This is it. We made it to our final 2016 NFL Draft grades. Read on!
Tennessee Titans
The haul: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State – Round one, Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson – Round two, Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State – Round two, Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama – Round two, Kevin Byard, Safety, Middle Tennessee State – Round three, Tajae Sharpe, WR, Massachusetts – Round five, LeShaun Sims, CB, Southern Utah – Round five, Sebastian Tretola, OG, Arkansas – Round six, Aaron Wallace, OLB, UCLA – Round seven, Kalan Reed, CB, Southern Miss – Round seven
The Titans came into the draft after their blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Rams with tons of picks. The haul for that trade doesn’t end here. They still have a first and third next from the Rams next year too. Conklin and Dodd were just about perfect picks where the Titans grabbed them and should both start immediately.
In fact, I see five potential first-year starters here, and that’s including Derrick Henry who will split time with DeMarco Murray in the Titans’ backfield. After the third round there’s a drop-off. I like Wallace at outside linebacker from UCLA in the seventh. He’s almost a prototype Dick LeBeau-style player. Sharpe is an interesting project. He led all of the NCAA in receptions last season. He’s 6-foot-2 and runs a decent 40 (4.55).
Grade: B+
Washington Redskins
The haul: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU – Round one, Su’a Cravens, OLB, USC – Round two, Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech – Round three, Matthew Ioannidis, DT, Temple – Round five, Nate Sudfeld, QB, Indiana – Round six, Steven Daniels, ILB, Boston College – Round seven, Keith Marshall, RB, Georgia – Round seven
The Redskins played this draft like a fiddle. They traded down in the first round and still got their guy, Doctson, the second-best receiver in this draft. Not only did they get a starter in the second round with Cravens, but they stole one with Fuller in the third round. Keith Marshall was probably the fastest offensive skill player in this draft and all the Redskins will have to do is get the ball in his hands and watch him unzip that 4.3 speed.
Sudfeld is an interesting pick in the sixth. He’s obviously a life-long back up but I thought the same thing about Kirk Cousins and… well, the jury is still out on that one.
Grade: B
The Best Undrafted Free Agent Signings
After the draft every team scrambles to sign players that didn’t get their name called over the draft’s three days. Here’s each team’s best post-draft signing.
Baltimore Ravens – Matt Skura, Center, Duke
Cincinnati Bengals – Dy’Shawn Mobley, RB, Eastern Kentucky – I covered this kid as a prep player when was at Powell High School in Knoxville, Tenn. He’s a super kid and a prototype NFL runner.
Cleveland Browns – Mike Matthews, Center, Texas A&M – He’s the other son of Bruce Matthews. I can’t believe this kid didn’t get drafted.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Tyriq McCord, DE/OLB, Miami
Buffalo Bills – Eric Striker, LB, Oklahoma
Miami Dolphins – Farrington Huguenin, DL, Kentucky
New England Patriots – Jonathan Jones, CB, Auburn
New York Jets – Lawrence Thomas, DE, Michigan State
Houston Texans – Wendall Williams, WR, University of the Cumberlands – I got to see this kid in action last season against Carson-Newman University. He’s lightning fast and one of the three or four best return men in the sport in 2015.
Indianapolis Colts – Curt Maggit, OLB, Tennessee
Jacksonville Jaguars – Jarrod Wilson, Safety, Michigan
Tennessee Titans – Antwaun Woods, DL, USC
Denver Broncos – Bralon Addison, WR, Oregon
Kansas City Chiefs – Desmond Jackson, DT, Texas
Oakland Raiders – Kyrie Wilson, LB, Fresno State
San Diego Chargers – Tyler Johnstone, OT, Oregon
Chicago Bears – Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard
Detroit Lions – Jay Lee, WR, Baylor
Green Bay Packers – Geronimo Allison, WR, Illinois
Minnesota Vikings – Jake Ganus, LB, Georgia
Dallas Cowboys – Chris Brown, WR, Notre Dame
New York Giants – Romeo Okwara, DE, Notre Dame
Philadelphia Eagles – Cedric O’Neal, RB, Valdosta State – Watched this guy run all over the place in one of the best football games I ever covered. He pulled some Todd Gurley moves.
Washington Redskins – Joe Gore, OT, Clemson
Atlanta Falcons – Cory Johnson, DT, Kentucky
Carolina Panthers – Jake McGee, TE, Florida
New Orleans Saints – D.J. Pettway, DL, Alabama
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kelby Johnson, OT, Louisville
Arizona Cardinals – Matthias Farley, Safety, Notre Dame
Los Angeles Rams – Brian Randolph, Safety, Tennessee – But they’re giving Duke Williams, WR out of Auburn a try out. If they sign him, he instantly moves to the top of the list.
San Francisco 49ers – Kevin Anderson, LB, Stanford
Seattle Seahawks – Tyvis Powell, Safety, Ohio State
