The NFL Draft is officially over so it is time to hand out NFL Draft Grades! These NFL Draft Grades will cover all 32 teams who will be graded based on who they picked, team needs, and their overall draft process. Here are the NFL Draft Grades for the NFC West.
Arizona Cardinals: C-
The Cardinals didn’t need to do much this offseason, but they’ve somehow gone backwards. Gone are Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks, Christian Kirk and Chase Edmonds. In is…Marquise “Hollywood” Brown? Brown does not fill all of the holes obviously but he’s a nice player. The problem is – they traded the 23rd overall pick for him. And he’s up for an extension. Not great process to trade a five year cap controlled, rookie deal player for a good but not great player who is due a big pay day.
They then make matters worse by taking a tight end with their second pick. After re-signing two TEs and bringing an outside one in during free agency. So they spend a first round pick on Brown, and a second round pick on their fourth string TE?
Those two moves really tanked their grade for me. Even though I like some of their later picks. Myjai Sanders is a big and talented edge rusher who they got in the third, and Jesse Luketa is a really interesting linebacker they got in the seventh who can rush off the edge, and play off ball linebacker.
Los Angeles Rams: B
I struggled with this grade. I’ve been grading teams who traded their picks based on the players they got. But this is the first team that traded their picks before this offseason. So does it count? If it does, they get an A+ because their first and second round picks became Matthew Stafford and Von Miller…then they won the Super Bowl.
That said, those moves were so long ago, they were more about last season. When Denver traded this year’s picks for Russell Wilson, or Las Vegas for Davante Adams it was for this offseason and next season. That’s different from this situation. Therefore I’ll only grade based on the picks the Rams made.
They get points for hitting their biggest needs early. After free agency they lost a starting guard and cornerback. They immediately filled those needs with some interesting prospects that fit their system. I also really liked their sixth round selections with two smart and experienced defensive backs. They also hit a need in the seventh round with outside linebacker Daniel Hardy who had 16 SACKS LAST YEAR. They got docked a couple points for taking a running back with Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson on the roster.
Seattle Seahawks: B+
The Seahawks had a good draft. More importantly, they had a normal draft. Left Tackle was the biggest need on the roster. They took Charles Cross in the first round. They needed an infusion of edge rushers. They took Boye Mafe in the second and Tyreke Smith in the fifth. They needed some depth and speed in the defensive backfield. They took Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen in the fourth. They even added some tackle depth (and potential starter) in the third round in Abraham Lucas.
Now it is the Seahawks, so they couldn’t help but take a running back in the third round. Although with essentially just Rashad Penny on the roster, it’s not the worst thing in the world to get the second best back in the draft. They even made a savvy move in the seventh by taking two WRs, because you know no UDFA WR was signing with the heavy run team with two top receivers in the building.
This was a really nice draft for Seattle. I think Cross is a legitimate franchise tackle. I think Bryant could wind up as a Pro Bowl corner taken on Day 3. I think with all of the raw talent between Mafe and Smith, one of them will definitely become a legit starter (maybe both). Really good all around weekend in Seattle.
San Francisco 49ers: B-
Despite having nine draft picks the 49ers were underwhelming this weekend. Without a first round pick they selected Drake Jackson in the second round. A pick I really liked, and think Jackson will be the next house-hold edge rusher from the Niners. After that though their draft was pretty blah.
They select another Day 2 running back, and drafting and benching, Trey Sermon last year. After that though they take Danny Gray who I like as a versatile, developmental receiver. After that they address positions of need, but not with any players that I love.
I really don’t even have more to say. It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t that good. They lose points for the running back. B-.
Be sure to follow along as I give NFL Draft Grades for all 32 teams, right here on Fantom Sports! And for more draft content you can listen to my podcast, the Simon Shortt Podcast, on Apple and Spotify!
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