NFL Draft 2014: Final Analysis of Overall Team-by-Team Grades
The 2014 NFL draft is finally over with, and now it's time to assess how all 32 teams fared over the three-day madness inside Radio City Music Hall.
The draft is bigger for some teams than others, but taking advantage of this deep class of talented prospects is crucial for building toward the future. One bad draft doesn't doom a franchise, but it can set it back a number of years if the decisions were bad enough.
Let's take a look at grades for every team.
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| Arizona Cardinals | SS Deone Bucannon (27), TE Troy Niklas (52), DE Kareem Martin (84), WR John Brown (91), QB Logan Thomas (120), DE Ed Stinson (160), WR Walt Powell (196) | B | |
| Atlanta Falcons | OT Jake Matthews (6), DL Ra'Shede Hageman (37), S Dez Southward (68), RB Devonta Freeman (103), LB Prince Shembo (139), CB Ricardo Allen (147), LB Marquis Spruill (168), LB Yawin Smallwood (253), LB Tyler Starr (255) | B+ | |
| Baltimore Ravens | ILB C.J. Mosley (17), DT Tim Jernigan (48), S Terrence Brooks (79), TE Crockett Gillmore (99), DT Brent Urban (134), RB Lorenzo Taliaferro (138), G John Urschel (175), QB Keith Wenning (194), WR Michael Campanaro (218) | A- | |
| Buffalo Bills | WR Sammy Watkins (4), OT Cyrus Kouandjio (44), LB Preston Brown (73), CB Ross Cockrell (109), G Cyril Richardson (153), LB Randell Johnson (221), T Seantrel Henderson (237) | C- | |
| Carolina Panthers | WR Kelvin Benjamin (28), DL Kony Ealy (60), G Trai Turner (92), S Tre Boston (128), CB Bene Benwikere (148), RB Tyler Gaffney (204) | B | |
| Chicago Bears | CB Kyle Fuller (14), DT Ego Ferguson (51), DT Will Sutton (82), RB Ka'Deem Carey (117), S Brock Vereen (131), QB David Fales (183), P Pat O'Donnell (191), T Charles Leno (246) | B- | |
| Cincinnati Bengals | CB Darqueze Dennard (24), RB Jeremy Hill (55), DE William Clarke (88), C Russell Bodine (111), QB AJ McCarron (164), LB Marquis Flowers (212), WR James Wright (239), CB Lavelle Westbrooks (252) | B- | |
| Cleveland Browns | CB Justin Gilbert (8), QB Johnny Manziel (22), OL Joel Bitonio (35), LB Charles Kirksey (71), RB Terrance West (94), CB Pierre Desir (127) | B+ | |
| Dallas Cowboys | OT Zack Martin (16), DE Demarcus Lawrence (34), LB Anthony Hitchens (119), WR Devin Street (146), DE Ben Gardner (231), LB Will Smith (238), S Ahmad Dixon (248), DT Ken Bishop (251), CB Terrance Mitchell (254) | B- | |
| Denver Broncos | CB Bradley Roby (31), WR Cody Latimer (56), T Michael Schofield (95), LB Lamin Barrow (156), C Matt Paradis (207), LB Corey Nelson (242) | C+ | |
| Detroit Lions | TE Eric Ebron (10), OLB Kyle Van Noy (40), C Travis Swanson (76), CB Nevin Lawson (133), DE Larry Webster (136), DT Caraun Reid (158), WR T.J. Jones (189), K Nate Freese (229) | C+ | |
| Green Bay Packers | FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21), WR Davante Adams (53), DT Khyri Thornton (85), TE Richard Rogers (98), LB Carl Bradford (121), C Corey Lindsey (161), WR Jared Abbrederis (176), CB Demetri Goodson (197), WR Jeff Janis (236) | B+ | |
| Houston Texans | DE Jadeveon Clowney (1), OG Xavier Su'a-Filo (33), TE C.J. Fiedorowicz (65), DT Louis Nix (83), QB Tom Savage (135), DE Jeoffrey Pagan (177), RB Alfred Blue (181), RB Jay Prosch (211), CB Dre Hal (216), S Lonnie Ballentine (256) | A- | |
| Indianapolis Colts | OL Jack Mewhort (59), WR Donte Moncrief (90), DE Jonathan Newsome (166), LB Andrew Jackson (203), T Ulrick John (232) | C | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | QB Blake Bortles (3), WR Marqise Lee (39), WR Allen Robinson (61), G Brandon Linder (93), CB Aaron Colvin (114), LB Telvin Smith (144), DE Chris Smith (159), C Luke Bowanko (205), RB Storm Johnson (222) | A- | |
