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May 12 2016

2016 NFL Draft Observations

Categories:

Thoughts

by Law Murray

The 2016 NFL Draft is in the rearview. I don’t do post-draft grades, and I don’t expect rookies to make a significant impact in year one, as I explained in March.

But teams draft the group of players they do for a reason. I want to make notes on every team’s draft, with respect to the players targeted, holes attended to, and which priority free agent I’ll be keeping an eye on.

Also be sure to check out my flash thoughts on Day 1 and Day 2 of the NFL Draft!

Bills
1. OLB Shaq Lawson
2. ILB Reggie Ragland
3. DE Adolphus Washington
4. QB Cardale Jones
5. RB Jonathan Williams
6. WR Kolby Listenbee
PFA: ILB Eric Striker

=> The Bills were porous in the front seven last season. They also played more of a 4-3 defense. The draft left them with a talent infusion up front, and it also suggests that the team is moving to a 3-4 that better suits what head coach Rex Ryan ran in New York and Baltimore. Lawson is there to be Jerry Hughes’ new bookend, Ragland is there so that ILBs Preston Brown and Zach Brown aren’t relied on as much, and Washington is also expected to start opposite oft-injured Kyle Williams. Thankfully, the Bills didn’t overdraft a QB, waiting until Round 4 to select Jones.

Dolphins
1. G Laremy Tunsil
2. CB Xavien Howard
3. RB Kenyan Drake
3. WR Leonte Carroo
6. WR Jakeem Grant
6. CB Jordan Lucas
7. QB Brandon Doughty
7. TE Thomas Duarte
PFA: ILB James Burgess

=> The Dolphins already have Branden Albert and Ja’Wuan James at OT, but they also have had some of the worst guard play in the league and were already set to give Jermon Bushrod a chance to play there despite no experience at the position. So drafting Tunsil, who was the presumptive top pick around the Combine part of the process, and asking him to play guard makes sense.

Patriots
2. CB Cyrus Jones
3. G Joe Thuney
3. QB Jacoby Brissett
3. DT Vincent Valentine
6. SS Kamu Grugier-Hill
6. ILB Elandon Roberts
6. G Ted Karras
7. WR Devin Lucien
PFA: TE Bryce Williams

=> First of all, I love how Kevin Faulk was so into his shout out to Tom Brady that he announced Thuney as a linebacker! Anyways, the Patriots have plenty of bodies on the offensive line, and some of those players represent a fair amount of quality. Two draft picks up front is probably adequate, and Thuney has the kind of versatility that will be valuable once injuries strike, which was a major issue for New England in 2015.

Jets
1. ILB Darron Lee
2. QB Christian Hackenberg
3. OLB Jordan Jenkins
4. CB Juston Burris
5. OT Brandon Shell
7. P Lachlan Edwards
7. WR Charone Peake
PFA: WR Jalin Marshall

=> So here’s something to consider: 13 NFL teams currently have a punter on their roster that they acquired via a draft pick. Only six teams currently have a kicker on their roster that they acquired via a draft pick. Edwards will come in and compete for a job that the Jets were terrible at all season, as the team finished 32nd in the league in average net punt in 2015.

Ravens
1. OT Ronnie Stanley
2. OLB Kamalei Correa
3. DE Bronson Kaufusi
4. CB Tavon Young
4. WR Chris Moore
4. OT Alex Lewis
4. NT Willie Henry
4. RB Kenneth Dixon
5. OLB Matt Judon
6. WR Keenan Reynolds
6. CB Maurice Canady
PFA: OLB Victor Ochi

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The Ravens are expected to get 2015 1st-round WR Breshad Perriman after he missed his entire rookie season due to a knee issue, and veteran WR Steve Smith postponed retirement after a torn Achilles tendon ended his 2015 season prematurely. Baltimore also signed WR Mike Wallace. Yet, the Ravens still used one of their five 4th-round picks on WR Chris Moore, who profiles as a deep threat only. Moore averaged more than 19 yards a catch over his collegiate career, and he fits right into QB Joe Flacco’s (ACL) strengths as a downfield passer.

