawson  CB  Utah St.

136. Larry Webster  DE/TE  Bloomsburg

158. Caraun Reid  DT  Princeton

189. TJ Jones  WR  Notre Dame

229. Nate Freese  K  Boston College

Immediate Impact:  TE Eric Ebron, OLB Kyle Van Noy

Ebron immediately becomes one of Matthew Stafford’s favorite teammates because he will either help pull coverage away from Calvin Johnson or he will make teams pay for leaving him free.  Ebron is a pass catching TE who will team well with Brandon Pettigrew the blocking TE.  Van Noy is one of the most pro ready prospects in this draft class and he’ll come in and be an immediate starter at OLB probably on the strongside.  He has versatility so the coaches can move him around if needed.

Best Value:  C Travis Swanson

Dominic Raiola has been playing center for the Lions since the Johnson administration (Andrew not Lyndon) and he’s back on a one-year deal.  Swanson is the perfect replacement because he’ll bring the same nasty attitude Raiola always has and if Raiola doesn’t hold up this year he’s experienced enough to step in right now.  If Raiola does hold up Swanson can back-up all three interior positions for now.

Sleeper:  DT Caraun Reid

The Lions aren’t convinced they should re-sign Nick Fairley for the money he wants and Ndamukong Suh already has too high of a salary-cap number so Reid is the insurance policy.  Reid flew under-the-radar because he played at Princeton but he can play with the big boys and he’ll give them some good reps this year backing up Fairley and Suh.  Reid has starter potential and Lions are lucky to have him.

Overall Analysis:

Ebron, Van Noy and Swanson will be starters fairly quickly and Reid could be eventually.  CB Nevin Lawson was a guy in a large group of CB’s that were expected to go somewhere between the 3^rd-5^th round so while he probably isn’t the answer he wasn’t a major reach.  The Lions took a flyer on 4^th round athlete Larry Webster a guy that could be a DE or he could be a TE and they will start him out at DE.  TJ Jones was a solid late round pick-up at WR and at worst he’s a healthy version of Ryan Broyles.  Detroit needed a kicker and they grabbed a pretty solid prospect in Nate Freese from Boston College, at least that’s what the numbers would indicate, a kicker is a kicker until they prove otherwise.

Green Bay Packers

21. Haha Clinton-Dix  FS  Alabama

53. Davante Adams  WR  Fresno St.

85. Khyri Thornton  DT  Southern Miss

98. Richard Rogers  TE  California

121. Carl Bradford  ILB  Arizona St.

161. Corey Linsley  C  Ohio St.

176. Jared Abbrederis  WR Wisconsin

197. Demetri Goodson  CB  Baylor

236. Jeff Janis  WR  Saginaw Valley St.

Immediate Impact:  FS Haha Clinton-Dix

The Packers were unbelievably lucky that Clinton-Dix fell to them at #21 and he becomes their starter at FS from day one.  He is the best deep cover safety in the draft and he was great value and fills a huge need.  The Packers have needed a running mate for SS Morgan Burnett for quite a while and they finally had a fantastic one fall into their lap.

Best Value:  WR Jared Abbrederis

Abbrederis isn’t the biggest or the fastest WR but he knows how to get open and he catches everything.  A player like him teaming with QB Aaron Rodgers is a dangerous combination.  He can play outside or in the slot and the only reason he fell to the 5^th round was because of some concussion issues he may have had at Wisconsin (there seems to be some debate on how many concussions he actually had).

Sleeper:  LB Carl Bradford

Bradford was an OLB who lined up all over the field for the Sun Devils and was a pass rushing demon.  He is undersized and isn’t built for the position in the NFL but he also spent some time as an ILB and that is where he will play for defensive coordinator Dom Capers.  Bradford can be used as a blitzer from the ILB spot because of his natural pass rushing ability and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him steal the starting job next to AJ Hawk from Brad Jones.  He is too much of a playmaker to keep off the field.

