NFL Draft 2016: Final Analysis of Overall Team-by-Team Grades

The NFL's three-day draft extravaganza is finally over, with all 32 teams feeling the hope and optimism that comes with bringing in new and exciting talent. 

While teams are basking in the glow of their newest additions, it's time to start figuring out which clubs nailed it, which ones missed the mark and everyone else in between. 

Grading a draft is a reflection on value more than anything else. Everyone has their own biases when it comes to evaluating talent, leading to differences of opinion in the grading. No one has any idea what these players will turn into, so negative grades aren't an indictment of talent. 

With that caveat out of the way, here's a look at how the draft played out, followed by grades for all 32 teams. 

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

Best Class: Jacksonville Jaguars

If the Jacksonville Jaguars had only come out of the first two days with Jalen Ramsey (No. 5 overall), they would have felt good about how things played out. 

Instead, though, the Jaguars waited patiently and grabbed Myles Jack (No. 36) in the second round. I understand the questions about his surgically-repaired knee, but teams were treating a torn meniscus as if it were the worst thing that could ever happen to a player. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter noted the Jaguars were debating between Ramsey and Jack with the fifth pick, so to have both standout defensive players fall into their lap is a huge win for a team that finished 29th in pass defense last season. 

USA Today's Lindsay Jones pointed out some of the other pieces Jacksonville will have on the defense that weren't present when 2015 ended:

It may be that Ramsey ends up having to play safety instead of cornerback, or Jack one day needs microfracture surgery on his knee, causing this class to look like a mistake in the future.

The Jaguars also got defensive end Yannick Ngakoue out of Maryland in the third round and massive defensive tackle Sheldon Day out of Notre Dame in the fourth round. Both players are pass-rush specialists who provide quality depth in the trenches. 

Right now, though, Ramsey and Jack bring intensity and toughness to a Jaguars team that has been steadily getting better under head coach Gus Bradley. He spent four years as a defensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks, overseeing the rise of that group, and is building a special group in Jacksonville.

Worst Class: Los Angeles Rams

Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press

The Rams put virtually all of their eggs in the Jared Goff basket. Long after they made him the No. 1 overall pick, the front office was still tailoring its draft around the new quarterback. 

Tight end Tyler Higbee fills Los Angeles' need for a pass-catching tight end after Jared Cook was released, though he does come with baggage.

The Western Kentucky alum was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, alcohol intoxication in a public place and second-degree fleeing or evading police less than three weeks before the draft, per Zach Greenwell of the Bowling Green Daily News. 

The Rams followed up their selection of Higbee by taking Pharoh Cooper, who is another slot receiver like Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. Bailey is still recovering from gunshot wounds from an incident last November, so Cooper does provide insurance for the team if he's unable to return when the season starts. 

But make no mistake, this class will rise or fall based on Goff's performance. NFL.com's Michael Silver did note the Rams had been eyeing the Cal quarterback long before this year's draft process began:

"

Both (Rams head coach Jeff) Fisher and (general manager Les) Snead recalled Goff having piqued their interest as far back as January of 2014. The quarterback was coming off a miserable 1-11 season as a true freshman, and yet while watching game tape of draft-eligible defenders beating up on the Golden Bears, the coach and general manager kept noticing certain inescapable traits: A lightning-quick release ... a natural and effortless throwing motion ... an ability to stay calm under pressure ... a penchant for quick and correct decision-making ... uncanny accuracy.

"

There was no denying the Rams had to find a long-term answer at quarterback. The rest of their roster is well-equipped to compete for a playoff spot, but this is the one position they have been unable to fix since the end of Marc Bulger's peak. 

B/R's Mike Tanier broke down why the Rams can't afford to have Goff just be a capable guy at the position, even though that would also represent an upgrade from what they have received for most of the last decade:

"

For this pick to succeed, Goff cannot be Ryan or Andy Dalton, because the Rams are not the Mike Smith Falcons or the Cincinnati Bengals. Goff must be transcendent enough to save a franchise from itself under insanely difficult conditions. The Rams have saddled Goff with what should not be a job for Goff. It’s a job for a (Andrew) Luck or (Peyton) Manning.

"

Teams don't trade six draft picks, including a first-round selection next year, hoping to get a capable starter. They do it because of the belief this is a franchise-changing talent who will be starting for the next 10-15 years. 

Goff was well-liked coming out of college, but no scouting report viewed him as one of the best quarterback prospects of the last decade. He's not Luck or even Jameis Winston last year. 

The Rams certainly went out of their way to address a pressing need, but in a year without a standout quarterback prospect, they mortgaged a lot of the future on a good-not-great talent. 

Highest-Ceiling Class: Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys often leave themselves open to criticism during the draft because Jerry Jones likes to at least think about doing something unusual. 

Sometimes, though, Jones reminds the world of why the Cowboys were once the most feared and respected franchise in the NFL. He certainly doesn't do it alone, but as the face of the franchise, he will get all the credit. 

This year's draft started out with the Cowboys taking Ezekiel Elliott with the No. 4 pick. Usually running backs taken that high wouldn't warrant celebrating, but sometimes the talent is too special to push aside. 

Leaving aside Elliott's talent with the ball in his hands, which is immense, Pro Football Focus noted the former Ohio State star is more than just a runner:

Blocking is particularly important for the Cowboys, who need to keep Tony Romo healthy this year if they want to make a deep playoff run. 

Yet the real intrigue with Dallas' class started in the second round with the selection of Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith. He will likely need to sit out this season while rehabbing the knee injury he suffered in the Fiesta Bowl against Elliott's Buckeyes. 

There are certainly question marks around Smith's future potential because of his knee, but his talent has been off the charts dating back to high school, per 247Sports' Barton Simmons:

Smith's talent, when he's healthy, and character are as good as any player in this draft. It's worth taking a big roll of the dice on a player like that, even if it takes longer than usual to make an impact. 

Yet even beyond those top two picks, the Cowboys decided to go big or go home. Maliek Collins is a defensive tackle who is very good against the run and pass. Charles Tapper gives them a much-needed edge-rusher with Randy Gregory suspended for four games and Demarcus Lawrence facing a four-game suspension. 

Dak Prescott was rising up draft boards throughout the process, yet the Cowboys managed to get him in the fourth round. NFL.com's Gil Brandt sees the Mississippi State star as a potential heir to the quarterback throne in Dallas:

In the sixth round, the Cowboys again took a chance on upside with the selection of Baylor basketball star Rico Gathers. He's seeking to join the list of tight ends like Antonio Gates and Julius Thomas, who made successful transitions to the NFL after not playing football in college. 

B/R draft expert Matt Miller had high praise for the Cowboys coming out of the draft:

The Cowboys are already built to win right now, especially on offense with Romo and Dez Bryant. Elliott brings back the dynamic that was lost when DeMarco Murray left last year, as well as a more well-rounded skill set than Murray possessed. 

Even though defense in the first round would have been acceptable, the Cowboys made their mid- and late-round selections count in that regard. There's a lot of risk with this class, but if it hits, we will look back on this group in five years as a foundation-building class.