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2018 NFL Draft Grades: AFC South
AFC South

[April 30, 2018] Houston Texans

3 (68). Justin Reid, S: 6-1, 207, Stanford

3 (80). Martinas Rankin, OT: 6-4, 308, Mississippi State

3 (98). Jordan Akins, TE: 6-3, 249, Central Florida

4 (103). Keke Coutee, WR: 5-10, 181, Texas Tech

6 (177). Duke Ejiofor, LB: 6-3, 267, Wake Forest

6 (211). Jordan Thomas, TE: 6-6, 265, Mississippi State

6 (214). Peter Kambalayi, OLB: 6-3, 252, Stanford

7 (222). Jermaine Kelly, CB: 6-1, 191, San Jose State

Grade: B

The Texans' first-rounder helped acquire Deshaun Watson in 2017, boosting the grade, but their second-rounder was used to unload Brock Osweiler's onerous contract, which hurts. GM Brian Gaine still managed to effectively marry value and need despite limited resources. Reid and Rankin could start early, while Akins, Coutee and Ejiofor should rotate in from Day 1.

Best pick: Ejiofor. Pass-rush ability is exceedingly hard to find late in the draft, but Ejiofor -- who slid after undergoing labrum surgery in February -- certainly has it. The Houston native is a work in progress against the run, but he could be a double-digit sack guy at the next level.

Upside pick: Reid. A player some thought could sneak into Round 1, Reid dazzled at the combine (4.40 40-yard dash, 10-foot-8 broad jump). With his combination of size and movement skills, he could be a star in a Texans scheme that asks a lot of its safeties.

Indianapolis Colts

1 (6). Quenton Nelson, OG: 6-5, 325, Notre Dame

2 (36). Darius Leonard, LB: 6-2, 234, South Carolina State

2 (37). Braden Smith, OG: 6-6, 315, Auburn

2 (52). Kemoko Turay, DE: 6-5, 253, Rutgers

2 (64). Tyquan Lewis, DE: 6-3, 269, Ohio State

4 (104). Nyheim Hines, RB: 5-8, 198, N.C. State

5 (159). Daurice Fountain, WR: 6-2, 209, Northern Iowa

6 (185). Deon Cain, WR: 6-2, 202, Clemson

7 (221). Matthew Adams, LB: 6-0, 240, Houston

7 (235). Zaire Franklin, LB: 6-0, 239, Syracuse

Grade: A+

GM Chris Ballard extracted a trio of second-rounders (including one in 2019) from the Jets to move back three spots in the first round and put his wealth of picks to work, nabbing two bodyguards for Andrew Luck, a three-down linebacker and a pair of complementary ends before bringing in some explosive weapons on Day 3. Terrific job all around.

Best pick: Leonard. This could easily be Nelson. Leonard was an uber productive small-school phenom, thriving in all phases in college, at the Senior Bowl and has ideal athleticism for a modern day stand-up linebacker. He should be even better once he can bulk up in an NFL weight room.

Upside pick: Turay. He's raw and doesn't yet have the mass or strength to hold up against the run. But with a rare blend of size, speed (4.65 40-yard dash) and athleticism, Turay could develop into a threatening edge-bender down the road.

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Jacksonville Jaguars

1 (29). Taven Bryan, DT: 6-5, 291, Florida

2 (61). D.J. Chark, WR: 6-3, 199, LSU

3 (93). Ronnie Harrison, S: 6-2, 207, Alabama

4 (129). Will Richardson, OT: 6-6, 306, N.C. State

6 (203). Tanner Lee, QB: 6-4, 218, Nebraska

7 (230). Leon Jacobs, LB: 6-1, 246, Wisconsin

7 (247). Logan Cook, P: 6-5, 237, Mississippi State

Grade: B-

Jacksonville doesn't have many holes, but Bryan's addition was mildly surprising, perhaps portending the eventual departure of expensive DTs Malik Jackson and Marcell Dareus. Harrison was a steal - a top-40 phone call was realistic -- while Chark's blazing speed and Richardson's power could help the offense immediately. Lee likely won't challenge Blake Bortles anytime soon. Overall, a solid, if top-heavy, class.

Best pick: Harrison. As if the secondary needed bolstering, the Jaguars added the ferocious and physical Harrison, who many thought could sneak into Round 1. An ideal box safety, he is both an excellent fit in Jacksonville's Cover-3 defense and a great value.

Upside pick: Bryan. A one-year starter at Florida, Bryan is rough around the edges, but there aren't many humans with his combination of size, suddenness and athleticism. If his instincts and technique develop, Jacksonville's D-line would become even more terrifying.

Tennessee Titans

1 (22). Rashaan Evans, LB: 6-2, 232, Alabama

2 (41). Harold Landry, LB: 6-2, 252, Boston College

5 (152). Dane Cruikshank, DB: 6-1, 209, Arizona

6 (199). Luke Falk, QB: 6-4, 215, Washington State

Grade: C

GM Jon Robinson nabbed a pair of first-round talents early and a super athletic defensive back in Round 5, but all three moves came after trading up, leaving the Titans with just one other pick. Tennessee's roster is in much better shape than in the past, but O-line depth and another offensive weapon could have helped. Even with early impacts likely from Evans and Landry, opportunity cost hurts the grade.

Best pick: Landry. Injuries helped lead to a down 2017 season (5.0 sacks), but Landry might have been a top-10 pick if he declared after his 16.5-sack campaign in 2016. With Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan entering contract years, this is a great marriage of value and need, as Landry might be the best pure pass-rusher in the class.

Upside pick: Cruikshank. He played safety at Arizona State, but Cruikshank has the movement skills (4.41 40-yard dash, 38.5-inch vertical,10-foot-1 broad jump) to play almost anywhere in the secondary. He already has big-play upside, having intercepted both USC's Sam Darnold and UCLA's Josh Rosen in 2017.

--Field Level Media

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