The first round of the 2017 NFL Draft is in the books and it is now time to see how the teams fared.
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills: B
They traded down with the Chiefs and acquired future picks, while still getting a great cover corner in Tre’Davious White out of LSU. This will help them cope with the loss of Stephon Gilmore.
Miami Dolphins: B
The Dolphins needed to get a younger edge rusher and luckily pass rushers fell in this draft class. Charles Harris is a good pass rusher that needs to develop into a good run stopper.
New England Patriots: A
Brandin Cooks was acquired in a deal that sent pick number 32 to the Saints. Cooks will make the Patriot’s offense more dynamic. New England also got very good value in the trade.
New York Jets: A+
The Jets loved the safeties in this class and they got Jamal Adams. Adams is a safer pick and should have a great and long NFL career. Safety wasn’t the biggest need, but they got great value in Adams.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: C
Baltimore got decent value in Marlon Humphrey, but could have addressed different needs. All three tackles with first round grades were still available. Humphrey can improve and will have to to cover Antonio Brown and A.J. Green in the division.
Cincinnati Bengals: F
John Ross is the fastest player in the class, but the Bengals reached on him. Cincinnati could have gotten him later in the round if they had traded down. They also had other needs that could have been addressed at nine. Ross can develop into a good NFL player, but also has injury issues to deal with.
Cleveland Browns: A-
The Browns did not screw this up and in fact had a good draft. They took Myles Garrett with the first overall pick, who should be a good pass rusher for years to come. Cleveland traded the number 12 pick to the Texans and acquired more Picks. With the pick they got from Houston, they selected safety Jabrill Peppers, which fills a huge need. After this, they traded into the first round and took tight end David Njoku, who should be a great receiving threat next season.
Pittsburgh Steelers: B
Pittsburgh needed to get pass rushing help, as James Harrison led the team in sacks last year and is aging. Watt was taken a little bit high for his value, but can develop into a good player with time.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans: D
The Texans traded all the way up to 12 to get Deshaun Watson. Had they stayed at their pick and gotten him, it would have been a great pick, as it fills a great need. Watson has accuracy and arm strength issues, but does have good intangibles. He will need the offense to help out a lot around him.
Indianapolis Colts: A+
Malik Hooker somehow fell all the way to number 14. The Colts needed to improve the defense, even though this didn’t fill a huge need. Hooker has some concerns with injuries, but is a great middle of the field safety.
Jacksonville Jaguars: A
The Jaguars don’t have a great running back on the roster and now has a once in a lifetime running back. Leonard Fournette will give the Jaguars a good running game and allow them to evaluate Blake Bortles after the season. With the defense addressed in free agency, Jacksonville should be able to compete for the division.
Tennessee Titans: B-
Tennessee got good players, but they reached on both picks in the first round of draft. Corey Davis and Adoree’ Jackson will both be players capable of starting for the Titans for years, but they could have gotten them later. They both however fill big needs at wide receiver and corner.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos: B
Denver filled their biggest need by selecting tackle Garett Bolles. With the top three tackles on the board, the Broncos elected to go with the most athletic of the three in Bolles. He will be a good pass blocker form day one.
Kansas City Chiefs: C-
It was a very risky move to trade up in the draft and get quarterback Pat Mahommes at pick 10. He has great arm strength and good accuracy, but is a gunslinger who throws a lot of interceptions. The transition from Alex Smith to Mahommes should be a fun one to watch.
Los Angeles Chargers: B
Wide receiver was a need and Mike Williams is a stud. He will provide great value if Keenan Allen gets injured again, or playing along side him. Williams is a great red zone target who will be productive in his first year. Phillip Rivers did a great job with little talent at receiver last year and should be overjoyed heading into next season.
Oakland Raiders: C-
Gareon Conley is a great corner who had value being taken at number 24 overall. The problem is that he was accused of rape on April 9. If he comes back clean this is a steal of a pick, but if it doesn’t he could be suspended or worse.
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys: B
Taco Charlton wasn’t supposed to fall to the Cowboys, but he now gets to play for Dallas. They needed more edge rushers and Charlton has the size that can be molded into a dominant force.
New York Giants: C
Tight End was a need, but they should have addressed the tackle position with so many on the board. Engram is a fast tight end, who is more of a glorified wide receiver. He will be a good weapon for the Giants, but only if Manning has the time to deliver the ball to him.
Philadelphia Eagles: B-
Derek Barnett presented good value, but they don’t have many good corners. The Eagles will give up a lot of yards through the air if the pass rush doesn’t get to the quarterback in time. Running back was also a good option with Dalvin Cook on the board.
Washington Redskins: A+
Washington had Jonathan Allen fall all the way to pick number 17 and rushed to the podium to get him. Allen is a top five player in the class, who will have an immediate impact.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: F
The Bears traded up one pick, to get a quarterback that they likely could’ve gotten at their original pick, number 3. Mitch Trubisky is the best quarterback in this class, but none of them warranted a pick at number two overall. This grade also takes into account the big deal that the Bears gave Mike Glennon.
Detroit Lions: B-
Jarrad Davis was selected and he is a good linebacker and should’ve been drafted in that range. The problem is that the best linebacker in the class, Reuben Foster was still on the board.
Green Bay Packers: A
The Packers traded out of the first round with the Browns to get the first selection in the second round. None of the players the Packers were likely targeting were selected in the picks after the trade.
Minnesota Vikings: C-
Sam Bradford was acquired with the Vikings first round selection in this draft class. Bradford did set a record for completion percentage in a season, but overall Minnesota’s offense sputtered.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons: B
Atlanta traded up to get Takkarist McKinley. He has the best motor of anybody in the entire class, although he is a bit undersized. He will be a good speed rusher across from Vic Beasley.
Carolina Panthers: A
Christian McCaffrey is a very versatile player that will get touches as a running back, wide receiver and return man. Drafting McCaffrey will allow Cam Newton to take less hits and create an interesting dynamic with Jonathan Stewart still in the backfield.
New Orleans Saints: C+
The Saints had a good pick at number 11 in the first round when they selected Marshon Lattimore. They likely didn’t think he would fall to them, but got great value. Lattimore fits what New Orleans needs, which is a lot of defensive help. After this they went on to select Ryan Ramczyk with the last pick in the first round. He does provide value, but the Saints already have too many tackles on their roster.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A-
Tampa Bay didn’t absolutely need a tight end, but O.J. Howard was a great value pick at number 19. He is going to make their offense fun to watch and should help the development of Jameis Winston.
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals: C-
The Cardinals reached for Haason Reddick. He is a converted edge rusher now trying to play linebacker in the pros. At the very least he is a guy they will need to develop. Reddick could have been selected a little later in the round.
Los Angeles Rams: D+
Jared Goff was acquired as part of a deal that sent the Rams’ first round pick this year. While Goff hasn’t played the greatest yet, he still has potential and a new coaching staff can get some good things out of him.
San Francisco 49ers: A+
San Francisco started off the draft by trading the number two pick to the Bears and likely got the player they wanted all along in Solomon Thomas. Thomas should be able to help immediately. They then traded back up into the first round and selected Reubuen Foster, who is the best linebacker in the class.
Seattle Seahawks: ??
The Seahawks traded out of the first round with the 49ers. They only moved down a few spots and can likely still get the offense line help they need. More will be learned about their grade once they actually make their selections.