NFL Draft Grades

Ray Rivard

The NFL Draft proved to both an entertaining and inspiring moment, as the best players in college football begin the road to NFL “stardom”

Elliott Reichman, Staff Writer

To celebrate the 2014 NFL Draft, I will be taking a look at the best and worst picks of all 32 teams in the NFL
Arizona Cardinals
Best Pick: First round Safety Deone Bucannon will bring a lot of strength to the Cardinal’s defense. He is fast and plays with a great amount of enthusiasm. Once they unlock his full potential, he will be a force to be reckoned with. He left Washington State as a 6-1, 211 pound power player with 15 career interceptions.
Worst Pick: Tight End Troy Niklas is more of a blocker and will need a lot of time to develop. He’s a great player, but it seems strange to take him in the second round.
Grade: B+
Atlanta Falcons
Best Pick: Third round Safety Dezmen Southward is very fast and can cover a large area of the field. He also has the ability to fit multiple roles.
Worst Pick: Outside Linebacker Prince Shembo is an interesting pass rusher, but the Falcons shouldn’t have waited until the fourth round to grab him.
Grade: B+
Baltimore Ravens
Best Pick: Third round safety Terrence Brooks is needed in Baltimore’s defense. He has great potential to be starting the first game in the season.
Worst Pick: John Urschel is an offensive lineman who should’ve been picked before the fifth round.
Grade: B+
Buffalo Bills
Best Pick: Linebacker Preston Brown is a solid pick who will be great in the running aspect.
Worst Pick: Sammy Watkins was picked after trading their first round pick for 2015 to move up five spots to take him. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good Wide Receiver, he just wasn’t cost effective
Grade: C+
Carolina Panthers
Best Pick: Third round Guard Trai Turner fits into Carolina’s offensive strategy. He will be able to protect their running back to the point where they will get more yards per run. He also has the potential to be a starter instantly.
Worst Pick: Taking Wide Receiver Kelvin Benjamin so early in the first round is very strange since he was predicted to be the 28th pick overall. There were a lot of better Wide Receivers too, such as Brandin Cooks.
Grade: C
Chicago Bears
Best Pick: First round Corner Kyle Fuller is an amazing player who can start instantly and was arguably the best corner in the draft.
Worst Pick: The Bears had a great draft, but if I had to choose I would say Running Back Ka’Deem Carey only because he isn’t very fast.
Grade: A
Cincinnati Bengals
Best Pick: Third round Defensive End Will Clarke will be a great pass rusher who has can get work done and will replace Michael Johnson.
Worst Pick: Taking Running Back Jeremy Hill in the second round seems odd since they should’ve fulfilled their teams’ more pressing needs.
Grade: B
Cleveland Browns
Best Pick: Without a doubt, trading up for Quarterback Johnny “Football” Manziel was a great second round steal. He is by far one of the most hyped up players in the draft. Johnny Manziel will also be protected by the Bengal’s great offensive line.
Worst Pick: Running Back Terrance West is a weird choice. Since the Josh Gordon controversy, why not pick up a receiver?
Grade: B-
Dallas Cowboys
Best Pick: Second round pick Defensive End Demarcus Lawrence is an aggressive pass rusher who is much needed after the loss of DeMarcus Ware.
Worst Pick: Waiting until the seventh round to get help in the secondary. Cornerback Terrance Mitchell wasn’t a choice they should have made so late.
Grade: B
Denver Broncos
Best Pick: The talented and athletic first round Cornerback Bradley Roby will be a great addition to any team. The Broncos needed a Cornerback, and their wish has been granted.
Worst Pick: The Broncos waited too long to grab a much needed Linebacker. Waiting until the fifth round to get Lamin Barrow was a poor choice.
Grade: B+
Detroit Lions
Best Pick: Second round Linebacker Kyle Van Noy is a second round steal who was underrated and has a great amount of speed. He will give their defense a big boost.
Worst Pick: Eric Ebron is a good Tight End, but they had other needs and an already great offensive.
Grade: B
Green Bay Packers
Best Pick: Second round Wide Receiver Davante Adams is just what the Packers need on their offense.
Worst Pick: They have some trouble on their offensive line and they waited until the fifth round to pick up Center Corey Linsley.
Grade: A
Houston Texans
Best Pick: Without a doubt, the first pick of the draft Defensive End Jadeveon Clowney will be a star. He will be the dominant pass rusher.
Worst Pick: Why the Texans waited until the fifth round to pick Quarterback Tom Savage escapes me. If he doesn’t’ play well, the fans will riot.
Grade: B+
Indianapolis Colts
Best Pick: Third round Wide Receiver Donte Moncrief will make big plays and adds to the unstable group of receivers in Indianapolis.
Worst Pick: No players come to mind, but losing their first round pick this year really hurt them.
Grade: C
Jacksonville Jaguars
