The Most Controversial Picks of the 2016 NFL Draft
After three action-packed days, 253 selections and countless memorable moments, the 2016 NFL draft is now over.
This year's edition of the draft lived up to every bit of the hype.
We all had plenty of fun witnessing the spectacle, the feel-good, tear-jerking moments and the surprising twists. The important takeaways from draft weekend, however, are the draft picks themselves.
While the decision-makers must feel their choices have improved their teams, fans and football analysts aren't always so convinced. Some draft selections are met with skepticism, and others completely divide outside opinions into multiple camps. It's the latter group we are going to examine.
The draft selections on our list are choices from this past weekend that most certainly could pay big dividends. However, they are also choices that left many outside of the war rooms scratching their heads. These choices were—and will likely remain—controversial in one way or another, and here we'll look at why.
Giants Select Eli Apple 10th Overall
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The New York Giants decided to address their 32nd-ranked pass defense (298.9 yards per game allowed) with the 10th overall pick in the draft. It's hard to fault general manager Jerry Reese for wanting to improve it in Round 1.
However, the selection of former Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple at No. 10 overall did stir up a bit of controversy. Apple may one day be a fine pro, but the Giants passed on many other talented players to grab him. Few experts had Apple rated as the second-best defensive back in this class, and even fewer had him as the 10th-best player overall.
Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller, for example, rated Apple as his fourth-best cornerback and gave him a second-round grade.
"I don't see him coming in and starting for you day one," one NFL scout told Mark Eckel of NJ.com before the draft.
In reality, Apple was the eighth choice of the night because the first two picks in the draft were destined to be quarterbacks long beforehand. Spending that pick on a guy who might not start as a rookie is questionable, to say the least.
According to Adam Schein of CBS Sports, the pick might even be controversial enough to put Reese's job in jeopardy.
"In no universe was Eli Apple the 10th-best player in the draft," Schein said while discussing why Apple could be Reese's last first-round pick. "Wow. Jerry, come back to us."
This pick will likely be debated until Apple proves he can be a top-quality starter—especially since Florida's Vernon Hargreaves, who most saw as a superior talent, went one pick later to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jets Choose Christian Hackenberg
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The New York Jets passed on Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch in the opening round of the draft, but they did come back and grab a signal-caller in Round 2. However, the Jets didn't pick up former Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook, as many might have expected. They got Christian Hackenberg from Penn State.
Some regarded Cook as the fourth-best quarterback in this class. But several teams who also drafted quarterbacks passed over him as well.
What makes the selection of Hackenberg controversial is that New York used a second-round pick on a quarterback with a number of concerning issues. He was never able to replicate the magic of his 2013 freshman season and he didn't improve.
Hackenberg tossed 20 touchdowns to 10 interceptions and posted a 134 passer rating in 2013, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year for his efforts. He completed just 55.8 percent of his passes in 2014 and 53.5 percent in 2015.
According to Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus, this inaccuracy makes Hackenberg one of the worst picks in the second round: "He’s been one of the most inaccurate quarterbacks in college football for three straight years and his [minus-12.1] overall grade ranked 41st in this draft class alone in 2015. The Jets are hoping that he can be a reclamation project, but he has to take monumental strides to become a viable NFL quarterback."
Hackenberg can put an end to the controversy by developing into a quality NFL quarterback. However, that could take several years, and fans will wonder in the meantime just how smart his selection was.
Cowboys Spend 2nd-Round Pick on Jaylon Smith
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The Dallas Cowboys used their second-round pick, No. 34 overall, on former Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith. In the long run, this could prove to be a brilliant move. Smith probably would have been one of the best players in this draft class if healthy.
Unfortunately, Smith isn't healthy. He suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his team's bowl game against Ohio State and isn't expected to be available this season in any capacity. This makes the pick controversial because the Cowboys essentially used a very high draft pick on a guy who will redshirt this season.
