Denver Broncos
26. Paxton Lynch QB Memphis
63. Adam Gotsis DT Georgia Tech
98. Justin Simmons FS Boston College
136. Devontae Booker RB Utah
144. Connor McGovern OG Missouri
176. Andy Janovich FB Nebraska
219. Will Parks SS Arizona
228. Riley Dixon P Syracuse

Immediate Impact: QB Paxton Lynch
Just because I said immediate impact doesn’t mean I mean a positive impact. The growing pains are going to be substantial with Lynch because he has a major transition to make. He is a less experienced version of Brock Osweiler who will need to rely on his athleticism behind a suspect offensive line. Regardless of his issues he’s still a better option than Mark Sanchez and he is the type of roll-out QB Gary Kubiak likes.

Best Value: RB Devontae Booker
Getting Booker in the 4th round is grand larceny. He is my favorite RB in this draft after Ezekiel Elliott and I don’t care how much money they are paying CJ Anderson after matching the Dolphins’ offer sheet he better be looking over his shoulder and if I were Ronnie Hillman I would be worried about my place on the roster. Booker is a fantastic all-around RB and if he’s healthy he’s stealing Anderson’s job. I would venture to guess that if John Elway knew he was going to get Booker in the 4th round he may have reconsidered matching that offer for Anderson.

Sleeper: FS Justin Simmons
FS Darian Stewart had a really good year last year for the Broncos but then again who didn’t on that Bronco defense but Simmons is a very good prospect. I really like his deep range and in today’s NFL you can never have too many people who can cover deep. He may have to make his bones on special teams this year but he’s a future starter.

Overall Analysis
John Elway surprised me not only be taking Paxton Lynch in the first round but by trading up to be sure he got him. After all the different scenarios went by the wayside (trading for Kaepernick, signing RGIII and all other options) Elway made the decision that the future starts now. Lynch has a few advantages like having a fantastic defense and some very talented WRs around him but it could be an ugly early transition for him. DL Adam Gotsis could surprise because he should work well as a five-technique DE and give them some versatility up front on defense. Simmons and Booker are great picks especially where they got them. The last four picks might find it hard to make the roster and it’s not because they aren’t any good it’s because it’s the defending Super Bowl Champions roster they are trying to make.

Kansas City Chiefs
37. Chris Jones DL Mississippi St.
74. KeiVarae Russell CB Notre Dame
105. Parker Ehinger OG Cincinnati
106. Eric Murray CB Minnesota
126. Demarcus Robinson WR Florida
162. Kevin Hogan QB Stanford
165. Tyreek Hill WR West Alabama
178. DJ White CB Georgia Tech
203. Dadi Lhomme Nicolas OLB Virginia Tech

Immediate Impact: DL Chris Jones, CB KeiVarae Russell
Jones is a big, long DL prospect who should be able to play the DE position in Kansas City’s 3-4 defense and while veteran Allen Bailey is likely to step into the vacated spot of Mike DeVito Jones might be good enough very quickly to keep Bailey in his backup role. Sean Smith’s departure in free agency leaves a big whole opposite Defensive Rookie of the Year Marcus Peters and while Phillip Gaines, Jamell Fleming and Steven Nelson will all try to fill the spot KeiVarae Russell is as good of a bet as any of them.

Best Value: OG Parker Ehinger
I don’t think the Chiefs had any outstanding value picks this year but the thing about Ehinger is that he played both OT and OG and started for four years in college and the Chiefs interior offensive line is pretty week especially at OG. Ehinger has a legitimate shot to come in and still a starting spot and that’s pretty good value in the fourth round.

Sleeper: CB DJ White
I actually like White a bit more than Eric Murray and the fact that the Chiefs drafted three CBs in this draft should tell you how they feel about their depth behind Peters. White was a three-year starter at Georgia Tech and he could be a really solid slot corner right away and develop down the line.

Overall Analysis
Jones, Russell and Ehinger will all have an opportunity to contribute this year but none of them will be counted on to be major impact players and that’s to be expected on a team with a solid roster. I question why the offensive line wasn’t addressed more with Ehinger being the only help. They certainly addressed the secondary with Russell, Murray and White. WR Tyreek Hill has blazing speed and he could bring immediate help in the return game. QB Kevin Hogan may have just been too good of value to pass up in the fifth round but this team already has Aaron Murray and Tyler Bray behind Alex Smith and Hogan isn’t an upgrade over either of those two so it just kind of muddies the water. I suppose Andy Reid might have been looking for a challenge with WR Demarcus Robinson and OLB Dadi Nicholas because both of these guys are head cases. I think Robinson had as many suspensions as he had TDs last year and even if he didn’t the numbers are too close together. Nicholas has character issues too and maybe Reid straightens them both out but that’s asking a lot (piece of advice, don’t let them hang out together it’s just asking for problems).

Oakland Raiders
14. Karl Joseph SS West Virginia
44. Jihad Ward DT Illinois
75. Shilique Calhoun DE Michigan St.
100. Connor Cook QB Michigan St.
143. DeAndre Washington RB Texas Tech
194. Cory James OLB Colorado St.
234. Vadal Alexander OG LSU

Immediate Impact: SS Karl Joseph
I can knock the fact that Joseph went a bit high at #14 overall but the Raiders needed a safety badly with the retirement of Charles Woodson and Joseph should pair quite nicely with veteran free agent pickup Reggie Nelson and give the Raiders defense and nice last line of defense. The Raiders are looking to make a move and they are poised to do so.

Best Value: DE Shilique Calhoun
Calhoun is a superior athlete that can be very disruptive in the pass game and the Raiders are building their defense much the same way the Broncos did by building it to get after the quarterback. Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin and Calhoun should all bring great pressure off the edge and the biggest knock on Calhoun was he plays a bit soft and takes plays off but on this defense they will only need to use him to do what he does best and I don’t think Mack will let him take plays off.

