Was It Worth It?: Grading 2015 NFL Draft Picks

On April 30th, the 2015 NFL Draft began with a massive bang. Several top NFL prospects from around the country got calls from coaches, general managers, and owners of NFL teams. Most of these picks were great choices for several teams, while a lot were highly surprising. Let’s review some of the first round draft choices and see which picks may live up to the hype and which picks have lots of questions to be answered.

The Buffalo Bills and the Seattle Seahawks did not have first round picks this year. The Bills used this year’s pick in a trade last year, and the Seahawks used their pick to acquire tight end Jimmy Graham from the New Orleans Saints.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1st overall pick):

Selection: Jameis Winston, Quarterback, Florida State

Grade: A-

This pick came without any questioning as to why Jason Licht, the general manager for the Buccaneers, chose Jameis Winston as the first pick of the entire draft. Winston has shown his ability to be a quarterback at the NFL level. His only concerns are his off-the-field issues of maturity. If Winston answers those questions wisely and makes no mistakes, he’ll be a solid franchise player for the Buccaneers.

Tennessee Titans (2nd overall pick)

Selection: Marcus Mariota, Quarterback, Oregon

Grade: B+

I’m kind of skeptical about this pick. Marcus Mariota could develop into a dominant signal caller, but how will he fit into a Titans scheme that calls for quarterbacks who can stay in the pocket rather than mobile quarterbacks? Ken Whisehunt, the Titans head coach, did say that he would develop his offensive scheme in favor of Mariota’s talents. If it succeeds, Marcus Mariota can make the Titans a relevant franchise once again.

Jacksonville Jaguars (3rd overall pick)

Selection: Dante Fowler, Jr., Linebacker, Florida

Grade: D+

Originally, this pick would have been an easy A. Why? He’s probably the best pass rusher in this draft, has so much potential to explore, and can serve as an immediate impact of a team that needs to have more than one person getting sacks. Why the low grade, though? It’d be an A only if Dante Fowler, Jr. hadn’t obtained a season ending injury during the first day of training camp. Fowler will be great later in his career, but as of now, he’ll be learning from veterans as he goes through rehab.

Oakland Raiders (4th overall pick)

Selection: Amari Cooper, Wide Reciever, Alabama

Grade: A

The Raiders are deprived of skill positions. They got a few of them covered in last year’s draft, but it wasn’t enough to help them into the playoffs. With the vast wide receiver class available, they took the first or second best receiver on the board and it’ll pay off. Quarterback Derek Carr now has a great offensive weapon in Amari Cooper, and it should be obvious how he produces on the field this season.

New York Jets (6th overall pick)

Selection: Leonard Williams, Defensive Lineman, USC

Grade: A

Let’s be honest: The Jets didn’t have any important need at their defensive line. That doesn’t mean that this wasn’t a great pick. They may have had the steal of the draft when Leonard Williams, possibly the most talented player in this entire draft, dropped past the Washington Redskins (the Redskins drafted offensive guard Brandon Scherff with the 5th overall pick). Williams will definitely be able to contribute as soon as he gets on the field with fellow teammates Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson.

New York Giants (9th overall pick)

Selection: Ereck Flowers, Offensive Tackle, Miami

Grade: B-

The grade is low due to the reach that the Giants have made to obtain this player, who was most commonly projected to be drafted late in the first round. With that in mind, we don’t know if this will be a great or an awful pick just yet. Hopefully it’ll work out. Although it may be a reach, Giants fan Ryan Misiewicz is confident in the pick. “I think it was a good pick. It fills a need on the offensive line,” Ryan Misiewicz argued. “The Giants were one of the worst teams with run-blocking last year. Ereck Flowers is considered one of the best run-blockers in the draft.” Flowers was probably the best run-blocker available and that’s easily proven, although we’ll see how he proves that in the upcoming years.

St. Louis Rams (10th overall pick)

Selection: Todd Gurley, Running Back, Georgia

Grade: B

It wasn’t a surprising pick, but it was a surprising pick. The Rams did need some offensive weapons, but not particularly at running back due to them having both Zac Stacy and Tre Mason at running back. Todd Gurley will definitely take a lot of pressure off of newly obtained quarterback Nick Foles, and give an immediate impact to the team. The pick did bring controversy within the team, as Stacy requested a trade after Gurley was drafted. Stacy is now on the New York Jets. Either way, Todd Gurley is a very good draft choice for the Rams.

