NFL Draft Grades 2015: List of Round 1 Results and Analysis of Shocking Picks

The only thing one can expect with the NFL draft is the unexpected, and Thursday night's action delivered on that mantra. 

In most cases, what would be most buzzworthy about Round 1 in any given year is the number of trades executed in Round 1. This year, however, it was noteworthy how few trades took place. Only two trades, first between the San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers and then the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions, shook things up on Thursday. 

Though most of the teams in Round 1 kept their draft position, opening day of the draft came with its share of surprising picks. Let's recap the results from Round 1 and break down some of the picks that raised eyebrows. 

Team	Pick	Grade	Note
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB	A	Tampa Bay gives its talented offense of young stars some direction with the explosive passer. His maturity is a question mark, thus the step down from a perfect "A+," but if he grows at the NFL level, he could become one of the league's best.
Tennessee Titans	Marcus Mariota, QB	A-	Despite reports that Tennessee felt confident in Zach Mettenberger, the Titans choose to upgrade the QB position over their defense. Leonard Williams may have been the safer bet, but if Mariota develops in their system he'll change the franchise.
Jacksonville Jaguars	Dante Fowler, DE	A	Jacksonville could have gone with the top wide receiver in the draft here, but the Jaguars knew they needed an edge rusher and they got the best one in the class.
Oakland Raiders	Amari Cooper, WR	B+	Wide receiver is a clear need for Oakland, and Cooper is a versatile option for young, talented signal-caller Derek Carr. But it's hard to give the Raiders an "A" when they left the best player on the board in Leonard Williams.
Washington Redskins	Brandon Scherff, OT	B-	This pick isn't shocking in and of itself, but the fact that Washington bypassed Leonard Williams on the board to select Scherff raised eyebrows. Not only was Williams the best player on the board, but he satisfied a huge need as well. Despite questions about Scherff's value at No. 5, Washington has demonstrated it's committing to giving RGIII every chance to succeed.
New York Jets	Leonard Williams, DT	B	It's hard to knock a team, especially one that has struggled in recent years, for taking the best player available at a position no one expected him to be. But the Jets may regret not strengthening their offense, having taken four defensive linemen in the first round since 2011.
Chicago Bears	Kevin White, WR	B	Many experts (and certainly Bears fans) will love this pick, as the Bears replace the departed Brandon Marshall and give Jay Cutler a chance to succeed in the new system. But the Bears also dangled Cutler in trade talks Thursday, and they have a gaping hole at nose tackle in their new 3-4 defense. Chicago needs to really strengthen its defense with its next few picks.
Atlanta Falcons	Vic Beasley, LB	A	A no-brainer for Atlanta. Beasley is an incredibly productive edge rusher and he will immediately upgrade the Falcons' pass rush, which was one of the worst in the league in 2014.
New York Giants	Ereck Flowers, OT	B-	The Giants offensive line has struggled to provide protection for Eli Manning, and New York clearly wanted to add a blocker at No. 9. When their likely target, Brandon Scherff, was off the board, the Giants satisfied a need but reached a bit.
St. Louis Rams	Todd Gurley, RB	B	The Rams let their board lead the way here, and went with their top remaining player. One has to assume that if Kevin White, Amari Cooper, or Brandon Scherff had been available, St. Louis would have gone with them, but when the running back position is devalued as it is and St. Louis doesn't need one on top of that, it's surprising to take one at No. 10. St. Louis could have benefited more from WR DeVante Parker or OT Andrus Peat.
Minnesota Vikings	Trae Waynes, CB	A-	Many thought Minnesota would have gone with WR DeVante Parker, but instead Mike Zimmer, who loves cornerbacks, gets the best player at the position rather than the third WR off the board.
Cleveland Browns	Danny Shelton, DT	A	As long as he remained on the board, Shelton was an obvious choice for Cleveland all along. The Browns need to get back to basics and anchoring their line with the talented nose tackle accomplishes that. Cleveland just needs to make sure Shelton stays in shape.
New Orleans Saints	Andrus Peat, OT	B+	The Saints can solidify their starting offensive line by slotting in Peat, who can start from Day 1 and will likely outlast Drew Brees in New Orleans. The Saints took another step toward becoming a more physical team with the pick.
Miami Dolphins	DaVante Parker, WR	A	Another no-brainer. If Parker was available for the Dolphins and the top offensive linemen were off the board, he was likely to be the pick. Miami replenishes Ryan Tannehill's weapons after trading Mike Wallace and Buffalo signed away Charles Clay. Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings and now Parker will give Tannehill a bevy of new options in the passing game for 2015.
San Diego Chargers (via San Francisco)	Melvin Gordon, RB	A-	The San Diego Chargers knew that the Houston Texans could have taken Gordon ahead of them, and they knew they wanted him. It's possible San Diego could have still gotten Gordon with their original selection at No. 17 and not have had to give up their 2015 fourth and 2016 fifth-round picks, but at least they only lose one pick this year. San Diego's offense will get some much-needed balance between the run and the pass after injuries have plagued their backfield.
Houston Texans	Kevin Johnson, CB	A-	The Texans needed help on the secondary, and they went with the safe choice in Kevin Johnson over Marcus Peters. Johnson can line up all over the formation and what he lacks in size he makes up for in playmaking ability.
