2016 Iowa Hawkeye Preview

What a difference a Rose Bowl makes. At this time last year, I was wondering if we were witnessing the beginning of the end of the Kirk Ferentz era of Iowa football and now the Captain is going to be staying as long as he likes.  That’s what happens when you go 12-0 in the regular season to win the Big Ten West, take Michigan St. down to the wire in the Big Ten Championship game and end Iowa’s 25-year absence from the Rose Bowl.  The MSU loss was heartbreaking and the Rose Bowl was awful but that 12-0 regular season gives everyone hope for 2016.  QB CJ Beathard returns to lead the offense and hopes to actually be healthy this year and Jim Thorpe Award winner CB Desmond King surprisingly returns to lead the Hawkeye defense.  I say surprisingly because King would have been a 1^st round draft pick in 2016 and has nothing left to prove at Iowa.  King is one of the major returning stars in college football this season and Beathard is one of the more underappreciated players nationally but he’ll be greatly appreciated by the Hawkeye faithful.

Beathard leads the charge on offense and now that his groin injury is healed he hopes to stay healthy and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the Big Ten given the season he had last year when he was never really 100% during the Big Ten season. The running game should be in good hands if LeShun Daniels Jr. can stay healthy (that’s a big if) and if Akrum Wadley can build on the good parts of his game and limit the rough parts (no fumbling issues Akrum).  Third-down back Derrick Mitchell has a specific set of skills the Hawkeyes like to use and there are a couple of young freshmen RBs waiting in the wings.  The offensive line is surprisingly experienced considering the loss of starters C Austin Blythe and G Jordan Walsh.  The line is always a major piece of the offensive puzzle on a Kirk Ferentz coached team and all five starters return with at least some starting experience.  TE George Kittle should be one of Beathard’s favorite targets but he’s the only TE with any real playing time.  The WR corps is high on potential and low on production.  WR Matt VandeBerg is Beathard’s favorite target but after him the WRs are anyone’s guess.

Here’s the more in-depth breakdown of the offense.

Quarterbacks

Starter: CJ Beathard   (Sr)

Desmond King may be the star of the team but the Hawkeye will only go as far a Beathard takes them. His gritty performance last year after injuring his groin and staying in the lineup to lead the team to a 12-0 regular season earned him a lot of points with the fans and even more with his teammates.  He had already taken control and shown the leadership the team was a looking for before the injury but nothing gains the loyalty of your teammates like gutting it out when they know you’re hurting.  There were times last year when Beathard looked like an elderly man walking gingerly back to huddle after a play but from the time the ball was snapped to the time the whistle blew he was playing as hard as anyone on the field.

Backup: Tyler Wiegers  (So)

Wiegers didn’t have a good spring game when Beathard had to sit out with a banged up shoulder (don’t worry, he’s fine now). It doesn’t give people much confidence in him if something were to happen to Beathard but Wiegers was in a strange spot.  Beathard had been playing all spring and then just a day or two before the spring game he was thrust into the starting lineup.  The starters on offense were moving around a bit and he obviously doesn’t have any chemistry with the receivers on that unit (I’m fairly certain Beathard only has chemistry with VandeBerg at this point so it’s understandable).  He is in his third year on campus and he has some talent he just needs some reps with the big boys and hopefully with Beathard in full control of the offense they can give him a little rest during practice and let Wiegers take some more reps.  He may not look like the ideal solution if Beathard goes down but the rest of the depth chart is a redshirt freshman and a true freshman, for now Wiegers is the best bet behind CJ.

The Future: Drew Cook    (RS Fr)                                                    Nathan Stanley   (Fr)

With former QB Ryan Boyle making the full-time move to WR at the end of the spring it leaves his classmate Drew Cook and incoming freshman Nathan Stanley as the other scholarship QBs on the roster. Many assumed Cook, the son of Hawkeye legend Marv Cook, would make the switch to TE like his dad but it was Boyle that changed positions.  Cook is big at 6’5 220 lbs. and athletic and he certainly looks the part but he has a lot to learn.  Stanley is the incoming freshman from Wisconsin and he’s almost equally as big at 6’5 212 lbs. and he’s a phenomenal athlete.  When 2017 rolls around I expect both of these two to give Wiegers stiff competition to replace Beathard and any of the three could win the job.  And I wouldn’t be all that surprised if it’s Stanley.

