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Grade Your Draft


RaidersAreOne

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QB Josh Allen: (C+) The whole draft will be based on how he performs. I think Buffalo is a good fit but I also fear the lack of weapons around him will hurt his development and there is a lot of pressure on him.

LB Tremaine Edmunds: (A) Very few saw him falling out of the top 10 and the fact Buffalo was able to land their potential franchise QB and trade up for a potential all-star at MLB without sacrificing future picks is tremendous.

DT Harrison Phillips: (B+) Really good value at the end of round 3 and fills a need. Great fit in Buffalo

CB Tramon Johnson: (B-) Small school player who fits the defensive scheme and a need a nickel corner.

S Siran Neal: (C+) Will likely play special teams and adds depth but seemed unnecessary this early with needs on the offensive side.

OG Wyatt Teller: (A) Likely starts at one of the Guard positions this year. Nasty, nasty mauler who finishes blocks and didn't allow a sack in 2017

WR Ray Ray Mcloud (D) Felt like a massive reach for a player with no settled position. Much better WR prospects were on the board.

WR Austin Proehl (C+) Could have a long career as a core special teamer and reserve slot. Has nice NFL bloodlines.

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Grading the Chiefs is tough. The day 1 pick went get a QB. Based on what Buffalo paid, Mahomes was a steal. Does that count for 2018? Yeah. 

DAY 1 - A

Rd 2, Pick 14 (46)    Speaks, Breeland DT 
Rd 3, Pick 11 (75)    Nnadi, Derrick DT 
Rd 3, Pick 36 (100)    O'daniel, Dorian OLB 

Speaks is much misunderstood. If I read correctly, they want him to learn the 5-tech and stay on the line. The short term impact will be in nickel sets. Although called DE, the position orients to interior pass rush. Speaks is an unusual physical type that works much better in 3-4 than 4-3. Nnadi is a pure 2-gap NT, which is new for the Chiefs. Dontari Poe was a gap shooter. o'Daniel is a Dimebacker, which as a sore spot last year. Berry used to do it, but he was hurt. This will let Berry play more of a CF role, which he also does very well. If you believe in Waldo stats, Do'D has a twitch of 0.90. 

Without the trades, I'd give it a B+

DAY 2 - B

Rd 4, Pick 24 (124)    Watts, Armani S 
Rd 6, Pick 22 (196)    Smith, Tremon CB 
Rd 6, Pick 24 (198)    McKenzie, Kahlil OG

This is just FUN. Watts is needed depth and reasonable vlaue. Tremon Smith is probably a specialist. He's small and very fast, like Alabama's Tony Brown only more so. It's a new physical type for the Chiefs. He can take on the waterbug slot receivers. This is a guy a lot of free lists did not cover, however Scott Wright has him at #168. So good value again.

The fun is Reginald Kahlil McKenzie Jr, the son of Oakland GM Reggie Sr. KMac is a draftable DT, but the Chiefs liked his OL drill more than DL. They plan to convert him to OG. One has to speculate on the level of teeth gnashing in Raiderland.

Day 3 - B+ 

Overall - B+

J

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I don't like giving grades, but I loved the Falcons' draft. Here are my thoughts:

1) Ridley - I thought we would go Bryan here, but am so glad we didn't. I was hoping for Ridley or Oliver when we were OTC because I think they're much better players than Bryan. I think Bryan would've been reaching for a need, while we went BPA. I disagree that Bryan would have made a bigger impact, although obviously we'll never know. Bryan is raw and while DT was a bigger need than WR, the depth in the draft at DT was a plus. I'm also in the camp that WR was a pretty big need, something I know every not everyone agreed with. We were one injury away from Hardy starting. This fills a short term need and a long term need. Not to mention we can get immediate impact from Ridley in three receiver sets. He can play inside and outside and gives us so much flexibility on offense. Watching him run routes is a thing of joy. 

2) Oliver - absolute steal. He's a stud, who much like Ridley, fills a short term and long term need. We lacked a good, lengthy CB who can go against the likes of Mike Evans in the division. He uses his length and hands so well. I love watching him play the ball in the air. 

3) Senat - I don't know a lot about him, just that he was one on a long list of talented tackles in this draft. I trust Quinn and company's ability to draft defensive lineman. Good size with solid enough athletic ability to make an impact early. I think we'll pick up a vet DT who will start alongside Jarrett, but I expect Senat to make an impact in the rotation. And if he starts earlier than expected, even better. 

4) Smith - I don't know a ton about Smith, but I've loved what I've seen. He reminds me of Freeman a little bit: smaller guy who is a lot stronger than you think. He fights for every yard. I couldn't care less he's not a bigger back. I don't believe that's something the team has struggled with. With a third RB, I'm more concerned with getting the best guy available as you're an injury away from getting significant snaps in this offense. Plus, you're likely looking at the #2 back next year if/once Coleman leaves via free agency. 

6) Gage - at the very least, you're getting a really good special teams player. At the most, you're getting a guy who can take Hardy's job as the #4 WR immediately and then develop into a nice slot WR in a couple of years. He likes to hurdle defenders and that alone is fun to watch, although he probably should hold back on doing it on every play. 

