With the 2015 NFL draft in the rear-view mirror, it’s now time to analyze what each team did. While we have to wait at least two years before drawing any type of real conclusion, it’s fun to look back and give our snap judgments of how teams did during the three-day event.
On that note, here’s our breakdown of the NFC West with grades for all four teams.
Arizona Cardinals
The selection of D.J. Humphries at 24 overall threw many for a loop, especially considering Oregon’s Jake Fisher was on the clock. But make no mistake about it, he’s going to be a solid football player. Likely ready to start at right tackle out of the gate, this Florida product provides substantial upside due to elite-level athleticism and an ability to get to the second level. There are some technique issues to work on here, but Humphries will be a darn good football player. Adding him to the mix with recently-signed Mike Iupati transforms the Cardinals offensive line in front of Carson Palmer.
I am not as sold on second-round pick Markus Golden, who really didn’t stand out on tape at Missouri. He will convert from defensive end to outside linebacker, but doesn’t necessarily provide much upside as a pass rusher. That’s not an ideal scenario for a Day 2 pick.
By the way, the #Cardinals' fifth round pick, Shaq Riddick, is better than their second round pick, Markus Golden
— Ian Valentino (@NFLDraftStudy) May 2, 2015
If you’re worried about the lack of value in the second, you should definitely be thrilled with what Arizona did in Round 5. Shaquille Riddick may be a little raw, but should be a contributor a bit down the road. He’s more athletic than Golden, and provides a ton more upside. It was a solid value pick.
However, Arizona’s best selection during the three-day draft was former Northern Iowa running back David Johnson, who could very well be the steal of the draft. At 6’1″ and 224, Johnson will work well with Andre Ellington in Arizona’s backfield. He packs a major punch against opposing defenders, rarely goes down at first contact, and might be the best inside rusher in the draft. He’s also a tremendous receiving running back.
They needed this pick. The Cardinals needed a big back to complement Andre Ellington,” NFL Media’s Mike Mayock said. “Johnson has outstanding passing game traits. He catches the ball like Le’Veon Bell.
That’s a mighty impressive comparison. And while Johnson has a long way to go before he becomes anywhere near what Bell is, the talent is most definitely there.
Grade: B
San Francisco 49ers
Courtesy of USA Today Sports: Armstead was a reach in the first round.
Some will say that San Francisco reached for most of its selections in the 2015 NFL draft. Those who draw this conclusion are likely basing their opinion on a lack of knowledge regarding the newest members of this team.
Early on, the only issue I had with San Francisco’s draft, and the reason why it isn’t graded higher, was the selection of Oregon defensive lineman Arik Armstead. While incredibly talented, there is a major bust factor here. He tends to struggle with technique, plays too high at the point of contact and won’t be an impact player as it relates to rushing the passer. He’s also not going to be a Day 1 contributor. These are some major issues. They also lead me to believe he was a reach at 17.
Interestingly enough, second-round pick Jaquiski Tartt was nowhere near the reach that many thought he was. There were teams interested in picking up the former Samford safety later in the second round, which is an indication San Francisco did its homework here. At 6’1″ and 221, Tartt is a physical freak that will lay the wood on a consistent basis.
He’s an in-the-box safety with a nose for the ball. He also has the ability to play a specific role in San Francisco’s scheme—a role that no one else on the roster can play. That will mix well with what the team already has at safety in Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea. Looking a bit further down the road, Tartt will likely find himself as the team’s starting strong safety when Bethea retires. That’s a solid projection for a second-round pick.
Eli Harold is a BPA pick in San Francisco. I had him late Rd 1.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) May 2, 2015
San Francisco’s best pick in the draft came in the third round when it selected former Virginia pass rusher Eli Harold, who some had pegged as a late first-round pick. In fact, I had him graded higher than Randy Gregory. Harold will play an immediate role in sub packages and should find himself competing with Aaron Lynch opposite Aldon Smith in the future.
Day 3 brought mixed results. San Francisco exhausted a fifth-round pick on a punter when it has one of the best players in the league at that position in Andy Lee. However, it made up for that by picking up former Georgia Tech wide receiver DeAndre Smelter and running back Mike Davis from South Carolina. Both should play long-term roles in San Francisco’s offense.
Grade: B-
Seattle Seahawks
Courtesy of USA Today Sports: The Jimmy Graham trade has to be factored in here.
You have to factor in the Jimmy Graham trade when grading Seattle’s draft. You also have to understand that it gave up a first-round pick and a Pro Bowl center in that deal. The addition of Graham is going to be absolutely huge for Russell Wilson and company. Until proven otherwise, that deal should receive a solid “A” grade.
In terms of the draft itself, Seattle made some questionable moves. The selection of former Michigan defensive end Frank Clark at the bottom of the second round was stunning. Ripe with talent, Clark boasted one of the biggest character question marks in the draft, mainly due to domestic violence issues.
There was a major character concern with Clark. Some teams took him completely off the board,” NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah wrote during the draft. “He can rush the passer, but this is a player with a lot of issues off the football field.
For a team that had previously indicated prospects with highly questionable characters wouldn’t be welcomed on the team, this move made little sense.
The best pick of the draft for general manager John Schneider and company was the ultra-talented wide receiver Tyler Lockett in the second round. Despite being smaller in stature (5’10” and 182), all Lockett does it get open. He’s going to be an absolutely amazing asset for Wilson moving forward.
Considering Seattle yielded four picks to move up for Lockett in the third round, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the rest of the draft came and went without the team making much of a dent. The rest of their picks will struggle to even make the 53-man roster, which makes us wonder why Seattle didn’t trade out of some of these selections. It also didn’t necessarily fill depth needs along the offensive line and in the secondary.
Grade: B+
St. Louis Rams
Courtesy of USA Today: Gurley wasn’t the best player at 10, and he didn’t fill a need.
One of the biggest losers of the draft, St. Louis struggled finding value and need throughout the three-day event. The selection of Georgia running back Todd Gurley at 10th overall made absolutely no sense. With the likes of top corners Trae Waynes and Marcus Peters on the board, Les Snead decided to go with the sexy pick instead. Coming off a torn ACL, it’s also unlikely that Gurely will be able to make much of an impact out of the gate. It’s also important to note that St. Louis already boasts a solid young running back in Tre Mason, who it picked in the third round of the 2014 draft.
It didn’t get much better for the Rams from there. Second-round pick Rob Havenstein didn’t represent much value and will be relegated to the right side of the team’s offensive line.
NFL.com had this to say about the Wisconsin product:
Stiffness in knees causes him to come out of stance way too tall. Is almost never under the pads of opponent. Too often has to sumo wrestle at impact to get defender centered. Initial lateral quickness not good enough to count on him with back-side cut-offs.
That doesn’t seem to be value in the second round. It also doesn’t help that there was much more value at positions of need still on the board there.
However, the worst pick of the draft had to be St. Louis’ selection of former Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion in the third round. Picking him ahead of Bryce Petty and Brett Hundley was a joke. Picking him on Day 2 was even worse. Mannion lacks anywhere near the skill set to be a starter-caliber quarterback in the NFL.
Grade: D
Photo: USA Today Sports