Best Pick: Quarterback Blake Bortles is the franchise quarterback that the Jaguars always wanted. He will boost their offense to a whole new level.
Worst Pick: They followed Blake Bortles by picking up tools for him such as Marqise Lee rather than picking up more of their needs.
Grade: A
Kansas City Chiefs
Best Pick: Third rounder Cornerback Philip Gaines has a good build and will help the struggling coverage of the Chiefs. He can lock down the field and will allow the Chiefs to trade Brandon Flowers.
Worst Pick: First round Dee Ford is surprising since they have great pass rushers already.
Grade: B-
Miami Dolphins
Best Pick: Third round Offensive Tackle Billy Turner will fit Miami’s need of guard. He may even be better than Ja’Wuan James and can develop into a starter.
Worst Pick: Second round Wide Receiver Jarvis Landry isn’t very fast, but is a good route runner. They needed more athleticism than what Landry has.
Grade: C+
Minnesota Vikings
Best Pick: First round Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is a great pick so they can have a good starter who has other amazing offensive players to work with such as Adrian Peterson.
Worst Pick: Third round Quarterback Jerick Mckinnon was grabbed to become a backup Running Back to Adrian Peterson. This is very risky, but I will enjoy watching this play out.
Grade: A+
New England Patriots
Best Pick: First round Defensive Tackle Dominique Easley will be a force to be reckoned with on the inside, as long as he stays healthy.
Worst Pick: Searching for Tom Brady’s replacement in second round Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is not what they should be doing. They should look to get help for Brady so he can win a Super Bowl.
Grade: B-
New Orleans Saints
Best Pick: Second round Cornerback Stanley-Jean Baptiste is the corner that the NFL wants right now. He is 6 foot 3 and is 215 pounds.
Worst Pick: They should’ve picked up an Offensive Lineman before the fifth round. They are stuck with Ronald Powell.
Grade: B-
New York Giants
Best Pick: Third round Defensive Tackle Jay Bromley will fill a major need for the Giants. He is instinctive, passionate, and most importantly athletic.
Worst Pick: Maybe the Giants could’ve used the fifth round to pick up someone who has a good chance of starting, rather than Devon Kennard.
Grade: B-
New York Jets
Best Pick: First round Safety will improve the New York defense with the removal of Darelle Revis.
Worst Pick: The Jets needed a Wide Receiver. They could’ve gotten a great one in the second round (Davante Adams) but instead picked up Tight End Jace Amaro.
Grade: B-
Oakland Raiders
Best Pick: First round Outside Linebacker Khali Mack was an easy decision for the Raiders. He will be the face of their defense.
Worst Pick: I think they took Quarterback Derek Carr too high in their second round pick.
Grade: A-
Philadelphia Eagles
Best Pick: Third round Wide Receiver Josh Huf will come in already understanding their offensive style. He is pro ready.
Worst Pick: They waited until the fifth round to get a corner in Jaylen Watkins.
Grade: B
Pittsburgh Steelers
Best Pick: Fourth round Wide Receiver Martavis Bryant is explosive at 6 foot four and will really help their passing game.
Worst Pick: Third round Dri Archer is fast, but I’m not sure how they will use him. He’s versatile, but I don’t see where he can fit in.
Grade: B+
St. Louis Rams
Best Pick: Second round Cornerback Lamarcus Joyner will definitely make some big plays.
Worst Pick: The Rams have taken Running Backs in the last two years, so why take Tre Mason in the third round?
Grade: A
San Diego Chargers
Best Pick: First round Cornerback Jason Verett is quick, tenacious, and instinctive.
Worst Pick: Outside Linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu is a risky pick since he is very raw.
Grade: B
San Francisco 49ers
Best Pick: First round Safety Jimmie Ward will play multiple positions on the defense.
Worst Pick: They don’t need a running back, but drafted Carlos Hyde in the second round anyway.
Grade: A-
Seattle Seahawks
Best Pick: Second round Wide Receiver Paul Richardson will be a speedy playmaker. He was a major steal who can balance out their run heavy offense.
Worst Pick: I like Offensive Tackle Justin Britt, but taking him in the second round was too soon.
Grade: B
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best Pick: Second round Tight End Austin Seferian-Jenkins will fill the much needed gap in their offense. He is 6 foot 5 and weighs 258 pounds, so he is built well.
Worst Pick: Instead of taking a defensive player in the third round, they took Running Back Charles Sims.
Grade: B
Tennessee Titans
Best Pick: Fourth round Defensive Tackle DaQuan Jones could be a long time starter in a 3-4 defense.
Worst Pick: I don’t understand taking Taylor Lewan in the first round when they have two other great Offensive Linemen.
Grade: B-
Washington Redskins
Best Pick: Third round Offensive Tackle is a great value pick who boasts amazing traits.
Worst Pick: They picked Trent Murphy too early as their first pick in the second round.
Grade: B