Running Backs

Starters: LeShun Daniels Jr.   (Sr)                                                     Akrum Wadley (Jr)

Daniels is listed as the starter with Wadley listed as his backup but that’s a technicality because we all know they will both get their touches. Daniels is the power back that takes too many hits and can’t seem to stay healthy for a full season so it would be best for him to share the load.  Wadley is a speed back with homerun ability and some questionable ball security issues.  They should make for a very effective duo is they can overcome their question marks.  Jordan Canzeri stepped forward last year because of his reliability and had a good year but both Daniels and Wadley possess the talent to be even better.  The Hawkeyes will rely on the run game because of their lack of proven playmakers in the passing game and an offensive line that should excel as run blockers.  One of these two could emerge and take over the job full-time but I would suspect that each one will actually excel depending upon the weekly matchup.

Backup: Derrick Mitchell Jr.  (Jr)

It isn’t going to just be a two man show in the backfield because Mitchell proved last year he can make a valuable contribution especially on third-down. He is a converted WR which explains his superior pass catching skills but he has put in the work and is a very good blocker in blitz pickup.  Those skills make him invaluable to Kirk Ferentz, Greg Davis and Brian Ferentz on the offense because he can also run the ball a little meaning his presence isn’t a dead giveaway on the play call.  His experience gives him a leg up on his new teammates.

The Future: Toks Akinribade   (Fr)                                                    Toren Young   (Fr)

Iowa did use four different RBs last season so it’s not out of the question that one of these two will get playing time in the backfield (apologies to Marcel Joly but he is going to end up behind both of these guys sooner rather than later). Akinribade has the size and speed to be an immediate contributor while Young has the size for sure and could be a power back replacement for Daniels if (let’s hope it’s if and not when) he gets injured.  Akinribade has a myriad of skills and could give Mitchell a run for his money as the third down back.  Young is big at 5’11 and about 225 lbs. so he has size and he was unbelievably productive as a high school senior (2,776 yards rushing and 28 TDs).  Seriously, those numbers are not a typo and that was just his senior year not a career total.

Fullback

The Hawkeyes lost Adam Cox and Macon Plewa to graduation so the position is a bit wide open. Drake Kulick (Jr) looks like the likely starter while young guys Austin Kelly (So) and Brady Ross (RS Fr) vie for the backup role.  Iowa turned Cox and Plewa into excellent lead blockers and it really enhanced the running game last season and there is no reason these three hard working guys can’t do the same.  It’s not a flashy position and not a lot of college teams use fullbacks any more but Iowa has made some good ones.  The best case scenario for these guys is that you barely hear their names next year, that means they are doing their jobs and not messing anything up.  They are the unsung heroes of the running game but their coaches and teammates no how important a good fullback can be.

Tight End

Starter: George Kittle (Sr)

Kittle is going to be one of the two guys Beathard will trust the most this season right from the start (the other is WR Matt VandeBerg). He is the only TE with any real game experience and he brings real playmaking ability to the position.  Kittle can run all the routes and he’s a matchup nightmare in the passing game.  He has good hands and while his blocking isn’t his strong suit he is willing and able to do it and has gotten better in his time at Iowa.  He could be in for a breakout sort of year and really make a major impact for this team.

Backups: Jon Wisnieski  (Jr), Peter Pekar  (Jr), Nate Vejvoda  (RS Fr), Nate Wieting  (RS Fr)

Behind Kittle it’s a bit of a crapshoot until the incoming freshmen get their shot and things sort themselves out. Two juniors and two redshirt freshmen will try to fend off the talented freshmen class.  Jon Wisnieski was a good prospect when he came to Iowa but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy long enough to earn playing time.  He is in his fourth year on campus and it’s now or never because there are young guys ready to pass him by and playing time behind Kittle is there for the taking.  Hopefully Wisnieski can finally put it all together and become a contributor.  Pekar is a walk-on that has flashed at times during practices but just hasn’t quite figured it all out yet.  He has more time on the team than everyone except Kittle and Wisnieski but that might not be enough to overcome the incoming talent.  Vejvoda redshirted last year and he could make his presence felt this year if he makes some plays.  He’s had a year to get physically ready and learn the offense and he needs to take advantage so he doesn’t become the forgotten man.  Wieting is another walk-on TE and he also redshirted last year and the coaches seem to like his potential but again the incoming talent is pretty impressive so he needs to show what he can do.

