Chicago Bears

14. Kyle Fuller  CB  Virginia Tech

51. Ego Ferguson  DT  LSU

82. Will Sutton  DT  Arizona St.

117. Ka’Deem Carey  RB  Arizona

131. Brock Vereen  S  Minnesota

183. David Fales  QB  San Jose St.

191. Pat O’Donnell  P  Miami

246. Charles Leno  OT  Boise St.

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

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

Best Value:  RB Ka’Deem Carey

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

Sleeper:  S Brock Vereen

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

Overall Analysis:

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

Detroit Lions

10. Eric Ebron  TE  North Carolina

40. Kyle Van Noy  OLB  BYU

76. Travis Swanson  C  Arkansas

133. Nevin Lawson  CB  Utah St.

136. Larry Webster  DE/TE  Bloomsburg

158. Caraun Reid  DT  Princeton

189. TJ Jones  WR  Notre Dame

229. Nate Freese  K  Boston College

Immediate Impact:  TE Eric Ebron, OLB Kyle Van Noy

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

Best Value:  C Travis Swanson

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

Sleeper:  DT Caraun Reid

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

Overall Analysis:

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

Green Bay Packers

21. Haha Clinton-Dix  FS  Alabama

53. Davante Adams  WR  Fresno St.

85. Khyri Thornton  DT  Southern Miss

98. Richard Rogers  TE  California

121. Carl Bradford  ILB  Arizona St.

161. Corey Linsley  C  Ohio St.

176. Jared Abbrederis  WR Wisconsin

197. Demetri Goodson  CB  Baylor

236. Jeff Janis  WR  Saginaw Valley St.

Immediate Impact:  FS Haha Clinton-Dix

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

Best Value:  WR Jared Abbrederis

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

Sleeper:  LB Carl Bradford

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

Overall Analysis:

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

Minnesota Vikings

9. Anthony Barr  OLB  UCLA

32. Teddy Bridgewater  QB  Louisville

72. Scott Crichton  DE  Oregon St.

96. Jerick McKinnon  RB  Georgia Southern

145. David Yankey  OG  Stanford

182. Antone Exum  CB  Virginia Tech

184. Kendall James  CB  Maine

220. Shamar Stephen  DT  Connecticut

223. Brandon Watts  OLB  Georgia Tech

225. Jabari Price  CB  North Carolina

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

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

Best Value:  QB Teddy Bridgewater

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

Sleeper:  OG David Yankey

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

Overall Analysis:

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

Houston Texans

1. Jadeveon Clowney  OLB  South Carolina

33. Xavier Su’a-Filo  OG  UCLA

65. CJ Fiedorowicz  TE  Iowa

83. Louis Nix III  NT  Notre Dame

135. Tom Savage  QB  Pittsburgh

177. Jeoffrey Pagan  DE  Alabama

181. Alfred Blue  RB  LSU

211. Jay Prosch  FB  Auburn

216. Dre Hal  CB  Vanderbilt

256. Lonnie Ballentine  S Memphis

Immediate Impact:  OLB Jadeveon Clowney, OG Xavier Su’s-Filo

I’ve made my feelings known about Clowney’s fit in Houston’s defense but if you’re going to take a chance on a making a guy fit taking a chance on someone with Clowney’s talent is the way to go.  At the very least he’s an upgrade to their pass rush over Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus.  Xavier Su’a-Filo will take over the LG spot and teaming him with LT Duane Brown should make the left side of the offensive line a major strength.

Best Value:  NT Louis Nix III

The reasons for Nix’s fall into the third round have to be related to his injury history because nothing else makes sense.  There is some worry about his weight fluctuating and while that might contribute to his knee issues he is too talented to have fallen this far.  The Texans make out like bandits because other than free agent signee Jerrell Powe from Kansas City Houston is very thin at the position.

Sleeper:  RB Alfred Blue

Blue played in a talented backfield at LSU so his full skill wasn’t utilized but with Arian Foster’s injury history and Ben Tate’s free agent defection he could be quite a find.  The Texans brought in free agent RB Andre Brown from the Giants but he’s also coming off an injury.  Blue should excel as a downhill runner and the addition of Su’a-Filo makes running left a really good idea.

Overall Analysis:

Overall the Texans did an excellent job of drafting good players that are schematic fits that also plug holes and add depth to their roster.  Su’a-Filo, Nix and Blue are joined by TE CJ Fiedorowicz the first pick of the 3^rd round, DE Jeoffrey Pagan and FB Jay Prosch in the sixth round as great schematic fits.  Fiedorowicz will be a good red zone target and a fantastic in-line blocker to pair with Garrett Graham.  Pagan is a perfect fit as a five-technique DE, the position he played at Alabama, and will give Tim Jamison a run to play opposite JJ Watt.  Prosch is an old school blocking fullback and the Texans are one of the few teams that have actually employed one in the past few years (remember Vonta Leach).  The overall grade of this draft may rest on the shoulders of QB Tom Savage.  The Texans didn’t address the position early and the rumored trade for Patriots backup Ryan Mallett never materialized so at the moment Savage is the future of the position.  The Texans signed Ryan Fitzpatrick and they still have Case Keenum and TJ Yates but Savage has the most upside of any of them.  Savage was talked about a lot in the last weeks before the draft and many thought he would go in the second round but the Texans got him late in the fourth round.  He fits the mold preferred by Bill O’Brien being a big strong-armed pocket passer but the question is if he can handle taking over right away.  I do believe Savage can beat out the rest of the candidates. He may even be successful if Arian Foster stays healthy and the Texans defense makes the strides they look like they can.