Sleeper: OL Vadal Alexander
Alexander is a monster of a man at 6’5 326 lbs. and he has great versatility. The Raiders have put together the best offensive line they have had in years and while Alexander won’t crack the starting lineup right away he gives them a great depth piece at 4 positions. He is good enough to eventually be a starter and if Austin Howard and Menelik Watson falter at RT Alexander could step in.

Overall Analysis
After a few years of loving the Raiders drafts I just like this one. Joseph was an over draft because of need and the fact that safety was a week position. I’m not a big fan of Jihad Ward because he is raw and I’m not sure if he’s a DE or DT and neither is he. I like Calhoun but he does have some question marks because if his lack of aggression gets the better of him he could wash out of the league quickly. He needs to make the most of his physical gifts not just count on them being enough. Getting Connor Cook in the fourth round was nice but they traded up to do so and that seems strange. He is a nice investment as a future trade chip but probably unnecessary. RB DeAndre Washington could be a really nice complement to Latavius Murray and give them the dimension out of the backfield they hoped they would get from Roy Helu Jr. but really haven’t. OLB Cory James will have to prove some worth on special teams. I really like the Alexander pick late.

San Diego Chargers
3. Joey Bosa DE Ohio St.
35. Hunter Henry TE Arkansas
66. Max Tuerk C USC
102. Joshua Perry OLB Ohio St.
175. Jatavis Brown OLB Akron
179. Drew Kaser P Texas A&M
198. Derek Watt FB Wisconsin
224. Donavon Clark OG Michigan St.

Immediate Impact: DE Joey Bosa, TE Hunter Henry, C Max Tuerk (potentially)
The Chargers passed on potential LT starters Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley and uber stud Jalen Ramsey to take Joey Bosa so he better have an instant impact. Bosa isn’t JJ Watt but the Chargers better try to use him the way the Texans use Watt in their 3-4 defense. He should line up at DE and bring some pass rush along with OLB Melvin Ingram. TE Hunter Henry was the best one in a very thin group but he’ll become a favorite of Phillip Rivers and two-TE sets with him and Antonio Gates should be a huge part of the offense. C Max Tuerk is coming off a knee injury but if he’s healthy to start next season beating out the likes of Matt Slauson, Chris Watt and Trevor Robinson at center should be a piece of cake. Tuerk could really solidify an offensive line that just needs to get and stay healthy.

Best Value: P Drew Kaser
So I don’t think I’ve ever done this before and I usually don’t bring up punters or kickers but I’m making an exception here. I have no problem when a team has plenty of draft picks and grabs a punter or kicker in a late round and that’s exactly what San Diego did. Kaser comes from Texas A&M where all he did was break records previously held by Shane Lechler, that’s pretty damn good company to be in and the Chargers may have just filled their punter position for the next 15 years.

Sleeper: LB Joshua Perry
Perry is unbelievably skilled and he could literally play any of the four LB positions in the Chargers defense. He could bring some pass rush skills if needed on the outside but more than likely he’ll line up as an ILB and Manti Te’o might not want to get too comfortable. Perry is a big LB and would be a very good match with the undersized Denzel Perryman.

Overall Analysis
The Chargers got five future starters out of this draft with Bosa, Henry, Tuerk, Perry and Kaser and that’s a pretty good hall for one draft. Jatavis Brown is an undersized LB that could find himself useful at SS since the Chargers are pretty weak at the position. Derek Watt and Donovan Clark are two Big Ten guys that were drafted to potentially help the running game that was pretty bad behind Melvin Gordon, perhaps having a Wisconsin Badger around to pave the way would help and that may help Watt make the team. The only issue with the overall class here is the lack of any help in the secondary especially safety. It’s fine to go into the season with Jason Verrett, Brandon Flowers and Casey Heyward as your top 3 CBs but after losing Eric Weddle in free agency the safety position is a major concern.

Houston Texans
21. Will Fuller WR Notre Dame
50. Nick Martin C Notre Dame
85. Braxton Miller WR Ohio St.
119. Tyler Ervin RB San Jose St.
159. KJ Dillon SS West Virginia
166. DJ Reader DT Clemson

Immediate Impact: WR Will Fuller, C Nick Martin, WR Braxton Miller
To say the Texans’ passing offense relied heavily on DeAndre Hopkins would be an understatement and then they lost WR Nate Washington in the off season. I’m not a Fuller fan because he drops too many passes but he brings a deep speed skill they need to take some coverage away from Hopkins. Miller is still learning the position but he’s got talent and playmaking ability so they will use him. C Nick Martin isn’t his brother Zack but he’s going to be an immediate starter if he can beat out free agent signee Tony Bergstrom, that means he’s going to be an immediate starter.

Best Value: WR Braxton Miller
He is still raw but on this team he can be a starter in the slot and he’ll become a favorite safety valve for new QB Brock Osweiler. I truly believe Miller will end up with more catches on the season than first round pick Will Fuller and that’s pretty good value out of the third round.

Sleeper: RB Tyler Ervin
Ervin is a small RB coming in at 5’10 196 lbs. but he’s fast and he’ll make plays. The Texans signed Lamar Miller and he’ll be the primary back but every team needs a multifaceted running game and varying skills. Miller is a 225 lbs. back who can carry the load but Ervin will carve out his spot in the offense and be a nice complement to Lamar Miller’s skills.

