NFL Draft Grades: Draft 2016: NFC Draft Grades
The 2016 NFL draft concluded Saturday evening. Rotoworld blurbed every single selection, picks one (Jared Goff) through 253 (Kalan Reed). You can use our search engine in the top right-hand corner of this page to access our in-depth rookie writeups.
After a grueling three days of “work,” we’ll put the finishing touches on our intensive draft coverage with post-draft grades.
But let’s be clear: We don’t believe in assessing draft hauls immediately after the three-day event. This is strictly for your pleasure. If you’re reading this intro, you’re interested. And we want to appeal to you. Don’t take these grades too seriously. We’ll know a lot more about this draft around 2019.
Arizona Cardinals
1 (29). Ole Miss DT Robert Nkemdiche
3 (92). Texas A&M CB Brandon Williams
4 (128). Missouri C Evan Boehm
5 (167). Midwestern State DB Marqui Christian
5 (170). Harvard OT Cole Toner
6 (205). SE Louisiana CB Harlan Miller
Overview: Included in Arizona’s draft haul is OLB Chandler Jones, whom GM Steve Keim acquired from New England for failed G/C Jonathan Cooper and the No. 61 pick. While not a likely starter, Nkemdiche should be an immediate sub-package contributor, rushing inside on passing downs. The Boehm picked addressed a need and was good value for Keim to land a potential rookie starter in the fourth round. A converted running back who struggled at corner last year for Texas A&M, Williams was a surprising day-two pick and doesn’t solve Arizona’s cornerback need opposite Patrick Peterson. Keim rounded out the draft with three small-school long shots. A good team that doesn’t have many needs, the Cardinals did well to emerge from this haul with three probable year-one contributors. I would’ve given this draft a higher grade if third-round pick Williams wasn’t likely to max out as a special teamer.
Grade: B-
Atlanta Falcons
1 (17). Florida SS Keanu Neal
2 (52). LSU LB Deion Jones
3 (81). Stanford TE Austin Hooper
4 (115). Minnesota LB De’Vondre Campbell
6 (195). San Jose State OG Wes Schweitzer
7 (238). UCLA WR Devin Fuller
Overview: Another piece in Atlanta’s draft haul is LG Andy Levitre, whom top execs Thomas Dimitroff and Scott Pioli acquired for a sixth-round pick (193) last year. Levitre was a league-average starter or a little better his first season as a Falcon. Atlanta lost its fifth-rounder for pumping artificial crowd noise into the Georgia Dome. After landing hard-hitter Neal to fill the Kam Chancellor role in Dan Quinn‘s defense, the Falcons went hunting for linebacker athleticism with the Jones and Campbell picks. Although rookie tight ends typically struggle to make early NFL impacts, I think Hooper could be an exception and settle in as Atlanta’s long-term starter. I was not familiar with Schweitzer before the draft. Seventh-round throwaway Fuller averaged nine yards per reception in his college career. Dimitroff and Pioli entered the draft with a depleted arsenal and were never in position to fix their flawed roster, but I’m not sure how much better they got with this draft. The Falcons still have weaknesses at right guard, wideout, slot corner, and in the pass-rush department.
Grade: C-
Carolina Panthers
1 (30). Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler
2 (62). Samford CB James Bradberry
3 (77). West Virginia CB Daryl Worley
5 (141). Oklahoma CB Zack Sanchez
7 (252). Montana State TE Beau Sandland
Overview: The Panthers did not have a sixth-round pick after GM Dave Gettleman traded it for Jared Allen last October. Gettleman kicked off his draft with one of his beloved “hog mollies,” then addressed Josh Norman‘s loss by selecting three straight cornerbacks. Gettleman targeted Worley aggressively, sending Cleveland fourth- (129) and fifth-round picks (168) in exchange for a 16-slot climb on day two. I liked the seventh-round flyer on Sandland, who has NFL-starter traits. Butler is a pro-ready stud and will immediately bolster the Panthers’ already deep defensive line rotation. At corner, Gettleman threw three darts at the wall in hopes one sticks. Big and long armed with ball skills, small-schooler Bradberry is easily the best prospect of the group, but his playing readiness is questionable coming from the FCS Southern Conference. Gettleman is an awesome GM and Carolina is set up to be an annual NFC contender, but I don’t think his roster has gotten better this offseason.
Grade: C+
Chicago Bears
1 (9). Georgia OLB Leonard Floyd
2 (56). Kansas State G/C Cody Whitehair
3 (72). Florida DE Jonathan Bullard
4 (113). West Virginia ILB Nick Kwiatkoski
4 (124). Miami (FL) S Deon Bush
4 (127). Northern Iowa CB Deiondre’ Hall
5 (150). Indiana RB Jordan Howard
6 (185). William & Mary S DeAndre Houston-Carson
7 (230). Western Michigan WR Daniel Braverman
Overview: Bears GM Ryan Pace wanted Floyd badly, sending a fourth-round pick (106) to Tampa Bay to climb just two slots and steal Floyd ahead of the Giants. Pace stayed active on day two, trading down and securing Buffalo’s fourth-round pick in 2017. In addition to reeling off consistent value picks, Pace attacked needy areas on his roster and stockpiled quality football players who were productive in college. What Floyd lacks in floor he makes up for in ceiling as a long-armed, versatile edge player with the most explosive get-off in the draft. Whitehair needs to get stronger, but he profiles as a starting guard in a year or two. Bullard was one of the top value picks in the draft and legitimately could start as a rookie. A downhill bruiser at 6-foot, 230, it wouldn’t shock me if Howard emerged as the Bears’ lead ball carrier at some point this year. In Kwiatkoski, Hall, and Houston-Carson, Chicago added year-one special teams contributors with a chance to become more down the line. After having only six picks in his first draft, I think sophomore GM Pace hit a homerun here. It should also be noted that the 2016 Bears should finally get a fully-healthy Kevin White.