Indianapolis Colts

59. Jack Mewhort  OL  Ohio St.

90. Donte Moncrief  WR  Ole Miss

166. Jonathan Newsome  DE  Ball St.

203. Andrew Jackson  ILB  Western Kentucky

232. Ulrick John  OT  Georgia St.

Immediate Impact:  OG Jack Mewhort

Mewhort will have to convert from OT to OG but he was drafted to take over the RG spot and he steps in as a day one starter.  He isn’t an exceptional athlete but he’s tough and he will upgrade the interior of the Colts line.  Given their poor performance last year that isn’t asking much but any help is welcomed.

Best Value:  WR Donte Moncrief

Getting Moncrief at #90 overall is a steal and it only happened because of the depth of the WR position in this draft.  Reggie Wayne is returning from an injury, Hakeem Nicks was signed as a free agent after a disappointing year in New York, and TY Hilton is fast but small and plays best in the slot.  If Nicks disappoints or Wayne isn’t back Moncrief can step in and if he beats Nicks out for the job outright I won’t be surprised.

Sleeper:  ILB Andrew Jackson

A guy out of small school Western Kentucky might have to step in at ILB because the Colts don’t have much next to free agent signee D’Qwell Jackson.

Overall Analysis:

This is small draft class and it isn’t going to put the Colts over the hump to the Super Bowl.  Mewhort is a need on the offensive line, Moncrief is the stud of this class and Jackson might become a starter too soon.  Jonathan Newsome is probably going to transition to OLB and will have to fight for a roster spot.  Ulrick John is a small school prospect that needs time to develop but given the Colts bad offensive line he might actually stick around to do just that.

Jacksonville Jaguars

3. Blake Bortles  QB  Central Florida

39. Marqise Lee  WR  USC

61. Allen Robinson  WR  Penn St.

93. Brandon Linder  OG  Miami

114. Aaron Colvin  CB  Oklahoma

144. Telvin Smith  OLB  Florida St.

159. Chris Smith  DE  Arkansas

205. Luke Bowanko  C  Virginia

222. Storm Johnson  RB  Central Florida

Immediate Impact:  WR Marqise Lee, WR Allen Robinson

Justin Blackmon isn’t expected to play this season and the Jags can’t count on him in the future so they addressed a major weakness with two WR’s in the second round.  Lee and Robinson can join Cecil Shorts and make a nice receiving trio for Chad Henne this year and Blake Bortles in the future.

Best Value:  WR Marqise Lee, CB Aaron Colvin

I can’t explain how lucky the Jags were to get Lee with the 39^th pick in the draft.  I said in my pre-draft thoughts that someone would take Cody Latimore before Lee and I’d be upset, well actually it was Kelvin Benjamin going to Carolina at the end of the first round but I had the same reaction.  Lee is a fantastic receiver and teams are going to regret passing on him.  Colvin is not going to contribute this year because he tore his ACL at the Senior Bowl and will likely spend the year on injured reserve.  This pick was an investment in the future and Colvin was a steal in the 4^th round.

Sleeper:  RB Storm Johnson

Johnson is a talented back with good vision and great balance.  He was the reason not named Blake Bortles why Central Florida was so good this last year.  The Jags signed Toby Gerhart to be their feature back but Jordan Todman and Delone Carter are just guys behind him and Johnson could come in and be a nice complement to Gerhart.

Overall Analysis:

The Jaguars took the long view with this draft and they made that obvious when they drafted Blake Bortles #3 overall and immediately announced they expect him to backup Chad Henne this year.  Lee and Robinson are good now and will be even better when Bortles is ready. OG Brandon Linder will compete for the starting job at RG with Will Rackley.  Colvin will take a year to rehab and Telvin Smith could be a good OLB but he needs to gain some weight first.  DE Chris Smith can take some time learning the nuances of the position from veterans like Chris Clemons, Jason Babin and Red Bryant.  Bowanko would need time to develop at center if they expect him to play and Johnson is a young RB who can grow alongside Bortles.  The Jaguars didn’t address their secondary, especially CB, for this year or their lack of a RT but obviously GM David Caldwell and  head coach Gus Bradley are trying to build for the future.  Expect the Jags to be picking in the top 5 again next year.  There should be some excellent OT talent in next year’s draft so that’s not a bad plan.

Tennessee Titans

11. Taylor Lewan  OT  Michigan

54. Bishop Sankey  RB  Washington

112. DaQuan Jones  DT  Penn St.

122. Marqueston Huff  CB  Wyoming

151. Avery Williamson  ILB  Kentucky

178. Zach Mettenberger  QB  LSU

Immediate Impact:  RB Bishop Sankey, DT DaQuan Jones

The Titans released Chris Johnson leaving only power back Shonn Greene and free agent signee Dexter McCluster in the backfield.  McCluster will be used in a variety of ways but now Sankey can become more of an every down back.  He is very good at many things and even though he’s not bigger than him he will run between the tackles a lot more than Chris Johnson did.  Jones is a versatile DT that new defensive coordinator Ray Horton will like as he transitions the Titans to a 3-4 defense.  Jones can play inside in the 4-3 or NT in the 3-4 so he works both ways for Horton.

