2018 NFL Draft: Rounds 2 & 3 Recap

Round 2

33)     Cleveland Browns – Austin Corbett, G, Nevada Grade: B+

Corbett was one of my favorite linemen of the draft process. He played strong football at Nevada from the LT position and should be able to move inside at the next level.

34)     New York Giants – Will Hernandez, G, UTEP Grade: A+

I didn’t love the Saquon pick but Hernandez at the top of the second is great value for a team looking to become much more physical going forward.

35)     Cleveland Browns f/ Houston – Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Grade: B

I thought Guice was a better option on the board and that you could let RB slide a bit more but I think Chubb has the chance to be a game changer at the next level. Year 1 he’ll have to battle with Hyde for carries but he should have the lead role all to himself with Duke Johnson as his spell back in the near future.

36)     Indianapolis Colts – Darius Leonard, OBLB, South Carolina St Grade: C-

Indy sees something in Leonard I don’t. I think he’s a fine player and should be useful, but whether they see him as an edge or an off ball player there were significantly better options left on the board.

37)     Indianapolis Colts f/ New York (A) – Braden Smith, G, Auburn Grade: B

A good solid choice for Indianapolis who have done right by Luck up the middle with two guard additions.

38)     Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Ronald Jones II, RB, USC Grade: C

Jones has upside but he looks more like the heir apparent from an injury concern standpoint than anything else in that TB backfield.

39)     Chicago Bears – James Daniels, C, Iowa Grade: A

A top three center nearly 20 picks after Ragnow and Price were off the board is great value for Chicago.

40)     Denver Broncos – Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU Grade: B+

Sutton gives the Broncos the opportunity to play around with their receiver talent and alignments in the ensuing years. Sutton is big and fast enough to play outside but his agility scores also hint to a pretty devastating big man option in the slot to give defenses extra fits.

Trade:

TEN gets 41 Grade: C

OAK gets 57 & 89 Grade: B+

John Robinson has shown a loyalty to guys he likes over the draft pick value the last couple of drafts and I admire his confidence in his evaluative ability, but he’s given away a lot of value the last two drafts.

41)     Tennessee Titans f/Oakland – Harold Landry, Edge, Boston College Grade: A+

That said I think the gamble was well worth it. If Landry stays healthy and fit they got a top ten pass rusher at an early 2^nd round price.

42)  Miami Dolphins – Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State Grade: B+

The value was fine and Gesicki was my top tight end in the draft. Now, they need to utilize his athleticism right and get improved QB if the pick is going to pay dividends.

Trade:

DET gets 43 Grade: C+

NE gets 51 & 117 Grade: B

New England moves back, acquires picks and gets positive value in the exchange. As far trades go it was a pretty ho-hum affair.

43)  Detroit Lions f/New England f/San Francisco – Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn Grade: B

Another running back drafted with Guice still on the board but overall it’s pretty fair value for the Auburn product.

Trade:

WAS gets 44 & 142 Grade: C+

SF gets 59 & 74 Grade: B-

Not much to see here but a rebuilding San Fran gets an extra day two pick to fill some holes on a quickly leaving the rebuilding stage team.

44)  San Francisco 49ers f/Washington – Dante Pettis, WR, Washington Grade: A

Pettis should play a modified DeSean Jackson role in the Shanny San Fran offense and Kyle will love the route runner he’s getting in Pettis.

45)  Green Bay Packers – Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa Grade: A+

Loved this pick for the Packers. Yes, Jackson played mostly zone at Iowa and his 4.48 is a touch on the slower side for a corner, but the rest of his agility drills are well within the acceptable ranges and Jackson just had a nose for the ball at Iowa in 2017.

Trade:

KC gets 46 & 100 Grade: B-

CIN gets 54 & 78 Grade: C+

This is one of three trades that were practically dead even in terms of expected approximate value.

46)  Kansas City Chiefs f/Cincinnati – Breeland Speaks, DL, Mississippi Grade: C+

Speaks is a tween with fair athletic ability who played DE at Mississippi but could possibly play three positions in the NFL. I liked players at all of those positions more than I like Speaks.

47)  Arizona Cardinals – Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M Grade: B-

I like this pick for Arizona as it gives them a good route runner to learn from Fitz for a couple years and a future sure-handed go to for Rosen to formulate a relationship with.

48)  Los Angeles Chargers – Uchenna Nwosu, Edge, USC Grade: A-

Nwosu should be able to play outside and inside at LB for a Chargers team that needs players who are comfortable in space in the second level of the defense. Nwosu had 14 passes defensed in 2017 which was by far the most of any Edge or OBLB in this year’s class.

