2014 NFL Draft Results: Grades for Rounds 1-3 and Analysis of Top Prospects

Let’s be honest, the best time to grade an NFL draft may just be five years in the future, but nobody wants to wait that long nowadays. After all, we need immediate, 140-character reactions to anything that happens in sports, and the draft is no exception.

With that general spirit in mind, let’s take a look at the grades for the first three rounds on a team-by-team basis and then dig into some details on a few second- and third-round picks.

Team	Round 1 Pick(s)	Round 2 Pick(s)	Round 3 Pick(s)	Grade	Explanation
Houston Texans	Jadeveon Clowney	Xavier Su'a-Filo	C.J. Fiedorowicz, Louis Nix III	A-	Got the best player in the draft and help along the offensive line and at defensive tackle
St. Louis Rams	Greg Robinson, Aaron Donald	Lamarcus Joyner	Tre Mason	A+	Incredible first round; added two of the more underrated players in Rounds 2 and 3 in Joyner and Mason
Jacksonville Jaguars	Blake Bortles	Marqise Lee, Allen Robinson	Brandon Linder	C	Bortles was a huge stretch; taking one receiver in the second round is good, but two?
Buffalo Bills	Sammy Watkins	Cyrus Kouandjio	Preston Brown	B	Gave up a lot to get Watkins; added some depth on the offensive line
Oakland Raiders	Khalil Mack	Derek Carr	Gabe Jackson	A	Carr is a risk, but he and Mack provide answers to two areas of need
Atlanta Falcons	Jake Matthews	Ra'Shede Hageman	Dez Southward	B	Nothing wrong with getting two potential starters on both sides of the line
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Mike Evans	Austin Seferian-Jenkins	Charles Sims	A	Apparently Tampa Bay is going to play basketball with all of those tall receiving options
Cleveland Browns	Justin Gilbert, Johnny Manziel	Joel Bitonio	Chris Kirksey, Terrance West	A	Completely knocked the first round out of the park; the rest is just icing on the cake
Minnesota Vikings	Anthony Barr, Teddy Bridgewater	N/A	Scott Crichton, Jerick McKinnon	B+	Got their quarterback and one of the best defensive players in the draft early
Detroit Lions	Eric Ebron	Kyle Van Noy	Travis Swanson	B	The later picks are better than a stretch in the first round
Tennessee Titans	Taylor Lewan	Bishop Sankey	N/A	B-	Carlos Hyde was the better choice at running back; Lewan is a solid tackle who provides depth
New York Giants	Odell Beckham Jr.	Weston Richburg	Jay Bromley	C	Really should have taken a defensive player in the second round, although Beckham fills a need
Chicago Bears	Kyle Fuller	Ego Ferguson	Will Sutton	B	The picks fill needs, but there were better players available at each position drafted
Pittsburgh Steelers	Ryan Shazier	Stephon Tuitt	Dri Archer	B	Could have used a corner in the first two rounds with so many talented ones on the board
Dallas Cowboys	Zack Martin	Demarcus Lawrence	N/A	A	Really like the second-round pick; smart to pass on the temptation of Manziel in Round 1
Baltimore Ravens	C.J. Mosley	Timmy Jernigan	Terrence Brooks, Crockett Gillmore	B	Nothing wrong with adding a couple of defensive playmakers who can contribute right away
New York Jets	Calvin Pryor	Jace Amaro	Dex McDougle	A	Pryor is a beast on defense, and Amaro is an underrated contributor
Miami Dolphins	Ja'Wuan James	Jarvis Landry	Billy Turner	C	Reach in every round of the draft
New Orleans Saints	Brandin Cooks	Stanley Jean-Baptiste	N/A	A	Filled need with a speedy receiver early and got great value later in the draft
Green Bay Packers	Ha Ha Clinton-Dix	Davante Adams	Khyri Thornton, Richard Rodgers	A	Great first round, and then added a replacement for James Jones in the second
Kansas City Chiefs	Dee Ford	N/A	Phillip Gaines	B	Got great talent early in Dee Ford
Cincinnati Bengals	Darqueze Dennard	Jeremy Hill	William Clarke	B	Dennard is a great pick that fills a need in the first round, but why not Hyde in the running back spot?
San Diego Chargers	Jason Verrett	Jeremiah Attaochu	Chris Watt	A	Added some of the most underrated players in the draft
Philadelphia Eagles	Marcus Smith	Jordan Matthews	Josh Huff	B	Solid picks, but there were better options at the positions drafted
Arizona Cardinals	Deone Bucannon	Troy Niklas	Kareem Martin, John Brown	C	Drafted their initial picks much earlier than they had to with those players
Carolina Panthers	Kelvin Benjamin	Kony Ealy	Trai Turner	B	Needed a receiver and got one; Ealy is a solid pick, although he doesn't fill a need
New England Patriots	Dominique Easley	Jimmy Garoppolo	N/A	B-	Garoppolo worth keeping an eye on as a potential backup next year
San Francisco 49ers	Jimmie Ward	Carlos Hyde	Marcus Martin, Chris Borland, Brandon Thomas	B-	Stop me if you've heard this before: The 49ers took a running back in the draft (although at least it was a very good one)
Denver Broncos	Bradley Roby	Cody Latimer	Michael Schofield	A-	Needed a corner and got an incredible athlete in Roby; Peyton Manning has yet another weapon at receiver now as well
Seattle Seahawks	NA	Paul Richardson, Justin Britt	N/A	B	Solid picks that help fill some needs
Washington Redskins	NA	Trent Murphy	Morgan Moses, Spencer Long	B-	Helps make up for lack of first-round pick with Moses so late
Indianapolis Colts	NA	Jack Mewhort	Donte Moncrief	C	No first-round pick makes grading harder, but a bit high for Mewhort