Best Value:  RB Bishop Sankey

Sankey was the first RB off the board at #54 which is just crazy because he’s a starting caliber RB and they got him in the late 2^nd round.  He is more versatile than Greene and he’ll win the job because of it.  He’s a dark horse candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Sleeper:  QB Zach Mettenberger

Jake Locker is an injury waiting to happen and Ken Whisenhunt covered himself by signing veteran Charlie Whitehurst but he’s not a long-term solution.  Mettenberger dropped to the sixth round because he’s coming off a knee injury, he has a back issue on top of that and he had a diluted sample in his drug test at the combine.  Locker will have to seriously impress Whisenhunt if he wants to stick around and if Mettenberger gets healthy and is available Whisenhunt will give him a shot at some point.

Overall Analysis:

A small draft class usually means minimal impact and when the 11^th pick overall doesn’t have a guaranteed starting spot it could be even less impactful.  OT Taylor Lewan was a bit of a luxury pick considering stalwart veteran LT Michael Roos and newly signed RT Michael Oher seem like a solid pair.  Upon further evaluation Lewan looks like a better choice.  Roos is 32 years old and he could fall off or get injured at any time and Michael Oher has never been as dominant as his Blind Side fame would lead you to believe.  Lewan’s presence should light a fire under Oher and he’s insurance incase Roos’ age catches up with him  It’s never a bad idea to insure your offensive line when Jake Locker is your starting QB and the statue known as Zach Mettenberger might be your fall back.  Sankey and Jones are possible starters and Huff and Williamson are developmental prospects on defense.

Baltimore Ravens

17. CJ Mosley  ILB  Alabama

48. Timmy Jernigan  DT  Florida St.

79. Terrence Brooks  FS  Florida St.

99. Crockett Gillmore  TE  Colorado St.

134. Brent Urban  DT  Virginia

138. Lorenzo Taliaferro  RB  Coastal Carolina

175. John Urschel  OG  Penn St.

194. Keith Wenning  QB  Ball St.

218. Michael Campanaro  WR  Wake Forest

Immediate Impact:  ILB CJ Mosley, DT Timmy Jernigan, FS Terrence Brooks

It’s hard not to see these three players stepping in as starters at their respective positions and once again Ozzie Newsome proves he’s better at this draft thing than most GMs.  Mosley should slide in ahead of veteran Josh Bynes and 2^nd year man Arthur Brown next to Daryl Smith at ILB.  Mosley is tailor-made for the Raven defense and he will excel.  Jernigan isn’t a natural fit as five-technique DE but he’s more talented than Brandon Williams and Chris Canty is aging so he should win a job outside of NT Haloti Ngata.  FS Terrence Brooks is a great fit because he allows Matt Elam to move to his more natural position of SS and Brooks is an experienced player coming from a major program his transition should be quick.

Best Value:  Mosley, Jernigan and Brooks

I told you Newsome was better at this than pretty much everyone.  Mosley was the top ILB and he got him at #17.  Jernigan has 1^st round talent but dropped due to some character concerns but Newsome knows his locker room and organization can handle him.  Brooks is just a great get in the third round at a need position and Newsome stole him.

Sleeper:  WR Michael Campanaro

I haven’t scouted Campanaro but I remember watching one Wake Forest either this last year or the year before and I remember he was all the Demon Deacons had on offense.  Wake Forest hasn’t been very good and Campanaro has had some injury issues but if he’s healthy he could be a find at #218 in the draft.

Overall Analysis:

Three immediate starters out of a draft is pretty hard to beat and Newsome added developmental players like G John Urschel, QB Keith Wenning and WR Campanaro.  Wenning could easily win the third QB spot behind Joe Flacco and Tyrod Taylor and eventually replace Taylor as Flacco’s backup.  Urschel is a brilliant guy (seriously he already has a Master’s degree in Math and is working on a second one) and he could develop at guard.  The one big miss here is at RT where Newsome failed to get any offensive line help other than Urschel.  This leaves Ricky Wagner as the man to beat and that could prove to be a problem.  Wagner is a nice player to have as a backup swing tackle but as a full-time starter he is a liability.  Perhaps if Urschel can prove to be a worthy starter at OG they could move Kelechi Osemele outside to RT but I think that weakens two positions.  They should look to sign a free agent RT for a year I’m thinking Eric Winston would be nice stop-gap.

Cincinnati Bengals

24. Darqueze Dennard  CB  Michigan St.

55. Jeremy Hill  RB  LSU

88. William Clarke  DE  West Virginia

111. Russell Bodine  C  North Carolina

164. AJ McCarron  QB  Alabama

212. Marquis Flowers  OLB  Arizona

239. James Wright  WR  LSU

252. Lavelle Westbrooks  CB  Georgia Southern

Immediate Impact:  CB Darqueze Dennard, RB Jeremy Hill

Dennard becomes the starter opposite Leon Hall on day one because he’s a major upgrade from the aging Terrence Newman.  Hill gives the Bengals the option of dropping BenJarvus Green-Ellis completely and going with a backfield of Giovani Bernard and Hill.

Best Value: CB Darqueze Dennard

Beauty was in the eye of the beholder when it came to CB’s in this draft but Dennard was definitely one of the top ones and getting him 24^th overall was a steal.  He adds youth and physicality to a secondary that needed both.