Trade:

PHI gets 49 Grade: C+

IND gets 52 & 169 Grade: B-

49)  Philadelphia Eagles f/IND f/SEA f/NYG – Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota St Grade: B+

Philly moves up and gets the player that I myself thought they would take at 32. I like the Goedert pick much better midway through the second than at the end of the first and think it’s a solid addition to the reigning Super Bowl Champs.

50)  Dallas Cowboys – Connor Williams, OL, Texas Grade: B+

Much like Goedert I think this is a much better place and value for Williams. He’s a good story and has some truly impressive tape from 2016. It’s not quite fair that Dallas gets to add him to that offensive line unit but here we are.

Trade:

CHI gets 51 Grade: D

NE gets 105 & ’19 2^nd Grade: A+

As we look at this grade it’s important to remember that this is a grade of the trade without regard to intent of the pick. No one else got the value out of a trade down in the second round that New England got out of this pick.

51)  Chicago Bears f/Detroit – Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis Grade: A

I like this pick a lot for the Bears. They get a younger guy to pair with the newly acquired Allen Robinson and they add depth to an improved receiving corps that still needed some work. I think it was well worth moving up but it was still quite a bit to give up if you’re Chicago.

52)  Indianapolis Colts f/Philadelphia f/Baltimore – Kemoko Turay Edge, Rutgers Grade: A+

This I think is my favorite pick of round 2 and would have taken the cake for the night if Phillips hadn’t fallen into the 3^rd round. Turay has the raw ability to be a special edge rusher in the NFL and a talent deprived Colts defense should mold and mature around Turay on the edge.

53)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers f/Buffalo – MJ Stewart, CB, North Caroina Grade: C

54)  Cincinnati Bengals f/Kansas City – Jessie Bates, FS, Wake Forest Grade: C+

55)  Carolina Panthers – Donte Jackson, CB, LSU Grade: C

I’m going to lump these three picks together because they all involve perfectly fine picks of good defensive backs who were all rated lower than a number of others at their position I liked more. They’re not bad picks, per se, but I don’t believe they were laudable either.

Trade:

NE gets 56 Grade: C

TB gets 63 & 117 Grade: B+

In case you thought I applauded everything New England does. I don’t.

56)  New England Patriots f/Tampa Bay f/Buffalo f/Los Angeles (N) – Duke Dawson, CB, Florida Grade: C+

Including this pick. Dawson is a good player but isn’t overly special as a player. That said he goes to a place that more often than not will put him in the best position to succeed.

57)  Oakland Raiders f/Tennessee Titans – PJ Hall, Int, Sam Houston State Grade: C

I just never saw it with PJ Hall and based on the reaction to this pick that may be a me thing more than anything else. He certainly had the production and the testing, but I just had that “a ha” moment while watching him play.

58)  Atlanta Falcons – Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado Grade: A+

Oliver is probably the best practitioner of the corner arts in this draft. He’s not the best athlete nor the best talent, but he has a feel for how to play the game and late in the second is a good time to get good football players.

59)  Washington Redskins f/San Francisco f/New Orleans – Derrius Guice, RB, LSU Grade: A-

Guice fell this far apparently because of a myriad of question and concerns about a number of off-field things. We’re not privy to most of that and can really only speak to what trickles down and what we see in the player. A healthy/motivated Guice is a god-damn steel for the Baby Gruden and company.

60)  Pittsburgh Steelers – James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State Grade: A+

This pick makes far too much sense strategically. Washington created deep separation as well as anyone in this class and unless we see a major philosophical change in Pittsburgh he’ll fit in just fine.

61)  Jacksonville Jaguars – DJ Chark, WR, LSU Grade: C

He’s a taller version of Westbrook whom they took last season.

62)  Minnesota Vikings – Brian O’Neill, OT, Pittsburgh Grade: C+

I don’t love the player, but the physical skill set certainly is intriguing late in the second round.

63)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers f/New England – Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn Grade: C+

During the draft process someone said that Carlton Davis is the perfect corner prospect until the ball is in the air. That’s a very specific and unsettling problem.

Trade:

IND gets 64 Grade: C+

CLE gets 67 & 178 Grade: B-

64)  Indianapolis Colts f/Cleveland f/Philadelphia – Tyson Lewis, Edge, Ohio State Grade: B+

That stacked OSU line held everyone back but Lewis graded out the best of the Edge prospect for me. I think I actually like what Indy has done so far. For Colts fans, I hope that continues.