TE Jace Amaro, New York Jets

Tight ends with wide receiver skill sets have great value in today's NFL thanks to the popularity of spread offenses throughout the league.

Jace Amaro has the size of a tight end and the speed of a receiver, and he will help stretch the middle of the field for the New York Jets. In fact, after adding Eric Decker in the offseason, the Jets passing attack suddenly looks much more formidable than it did a year ago. Whether Michael Vick or Geno Smith wins the job, New York is going to need weapons to move the ball, and Amaro helps provide that.

Presuming the Jets use Amaro in the slot, he will be nearly impossible to stop in one-on-one situations.

He is too big for most safeties and too fast for the majority of linebackers, even at the NFL level, and he has the athleticism to create separation and make defenders miss in the open field. He will be something of a security blanket for the Jets on passing plays.

The one knock on Amaro is that he isn't the best blocker, but he never really had the chance to do so in Texas Tech's offense. With his strength and size, don't be surprised if he helps create running lanes on the outside for the Jets as well.

RB Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals just drafted Giovani Bernard a year ago, but that did not stop them from taking running back Jeremy Hill in the second round Friday.

While Carlos Hyde may have been the pick here if Cincinnati was going running back, Solomon Wilcots of CBS Sports sees serious value in Hill:

Hill has that speed and power combination that is so valuable for the running back position, and he could share carries with Bernard next season. He can flatten linebackers in the hole and has the elusiveness necessary to beat defenders in the open field.

If there was one concern about him, it was his off-field issues, but head coach Marvin Lewis discussed as much, via Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com:

"

We have a lot of confidence in people we know inside the LSU program from Steve Kragethorpe to the head coach Les Miles to running backs coach Frank Wilson to Cam Cameron there is a bunch of people in the program many of us in the building have very strong relationships with.

"

Look for immediate production from Hill in his rookie campaign.

OT Morgan Moses, Washington Redskins

It is a testament to how deep this draft is that Morgan Moses wasn't selected until the third round, considering he has first-round talent.

CBS Sports broke down just how good he is in its scouting report before the draft:

"

Ideal length and proportion throughout for an NFL offensive tackle. Does a good job of exhibiting patience off the snap as he routinely establishes width and good bend in his base to either absorb or mirror his opponent in pass protection. Makes good use of his long arms by extending and punching to keep defenders off his frame. Displays a fluid, consistent kick-slide when asked to track and dictate a speed rusher around the edge.

Exhibits a strong first step and impressive burst for his size, when asked to fire through to the second level as a run blocker. Powerful hands to latch and steer against opponents of all sizes. Does a good job sustaining effort and contact to the whistle, and makes a concerted attempt to drive his opponent off the block rather than simply occupying him. Impressive lower-half flexibility and anchoring strength when absorbing a bull-rush.

"

There is very little that Moses cannot do on paper, and he provides solid depth and versatility on the offensive front for the Washington Redskins. Keeping Robert Griffin III upright and healthy is a priority for the Redskins this year, and that is something Moses can help with next year.

Follow me on Twitter:

Follow @ScottPolacek