2014 NFL Draft Day Two Grades
Denver Broncos C+
I was surprised to see the Denver Broncos pass up on some talented linebackers, which is their biggest position of need. However, they did manage to land two quality prospects, as they added Taylor Lewan’s partner in crime at Michigan in right tackle Michael Schofield. But the pick that really earns the Broncos excellent front office praise is the decision to add high-upside Indiana wide receiver Cody Latimer in the second round. It looks like a good pick on paper, even if Latimer lacks polish. Peyton Manning should be able to get the most out of him, and Latimer is a big receiver with a good size/speed combo and solid hands. He boxes out defenders like Mike Evans, and he’s more polished than Kelvin Benjamin. Latimer received so much pre-draft buzz that there was actually a chance he could have slipped into the first round, but the Broncos gladly scooped him up in the second.
Kansas City Chiefs D+
The Chiefs are making me scratch my head right now, but it’s always tough to bet against John Dorsey and Andy Reid. In any case, I wasn’t a fan of the Chiefs decision to draft Dee Ford ahead of talented wide receivers and FS Jimmie Ward, and they still passed up on a receiver in the third round. There are still some talented players left for day three, but the Chiefs have put themselves behind by not making an upgrade at their biggest position of need. They also failed to draft a free safety, but at least they drafted someone in the secondary by picking up small-school prospect Phillip Gaines in the third round. The Rice product is one of the draft’s most attractive sleeper options at the cornerback position, and he could make Brandon Flowers a cap casualty. Gaines is a very talented player who almost salvages this pick, but it’s disappointing to see the team pass up on the help that Alex Smith desperately needs. I really like Gaines as a prospect, but I’m torn because of the lack of a receiver. The Chiefs overall grade, though, will be more important, so today’s picks will be critical in evaluating their class as a whole.
San Diego Chargers A-
San Diego Chargers GM Tom Telesco is one of my favorite executives in the NFL, and his first two picks of the 2014 NFL Draft were pure genius. Jason Verrett was my top-ranked cornerback and should be a star in this league. Maybe more importantly, he fills up the Chargers biggest position of need. The Chargers also earned high marks for their work yesterday, and I think Jeremiah Attaochu was definitely worth trading up for. He’s better than Dee Ford, Marcus Smith, and Demarcus Lawrence, and I’m surprised he didn’t go in the first round. Attaochu has great physical tools, knows how to use his hands, and he can play in any scheme. The Chargers now have a very talented trio of pass rushers going into the 2014 season in Melvin Ingram, veteran Dwight Freeney (he played at a high level before his season-ending injury), and Attaochu. The Chargers third-round selection of guard Chris Watt is an interesting one, because he’s an excellent technician at the position who sorely lacks athleticism; he has plenty of upside as a run blocker.
Oakland Raiders A+
After a slow start to the offseason in which their strange decisions early in free agency (see: Veldheer, Jared) were criticized heavily, Reggie McKenzie and the Oakland Raiders have definitely rectified things over the past couple of months. They snatched top-notch front seven prospect Khalil Mack in the first round, and they now have one of the league’s best front sevens in the 4-3 base. They also did a great job yesterday, as they wisely scooped up Derek Carr at 36. Carr was heavily linked to the Raiders, and he has the best arm talent in the class, along with incredibly underrated athletic ability. Matt Schaub is locked in as the short-term starter and should bounce back, but Carr can start if Schaub continues to struggle. The most important thing is that Carr is the quarterback of the future, and he should be excellent once he’s done developing. I’ve fallen in love with his ability and coachability, and he should be great if the Raiders can clean up his footwork. They also snagged a solid guard in Gabe Jackson, who could be a big-time mauler.