Sleeper:  C Russell Bodine

C Trevor Robinson is penciled in as the new starter after the release of Kyle Cook but Bodine will give him a run for his money.  Bodine was the strongest guy at the combine doing 42 reps on the bench press and has two years of starting experience in college.  Robinson has the inside track but if he doesn’t perform he will lose the job.

Overall Analysis:

Dennard is a starter, Hill is the new thunder to Bernard’s lightning and Bodine is a player that at the very least adds depth at center which was needed.  DE Will Clarke fits the Bengals profile at DE given that he’s 6’6 and that will allow him to work into the rotation and maybe take some playing time if last year’s rookie Margus Hunt isn’t up to the task.  QB AJ McCarron was a value pick in the 5^th round, although I thought that was about right for him.  He slots in as the third QB behind starter Andy Dalton and new backup Jason Campbell my only issue with him is that if the Bengals really are dissatisfied with Dalton why draft his carbon copy?  Perhaps McCarron’s championship pedigree leads them to think he could have more success in the playoffs than Dalton since that is Dalton’s one big issue.  I’m not a McCarron believer so I think if the Bengals really want to do better at the QB position they will have to try again next year.  The other three draft picks are unlikely to make the roster although OLB Marquise Flowers does play a position of need.

Cleveland Browns 

8. Justin Gilbert  CB  Oklahoma St.

22. Johnny Manziel  QB  Texas A&M

35. Joel Bitonio  OL  Nevada

71. Christian Kirksey  LB  Iowa

94. Terrance West  RB  Towson

127. Pierre Desir  CB  Lindenwood

Immediate Impact:  CB Justin Gilbert, QB Johnny Manziel, OL Joel Bitonio

Gilbert takes over the starting CB spot opposite Joe Haden and kicks Buster Skrine inside to cover the slot where he belongs.  Manziel has a bigger impact on the franchise as a whole and he will eventually replace Brian Hoyer and it may be sooner rather than later.  Bitonio has versatility and while he may be penciled in at OG to start he could beat out RT Mitchell Schwartz moving Schwartz inside instead.

Best Value:  QB Johnny Manziel

Getting Manziel at #22 may seem like a bad omen given former #22 picks for the Browns Brady Quinn and Branden Weeden.  However, Manziel is a value pick there because he’s a legitimate starting QB candidate and he’s the new face of the franchise.  Manziel’s presence helped the Browns sell tickets like crazy and created buzz like they haven’t had in years.

Sleepers:  LB Christian Kirksey, RB Terrence West

It surprised me that Kirksey went in the third round only because he wasn’t being talked about much leading up to the draft.  While he spent his career at Iowa playing outside linebacker he will move to ILB in the Browns 3-4 defense and he will be a great fit.  Kirksey can cover better than most linebackers and he’s a great tackler.  He can blitz when needed and he covers a lot of ground with his speed.  Craig Robertson is penciled in as the starter next to Karlos Dansby but don’t bet on him remaining there, Kirksey can take that job.  RB Terrence West was a record setting RB at Towson and he is a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense and the new zone blocking scheme.  Ben Tate is the new starter but he has a history of missing time and West could take advantage of those opportunities.

Overall Analysis:

The Browns only drafted six players but they made them count.  Even seventh rounder Pierre Desir brings a lot of potential and he might beat out Leon McFadden as the fourth corner behind Haden, Gilbert and Skrine.  This draft will ultimately be judged by Johnny Manziel’s success or failure but I’m glad the Browns only gambled with the 22^nd pick and not their original 4^th overall selection.  As a matter of fact the trade they made with the Bills to move back from #4 netted them an extra 1^st rounder next year.  They didn’t address the WR position even with Josh Gordon’s impending suspension and that may mean taking on an injury risk veteran like Santonio Holmes or Miles Austin.  Regardless this draft was done extremely well and even if Manziel bombs out grabbing starters like Gilbert and Bitonio and potential starters like Kirksey and West should pay dividends down the road.  Out of all of the smaller draft classes this is my favorite and I don’t think the Browns missed on any of their picks.

Pittsburgh Steelers

15. Ryan Shazier  LB  Ohio St.

46. Stephon Tuitt  DE  Notre Dame

97. Dri Archer  RB  Kent St.

118. Martavis Bryant  WR  Clemson

157. Shaquille Richardson  CB  Arizona

173. Wesley Johnson  OL  Vanderbilt

192. Jordan Zumwalt  OLB  UCLA

215. Daniel McCullers  DT  Tennessee

230. Rob Blanchflower  TE  UMass

Immediate Impact:  LB Ryan Shazier, DE Stephon Tuitt

Shazier becomes a starter at ILB next to Lawrence Timmons and he brings youth and blazing speed to the Steelers defense.  Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will find ways to use Shazier’s skills both in coverage and as a blitzer making Pittsburgh’s pass rush that much more effective.  Stephon Tuitt is the quintessential five-technique DE and the Steelers needed a new starter there.  Many believed Tuitt’s skills could fit as a DT in a 4-3 but he is a much more natural fit at DE on a three man line.

