2014 NFL Draft Day Three Grades
Cleveland Browns C+
This is an incredibly tough grade to makes, and it goes beyond the fact that the Browns only had one third day pick. They desperately needed wide receiver help after news that superstar wideout Josh Gordon could miss the entire 2014 season with a suspension, and the Browns already came into the draft with a sizeable need for a WR2. Johnny Manziel didn’t get any pass-catching help on the second day, and the Browns didn’t add a WR in the fourth round either. That said, I’m still going to give them a slightly positive grade, because big small-school CB Pierre Desir (Lindenwood) was just too good of a value to pass up on. I had a third-round grade on him and actually had him rated over Stanley Jean-Baptise, whom the New Orleans Saints drafted in round two. The Browns already took top CB Justin Gilbert with the eighth overall pick, and Desir is a risk because of his age and status as a small-school guy (level of competition). The Browns were very aggressive in undrafted free agency yesterday, adding underrated wide receiver prospect Chandler Jones (I was surprised he went undrafted), former South Carolina QB Connor Shaw, and talented-but-troubling RB Isaiah Crowell.
Cincinnati Bengals D+
Adding A.J. McCarron as a backup quarterback wasn’t a bad decision, but I wish the Bengals picked up someone with better physical tools, given that Andy Dalton is limited enough in that department. Russell Bodine was easily their best pick yesterday, and the strong UNC product can play at guard or center. He’ll learn on the Bengals bench as a rookie, but he should be a quality starter down the road. As for the other three picks the Bengals made yesterday, Marquis Flowers, Lavelle Westbrooks, and James Wright are all developmental guys who will most likely land on the practice squad.
Baltimore Ravens C+
The Ravens put together an excellent trio on Friday (Timmy Jernigan, Terrence Brooks, and Crockett Gillmore) after drafting star Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley in the first round, and Ozzie Newsome turned in an above-average performance yesterday. Running back Lorenzo Taliaferro is one of the most intriguing late-round RBs to watch going into offseason workouts, Brent Urban should be a decent rotational man, Keith Wenning figures to be a quality backup down the road, and Michael Campanaro was a steal in the seventh round. Campanaro is more athletic than some think, and he could be a great slot receiver at the next level.
Pittsburgh Steelers A
The Pittsburgh Steelers front office saved their best for last, and I liked every single pick the team made yesterday. Martavis Bryant was an excellent selection in the fourth round, and the Steelers have given Ben Roethlisberger the best pure deep threat in the class for the second straight year (Markus Wheaton last year). Bryant has terrible hands and lacks polish as a route-runner, but he is an incredibly explosive athlete with a tantalizing size/speed combination. Daniel McCullers will beef up the Steelers depth on the defensive line, but his success hinges on his ability to stand his ground against the run. Rob Blanchflower looks like a solid TE2 behind veteran Heath Miller, Shaquille Richardson has plenty of upside as a developmental corner, Jordan Zumwalt was a good value in the sixth, and Vanderbilt interior OL Wesley Johnson looks like a future quality starter in the NFL.