Bengals
1. CB William Jackson III
2. WR Tyler Boyd
3. ILB Nick Vigil
4. DT Andrew Billings
5. G Christian Westerman
6. WR Cody Core
7. SS Clayton Fejedelem
PFA: DE Ryan Brown

=> In 2012, the Bengals used a Day 2 pick on WR Mohamed Sanu (Round 3) and a Day 3 pick on WR Marvin Jones (Round 5). Sanu left for Atlanta, while Jones left for Detroit, so the Bengals went back to the well in the 2016 Draft with a Day 2 WR (Boyd) and a Day 3 WR (Core). The Bengals also used a 1st round pick on a CB for the third time in five years, a 3rd round pick on a LB for the second straight year, and a 4th round pick on a DT for the fourth time in ten years.

Browns
1. WR Corey Coleman
2. OLB Emmanuel Ogbah
3. DE Carl Nassib
3. OT Shon Coleman
3. QB Cody Kessler
4. OLB Joe Schobert
4. WR Ricardo Louis
4. FS Derrick Kindred
4. TE Seth DeValve
5. WR Jordan Payton
5. OT Spencer Drango
5. WR Rashard Higgins
5. CB Trey Caldwell
7. ILB Scooby Wright
PFA: C Mike Matthews

=> 14 draft picks! Don’t go overboard on what that means for the present Browns; after all, the team had 12 draft picks last year and turned in their worst season since 2000. Last year, the Browns drafted Cameron Erving in the first round in anticipation of C Alex Mack’s departure in 2016. RT Mitchell Schwartz joined Mack out of Cleveland this offseason. Erving is expected to be the starting center, while Coleman should have the best chance to secure the RT starting role that was vacated by Schwartz. The Browns also added Drango on Day 3; he should be a versatile reserve. Matthews should have a good chance to make the roster as Erving’s backup.

Steelers
1. CB Artie Burns
2. SS Sean Davis
3. NT Javon Hargrave
4. OT Jerald Hawkins
6. OLB Travis Feeney
7. WR Demarcus Ayers
7. ILB Tyler Matakevich
PFA: P Will Monday

=> Well, it’s about time the Steelers used a 1st round pick on a CB. The last time the Steelers used a 1st round pick on a CB was 1997, when Chad Scott was selected 24th overall. Only three teams allowed more passing yards over the last two seasons than Pittsburgh, so they made Burns the 5th CB selected in the 1st round. I’ve been on SS Shamarko Thomas’ case the last two offseasons, so I wasn’t surprised that Davis was selected as well. The Steelers really need a return from their rookie class; the Steelers did take three defensive backs last year, and they got exactly one snap on defense from them combined in 2015.

Texans
1. WR Will Fuller
2. C Nick Martin
3. WR Braxton Miller
4. RB Tyler Ervin
5. SS K.J. Dillon
5. NT D.J. Reader
PFA: K Ka’imi Fairburn

=> The Texans put an emphasis on speed in this draft, getting Fuller, Miller, and Ervin. Ervin will be used as a rusher, receiver, and returner. He’ll offer an intriguing change-of-pace to new Houston starting RB Lamar Miller. The Texans will be counting on Martin, brother of Dallas’ Zack, to replace Ben Jones at center.

Colts
1. C Ryan Kelly
2. FS T.J. Green
3. OT Le’Raven Clark
4. DE Hassan Ridgeway
4. ILB Antonio Morrison
5. OT Joe Haeg
7. OLB Trevor Bates
7. C Austin Blythe
PFA: RB Josh Ferguson

=> The Colts drafted four offensive linemen, so that’s nice. They failed to select a RB, despite RB Frank Gore’s rough first season in Indianapolis, his age, and the complete lack of depth at that position. Ferguson went undrafted because he’s under 200 pounds. But Ferguson could be a strong complement to Gore’s inside power running, and he can be a receiving option as well if he can show improved pass protection.