Best Value:  NT Daniel McCullers

Let’s just say pound-for-pound the Steelers are getting their money’s worth out of this 6^th round pick.  McCullers is almost 6’7 and 355 lbs. on a good day.  He is a run stuffing NT in every sense and he could not have ended up on a better team.  The Steelers only ask their NT’s to hold the point of attack, occupy blockers and keep them off of their linebackers.  The slightly undersized and speedy Ryan Shazier is going to love having McCullers in front of him because it will keep guards and centers busy and unable to get to him.

Sleepers:  RB Dri Archer, WR Martavis Bryant, OLB Jordan Zumwalt

Archer is a small speedy back with excellent hands and he will be a great complement to LeVeon Bell out of the backfield.  Martavis Bryant was overshadowed at Clemson by Sammy Watkins but now his 6’4 frame can cast a shadow over the smaller WR’s like Antonio Brown, Lance Moore and Markus Wheaton.  Bryant isn’t going to out play those guys but he’ll bring the size Ben Roethlisberger has been asking for ever since Plaxico Burress first left.  Zumwalt was overshadowed also while at UCLA by more heralded teammates Anthony Barr and Myles Jack but he could be a fantastic fit as a pass rushing OLB for the Steelers and gives them some depth.

Overall Analysis:

As always the players the Steelers drafted were good ones and they will give them some new young players at key spots (LB, DL, and WR). Shazier, Tuitt, Archer, Bryant, McCullers and Zumwalt should all contribute this year.  The issue with this draft was virtually ignoring the secondary and the offensive line.  CB Shaquille Richardson isn’t an upgrade on the aging Ike Taylor and while OL Wesley Johnson brings a lot of versatility they needed more help on the offensive line than one man can provide.  Many consider Dri Archer a reach in round 3 and he may have been but he has electrifying speed and great hands which is something missing from the Steelers backfield.

 

Buffalo Bills

4. Sammy Watkins  WR  Clemson

44. Cyrus Kouandjio  OT  Alabama

73. Preston Brown  ILB  Louisville

109. Ross Cockrell  CB  Duke

153. Cyril Richardson  OG  Baylor

221. Randell Johnson  OLB  Florida Atlantic

237. Seantrel Henderson  OT  Miami

Immediate Impact:  WR Sammy Watkins, OT Cyrus Kouandjio

The Bills traded next year’s 1^st  and 4^th round picks to move up to get Watkins and then traded top WR Stevie Johnson so Watkins is going to step in as the lead WR immediately.  Watkins is a game breaker and he’ll be QB EJ Manuel’s top target.   Kouandjio had some health issues and his play was inconsistent last year but he will step in at RT in place of Eric Pears and start.  If he holds up he is a serious talent upgrade over Pears.

Best Value:  OG Cyril Richardson

Richardson fell in the draft due to some poor workouts and his weight is a concern but he’s a powerful experienced blocker.  The Bills signed free agent Chris Williams to play LG and while he is solid he’s never been spectacular and I won’t be shocked to see Richardson steal that job.

Sleeper: ILB Preston Brown

Brown is not a household name but he’s talented and the Bills are looking for a way to move Kiko Alonso outside.  They signed Brandon Spikes in free agency but Brown gives them another option inside.

Overall Analysis: 

Watkins was the top skill position talent in the draft and the Bills made a bold move up to get him.  Watkins will lead a solid WR corps along with Robert Woods, Mike Williams and Marquise Goodwin giving EJ Manuel some very good weapons.  Cyrus Kouandjio needs some work but he upgrades the RT spot which was a must.  Brown and Cockrell add depth to what was a pretty good defense last season.  The Bills took a chance on 7^th rounder OT Seantrel Henderson a supremely talented lineman with serious off-the-field baggage.  Henderson has never lived up to his talent and he tested positive for marijuana at the combine.  His father has been known to be an issue since his high school days (he’s a little overly involved in his son’s life) and his work ethic is more than a little suspect.  I really didn’t think Henderson should get drafted but the Bills are rolling the dice.  The additions of Kouandjio and Richardson could really help the offensive line and if the Bills could get Henderson’s head on straight they could have a steal (I don’t believe that will happen, he is a lifetime ban waiting to happen).

Miami Dolphins

19. Ja’Wuan James  OT  Tennessee

63 Jarvis Landry  WR  LSU

67. Billy Turner  OL  North Dakota St.

125. Walt Aikens  CB  Liberty

155. Arthur Lynch  TE  Georgia

171. Jordie Tripp  OLB  Montana

190. Matt Hazel  WR  Coastal Carolina

234. Terrence Fede  DE  Marist

Immediate Impact:  OT Ja’Wuan James, WR Jarvis Landry

James is an immediate starter at RT which is why the Dolphins reached for him at #19.  James isn’t an elite tackle but he is a huge upgrade over Jason Fox who was penciled into the spot before the draft.  Landry is a savvy receiver that doesn’t have elite speed but he has excellent hands.  This is a good place for Landry because he can be the third WR and play in the slot which will utilize his skills.  QB Ryan Tannehill will be very happy to have both of these guys.

Best Value:  OL Billy Turner

The small school prospect from North Dakota St. proved he could play with the big boys at the Senior Bowl and even though he’s played tackle he can move inside to RG and play next to Ja’Wuan James.  The Dolphins needed offensive line help and getting a starter at #67 is great value.

Sleeper:  TE Arthur Lynch

Lynch is not an elite prospect but the Dolphins depth chart at TE isn’t stellar by any means.  Charles Clay is the starter and he proved to be fine last year but Lynch could make the team as a backup and he’s a willing blocker which they need.