The Future: Noah Fant  (Fr)                      TJ Hockenson   (Fr)                        Shaun Beyer   (Fr)

I don’t have any stats to back it up but I would guess it’s fairly rare for a team to recruit three TEs in one class but Iowa did it this year and given the depth chart’s unknowns behind George Kittle it’s not that surprising. There are reports this summer that Shaun Beyer is working out as a WR and given he’s 6’5 210 lbs. he has a ways to go before he’s big enough to play TE but I’m going to guess he’s still going to get there eventually.  Beyer will likely redshirt in order to physically mature and give the coaches a chance to decide where he ends up.  It’s also just a good idea to split up the class of three TEs a bit for the future.  Noah Fant is a special athlete and while he only comes in at 220 lbs. I have a feeling the coaches will find some way to work him into the offense as a pass catcher.  TJ Hockenson is the biggest of the three incoming freshman at 230 lbs. (they all measure in at 6’5) and while he may not be the athlete Fant is he is an accomplished pass catcher.  He rewrote virtually every pass receiving record in Iowa high school history throughout his career and he has incredible hands.  Fant and Hockenson have a chance to move up the depth chart quickly and become two more playmaking TEs for Beathard and the offense.

Offensive Line

The offensive line features five players that all started at one time or another last season; Cole Croston, Boone Myers, Sean Welsh, James Daniels and Ike Boettger. These five are backed up by a bunch of guys that have virtually no playing experience at all.  Kirk Ferentz has always been one to play the best five guys regardless of position and these five all seem to have some versatility so that helps a lot.

Starters:

Left Tackle: Cole Croston   (Sr)

Croston started last year as the third OT behind Boone Myers and Ike Boettger but after a number of different injuries and some shuffling around he ended up at LT and seems to have settled in at the position. The coaches think he is more comfortable outside at OT than inside at guard and everyone is hopeful he can keep CJ Beathard’s blindside protected.  Croston is a former walk-on that earned a scholarship and is looking to have a special fifth year.

Left Guard: Boone Myers   (Jr)

Myers started last season at LT but he moves inside this year to let Croston play on the outside where he is more comfortable. Myers brings a physicality inside that should work well in the run game.  He is also a former walk-on that earned a scholarship and while the depth chart lists Brett Waechter as the backup at LT (more on him later) I would be shocked if Myers didn’t slide outside in the event Croston goes down for any reason.

Center: Sean Welsh   (Jr)

Welsh played OG and even RT a little last year and when James Daniels missed spring practice after having surgery the coaches moved Welsh inside to center. He seemed to handle the transition well and for now that’s his spot but it isn’t set in stone.  Daniels is a natural center and these two will likely alternate during training camp between center and right guard.  It’s not a bad idea because other than Daniels the Hawkeyes don’t have a natural center.

Right Guard: James Daniels   (So)

Daniels didn’t even play during spring practice and he’s still listed as a starter, that’s just how good he was last year. Daniels played guard and tackle as a true freshman and neither of those are his natural position.  Welsh earned a shot at center with his play this spring but if I were a betting man I think Daniels ends up with the job and Welsh moves back to his natural guard spot.  Daniels is a future star lineman for the Hawkeyes wherever he lines up but I think he gets his position back eventually.

Right Tackle: Ike Boettger   (Jr)

Boettger is a converted TE with good size and athleticism for the RT position. He was banged up a bit last season and like many of the linemen he struggled in the Rose Bowl but he’s fairly new to the position so he just needs some time to grow.  He should hold down this spot for the next few years and he’ll only get better with experience.