Grade: A-
Dallas Cowboys
1 (4). Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott
2 (34). Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith
3 (67). Nebraska DT Maliek Collins
4 (101). Oklahoma DE Charles Tapper
4 (135). Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott
6 (189). Purdue CB Anthony Brown
6 (212). Central Michigan S Kavon Frazier
6 (216). Eastern Michigan RB Darius Jackson
6 (217). Baylor TE Rico Gathers
Overview: I’m not in the camp that is devoutly anti-first-round running back, but I’m also not sold Elliott represented Dallas’ best-possible use of the No. 4 pick. I think Jalen Ramsey and DeForest Buckner would have improved the Cowboys’ outlook more than Zeke, both in the short and long term. Despite working around one of the NFL’s worst passing games, the 2015 Cowboys ranked fifth in rushing efficiency (4.63 YPC) and top ten in Football Outsiders’ running-game DVOA. At present, the Cowboys arguably have the worst combination of pass rushers and cover guys in the league — holes Ramsey and Buckner could have helped fix. After what was likely sub-optimal use of a top-four pick, Dallas proceeded to spend No. 34 on a linebacker who won’t play football in 2016. The Smith pick was made with Mackensie Alexander, Myles Jack, Noah Spence, Reggie Ragland, and Kamalei Correa on the board. I’m a fan of plenty of Dallas’ picks (Collins, Tapper, Frazier, Jackson), but suspect decision making at 4 and 34 warrants a lowered grade. It’s hindsight, of course, but the Cowboys could conceivably have gone with Ramsey at 4 and Derrick Henry at 34 if they were so intent on taking a running back early. (Or, Buckner and Alexander.) The Cowboys are going to have a great 2016 running game either way.
Grade: C-
Detroit Lions
1 (16). Ohio State OT Taylor Decker
2 (46). Alabama DT A’Shawn Robinson
3 (95). Michigan C Graham Glasgow
4 (111). Southern Utah SS Miles Killebrew
5 (151). Washington State OG Joe Dahl
5 (169). Georgia Southern LB Antwione Williams
6 (191). Michigan QB Jake Rudock
6 (202). Penn State DL Anthony Zettel
6 (210). Baylor LS Jimmy Landes
7 (236). Washington RB Dwayne Washington
Overview: This haul also includes second-year DT Gabe Wright, whom ex-GM Martin Mayhew selected in the 2015 fourth round in exchange for parting with Detroit’s 2016 third-round pick. (Wright was a bit player as a rookie.) New GM Bob Quinn knocked out a big need with his first-ever pick, bookending Riley Reiff with 2015’s Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. Albeit short on pass-rush skills, Robinson gives Detroit an immediate contributor in DC Teryl Austin‘s defensive line rotation. Glasgow will push ineffective C Travis Swanson to start, while Killebrew is a sneaky bet to earn early-career snaps across from FS Glover Quin. Dahl adds interior depth with OGs Laken Tomlinson and Larry Warford coming off disappointing 2015s. I wasn’t a fan of Quinn’s final five picks, none of whom profiled as impact NFL players in college. The Lions came out of this draft still weak at cornerback and defensive end, and with unsolved questions at wide receiver, center, strong-side linebacker, and safety.
Grade: B-
Green Bay Packers
1 (27). UCLA DT Kenny Clark
2 (48). Indiana OT Jason Spriggs
3 (88). Utah State OLB Kyler Fackrell
4 (131). Nebraska ILB Blake Martinez
4 (137). Northwestern DE Dean Lowry
5 (163). California WR Trevor Davis
6 (200). Stanford OT Kyle Murphy
Overview: A high-energy nose tackle with a wrestling background, Clark addressed a pressing need following NT B.J. Raji‘s retirement. Packers GM Ted Thompson coveted Spriggs, sending Indianapolis fourth- (125) and seventh-round picks (248) in exchange for a nine-slot climb in round two, where LT David Bakhtiari‘s new backup was selected. Fackrell should replace Mike Neal as Green Bay’s swiss-army-knife linebacker. Despite it continuing to be Green Bay’s biggest need, Thompson has refused to draft an inside linebacker before the fourth round in back-to-back offseasons. With the exception of Clark, this draft was all about depth and supplementing the back end of Thompson’s roster, particularly in the trenches. I would have liked the class better had Thompson emerged with a legitimate starter at inside linebacker, which could have ensured Clay Matthews will move back onto the edge.
Grade: B-