Overall Analysis:

I’m usually against reaching for a need but once Zack Martin went off the board three picks before their choice the Dolphins had to take the next tackle on their board.  James isn’t making the Pro Bowl anytime soon but he’s solid and experienced and that’s more than they had.  Adding Turner to the line at RG helps even more and while having two rookies line up next to each other usually isn’t good just look at the Chicago Bears last year with two rookies on the right side of their line, that worked out.  Landry adds a steady player in the WR corps while Matt Hazel adds big time potential.  Walt Aikens could surprise in the secondary because the depth chart behind starters Brent Grimes and Courtland Finnegan isn’t set in stone.

New England Patriots

29. Dominique Easley  DT  Florida

62. Jimmy Garoppolo  QB  Eastern Illinois

105. Bryan Stork  C  Florida St.

130. James White  RB  Wisconsin

140. Cameron Fleming  OT  Stanford

179. Jon Halapio  OG  Florida

198. Zach Moore  DE  Concordia-St. Paul

206. Jemea Thomas  S  Georgia Tech

244. Jeremy Gallon  WR  Michigan

Immediate Impact:  DT Dominique Easley

Easley is coming off a knee injury and he’s had multiple knee injuries so he’s a pretty big risk but when healthy he’s a disruptive interior force.  If the Patriots have Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly back healthy Easley will be a great rotational player and a nice change of pace with his penetrating style.

Best Value:  No one

The Patriots didn’t get anyone far beyond where they were slated to go but they got more than one sleeper.

Sleepers:  C Bryan Stork, OT Cameron Fleming, RB James White

Stork was the starting center on the National Championship Florida St. Seminoles and the Patriots are looking to replace Ryan Wendell.  Stork is a technically sound player with strength and loads of experience.  If he beats out Wendell as the starter I won’t be the least bit shocked.  Fleming will be a nice swing tackle behind LT Nate Solder and RT Sabastian Vollmer and given Vollmer’s injury history that’s a need.  RB James White was overshadowed most of his career at Wisconsin by either Montee Ball or Melvin Gordon but he could be a steal because he’s a very talented back.

Overall Analysis:

The Patriots didn’t really “reach” for anyone but they didn’t grab anyone well after their value.  Easley was moved down some teams’ boards due to his injury history but he has 1^st round talent and DT is the Patriots sore spot.  QB Jimmy Garoppolo went late 2^nd round which is where he should have been rated.  The Patriots got a guy that has talent but needs time and they could trade backup QB Ryan Mallett or they could keep him this season and then just let him walk next year as a free agent knowing they have Garoppolo.  Garoppolo gives them someone to groom either to take over for Brady someday or to trade down the road.  C Bryan Stork, OT Cameron Fleming and OG Jon Halapio bring some much needed depth to the offensive line and RB James White and WR Jeremy Gallon could add depth at the skill positions.  DE Zach Moore and S Jemea Thomas may not stick but Thomas does play a position of need so that could help him.  The biggest issue with this draft was the lack of a TE’s and WR’s.  Given Gronkowski’s injury history and that other loss they had of a TE you may have heard of it was strange they didn’t try to get one.  They should have passed on Garoppolo and grabbed CJ Fiedorowicz given the fact that there was still good value at QB into the fifth round, Fiedorowicz was the last good TE and he went 1^st in the third round.   I’m not sure Gallon is the deep threat WR the Patriots need and given the depth of the position they should have found someone better.

New York Jets

18. Calvin Pryor  S  Louisville

49. Jace  Amaro  TE  Texas Tech

80. Dex McDougle  CB  Maryland

104. Jalen Saunders  WR  Oklahoma

115. Shaq Evans  WR  UCLA

137. Dakota Dozier  OG  Furman

154. Jeremiah George  ILB  Iowa St.

195. Brandon Dixon  CB  Northwest Missouri St.

209. Quincy Enunwa  WR  Nebraska

210. IK Enemkpali  DE  Louisiana Tech

213. Tajh Boyd  QB  Clemson

233. Trevor Reilly  OLB  Utah

Immediate Impact:  S Calvin Pryor, TE Jace Amaro

Pryor becomes the immediate starter at SS and will pair with Dawan Landry to improve the backend of the Jets defense.  He brings a big hitting style and intimidating presence the Jets were lacking over the middle last year.  Amaro may not beat out Jeff Cumberland as the starting TE but that’s only because Amaro isn’t the blocker Cumberland is in the running game.  Amaro’s impact will come in the passing game though because he excels there.  Whether it’s Geno Smith, Michael Vick, Matt Simms or Tajh Boyd at QB (nothing would shock me at this point) Amaro will be the QB’s best friend.

Best Value: OG Dakota Dozier

The fourth round lineman out of Furman, Dakota Dozier, could also be classified as a sleeper but I’m saying value here because he could step in and take the LG spot from Brian Winters and upgrade the interior of the line.  If nothing else he gives them nice depth and some competition at guard they didn’t have before.

Sleepers:  WR Jalen Saunders, OLB Trevor Reilly

Saunders is a small, fast WR with a lot of talent and the Jets could use a lot of help at the position.  Eric Decker is the bigger receiver type so Saunders should be a nice complement and he will excel in the slot.  Reilly is an older prospect (he’s 26 because he took a 2 year Mormon mission) and he’s a perfect fit at OLB for Rex Ryan.  Calvin Pace isn’t getting any younger and Reilly is a very good pass rusher that Ryan can develop.