Jaguars
1. CB Jalen Ramsey
2. OLB Myles Jack
3. DE Yannick Ngakoue
4. DT Sheldon Day
6. DE Tyrone Holmes
6. QB Brandon Allen
7. DE Jonathan Woodard
PFA: OT Pearce Slater

=> I understood why Myles Jack wasn’t going to be the fifth overall pick in the draft, and the Jaguars did the right thing to get critical prospect Ramsey in the spot. Ramsey’s selection makes it 22 out of 22 drafts that Jacksonville has taken at least one defensive back, every year since franchise began play in 1995, which is now the longest streak in the NFL. But then Jack falls into the top of Round 2?! The Jaguars had my favorite draft, even if their only offensive selection was a prospective third-string QB. If Jack’s knee isn’t jacked up, then the Jaguars have improved their greatest weakness with one of the draft’s premier talents. And if nothing else, Jacksonville should have more than enough bodies to rush the passer after taking three edge rushers and Day, an interior pass rusher.

Titans
1. OT Jack Conklin
2. OLB Kevin Dodd
2. NT Austin Johnson
2. RB Derrick Henry
3. FS Kevin Byard
5. WR Tajae Sharpe
5. CB LeShaun Sims
6. G Sebastian Tretola
7. OLB Aaron Wallace
7. CB Kalan Reed
PFA: OT Tyler Marz

=> The Titans traded down to 15, traded up to 8, and passed on every offensive lineman not named Ronnie Stanley to take Conklin. Yeah, he better be good. It sounds like Conklin is open to playing right tackle, while incumbent LT Taylor Lewan would prefer to stay in the anchor position. No team allowed more sacks in 2015 than Tennessee, so they need to figure it out now that they have three of their own 1st round picks (Conklin, Lewan, and 2013 1st round G Chance Warmack) on the offensive line in front of QB Marcus Mariota, the second overall pick of the 2015 draft. Tretola is a good flier in Round 6, especially with the Titans declining to exercise Warmack’s option for 2017.

Broncos
1. QB Paxton Lynch
2. DE Adam Gotsis
3. FS Justin Simmons
4. RB Devontae Booker
5. G Connor McGovern
6. FB Andy Janovich
6. SS Will Parks
7. P Riley Dixon
PFA: TE Henry Krieger-Coble

=> Well, the Broncos were fortunate to be able to trade up and land their QB of the future Lynch, the third 1st round selection at QB by a defending Super Bowl champion. Unlike Steelers QB Mark Malone in 1980 or Packers QB Don Horn in 1967, Lynch is coming to a team that also does not have the Super Bowl winning QB in place. Remember, the Broncos were 28th in pass TDs last season, which was a Peyton Manning problem as well as a Brock Osweiler problem. It’s not like the Broncos are downgrading significantly with a former 1st round pick (Mark Sanchez) and a rookie. In other Broncos draft topics, Gotsis is the highest drafted Australian ever, Simmons helps replace some of the depth lost when David Bruton Jr. left in free agency, and Booker should challenge for carries right away if his knee is right.

Chiefs
2. DE Chris Jones
3. CB KeiVarae Russell
4. G Parker Ehinger
4. CB Eric Murray
4. WR Demarcus Robinson
5. QB Kevin Hogan
5. RB Tyreek Hill
6. CB D.J. White
6. OLB Dadi Nicolas
PFA: ILB Terrance Smith

=> I profiled WR De’Anthony Thomas in March, and it was with a pessimistic view of his chances of contributing to the Chiefs next season. The Chiefs went out of their way to replace Thomas’ skill set in this draft. Robinson was suspended multiple times at Florida, while the selection of Hill was panned due to a domestic violence charge. Even with the addition of WR Jeremy Maclin, the Chiefs finished 30th in pass yards, so there’s an opportunity for Robinson to crack what is still a thin WR corps. The Chiefs also used three picks on CBs after using two 2015 picks on CBs (Marcus Peters in Round 1, Steven Nelson in Round 3) and a 2014 3rd round pick on CB Phillip Gaines.

Raiders
1. SS Karl Joseph
2. DE Jihad Ward
3. DE Shilique Calhoun
4. QB Connor Cook
5. RB DeAndre Washington
6. OLB Cory James
7. G Vadal Alexander
PFA: OLB James Cowser

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=> It’s the offseason, so the hype machines are just revving up. But the board above is my main reason why I won’t be crowning the Raiders anytime soon. Maybe if their offense was trash in the beginning of the season before improving significantly, but the opposite happened. The Raiders really needed another RB to push Pro Bowler Latavius Murray, and Washington is going to have to be the one that does it. His only weakness is that he’s very small. Other than that, Washington can go, and he would be a good complement to Murray as a runner and receiver. On the other side of the ball, Oakland has added serious depth on all three levels, though it remains to be seen how head coach Jack Del Rio utilizes it.

