How did your team do in the NFL draft? FantasyPros expert Brian Riedmiller has the review on all 32 NFL teams, complete with winners, losers, and draft grades. All teams are graded on an A through F scale, where “C” is average. So what are the grades? Read on to find out!
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Grading the AFC North
Winners: Cleveland Browns
Losers: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
Immediate Needs – SS / NT
Long Term Needs – OLB / CB
Depth Possibilities – DE / ILB
The Steelers had a big problem stopping opposing quarterbacks last season. Even if you don’t look at the numbers, the fact that they added two cornerbacks in Artie Burns and Sean Davis in the first and second rounds, respectively, should be evidence enough. However, both had second round grades, which really makes these moves seem like those of necessity and not of best overall value. Though the jury might be out on the success of their corners, their third and fourth round picks, Javon Hargrave, a defensive tackle, and Jerald Hawkins, an offensive tackle, are both solid pickups to help the Steelers get better from the inside out. This gives them solid depth there, but other areas of need were addressed, or just barely. Sixth round pick, Travis Freeney, might check off their need for an outside linebacker, but his athleticism overshadows him simply being unpolished. The bottom line is that the Steelers got some needs addressed, but not in the most effective way possible.
FantasyPros draft grade: D-
Cincinnati Bengals
Immediate Needs – WR
Long Term Needs – DT / CB
Depth Possibilities – FS / OLB / C
Tyler Boyd, who is a receiver from Pittsburgh, was the Bengals’ selection in the second round, and although his grade is more of that as a third rounder for most people, he fits into their offense perfectly. As far as their other needs, Andrew Billings, gives them some depth possibility at nose tackle, although he isn’t a true versatile 3 down player. The best thing about their draft, was them taking William Jackson III in the first round, since it was also a need for them and also a need for a division rival. Inside linebacker, Nick Vigil, a third round pick, gives them some good versatile depth on the inside.
FantasyPros draft grade: C
Cleveland Browns
Immediate Needs – SS / OT / WR
Long Term Needs – QB / DE
Depth Possibilities – WR / DT
In comes former baseball general manager Paul DePodesta, and gone are the days where the Cleveland Browns take a single quarterback with a very high pick. Instead of swinging and missing on one player, they traded back again and again, obtaining 14 picks this year and more next year. Already, after just one round, you can tell their drafting strategy changed, with the pick of receiver, Corey Coleman. Drafting a receiver is something that the former staff of Browns did only once, and after one round, they get probably the most dynamic receiver in the draft. Just for good measure, though, they made sure to draft four more receivers. They did eventually draft a quarterback, with Cody Kessler in the third round, but he doesn’t necessarily have the tools to be a franchise quarterback. Still, the Browns needed a lot of help, and although they might not have solved every issue, the fact that they’ve obviously changed their drafting ideology can only point the franchise in the correct direction.
FantasyPros draft grade: A
Baltimore Ravens
Immediate Needs – ILB / OLB / DE
Long Term Needs – OT / CB
Depth Possibilities – OG / WR
According to some sources, the Ravens would have drafted Tunsil at No. 6 instead of Ronnie Stanley, had it not been for the video that came out. Regardless, the Ravens get a day one starter on a line that they need. Baltimore took two defensive ends in rounds two and three, in Kamalei Correa and Bronson Kaufusi. Correa is a hybrid linebacker and he has the athleticism to fit what Baltimore needs, and Kaufusi has the build at 6’6”, 285 to be the 3-4 defensive end that they need. Their best pick for me, come with their second round value at a fourth round price with Kenneth Dixon, who will fit into the offense nicely as a pass catching option.
FantasyPros draft grade: B
Here are Brian’s draft grades for other divisions:
Brian Riedmiller is a fantasy correspondent for FantasyPros.com. He has been playing fantasy football for over a decade, and is an avid Eagles fan. You can catch him on Twitter under the handle @FantasyCouncil.