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2015 NFL Draft Grades: NFC

Posted on May 11, 2015

One of the best sports weekends ever has come and went, and with it, the NFL Draft has been completed. The NFL Draft has become a spectacle in recent years, and while some fans may not know every player their favorite team selected, every fan has the same question after the draft ends. “How did my team do?” Well, here are my 2015 NFL Draft Grades for the NFC teams.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys (C)

Picks: CB Byron Jones (27^th), DE Randy Gregory (60^th), OG Chaz Green (91^st), LB Damien Wilson (127^th), DE Ryan Russell (163^rd), LB Mark Nzeocha (236^th), OL Laurence Gibson (243^rd), TE Goeff Swain (246^th)- The Cowboys messed up this draft by not addressing their need for a number one running back. This draft class was incredibly deep at running back and they managed to not get one. Now, Byron Jones and Randy Gregory are both good value picks and good fits in the Cowboys scheme. Other than that, this draft had no value, and failed to address their biggest need.

New York Giants (B-)

Picks: OT Ereck Flowers (9^th), S Landon Collins (33^rd), DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (74^th), S Mykkele Thompson (144^th), WR Geremy Davis (186^th), OL Bobby Hart (226^th)- The Giants draft was really hot and cold for me. They got two impact defensive players in Digi and Landon Collins. However, I had Ereck Flowers with a second round grade, and the Giants drafted him in the top ten. They also didn’t get any day three value picks. Despite this, Collins and Digi keep this draft at a decent grade.

Washington Redskins (C-)

Picks: OT Brandon Scherff (5^th), DE/OLB Preston Smith (38^th), RB Matt Jones (95^th), WR Jamison Crowder (105^th), OG Arie Kouandijo (112^th), LB Martell Spaight (141^st), S Kyshoen Jarrett (181^st), CB Tevin Mitchel (182^nd), WR Evan Spencer (187^th), C Austin Reiter (222^nd)- Everyone has debated Brandon Scherff over Leonard Williams for over a week now, and I can’t help but agree. Scherff is better suited as a guard, and I have a hard time justifying a guard in the top five. Preston Smith rated well for me as a 3-4 defensive end, assuming he bulks up, so I have no problem with that pick. After that though, I have a problem with the whole draft. Matt Jones was beyond a reach, Jamison Crowder had an incredibly poor day at the combine, and there were no value picks in rounds four through seven.

Philadelphia Eagles (B-)

Picks: WR Nelson Agholor (20^th), CB/S Eric Rowe (47^th), LB Jordan Hicks (84^th), CB JaCorey Sheperd (191^st), CB Randall Evans (196^th), DE Brian Mihalik (237^th)- The Eagles hit a home run with Nelson Agholor, who will be dynamic in Chip Kelly’s offense. I did have Jaelen Strong slightly higher than Agholor, but the margin was so close that I have no objection to the Eagles taking Agholor. Eric Rowe may have been a bit of a reach, but the Eagles desperately need secondary help. Rowe can play both corner and safety, and the Eagles need both. Again, not a lot of value late, but the Eagles had two big needs, and addressed them both. I’ll also be the first to say, it’s a good thing they didn’t give the farm for Marcus Mariota. It would’ve been way too much and they might need those picks if the Chip Kelly experiment fails.

NFC North

Green Bay Packers (B-)

Picks: S Damarious Randall (30^th), CB Quinten Rollins (62^nd), WR Ty Montgomery (94^th), OLB Jake Ryan (129^th), QB Brett Hundley (147^th), FB Aaron Ripkowski (206^th), DE Christian Ringo (210^th), TE Kennard Backman (213^th)- The Packers draft kind of puzzled me. They needed someone in the middle of their defense to help stop the run, and the failed to address that. Their first round selection was a free ranging cover safety who can play both cover one and cover two. What’s odd about it is that I’m not talking about last year’s selection of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. I think Damarious Randall is a solid fit in the Packers scheme because they play double high, but I think it limits Clinton-Dix’s ability to roam the field. Quinten Rollins was a great pick. I think he has great upside and he can immediately be a nickel cornerback. The Packers draft will hinge on their third and fourth round picks. Montgomery was a highly touted prospect, but he struggled in his last year at Stanford. Ryan is a fiery player who plays hard on every down and can get to the passer. If both pan out, this could prove to be a big draft class. If not, this draft will hinge upon Randall’s success (and potentially Hundley’s).

