Pickin’ Bolts: NFL Draft Review – Two-Sentence Reviews for Every Team
NFC
Arizona Cardinals: Drafting enigma Robert Nkemdiche (DE/DT) was a boom or bust move. Getting a Center (Evan Boehm) in the 4th was good but the rest of the draft was just filler.
Atlanta Falcons: I really like Keanu Neal (S) but at 17 he’s probably a reach, the rest of the draft are just guys. This might be the worst draft anybody had.
Carolina Panthers: The Panthers like to build their defense from the DL back and got a good one with Vernon Butler (DT). Then they took three corners (James Bradberry, Daryl Worley, and Zack Sanchez) and a 7th round TE (Beau Sandland); um, ok…
Chicago Bears: Chicago is a blue-collar town and this draft reflects that, Leonard Floyd (DE/OLB), Cody Whitehair (OT/G), Jonathan Bullard (DE/DT), Nick Kwiatkoski (LB) are the epitome of un-sexy picks. But they’ll be foundation to reviving the Bears lagging fortunes.
Dallas Cowboys: They got a ton of talent, in particular with Ezekiel Elliot (RB) and Jaylon Smith (LB). Elliot will almost certainly work out and this draft will be considered a success but lots of guys on this lists are “maybe’s.”
Detroit Lions: Experts said the Lions needed a stud WR to replace Megatron. Instead the Lions reloaded smartly from the inside-out with Taylor Decker (OT), A’Shawn Robinson (DT), and Graham Glasgow (C/G).
Green Bay Packers: Other than a 5th round WR (Davis), the Packers used every other pick on OL or defensive front seven. Going with Kenny Clark (DT/NT), Jason Spriggs (OT), and Kyler Fackrell (DE/OLB) to start a draft is solid.
Los Angeles Rams: QB Jared Goff was my #1 QB but I thought Wentz was better suited for the Rams offense. They tried to make Goff happy however, by drafting a ton of pass-catchers: Tyler Higbee (TE), Pharoh Cooper (WR), Temarrick Hemingway (TE), and Mike Thomas (WR) with all but 1 of their remaining picks.
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings walked away from the draft buffet with arguably the best WR in Laquon Treadwell and one of the top corners in Mackensie Alexander. They traded down and got 2017 picks in return and while back half wasn’t great there’s upside and value; real solid.
New Orleans Saints: The Saints got one of the best DL in the draft in Sheldon Rankins (DT) and my personal favorite WR in Michael Thomas. And while I frown on trading up, getting Vonn Bell (S) late in the 2nd was worth a 4th and getting David Onyemata (DT) in the 5th is a nice upside pick; fantastic draft.
New York Giants: They took a lot of talented guys they liked at positions in which better players were available – Eli Apple (CB), Sterling Shepherd (WR), Darian Thompson (S) – so it’s hard to get really excited about this draft.
Philadelphia Eagles: Despite the free agent QBs, the Eagles needed a long-term franchise guy, Carson Wentz fits that bill and whole draft will be graded on his success or failure. They didn’t have a lot of extra picks but getting Issac Seumalo (G/C) in the 3rd was nice. The rest of their draft seemed mailed in.
San Francisco 49ers: One way to nail a draft is to have lots of picks; the Niners had that but took a bunch of questionable players. DeForest Buckner (DE/DT) at #7 overall was the lone home run pick.
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks traded back to get extra picks and made a bunch of quality picks when they did draft. Germaine Ifedi (G), Jarran Reed (DT/NT), Nick Vannett (TE), and Alex Collins (RB) look tailor-made for Seattle.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I really like the Bucs first three picks: Vernon Hargreaves III (CB), Noah Spence (DE/OLB), and Roberto Aguayo (K) but trading up to get a kicker was a panic-move. The rest of the draft was ho-hum.
Washington: The Redskins were patient; it’s almost like they locked owner Daniel Snyder out of the building. Josh Doctson (WR), Su’a Cravens (S/LB), and Kendall Fuller (CB) were great picks and their 7th round pick, Keith Marshall (RB) was a person favorite.
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P.S. I’ll be adding a comprehensive review of the Chargers soon.
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