Overall Analysis
It’s a small draft class of only six but I think all six make the roster and contribute. The drafting of Fuller and Miller doesn’t bode well for last year’s WR draft pick Jaelen Strong especially after he didn’t have a great rookie season and had a rough off season with an arrest for drug possession. Martin will grab the starting C job early and he needs to develop a rapport with QB Brock Osweiler for the long haul. Ervin becomes a nice weapon on offense. SS KJ Dillon is definitely better at run support than coverage but the Texans’ safety position isn’t exactly a who’s who of Pro Bowlers so there is room to move and Dillon can make a mark on special teams in the meantime. DT DJ Reader is a little raw and needs some time to develop but the Texans still have veteran (very veteran at this point) Vince Wilfork at NT and he can give Reader time to develop and also teach him a lot about the position. Reader is 6’3 327 lbs. and as they say you can’t teach size so he’s worth the investment and he could pay off big time in the future.

Indianapolis Colts
18. Ryan Kelly C Alabama
57. TJ Green FS Clemson
82. Le’Raven Clark OT Texas Tech
116. Hassan Ridgeway DT Texas
125. Antonio Morrison ILB Florida
155. Joe Haeg OT North Dakota St.
239. Trevor Bates DE Maine
248. Austin Blythe C/G Iowa

Immediate Impact: C Ryan Kelly
The Colts offensive line was terrible last year and Andrew Luck suffered the consequences which is why you saw them draft four offensive linemen. They will all have a chance to compete for a spot but Kelly will have no competition for the C job. He’s a fantastic prospect that was the starter the second his name was announced and he’ll give Luck a little more confidence in the line right up the middle. Kelly has future Pro Bowl potential at the position and they can really use that kind of upgrade.

Best Value: OT Le’Raven Clark
Clark was a bit overshadowed by the higher rated prospects but he has a chance to step right into the RT job for the Colts. Right now it’s either Jack Mewhort or Denzelle Good there and while the Colts like Good’s potential Clark is a better choice and Mewhort would be better off inside at OG which would upgrade a couple of positions.

Sleeper: C/G Austin Blythe
Call it a homer pick if you want but Blythe can play in the NFL and he went to a team that desperately needs interior offensive linemen. He fell to the seventh round because he isn’t prototypical size for an NFL guard because he’s a bit light at just under 300 lbs. but that won’t stop Blythe. He is a technically proficient player with strength and tenacity. His previous wrestling experience helped him with his technique and the lack of great interior options for the Colts means he could end up playing at OG next to Ryan Kelly and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s actually the backup to Kelly also.

Overall Analysis
Kelly, Clark, Blythe and North Dakota St. OT Joe Haeg were all really good choices because it gives the Colts some options and strengthens a very week offensive line. Going into the draft they only had LT Anthony Costanzo and T/G Jack Mewhort as better than average offensive line starters. FS TJ Green is a nice athlete that they can really use in the secondary and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up a starter at safety, he’s not my favorite player but he’s better than what they have. DT Hassan Ridgeway is a nice pickup that can back up at multiple positions on the defensive line. LB Antonio Morrison could really help at ILB if he can stay healthy. My only major concern with this draft class is that the Colts desperately needed to address their pass rush and all they did was take an undersized DE Trevor Bates out of Maine in the seventh round, not exactly going to change the game for them.

Jacksonville Jaguars
5. Jalen Ramsey DB Florida St.
36. Myles Jack LB UCLA
69. Yannick Ngakoue DE Maryland
103. Sheldon Day DT Notre Dame
181. Tyrone Holmes OLB Montana
201. Brandon Allen QB Arkansas
226. Jonathan Woodard DE Central Arkansas

Immediate Impact: DB Jalen Ramsey, LB Myles Jack
The Jaguars got the two defensive players they wanted the most in the entire draft. Ramsey will line up at CB and will most likely start opposite new free agent signee Prince Amukamara but whether he stays there or becomes a safety he’s a future Pro Bowler. Jack’s knee has been the biggest concern and that’s why he was available in round 2. Jack will start at LB as soon as he’s healthy and he should be healthy right away.

Best Value: LB Myles Jack
Jack was one of the top 5 overall players in the draft without the knee injury and it’s only potentially a long-term issue meaning he will be good in the short-term. Getting him in the second round of the draft when he was potentially a pick at #5 was highway robbery.

Sleeper: DE Yannick Ngakoue
The Jaguars are hoping that the return to health of last year’s draft pick Dante Fowler will improve their pass rush along with free agent signee Malik Jackson but they aren’t stopping there. They drafted Ngakoue, Tyrone Holmes and Jonathan Woodard to get some edge rushing and they are hoping one comes through. Ngakoue is the best bet.

Overall Analysis
It’s hard not to love a draft that gets two of the top 5 players in the entire class like Ramsey and Jack. The Jaguars also spent all but one of their picks on defense because they know their offense is doing just fine and the defense needed help. Besides the terrific Ramsey and Jack picks and their focus on outside pass rushers they grabbed an underrated DT Sheldon Day that will give them some quality depth inside on the defensive line. I also like their one offensive pick QB Brandon Allen. This team doesn’t need a QB given how well Blake Bortles is developing but they only have Chad Henne behind Bortles and it’s never a bad idea to develop a backup. Allen’s transition to the NFL will be aided by the fact he played under center in college and while he isn’t the biggest guy he could be a quality backup for a long time.

Tennessee Titans
8. Jack Conklin OT Michigan St.
33. Kevin Dodd DE Clemson
43. Austin Johnson DT Penn St.
45. Derrick Henry RB Alabama
64. Kevin Byard SS Middle Tennessee
140. Tajae Sharpe WR UMass
157. LeShaun Sims CB Southern Utah
193. Sebastian Tretola OG Arkansas
222. Aaron Wallace OLB UCLA
253. Kalan Reed CB Southern Miss

Immediate Impact: OT Jack Conklin, RB Derrick Henry
Conklin may have gone a little bit high as the Titans moved back up after trading down and then passed on Laremy Tunsil. The Titans needed an OT and Conklin will make a nice bookend to LT Taylor Lewan and he should start right away on the right side. I don’t like Henry in particular but he should get a pretty good shot at playing a lot unless Demarco Murray can rediscover his game. The Titans didn’t invest a second round pick in Henry to let him sit.