6) Oluokun - S/LB hybrid who can lay the wood. Sounds like the making of a guy who can make an early impact on special teams. If he turns into anything more than that, you've hit big in the six. 

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For the Vikings:

I think basically every pick I'd give a C-B range on it. There are a lot of solid picks who will likely make an impact for a while, but none of them are going to be flashy. The UDFA part of the Vikings draft gets an A+ though.

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Very weird draft for us. First in the Veach era and Chiefs fans are already calling him Veach the Reach

Watching the Chiefs for years I see the logic behind the picks. Speaks is very similar to Hali and we've needed an OLB to help Houston in the pass rush. Veach loved the guy so he got him, I don't really like the little tape I've seen but he could be a good one out there. Very versatile, strong, relentless, long arms and a hand fighter. But can he corner the edge?

Derrick Nnadi is what Bennie Logan was supposed to be for us. Beast run defender in the middle next to Chris Jones. I really like this pick.

Dorian O'Daniel flies around the field I love it. Great tackler, should fit in well as our nickel/dime backer and we can finally replace Daniel Sorenson.

Armani Watts could be a steal here. Needs to work on tackling but he's got clutch skills. Could be a good centerfielder.

Tremon Smith is an athletic small school guy I'm rooting for him.

Kahlil .McKenzie I just love we drafted the Raiders GM son. Hilarious

so for a grade I just don't know. I like the direction we went though and if these picks pan out were sitting pretty

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Not going to grade the players but I think the Rams did a grade A job of addressing their needs. Wade said he wanted depth for the linebackers and we definitely got that. And with impending free agents and a couple guys over 30 on the oline we added three guys to be depth and be groomed by Kromer. 

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On 4/30/2018 at 8:52 PM, minutemancl said:

Gettleman's got 3 rings bud. 

This is a losing argument. You're in the minority if you think the Giants did the right thing at the top of the draft. Gettleman's ignorance makes him an easy target.

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For the Rams:

Brandon Cooks: Best receiver in this class, giving DJ Moore a run for his money. Hard not to like this pick. A
Sammy Watkins: Produced admirably for a season. Did more than the box score would let you believe. But I, and the Rams staff probably expected more. In his defense, he arrived late in training camp and had to go from Buffalo's "offense" to an entirely different scheme. Also netted us a 3rd in 2019. B
Joseph Noteboom: Was at the top of my board at the time of the pick. Love the situation and potential. He has everything you want as a starting/developmental LT in the league. A+
Brian Allen: A better version of his brother, Brian is the gifted version of what everyone wanted out of Jack Allen in 2016. In a draft with two or three late round centers were taking, I'm okay with this pick. B
John Franklin-Myers: One of those picks that came out of no where. Was my second favorite pick of the Rams. Dominated at a small school, but has proven he can hang with the big boys through all the tests. Basically the football-loving version (hopefully) of everyones favorite 3-tech back in the day, Christian Ballard.  A+
Micah Kiser: Two down thumper. Mega producer. Fits all the cliche's. Fits a big need and would bet money he's the first in the draft class to play significant snaps. Not a fan of the player personally but can't ignore the need. B
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo: Safe to view him as a situational pass rusher and will likely rotate behind Samson Ebukam. I don't like him as much as most, but I am a fan of his game and there is a role for him. B+
John Kelly: Everyone will mention how much better he was than Kamara. But we should also realize Kamara had plenty of flaws as a prospect. He just landed in what was literally the best situation possible. I don't like the profile or his comparables at the next level. Those who like him should say he's a poor mans Kareem Hunt, while I see something much less. D

The rest of the picks aren't really worth evaluating. They'll either be the last player on the active roster, gameday inactives, or practice squad fodder. 

Jamil Demby: Guard depth. 
Sebastian Joseph:  Wade Phillips hand picked his nose tackle. 
Trevon Young: Outside linebacker depth.
Travin Howard: 211 pound linebacker who looks to be a special teamer.
Justin Lawler: Defensive end depth.

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Wynn - while undersized I do believe he will be an elite LT in the league and think this is a great pick. - A

Michel - He is electric and think could be a difference maker this season. The value was good but it's more about the perfect fit. - A+

Dawson - Don't think he was the best option on the board and a little bit of a reach. But he fills a need and fits the system. - B

Bentley - Think he was going undrafted. PFF rated him highly though. - D

Sam - Was a projected 4th round pick so he was good value there. He will push Roberts/Langi. - B

Etling - Don't think highly of him at all. - D

Crossen - He is a speedster and could surprise. - C

Izzo - A great blocking TE but very slow. He could make Allen expendable. He won't miss assignments. - B

Players acquired - McCourty, Brown, Patterson, Shelton. That was a very good haul for a low price. 3rd, 3rd, 5th, 6th were give up and 2 5th, 6th and 7th came back. - A

Draft picks for 2019 - A most likely top 45 pick from the Bears and a top 75 pick from the Lions. That was robbery - A+

 

Overall grade - A-

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