Minnesota Vikings (A-)

Picks: CB Trae Waynes (11^th), ILB Eric Kendricks (45^th), DE Danielle Hunter (88^th), OT T.J Clemmings (110^th), TE MyCole Pruitt (143^rd), WR Stefon Diggs (146^th), OL Tyrus Thompson (185^th), DE B.J Dubose (193^rd), OL Austin Shepherd (228^th), LB Edmond Robinson (232^nd)- If I could give a draft an “A” in this draft class, this would be one of the ones I would give it to. Unfortunately, this draft class didn’t have enough talent for me to give an “A.” Waynes is a necessity opposite Xavier Rhodes, and even though he was a bit of a reach for me, it was a need. Eric Kendricks is an impact linebacker, something the Vikings have needed for a while. Danielle Hunter was better served in a 3-4, but he’s a good edge rusher and needs some time to develop anyway (in that time he can bulk up). Clemmings fell in the draft, but the Vikings were the beneficiaries of that when they scooped him in the fourth round. MyCole Pruitt had a great combine and shows some serious upside, and Stefon Diggs has a ton of upside as well, despite the fact he didn’t produce at Maryland. This was an incredible draft.

Chicago Bears (A-)

Picks: WR Kevin White (7^th), NT Eddie Goldman (39^th), C Hroniss Grasu (71^st), RB Jeremy Langford (106^th) S Adrian Amos (142^nd), OL Tayo Fabuluje (183^rd)- This is another draft I would give an “A” to, but as I previously stated I don’t think there was enough talent in the draft class to give anyone an “A.” The Bears got their impact wide receiver and their starting nose tackle of the future in the first two rounds. They added a starting center and a power back to compliment Matt Forte. The only place they may have missed is not having enough picks to find all the talent in this draft. New General Manager Ryan Pace is off to a great start in the windy city.

Detroit Lions (B)

Picks: OG Laken Tomlinson (28^th), RB Ameer Abdullah (54^th), CB Alex Carter (80^th), DT Gabe Wright (113^th), FB Michael Burton (168^th), CB Quandre Diggs (200^th), OL Corey Robinson (240^th)- The Lions had an interesting draft. They addressed their big needs (guard, running back, cornerback, defensive tackle), however some of their picks were reaches. Tomlinson is a solid player, but he was a reach. Alex Carter is a decent cover corner, but, he was a reach as well. Still, it was a solid draft class for Detroit.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons (B+)

Picks: OLB Vic Beasley (8^th), CB Jalen Collins (42^nd), RB Tevin Coleman (73^rd), WR Justin Hardy (107^th), DT/NT Grady Jarrett (137^th), OL Jake Rodgers (225^th), DB Akeem King (249^th)- The Falcons had a great draft, minus Jalen Collins. Their first round pick, Vic Beasley, is the impact pass rusher they have needed for years. Tevin Coleman will compete for the starting job as early as day one. Justin Hardy will immediately replace Harry Douglas in the slot, and Grady Jarrett is good rotational depth for Paul Soliai in the middle of the Falcons defense. Jalen Collins is the only thing that prevents this draft from being an “A-minus.”

Carolina Panthers (C-)

Picks: OLB Shaq Thompson (25^th), WR Devin Funchess (41^st), OL Daryl Williams (102^nd), LB David Mayo (169^th), RB Cameron Artis-Payne (174^th)- The Panthers draft started off great. Many people think that Shaq Thompson was a reach, but I love his versatility. He can cover a tight end one on one, and stops the run well. It may not have been a true need, but he will replace A.J Klein from day one. After that, the draft takes a nosedive. Funchess was not only a reach, but he’s a project because of his drops and incomplete route tree. Daryl Williams is a positional need, but I don’t think he has great value, and David Mayo was just unnecessary. Overall, this was a sub par draft.

