With the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft being complete, it is now the time to hand out grades. There was plenty of action to grade on. Check out how I feel your favorite team did on day one.
AFC South
New England Patriots – NG
The Patriots did not draft on day one. They traded the 32 pick to the New Orleans Saints for Brandin Cooks.
New York Jets – Grade A+
The Jets held the sixth spot in Thursday’s first round. Many had them trading the pick to a team looking for a QB. With the Chicago Bears move to number two, this trade did not happen. Instead, the Jets held pat and selected Jamaal Adams, S Ohio State. Adams can come in and secure the Jets secondary immediately. He brings the missing punch to the Jets defense.
Buffalo Bills – Grade A
The Bills held the number ten pick. However, they did not stay there. They traded the pick to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bills acquired the 27th pick, the 91st pick, and the Chiefs 2018 first round pick. With the 27th, pick the Bills selected Tre’Davious White, CB LSU. This filled a void after the release of Stephon Gilmore.
Miami Dolphins – Grade B
The Dolphins held the 22 pick on Thursday. They had their chance at taking LB Reuben Foster from Alabama. However, some key off-field issues held them off that pick. Nevertheless, they did go defense. Choosing OLB Charles Harris, Missouri. A solid pass rusher. The Dolphins needed to replace Dion Jordan. However, Foster would have been ideal!
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens – B+
With the 16th pick in the first round, the Baltimore Ravens selected Alabama CB Marlon Humphrey. This secondary needed a lift. Especially since this is the weak spot on this team. With the outstanding QBs and WRs in this division, all teams need a strong secondary. This makes total sense.
Cleveland Browns – A+
The Cleveland Browns were the big winners on day one. They held picks 1 and 12 to start the night. They traded the 12 pick away to the Houston Texans for the 25th pick and a 2018 first-round pick. The Browns again traded in the first round. This time back into the round with the Green Bay Packers. They acquired the 30th pick in exchange for the 33rd and the 108th. Consequently, the selections were Myles Garrett DE, Texas A&M, Jabril Peppers S, Michigan, and David Njoku TE, Miami.
Cincinnati Bengals – B-
John Ross was the selection with the ninth overall pick. There were certainly other areas of need. However, as of late the draft has become best player available. Although, the Bengals needed another WR opposite AJ Green, They could have gotten that on day 2.
Pittsburgh Steelers – B
TJ Watt, LB Wisconsin was the selection. This was an area of need. Consequently, the Steelers have lost Lawrence Timmons. Steeler nation needed another young LB to go with Ryan Shazier. Watt fits the mold and should fill the empty hole.
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars – A
Contrary to popular belief, I believe that Leonard Fournette will be a solid NFL running back. This is exactly what the Jags needed to take the pressure off Blake Bortles. In addition, this eased the mind of Bortles amidst the quarterback talk. The Jaguars are now poised to make a splash in the wide-open AFC South.
Houston Texans – A
The Texans gave up their 25th pick along with a 2018 first-round selection to move up to the 12th spot. They used that trade to take QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson. The Texans were in need of a QB. They were in the Patrick Mahomes talks, however, that ended with his earlier selection.
Indianapolis Colts – B
The Colts selected Malik Hooker, S Ohio State. He was probably the second best safety on the board. Why the grade of a B? This team needs to protect the franchise. That being Andrew Luck. I feel they should have gone O-line with the selection. Thus the grade of a B.
Tennessee Titans – A
The Titans were fortunate to have two picks in the top 20 of the 2017 NFL Draft. This was a result of the Jared Goff trade with the Los Angeles Rams. They used these picks wisely. Specifically, they selected WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan and CB Adoree’ Jackson, USC. Besides, both were needs by the Titans.
AFC West
Oakland Raiders – B
The Raiders held the 24th pick in 2017. With that pick, they made the most controversial pick of the round. They used the pick to select Gareon Conley, CB Ohio State. A female is accusing of sexual assault. A charge in which he adamantly denies. There is no denying his talent. However, you do have to consider character issues.
Kansas City Chiefs – A
The Chiefs traded up to the 10 spot in the draft to select a quarterback. In exchange, they gave up number 27, number 91 and 2018 first-round pick. The selection for the Chiefs was quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech. In my opinion, he is probably the best QB in this draft. He will study behind Alex Smith for a year or two and then watch out!