It was a fast paced and trade laden second round and it did not allow much time for reflection between picks. Most of the comments are from about an hour after the draft but the grades represent my flash opinions. This goes for both Rounds 2 & 3.

Round 3

Trade:

Oak gets 65 Grade: C+

BAL gets 75, 152 & 212 Grade: B-

65)  Oakland Raiders f/Baltimore f/Buffalo f/Cleveland – Brandon Parker, OT, NC A&T Grade: B-

Parker is a good pick to take a swing at but the more I watched the more I soured on him as a prospect. He’s worth a flyer and I definitely go a little easier on picks as the draft goes on and the lotter tickets become more frequent.

66)  New York Giants – Lorenzo Carter, OBLB, Georgia Grade: A+

The Giants are redeeming themselves quite nicely as the draft goes on and the addition of the talented OBLB and part time edge player Lorenzo Carter is another quality pick for the G-men.

67)  Cleveland Browns f/Indianapolis – Chad Thomas, Edge, Miami (FL) Grade: B-

There are flashes for Thomas but there were less reach-y picks to be had at 67.

68)  Houston Texans – Justin Reid, FS, Stanford Grade: A+

How and why, did Reid fall this far. Are there some weak spots to his game? Sure. So unless there is a reason besides the one speculated during ESPNs coverage Friday night this makes little sense to me.

69)  New York Giants f/Tampa Bay – B.J. Hill, Int, NC State Grade: B+

70)  San Francisco 49ers f/Chicago – Fred Warner, OBLB, BYU Grade: B+

71)  Denver Broncos – Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon Grade: B+

Three solid picks, players and values in the first third of the third round.

72)  New York Jets – Nathan Sheperd, Int, Fort Hays State Grade: B-

Sheperd was my favorite and most consistently disruptive of the sub-FBS level guys especially on the interior of the defensive line.

73)  Miami Dolphins – Jerome Baker, OBLB, Ohio State Grade: C+

There were still members of the 7-9 player starter caliber/just below tier of off ball inebackers. Baker isn’t a bad player, just not as talented in my opinion as that could have been had at 73.

74)  Washington Redskins f/San Francisco – Geron Christian, OT, Louisville Grade: B+

Well worth a roll of the dice for a player with quality athleticism and multiple years of ACC play under his belt.

Trade:

KC gets 65 Grade: C-

BAL gets 75, 152 & 212 Grade: A-

Baltimore managed to get 50% more surplus value trading out of 75 than they did 65.

75)  Kansas City Chiefs f/Baltimore f/Oakland – Derrick Nnadi, Int, Florida State Grade: D+

The Chiefs gave up a bunch to pass on Jones, Senat, and Phillips who all went later in the round.

Trade:

PIT gets 76 Grade: B

SEA gets 79 & 220 Grade: C+

This one’s even closer to exactly even than the KC/CIN trade from earlier and is commensurate in value to the OAK/LAR trade 11 picks in the future.

76)  Pittsburgh Steelers f/Seattle f/Green Bay – Mason Randolph, QB, Oklahoma State Grade: A-

Rudolph was my QB5 and based on where QBs usually land in the draft I think this is pretty outstanding value for a pretty good high floor QB prospect.

77)  Cincinnati Bengals – Sam Hubbard, Edge, Ohio State Grade: B

If Hubbard from 2016 shows up in Cincinnati this is a steal. If Hubbard of 2017 shows up in Cincinnati they have a solid edge rotation player.

78)  Cincinnati Bengals f/Kansas City f/Washington – Malik Jefferson, OBLB, Texas Grade: B+

Jefferson give Cincy a chance at a still finding himself linebacker who I don’t think was the best option on the board but brings more athleticism than they currently have at the position.

79)  Seattle Seahawks f/Pittsburgh f/Oakland f/Arizona – Rasheem Green, Edge, USC Grade: B-

Green flew under the radar for a USC player who is drafted this high. That said he has the chance to truly shine if he isn’t underutilized in the NFL like he was playing 5-tech at USC.

80)  Houston Texans f/Seattle – Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State Grade: D+

I did not like Rankin like NFL or much of the draft community did. For his sake I hope they’re right and I’m wrong.

81)  Dallas Cowboys – Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State Garde: A+

LOVE THIS PICK!!! I liked Gallup much more than most and think he gives Dak the security blanket that we all thought DEZ was going to be before he lost a step.

82)  Detroit Lions – Tracy Walker, S, Louiaiana Grade: B-

There were better safeties on the board and better athletes but Walker is solid player/prospect.