On one hand, it's easy to see why the Cowboys would be willing to gamble on a player of Smith's talent. Matt Miller wrote the following before the draft:
"A true sideline-to-sideline linebacker, Smith’s range and tackling radius are tops in the class. When unleashed as a coverage man or pass-rusher, he made a similar impact. A healthy Smith would have been the top player in the class. As it stands, his grade is a best-case scenario assuming he’s back on the field in 2017.
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On the other hand, it's easy to see the move as a mistake. The Cowboys are staring at a limited window with Tony Romo at quarterback. Adding players who can immediately contribute would maximize that window. If it takes Smith a couple of years to regain pre-injury form, he might not become a difference-maker until after the window has closed.
The pick is also controversial because Dallas passed on former UCLA linebacker Myles Jack to make the selection. Jack has his own injury concerns, but he is expected to be available and at 100 percent for the 2016 season, as NFL.com's Chase Goodbread reports.
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Buccaneers Trade Up for a Kicker
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers used a second-round pick, 59th overall, on former Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo. While Aguayo was widely considered the best kicker prospect coming into the draft, he is still a kicker who was drafted in the second round.
Making this selection even more controversial is that the Buccaneers traded up to do it. Tampa traded third- and fourth-round picks to get back into Round 2 for Aguayo.
It's hard to know if he will even drastically improve Tampa's kicking game.
Connor Barth made 82.1 percent of his field goals with the Buccaneers last season. Aguayo made 80.8 percent of his field goals last year with the Seminoles and made just 14 of 22 field-goal attempts of 40-plus yards over the past two seasons.
It's going to be difficult for the Buccaneers to justify this pick unless Aquayo develops into a perennial All-Pro at the position. Yes, kickers are important to team success, but this pick feels like a reach in the worst possible way.
Browns Go with Cody Kessler
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Even after the Cleveland Browns traded out of the No. 2 spot in the first round of this year's draft, most assumed the team would take a quarterback to develop for the future. The Browns did, but it was a quarterback few expected.
Instead of taking Memphis' Paxton Lynch in Round 1 or pulling the trigger on Connor Cook or Christian Hackenberg, Cleveland picked former USC signal-caller Cody Kessler at the end of the third round.
Kessler was not widely regarded as a top quarterback prospect because of non-ideal size and arm strength.
"Kessler won't impress you on the hoof," Miller wrote before the draft. "He's a shorter quarterback with average arm strength and slightly above-average movement skills. A lack of size and arm strength already puts him behind his peers as a prospect."
Miller ranked 12 quarterbacks ahead of Kessler, including both Hackenberg and Cook. NFL.com had Kessler graded as a fifth- or sixth-round prospect.
This pick is controversial mainly because of the guys Cleveland didn't select. Adding to that is how the Browns are willing to add Kessler to the quarterback competition with Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown.
"I do think Cody is a guy that I would not want to sleep on at all if I wanted to be the starting quarterback of the Browns," Sashi Brown, executive vice president of football operations, said, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
Many fans are going to wonder why the Browns didn't just stay put at No. 2 overall and grab Carson Wentz if the plan was to give a rookie the chance to start. Of course, the decision appears to be part of Cleveland's new analytics approach, which is in and of itself controversial.
Raiders Grab Jihad Ward in Round 2
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The Oakland Raiders used their second-round pick, No. 44 overall, to pick up former Illinois defensive end Jihad Ward. The pick here is controversial because Ward projects as a limited player and has knee issues.
First-round selection safety Karl Joseph also has a knee issue, having suffered an injury at the end of last season.
Ward's injury came last summer but could be an issue this offseason. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, "There are NFL teams who believe [Ward] will need arthroscopic knee surgery that could sideline him [six] weeks."
This could cut significantly into Ward's first NFL offseason, which would be a major issue for a guy who is already a project. Ward began his college career as a receiver and safety and is still making the transition to his current position.
Ward, of course, could become a major defensive force as a pro, but it will likely take time. Most teams—or their fans, anyway—expect high second-round picks to be contributors out of the gate. Former Alabama running back Derrick Henry, selected one pick after Ward, might have been such a player.