Minnesota Vikings (11th overall pick)

Selection: Trae Waynes, Cornerback, Michigan State

Grade: A

Personally, I would have though that the Vikings would have nabbed receiver DeVante Parker. Instead, they grabbed their more important need. Trae Waynes is a talent that slid out of the top-10 due to teams not needing a cornerback or it not being their main need, so the Vikings took Waynes instead. He’ll serve as an impact role immediately. Let’s not just take it from myself, but from Vikings fan Brian Spadafora as well, who decided to write an essay about it, but we’ll keep it short. “[Waynes] gives them another corner to do more from the defensive side of the ball, and given his 4.31 speed [in the 40-yard dash], he gives the Vikings one of the faster young cornerbacks in the league,” Brian Spadafora exclaimed. “He was a bit overhyped going into the draft, but he’ll be good enough to hold his own in the league.” Waynes fills a need and will be an impact role immediately, and he’ll be looking to prove it this season.

Cleveland Browns (12th overall pick)

Selection: Danny Shelton, Defensive Tackle, Washington

Grade: A-

A lot of people wrote Danny Shelton off of their draft boards due to his poor 40-yard dash time, so it was only common for the Browns to take him. Being last in run defense in the league last year was a major problem, and they definitely will improve with Shelton’s impact on the field. He’s a natural dominance on the field, and he’ll prove that this season.

Miami Dolphins (14th overall pick)

Selection: DeVante Parker, Wide Receiver, Louisville

Grade: A

The Dolphins seemed to be attempting to revamp the passing game this offseason, releasing receivers Brian Hartline and Mike Wallace. They then grabbed Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings during free agency, but the need was still there. DeVante Parker will be a very good offensive weapon for quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

San Diego Chargers (15th overall pick)

Selection: Melvin Gordon, Running Back, Wisconsin

Grade: B+

The Chargers performed the first trade of the draft by going up two spots from the 17th overall pick, grabbing this pick from the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers grabbed defensive tackle Arik Armstead with their pick, and the Chargers grabbed Melvin Gordon. Setting several college football records definitely improves your draft stock, and it was a need for the Chargers after losing running back Ryan Mathews. Gordon will take pressure off of veteran quarterback Philip Rivers, who is on the final year of his contract for the Chargers.

San Francisco 49ers (17th overall pick)

Selection: Arik Armstead, Defensive Tackle, Oregon

Grade: A-

This was probably the biggest need coming into the draft. Justin Smith, the defensive tackle for the 49ers, was clearly aging and coming off of an injury. His retirement was mostly clear to happen, and it did. Although Justin Smith can’t really be replaced, Arik Armstead could become a future star player in this league. He may need a year to develop, but hopefully he can prove some things this year as a situational lineman.

Cleveland Browns (19th overall pick)

Selection: Cameron Erving, Center, Florida State

Grade: C

At first, this pick made no sense to me. Alex Mack is the center already, and he’s more than the perfect person at the position. Then again, Mack is in the final year of his contract and if he leaves, Cameron Erving could be the perfect candidate for the position. Although, if Alex Mack stays in Cleveland, Erving will have to find a position on the line that suits him. Guard seems like a likely possibility, but we’ll have to see how the Browns work this out. For now, this wasn’t a very great draft choice.

Philadelphia Eagles (20th overall pick)

Selection: Nelson Agholor, Wide Receiver, USC

Grade: B+

The Eagles lost receiver Jeremy Maclin this offseason. So what was the best way to replace him? Get a person that’s nearly the same person as Maclin. Nelson Agholor will fill in the need, but I’m still skeptical about the choice. The Eagles could have used the pick for a safety, which they failed to address in the entire draft. Either way, Agholor is a decent choice for the team and will make an impact immediately.

Pittsburgh Steelers (22nd overall pick)

Selection: Bud Dupree, Linebacker, Kentucky

Grade: A-

The Steelers lost Jason Worilds when they let him explore the open market in free agency only to find out he was retiring. James Harrison is near retirement as well, so Bud Dupree is a very great pick. He’ll fit in perfectly with the Steelers as a pass rusher.

