Every year the draft shakes out much differently than we expect. The draft boards of NFL teams differ significantly from the draft analysts in the media and that leaves us thinking some teams are significant winners and others blew their picks. In reality most teams end up falling somewhere in between. Even so, here are three teams from the AFC who loaded up on quality players and three who left something to be desired.
By: Anthony Chiado
Winners
Jacksonville Jaguars
At the moment, it looks like the Jaguars had by far the best draft in the league. I’m not sure how else you could characterize it when one team manages to snag two of the four best players in the class and five top 100 talents. It’s easy to see how much the Jaguars defense will improve with the additions of Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack, Yannick Ngakoue, Sheldon Day, and Tyrone Holmes.
Ramsey will immediately become one of the better cover corners in the league, adding the Jaguars already full stable at the position. Second round pick Myles Jack may have questions about how long he can play due a knee injury he suffered last fall, but in the immediate future he can be a pro-bowl caliber linebacker. Add the return of Dante Fowler, last year’s first round pick, from injury to the impact players they added over the weekend and the Jaguars are the early favorites to win the AFC South in 2017.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos biggest and best addition from this draft was first round pick Paxton Lynch. Trading up a few spots to secure the ex-Memphis quarterback was the best thing that could have happened for their offense on draft day. Lynch should already be an improvement on the quarterbacks that the Broncos won the Super Bowl with last year.
To improve the rest of their roster they went with variety rather than focusing on a few position groups. Some of their notable other picks were Boston College safety Justin Simmons, one of the more athletic players in the class who was uber-consistent in college, and Utah running back Devontae Booker, who more talented than his late fourth round draft position. Somehow, Denver managed to improve on a roster that brought home a Lombardi trophy last year.
Baltimore Ravens
I was not a big fan of the Ravens first few picks in the draft at all. First round pick Ronnie Stanley was a huge reach, especially with Laremy Tunsil still on the board, and second round pick Kamalei Correa could have a future as an off-ball linebacker but at EDGE his pass rushing ability leaves much to be desired. They made up for those picks on Day 3, though. Fourth round pick Tavon Young and Willie Henry were both draft day steals.
Young could be one of the better slot cornerbacks in the league sooner rather than later and Henry is another interesting piece for Baltimore’s front seven. Snagging Kenneth Dixon in the fifth round gives them someone who can contribute right away at running back and eventually take over for Justin Forsett. At the conclusion of the draft’s sixth round they took Maurice Canady, a cornerback with second day talent. Maximizing late round value once again gives Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens a solid class.
Losers
Cleveland Browns
After the Browns traded down twice in the first round and still managed to snag one of the draft’s best receivers in Corey Coleman, it looked like Paul Depodesta and his analytical approach were going to pay off. It then became clear that the metrics he had employed were based on production rather than athleticism as the Cleveland began selecting players whose talent does not match their college numbers.
They selected four overrated players on Day 2. I will be surprised if any of Emmanuel Ogbah, Carl Nassib, Shon Coleman, or Cody Kessler are ever starters in the NFL. They began Day 3 by selecting Wisconsin linebacker/EDGE rusher Joe Schobert and finished it off by selecting Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright III. Both players racked up impressive stats in college simply due to opportunity rather than skills that translate to the NFL level. The Browns appear to be back to their old ways.
Tennessee Titans
While divisional foe Jacksonville was out loading up on more talent than any other team in the league, the Titans had maybe the worst draft out of all 32 teams. First round pick Jack Conklin is a third round value at offensive tackle who still got drafted in the top ten, second round pick Kevin Dodd is an old and unathletic EDGE rusher, and Austin Johnson, an ex-Penn State defensive tackle who was another second round pick, is a run-stuffer only who probably should have lasted another 20 or so picks.
Running back Derrick Henry was the team’s third second round pick and one of the lone good players the Titans selected. However, taking a running back so early despite having DeMarco Murray and promising 2015 draft pick David Cobb on the roster is a questionable decision. While other teams spent draft weekend improving their talent, the Titans were stalling around Marcus Mariota.
New York Jets
The Jets draft class could very well look much better a few years from now, but as of now it looks like they loaded up on players with potential and not much tangible talent at the moment. First round linebacker Darron Lee athleticism and mental discipline to become a very good player, but you’re essentially punting the first two years until you find out what you have with him.
Second round pick Christian Hackenberg had a fantastic first year at Penn State under Bill O’Brien but fell off hard during his sophomore and junior seasons. Third round outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins is a good player, and a bargain for where he was drafted, but I don’t think he fits very well in the 3-4 defense the Jets run. The Jets didn’t really draft any late round steals like many other teams, either.
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