Backups

Left Tackle: Brett Waechter   (RS Fr)

Waechter spent last season redshirting and rehabbing from a previous shoulder injury and yet he came out of spring ball listed in the two-deeps as the backup to a senior at LT. That’s a pretty good sign for a youngster and I think his future is bright.  Like I said I think if there is an injury to Croston Ferentz’s first instinct will be to slide Boone Myers back outside to LT but Waechter could very well be the next man in even if it is at LG.  In the past Ferentz has had a habit of breaking in his young OTs at OG to get their feet wet and Waechter has obviously shown the coaches he has something to work with.

Center: Steve Ferentz   (Sr)         Lucas LeGrand   (So)

If by some chance the Hawkeyes lose both James Daniels and Sean Welsh things could get a little dicey at center. Steve Ferentz is a fifth-year senior walk-on who hasn’t played a meaningful snap in the last four years and is still a bit undersized.  Yes, both his older brothers played center while undersized but they were very good technicians and Steve isn’t on that level.  Lucas LeGrand has practiced at center but it isn’t his natural spot so it could be up to one of the younger interior guys to pick it up.  The truth is the team is counting on Welsh and/or Daniels to hold down the spot for the next three years (Daniels still has 3 years of eligibility).

Guards: Ryan Ward (Sr), Mitch Keppy (Sr), Keegan Render (So), Ross Reynolds (So)

Two seniors that have never really played and two sophomores trying to hold off the youngsters could rotate in at any of the guard positions because none of them have ever been in the lineup. Ward was listed in the two deeps but was replaced by LeGrand and Render is listed in the two-deeps and he could be the first man in at OG if there is an injury. Training camp will sort out the pecking order and if there is an injury there will likely be some shuffling because of the versatility of Welsh, Daniels and Myers.  It is time for Render, Reynolds and LeGrand to step up or get passed by because the redshirt freshmen class has some talent coming up fast.  Ferentz could get a look at guard too but all of these guys need to take the next step in development or they will be relegated to the backup spots for good.

Right Tackle: Dalton Ferguson   (So)

Ferguson is on the Cole Croston/Boone Myers plan as a walk-on who is trying to earn himself a scholarship. For now, he’s listed as Boettger’s backup at RT and he could be in play on the inside if need be.  The biggest obstacle to playing time for him is that the Hawkeyes are doing a better job at recruiting OTs for the future than they had for a few years so his path to a starting job and scholarship might be a bit tougher than Croston and Myers faced.  Don’t get me wrong Croston and Myers earned their starting spots and their scholarships but the Hawkeye OT recruiting, or lack thereof, opened up the opportunity for them to step forward.

The Future: Jacob Newborg (RS Fr), Levi Paulsen (RS Fr), Landon Paulsen (RS Fr), Alaric Jackson (Fr), Spencer Williams (Fr), Cole Banwart (Fr)

Newborg is a guy that could make a move at guard but it wouldn’t be the worst idea if he learned how to snap the ball too. He has the physicality to be a player and there is room to move on the depth chart.  The Paulsen twins, Levi and Landon, are the same size 6’5 305 lbs. as each other, they both have beards and they were numbers 66 and 68 so there is zero chance I will ever be able to tell them apart.  There is a chance they could both eventually end up lining up next to each other on one side of the line or they could flank James Daniels at center someday as the two starting guards.  When I mentioned the Dalton Ferguson may find himself with a tougher road to the OT job because Iowa’s OT recruiting had picked up I was specifically thinking of incoming freshman Alaric Jackson (there are a couple of 2017 commits that might make it tough too).  Unlike guys like Waechter and the Paulsen’s that could play OT or OG Jackson is built to be a tackle.  At 6’7 he has length the Hawkeyes don’t normally find and while he still needs to physically mature he might be ready to play in a year.  Spencer Williams and Cole Banwart are good, tough future interior lineman and could be molded into future starters.

Wide Receivers

Starters: Matt VandeBerg (Sr)                   Jerminic Smith (So)                        Riley McCarron (Sr)

VandeBerg is by far the most accomplished player at WR and he’s Beathard’s security blanket especially on third down. He led the team in catches last year and he’s poised to do it again unless someone really emerges as a major threat.  The guy at the top of the list to breakout is Jerminic Smith who stepped in and started when Tevaun Smith was hurt last year and while he flashed major potential against Illinois the rest of his results were less than overwhelming.  Smith has deep speed and he’s growing into the position but the Hawkeyes need him to grow up fast because he brings a dimension the offense sorely lacks, the deep ball.  Riley McCarron is a former walk-on that should line up in the slot often and while he’s a reliable pass catcher he isn’t scaring anyone.  VandeBerg is the only sure thing at the position so it could shake out in a number of different ways so you’ll hear a lot of different names mentioned as possibly making a contribution.