Denver Broncos (23rd overall pick)

Selection: Shane Ray, Defensive End, Missouri

Grade: B+

Say what you want, I think this is a great choice. Shane Ray may have character concerns with him getting caught with marijuana and him having a toe injury, but he’s a fit for the Broncos nonetheless. They traded up with the Lions to grab this pick (the Lions chose offensive tackle Laken Tomlinson at the 28th overall pick), and a future need is now filled. Although defensive end DeMarcus Ware is still dominant as ever, he’s still getting old and may be on the verge of retirement. Once he’s gone, Shane Ray will be there to fill his shoes and could go on to be a franchise player for the Broncos. Let’s just hope he doesn’t mess up his opportunity with poor choices off the field.

Baltimore Ravens (26th overall pick)

Selection: Breshad Perriman, Wide Receiver, Central Florida

Grade: A-

The Ravens had a huge hole at their receiver group. Other than veteran Steve Smith Sr., quarterback Joe Flacco needs targets. Receiver Torrey Smith signed to the 49ers, so receiver was an obvious choice here. Breshad Perriman will fill in a major need for the Ravens, and could be an elite receiver if used correctly.

Dallas Cowboys (27th overall pick)

Selection: Byron Jones, Cornerback, Connecticut

Grade: B

This wasn’t the worst pick of the draft and it wasn’t the best, but Byron Jones may have been suited as an early second round pick. Although, owner Jerry Jones is known for picking up great talent, and Byron Jones may be a wise choice. Byron Jones’ draft stocks improved drastically at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he had eye-widening numbers in each category. This included setting a record for the broad jump at twelve feet and three inches. This pick also shows how Morris Claiborne, a former first round pick cornerback in the 2012 NFL Draft, really needs to improve this year or else Jones will be jumping on top of Claiborne in the depth chart.

Indianapolis Colts (29th overall pick)

Selection: Phillip Dorsett, Wide Receiver, Miami

Grade: D+

 Phillip Dorsett was a first-round talent, as were most of the receivers in this draft class. Although, this pick made extremely little sense to me. The Colts have a deep receiver class with T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncrief, and Duron Carter, so why would they keep adding to that when there are several other position needs at the moment? Dorsett is a deep threat nonetheless and another target for quarterback Andrew Luck, but it seems a bit unnecessary to have him.

Green Bay Packers (30th overall pick)

Selection: Damarious Randall, Safety, Arizona State

Grade: B

If you know who I am, you know I have an obsession with the Green Bay Packers. Does that mean I love every little bit about them? Of course not, and this is a small example of what I didn’t completely like. Damarious Randall seemed fit as a second round pick, so using a first-round pick on a position that is not needed whatsoever causes some head scratchers. Although, Randall seems fit for cornerback, which is a position of need. General Manager Ted Thompson has a plan going on and we’ll just have to find out once the season starts.

New England Patriots (32nd overall pick)

Selection: Malcom Brown, Defensive Tackle, Texas

Grade: A

Finally, we’re at the end of the first round. Is there a better way to end it off with one of the steals of this draft? Malcom Brown surprisingly fell all the way to the bottom of the first round, but nonetheless seemed destined to go to the Patriots. With the loss of defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, Malcom Brown fills a need and will certainly show that on the field once the season begins.

Draft picks not included:

Washington Redskins (5th overall pick)

Selection: Brandon Scherff, Offensive Guard, Iowa

Grade: B

Chicago Bears (7th overall pick)

Selection: Kevin White, Wide Receiver, West Virginia

Grade: A-

Atlanta Falcons (8th overall pick)

Selection: Vic Beasley, Linebacker, Clemson

Grade: A

New Orleans Saints (13th overall pick)

Selection: Andrus Peat, Offensive Tackle, Stanford

Grade: B

Houston Texans (16th overall pick)

Selection: Kevin Johnson, Cornerback, Wake Forest

Grade: B+

Kansas City Chiefs (18th overall pick)

Selection: Marcus Peters, Cornerback, Washington

Grade: C+

Cincinnati Bengals (21st overall pick)

Selection: Cedric Ogbuehi, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M

Grade: C-

Arizona Cardinals (24th overall pick)

Selection: D.J. Humphries, Offensive Tackle, Florida

Grade: A+

Carolina Panthers (25th overall pick)

Selection: Shaq Thompson, Linebacker, Washington

Grade: C+

Detroit Lions (28th overall pick)

Selection: Laken Tomlinson, Offensive Guard, Duke

Grade: C+

New Orleans Saints (31st overall pick)

Selection: Stephone Anthony, Linebacker, Clemson

Grade: A-