NFL Draft 2015: Final Results and Grades Review for Each Franchise
If it wasn't already clear before, the 2015 NFL draft illustrated that teams are becoming more wary than ever of prospects with off-field red flags. Players such as Randy Gregory and Dorial Green-Beckham saw their respective stocks slip, while the curious case of La'el Collins ended with the LSU tackle going undrafted.
We also saw the return of the first-round running back and a continuation of the league's alarming quarterback shortage. The NFL isn't about to revert into a ground-and-pound league anytime soon, but as ESPN's Kevin Seifert noted, the average age of the top 10 quarterbacks, as measured by QBR, was 33.
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With Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota serving as this year's great hopes for the position, there's an imminent shortage at the position once the likes of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning age out.
The league's landscape is changing, a fact that must be kept in mind as you read the myriad draft articles that will come out. Taking these factors into consideration, let's take a look at notable grades and picks for every team, while also highlighting some of the most intriguing organizations from the weekend.
| Arizona Cardinals | D.J. Humphries (OT), Markus Golden (DE), David Johnson (RB) | B |
| Atlanta Falcons | Vic Beasley (OLB), Jalen Collins (CB), Tevin Coleman (RB), Grady Jarrett (DT) | A |
| Baltimore Ravens | Breshad Perriman (WR), Maxx Williams (TE), Carl Davis (DT) | B+ |
| Buffalo Bills | Ronald Darby (CB), John Miller (OG), Nick O'Leary (TE) | C |
| Carolina Panthers | Shaq Thompson (LB), Devin Funchess (WR), Daryl Williams (OT) | C+ |
| Chicago Bears | Kevin White (WR), Eddie Goldman (DT), Hroniss Grasu (C) | B |
| Cincinnati Bengals | Cedric Ogbuehi (OT), Jake Fisher (OT), Paul Dawson (LB) | A- |
| Cleveland Browns | Danny Shelton (DT), Cameron Erving (OL), Nate Orchard (DE), Duke Johnson (RB) | B+ |
| Dallas Cowboys | Byron Jones (CB), Randy Gregory (OLB), Chaz Green (OT) | B- |
| Denver Broncos | Shane Ray (OLB), Ty Sambrailo (OT), Jeff Heuerman (TE) | B |
| Detroit Lions | Laken Tomlinson (OG), Ameer Abdullah (RB), Alex Carter (CB) | B+ |
| Green Bay Packers | Damarious Randall (CB), Quinten Rollins (CB), Ty Montgomery (WR), Brett Hundley (QB) | B |
| Houston Texans | Kevin Johnson (CB), Bernardrick McKinney (ILB), Jalen Strong (WR) | B+ |
| Indianapolis Colts | Phillip Dorsett (WR), D'Joun Smith (CB), Henry Anderson (DE) | B |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Dante Fowler Jr. (DE), T.J. Yeldon (RB), A.J. Cann (OG), Michael Bennett (DT) | A |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Marcus Peters (CB), Mitch Morse (C), Chris Conley (WR) | B |
| Miami Dolphins | DeVante Parker (WR), Jordan Phillips (DT), Jay Ajayi (RB) | B+ |
| Minnesota Vikings | Trae Waynes (CB), Eric Kendricks (ILB), Danielle Hunter (DE), T.J. Clemmings (OT) | A |
| New England Patriots | Malcom Brown (DT), Jordan Richards (SS), Tre' Jackson (OG) | B |
| New Orleans Saints | Andrus Peat (OT), Stephone Anthony (ILB), Hau'oli Kikaha (OLB), P.J. Williams (CB) | A- |
| New York Giants | Ereck Flowers (OT), Landon Collins (SS), Owa Odighizuwa (DE) | B+ |
| New York Jets | Leonard Williams (DT), Devin Smith (WR), Bryce Petty (QB) | B |
| Oakland Raiders | Amari Cooper (WR), Mario Edwards Jr. (DE), Clive Walford (TE) | B+ |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Nelson Agholor (WR), Eric Rowe (CB), Jordan Hicks (ILB) | B+ |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Bud Dupree (OLB), Senquez Golson (CB), Sammie Coates (WR) | B |
| San Diego Chargers | Melvin Gordon (RB), Denzel Perryman (ILB), Craig Mager (CB) | C |
| San Francisco 49ers | Arik Armstead (DT), Jaquiski Tartt (SS), Eli Harold (OLB), Mike Davis (RB) | B |
| Seattle Seahawks | Frank Clark (DE), Tyler Lockett (WR), Mark Glowinski (OG) | C+ |
| St. Louis Rams | Todd Gurley (RB), Rob Havenstein (OT), Sean Mannion (QB) | C+ |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Jameis Winston (QB), Donovan Smith (OT), Ali Marpet (OG), Kenny Bell (WR) | B+ |
| Tennessee Titans | Marcus Mariota (QB), Dorial Green-Beckham (WR), Jeremiah Poutasi (OT), David Cobb (RB) | B- |
| Washington | Brandon Scherff (OT), Preston Smith (DE), Jamison Crowder (WR) | B+ |
Most Intriguing Draft Classes
Most Improved: Jacksonville Jaguars
There were several top challengers for this spot, but one of the most talent-poor team appeared to improve significantly by taking the value that fell to them.
