2014 NFL Draft Day Two Grades
Seattle Seahawks C+
Paul Richardson is a high-upside wide receiver who drew some DeSean Jackson comparisons in the pre-draft process, and he should play a little bit of Percy Harvin-type role due to his explosiveness in the open field. I like the Richardson pick, and he helps give the Seahawks offense some more firepower and playmaking ability in the passing game. Justin Britton will give the Seahawks offensive line some depth at offensive tackle, and it will be interesting to see how he develops under Tom Cable.
San Francisco 49ers A-
Trent Baalke almost never feels compelled to drive hard for a need after the first round, and the San Francsico 49ers were able to land three talented prospects yesterday that don’t necessarily fill sizeable positions of need. Carlos Hyde is the best running back in the class, and he has been compared to Frank Gore by several analysts; he’ll get a chance to give the 49ers star feature back some much-needed rest next season. Meanwhile, Brandon Thomas was a great scoop for the Niners, and they are always willing to snag talented prospects who fall due to injuries. Marcus Martin is the second-best center prospect in the class, and he has a great chance of starting as a rookie. The 49ers had four picks on the second day of the draft, and they certainly made the most of it by making their roster even deeper and more talented. Though undersized, inside linebacker Chris Borland has plenty of talent, and he’ll make an impact on the defense while NaVorro Bowman rehabs.
Arizona Cardinals B
Steve Keim and the Cardinals had a very nice second day of the draft, adding three talented prospects who will immediately have solid roles. The Cardinals needed a tight end, and Troy Niklas should be a very good dual-threat (blocking and receiving) starter for them. John Brown is a small-school upside with plenty of upside and returning ability, but I think the most important catch was Kareem Martin. It will be interesting to see how he fits the Cardinals defense, and there’s no doubt that the Cards needed a talented edge rusher like the UNC product.
St. Louis Rams B-
Lamarcus Joyner was a very good pick for the DB-needy St. Louis Rams, and what makes him such an attractive fit is his ability to play cornerback or safety. He may be small, but he can pack a mean punch with his hits and can make plays all over the field. They had to trade up to get him, but Joyner makes sense for the Rams. They were also always expected to be in the market to draft a running back, and they added Auburn Tigers RB Tre Mason to the mix. He has the ability to be a feature back in this league after a fantastic 2013 season at Auburn, and he was my second-ranked running back in the class behind Hyde. Zac Stacy is locked in as the feature back for obvious reasons, but it’s good to see the run-heavy Rams adding another talented RB, especially since Mason was a good value pick at 75.