Draft Summary: Round 1

Last night’s draft had everything you want in an NFL draft: intrigue, suspense, mystery.

After the first round, here is my analysis.

     Winners

    1) Cleveland Browns – They won the first round, but it has little to do with who they drafted. They traded back, acquiring a 1^st and 4^th next year to move back from 4 to 9, then gave a 5^th to Minnesota to move up one spot, to 8 to get their cornerback. The Brown’s also had the rights to pick 26 thanks to the Trent Richardson-to-the-Colts trade early last season. They flipped 26 and a 3^rd to Philadelphia to draft their quarterback.

Oklahoma State’s Justin Gilbert may have been a bit of a reach at 8. Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M may prove to be a steal at 26. But the fact that they addressed areas of need, managed to stockpile picks for next year, and still have six picks in this draft, including picks in both the 2^nd and 3rd rounds and two in the 4^th, makes them the winners of Round 1.

2   2) St. Louis Rams – I am the only person who thinks that DT Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh, was a slight reach at 13. But not by much. He doesn’t fill a gaping hole on the defensive line, which was already one of the best in the league, but he immediately improves it and makes the front four for the Rams as formidable a wall as you’ll see this side of China. Auburn’s OL Greg Robinson was a no-brainer at 2, improving a depleted offensive line immediately and for the future.

It was reported, too, that the Rams were trying to trade back in to get Zack Martin from Notre Dame. That would have made them the clear winners, but the price tag was too steep. It does show us that the Rams may target another lineman in this draft, possibly evening moving up or down to do so.

Though Cleveland won Round 1, the Rams positioned themselves to be the favorites to win the entire draft. To do so, they need to address their defensive backfield and add a wide receiver. They should be able to find a starter at either position with their 2^nd-round pick, 45 overall.

3   3) Minnesota Vikings – They begin their draft night by adding a 5^th-round pick and moving all the way down to 9 from 8. Pretty easy decision there. At 9, they reached a bit of outside linebacker Anthony Barr out of UCLA. After Khalil Mack, Barr was the best OLB available, so despite the slight reach, he was a good pick and he fills a need for the Vikes. But Minnesota isn’t on this list because of a linebacker. They had a great Round 1 because they were able to sneak back in, sacrificing their 2^nd and 4^th-round picks for pick 32. Since they would have picked at 40 anyway, they really only gave up the 4^th (108 overall). With 32, they drafted Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater is the best pick in the draft and should prove to be a steal at 32.  

Losers

1   1) Philadelphia Eagles – Louisville’s Marcus Smith, defensive end/linebacker, was the reach of the draft. It is a position of need, but only the Eagles thought Smith should go in the first round, let alone at 26. The Eagles could have addressed WR here, but instead reach for a player that they probably could have nabbed at 54, if not later.

2    2) Miami Dolphins – OL Ju’Wuan James out of Tennessee should be a good offensive lineman in the NFL  and the Dolphins, my Dolphins, needed to add depth and quality at the position. James is was rated as the 52^nd best player available going into the draft by ESPN’s Todd McShay and 55^th by ESPN’s Mel Kiper. It’s an improvement for Miami over last year (trading up to reach for a player that doesn’t fit their scheme), but it’s a reach. Even worse, the top-rated cornerback and safety, also positions of need, were both still sitting there.

3      3) New England Patriots – The Pats lost Vince Wilfork for most of last season due to injury. How do they add depth and get younger? They add DT Dominique Easley from Florida. Easley has his own injury history and, though he has a ton of potential, probably had a second-round value at best. At pick 29, you’re not stretching as much, but two knee injuries are a concern.

Steals of the draft

1   1) Cincinnati Bengals – Michigan State’s Darquese Dennard was the best cornerback available in this year’s draft. The fact that he fell all the way to the Bengals at 24 is almost unhealthy. It was the best value of the night, at least before we see on-field production.

2   2) Green Bay Packers – Luck? Careful planning? Either way, being able to select the draft’s best safety—a position the Packers desperately need to fill in a division full of good recievers—at 21 is amazing. Alabama S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was projected to be off the board in no later than the mid-teens, but somehow falls. Green Bay won’t complain; they just got better.

3   3) Detroit Lions – The Lions signed WR Golden Tate in the offseason in an effort to add weapons around the best receiver on the face of the earth: Calvin Johnson. But at 10, the Lions were able to snag TE Eric Ebron out of North Carolina. Ebron is a pass-catching guru and will both alleviate the pressure on Megatron and benefit from being lined up inside of him. This was the area where Ebron would go, anyway, so it’s not a value steal like Dennard or Clinton-Dix, but what he adds to an already amazing passing game makes this a terrific pick.

One last thought: it cost a little bit to do (namely 1^st- and 4^th-round picks next year), but the move by the Buffalo Bills to jump from 9 to 4 to select WR Sammy Watkins from Clemson was a good move. Watkins is arguably the best receiving prospect to come out since A.J. Green and the Bills have a second-year quarterback who will benefit from some great weapons. They need some help still, but in a division that boasts the Patriots and three also-rans, the Bills improved their young offense immensely and deserve some credit. Maybe it won’t show this year, but it will soon.