New Orleans Saints (B)

Picks: OT Andrus Peat (13^th), ILB Stephone Anthony (31^st), OLB Hau’oli Kikaha (44^th), QB Garrett Grayson (75^th), CB P.J Williams (78^th), ILB Davis Tull (148^th), NT Tyeler Davidson (154^th), CB Damian Swann (167^th), RB Marcus Murphy (230^th)- I thought the Saints had a solid draft. Their first four picks were exactly what they needed. Peat will allow Zach Strief to go to guard, where he will presumably be more effective. Anthony was one of my favorite players in the draft, and he will be well worth the first round selection. Kikaha is a solid edge rusher and Grayson could be the quarterback of the future. Grayson was one of two quarterbacks in this draft that I thought could become a starter after sitting a few years. After that, the draft was below average. P.J Williams has upside, but throughout his career at Florida State I saw a corner who wouldn’t produce in the NFL. There weren’t any late round value picks either, but I still thought this was a solid draft.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (B)

Picks: QB Jameis Winston (1^st), OT/OG Donovan Smith (34^th), OG Ali Marpet (61^st), ILB Kwon Alexander (124^th), WR Kenny Bell (162^nd), WR Kaelin Clay (184^th), RB Joey Iosefa (231^st)- The Buccaneers draft after Jameis Winston may not have sparkled, but it was affective. Donovan Smith could prove to be a good right tackle, and if nothing else he should make a smooth transition to guard. Ali Marpet will probably be the offensive tackle that transitions to guard, and I expect him to do it well. The Bucs also added Kwon Alexander, who has the potential to shine in Lovie Smith’s defense. I think the Buccaneers did a good job of getting better this offseason.

NFC West

St. Louis Rams (D)

Picks: RB Todd Gurley (10^th), OT Rob Havenstein (57^th), OL Jamon Brown (72^nd), QB Sean Mannion (89^th), OL Andrew Donnal (119^th), WR Bud Sasser (201^st), OL Cody Wichmann (215^th), LB Bryce Hager (224^th), DE Martin Ifedi (227^th)- This draft is pathetic minus Gurley and Havenstein, and amazingly their two good picks were reaches. I’m just moving on to the next team.

San Francisco 49ers (B)

Picks: DE Arik Armstead (17^th), SS Jaquiski Tartt (46^th), OLB Eli Harold (79^th), TE Blake Bell (117^th), RB Mike Davis (126^th), WR DeAndre Smelter (132^nd), P Bradley Pinion (165^th), OL Ian Silberman (190^th), OL Trenton Brown (244^th), TE Busta Anderson (254^th)- Like the Saints, the Niners first four picks were solid. Armstead has a lot of upside, and despite the fact he is raw, I had him at a first round grade. Tartt and Harold will also be impact defensive players, especially Eli Harold, who was a steal in round three. I even like the Niners drafting the quarterback turned tight end in Blake Bell. There wasn’t a lot of value late, but the Niners draft was solid.

Arizona Cardinals (B)

Picks: OT D.J Humphries (24^th), OLB Markus Golden (58^th), RB David Johnson (86^th), OL Rodney Gunter (116^th), OLB Shaquille Riddick (158^th), WR J.J Nelson (159^th), TE Gerald Christian (256^th)- Many people love the Cardinals draft, but I’m not as impressed as most. I like D.J Humphries, but I still think he’s a right tackle, and not the best tackle in the draft. Markus Golden is absolutely useless. I don’t see what everyone else does in him. David Johnson was a great pick, however. Johnson could wind up be the starting guard as early as this season. I actually really liked the J.J Nelson selection as well, even if the Cardinals don’t need a receiver right now. Don’t get me wrong, the Cardinals draft is good, but I don’t think it was great.

Seattle Seahawks (C-)

Picks: DE Frank Clark (63^rd), WR Tyler Lockett (69^th), OL Terry Poole (130^th), OL Mark Glowsinki (134^th), CB Tye Smith (170^th), DE Obum Gwacham (209^th), DT Kristjan Sokoli (214^th) S Ryan Murphy (248^th)- Like the St. Louis Rams, this draft isn’t worth talking about it, minus Tyler Lockett. Having said that, I can’t give this worse than a “C-minus” because they did turn one of their picks in a horrifically weak draft class into Jimmy Graham.