Best Value: DT Austin Johnson
I like Johnson a lot even in this very deep DT class and he’s the right fit in Tennessee’s 3-man front. He can play on the nose because he has terrific size but he can also add depth at DE because of his skillset. Getting a guy that is that versatile in the second round is valuable.

Sleeper: CB Kalan Reed
Reed was the last pick of the draft this season but he won’t be irrelevant very long. The Titans aren’t exactly teeming with quality CBs and a while they drafted higher rated DBs like Byard and Sims I think Reed’s experience gives him a chance to actually make a difference.

Overall Analysis
After trading down from #1 and then trading back up the Titans still got plenty of players. They attacked both lines grabbing a starting RT Jack Conklin and a nice interior depth piece with OG Sebastian Tretola. They got help on the defensive line with DT Austin Johnson and while Kevin Dodd is listed as a DE he is probably going to be a big OLB used to get some pass rush. I haven’t been a big fan of Dodd (he doesn’t have a ton of great tape) and I think he may struggle with the transition to OLB and he isn’t big enough to play DE in the 3-4 defense. Henry was a luxury given the presence of Murray, David Cobb and Antonio Andrews but that’s what you can do when you pick up a bunch of picks. The secondary needed a lot of help and they got Byard, Sims and Reed and they could all make the team. Aaron Wallace could be a nice athletic addition to the LB corps and while Tajae Sharpe was a highly productive WR at UMass he may have a hard time cracking this roster. The Titans have Kendall Wright, Harry Douglas, Justin Hunter, last year’s rookie Dorial Green-Beckham and newly signed Rishard Matthews at WR, Sharpe is fighting an uphill battle.

Baltimore Ravens
6. Ronnie Stanley OT Notre Dame
42. Kamalei Correa OLB Boise St.
70. Bronson Kaufusi DE BYU
104. Tavon Young CB Temple
107. Chris Moore WR Cincinnati
130. Alex Lewis OT Nebraska
132. Willie Henry DT Michigan
134. Kenneth Dixon RB Louisiana Tech
146. Matt Judon DE Grand Valley St.
182. Keenan Reynolds ATH Navy
209. Maurice Canady CB Virginia

Immediate Impact: OT Ronnie Stanley, OLB Kamalei Correa
Eugene Monroe hasn’t been as good as the Ravens had hoped when they traded for him from the Jaguars and he’s struggled to stay healthy the last couple years. Stanley could replace Ricky Wagner at RT but he might make Monroe expended very soon. Correa isn’t a household name because he played at Boise St. and they haven’t been as visible lately but he’s a player. The Ravens have the aging Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs who is returning from a torn Achilles tendon at age 33 so Correa is highly needed on this defense.

Best Value: RB Kenneth Dixon
Dixon has the skill set to really help a team and even though the Ravens have Justin Forsett and Buck Allen they could really use Dixon’s abilities. Forsett got hurt last year and Allen did a nice job filling in but Dixon has starting caliber skills and they Ravens stole him in the fourth round.

Sleeper: DE Bronson Kaufusi
At 6’6 281 lbs. Kaufusi has the size to go along with the skills to be a 3-4 DE in the Ravens defense. They could use some depth and potentially a starter opposite Timmy Jernigan and Kaufusi could be that guy. Not a lot of people know about him but the Ravens see his fit in their defense.

Overall Analysis
Ozzie Newsome is one of the best GMs in NFL history and this kind of draft is exactly why. Stanley fills a need right now and Correa is the type of guy that comes in and contributes as a sub before stepping into a starting role in a year or two. Kaufusi is a steal that could become a starter in short order and Willie Henry brings depth on the defensive line. Dixon was a fantastic value pick. The team needs help at WR so they grabbed Chris Moore and Keenan Reynolds who should develop into a nice weapon in time. Newsome didn’t stop with Stanley on the offensive line he grabbed Alex Lewis who has some nice upside. They needed depth in the defensive backfield so in comes Tavon Young and Maurice Canady. Also Matt Judon is a good small school prospect that could develop into an OLB in time and given the Ravens track record I wouldn’t bet against it.

Cincinnati Bengals
24. William Jackson CB Houston
55. Tyler Boyd WR Pittsburgh
87. Nick Vigil ILB Utah St.
122. Andrew Billings DT Baylor
161. Christian Westerman OG Arizona St.
199. Cody Core WR Ole Miss
245. Clayton Fejedelem SS Illinois

Immediate Impact: CB William Jackson, WR Tyler Boyd, DT Andrew Billings
The Bengals went with value over need when they grabbed Jackson in the first round but he’s too good to keep off the field. They have Dre Kirkpatrick, Adam Jones and Darqueze Dennard but he’ll find a way to help out. Boyd is going to find himself playing a lot and I would bet it won’t be too long before he’s starting opposite AJ Green because Brandon LaFell is not a lot of competition. Billings fell to the fourth round because he’s seen as only a two-down DT but he’s going to play a lot on those first two downs and Domata Peko and Pat Sims should be worried about their playing time and roster spots.

Best Value: DT Andrew Billings
Billings is a beast, he’s a wide-bodied run-stuffing tackle who is a perfect complement inside next to Geno Atkins. Peko and Sims aren’t getting any younger and Billings is a future starter which makes getting him #122 overall a complete steal.

Sleeper: OG Christian Westerman
Westerman isn’t an immediate need because the Bengals have two in-their-prime OGs in Kevin Zeitler and Clint Boling but this is the type of pick that helps teams in the future. Westerman is a nice backup for now and he’s insurance in case Zeitler or Boling start to get too expensive. He’s a starting caliber OG and they got him in the 5th round. The Bengals have gotten really good at drafting over the last half decade or so and that’s why they keep making the playoffs, this is one of those sneaky smart picks.