Chargers
1. DE Joey Bosa
2. TE Hunter Henry
3. C Max Tuerk
4. ILB Joshua Perry
5. OLB Jatavis Brown
6. P Drew Kaser
6. FB Derek Watt
7. G Donavan Clark
PFA: OT Tyler Johnstone

=> The Chargers got a horrible rookie season from 2015 1st round RB Melvin Gordon III. So while folks are caught up in Watt being J.J.’s brother, it is much more relevant to point out that Watt and Gordon shared a backfield at Wisconsin. It is also interesting that the Chargers are basically going to ask Bosa to be J.J. Watt in their 3-4 defense, while the Chargers selected Bosa’s Ohio State teammate Perry to help replace the released Donald Butler. More connections? How about Tuerk being taken 66th overall, the same overall pick of former Chargers Pro Bowl C Nick Hardwick in 2004? The Chargers released 13-year P Mike Scifres after the selection of Kaser in Round 6. Henry replaces Ladarius Green short term and Antonio Gates long term.

Cowboys
1. RB Ezekiel Elliott
2. ILB Jaylon Smith
3. DT Maliek Collins
4. DE Charles Tapper
4. QB Dak Prescott
6. CB Anthony Brown
6. SS Kavon Frazier
6. RB Darius Jackson
6. TE Rico Gathers
PFA: WR Chris Brown

=> We know who told Jerry Jones to draft Dak Prescott! The Cowboys extended their NFL-long streak of not selecting a QB in one of the first three rounds to 15 years, but Prescott is the first QB the Cowboys have drafted at all since taking Stephen McGee in the 4th round of the 2009 Draft. McGee didn’t make it to Year 4; by the end of Prescott’s fourth season, Tony Romo’s current contract will be up and he’ll be 39 going on 40 years old. In other developments, the Cowboys decided to take Elliott, an outstanding RB prospect who will be playing behind an offensive line that is the envy of the league. Elliott better be special though, because he’s a RB in the year 2016 and he comes from a Big Ten school.

Giants
1. CB Eli Apple
2. WR Sterling Shepard
3. FS Darian Thompson
4. ILB B.J. Goodson
5. RB Paul Perkins
6. TE Jerell Adams
PFA: DE Romeo Okwara

=> The Giants pass defense gave up more yardage than all but one team in NFL history, and they didn’t let the free agency cash thrown at CB Janoris Jenkins change what they did with the 10th pick in the 2016 Draft. New York selected Apple over every other CB in the draft not named Jalen Ramsey, and he joins Jenkins and Pro Bowler Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The Giants believe that Thompson will be a complement to 2014 2nd round SS Landon Collins. The only other defender selected by the Giants was Goodson, and he’s versatile enough to find a spot on the active roster for New York’s annually shallow LB corps.

Eagles
1. QB Carson Wentz
3. G Isaac Seumalo
5. RB Wendell Smallwood
5. OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai
6. CB Blake Countess
7. FS Jalen Mills
7. DE Alex McCalister
7. ILB Joe Walker
PFA: RB Byron Marshall

=> The Eagles waited until the 7th round to address their front seven. With all of the QB nonsense surrounding the Eagles since the arrival of head coach Doug Pederson, it’s easy to forget that Philadelphia is going back to the same 4-3 defense that was a disaster in 2012, though Jim Schwartz as the defensive coordinator is a plus. No team allowed more rushing yards per game than the Eagles last season. McCalister is a lightweight DE; the most he’ll do against the run is help keep starters fresh. In this throwback to 1999, Doug Pederson is Andy Reid, Schwartz is Jim Johnson, Wentz is Donovan McNabb, QB Chase Daniel is Pederson, and QB Sam Bradford … is a former top overall draft pick with a 25-37-1 record as a starter, multiple torn ACLs, and $22 million guaranteed.