Apart from seventh-round receiver Neal Sterling, the Jacksonville Jaguars exclusively drafted prospects from Power Six conferences. That alone doesn't guarantee success, of course, but given old general manager Gene Smith's perplexing tendency to reach for small-school prospects, it's refreshing to see Dave Caldwell take the simplest path forward.
The Jags were fortunate in that their need positions also represented the best values on the board. After selecting front-seven foundational pass-rusher Dante Fowler, Jacksonville was able to fill in glaring holes at running back and guard with T.J. Yeldon and A.J. Cann.
Cann was a particularly nice snag in Round 3, as he'll push uninspiring Zane Beadles at left guard. The Jaguars' O-line was arguably the league's worst unit early last season—Football Outsiders ranked the line 30th in adjusted line yards and 32nd in adjusted sack rate.
With the additions of Cann, Jermey Parnell and Stefan Wisniewski, the unit now has actual depth to give second-year quarterback Blake Bortles a fighting chance of developing.
However, it was the Day 3 haul that really put the cherry on top. Jacksonville happily scooped up fallers such as James Sample, Rashad Greene, Michael Bennett and Ben Koyack, all of whom could play meaningful roles in the fall. Bennett and Sample are particularly intriguing front-seven contributors (the safety Sample primarily contributes in the box) who earned praise from observers:
This Jags team is still an extremely callow squad that has a long ways to go before challenging Andrew Luck and the Colts for AFC South supremacy. Much of Jacksonville's immediate future relies on Bortles' progress, which is a shaky proposition after his dreadful rookie season. Nevertheless, a once barren roster has received a significant talent upgrade the past two offseasons and appears on track to regain respectability.
Honorable Mentions: Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings
Most Questionable: San Diego Chargers
The uncertainty of the draft means that quantity often trumps perceived quality. By making a league-low five picks, the Chargers eschewed this time-tested theory, putting most of their 2015 draft eggs in the Melvin Gordon basket by trading up two spots to select the Wisconsin back.
There's nothing wrong with Gordon, who bears an eerie resemblance to Jamaal Charles and could very well be the best back in this class. But even putting aside the devaluation of his position, sacrificing a first-rounder (No. 17), fourth-rounder (No. 117) and future fifth-rounder is a steep price. If we project for a moment that the Chargers end up drafting in the same spot next year, the fifth-rounder projects to No. 153.
The classic Jimmy Johnson trade chart would score this a slight loss for the Chargers, netting them 1,050 points compared to 1,130.2 points traded away. But the Johnson chart overvalues first-round picks compared to their actual production, so Football Perspective's Chase Stuart developed a trade calculator that measures the expected approximate value of each pick over the first five years of a player's career. By that more realistic measure, the Chargers fall even further behind:
| 15th overall (Round 1) | 17th overall (Round 1) |
| 117th overall (Round 4) | |
| 2016 Round 5 (proj. 153) |
By Stuart's measure, the Chargers gave up 136 cents on the dollar for Gordon. This doesn't even factor in San Diego's porous run blocking, as the Chargers finished 31st in FO's adjusted line yards last season. Part of that stemmed from the revolving door at center, and the free-agent addition of Orlando Franklin helps.
Nevertheless, the right side still looks well below average, which could provide Gordon a bit of a shock after running behind a mauling Badgers line.
The rest of the Chargers' draft was relatively nondescript, though defensive tackle Darius Philon was good value in Round 6. Second-rounder Denzel Perryman brings a thumping downhill style, but the Chargers needed more speed on their front seven, which they didn't necessarily receive this draft.
Dishonorable Mentions: St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers
Most Volatile: Miami Dolphins
After going all-in during free agency, it's only fitting that the Dolphins would also compile arguably the biggest boom-or-bust draft class. Miami should be a fascinating view in 2015, as their ceiling and floor seems to range somewhere between challenging the New England Patriots for AFC East supremacy and imploding en route to a top-10 pick and changes at head coach and quarterback.
DeVante Parker is an important playmaker who should help out Ryan Tannehill, but second-rounder Jordan Phillips is one of the trickier projections. The burly defensive tackle could be a dominant double-team absorber who frees up Ndamukong Suh for one-on-ones against quaking guards, but as SB Nation's Stephen White lamented, Phillips is an unsettling prospect whose game tape suggests a one-dimensional run-stuffer:
"I haven't done a complete 180 on Phillips just because of one game, but I do have more concerns about him. I think Phillips can be a viable nose tackle in the NFL as a two-down player, but I just don't see him as a guy you should expect much from above and beyond that.
While it's true that there were times when Phillips was impressive as a power rusher, he still needs to work on staying lower so he can escape those moves cleaner. Even if he does, I just don't think he will ever give a team enough as a pass rusher to be in there on money downs.
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Meanwhile, it was curious to see the Fins spend a pick on Jay Ajayi. Ajayi's game is great and the fifth round is excellent value for his skills, but with Lamar Miller, Miami already finished with the No. 2 rushing offense by DVOA. Bill Lazor's spread-oriented system is a perfect fit for the agile and creative Miller. Though Ajayi possesses some of the same attributes, his medical file might make that redundancy a moot point:
Again, Parker, Ajayi and Phillips are all tremendously talented players. Miami did particularly well to snag the latter two prospects later than many projected them to go off the board. But having invested minimally at guard, linebacker and safety, arguably the team's three biggest needs, there's a real chance that the Dolphins' weaknesses could override their very enticing strengths next season.
Honorable Mentions: Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints
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