2014 NFL Draft Day Two Grades
Carolina Panthers B-
After about an average first round of the draft, the Panthers turned in a solid second round, even if they didn’t draft any offensive tackle help. It will be interesting to see if the Panthers are able to land either Cameron Fleming or Antonio Richardson today, but they were at least able to snag some guard help in the third. Trai Turner is boom-or-bust as a pass blocker, but the tools-y guard should be a big difference-maker as a run blocker in his rookie year after opening up holes almost at will for current Cincinnati Bengals RB Jeremy Hill. While the Panthers didn’t need Kony Ealy and already have a stacked defensive line, Ealy was simply too good to pass up on in the late second round. The team showed a huge amount of interest in him in the pre-draft process, and everyone told us to watch for the Panthers as a darkhorse for him. There were even some who believed the Panthers would take him in the first, but I always saw Ealy as a prime option for the Panthers if he made the unlikely slip into their hands in the second. Well, he sure did slip, and he makes the Panthers pass rush even more stacked. The Panthers will have the ability to toy around with how he fits, and it will be interesting to see what his niche is. If the Panthers can’t lock up Greg Hardy and he leaves in 2015, then Ealy will be the starter across another stalwart DE in Charles Johnson.
New Orleans Saints B-
I don’t like the lofty comparisons to the likes of Richard Sherman or Nnamdi Asomugha, because those are two special CBs who are among the best defensive players in recent memory. However, Stanley Jean-Baptiste is a talented cornerback with plenty of upside, and he fits the Saints defense perfectly. Rob Ryan seems to love big corners, and Keenan Lewis excelled last season as the team’s No. 1 corner in press coverage. Ryan and player-mentor Champ Bailey can help get the most out of SJB, and we’ll see if the Nebraska product can end up becoming a top-notch corner. If that happens, though, he’ll have to play exclusively in man coverage and will need safety help early on due to his issues against speedier receivers.
Atlanta Falcons C+
The Atlanta Falcons have been stocking up on interior defensive linemen this offseason, and Minnesota Golden Gophers product Ra’Shede Hageman is the latest name to add to that list. He represents good value for the Falcons in the second round, and he has as much upside as any interior DL in this year’s class. Hageman admitted that he sometimes takes plays off, and the Falcons will have to try and get him to become more consistent. Thomas Dimitroff was also able to add an intriguing safety prospect in Dezmen Southward, who fills a pressing position of need at safety. After making the perfect pick in the first round by drafting Jake Matthews, the Falcons followed things up with a quality second day.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers B
Mike Evans was a good pick for the Buccaneers in the first round and gives either Mike Glennon or Josh McCown a high-impact No. 2 wide receiver across from Vincent Jackson, and the Bucs followed that up by giving their starting QB a high-impact tight end to work with. Austin Seferian-Jenkins has some character red flags, but those most likely won’t amount to anything, especially not with Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay. ASJ was easily the most well-rounded TE prospect coming into this year’s draft, as he can excel as a blocker or pass-catcher, and he lined up just about everywhere during his time at Washington; this was a very good pick for the Bucs. Although the Bucs had more than enough talent at running back in Doug Martin, Mike James, and Bobby Rainey, the Bucs decided to throw in Charles Sims for good measure. The West Virginia product is a well-rounded RB, and I like him significantly more than Bishop Sankey, who was the first RB off of the board (Tennessee Titans). Sims has drawn Matt Forte comparisons, and he’s a legit sleeper in this year’s class. The Buccaneers didn’t need an RB, but I’m not holding the Sims pick against them, as they had him on the top of their draft board.