Houston Texans – Draft Needs; QB, DL, OL, TE
1(1) – DE Jadeveon Clowney South Carolina
1(33) – G Xavier Su’a-Filo UCLA
3(65) – TE C.J. Fiedorowicz Iowa
3(83) – DT Louis Nix Notre Dame
4(135) – QB Tom Savage Pittsburgh
6(177) – DE Jeoffrey Pagan Alabama
6(181) – RB Alfred Blue LSU
6(211) – FB Jay Prosch Auburn
7(216) – CB Andre Hal Vanderbult
7(256) – FS Lonnie Ballentine Memphis
What we like – The Texans got incredible value out of this draft. Not many teams drafted as much pure football talent as Houston. When you have 4 picks in the top 83 you have to deliver and the Texans did. They may have turned around and gotten their QB of the future in Tom Savage right after that. Obviously having the #1 overall picks helps but I really like what the Texans did all the way down the board.
What we don’t like – Not much. If anything I will say I don’t love any of their late round picks. I won’t downgrade a team for that.
Overall – What we like just about says it all. It was an excellent draft for the Texans. This draft will be remembered for Clowney but it may go down as one of the better drafts the league has seen in a while.
Grade – A
Indianapolis Colts – Draft Needs; DB, OL, DL, LB
2(59) – OT Jack Mewhort Ohio State
3(90) – WR Donte Moncrief Mississippi
5(166) – OLB/DE Jonathan Newsome Ball State
6(203) – ILB Andrew Jackson Western Kentucky
7(232) – OT John Ulrick Georgia State
What we like – Indianapolis did fairly well with what they had. We don’t love the Mewhort pick but he should provide depth right away. Moncrief doesn’t really fill a need but is a good value pick. The Colts may have found a steal in Jonathan Newsome. He should be a good scheme fit and be able to rush the passer right away.
What we don’t like – The lack of picks. I don’t think it’s too early to call the Trent Richardson trade a bust. In this deep draft you wanted to be more like the Patriots or Jets and be loaded with picks then only have 5. It makes it even tougher that the Colts are a Playoff team that had a lot of holes to fill. Unless Richardson can bounce back you have to give the Colts a very low grade in this draft.
Overall – What we don’t like just about say it all here. The Colts really need Trent Richardson to turn it around or they essentially wasted a key off-season if the young career of their Franchise QB.
Grade D+
Jacksonville Jaguars – Team Needs; QB, DL, OL, LB
1(3) – QB Blake Bortles Central Florida
2(39) – WR Marqise Lee USC
2(61) – WR Allen Robinson Penn State
3(93) – OG Brandon Linder Miami
4(114) – CB Aaron Colvin Oklahoma
5(144) – ILB Telvin Smith Florida State
5(159) – DE Chris Smith Arkansas
6(205) – C Luke Bowanko Virginia
7(222) – RB Storm Johnson Central Florida
What we like – Jaguars fans may finally have some hope. Anytime a QB is taken as high as Blake Bortles there are high hopes. Bortles may live up to them. Jacksonville scored on nearly every pick. Getting 2 young WR’s to develop with Bortles was smart. Robinson may be one of the most underrated players in this draft. The Jags got steals in Aaron Colvin, Telvin Smith and Storm Johnson in the later rounds.
What we don’t like – I wouldn’t have taken Bortles at 3. I think Watkins and Khalil were too good to pass on. I understand why they did it and if he becomes a franchise QB I’m wrong anyway. The Jaguars had a lot of needs they weren’t able to address.
Overall – Jacksonville had a great draft. Bortles, Lee and Robinson could be lighting it up in Jacksonville for the next decade. Allen Robinson, Aaron Colvin, Telvin Smith and Storm Johnson are 4 of the best value picks in the draft. That’s not counting Lee. The team didn’t really draft for need and that may have been a good thing.
Grade A
Tennessee Titans – Draft Needs; DB, QB, RB, DL
1(11) – OT Taylor Lewan Michigan
2(54) – RB Bishop Sankey Washington
4(112) – DT DaQuan Jones Penn State
4(122) – S Marqueston Huff Wyoming
5(151) – ILB Avery Williamson Kentucky
6(178) – QB Zach Mettenberger LSU
What we like – The Titans got very good value. Lewan should be a Pro Bowl performer if he can keep his head on straight. Sankey could be in the rookie of the year discussion. DaQuan Jones and Avery Williamson were very good picks. The Titans aren’t a bad team to take the gamble on Mettenberger. If his head and body are right he may already be the best QB on their roster.
What we don’t like – There isn’t a lot not to like the players Tennessee drafted but they didn’t fill many needs. The Titans don’t come out of this draft seeming much improved. In Lewan and Mettenberger they pick 2 players with potential character issues.
Overall – It was an interesting draft to say the least. It may turn out great. There is a lot of upside for sure. One of the most interesting stories of the entire draft to follow will be Zach Mettenberger. He would not have gone in the 6th Round if there weren’t some serious doubts. Bishop Sankey and DaQuan Jones should help them right away. Taylor Lewan is one of the weirdest picks of the draft. It was weird he slipped to #11 and Tackle is one of the Titans deeper positions.
Grade B
