#12 WASHINGTON REDSKINS When the worst draft in the division comes in at #12 you know it's was a good class for the NFC East. Did the Redskins miss out on Vea? Well I've got it on completely unreliable authority that Da'Ron Payne was their target all along. They then traded back in the 2nd and still got Derrius Guice. You can say what you want about what that means but it's great value. They also decided to draft for value over need when they took Tim Settle despite drafting Payne already. Mr. Irrelevant also has more than a puncher's chance of making the team and an impact.
#11 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS The Colts may have missed out on Bradley Chubb by trading down from #3 to #6 but they gained three 2nd round picks and got arguably the most important player they could have drafted. Luck needs protection. They also selected Braden Smith in the 2nd and while some consider him a reach he went around where I graded him. Too little too late? We'll see if it's too late but it definitely isn't too little. Leonard is a solid sideline to solid linebacker who can get in the backfield and will probably immediately be in charge of essentially making all the stops on defense. They had a couple of reaches at DE at the end of the 2nd round but they were clearly committed to getting some young blood, especially after missing out on Chubb. I expect Nyheim Hines to emerge as the Colts' 3rd down back and Jordan Wilkins adds some depth. They also drafted a couple interesting WR prospects late and finished off by getting a couple more guys to compete at linebacker. Indianapolis can't fill all it's holes in one offseason but they did an excellent job addressing what I felt were their two biggest needs and tried to address some others.
#10 BUFFALO BILLS For a playoff team the Bills sure had a lot of holes to address. They really needed a guard, linebacker, cornerback and of course a quarterback. The Bills had a deal in place with the Broncos to trade up that involved trading both their 1sts and a 2nd. That trade was nixed when the Browns passed on Chubb. Lucky them though that they were able to get a great discount on trading up to #7 when the Colts sniped Nelson from the Bucs. They got their man Josh Allen and while he is a tremendous risk, like with the Jets, I respect how they made the move. Did they spread the dirt on Allen? Thanks to that they still owned their other first round pick and they were able to trade up cheap once again to get Tremaine Edmunds. It may have been a case of better lucky than good but they made two great deals. They then got great value on Harrison Phillips at the end of the third and a pair of a much needed DBs. It would have been nice to address this need earlier but I can't fault those trade ups. Wyatt Teller is an underrated prospect that could see time almost immediately and they closed out with a couple WRs that will probably start off as special-teamers, if they make it at all.
#9 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES The Eagles came into the draft with minimal ammunition. They did have their 1st but it was at the very end of the round and thy didn't pick again until the end of the 4th round. They didn't have too many holes to fill but they seemed to address all their needs but one, which I'll get into detail later. The consensus was that the Eagles wanted to trade out of the first to acquire a 2nd and 3rd or 2nd and 4th in this draft. They instead traded for a 2nd this year and next. When you don't have too many immediate holes that is a deal you take every day. The Eagles then traded up slightly ahead of the Cowboys to take what could have been their target in Dallas Goedert. Whether he was their target or not doesn't really matter though since the Eagles use 2-TE sets and needed a #2 TE after losing Celek and Burton. He filled what was their only for sure immediate need and was arguably BPA. They took Maddox to get some corner depth and got a steal with Josh Sweat. He has some injury concerns but he won't be needed any time soon. The Eagles just never want to worry about DE depth. The finished the draft with a pair of offensive lineman. One for immediate depth and a very interesting gamble on some freak of nature rugby player. So what about RB? It isn't a need this season but it's they definitely need one sooner than later, especially if Jay Ajayi isn't retained past this season. Penny and Michel were both gone before they picked and Guice was definitely off their board, plus they needed a TE anyways. I believe their plan is to grab one early next year and that is where that 2019 Raven 2nd round pick comes into play. Goedert, Sweat, and that future 2nd in a minimal ammo draft give this the grade it did.
#8 MIAMI DOLPHINS I really liked every one of Miami's picks that weren't just late fliers. Ironically Miami's owner hated them but his GM put his foot down and overruled his opinions. Minkah Fitzpatrick, considered by many a top 5 prospect, at #11 was a great get and he will be making an impact right away. Another guy that should make an impact right away is Mike Gesicki. The Dolphins needed TEs for the longest time and they got an athletic receiver in Gesicki and Durham Smythe is a solid blocker who can still make some good catches. Kind of like a poor man's Brent Celek. Jerome Baker likely starts at LB and while the job may just be given to him out of need, he could quickly show that he deserves it. Kalen Ballage is a nice addition to a shallow committee in Miami. He won't be the guy but he will get his share of snaps. They ended with a depth CB, depth linebacker and a kicker.
#7 ATLANTA FALCONS Everyone thought the Falcons would take a DT in the 1st round but they didn't reach and instead took Calvin Ridley. That is an excellent pick and he will immediately push for a starting spot. In the second they got tremendous value in Isaiah Oliver. They finally address DT in the 3rd with Deadrin Senat. He was a bit of a reach but they couldn't push it off any longer. Ito Smith was RB insurance and they took some more WR and LB depth. Drafting Ridley and Oliver while still addressing DT was what factored the most into this grade.
#6 CAROLINA PANTHERS Carolina's draft starts similarly to Atlanta's with a WR and CB. I felt that there were better options than DJ Moore and Donte Jackson but they were still great choices and Moore may fit with Carolina best anyways. So why are they ahead of the Falcons? Well I think the rest of their picks pushes them ahead. They got good value in Rashaan Gaulden, Ian Thomas and even Kendrick Norton. I also like the Jermaine Carter much more than most. Look for him pop up this season.