Los Angeles Chargers – B
The Chargers used the seventh pick to select Mike Williams, WR Clemson. They needed a WR due to the inconsistent health of Keenan Allen. However, they needed other positions as well. I like the pick for need but I believe there were stronger needs.
Denver Broncos – B
The Broncos used the 20th pick to select Garrett Bolles, T Utah. Bolles is a great pick and should have a substantial career in the NFL. I give this grade a B because the best tackle in this draft was still available, Ryan Ramczyk.
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks – NG
The Seattle Seahawks traded out of the first round.
Arizona Cardinals – A
Haason Reddick was the pick at 13. Eventually, pairing him opposite Chandler Jones gives the Cardinals a front seven that will be difficult to deal with. Thus, the Cardinals are now poised at making a return to the NFC Playoffs.
Los Angeles Rams – NG
The Rams traded their pick to the Tennessee Titans in the Jared Goff deal.
San Francisco 49ers – A+
General Manager John Lynch is leading the GM of the year voting. To begin with, they traded back one spot to grab the person they wanted all along. That was Solomon Thomas, DL Stanford. Then they traded back into the first round with the Seahawks and drafted LB Reuben Foster, Alabama. But even so, the Niners are building this back up the right way.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons – B
The Falcons traded up in the first round with the Seattle Seahawks and grabbed Takkarist McKinley, LB UCLA. The grade is a B because I feel there were stronger pass rushers available. Although, McKinley will be productive and the Falcons filled a need.
Carolina Panthers – A+
Christian McCaffery is the best back in this draft. As a matter of fact, he is your prototypical 3-down back. You can also line him up at WR. He may even run routes better than some WRs. Finally, add him to the special teams group and you have a dynamic individual.
New Orleans Saints – B
The Saints had two picks in the 2017 first round. Their own and then one they acquired from New England in the Brandin Cooks trade. Hence, they used those picks to take Marshon Lattimore, CB Ohio State and Ryan Ramczyk, T Wisconsin respectively. The B results from the latter pick. However, the Saints needed to go defense again in my opinion.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – A
The selection of OJ Howard in the first round is a solid pick. Above all, this gives the Bucs offense a legit tight end target. Jameis Winston is on the rise and could have an above solid year in 2017. Subsequently, this will only help the young QB.
NFC North
Chicago Bears – F
The selection of QB Mitchell Trubisky after trading up one spot was the shocker of the first round. The F is more about what they gave up to move up one spot than it is the pick. The Bears gave up number three, number 67 in 2017, number 111 in 2017, and a 2018 third rounder. Excessively much to move up one spot.
Green Bay Packers – NG
The Packers traded out of the first round with the Cleveland Browns.
Detroit Lions – B
Jarrad Davis fills a hole voided last season by Stephen Tulloch. Furthermore, he is a downhill player who should start at middle linebacker immediately. Additionally, he has tremendous instincts and plays in the opposing backfield.
Minnesota Vikings – NG
Traded the pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for QB Sam Bradford.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys – B
The Cowboys spent the 28th pick on a DE. Selecting Taco Charlton, Michigan. Now, every Sunday will be Taco Sunday in Dallas. The Cowboys had bigger needs than pass rush. Especially having lost almost their entire secondary to free agency.
New York Giants – B
The selection of TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss came as surprise. Moreover, the Giants needed to go after an offensive lineman. Even more, the protection of Eli “Ironman” Manning should have been higher on the priority list. There were plenty of offensive linemen available.
Philadelphia Eagles – B
Derek Barnett, though solid, was not the correct selection for the Eagles. Similarly, I agree they needed defense. Nevertheless, the stronger need was defensive secondary. In short, putting corner at the top of the list.
Washington Redskins – A
The Washington Redskins got one of the best gifts on day one. In fact, Johnathan Allen, DL Alabama falling to them could not have gone better. He can play both ends and tackle on the Redskins defensive front. Overall, Allen is an immediate upgrade to a poor defense in 2016.
There you have it. The first round grades of the 2017 NFL Draft. How do you feel your team faired? Please leave a comment below.
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