NFL Draft Picks 2015: List of Round-1 Grades and Updated Order for Each Team

When push comes to shove, you take the best player on the board. Plenty of NFL teams have attacked the draft with that mindset, and a few general managers utilized the strategy in the first round of the 2015 draft.

Ideally, you find a player—especially in the first round—who fills a major need in your team while simultaneously is among the top talents available. Sometimes, you can't check both boxes, so you have to sacrifice value or need.

On Thursday night, NFL fans saw examples of both. For instance, the Washington Redskins addressed their porous offensive line with the selection of Brandon Scherff, but they arguably reached a bit to get him. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers spurned need ahead of selecting Shaq Thompson, whom they felt was the top guy available.

The Panthers' pick wasn't a good example of a team maximizing its value. The four teams below, however, did a great job of playing the hand they were dealt and walking away with great talent.

Draft Order and Results

First-Round Grades

Team	Grade
Arizona Cardinals	B
Atlanta Falcons	B+
Baltimore Ravens	B+
Buffalo Bills	INC
Carolina Panthers	C-
Chicago Bears	A-
Cincinnati Bengals	C
Cleveland Browns	B-
Dallas Cowboys	B+
Denver Broncos	B
Detroit Lions	B
Green Bay Packers	C+
Houston Texans	C+
Indianapolis Colts	B
Jacksonville Jaguars	A
Kansas City Chiefs	A
Miami Dolphins	A-
Minnesota Vikings	B
New England Patriots	A
New Orleans Saints	B-
New York Giants	B-
New York Jets	A-
Oakland Raiders	A
Philadelphia Eagles	B+
Pittsburgh Steelers	A
San Diego Chargers	C+
San Francisco 49ers	B+
Seattle Seahawks	INC
St. Louis Rams	C+
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	B+
Tennessee Titans	B
Washington Redskins	B

Best Value Picks

No. 6, New York Jets: Leonard Williams, DT/DE, USC Trojans

One could argue that the last thing the New York Jets needed was a defensive lineman. Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson are among the best in the business. Throwing Leonard Williams into the mix is almost unfair.

Most will agree that the Jets would have been foolish to pass up on Williams even with their strength on the defensive line. The former USC Trojan made a case for being the best player available, period, and New York got him at No. 6.

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora threw out the idea that the Jets might move Wilkerson in order to stockpile draft picks:

General manager Mike Maccagnan denied that the Jets would be the party to initiate the deal, per ESPN's Josina Anderson:

If the team trades Wilkerson, then it will be set up for the future. If it doesn't trade Wilkerson, then it has three really good options up front. That's a win-win situation if there ever was one.

New York is unquestionably in a position of strength. Sure, there are still major question marks on offense, but the Jets were smart enough to understand that they couldn't let Williams slip through their grasp.

No. 7, Chicago Bears: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia Mountaineers

You could argue that the Chicago Bears should have had a wide receiver at the top of the shopping list. The departure of Brandon Marshall does open up a void in the passing game.

However, the Bears arguably need a defensive tackle or pass-rusher more, and they weren't without options at No. 7.

Instead, Chicago took Kevin White. You can't find much fault with the selection. His speed will make him more of a change of pace for the team and give Jay Cutler one more target through the air. CBS Sports ventured that Cutler might not have shown a ton of excitement with the pick, but that's just his stoic nature:

General manager Ryan Pace couldn't say enough superlatives about White's game, per ESPN's Chris Mortensen:

White still needs to fine tune some of the rougher edges of his game, most notably his route tree and route running. In time, though, he should emerge as a great addition to Chicago's offense.

No. 23, Denver Broncos: Shane Ray, OLB, Missouri Tigers

I'll admit that it seems a bit contradictory for the Denver Broncos to have earned a "B" grade but Shane Ray is on this list. The Broncos get a "B" because Ray doesn't fit an immediate need, and it's a bit risky drafting a guy in the first round who was cited for marijuana possession a few days before the draft.

With the negatives out of the way, let's focus on the positives.

Denver might have walked away with the best pass-rusher in the draft, and it snagged him with the 23rd overall pick. For that, the Broncos deserve plenty of plaudits. Their front seven will be something to behold in 2015.

Even the most ardent critics of Denver's decision have to admit that Ray's upside is through the roof.

No. 32, New England Patriots: Malcom Brown, DT, Texas Longhorns

Grantland's Bill Simmons spoke for New England Patriots fans everywhere:

Malcom Brown was a fringe top-15 prospect, and the Pats had him fall into their laps at No. 32. Did anybody see that drop coming?

Brown might be over 300 pounds, but he's pretty agile for his size. When you add that to his instincts and strength, you have a near prototypical defensive tackle. He may not possess the talent and upside of Danny Shelton, but he's pretty darn close.

Whether it's stuffing the run or collapsing the pocket, Brown will bring a ton of value to the Patriots. His timing couldn't be any better, either, as the franchise moved on from Vince Wilfork at the end of the season. It's almost too perfect for the organization.