
NFL Draft 2015 Results: Day-by-Day Final Grades for Each Franchise
After countless hours of research, nearly a full 24 hours of coverage and 256 player names read by people ranging from Jim Kelly to Roger Goodell, the 2015 NFL draft came to an end on Saturday.
And with that comes the big question: Who wore their draft suit the best? Which of these 32 teams wound up making the most of the three-day extravaganza?
The answer, of course, is that no one has any idea. Draft grades are inherently flawed because we're yet to see these dudes play on the field. The real answer to these questions will begin in September and probably won't be answered until 2017.
That said, we can assess how teams did in terms of value and addressing their needs. With that in mind, here's a look at how things shook out.
| NFC East | ||
| Dallas Cowboys | CB Byron Jones, DE/OLB Randy Gregory, OT Chaz Green, LB Damien Wilson, DE Ryan Russell, LB Mark Nzeocha, OT Laurence Gibson, TE Geoff Swaim | B |
| Philadelphia Eagles | WR Nelson Agholor, CB Eric Rowe, LB Jordan Hicks, CB JaCorey Shepherd, CB Randall Evans, DE Brian Mihalik | B- |
| Washington | OT Brandon Scherff, DE Preston Smith, RB Matt Jones, WR Jamison Crowder, G Arie Kouandjio, LB Martrell Spaight, S Kyshoen Jarrett, CB Kyshoen Jarrett, WR Evan Spencer, C Austin Reiter | B |
| New York Giants | OT Ereck Flowers, S Landon Collins, DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, S Mykkele Thompson, WR Geremy Davis, G Bobby Hart | B |
| NFC North | ||
| Chicago Bears | WR Kevin White, DT Eddie Goldman, C Hroniss Grasu, RB Jeremy Langford, S Adrian Amos, G Tayo Fabuluje | B+ |
| Green Bay Packers | S Damarious Randall, CB Quinten Rollins, WR Ty Montgomery, LB Jake Ryan, QB Brett Hundley, FB Aaron Ripkowski, DE Christian Ringo, TE Kennard Backman | B+ |
| Detroit Lions | G Laken Thompson, RB Ameer Abdullah, CB Alex Carter, DT Gabe Wright, FB Michael Burton, CB Quandre Diggs, OT Corey Robinson | B |
| Minnesota Vikings | CB Trae Waynes, LB Eric Kendricks, DE Danielle Hunter, OT T.J. Clemmings, TE MyCole Pruitt, WR Stefon Diggs, OT Tyrus Thompson, B.J. Dubose, OT Austin Shepherd, LB Edmond Robinson | A |
| NFC South | ||
| Carolina Panthers | LB Shaq Thompson, TE Devin Funchess, G Daryl Williams, LB David Mayo, RB Cameron Artis-Payne | B- |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | QB Jameis Winston, OT Donovan Smith, C Ali Marpet, LB Kwon Alexander, WR Kenny Bell, WR Kaelin Clay, FB Joey Iosefa | B+ |
| New Orleans Saints | OT Andrus Peat, LB Stephone Anthony, LB Kikaha Hau'oli, QB Garrett Grayson, CB P.J. Williams, LB Davis Tull, DT Tyeler Davison, CB Damian Swann, RB Marcus Murphy | B+ |
| Atlanta Falcons | OLB/DE Vic Beasley, CB Jalen Collins, RB Tevin Coleman, WR Justin Hardy, DT Grady Jarrett, OT Jake Rodgers, DB Akeem King | A |
| NFC West | ||
| San Francisco 49ers | DE Arik Armstead, S Jaquiski Tartt, LB Eli Harold, TE Blake Bell, RB Mike Davis, WR DeAndre Smelter, P Bradley Pinion, G Ian Silberman, G Trenton Brown, TE Rory Anderson | B - |
| St. Louis Rams | RB Todd Gurley, OT Rob Havenstein, OT Jamon Brown, QB Sean Mannion, OT Andrew Donnal, WR Bud Sasser, G Cody Wichmann, LB Bryce Hager, DE Martin Ifedi | C+ |
| Seattle Seahawks | DE Frank Clark, WR Tyler Lockett, G Terry Poole, G Mark Glowinski, CB Tye Smith, DE Obum Gwacham, DT Kristjan Sokoli, DB Ryan Murphy | B- |