Overall Analysis
It’s becoming a yearly thing where I love the Bengals draft and this is no exception. Jackson is a future starter and may usurp former first rounder Darqueze Dennard, Tyler Boyd is one of my favorite players in this draft and a dark horse for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Billings and Westerman were grand theft level steals in the round 4 and 5 and LB Nick Vigil is a nice future investment as newcomer Karlos Dansby isn’t a long-term investment and Rey Maualuga isn’t getting any younger. Core and Fejedelem will have to try to make the team on special teams. My only concern was Boyd was the only real help at WR unless Core steps up big time and that’s unlikely.

Cleveland Browns
15. Corey Coleman WR Baylor
32. Emmanuel Ogbah DE Oklahoma St.
65. Carl Nassib DE Penn St.
76. Shon Coleman OT Auburn
93. Cody Kessler QB USC
99. Joe Schobert OLB Wisconsin
114. Ricardo Louis WR Auburn
129. Derrick Kindred SS TCU
138. Seth DeValve WR Princeton
154. Jordan Payton WR UCLA
168. Spencer Drango OG Baylor
172. Rashard Higgins WR Colorado St.
173. Trey Caldwell CB Louisiana-Monroe
250. Scooby Wright III ILB Arizona

Immediate Impact: WR Corey Coleman, DE Emmanuel Ogbah, OT Shon Coleman
With a pretty crappy roster and 14 draft picks this year there will be more immediate impact from this class than anyone could imagine but these three stand out to me. The WR corps is terrible meaning Corey Coleman is a lock to play a lot, the pass rush needs a boost and Ogbah can help right now and the RT spot is just waiting to be filled by Shon Coleman. There could potentially be 5-6 starters out of this class as early as this season.

Best Value: WR Rashard Higgins
I wanted to make Higgins my sleeper pick here and he could qualify for sure but I went with best value because he was an extremely productive WR at Colorado St. especially back when he had Garrett Grayson throwing to him. Higgins was the fifth WR the Browns took in the draft but other than Corey Coleman who will get every opportunity to shine I’m putting my money on Higgins to break through. The Brown WR group is horrible but I doubt they go with 5 rookie WRs for the year.

Sleeper: QB Cody Kessler
The Browns’ front office and head coach Hue Jackson have been taking heat for drafting Kessler in the third round when guys like Connor Cook and Dak Prescott were still on the board but I actually happen to think if you’re going to take a shot on a QB in this draft Kessler isn’t a bad choice. I would have said if you’re passing on a QB high in this draft Kessler and Indiana QB Nate Sudfeld were the two worth taking a chance late. Kessler has tons of snaps under his belt since he’s been starting at USC for the past 9 years (that may be an exaggeration) and he’s highly accurate. He isn’t very tall but neither is Drew Brees and he played in an offense that will be fairly easy for him to transition to the NFL.

Overall Analysis
The Browns’ new brain trust knew that the team needed a complete overhaul and they got off to a good start with this draft. Not all five WRs will make the team but drafting five means you might find three good ones (my money is on Coleman, Ricardo Louis and Rashard Higgins making the roster). The offensive line needed addressing and they got a starting RT in Shon Coleman and I wouldn’t be the least bit shocked if Spencer Drango makes a quick transition to OG and wins a starting job. Their pass rush was abysmal last season so Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib were taken early and keep an eye on Wisconsin OLB Joe Schobert because he has some nice natural pass rush instincts and he could be a key player on passing downs. Finally, their last pick of Scooby Wright could pay off big time because he can step in at ILB and really lend a hand. They don’t have much depth and Wright is the type of run-stuffing thumper they need on early downs.

Pittsburgh Steelers
25. Artie Burns CB Miami
58. Sean Davis DB Maryland
89. Javon Hargrave DT South Carolina St.
123. Jerald Hawkins OT LSU
220. Travis Feeney OLB Washington
229. Demarcus Ayers WR Houston
246. Tyler Matakevich ILB Temple

Immediate Impact: CB Artie Burns, DB Sean Davis
I’m not a fan of the Artie Burns pick because I think he went too high but that doesn’t mean they don’t need him and he’s going to play. The Steelers top 3 CBs right now are William Gay, Ross Cockrell and Senquez Golson so Burns doesn’t have to be great to be an upgrade. As much as I don’t like the Burns pick I love Davis pick. He has played both CB and safety and more than likely the Steelers will line him up as the deep safety. Davis will provide great support for the CBs and pair nicely with Mike Mitchell to sure up the secondary.

Best Value: ILB Tyler Matakevich
Matakevich is an athletically limited ILB which is why he fell into the seventh round but he’s highly productive and he could develop into an eventual replacement for Lawrence Timmons who isn’t getting any younger. It isn’t a fluke when a guy puts up as many tackles as Matakevich did at Temple and even if he never becomes a starter he’ll be a fantastic special team’s player and quality backup.

Sleeper: OT Jerald Hawkins
Hawkins wasn’t rated as highly as others and was somewhat the forgotten man at OT but when you’re a three-year starter at a place like LSU you have some skills. Hawkins can play the right or left side and he’ll make a nice swing tackle for now but the Steelers have a tendency of finding lower round OTs that fit what they do and Hawkins may be the next one.

Overall Analysis
I definitely think the Steelers over drafted Burns taking him in the first round but he’s a great athlete and he has a heck of a personal story which makes me pull for him (read about it here http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25570599/youll-want-to-learn-a-bit-about-new-steelers-pick-artie-burns-backstory ). I clearly like the Davis, Hawkins and Matakevich picks but I also like the pick of OLB Travis Feeney who is still a bit raw at OLB but can bring some nice speed. DT Javon Hargrave is a nice pickup too and will bring nice depth as a replacement for Steve McClendon who left in free agency. WR Demarcus Ayers is highly versatile but he’s pretty much along the lines of their other WRs so he might find it hard to find a place on the roster, if he were a big-bodied guy it would be simpler.