Redskins
1. WR Josh Doctson
2. SS Su’a Cravens
3. CB Kendall Fuller
5. NT Matt Ioannidis
6. QB Nate Sudfeld
7. ILB Steven Daniels
7. RB Keith Marshall
PFA: G Domanick Jackson

=> Only the Saints allowed more yards per rush than Washington last season, and they moved on from 2015 starting defensive linemen Terrance Knighton and Jason Hatcher. Ioannidis isn’t a starting prospect, as he’s average physically with adequate at best pass rush ability. But he should be expected to contribute to a rotation. Players like Cravens and Daniels will also have a chance to improve Washington’s porous run defense in 2016. Doctson is the first WR Washington drafted in the 1st round since taking Rod Gardner 15th overall in 2001; Gardner is also the last WR Washington drafted to have a 1,000-yard receiving season at any point (Gardner only did it once, recording 1,006 yards in 2002).

Bears
1. OLB Leonard Floyd
2. G Cody Whitehair
3. DE Jonathan Bullard
4. ILB Nick Kwiatkoski
4. FS Deon Bush
4. CB Deiondre’ Hall
5. RB Jordan Howard
6. FS DeAndre Houston-Carson
7. WR Daniel Braverman
PFA: CB Taveze Calhoun

=> Comparing your 7th round pick to Wes Welker is quite spicy, but the Bears went there! Why not? Braverman, along with 2015 1st round WR Kevin White, will give Chicago a good chance to improve an offense that ranked 23rd in the NFL last season in pass TDs. The Bears continued to makeover their front seven, trading up to get Floyd on Day 1, getting a likely starter in Bullard on Day 2, and getting what should be quality depth in Kwiatkoski on Day 3. The Bears also struggled in the secondary last season, allowing a 31:8 TD-INT ratio, so they spent most of Day 3 getting help in the secondary as well. Bush comes from The U, but he won’t get to play with fellow Miami alum Antrel Rolle after Chicago released Rolle following the draft. Howard’s selection marks the third year in a row that Chicago spent a Day 3 pick on a RB (Jeremy Langford in 2015 4th round, Ka’Deem Carey in 2014 4th round).

Lions
1. OT Taylor Decker
2. DT A’Shawn Robinson
3. C Graham Glasgow
4. SS Miles Killebrew
5. G Joe Dahl
5. OLB Antwione Williams
6. QB Jake Rudock
6. DE Anthony Zettel
6. LS Jimmy Landes
7. RB Dwayne Washington
PFA: WR Jay Lee

=> Williams, along with Robinson, Killebrew, and Zettel, should give the Lions a chance to improve upon a run defense that allowed 18 touchdowns in 2015. Williams is a strongside linebacker type, and Detroit has an opening there. Decker is Detroit’s third 1st round offensive lineman selected in the last five drafts, joining OT Riley Reiff (2012) and G Laken Tomlinson (2015). The Lions wound up using three draft picks on offensive linemen, while Rudock is the first QB the team drafted since taking Matthew Stafford with the first pick of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Packers
1. NT Kenny Clark
2. OT Jason Spriggs
3. OLB Kyler Fackrell
4. ILB Blake Martinez
4. DE Dean Lowry
5. WR Trevor Davis
6. OT Kyle Murphy
PFA: WR Geronimo Allison

=> The Packers were 25th in the NFL in passing yards in 2015, getting exceptionally poor WR play for most of the season. They didn’t need volume here, with players like Jordy Nelson (ACL) and 2015 3rd round WR Ty Montgomery (ankle) returning from injury. Davis has speed, and he’s going from one Cal QB (Jared Goff) to another (Aaron Rodgers), but is likely more of a special teams prospect. Allison may actually be the better receiver right now. The Packers chose Clark to pair with another UCLA 1st round pick, Datone Jones (2013), to improve the run defense, while the Packers used three more picks after the first round to improve the front seven. The Packers declined to draft a defensive back for the first time since 1994.

