NFL Draft Grades 2015: Overview of Results and Letter Marks for Every Franchise

The 2015 NFL draft didn't feature as much drama as expected in the early rounds. The potential trades that could have shaken things up never materialized. Most teams simply stayed in their respective slots and took the highest player on their boards.

All told, the overarching theme remains much the same as it was before the draft. This was a class where the depth was more prominent than the elite talent. A vast majority of teams came away with multiple prospects capable of making an instant impact, which isn't always the case.

So let's check out a complete list of initial grades. Most franchises received an average mark or better thanks to the previously mentioned depth. That's followed by a full results chart and a closer look at the teams earning the best grades.

Final Grades

Team	Picks	Grade
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+
Atlanta Falcons	DE Vic Beasley, CB Jalen Collins, RB Tevin Coleman, WR Justin Hardy, DT Grady Jarrett, OT Jake Rodgers, DB Akeem King	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	B+
Buffalo Bills	CB Ronald Darby, G John Miller, RB Karlos Williams, LB Tony Steward, TE Nick O'Leary, WR Dezmin Lewis	D+
Carolina Panthers	LB Shaq Thompson, TE Devin Funchess, G Daryl Williams, LB David Mayo, RB Cameron Artis-Payne	C-
Chicago Bears	WR Kevin White, DT Eddie Goldman, C Hroniss Grasu, RB Jeremy Langford, S Adrian Amos, G Tayo Fabuluje	C
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	C+
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	A
Dallas Cowboys	CB Byron Jones, OLB Randy Gregory, OT Chaz Green, LB Damien Wilson, DE Ryan Russell, LB Mark Nzeocha, OT Laurence Gibson, TE Geoff Swaim	B
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-
Detroit Lions	G Laken Thompson, RB Ameer Abdullah, CB Alex Carter, DT Gabe Wright, FB Michael Burton, CB Quandre Diggs, OT Corey Robinson	C
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
Houston Texans	CB Kevin Johnson, LB Benardrick McKinney, WR Jaelen Strong, WR Keith Mumphery, LB Reshard Cliett, DT Christian Covington, RB Kenny Hilliard	B+
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	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	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	C-
Miami Dolphins	WR DeVante Parker, DT Jordan Phillips, G Jamil Douglas, CB Bobby McCain, RB Jay Ajayi, S Cedric Thompson, CB Tony Lippett	C+
Minnesota Vikings	CB Trae Waynes, LB Eric Kendricks, DE Danielle Hunter, OT T.J. Clemmings, TE MyCole Pruitt, WR Stefon Diggs, OT Tyrus Thompson, DE B.J. Dubose, OT Austin Shepherd, LB Edmond Robinson	A-
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-
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	C
New York Giants	OT Ereck Flowers, S Landon Collins, DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, S Mykkele Thompson, WR Geremy Davis, G Bobby Hart	B
New York Jets	DE Leonard Williams, WR Devin Smith, LB Lorenzo Mauldin, QB Bryce Petty, G Jarvis Harrison, DT Deon Simon	B-
Oakland Raiders	WR Amari Cooper, DE Mario Edwards Jr., TE Clive Walford, G Jon Feliciano, LB Ben Heeney, LB Neiron Ball, DE Max Valles, OL Anthony Morris, WR Andre Debose, CB Dexter McDonald	B+
Philadelphia Eagles	WR Nelson Agholor, CB Eric Rowe, LB Jordan Hicks, CB JaCorey Shepherd, CB Randall Evans, DE Brian Mihalik	C
Pittsburgh Steelers	DE Alvin Dupree, CB Senquez Golson, WR Sammie Coates, CB Doran Grant, TE Jesse James, DT Leterrius Walton, DE Anthony Chickillo, S Gerod Holliman	C+
San Diego Chargers	RB Melvin Gordon, LB Denzel Perryman, CB Craig Mager, LB Kyle Emanuel, DT Darius Philon	B
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-
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
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	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
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	A
Washington Redskins	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	C

2015 NFL Draft Results

Top Performers

Cleveland Browns (A)

The Browns entered the draft needing to address the trenches. They didn't waste any time. They added Danny Shelton and Nate Orchard to upgrade the defensive front seven and Cameron Erving to bolster the offensive line.

Being able to win those battles at the point of attack is essential to success despite not getting nearly as much attention as the skill positions. Cleveland also picked up Xavier Cooper, who can provide depth across the defensive line, in the third round.

Other notable picks included Duke Johnson and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. Johnson should provide a nice change-of-pace look out of the backfield. Ekpre-Olomu is working his way back from a knee injury but should far exceed seventh-round value once healthy.

Andrew Gribble of the team's official site passed along comments from general manager Ray Farmer about what the Browns were able to accomplish.

"I think we did a good job of sticking to the plan," Farmer said. "We know who we want to be. We know where we want to go. We knew before you build the roof and put the walls up, you've got to build the foundation. And for us, that starts up front. We want to dominate the line of scrimmage. And we want to play Cleveland Brown football."

The only minor gripe would be not investing a higher selection on a wide receiver. That said, it should come as no surprise that a team that made 12 selections in a class with plenty of depth ends up walking away with high marks.

Tennessee Titans (A)

The Titans' offensive outlook improved markedly in the first two rounds. They grabbed Marcus Mariota, who should start under center right away, with the second overall pick. Then they brought in a weapon for him in the form of Dorial Green-Beckham.

Yes, there are questions about Green-Beckham due to previous off-field issues. There's no denying his potential, though. He's got all the tools to become a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver with some coaching, particularly when it comes to running more precise routes.

Aaron Mannicci of Cover 32 is intrigued by the rebuilt Tennessee passing attack:

The Titans also added some nice sleepers in the later rounds. David Cobb could end up being the team's starting running back before season's end. Tre McBride is a sure-handed receiver who offsets some of the risk that comes with taking Green-Beckham.

Progress on the defensive side was more limited. But Tennessee needed to revitalize its offense after an extremely sluggish 2014. Mission accomplished.

Minnesota Vikings (A-)

The Vikings knocked it out of the park with their first four selections: Trae Waynes, Eric Kendricks, Danielle Hunter and T.J. Clemmings. Things fell off a bit from there, which is why the grade isn't an A. But if that quartet lives up to its potential, it won't matter if the rest don't make a major impact.

Waynes and Kendricks are defenders capable of being standout rookies. They are both physical players who should bring a little more pop to the unit.

Hunter and Clemmings may take a little longer to make their presence felt. The latter was a fringe first-round prospect before a previous foot injury became a hot topic. Each is a bit raw, but with some coaching, both have bright futures.

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports was also impressed with the Vikings' early picks:

Suddenly, Minnesota is an intriguing team to watch. Between the defensive upgrades, likely improvement from Teddy Bridgewater and the possible return of Adrian Peterson, it's a roster with a boatload of upside for Vikings fans to get excited about.