Buffalo Bills
19. Shaq Lawson DE Clemson
41. Reggie Ragland LB Alabama
80. Adolphus Washington DT Ohio St.
139. Cardale Jones QB Ohio St.
156. Jonathan Williams RB Arkansas
192. Kolby Listenbee WR TCU
218. Kevon Seymour CB USC

Immediate Impact: DE Shaq Lawson, LB Reggie Ragland
Mario Williams was a shell of his former self last season which is why the Bills let him walk and now they get Shaq Lawson to step in for him. Lawson is a nice bookend to Jerry Hughes because at 6’3 270 lbs. Lawson has great size and strength but can still get after the QB. Ragland is a beast against the run and whether he lines up in the middle or on the weakside he’s going to affect the defense.

Best Value: LB Reggie Ragland
I had Ragland going in the top 15 at one point and he certainly would have been worth a 1st round pick had he gone that high. The Bills getting him in the second round was a steal. He was one of if not the best player to slip into round 2 that was expected to go in round one and wasn’t coming off a significant knee injury.

Sleepers: DT Adolphus Washington, WR Kolby Listenbee
Washington will make a very nice rotational DT with Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams at worst and considering Williams is aging and coming back from an injury Washington could become much more very quickly. He is undersized but that won’t matter because he plays with plenty of power and lining up next to Dareus will negate that concern completely. Listenbee is raw as a prospect but he is lightning fast and you can’t teach speed. Perhaps Listenbee will become what the Bills have hoped Marquise Goodwin would be for them.

Overall Analysis
There are far more prospects to like in this draft than I am comfortable with as a Patriots fan. Lawson, Ragland and Washington are really strong additions to the defense and will make an impact. Listenbee could be a nice speed complement to Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods and Jonathan Williams will have to fight to get carries behind LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams but he’s a heck of a third RB. I suppose my only saving grace is the hope that someday they will have to turn to Cardale Jones at QB because I don’t think he has the mental capacity to deal with Belichick’s defense. To me Jones is a poor man’s EJ Manuel and if you’re wondering that is not a complement. CB Kevon Seymour will have a tough time making this squad.

Miami Dolphins
13. Laremy Tunsil OT Mississippi
38. Xavien Howard CB Baylor
73. Kenyan Drake RB Alabama
86. Leonte Carroo WR Rutgers
186. Jakeem Grant WR Texas Tech
204. Jordan Lucas SS Penn St.
223. Brandon Doughty QB Western Kentucky
231. Thomas Duarte TE UCLA

Immediate Impact: OT Laremy Tunsil, CB Xavien Howard
I’m not sure what he immediate plan is with Tunsil, does he play RT and they move Ja’Wuan James inside to guard? Does Tunsil slide inside to guard? The truth is Tunsil will replace Branden Albert at LT eventually and it may be sooner rather than later. Albert is 31 and has never been the picture of health so Tunsil will play somewhere now but eventually he’s their LT. Howard fills a huge need at CB and he’s good enough to start right away which is good because they need someone opposite Byron Maxwell, oh and they need someone to replace Maxwell but that will have to wait until some other time.

Best Value: OT Laremy Tunsil
Yes, he was the 13th pick in the draft but he was arguably one of the top 2 prospects in the entire thing. The bong/gas mask smoking video took its toll and the Dolphins were the recipients of a gift. Tunsil has never failed a drug test and whether that means he is drug free or just smart enough not to get caught it makes him less of a risk than previous players that have obvious drug problems. He’s a superior talent and an absolute steal at #13.

Sleeper: WR Leonte Carroo
Carroo has a colorful past and hasn’t always been the picture of consistency off-the-field but he’s a major playmaker on it. Jarvis Landry is given and DeVante Parker played well once he was healthy last season but if I were Kenny Stills I would be worried. Carroo has many of the downfield talents Stills has and he’s cheaper with more upside at this point.

Overall Analysis
Tunsil, Howard and Carroo are great selections but the choice of RB Kenyan Drake in the third round is puzzling to me. Drake was the backup to Derrick Henry at Alabama yet he was the third RB off the board. Ezekiel Elliott and Henry were the first two and there were more talented backs available at the time they took Drake. RB is certainly a need given Jay Ajayi is the only one they really have but I can name 5 backs I like better (Devontae Booker, Kenneth Dixon, Jordan Howard, Alex Collins and Paul Perkins, did you think I was kidding?). Carroo has a chance to beat out Stills as an outside WR but the choice of the tiny Jakeem Grant is puzzling. He’s fast as lightning but he’s 5’6 165 lbs. which limits him to slot receiver/kick returner and slot receiver is where Jarvis Landry does his damage. SS Jordan Lucas might make the team because the Dolphins secondary is weak. QB Brandon Doughty is potential long term backup to Ryan Tannehill is Tannehill proves to be the long term starter. Finally, TE Thomas Duarte is a pass catching TE on a team that didn’t throw much to the TE last year. Jordan Cameron was a major free agent signing a year ago but wasn’t used much. Duarte could supplant backup Dion Sims if he can prove to be a playmaker.

New England Patriots
60. Cyrus Jones CB Alabama
78. Joe Thuney OG North Carolina St.
91. Jacoby Brissett QB North Carolina St.
96. Vincent Valentine DT Nebraska
112. Malcolm Mitchell WR Georgia
208. Kamu Grugier-Hill SS Eastern Illinois
214. Elandon Roberts ILB Houston
221. Ted Karras OG Illinois
225. Devin Lucien WR Arizona St.

Immediate Impact: None
It’s very likely the CB Cyrus Jones, DT Vincent Valentine and WR Malcolm Mitchell can all find a role to play on this team but none of them are likely to be high impact players.