San Francisco 49ers (via San Diego)	Arik Armstead, DE	B	The least surprising selection of the draft to this point. Everyone knew Armstead was San Francisco's guy, and they likely would have taken him at 15 anyway. Now they have Armstead and two additional picks. Armstead has a high ceiling, which is a bigger draw than his production to date. But if he can play to his potential, he's the long-term replacement for Justin Smith.
Kansas City Chiefs	Marcus Peters, CB	A-	The Chiefs thought that Peters was the most complete corner on their board on talent alone, and despite his dismissal from Washington they felt comfortable making him their selection at No. 18. Many thought the Chiefs would go WR here, but with Sean Smith and Jamell Fleming entering the final year of their contracts it's a move for the future.
Cleveland Browns	Cameron Erving, C	B-	Cameron Erving is a chess piece who can play at multiple positions along Cleveland's line, but No. 19 isn't great value. Many thought the Browns would go offensive line with their second pick of Round 1, especially after going with Danny Shelton. But the Browns will have to pay Erving like a center to play inside at guard, most likely, with Alex Mack at center.
Philadelphia Eagles	Nelson Agholor, WR	B+	Wide receiver was a clear need for Philadelphia heading into the draft, and the Eagles seemed like a possible contender to take a chance on the talented but risky Dorial Green-Beckham. Meanwhile, Agholor's draft stock had skyrocketed. He can line up all over the field and return punts, making him a dangerous weapon for Chip Kelly's offense.
Cincinnati Bengals	Cedric Ogbuehi, OT	B+	A knee injury kept Ogbuehi from showing off the true range of his skills this offseason, but the Begnals are looking toward the future with this pick. The injury isn't so much a worry for them, as they can let him develop and eventually slot him in as Andrew Whitworth's replacement. Still, the value could have been better.
Pittsburgh Steelers	Bud Dupree, DE	A	At No. 22, the Steelers walk away with a player many thought would be taken in the top 15. He's a great fit in Pittsburgh's system, and even though the Steelers could have benefited from a playmaking corner here they wisely realized the value at corner wasn't there and took likely the best remaining player on their board. Dupree needs some coaching but is a talented and productive pass rusher.
Denver Broncos (via Detroit)	Shane Ray, DE	C+	The Broncos took a chance on a player some saw falling out of Round 1, and gave up a starting offensive lineman in Manny Ramirez as well as a fifth-round pick in 2015 and a 2016 fifth-round pick. But the Broncos got wind of the Ravens considering Ray and took the plunge. There's no denying that Ray could have been a top 10 pick based on talent alone, absent his citation for marijuana the week of the draft. But to give up a starter for an untested rookie prospect who only started for one year and is coming off a foot injury, no matter how promising, is always a risk. Still, the value is clear.
Arizona Cardinals	D.J. Humphries, OT	B+	The Cardinals can start Humphries immediately, helping ensure that Carson Palmer has the support he needs to be successful. This was an astute pick by Arizona, which was last in the NFL with 3.3 yards per rush in 2014.
Carolina Panthers	Shaq Thompson, LB	B-	One of the more surprising picks of Round 1, the Panthers took a player many thought would be on the board at the very top of Round 2. Thompson is a chess piece and a playmaker, but many teams didn't know whether to play him as a linebacker or safety.
Baltimore Ravens	Breshad Perriman, WR	A	This pick is the perfect marriage of value and need. Perriman was pretty much a consensus Round 1 talent heading into Thursday, with the height, weight and speed that are ideal for the position. Though a bit raw, Perriman mitigates the loss of Torrey Smith and keeps Joe Flacco's stable of weapons filled.
Dallas Cowboys	Byron Jones, CB	A-	Jones burst onto the scene at the combine, as a top performer in every category in which he participated. Jones has great height, which makes him slightly stiff in space, but he satisfies a need for Dallas and has a high ceiling whether Rod Marinelli uses him at corner or safety.
Detroit Lions	Laken Tomlinson, G	B	The Lions gave their offensive line a major upgrade and could very well now boast the best guard combo in the league, rivaled possibly by Green Bay's, with the selection of Tomlinson. He wasn't a surefire first-rounder, though, and it was surprising Detroit passed over DT Malcom Brown.
Indianapolis Colts	Phillip Dorsett, WR	C+	Phillip Dorsett is a high-upside player in his own right, but he wasn't the best choice for Indianapolis here. Safety Landon Collins, still on the board, seemed like a no-brainer. Eddie Goldman and Malcom Brown could have been key contributions on the defensive line.
Green Bay Packers	Damarious Randall, S	B	Packers general manger Ted Thompson is known as one of the most astute draft minds in the league. The pick was initially surprising, as DT Malcom Brown was still on the board and the Packers' two nose tackles, B.J. Raji and Letroy Guion, are both on one-year deals. However, if Thompson sees Randall being able to convert to outside corner, which he likely does having taken him in Round 1, then the pick would solve one of Green Bay's biggest positional needs.
New Orleans Saints	Stephone Anthony, ILB	B-	Anthony is one of the most complete inside linebackers in the draft, able to defend the run and drop into coverage. The Saints needed inside linebacker help, but the pick was a reach given that Anthony had a second-round grade by most experts. However, as pick No. 31 is basically the second round anyway, it's understandable why the Saints didn't feel the need to trade down and instead simply got their guy.
New England Patriots	Malcom Brown, DT	A+	As usual, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots found good fortune in the draft. Brown was one of the top players on New England's board and by simply standing pat at No. 32, he fell into their lap. The value is excellent here and he's a no-brainer replacement for Vince Wilfork.