Overall Analysis:

The Jets helped their secondary with the Pryor pick but Dex McDougle was a reach and there were better prospects still on the board (Bashaud Breeland, Keith McGill, Jaylen Watkins).  McDougle and Dixon are not the type of corners that will solve the Jets problems quickly if at all. They seriously helped their depth at WR with Jalen Saunders, Shaq Evans and Quincy Enunwa  but Evans was taken before some higher upside guys like Martavis Bryant and Devin Street and Enunwa is going to struggle to make the roster.  ILB Jeremiah George and OLB Trevor Reilly add depth to those spots.  My biggest concern is the lack of help added to the offensive line.  RG Willie Colon isn’t getting any younger and free agent addition RT Breno Giocomini is average at best.  Dakota Dozier was a nice addition but he wasn’t enough.  QB Tajh Boyd was well worth the seventh rounder they spent on him and he’ll give Matt Simms a run for the third QB job.

Here’s the start to my division by division breakdown of the 2014 NFL Draft.  I don’t assign grades because its simply not worthwhile to try to grade a draft before players have even moved to the city they will call home.  I don’t have specific criteria for each category so yes I do call a 1st rounder as a “Sleeper” and fourth rounder an “Immediate Impact” guy and I actually do it for the same team.  I’ll try to get these out as quickly as I can but I like to spread them out a little because no one wants to read all I have to say about the draft all at once.

Denver Broncos

31. Bradley Roby  CB  Ohio St.

56. Cody Latimer  WR  Indiana

95. Michael Schofield  OT  Michigan

156. Lamin Barrow  LB  LSU

207. Matt Paradis  C  Boise St.

242. Corey Nelson  OLB  Oklahoma

Immediate Impact:  CB Bradley Roby

Roby will be the starter opposite Aqib Talib and the Broncos need him to live up to his immense potential.  He is a better athlete than he is a corner right now but the Broncos don’t have a lot at the position.

Best Value:  WR Cody Latimer

Latimer was a late rising prospect so getting him with the 24^th pick in the second round was pretty good.  Some people had him slipping into the late 1^st round and considering guys like Davante Adams and Paul Richardson were taken above him the Broncos got good value.

Sleeper:  LB Lamin Barrow

Barrow is undersized and while most project him to weakside linebacker he could line up in the middle where the Broncos need help. MLB Nate Irving was just okay and while Danny Trevathan played pretty well he’s not great on the weakside so Barrow could make some noise.

Overall Analysis:

A small draft class but given the fact that the Broncos made the Super Bowl and they made some big free agent signings this offseason it’s unlikely too many rookies will make this club.  Roby, Latimore and Barrow certainly will and OT Michael Schofield is an interesting pickup.  With the return of LT Ryan Clady the Broncos plan to move Chris Clark to RT and Orlando Franklin inside to guard.  Clark played well at LT replacing Clady until the Super Bowl and Peyton Manning will welcome Clady back with open arms.  Schofield might give Clark some competition at RT and even if he doesn’t he upgrades their tackle depth.  C Matt Paradis might make the team as a developmental prospect and perhaps OLB Corey Nelson makes it because of special teams but both of them are facing an uphill battle.

Kansas City Chiefs

23. Dee Ford  OLB  Auburn

87. Phillip Gaines  CB  Rice

124. De’Anthony Thomas  RB  Oregon

163. Aaron Murray  QB  Georgia

193. Zach Fulton  OG  Tennessee

200. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif  OT  McGill

Immediate Impact:  RB De’Anthony Thomas

Thomas is small and he really wasn’t a very highly regarded prospect because he isn’t an every down back and he has a very slight frame.  I hadn’t really considered him as a guy that would make a huge impact until he was drafted by the Chiefs.  The Chiefs lost Dexter McCluster in free agency and Andy Reid was the first coach to really understand how to use McCluster and now he has a younger replacement.  This is a great fit for Thomas because he can actually have a career playing for Reid.

Best Value:  QB Aaron Murray

My adoration for Murray is well chronicled in my previous draft postings and getting him in the fifth round #163 overall is highway robbery.  Alex Smith only has a year left on his contract and the Chiefs don’t want to give him a long extension and now they have some leverage.  Smith will be the starter this year and Chase Daniel is locked in as the expensive backup and that’s fine because Murray needs time to rehab his torn ACL and the Chiefs can put him on injured reserve and hold onto current 3^rd stringer Tyler Bray if they like.  Murray is a long term investment and he’s a good one.

Sleeper:  OLB Dee Ford

Normally I don’t call first round picks sleepers but this pick is being panned by many draft analysts and I guess I’m one of the few that likes it.  Yes the Chiefs have Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, two exceptional pass rushers, but Hali is 30 years old and his weight is up.  Hali has always been a very big OLB because he was originally a DE but if he isn’t in shape he becomes ineffective and Ford is the insurance against that.  Chiefs fans know what happened when Hali and Houston both were injured in the same game last season, the pass rush disappeared.  Ford is a natural pass rusher and if nothing else he will be in on nickel situations.