| Kansas City Chiefs | DE Dee Ford (23), CB Phillip Gaines (87), RB De'Anthony Thomas (124), QB Aaron Murray (163), G Zach Fulton (193), T Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (200) | C | |
| Miami Dolphins | OT Ja'Wuan James (19), WR Jarvis Landry (63), T Billy Turner (67), CB Walt Aikens (125), TE Arthur Lynch (155), LB Jordie Tripp (171), WR Matt Hazel (190), DE Terrence Fede (234) | B- | |
| Minnesota Vikings | OLB Anthony Barr (9), QB Teddy Bridgewater (32), DE Scott Crichton (72), RB Jerick McKinnon (96), G David Yankey (145), CB Antone Exum (182), CB Kendall James (184), DT Shamar Stephen (220), LB Brandon Watts (223), CB Jabari Price (225) | B+ | |
| New England Patriots | DT Dominique Easley (29), QB Jimmy Garoppolo (62), C Bryan Stork (105), RB James White (130), T Cameron Fleming (140), G Jon Halapio (179), DE Zach Moore (198), S Jemea Thomas (206), WR Jeremy Gallon (244) | C- | |
| New Orleans Saints | WR Brandin Cooks (20), CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste (58), LB Khairi Fortt (126), S Vinnie Sunseri (167), LB Ronald Powell (169), T Tavon Rooks (202) | B+ | |
| New York Giants | WR Odell Beckham (12), C Weston Richburg (43), DT Jay Bromley (74), RB Andre Williams (113), S Nat Berhe (152), LB Devon Kennard (174), CB Bennett Jackson (187) | B | |
| New York Jets | FS Calvin Pryor (18), TE Jace Amaro (49), CB Dex McDougle (80), WR Jalen Saunders (104), WR Shaq Evans (115), T Dakota Dozier (137), LB Jeremiah George (154), CB Brandon Dixon (195), WR Quincy Enunwa (209), DE IK Enemkpali (210), QB Tajh Boyd (213), LB Trevor Reilly (233) | B+ | |
| Oakland Raiders | OLB Khalil Mack (5), QB Derek Carr (36), OG Gabe Jackson (81), DT Justin Ellis (107), CB Keith McGill (116), CB T.J. Carrie (219), DE Shelby Harris (235), S Jonathan Dowling (247) | A- | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | DE Marcus Smith (26), WR Jordan Matthews (42), WR Josh Huff (86), CB Jaylen Watkins (101), DE Taylor Hart (141), S Ed Reynolds (162), DT Beau Allen (224) | C | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | OLB Ryan Shazier (15), DL Stephon Tuitt (46), WR Dri Archer (97), WR Martavis Bryant (118), CB Shaquille Richardson (157), C Wesley Johnson (173), LB Jordan Zumwalt (192), DT Dan McCullers (215), TE Rob Blanchflower (230) | B+ | |
| San Diego Chargers | CB Jason Verrett (25), OLB Jeremiah Attaochu (50), G Chris Watt (89), DT Ryan Carrethers (165), RB Marlon Grice (201), WR Tevin Reese (240) | B+ | |
| San Francisco 49ers | SS Jimmie Ward (30), RB Carlos Hyde (57), OG Marcus Martin (70), ILB Chris Borland (77), G Brandon Thomas (100), WR Bruce Ellington (106), CB Dontae Johnson (129), DE Aaron Lynch (150), CB Keith Reaser (170), CB Kenneth Acker (180), DT Kaleb Ramsey (243), FB Trey Millard (245) | A- | |
| Seattle Seahawks | WR Paul Richardson (45), OL Justin Britt (64), DE Cassius Marsh (108), WR Kevin Norwood (123), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (132), DT Jimmy Staten (172), T Garrett Scott (199), S Eric Pinkins (208), FB Kiero Small (227) | D+ | |
| St. Louis Rams | OT Greg Robinson (2), DT Aaron Donald (13), CB Lamarcus Joyner (41), RB Tre Mason (75), S Maurice Alexander (110), CB E.J. Gaines (188), QB Garrett Gilbert (214), T Mitchell Van Dyk (226), S C.B. Bryant (241), DE Michael Sam (249), C Demetrius Rhaney (250) | A- | |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR Mike Evans (7), TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (38), RB Charles Sims (69), G Kadeem Edwards (143), T Kevin Pamphile (149), WR Robert Herron (185) | B | |