Best Value: DT Vincent Valentine
Valentine is a big bodied DT that should bring some nice depth inside behind Terrance Knighton and Malcolm Brown. He should clog up the middle quite well and give Knighton plenty of rest. He is also big enough to allow Brown to do the things he does best.

Sleeper: WR Malcolm Mitchell
Mitchell was a four-year starter at Georgia who could never seem to stay healthy long enough to really dominate. The Patriots have Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola and free agents Nate Washington and Chris Hogan but Mitchell can make the team and potentially push Amendola out the door.

Overall Analysis
I stopped trying to understand Bill Belichick’s drafts a while ago because they rarely make sense. CB Cyrus Jones was a solid pick and he will likely be the third CB behind Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan. It is a bit curious why they would spend 3rd and 6th round picks on OGs Joe Thuney and Ted Karras when they already have interior linemen Bryan Stork, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Tre Jackson, Josh Kline and recently acquired Jonathan Cooper, you can only carry so many interior linemen. QB Jacoby Brissett was a strange choice considering they have Jimmy Garoppolo behind Brady and Brissett is nowhere near being ready to contribute in any meaningful way. Grugier-Hill and Roberts are Belichick flyers that probably won’t make the roster. WR Devin Lucien is a shot in the dark but he has some upside and anything is possible at WR for the Patriots. If Mitchell doesn’t make it through training camp healthy Lucien might make a move.

New York Jets
20. Darron Lee LB Ohio St.
51. Christian Hackenberg QB Penn St.
83. Jordan Jenkins OLB Georgia
118. Juston Burris CB North Carolina St.
158. Brandon Shell OT South Carolina
235. Lachlan Edwards P Sam Houston St.
241. Charone Peake WR Clemson

Immediate Impact: LB Darron Lee, OLB Jordan Jenkins
The Jets’ LB corps is aging and needs an infusion of youth and talent. Lee is a speedy athlete with all kinds of skills and handing him to a coach like Todd Bowles is like handing a chess master an extra queen to play with. Jenkins was an underappreciated player at Georgia because he was overshadowed by Leonard Floyd much of the time. Jenkins can do a lot of the dirty work and play just about anywhere. Bowles will use both of these guys inside and outside in coverage and for blitzing.

Best Value: OLB Jordan Jenkins
I think I like Jenkins more than most and even if he doesn’t have a much wow factor he’s a player.

Sleeper: OT Brandon Shell
The nephew of Art Shell started for four years at South Carolina and while he isn’t flashy you don’t start for four years in the SEC without having some skills. The Jets offensive line is in transition as long time LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson retired and Ryan Clady was acquired from the Broncos. RT Breno Giacomini is nothing special and Clady is an injury risk so Shell could factor in at some point.

Overall Analysis
The overhaul of the LB corps should be the story of this draft but it won’t be. QB Christian Hackenberg will suck up all of the oxygen from this draft class. Hackenberg was a rising star as a true freshman starter at Penn St. three years ago but now he’s simply in a three-way battle for snaps with presumed starter Geno Smith and no-longer-QB-of-the-future Bryce Petty. Hackenberg has the talent to be a starting QB if someone can just clean up the bad habits he picked up over the last two seasons. CB Juston Burris will find it hard to crack this roster. The Jets drafted a punter, that’s all I got on that and there are worse things you can do than take a seventh round flyer on a big, fast WR like Charone Peake. Beyond starters Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker and hopefully third WR Devin Smith the roster has room to move at the position.

Arizona Cardinals
29. Robert Nkemdiche DT Mississippi
92. Brandon Williams CB Texas A&M
128. Evan Boehm C Missouri
167. Marqui Christian SS Midwestern St.
170. Cole Toner OT Harvard
205. Harlan Miller CB Southeastern Louisiana

Immediate Impact: DT Robert Nkemdiche, C Evan Boehm
Nkemdiche will have the chance to play at multiple positions both as a DE and NT in the Cardinals 3-4 defense. Rodney Gunter was a find last season as a NT but they need a backup and Frostee Rucker is nothing special at DE so Nkemdiche could take over that spot. Boehm is highly likely to take the starting C job from A.Q. Shipley who is a career backup.

Best Value: C Evan Boehm
One of the reasons why you have to be quite exceptional at C to get drafted very high is because there are many capable centers later in the draft like Boehm. Getting a starting offensive lineman at a position of need with the 128th pick in the draft is the definition of value.

Sleeper: CB Brandon Williams
This pick felt like a bit of a reach at the end of the third round because Williams is a converted RB that has only played CB for a year. The thing is he is an exception athlete that could turn out to be a heck of a CB. He has good size but is extremely raw, however, if he can develop his skills he could be quite a find.

Overall Analysis
The Cardinals took a shot on Nkemdiche because he’s a physical freak with great talent and they have a history of keeping knuckleheads like him on the straight and narrow and if they can harness his talent they got a steal. He needs to keep his nose clean and stay motivated for that pick to pay off. I can’t knock the team for not getting a better outside pass rusher because they traded their 2nd round pick for Chandler Jones and he fits the bill very nicely. Williams may have been a bit of a reach but when your roster is pretty solid you can take a flyer once in a while. Boehm is an immediate starter and fills the one big hole they have on offense while Cole Toner is a smart OT that should make for a nice swing tackle option. Marqui Christian and Harlan Miller will come in and compete in camp but the Cardinals’ secondary is pretty solid so they might find it hard to make the roster.

Los Angeles Rams
1. Jared Goff QB California
110. Tyler Higbee TE Western Kentucky
117. Pharoh Cooper WR South Carolina
177. Temarrick Hemingway TE South Carolina St.
190. Josh Forrest ILB Kentucky
206. Mike Thomas WR Southern Mississippi

Immediate Impact: QB Jared Goff
Well he better make an immediate impact or trading away all of those picks to get him will seem foolish. The Rams have a solid defense and a top notch RB but they need a QB to make it all go. Goff will have a bit of a transition moving from his shotgun style spread attack to a pro style game with a heavy run influence but he should still beat out Case Keenum and if he doesn’t Jeff Fisher will be looking for a new job come January.