Vikings
1. WR Laquon Treadwell
2. CB Mackensie Alexander
4. G Willie Beavers
5. ILB Kentrell Brothers
6. WR Moritz Boehringer
6. TE David Morgan II
7. DE Stephen Weatherly
7. SS Jayron Kearse
PFA: DE Theiren Cockran

=> Treadwell is a good fit for the type of QB the Vikings have. He’s a big target, and he’s a willing blocker – the latter part key going to a team with the NFL’s leading rusher. Treadwell has speed issues, and his limited route tree suggests that there will be a learning curve early, but he’ll contribute early. The Vikings also went with German WR Moritz Boehringer and San Antonio TE David Morgan II in Round 6. Boehringer has strong physical traits, but his learning curve will be steep. Morgan can block, but he isn’t separating with his lack of speed. Alexander is the 4th defensive back in the last five drafts that the Vikings have used a Round 1 or 2 selection on.

Falcons
1. SS Keanu Neal
2. ILB Deion Jones
3. TE Austin Hooper
4. OLB De’Vondre Campbell
6. G Wes Schweitzer
7. WR Devin Fuller
PFA: DT Gerald Dixon, Jr.

=> Hooper scored six receiving TDs at Stanford last year. That’s not bad. That’s also one more TD than all of Atlanta’s tight ends combined over the last two seasons. Hooper needs to get stronger, which puts a bit of a damper on his red zone potential early, but he should be expected to contribute to a TE-friendly system right away. The defenders all fit physical prototypes that the Falcons set – you could make an argument that all of them were drafted higher than expected.

Panthers
1. DT Vernon Butler
2. CB James Bradberry
3. CB Daryl Worley
5. CB Zack Sanchez
7. TE Beau Sandland
PFA: OLB Jeremy Cash

=> Carolina only had two picks on Day 3, and Sandland is the only offensive player the team selected at all. Butler was a luxury pick, but he represents the “hog mollies” identity Carolina has established under GM Dave Gettleman. Carolina used the rest of their draft picks on CBs, which was partly a reaction to CB Josh Norman leaving in free agency, and partly just the fact that Carolina was thin at CB even with Norman. The other CBs that played in Super Bowl 50 for Carolina were street free agents Robert McClain and Cortland Finnegan.

Saints
1. DT Sheldon Rankins
2. WR Michael Thomas
2. FS Vonn Bell
4. DT David Onyemata
7. RB Daniel Lasco
PFA: OT Avery Young

=> You knew the Saints were going to use a draft pick in the secondary after allowing an NFL-record 45 TD passes. Bell admitted that he gets lazy against the run, so while that’s not comforting to hear at all, it’s clear that his strength is against the pass. He has some Jairus Byrd in his game, and if Byrd can’t get it together in 2016, then you can see Bell as a starter in short order. Rankins and Onyemata should help improve the New Orleans pass rush, while Thomas replaces Marques Colston as the new big-bodied WR to complement Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead.

Buccaneers
1. CB Vernon Hargreaves
2. DE Noah Spence
2. K Roberto Aguayo
4. SS Ryan Smith
5. OT Caleb Benenoch
6. OLB Devante Bond
6. FB Dan Vitale
PFA: SS Elijah Shumate

=> After the Buccaneers decided that defense wasn’t important in the last two drafts, they went out and got four players in 2016, including local product Hargreaves. Tampa Bay allowed a 59:25 TD-INT ratio over the last two seasons, and Hargreaves joins veteran CB Brent Grimes in a remade CB corps as the Buccaneers transition from the short-lived Lovie Smith era. Trading up for a K isn’t a great move, but it speaks to a legitimate desperation on Tampa Bay’s part. Tampa Bay has had four kickers over the last three seasons, and none of them made 85 percent of their FGs. Watch out for Smith, a small-school defensive back who the Buccaneers are going to try at safety.

Cardinals
1. DE Robert Nkemdiche
3. CB Brandon Williams
4. C Evan Boehm
5. SS Marqui Christian
5. OT Cole Toner
6. CB Harlan Miller
PFA: WR Amir Carlisle

=> Williams wasn’t drafted in the third round on the strength of his defensive skills alone. His special teams potential, paired with Arizona’s woeful kick coverage (29th in yards allowed per punt return), helps explain why Arizona used such a high pick on Williams. Nkemdiche helps with defensive line depth issues that I highlighted in March. Boehm will have a chance to start. The Cardinals have hit with small school products recently (Northern Iowa RB David Johnson, 2015 3rd round; Pittsburg State WR John Brown, 2014 3rd round), and they’ll look to keep it going with Christian (Midwestern State), Toner (Harvard), and Miller (Southeast Louisiana).

