NGT: NFL Draft Thoughts Around the League

Talking about the NYG class can get old....so here is some league draft talk. This will be mostly bullet pointed type stuff. NFC East first:

PHI EAGLES

-Mr Obvious...this draft is all about Wentz. And...next year's draft is pretty much all about Wentz as well because they traded their 2017 1st and 2nd. It was interesting to see how they built the rest of their draft class in contrast to the other team that made an aggressive move up for a QB, the Rams. PHI spent 2 of their next 3 picks on OL...both guys I had higher grades on than where they were drafted. OG Seumalo and OT Vaitai are very solid. LA went with pass catchers...4 of their 5 remaining picks were spent on WRs and pass catching TEs. I always feel the OL needs to be top priority when drafting a young QB...so nice job by PHi there.

WAS Redskins

Really good draft by WAS. Probably one of my favorite 4-5 classes in the league at this point. The WR Doctson pick surprised me not based on value, but I was sure they would allocate a resource like this elsewhere. He was a true BPA approach and I bet he out-plays all their WRs in 2017. S/LB Cravens will be a monster in their scheme and is a good fit for what NFL defenses need these days. Nice gamble on CB Fuller and DT Ioannidis is another great scheme fit. Love the late rounders LB Daniels and RB Marshall. They got a bunch of contributors in this class.

DAL Cowboys

Not impressed. Elliot is whatever on a team with a McFadden, who just had a career year, and Morris, who is very solid and just signed a decent-sized deal. That defense was easily scored on last year and they passed on supreme defensive talent. Sure they went defende in round 2 with Jaylon Smith...but he won't help in 2016 I think. The DL they brought in won't scare anyone so you are potentially looking at a DL with absolutely zero pass rush potential playing in front of a DB group without any playmakers. DAL will need to score 30 points a week. I quietly do love the Prescott pick, though.

And elsewhere in the league....

BAL Ravens

I wasn't in love with the Stanley pick. I think they might be looking for anothr left tackle in 3-4 years. But other than that, they hit a homerun with their late picks. That team does really well with their picks when it comes to drafting based on their schemes. DE Kaufusi had flashes of being the most dominant DL in this class, OLB Correa really intrigues me off the edge but can wear a traditional LB hat as well, RB Kenneth Dixon might have been the top value-get of the weekend. DE Matt Judon has star potential and has always reminded me of a cheaper Terrell Suggs. Good place for him to learn. The dominant defensive days in BAL will be back soon, I love their young talent there.

CLE Browns

I haven't been this up on the Browns....possibly ever. I really believe in their coaching staff but they don't have the QB yet. Maybe next year. But what they did with their defensive draft was outstanding. DE Ogbah and DE Nassib have weaknesses that can easily be hidden in their scheme will still being able to use their strengths. Those guys could lead the turnaround upfront with Danny Shelton. WR Coleman, WR Louis, WR Payton, and WR Higgins could all factor in 2016. Thats how bad their current group there is. But hey, if two of the 4 strike gold they are set for when the franchise QB comes in to place. Thats a big deal, as you can see what is happening in OAK. OT Coleman and OT Drango should get in the starting lineup by 2017 as well, right when they will likely need some fresh blood. Good start to their rebuild.

BUF Bills

I respect what BUF did here. They were already a team that had a strong defensive presence with questionable offensive talent. What did they do? Enhance their strengths. Their first three picks were spent on the front seven and they all have Rex Ryan written all over them. Aggressive, big, and physical. DE Lawson, LB Ragland, and DT Washington will all play early and often for this defense and they will fit right in. Oh and don't overlook 7th rounder CB Seymour, he has a ton of talent but was slowed by injuries in college. Interested to see how QB Jones does there and RB Williams should steal some carries for from Karlos WIlliams before long. He is a more natural but just as effective power runner right now.

DEN Broncos

DEN has been drafting pretty well since Elway has been in the picture. I don't particularly like Lynch but I understand what they did there. And Elway is a good judge of QB talent. They didn't make their whole draft about him however. DT Gotsis is going to surprise people, he is perfect for their scheme. OG McGovern I think will be a very good starter in this league. I love the FS Simmons fit and RB Booker will get plenty of action. Hopefully he can hang on to the ball though.

DET Lions

This team made no secret about wanting to get more physical. Bigger. Meaner. In that division, they needed that approach and I don't think they could have done a better job there. OT Decker and C Glasgow are year one starters and upgrades to help keep the underrated Stafford upright. DT Robinson is a tad overrated but at the very least he will have a presence inside and hold ground. SS Killebrew is probably the most physical S in the class. OG Dahl is at least a year away but he is a strong dude that didn't get to show it enough at Washington State. LB Antwione Williams is going to surprise people. He has great tools and can be a big time enforcer. I think this team is very close to winning the NFC North.

GB Packers

There is a reason why GB is consistently in the mix. Aaron Rodgers, I know. But if you look at how many homegrown players they have putting in serious playing time week in, week out, you have to be impressed. DT Kenny Clark is a plug and play guy. OT Jason Spriggs needs time but he fits that scheme exceptionally well and I think everyone knows their current OT situation leaves a lot to be desired. I bet he is the starting LT in 2017, if not sooner. OLB Fackrell is underrated, he can be a force as an outside rusher. ILB Martinez can start next to Matthews in the 3-4 right away over Jake Ryan for sure. DE Dean Lowry didn't fit most schemes but he will factor in 2016. He isn't far off from what Carl Nassib was. Look for WR Trevor Davis...I think he can be a stud with Rodgers throwing him the ball. He can get open.

HOU Texans

I think they reached a little, but I respect their approach to sticking to their plan. They wanted more speed on offense and I think it will make DeAndre Hopkins even better. I am in the minority on WR Fuller, I know that. Even though I was a little down on him grade wise, he can factor day one because of the deep ball speed. WR Miller is a draft class wild card. High risk high reward. RB Ervin is a gimmick guy but O'Brien is one of the few coaches that knows how to use that efficiently. Their late defensive picks were 2 of my favorites. S Dillon and DT Reader are players. Better in the NFL than in college, watch.

JAC Jaguars

There isn't a person that doesn't like this class. Ramsey and Jack? Sign me up. No matter what. That defense could get Fowler, Ramsey, Jack, and free agent DL Malik Jackson added from last season. Wow. In addition, they spent 4 more picks on defense and add them to a team that has one of the top young QB/WR combos in the league with a healthy Julius Thomas and potentially dominant 1-2 punch in the backfield. Jacksonville has arrived.

MIN Vikings

MIN is going to be one of my NFC favorites in 2016. Adding my top WR Treadwell and CB Alexander were great picks. They both will factor big in 2016. Love the defensive talent in LB Brothers and DE Weatherly and TE Morgan I had a higher grade on than anyone that I saw out there. He will be an important player because of NFL ready blocking and underrated pass catching ability.

OAK Raiders

My bold prediction for 2016...OAK will have a bye in round 1 of the playoffs. I am thinking 12+ wins here. S Joseph and DE Ward fit right in to what they do and DE Calhoun has upside even though I didn't give him a high grade. Don't like QB Cook as a starter and franchise guy, but as a backup? Awesome value. OG Alexander will have time to learn behind their big bruisers that play a similar style. This team has the goods on both sides of the ball.

SEA Seahawks

They came in to the draft with one of the worst OLs on paper a year after Russell Wilson was put on his back way too often. Depending on rookies is a bold move, but OT Ifedi and OG Odihambo are very likely and capbale week 1 starters. They got a major steal in DT Reed too at #49 overall. I thought he was a sure thing top 30 pick. RB Collins and WR Lawler were two of the better day 3 value grabs.