Best Value: WR Pharoh Cooper
Cooper was overshadowed in this draft class because there were a number of good WR rated similarly to him. He also played on a South Carolina team this last season that didn’t exactly make the most of his talents. He’s not the tallest WR but he’s well-built and has talent. He will make the Rams roster pretty easily, there isn’t a ton of competition, and he might develop right alongside Jared Goff for the future.

Sleeper: WR Mike Thomas
Not to be confused with Michael Thomas of Ohio St. this one is from Southern Miss and he was highly productive there. The Rams have Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin and now Cooper but Thomas knows how to get open and he has nice size which means he could impress pretty easily compared to his competition and become a weapon for Goff.

Overall Analysis
Obviously this draft leans heavily on Goff and I think he will do well because even though he is the #1 pick they are not leaning the franchise on him, it’s Todd Gurley’s team at the moment. Goff is a smart player who will do what he needs to do to make the transition and if he can find some weapons he will excel. TE Tyler Higbee could be one of those weapons but he has a big off-the-field issue to deal with, an assault charge. If he gets through that he could be quite important as the Rams TE depth is pretty lacking. The Rams continued their draft strategy of getting Goff some help with Cooper, Thomas and TE Temmarick Hemingway and like I said the TE group isn’t great. The one defensive player they took, LB Josh Forrest, is a developmental player that probably won’t make much of a difference.

San Francisco 49ers
7. DeForest Buckner DE Oregon
28. Joshua Garnett OG Stanford
68. Will Redmond CB Mississippi St.
133. Rashard Robinson CB LSU
142. Ronald Blair DE Appalachian St.
145. John Theus OT Georgia
174. Fahn Cooper OT Mississippi
207. Jeff Driskel QB Louisiana Tech
211. Kelvin Taylor RB Florida
213. Aaron Burbridge WR Michigan St.
249. Prince Charles Iworah CB Western Kentucky

Immediate Impact: DE DeForest Buckner, OG Joshua Garnett
The lines used to be a strength of the 49ers but they aren’t at the moment. Buckner is a star and he’ll be better than his former Oregon teammate and last year’s rookie Arik Armstead. He will be a starter in short order and one of the best players on a rebuilding defense. I’ll get to my thoughts on trading up for Joshua Garnett later but he’s an immediate starter at OG after they lost Alex Boone in free agency and aren’t exactly teeming with talent at the position.

Best Value: DE Ronald Blair
He’s a small school player from Appalachian St. but he’s a talent. He should fit well in the 49ers defense and he was a very good prospect to get at 142nd overall. The defense could use some new blood up front and Buckner and Blair are a solid start.

Sleeper: WR Aaron Burbridge
Anquan Boldin is a free agent that hasn’t been re-signed leaving deep threat Torrey Smith as the only proven player at WR. Burbridge doesn’t wow you with his physical skills but he has a great knack for getting open and making tough catches. He will be a favorite of whomever wins the QB job.

Overall Analysis
The Buckner pick was fantastic but it was blunted by the decision to trade a couple of picks to move back into the end of the 1st round to grab an OG. Garnett is a nice player but the 49ers could have waited for him or even gotten a different OG in the second round. The middle round choices of CBs Will Redmond and Rashard Robinson were peculiar because Redmond is coming off an ACL tear and Robinson was suspended last year at LSU, a bit high for both guys. OTs Theus and Cooper should add depth and competition on the offensive line. QB Driskell is a solid choice but he really only muddles the Blain Gabbert/Colin Kaepernick competition because he might be a better choice. RB Kelvin Taylor is talented player that can’t stay healthy, he should fit right in. The seventh round CB isn’t making the roster.

Seattle Seahawks
31. Germain Ifedi OT Texas A&M
49. Jarran Reed DT Alabama
90. CJ Prosise RB Notre Dame
94. Nick Vannett TE Ohio St.
97. Rees Odhiambo OG Boise St.
147. Quinton Jefferson DT Maryland
171. Alex Collins RB Arkansas
215. Joey Hunt C TCU
243. Kenny Lawler WR California
247. Zac Brooks RB Clemson

Immediate Impact: OT Germain Ifedi, DT Jarran Reed
Ifedi isn’t my favorite OT in this draft but he’s far better than anything they have on the roster and he give Tom Cable some talent to work with. He may be a better RT long term but he could hold down the left side next season if need be. Reed is an immediate replacement for free agent defection Brandon Mebane at DT. He’s a versatile player which will make him quite valuable to the Seahawks defense.

Best Value: RB Alex Collins
Collins is the perfect RB for the Seahawks power running game and I like his fit better than third round pick CJ Prosise, I like Prosise too but Collins could actually replace Marshawn Lynch and make Thomas Rawls recovery from his ankle injury less important.

Sleeper: DT Quinton Jefferson
Reed is the obvious choice to step into Mebane’s shoes but the Seahawks are a little short at DT and Ahtyba Rubin isn’t getting any younger. Jefferson can bring pressure from inside and he should make for a great rotational player right away. He could team with Reed as the starting duo in the future.

Overall Analysis
Ifedi and Reed addressed two major needs right away. Collins is the right fit at RB but CJ Prosise is a talented player too and he’ll bring a different skill set which should help the offense. TE Nick Vannett could be a nice complement to Jimmy Graham and if Graham gets banged up again Vannett is a better alternative than they have had in the past. Odhiambo and Hunt are developmental interior offensive line players that the team hopes Tom Cable can turn into contributors. WR Kenny Lawler and RB Zac Brooks probably aren’t making the team which is understandable for two 7th round picks trying to make a playoff team.