Overall Analysis:

I love the Ford pick and I think Andy Reid got away with one there.  Thomas is small and even though he didn’t time fast at the combine he plays fast and that’s obvious on tape.  Murray is a brilliant future investment and currently is leverage for the franchise.  Phillip Gaines is a good CB prospect and given the Chiefs unhappiness with Brandon Flowers and their lack of depth at the position he could play early.  The last two picks are developmental offensive linemen and given the free agent losses of Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz depth is needed.  OT Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is an intriguing athlete that could eventually make it as an OT.  The one major miss here is the lack of WR’s drafted at all.  The Chiefs have Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery and no one else of consequence at the position.  Murray is going to eventually need someone to throw too.

Oakland Raiders

5. Khalil Mack  OLB  Buffalo

36. Derek Carr  QB  Fresno St.

81. Gabe Jackson  OG  Mississippi St.

107. Justin Ellis  DT  Louisiana Tech

116. Keith McGill  CB  Utah

219. TJ Carrie  CB  Ohio

235. Shelby Harris  DE  Illinois St.

247. Jonathan Dowling  CB  Western Kentucky

Immediate Impact:  OLB Khalil Mack, OG Gabe Jackson

Mack instantly becomes the best player on the defense and they can use his considerable skills to line him up all over the field.  He will be the primary blitzer and nickel pass rusher from the start.  The Raiders can slide Justin Tuck inside on passing downs and line Mack up outside much like the Giants used to do with Tuck.  Jackson is a road grading OG and the LG job is his to lose.  He will make life much easier on Darren McFadden and newly signed Maurice Jones-Drew.

Best Value:  QB Derek Carr

The Raiders stayed put in the first round and wound up with Khalil Mack and then they stood pat in the second and got the QB they wanted all along.  Carr was the 4^th best QB on most boards but the Raiders have loved him from the start.  He won’t be thrown into the fire because of Matt Schaub but if Schaub plays like he did last year for the Texans the Raiders will feel comfortable moving onto the future a little sooner.

Sleeper:  CB Keith McGill

This guy is a Seattle style cornerback at 6’3 211 lbs. and while he’s had a few off-the-field issues that has never bothered the Raiders.  DJ Hayden is one starting corner but the other side is to be manned by Carlos Rogers who is getting a little long in the tooth.  McGill has loads of potential and he’ll have every opportunity to compete for a spot in the secondary.

Overall Analysis:

I don’t believe I’ve ever said this about a Raiders draft, and I’ve been watching closely for a long time, but I love this draft.  Khalil Mack might actually be the guy that turns around the Raiders defense (yes he’s that good) and Derek Carr has a chance to be the first good Raiders QB since Rich Gannon’s career renaissance.  Gabe Jackson is a starter on the offensive line right now and Justin Ellis brings some much needed size to the interior of the defensive line.  McGill was a talent worth gambling on in the fourth round.  TJ Carrie and Jonathan Dowling bring some youthful competition to the corner spot and I really don’t know anything about Shelby Harris out of Illinois St. but I’m willing to give Reggie McKenzie the benefit of the doubt after watching this draft.  The Raiders had so many needs it’s hard to say they missed addressing one and getting Mack and Carr could be the turning point for this franchise.  For the long suffering Raider fans out there, there is hope.

San Diego Chargers:

25. Jason Verrett  CB  TCU

50. Jeremiah Attaochu  OLB  Georgia Tech

89. Chris Watt  OG  Notre Dame

165. Ryan Carrethers  DT  Arkansas St.

201. Marion Grice  RB  Arizona St.

240. Tevin Reese  WR  Baylor

Immediate Impact:  CB Jason Verrett, OLB Jeremiah Attaochu

Verrett became the best CB on the roster the minute he was drafted and he’ll make a big difference because their pass defense was horrible.  He isn’t the biggest guy in the world but he has great cover skills.  It would be nice if someone steps up to help him especially against bigger WR’s but he’ll hold his own for now.  Attaochu will be a terror off the edge and he can team with the returning Melvin Ingram to bring the pass rush.  The Chargers are hoping to squeeze another year out of Dwight Freeney and having Attaochu means Freeney can play less snaps and hopefully be more effective.

Best Value:  OLB Jeremiah Attaochu

He was one of the last really good pass rushers and the Chargers stole him at #50 overall.  He’s a perfect scheme fit and his presence probably means goodbye for Larry English.

Sleeper:  NT Ryan Carrethers

Short, squatty and powerful is the perfect description of a nose tackle and it’s the exact description of Carrethers.  The Chargers lost Cam Thomas in free agency and they need a new guy in the middle of their three man front.  He will slide in between Kendall Reyes and Corey Luiget and keep linemen off of ILB’s Donald Butler and Manti Te’o.

Overall Analysis:

The Chargers had a small draft class but all six players can make the team.  Verrett and Attaochu are important players.  OG Chris Watt will push Jeromy Clary at RG and may unseat him, if not he brings nice depth on the inside of the line.  Carrethers is a perfect fit.  RB Marion Grice doesn’t look like a need because they return Ryan Matthews and Danny Woodhead and they signed Donald Brown but Matthews has an injury history and Grice can make his money on special teams.  Tevin Reese also might be a sleeper because while he’s small he has speed to burn and we know the Chargers WR corps can’t stay healthy.  Keenan Allen was fantastic last year and Reese’s deep speed would be nice complement to him.