2018
NFL Draft Grades: AFC North
AFC North
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[April 30, 2018]
Baltimore Ravens
1 (25). Hayden Hurst, TE: 6-5, 250, South Carolina
1 (32). Lamar Jackson, QB: 6-2, 216, Louisville
3 (83). Orlando Brown, OT: 6-8, 345, Oklahoma
3 (86). Mark Andrews, TE: 6-5, 256, Oklahoma
4 (118). Anthony Averett, CB: 5-11, 183, Alabama
4 (122). Kenny Young, LB: 6-1, 236, UCLA
4 (132). Jaleel Scott, WR: 6-5, 218, New Mexico State
5 (162). Jordan Lasley, WR: 6-1, 203, UCLA
6 (190). DeShon Elliot, S: 6-1, 210, Texas
6 (212). Greg Senat, OT: 6-6, 302, Wagner
6 (215). Bradley Bozeman, C: 6-5, 317, Alabama
7 (238). Zach Sieler, DE: 6-6, 290, Ferris State
Grade: A
A regular on the draft grades honor roll, GM Ozzie Newsome delivered
a masterpiece finale, moving up and down the board to land value and
upside. He added two different types of weapons at tight end and
wide receiver, a Day 1 starter at right tackle and useful depth on
defense. Oh, and he landed the most electric quarterback since
Michael Vick. What more could you want?
Best pick: Brown. Beyond the sentiment of bringing Orlando "Zeus"
Brown's son to his father's old team, this was also a great marriage
of value and need. Despite his historically poor workout numbers,
Brown's tape is terrific, and Baltimore has a gaping hole at right
tackle.
Upside pick: Jackson. He needs serious mechanical work but reads
defenses well and executed many pro concepts at Louisville. Now he
has time to develop behind Joe Flacco, who turns 34 in January.
Jackson's generational athleticism makes for a sky-high ceiling if
it all comes together.
Cincinnati Bengals
1 (21). Billy Price, C/G: 6-4, 305, Ohio State
2 (54). Jessie Bates III, S: 6-1, 200, Wake Forest
3 (77). Sam Hubbard, DE: 6-5, 270, Ohio State
3 (78). Malik Jefferson, LB: 6-2, 236, Texas
4 (112). Mark Walton RB: 5-10, 202, Miami (Fla.)
5 (151). Davontae Harris, CB: 5-11, 205, Illinois State
5 (158). Andrew Brown, DL: 6-3, 296, Virginia
5 (170). Darius Phillips, CB: 5-10, 193, Western Michigan
7 (249). Logan Woodside, QB: 6-1, 213, Toledo
7 (252). Rod Taylor, OG: 6-3, 320, Ole Miss
7 (253). Auden Tate, WR: 6-5, 228, Florida State
Grade: B+
It wasn't flashy, but steady, a burgeoning Bengals' draft tradition.
Assuming health, Price will start in 2018 while Bates should play
plenty in Teryl Austin's three-safety packages. Hubbard, Jefferson
and Brown are impressive athletes, and Walton could have gone much
higher if not for a season-ending ankle injury. Really solid class.
Best pick: Price. Cincinnati's line was an absolute disaster in 2017
in the run game and pass protection. Price could be an immediate
upgrade on the departed Russell Bodine, opening up holes for Joe
Mixon and giving Andy Dalton a pocket to step into.
Upside pick: Jefferson. He lacks instincts and is a tad stiff
laterally, but Jefferson is an incredible athlete (4.52 40-yard
dash). A see-ball, get-ball type, he'll rack up tackles when kept
clean versus the run, and he has the measureables to develop into a
terrific cover man with time.
[to top of second column] |
Cleveland Browns
1 (1). Baker Mayfield, QB: 6-1, 215, Oklahoma
1 (4). Denzel Ward, CB: 5-11, 183, Ohio State
2 (33). Austin Corbett, OL: 6-4, 306, Nevada
2 (35). Nick Chubb, RB: 5-11, 227 Georgia
3 (67). Chad Thomas, DE: 6-5, 281, Miami (Fla.)
4 (105). Antonio Callaway, WR: 5-11, 200, Florida
5 (150). Genard Avery, LB: 6-1, 248, Oklahoma
6 (175). Damion Ratley, WR: 6-2, 193, Texas A&M
6 (188). Simeon Thomas, CB: 6-3, 190, Louisiana-Lafayette
Grade: B
John Dorsey can't thank Sashi Brown enough for assembling this war
chest of picks. There are a few value questions (Ward over Bradley
Chubb, for example), but Dorsey boosted Cleveland's talent pool
immensely. Don't forget, Tyrod Taylor (acquired for No. 65), Jarvis
Landry (No. 123, 2019 seventh) and Damarious Randall (pick swaps in
Rounds 4 and 5) also factor here.
Best pick: Mayfield. We know things go wrong for quarterbacks in
Cleveland, but Mayfield could be a star if surrounded by the right
pieces. The most efficient QB in FBS history proved at Oklahoma he
can execute a creative offense and provide off-schedule playmaking
when necessary.
Upside pick: Callaway. Dorsey rolled the dice on Tyreek Hill in
Kansas City, and Callaway is a similar gamble. He had a series of
major off-field issues at Florida, but there might not be a more
gifted wideout in the entire draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers
1 (28). Terrell Edmunds, S: 6-1, 217, Virginia Tech
2 (60). James Washington, WR: 5-11, 213, Oklahoma State
3 (76). Mason Rudolph, QB: 6-5, 235, Oklahoma State
3 (92). Chukwuma Okorafor, OT: 6-6, 320, Western Michigan
5 (148). Marcus Allen, S: 6-2, 215, Penn State
5 (165). Jaylen Samuels, FB: 6-0, 225, N.C. State
7 (246). Joshua Frazier, DT: 6-3, 321, Alabama
Grade: C-
Washington should help replace Martavis Bryant (traded for a
third-rounder), while his college QB, Rudolph, is a great candidate
to be Ben Roethlisberger's potential heir. Edmunds was viewed as a
mid-round prospect, and the team never addressed its gaping hole at
inside linebacker.
Best pick: Washington. Pittsburgh shipped off Bryant but quickly
brought in another explosive playmaker to reinforce its high-flying
offense. Washington brings tremendous big-play ability, having
averaged 19.8 yards per reception and caught 39 touchdowns in
college.
Upside pick: Edmunds. Living up to the first-round billing will be a
huge challenge. He isn't as highly touted as younger brother
Tremaine (16th overall to Buffalo), but Terrell is just as athletic.
He tested in the 85th percentile or better among safeties in every
NFL Scouting Combine measureable except for height, demonstrating
the potential for him to be a matchup coverage weapon against tight
ends down the line.
--Field Level Media
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