Backups: Jay Scheel (So)                         Adrian Falconer (So)                     Jonathan Parker (Jr)

If any of these three guys could become a playmaker it would go a long way in upgrading the Hawkeye offense. Scheel has spent most of his three years on campus fighting injuries but if he can get healthy enough to put his athleticism to use he might just be a reliable target Beathard needs.  The updated two deeps released during Big Ten media day had Scheel listed as a co-starter with Jerminic Smith so that’s some good news.  Falconer was the other true freshman WR (Jerminic Smith being the first) to get playing time last season.  He didn’t see much time but the coaches are hoping what experience he did get will help him adjust quickly and maybe contribute this year.  Jonathan Parker is the converted RB with speed to burn but he is only known for two things; 1. The worst kickoff return in history in Iowa’s bowl game against Tennessee and 2. Every time he’s in the game Iowa is running the jet sweep.  It would be a huge help to the offense if they could find a way to take advantage of Parker’s elite speed without his presence in the game being a dead giveaway as to the play call. (Late update: Parker has a foot injury and will miss fall camp).  There are two walk-on WRs that could contribute in Connor Keane (Jr) and Ronald Nash (So) and truthfully nothing would surprise me but there is quite a bit of competition.

The Future: Emmanuel Ogwo (RS Fr)          Ryan Boyle (RS Fr)          DeVonte Young (Fr)

Ogwo is a bit on the slim side but he’s got speed that could make him a playmaker. He redshirted last year to get a year of growth under his belt and hopefully it will pay off.  The team doesn’t have a ton of speed at WR so he has a skill they need.  Ryan Boyle was the talk of the spring game because at the end of spring practice he made the move to WR and tried it out during the game and made a couple of plays.  The story is that he is too good of an athlete to waste as the 3^rd or 4^th string QB and he wants to contribute so they are giving him a shot at WR.  I only sort of believe that but I think he could excel as WR and he brings nice size and strength to the position.  He probably isn’t going to burn a lot teams deep on the outside but he could be a good power receiver and give Beathard another reliable pass catcher.  He’s behind in development because he’s been a QB until this point in his life but I think he’ll pick it up fast and I think he’ll get playing time this year.  DeVonte Young is the only incoming freshman WR and I think it’s very likely he redshirts unless he just blows the coaches away.  There are not a lot of guys with real playing experience ahead of him but there are a lot of bodies to climb over.  Maybe Young makes the leap but I’m not counting on seeing that this year.  The 2017 recruiting class should be big for this position in the future.

Kicker

I don’t know much about kicking but I know we may need a good consistent one this year and there should be plenty of competition on hand. Miguel Recinos is listed as the starter and he has a powerful leg it’s just whether or not he can consistently put it through the uprights.  The only scholarship kicker on the team at the moment is sophomore Mick Ellis, he competed for the job two years ago and then after losing the competition he redshirted last year.  If he doesn’t win the job he may be looking for a new home at some point (backup kickers don’t normally get scholarships).  There is some solid walk-on competition in freshmen Keith Duncan and Caleb Shudak and maybe redshirt freshman Josh Proehl.  I say this only knowing that no one has a lock on the job and whoever walks out onto the field to kick Iowa’s first FG attempt of the season won’t shock me.  It will shock me if someone other than Recinos handles Iowa’s first kickoff of the year, that’s a pretty solid bet, he’s got a big boot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I realize this is my sports blog and I don’t usually tackle subjects outside of the NFL, the NFL Draft or the Iowa Hawkeyes but this weekend was just too much to ignore.  As everyone who isn’t living under a rock knows a crazy man took an assault rifle and shot up a nightclub in Orlando, FL.  He shot over 100 people with around half of them dying from their injuries (the death toll could still rise with some people in critical condition).  This has become the hot topic political issue at the moment and rightfully so.