| Arizona Cardinals | OT D.J. Humphries, DE Markus Golden, RB David Johnson, DT Rodney Gunter, DE Shaquille Riddick, WR J.J. Nelson, TE Gerald Christian | C+ |
| AFC East | ||
| New York Jets | DE Leonard Williams, WR Devin Smith, LB Lorenzo Mauldin, QB Bryce Petty, G Jarvis Harrison, DT Deon Simon | A- |
| Miami Dolphins | WR DeVante Parker, DT Jordan Phillips, G Jamil Douglas, CB Bobby McCain, RB Jay Ajayi, S Cedric Thompson, WR/CB Tony Lippett | B |
| New England Patriots | DT Malcom Brown, S Jordan Richards, DE Geneo Grissom, DE Trey Flowers, G Tre Jackson, C Shaq Mason, LS Joe Cardona, LB Matthew Wells, TE A.J. Derby, CB Darryl Roberts, LB Xzavier Dickson | B |
| Buffalo Bills | CB Ronald Darby, G John Miller, RB Karlos Williams, LB Tony Steward, TE Nick O'Leary, WR Dezmin Lewis | B- |
| AFC North | ||
| Cincinnati Bengals | OT Cedric Ogbuehi, OT Jake Fisher, TE Tyler Kroft, LB Paul Dawson, CB Josh Shaw, DE Marcus Hardison, TE C.J. Uzomah, S Derron Smith, WR Mario Alford | B+ |
| Cleveland Browns | DT Danny Shelton, C Cameron Erving, DE Nate Orchard, RB Duke Johnson, DT Xavier Cooper, S Ibraheim Campbell, WR Vince Mayle, CB Charles Gaines, TE Malcolm Johnson, TE Randall Telfer, LB Hayes Pullard, CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu | B |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | DE Alvin "Bud" Dupree, CB Senquez Golson, WR Sammie Coates, CB Doran Grant, TE Jesse James, DT Leterrius Walton, DE Anthony Chickillo, S Gerod Holliman | B+ |
| Baltimore Ravens | WR Breshad Perriman, TE Maxx Williams, DT Carl Davis, DE Za'Darius Smith, RB Javorius Allen, CB Tray Walker, TE Nick Boyle, G Robert Myers, WR Darren Waller | A |
| AFC South | ||
| Indianapolis Colts | WR Phillip Dorsett, CB D'Joun Smith, DE Henry Anderson, S Clayton Geathers, DT David Parry, RB Josh Robinson, LB Amarlo Herrera, OL Denzelle Good | C+ |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | DE/OLB Dante Fowler Jr., RB T.J. Yeldon, G A.J. Cann, S James Sample, WR Rashad Greene, DT Michael Bennett, WR Neal Sterling, TE Ben Koyack | A |
| Tennessee Titans | QB Marcus Mariota, WR Dorial Green-Beckham, G Jeremiah Poutasi, DT Angelo Blackson, FB Jalston Fowler, RB David Cobb, LB Deiontrez Mount, C Andy Gallik, WR Tre McBride | B+ |
| Houston Texans | CB Kevin Johnson, LB Benardrick McKinney, WR Jaelen Strong, WR Keith Mumphery, LB Reshard Cliett, DT Christian Covington, RB Kenny Hilliard | A- |
| AFC West | ||
| San Diego Chargers | RB Melvin Gordon, LB Denzel Perryman, CB Craig Mager, LB Kyle Emanuel, DT Darius Philon | C |
| Denver Broncos | DE Shane Ray, OT Ty Sambrailo, TE Jeff Heuerman, C Max Garcia, CB Lorenzo Doss, DT Darius Kilgo, QB Trevor Siemian, DB Taurean Nixon, DB Josh Furman | B |
| Oakland Raiders | WR Amari Cooper, DE Mario Edwards Jr., TE Clive Walford, G Jon Feliciano, LB Ben Heeney, LB Neiron Ball, Max Valles, OL Anthony Morris, WR Andre Debose, CB Dexter McDonald | B+ |
| Kansas City Chiefs | CB Marcus Peters, G Mitch Morse, WR Chris Conley, CB Steven Nelson, LB Ramik Wilson, LB D.J. Alexander, TE James O'Shaughnessy, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches, WR Da'Ron Brown | B- |
Best of the Best
Atlanta Falcons
There's no other way to put this: The Falcons killed it. They opened on Thursday by selecting a much-needed edge-rusher in Vic Beasley, nailed two solid values at need positions in cornerback Jalen Collins and running back Tevin Coleman on Friday and continued the trend Saturday by landing perhaps the best overall value in Grady Jarrett.