83)  Baltimore Ravens – Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma Grade: C

I hope Brown is what we thought he was before the combine and that we’re all reading way too far into athletic testing for tackles. I don’t personally believe we are but the tape at least give hope to the fact that we just put too much emphasis on how he ran.

84)  Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Jones, Int, NC State Grade: C-

Jones is less than inspired choice but at least he wasn’t as big of a reach as Nnadi.

85)  Carolina Panthers f/Buffalo – Rashaan Gaulden, DB, Tennessee Grade: C-

Gaulden never held the appeal for me that he did for many and there was a long list of available players at DB that I much preferred to the former Volunteer.

86)  Baltimore Ravens f/Kansas City – Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma Grade: D

Why spend a second top 100 pick on a TE especially when neither is a high upside or especially young option.

Trade:

OAK gets 87 Grade: B

LAR gets 89 & 217 Grade: C+

See: the PIT/SEA trade at 76

87)  Oakland Raiders f/Los Angeles Rams – Arden Key, Edge, LSU Grade: D-

With all the red flags and the utter disappointment of Key’s 2017 why not wait until day three to take this risk.

Trade:

GB gets 88 Grade: C+

CAR gets 101 & 147 Grade: B-

88)  Green Bay Packers f/Carolina – Oren Burks, OBLB, Vanderbilt Grade: A+

Burks immediately becomes the most athletically gifted OBLB on the Packers roster.

89)  Los Angeles Rams f/Tennessee – Joseph Noteboom, OT, TCU Grade: A+

90)  Atlanta Falcons - Deadrin Senat, Int, USF Grade: A+

Noteboom and Senat were players I really like at their respective positions compared to the players around them and the general consensus rankings. Noteboom needs some work but has the athletic profile to be a solid bookend and Senat is a squat 0 or 1 tech who is going to cause problems on the interior of just about any offensive line.

91)  New Orleans Saints – Tre’Quan Smith, WR, UCF Grade: B+

Fast kid who needs to become a much better route runner and tactician.

92)  Pittsburgh Steelers – Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan Grade: B-

Okorafor’s stature/status in this draft certainly took a dive from the start of the season but he’s a flier worth taking at a position where excess depth is never an issue.

93)  Jacksonville Jaguars – Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama Grade: C

Sure, why not? The ESPN crew described Harrison as a liability in coverage and run stopping safety. Which all seems very anachronistic for football in 2018 and beyond.

Trade:
TB gets 94 Grade: C+

MIN gets 102 & 180 Grade: C+

94)  Tampa Bay f/Minnesota – Alex Cappa, OT, Humboldt State Grade: C

He’s an offensive lineman and that’s a need for Minnesota. I’m not sure I get it with other viable and better options (Crosby) on the table.

95)  San Francisco 49ers f/New England – Tarvarius Moore, FS, Southern Miss Grade: A+

Athletically gifted and shows up everywhere on tape, Moore is the type of G5 prospect that goes unnoticed until you start hearing about him in camp, the preseason, and finally starts making plays as a rookie on Sundays.

96)  Buffalo Bills f/Philadelphia – Harrison Phillips, Int, Stanford Grade: A+

The steal of the draft. Even if I’m overrating the stability that Phillips provides in the middle of a defensive front this is still a full round/round and a half lower than the former Cardinal should have gone.

97)  Arizona Cardinals – Mason Cole, OL, Michigan Grade: B+

A good player, Cole has a transition ahead of him that probably leaves him at least a year out from contributing.

98)  Houston Texans – Jordan Akins, TE, UCF Grade: C-

I would have taken Thomas and his upside, or Samuels and his versatility over Akins.

99)  Denver Broncos - Isaac Yiadom, CB, Boston College Grade: C-

It’s the end of the third round and I’m starting to sound like a broken record saying, “He’s fine I rather ______ at that position.”, for example Meeks or Nelson would have received higher grades from me.

100)  Kansas City Chiefs f/Cincinnati – Dorian O’Daniel, OBLB, Clemson Grade: C

Gernard Avery and his nose for the ball are still on the big board, Shaquem Griffin, his instincts and his athleticism are still on the board, Quentin Poling and his production are still on the board, and Leon Jacobs and his pass rushing ability are still on the board. All players and what distinguishes them from the group still left at OBLB that I would have preferred to O’Daniel.

With the end of the second day of the draft my most predictable of disappointments has come to bear in the form of Maurice Hurst and his unfortunate heart condition possibly ending his pro career before it begins, and Shaquem Griffin having to overcome another man-made obstacle to fulfilling his dream. One of those should get rectified on day three, I’m hoping there’s a happy ending for the former.