Overall Analysis:

The Packers record last year was more a reflection of a team dealing with a lot of injuries than their talent level so with the return of those players there isn’t a huge need for starters on this team.  FS was the most obvious spot and they got the best one in the draft.  They have lost some depth the last few years at WR (Greg Jennings and James Jones left) and they got Davante Adams, a highly productive player from Fresno St., Abbrederis and a nice developmental prospect in Jeff Janis in the seventh round.  Adams is very good and he’ll be a great addition behind Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, he should be the third WR.  They needed a TE and they missed on getting one the five good ones so they settled for Richard Rogers from Cal.  He isn’t going to make anyone forget Jermichael Finley but as far as the TE prospects go he’s got some potential.  C Corey Linsley isn’t the biggest guy in the world but the Packers aren’t set at the position after the loss of Evan Dietrich-Smith so Linsley could compete.  I think DT Khyri Thornton was a reach in the third round and there were better DT’s available like Justin Ellis and DaQuan Jones.  The Packers made a very solid investment with 6^th rounder Demetri Goodson, he is a superb athlete who is still learning how to be a CB but he’s got great potential and he may pay off big down the line.

Minnesota Vikings

9. Anthony Barr  OLB  UCLA

32. Teddy Bridgewater  QB  Louisville

72. Scott Crichton  DE  Oregon St.

96. Jerick McKinnon  RB  Georgia Southern

145. David Yankey  OG  Stanford

182. Antone Exum  CB  Virginia Tech

184. Kendall James  CB  Maine

220. Shamar Stephen  DT  Connecticut

223. Brandon Watts  OLB  Georgia Tech

225. Jabari Price  CB  North Carolina

Immediate Impact:  I want to say OLB Anthony Barr but I don’t believe it.

The Vikings organization hopes Barr is an immediate impact player for their defense and Vikings fans want QB Teddy Bridgewater to take the starting job from Matt Cassel but both may have to wait.  Barr isn’t a natural fit for the Vikings defense and Bridgewater is good enough to take the job but Cassel played better last year than he gets credit for.

Best Value:  QB Teddy Bridgewater

Getting your future and possibly your present starting QB with the last pick of the first round is pretty good value.  I’ve made my feelings about Bridgewater clear and he’s ready to compete right now and the Vikings are the perfect situation for him.  A veteran QB that will make him fight for the job in Cassel, the best running back in football in Peterson, a solid offensive line up front and Greg Jennings, Corderrelle Patterson  and Kyle Rudolph in the passing game.  He will be a breath of fresh air for a team that has struggled to find a long-term solution at QB since…give me a minute…Tarkenton?

Sleeper:  OG David Yankey

Yankey was very good at Stanford and he has some versatility considering he lined up at both guard and tackle in college.  The Vikings starting guards are Charlie Johnson and Brandon Fusco and neither of them is great.  Yankey will compete and I won’t be surprised if he’s lining up at one of the OG spots come week 1.

Overall Analysis:

Anthony Barr is a terrific playmaker as a pass rushing OLB in a 3-4 defense but that isn’t the defense Mike Zimmer runs.  Minnesota needs LB’s for sure but Barr just doesn’t fit what they do.  He is a great athlete and he may become a great LB with some time but the Vikings need help now and it’s going to take some time to transition him.  I love Barr as a player but I’m not wild about his fit on this defense.  Bridgewater is the future at QB and he is the face of the franchise after Peterson’s career is over.  DE Scott Crichton is a good pass rusher and I actually had the Vikings taking him in the second round of my mock draft and they got him in the third.  He will help replace some of the pass rush lost when Jared Allen left.  RB Jerick McKinnon was drafted in the third round to replace Toby Gerhart as Peterson’s backup, I don’t know a lot about the Georgia Southern RB but I know there were some good RB’s still available like Devonte Freeman and Ka’Deem Carey so they must like something about him.  Obviously the Vikings felt they needed some competition at CB so they drafted three; Antone Exum, Kendall James and Jabari Price, it seems unlikely all of them will make the roster but perhaps they will find a diamond in the rough.  DT Shamar Stephen and OLB Brandon Watts seem unlikely to make the roster.