Baltimore Ravens: A
1.) Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
2.) Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
3.) Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
4.) Za’Darius Smith, DE, Kentucky
4.) Buck Allen, RB, USC
4.) Tray Walker, CB, Texas Southern
5.) Nick Boyle, TE, Delaware
5.) Robert Myers, OG, Tennessee St.
6.) Darren Waller, WR, Georgia Tech
Bottom Line: It’s clear from their first two picks, that they wanted to upgrade the offense under new coordinator Marc Tressman. Perriman and Williams are serious targets for Joe Flacco. Williams, a bit of a surprise but with the health of Dennis Pitta’s hip up in the air, it was a safe pick. Further adding Buck Allen in the fourth-round gives the Ravens a compliment to Justin Forsett. Davis and Smith are big additions to an again and very thin defensive line. Building depth there was a big need and they did well as both players have the versatility to excel in the 3-4 system.
Cincinnati Bengals: B+
1.) Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
2.) Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon
3.) Tyler Kroft, TE, Rutgers
3.) Paul Dawson, OLB, TCU
4.) Josh Shaw, S, USC
4.) Marcus Hardison, DT, Arizona St.
5.) C.J. Uzomah, TE, Auburn
6.) Derron Smith, S, Fresno St.
7.) Mario Alford, WR, West Virginia
Bottom Line: The Bengals starting tackles are both entering the final year of their contracts. Taking Ogbuehi in the first-round, one would think they would go in another direction in round-two but again chose a tackle in Fisher, who is Day One starter quality. In a similar light, Kroft replaces Jermaine Gresham and gives the Bengals two tight ends again but Cincy went back and added another in Uzomah. They took another two safeties in Josh Smith and Derron Smith. Repetitive position picks seemed to be the theme. Dawson, is a stellar pick in the third-round and could start. Drafting Hardison in the fourth gives them someone to develop to replace Domata Peko at some point.
Cleveland Browns: A+
1.) Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
1.) Cameron Erving, OG, Florida St.
2.) Nate Orchard, OLB, Utah
3.) Duke Johnson, RB, Miami
3.) Xavier Cooper, DT, Washington St.
4.) Ibraheim Campbell, S, Northwestern
4.) Vince Mayle, WR, Washington St.
6.) Charles Gaines, CB, Louisville
6.) Malcolm Johnson, TE, Mississippi St.
6.) Randall Telfer, TE, USC
7.) Hayes Pullard, ILB, USC
7.) Iffo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
Bottom Line: An out of this world draft by the Cleveland Browns. The Browns draft class is a home run. Using their first-round picks to build up trenches was a smart move. Shelton is a truly dynamic player and Erving is versatile to play all three interior line spots. Cooper, continued the building up of a porous defensive line. They traded up to draft him. Defensively, they did great in adding Orchard to get after the quarterback and Campbell and Gaines, who both proved serious talent at the college level. Offensively, they did well. Johnson, is the leading rusher in Hurricanes history. Yup, not Edgerin James, not Clinton Portis, not Willis McGahee. It’s Duke Johnson. Ending the draft with Ekpre-Olomu, gets the Browns the “A+”. He is first-round talent that fell all the way to the last round after tearing his ACL in practice heading into the College Championship game vs Ohio Sate.
Pittsburgh Steelers: C+
1.) Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
2.) Senquez Golson, CB, Ole Miss
3.) Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
4.) Doran Grant, CB, Ohio St.
5.) Jesse James, TE, Penn St.
6.) Leterrius Walton, DT, Central Michigan
6.) Anthony Chickillo, DT, Miami
7.) Gerod Holliman, S, Louisville
Bottom Line: The Steelers drafted Bud Dupree in the first-round making him the third straight year that the Steelers have drafted a linebacker in the first-round. Hopefully, this time they get it right. Golson, in the second is solid though he is small at an argued 5’8″ or 5’9″. More curious is his commitment to football. Was drafted by the Red Sox out of high school and always calls baseball his “first love”. Coates, another questionable selection. Out of this world, freakish ability but questions surround him as he has poor hands. Late additions were hits. James, is a great second tight end who will get better learning from Heath Miller. D-Linemen Walton and Chickillo are solid proven entities who add quality depth. Walton, could surely turn into their starting nose tackle. Holliman, led the nation last year with 14 interceptions.