#5 ARIZONA CARDINALS The Cardinals traded up for their QB of the future without a premium. It was actually very cheap for a franchise QB. I had Josh Rosen as my #2 QB in the draft. They then got him a weapon he can grow with in Christian Kirk in the 2nd round. Arizona might have Larry Fitzgerald but he is at the end of his career and the Cardinals lost many wide receivers in free agency. Chase Edmonds is a nice backup for David Johnson. They definitely needed better options behind him. Mason Cole and Korey Cunningham are good depth options on the Oline and Christian Campbell is an interesting cornerback prospect.
#4 DALLAS COWBOYS The Cowboys with a solid LB pick in Leighton Vander Esch who give solid depth for whenever Sean Lee inevitably gets hurt again. I had a 1st round grade on Connor Williams and whether or not he was their top option as their pick approached doesn't really matter. I had Michael Gallup rated much higher than the consensus and with Dez gone and Williams in trouble he may be needed sooner than later. Same with 6th round pick Cedrick Wilson. They may have waited a bit long to get a tight end but Dalton Shultz is someone that could make good of his opportunity. They also got some decent depth at QB, LB and DE.
#3 GREEN BAY PACKERS The Packers started the draft by moving back in the 1st by picking up a 1st round pick from the Saints next year. They did trade back a bit further than they wished but you can't blame them for accepting that offer. They figured they could use a 3rd to trade back up in the 1st a bit and took Jaire Alexander. They quickly paired him up with Joshua Jackson in 2nd and quickly addressed their biggest team need with 2 of the best cornerbacks in the class. I really like Oren Burks. expect him to gradually increase his snaps as the season progresses. J'Mon Moore was one of my favourite WRs during the draft process. He has some trouble with drops but he'll get his chance to work his way through the Packers' WR to try and be the next great Packer. Talking about WR they drafted 2 more in Valdes-Scantling and St. Brown. Of the 3 at least one should stick. Cole Madison was a solid pick and they made a few more interesting depth and special teams selections to wrap up their draft.
#2 DENVER BRONCOS The Broncos did an excellent job of letting the draft come to them. With their first 5 picks they didn't trade up for anyone and didn't move back either. Whenever their pick was up they made a solid selection. It started at #5 when they were ready to trade it away to the Bills for two 1sts and more but instead took Bradley Chubb when he was unexpectedly available. They then took my top rated WR in Courtland Sutton in the 2nd round and Royce Freeman plus Isaac Yiadom in the 3rd. Freeman was an especially solid pick. He can be a workhorse and will battle Devontae Booker for the starting gig. Josey Jewell early in the 4th was nice value and he could be a quick upgrade at LB. The rest of the picks were all gravy with some solid depth all around.
#1 NEW YORK GIANTS The way too early winners of the draft are the New York Giants. I loved every single one of their picks. That is because I hated every single one of them from a rivalry perspective. Saquan Barkley is probably the best player in the draft at any position. I don't think I need to say anymore on that. And they will have 2nd round pick Will Hernandez opening lanes for him from day 1. Lorenzo Carter was a steal in the 3rd round and BJ Hill is probably my favourite non-1st round DT in the draft. Kyle Lauletta is an upgrade at backup QB but he could very well be Eli Manning's heir. R.J. McIntosh was a pretty good selection as well. The Giants are giving Eli every chance to win now but this was also a great draft to set up for the future.
Seattle: I’m probably one of the very few who think the Seahawks didn’t reach that far on Penny. I had him at early to mid Round 2. Most thought I was high. I was, but not clouded. honestly, there was some concern that the Browns might take him around then. Since he’s not a Steeler, I’m glad he went to my favorite NFC team.
Valid question regarding what Belichick will do if and when Michel starts fumbling. also interesting your friend's idea that BB doesnt want McDaniels to have a QB. the question is why? Pats couldve played for the now by trading picks for established players but they did the opposite, picked players and traded back for more future picks. me nitpicking Joe, they acquired a future 2,3 and 7 and they also acquired Trent Brown. None of this really matters until we can look back years down the line but I wonder how often anyone would rank the Pats draft in the top 10...... neverish?
Belichick always has his picks so the answer may be never lol. The future picks were very solid. If I liked the selections themselves the Pats could have easily shot up near the top. People who do would easily have them in the top 10. As for my friend he thinks Belichick may be becoming an old curmudgeon. Lol. I'll look back to see if there were any recent drafts by the Pats I really liked without hindsight. I think there was one.
Okay I looked back as far as I can remember from mocking. Last year may have been top 10 despite the lack of picks. I liked that draft quite a bit. Ovals liked 2010 at the time and may have had it top 10 if I liked any on the late picks and I'm pretty sure I didn't like any on the many picks on day 3.
Just curious, who did you like for the NE picks in ‘17? And your buddy thinks Belichick is becoming a curmudgeon? His a-hole ness consistency is second to none. Can’t say one way or another about this take because we’re clearly not Belichick, but why would he lure McDaniels from Indy at the 11th hour if he just wanted to screw him over? And why keep on acquiring future assets instead of current ones?
Ask him. I just thought his take was amusing. As for last year I really liked the first 2 picks and Wise felt like great value. McDermott looked like decent depth but he is in Buffalo now. One of the few reverse poaches. Also the trades they made that made them lose picks looked like great ones at the time. Now they look like shit.
