NFL Draft 2016 Review: AFC Wins Behind Chargers and Jaguars
By Dan Salem
Upon further review the AFC won the NFL Draft 2016. Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers crushed it in Chicago, grabbing the most talent and best value overall.
Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.
TODD:
We’ve had over a week to digest the 2016 NFL Draft. We can’t wait three years to grade this thing like we probably should. Instead, the NFL train keeps moving and analysts attempt to judge each team’s draft before the current season even begins.
With that attitude, the proper way to judge a draft is off of value and value alone. Since we can’t know how a specific player will end up doing in the NFL, a “good” draft is simply one where said team came away with players who were projected ahead of where they were selected. This is, obviously, still rather subjective because everyone’s draft board differed beforehand. Nevertheless, we all have our opinions. Mine starts with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville came away with arguably two of the best five players in the entire draft with its first two selections: Jalen Ramsey at fifth and Myles Jack at 36th. From that point, the rest of its draft was gravy. Those two happened to be “best player available” situations while also filling areas of need for the Jaguars. They also added some pass-rushing pieces while getting the return of last year’s top pick, Dante Fowler, who missed all of 2015 with an injury. Fowler shouldn’t be factored into this grading, but the Jags are on my love list regardless.
Related Story: Best Draft Selection for Each NFL Team
The Buffalo Bills are as well. They drafted Shaq Lawson and Reggie Ragland with the 19th and 41st picks respectively. Each player had been discussed in the early to middle of the first round, with Lawson possibly going as high as 10. Adolphus Washington in round three was a nice pick, as was Cardale Jones in round four. The latter has the highest upside of any quarterback on the roster. Kolby Listenbee supplies speed late. The only thing the team missed out on was adding to the offensive line. I really like what the Bills did all-around.
The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings may have ranked among my biggest winners as well if they came away with more. New Orleans only made five selections despite having oh so many holes to fill. Vonn Bell was a great pick in the third, as were some of the others, but the net gain wasn’t large enough. I liked what Minnesota did with its first two picks, taking Laquon Treadwell and Mackensie Alexander when other teams reached for players at the same positions ahead of them. But the rest of its draft left me wanting more.
Elsewhere, I loved certain picks, like the Arizona Cardinals taking Robert Nkemdiche or the Cincinnati Bengals coming away with Andrew Billings in the fourth. But my overall winners of the 2016 NFL Draft are the Jaguars and Bills for sure.
DAN:
Its funny, but the 2016 NFL Draft is going to be remembered in two very distinct ways. The AFC clearly won the draft at this juncture, with the Dolphins selection of Laremy Tunsil standing above everything as the best value pick of the entire three day ordeal. But if Goff, Wentz and Elliott all mature into Pro Bowl caliber players, then ultimately it will be the NFC who wins this year’s festivities.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
I too love what the Jaguars came away with at the draft, but I’m a bit more skittish in regards to Jack’s knee injury. He was an excellent selection in the second round, but Jacksonville did not top this team for best overall grade. The San Diego Chargers not only got the best overall player with the third pick of round one, defensive end Joey Bosa from Ohio State, they also selected the best tight end with the 35th overall selection, Hunter Henry from Arkansas.
While Henry was not rated as highly as Jack, he was certainly the best tight end in the draft. The Chargers have thrived with one of the league’s premier tight ends for many seasons, but Antonio Gates is reaching the end of his career. Good thing they brought in Henry to take the baton and learn from one of the NFL’s best at the position. Philip Rivers is still an excellent quarterback, but he needs someone like Henry to split time with Gates and ultimately win the position from him.
The other thing Rivers needed was protection on the offensive line. San Diego drafted center Max Tuerk 66th overall, guard Donavon Clark 224th overall as well as fullback Derek Watt 198th overall. All three hail from power programs known for creating NFL ready players. This is a huge step forward for San Diego’s offense. I also like the defensive pieces the Chargers drafted at linebacker. Overall they got a ton of talent while addressing major holes on an otherwise talented roster.
More nfl spin zone: Way Too Early 2017 Prospect Rankings
This may be the NFC’s draft in the end, but for now it was the AFC who came away with the value and the best draft grades overall. Here’s hoping Jacksonville and San Diego turn a stellar draft into winning seasons.