| Tennessee Titans | OT Taylor Lewan (11), RB Bishop Sankey (54), DT DaQuan Jones (112), CB Marqueston Huff (122), LB Avery Williamson (151), QB Zach Mettenberger (178) | A- | |
| Washington Redskins | LB Trent Murphy (47), OT Morgan Moses (66), G Spencer Long (78), CB Bashaud Breeland (102), WR Ryan Grant (142), RB Lache Seastrunk (186), TE Ted Bolser (217), K Zach Hocker (228) | C |
Biggest Steal: Darqueze Dennard, CB, Cincinnati Bengals
There were a number of steals across the board, especially in the later rounds, but the Cincinnati Bengals got the best value out of any pick when they selected Darqueze Dennard at No. 24 overall.
Out of Michigan State, the 5'11", 200-pounder could have very well been the top cornerback selected off the board at No. 8, but that was instead Justin Gilbert. Corner Kyle Fuller shockingly went above him as well at No. 14 to Chicago.
NFL Around the League liked the decision:
The Bengals certainly needed a young budding star at corner. Terence Newman and Adam Jones are both on the wrong side of 30, and Leon Hall is 29. With Dre Kirkpatrick coming on late in 2013, him and Dennard could be quite the combo in the coming years for Cincinnati with experience already on the roster to help for the time being.
Plus, as ESPN Stats and Information added, the Bengals were already stout on that side of the ball entering the weekend:
Dennard was rated the top corner by CBS Sports, and he looks to be the best strict man coverage corner in the draft. He might need time to adjust to the speed of the NFL, but physically, he won't take long to lock down a top receiver on each team the Bengals play.
For a Bengals team that already loves to play pressing man defense with a formidable secondary, Dennard will fit right in.
Team on the Rise: Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders haven't traditionally drafted very well in recent years, but that viewpoint now could change in the span of just one draft class.
Oakland landed one of the sure bets of the draft and top defensive players with its No. 5 overall pick, selecting linebacker Khalil Mack out of Buffalo.
The Raiders could have used a top offensive tackle or drafted a quarterback early, but with Mack on the board, there was no passing up the chance to build a defense around him and address those needs later.
And in reality, he was the target all along, as CSN's Fallon Smith reported:
After that big splash move in the top five, the Raiders wasted no time making another early on in Round 2. That need at quarterback was filled with a big second-round move to grab Derek Carr out of Fresno State.
Carr is the most NFL-ready quarterback, by far, in the class and should compete with Matt Schaub for the starting job out of training camp. With arguably the best arm and experience calling an offense, he figures to be in the mix to start plenty of games in the near future.
Last up for the Raiders was addressing that need to revamp the offensive line, grabbing guard Gabe Jackson in the third round, per NFL on CBS:
The Raiders draft is the perfect example of sticking to the draft board. Selecting Jake Matthews or Taylor Lewan, the top offensive linemen left, wouldn't have the same potential impact and any quarterback at that point would have been a reach.
Instead, they settled into their first three picks and got optimum value at each—a franchise-shaping defensive player, a potential franchise quarterback and a starting guard.
The Raiders have some more strides to make before they'll be contenders in the AFC West, but they're at least putting the league on notice.
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