Analysis of Shocking Picks

St. Louis selects RB Todd Gurley

This isn't a shocking pick in the sense that St. Louis didn't get a good value for Todd Gurley, or that he would be a poor fit in their scheme. 

However, most experts saw the Rams targeting a wide receiver or offensive lineman in Round 1, though CBSSports.com's Will Brinson accurately predicted the pick in his most recent mock draft.

But had either wide receiver Kevin White or Amari Cooper been on the board, or offensive tackle Brandon Scherff, it's hard to imagine the Rams would have passed over those players who would have been instant upgrades to their offense. 

And even as the Rams came on the clock Thursday evening, wide receiver DeVante Parker and offensive tackle Andrus Peat were available. 

But it wasn't in Parker or Peat that Les Snead and Jeff Fisher were interested. Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Gurley was the top player available on the Rams' board when they made the pick. 

Gurley joins an already solid backfield with Tre Mason, Benny Cunningham, Zac Stacy and Isaiah Pead, though reports have already surfaced that with the addition of Gurley, Stacy would like to play elsewhere, per ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan. 

Gurley combines the physicality of Stacy with the speed of Mason, but in a more talented overall package. The question that remains, however, and the reason the pick was a surprise is that currently the Rams don't have an offensive line in place that will allow Gurley to succeed from Day 1. 

If the Rams can improve the offensive line in the remaining rounds of the draft, this pick makes more and more sense as St. Louis keeps up to par with the rest of the NFC West in terms of a game-changing running back. 

Carolina selects LB Shaq Thompson 

Shaq Thompson had a Round 2 grade and a projection of No. 52 overall by CBSSports.com just ahead of the draft. In addition to the Panthers selecting him a little early, the big question mark surrounding Thompson is his lack of a clear position at the NFL level. 

An outside linebacker at Washington, Thompson could play safety or even move inside in the pros. That versatility can be a benefit, as long as Thompson can perform like a first-round pick at the position at which Carolina wants to use him. 

The pick was a bit of a head-scratcher because the Panthers, which had one of the league's most inconsistent and unstable offensive lines in 2014, seemed primed to take an offensive tackle in Round 1. By the time they were on the clock, Brandon Scherff, Ereck Flowers, Andrus Peat, Cedric Ogbuehi and D.J. Humphries had already been taken. 

The Panthers could have gone with tackles T.J. Clemmings or Jake Fisher, but presumably decided if they were going to reach for a player with a high Round 2 grade it would be better to get one of the best linebackers in the draft.

Still, with Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis already on the roster and excelling, hearing the pick announced came as a surprise. 

"He’s going to allow us to put three very fast linebackers on the field. I think he’s going to be a great fit with Thomas and Luke," general manager Dave Gettleman said, per Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. "He gives us matchup abilities that we don’t have. There’s some different things we can do with him."

Indianapolis selects WR Phillip Dorsett

This selection may deserve the distinction of being the most shocking pick in the first round.

The Colts had multiple needs heading into Round 1, and there were still players available at their pick at No. 30 that satisfied those needs.

The Colts could have upgraded their secondary with safety Landon Collins, who many thought would be a lock for Indianapolis if he were still on the board at No. 28, or Damarious Randall. 

They could have also addressed their defensive line with Malcom Brown, who would have been a steal there, or Eddie Goldman. 

Instead, however, the Colts chose to continue adding speed to their receiving corps, which is smart in the sense that it gives their greatest asset, quarterback Andrew Luck, more weapons. 

However, as Rotoworld's Adam Levitan pointed out, the Colts basically already have the same player as Dorsett on the roster in T.Y. Hilton, and presumably rising star Donte Moncrief will have fewer opportunities in 2015 with Dorsett's presence. 

"But what about the defense, you ask, the one that was slaughtered in that 45-7 embarrassment in the rain in Foxborough in January's AFC title game? " asks Zak Keefer of the IndyStar.com. 

It's a good question, one the Colts' remaining eight picks will have to address.