There are all kinds of hot button issues rising up from this tragedy including gun laws, the NRA, radical Islamic inspiration, LGBT hatred and the choices we have to make this fall in the Presidential election.  It is no secret to anyone that knows me that I’m a Democrat but this issue goes beyond simple party affiliation.  Each side has staked their territory with Donald Trump laying the blame at the feet of Barack Obama because somehow if he says the words “radical Islam” that will save the day and Hillary Clinton because well she’s his opponent so he has to blame her.  Clinton has turned her attention to the NRA and Congress’s inaction on gun laws but she too is blaming Donald Trump because he’s her opponent.  The political finger pointing is ridiculous and the only person who said anything I believe is right was President Obama when he said this is our fault, it certainly is.

The idea that gun law reform alone would solve the problem of mass shootings in this country is incredibly narrow-minded.  Don’t get me wrong we need common sense gun laws that stop obviously unbalanced and dangerous people like the Orlando nightclub shooter from getting his hands on an AR-15 assault rifle and anybody that doesn’t see that is blinded by stupidity.  But that is only treating a symptom, not the disease.  I don’t believe anybody “needs” to own an assault rifle and anyone that tells you they need it for hunting isn’t a very sporting person, if you can’t kill an animal with a regular rifle you should probably find a new hobby.  But as I said that is the symptom not the disease.  The disease is hate.

People want to blame radical Islamic terrorist, ISIS or some other organization because the shooter called 911 and pledged his allegiance to many groups.  Well he was crazy because he actually pledged that allegiance to multiple radical groups that actually oppose each other which leads me to believe he had no frickin’ clue what the hell he was talking about. He was apparently very vocal about his hatred of gay people and was probably motivated as much by that as some dedication to radical Islamic views.  The truth is crazy never needed a reason before why start now.  But whether he was crazy or it was terrorist inspired or it was simply the worst case of homophobia in history it was inspired by hate.

This is the reason why I could never support Donald Trump for President.  I am admittedly not a Hillary Clinton fan and I wish we had better choices overall for this Presidential election but Donald Trump is simply the worst candidate ever for President and he couldn’t come at a worse time.  Donald Trump is only about hate.  He stands for absolutely nothing more than fear and hate.  He does not have moral compass and he has absolutely no conviction in anything because he doesn’t actually believe anything he says.  He only spouts off divisive, mean-spirited vitriol because he is a horrible person, I don’t usually judge people but his rhetoric has left me with no other explanation.  Handing this country over to someone like this at a time when we need to come together is dangerous.  Hillary Clinton was right when she said Trump is temperamentally unfit for the Presidency.

I don’t agree with Democrats that think gun laws are somehow going to save us all and that is the one and only answer to this type of violence.  It’s a piece of the puzzle but it isn’t the whole picture.  We need to address the issues that divide us.  We need to realize that not everyone is like us and that’s okay.  We can agree to disagree and still be civil, well at least there was a time in this country when we could do that.  You’re going to hear a lot of talk from Donald Trump about Second Amendment rights for gun owners but he seems to have forgotten to read the Amendment that comes right before it that guarantees freedom of religion in this country.  We also must understand that the protection of freedom of religion means you are free to practice your religion but it doesn’t mean you get to impose your beliefs on others.  That means if you’re Muslim you don’t get to kill people because you’ve misinterpreted your own faith and it means if you’re Christian you don’t get to pass laws that discriminate against Muslims, gay people, transgendered people or anyone else because you’ve decided to cherry-pick the parts of the bible to believe in.

I had seriously considered not voting for anyone for President this year, just leaving it blank, my own little protest in not choosing between the lesser of two evils  (okay there was never a chance I would vote for the Donald but I was going to abstain because I’m not a Hillary fan).  That is no longer a choice because I have to vote against even the idea of a fear-mongering, hate-spreading, pandering jackass with absolutely nothing remotely redeeming about himself winning the Presidency of the United States.  Trump is part of the problem and he will never be part of the solution.

Okay, I’ll get down off my soapbox now and go back to talking about sports, how ’bout them Hawkeyes.

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.