The Clemson product was ranked No. 51 overall by ESPN's Todd McShay and was still on the board at No. 137. Atlanta successfully traded up to pair Jarrett with collegiate teammate Beasley, a move that should help both make a successful transition to Sundays.
On the whole, Falcons brass did an excellent job of mixing need spots and talent. Collins was a potential first-rounder in his own right, selecting Coleman in the third round was far superior to wasting a high pick on a running back and Jarrett could step in and contribute immediately. East Carolina receiver Justin Hardy might even develop into a solid replacement for the recently departed Harry Douglas.
Judging seventh-round picks is weird and nonsensical, but you have to like the Jake Rodgers selection. He's nowhere near ready for the NFL level from a skills standpoint, yet you could do a whole lot less in terms of physical gifts.
Baltimore Ravens
Ozzie Newsome knows how to draft, man. The Baltimore general manager is better than just about anyone at compiling picks in the later rounds—mostly via compensatory selections—and taking advantage when given the opportunity.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith and running back Javorius Allen can each contribute right away, and Georgia Tech wideout Darren Waller is an interesting long-term project.
Baltimore also did well for itself in the first two days. Breshad Perriman and Maxx Williams will help refill the pass-catching coffers left a little dry by offseason departures, and Iowa's Carl Davis is a natural Haloti Ngata replacement.
Perriman in particular stands out as a good choice. Joe Flacco, if he excels at anything, excels at getting the ball downfield to his receivers. Perriman is a bit of a raw player, but he has elite top-end speed and should fill Torrey Smith's shoes quite well. Perriman also seemed determined to prove to scouts he won't have drop problems at the next level.
“That’s definitely something that I have a chip on my shoulder about,” Perriman told reporters. “But at the end of the day, I know what I can do. I know that I can catch.”
Williams may slide into the starting lineup immediately. He's either the best or second-best tight end in this class, depending on your opinion of Devin Funchess.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars know their weaknesses and have done an excellent job of filling them in recent seasons. Nearly every draft pick they've made—lone exception being Blake Bortles—over the last two seasons has made perfect sense.
Jacksonville started Thursday by adding edge-rusher Dante Fowler, continued Friday by starting a running-game rebuild with T.J. Yeldon and A.J. Cann and then on Saturday found a ton of value all over the place. Getting Michael Bennett in the sixth round is mind-boggling. The Ohio State product entered the draft process with designs on the first round and is one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in this class.
Grabbing the wildly underrated Rashad Greene a round earlier was also a solid touch. Greene's been among the most consistent receivers in college football over the last two years. He won't be a star at the next level, but he'll fit in nicely with the solid young core of talent the Jaguars are building.
Former Notre Dame tight end Ben Koyack was solid seventh-round value. Again, there's not much star power here, but Koyack will probably make the roster and is an all-around excellent pass-catcher who could make life easier for Bortles if he develops.
Minnesota Vikings
Things continue to look up for Minnesota. A year after seemingly finding a franchise quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater, Mike Zimmer and co. have begun filling the roster around the margins.
Though there are justifiable concerns about Trae Waynes as a future shutdown corner, he'll be a long-term starter and fit a need at No. 11. At the very least, he was the consensus top corner in this draft.
Grabbing linebacker Eric Kendricks in Round 2 and defensive end Danielle Hunter a round later is a solid mixing of risk and reward. Kendricks should start right away, while Hunter's a long-term project who has star-level potential.
The Vikings were also among the league's best Day 3 performers. Adding T.J. Clemmings in the fourth round was a stroke of good fortune after he fell due to injury concerns. Clemmings might wind up being their left tackle in a couple years. Stefon Diggs is yet another versatile talent at the receiver position, and he will make an interesting addition if he's utilized properly.
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