Rams
1. QB Jared Goff
4. TE Tyler Higbee
4. WR Pharoh Cooper
6. TE Temarrick Hemingway
6. ILB Josh Forrest
6. WR Mike Thomas
PFA: WR D’haquille Williams

=> The Rams went all in on Goff, but then they gave him four receivers on Day 3. Higbee has a character red flag, as does undrafted Williams, who referred to himself as having “7th-round character.” These are Jeff Fisher’s Rams, so having character issues is a running theme throughout all of GM Les Snead’s drafts. Higbee is a former WR who does a lot of things well, but he also has injury concerns to go along with the jump in competition (Western Kentucky) and relative lack of experience (one year as a starter). Hemingway is another TE from a smaller school, coming from South Carolina State. Cooper is extremely versatile, but then again, so is Tavon Austin. Thomas comes from Southern Mississippi and certainly has the production to have a chance to make an impact. Forrest is the only defender from this draft, which is a concern for a team that lost two starting defensive backs in free agency.

49ers
1. DE DeForest Buckner
1. G Joshua Garnett
3. CB Will Redmond
4. CB Rashard Robinson
5. DE Ronald Blair
5. OT John Theus
5. OT Fahn Cooper
6. QB Jeff Driskel
6. RB Kelvin Taylor
6. WR Aaron Burbridge
7. CB Prince Charles Iworah
PFA: OLB Jason Fanaika

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=> Driskel is to new San Francisco Chip Kelly in 2016 what QB Matt Barkley was to Kelly in 2013, Kelly’s first year in Philadelphia. That makes Blaine Gabbert the new Nick Foles, and Colin Kaepernick the new Michael Vick. Driskel struggled at Florida, putting together a 23:20 TD-INT ratio and 3,411 pass yards in four years. In his lone season at Louisiana Tech in 2015, Driskel threw for 4,026 yards, 27 TDs, and only eight INTs. He has great size and adequate athleticism, and he could figure into the San Francisco QB controversy before the end of the 2016 season. The 49ers added only one WR, Burbridge, despite WR Anquan Boldin still being unsigned. Buckner pairs with former Oregon teammate DE Arik Armstead as 1st round picks on San Francisco’s defensive line. The 49ers used three picks on offensive linemen and three picks on CBs. As usual, San Francisco used a pick on an injured player (Redmond tore his ACL last season).

Seahawks
1. G Germain Ifedi
2. DT Jarran Reed
3. RB C.J. Prosise
3. TE Nick Vannett
3. G Rees Odhiambo
5. DT Quinton Jefferson
5. RB Alex Collins
6. C Joey Hunt
7. WR Kenny Lawler
7. RB Zac Brooks
PFA: SS Tyvis Powell

=> I didn’t realize that Seattle chose a kicker in the first round! Then again, they’re about to start Garry Gilliam at left tackle, and he caught a TD pass from P Jon Ryan in the 2014 NFC Championship! The Seattle offensive line has been poor, especially in pass protection, for years. Ifedi is going to start out competing at RG, because he’s not ready to protect the passer at OT. Odhiambo and Hunt could also win jobs as rookies, though Seattle is converting Justin Britt to C; Britt played LG last season and RT in 2014 as a rookie. Vannett was selected for his blocking. Seattle also drafted two DTs, with Reed getting a chance to fill Brandon Mebane’s vacated role. Seattle also drafted three RBs following RB Marshawn Lynch’s retirement (which became official following the draft) and RB Thomas Rawls’ season-ending ankle injury. Prosise is basically the opposite of former Seahawks and Notre Dame WR Golden Tate. Prosise is a former WR turned RB, while Tate was a former RB turned WR. The Seahawks didn’t draft a defensive back for the first time in the Pete Carroll era.

To end, here are some more general roster observations following the 2016 NFL Draft:

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