Palazzolo is one analyst who was not at all high on the selection:
"With a number of better interior defensive line options on the board, the Raiders go with Ward, who projects as a two-down player. He moved around the Illinois defensive line, finishing with the 69th-best overall grade among edge defenders in the class providing very little as a pass rusher (-0.3, 100th in class).
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If Ward develops into a star, then general manager Reggie McKenzie will look like a genius. However, fans will likely remain torn on Ward's selection until he starts to be a difference-maker.
Chargers Select Joey Bosa over Almost Everyone Else
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The San Diego Chargers made former Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa the third overall pick in the 2016 draft. In a sense, they really made him the first choice of draft weekend. Ever since the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles traded up to acquire the top two picks in the draft, we knew those picks would be quarterbacks.
Bosa's selection created controversy because the Chargers had their choice among all players not named Jared Goff or Carson Wentz. By picking Bosa, the Chargers passed on other potential future stars like former Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey and former Mississippi offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Bosa also doesn't project as a perfect fit for the San Diego defense, Jared Dubin recently explained at CBSSports.com:
"The fit is a bit strange here, as San Diego have mostly operated out of a 3-4 front and Bosa seems like a prototypical 4-3 end. However, he should be able to defend both the run and the pass as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He did some work standing up as a rusher at OSU, even operating over the center when doing so on occasion.
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Bosa was obviously the highest guy on San Diego's draft board, and his skills and versatility should allow him to succeed. Given his potential fit, however, fans might have rather seen the Chargers grab Ramsey or even former Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner.
Buckner is viewed by most as more of a pass-rushing prospect, and Pro Football Focus just rated the Chargers 28th in pass rush last season.
Until and unless Bosa proves to be the best non-quarterback to come out of the 2016 draft, fans are likely to remain skeptical of this pick.
Washington Scoops Up Josh Doctson
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It's difficult to find fault with the selection of former TCU wide receiver Josh Doctson with the 22nd overall pick in the draft. Doctson was widely regarded as one of the best receiver prospects coming into draft weekend, and he is coming off a 1,327-yard, 14-touchdown season.
The pick, however, is controversial because receiver wasn't really a need for the Washington Redskins. After all, the team already has guys like Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder and DeSean Jackson playing the position.
Doctson will probably be a major asset in the future, but he doesn't fill an immediate need and may not have a significant impact for Washington as it tries to repeat as NFC East champion.
Instead of grabbing Doctson, the team could have used the selection to address a defense Pro Football Focus rated just 26th overall last season.
If the defense is again a liability in 2016 and Doctson doesn't quickly make his way up the depth chart, this pick is likely to be heavily criticized by fans and analysts alike.
Browns Open Day 2 with Pick of Emmanuel Ogbah
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Oklahoma State's Emmanuel Ogbah was viewed by some as a borderline first-round pick, and he should be able to bolster a weak Cleveland pass rush, making it difficult to criticize the choice by itself.
The pick is controversial, however, because the Browns passed on a number of other talented players and likely could have traded down, secured more picks and grabbed one.
Before the second round, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported, via NFL.com's Marc Sessler, that the Dallas Cowboys were looking to trade up with Cleveland to secure a pass-rusher. That player was likely Ogbah. The Browns instead decided they wanted Ogbah for themselves and pulled the trigger.
In refusing the trade with Dallas—or any other teams that might have been interested—the Browns passed on an opportunity to add additional draft selections, which was pretty much the base strategy for the weekend.
Players the Browns passed on at the top of Round 2 include former UCLA linebacker Myles Jack and former Clemson defensive end Kevin Dodd. Though he does come with injury concerns, Jack is a first-round talent. Many view Dodd as a superior talent.
Matt Miller rated former Eastern Kentucky pass-rusher Noah Spence as the top edge-rusher in this year's draft. He was selected seven picks after the Browns scooped up Ogbah.
Trading with Dallas and still getting an edge-rusher was surely on the table for Cleveland.
The Browns held the first pick in Round 2 and had an entire day to facilitate an agreeable trade or weigh their options. In the end, they chose Ogbah. This is a decision that will remain controversial until Ogbah proves he can become an elite edge defender.
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