NFL Draft Recap
By: Jack Machulski
The first round of the NFL Draft
has been completed and this one was quite the doozy. Sadly, I had my AP English exam from the 8-12
so I missed the entirety of the draft. I
have now caught up on all things draft related and am going to give my thoughts
on how each team did. Every pick will be
given a rating between 1-5, 1 if I completely disagree and think it’s a terrible
pick 5 if I think it is a fantastic pick.
I’m also going to rate the walkout song from each player on the same
scale of 1-5.
1. Houston Texans- Jadeveon Clowney DE,
South Carolina
Walkout Song: The Man- Aloe Blacc
Pick Rating: 4
Song Rating: 5
Congrats Houston,
you didn’t mess this one up. They didn’t
get cute and try to trade back, and they didn’t select a Quarterback. Clowney may not fit any need but he is far
and away the best prospect in this draft and the thought of him and Watt
playing together is straight up terrifying.
Clowney is 21 and Watt is 25, they will be playing together for quite
some time to come. Andrew Luck better
watch his back.
As for the
song: great choice Jadeveon. You went
number one, and you truly are The Man. The
only thing Jadeveon messed up was this awkward exchange with Johnny Manziel.
2. St. Louis Rams via Washington
Redskins- Greg Robinson OT, Auburn
Walkout Song: Happy- Pharrell
Pick Rating: 4
Song Rating: 4
Everything
about this pick is solid including the man drafted, Greg Robinson is an
absolute monster at 6-5 332 pounds. He
is already a beast of a run blocker and generates the power to bulldoze any
defensive end. If he works and develops
his footwork in the pass blocking game then he could end up being one of the
best OT’s in the league. Gruden and
company were comparing him to Ram great Orlando Pace, a more contemporary
comparison would be Jason Peters of the Eagles, one of the best OT’s over the
last 5 years.
Happy was a great song for him to come out to,
although it is overplayed it captures the moment of joy being drafted. Nice job Greg.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Blake Bortles
QB, University of Central Florida
Walkout Song: Blow Up- J. Cole
Pick Rating: 2
Song Rating: 5
Silly
Jaguars, when will you ever learn. It
would be very easy to blast this pick because Bortles is definitely a reach at
3, especially with Manziel going at 22 and Bridgewater going at 32. The Jaguars needed a QB however, and went
with the guy that is highest on their board at the position, and I can respect
that. That being said, I think they
should have gone with Khalil Mack here instead.
Bortles has the size and arm strength to get it done but he is still
very raw and far from a sure thing, if he reaches his upside this could be a
great pick but we will see what happens.
Another concern for Bortles is that he won’t be motivated to play
football because he has already won at life.
This is his girlfriend.
“This is a
song for my haters, I’m about to blow up!”
Can’t tell if Blake wrote this
about his draft stock back in February or if this was written by J. Cole. Either way, J. Cole is awesome and I like
Bortles 50% more for choosing one of his songs to walk up to.
4. Buffalo Bills via Cleveland Browns-
Sammy Watkins WR, Clemson
Walkout Song: Look What You’ve Done- Drake
Pick Rating: 3
Song Rating: 2
Well I love
the fact that the Bills made a bold move and traded up to get Sammy Watkins,
but this was a steep price. Bills gave
up next year’s 1st and 4th round draft picks to grab
Sammy Watkins and give EJ Manuel another toy to play with. Watkins is my second favorite prospect in the
entire draft and I think he will do great things in Buffalo. He can stretch the field with his speed and
is by far the best receiver after the catch in the entire draft. I also love this move for Cleveland because
they will have 2 first round pick in two drafts in a row. The Bills basically
had to move up to make this move because if Watkins fell to 5 it was rumoredthat the Lions would have moved up and taken him. I almost gave the Bills a 5 grade just
because it stopped Calvin Johnson and Sammy Watkins from being on the same
team.
I really
think Watkins messed up with the song. Don’t
get me wrong I love Drake and this song but this is the song you listen to
after a fight with your girlfriend not after getting picked 4th
overall. Now we don’t know if those
tears are from the joy of being drafted or that he misses his girlfriend. Not a good choice Sammy.
5. Oakland Raiders- Khalil Mack OLB/DE,
Buffalo
Walkout Song: Happy- Pharrell
Pick Rating: 5
Song Rating: 1
Love Khalil
Mack and I love this pick. He is clearly
the best player available and they resisted the urge to pick a QB and took him
instead. Mack is big, fast, has great
instincts and technique when it comes to rushing the passer. He also lives in the backfield in the run
game and is the all-time leader in tackles for a loss in the NCAA. I think Mack will do big things in Oakland
and can contribute right away.
I love Mack
but I hated this song choice.
First of
all, Greg Robinson already used Happy.
Second of all your last name is Mack, which is mentioned in hundreds of
songs. Khalil should have gone with this, this, or anything on this list. Wasted potential.
6. Atlanta Falcons- Jake Matthews OT,
Texas A&M
Walkout Song: Going the Distance- Bill Conti
Pick Rating: 4
Song Rating: 4
Jake
Matthews was a solid pick for the Falcons, they really only needed help on both
lines and they got great help on the offensive line with Matthews. Matthews may be the best pass protector in
the draft and is probably the most pro ready tackle in the draft. After getting kicked in the balls by Oakland
who took Mack right out from under them, this was the next best pick.
Song choice
was awesome, anything from the Rocky soundtrack sounds awesome and totally fits
the moment. This also marked the first
non-rap song. Way to be different Jake!
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Mike Evans WR,
Texas A&M
Walkout Song: Trophies- Drake
Pick Rating: 3
Song Rating: 6
This pick
was pretty solid. Not 100% sold on Mike
Evans just because on tape he doesn’t look like he will be able to get
separation in the pros. However, with
his size and vertical leap he will definitely make an impact at the next
level. Not sure if he was worth the 7th
pick but if the Bucs really wanted a wide receiver he was the best
available.
A 6? Didn’t
you say the scale was only 1-5? Yes I did
but this is the song I would personally choose if I got drafted so I’m giving
it a grade that is off the scale. Mike
Evans wins the song choice contest, and they don’t have no award for that…
8. Cleveland Browns via Buffalo Bills
via Minnesota Vikings- Justin Gilbert CB, OK State
Walkout Song: We Dem Boyz- Wiz Khalifa
Pick Rating:
3
Song Rating: 2
This pick
was very “meh” for me. After trading
down to 9 they gave up a fifth rounder to trade up and grab Justin
Gilbert. Gilbert isn’t exactly a need
but he is still a very good corner and pairing him with Joe Haden will give
them one of the top corner duos in the league.
I don’t know why but I’m just not 100% down with this pick. Very “meh.”
Song choice
was also not great. Sorry but I just don’t
like Wiz in this spot.
9. Minnesota Vikings- Anthony Barr
OLB/DE, UCLA
Walkout Song: None
Pick Rating: 5
Song Rating: N/A
Love this
pick because I love Anthony Barr and often fantasized about him falling to 22
for my Eagles to scoop him up. Minnesota needed a linebacker to get to the
passer and Barr is the second best OLB in this draft. Solid choice.
10. Detroit Lions- Eric Ebron TE, UNC
Pick Rating: 5
Song Rating: 3
Matt
Stafford after this pick. He has to be
excited that he has another awesome target to throw to. Ebron was one of my favorite prospects from this
draft. He has the size to go against a
Linebacker and the speed to stretch the field vertically. He will take some heat off of Megatron next
year and will be a great addition.
Song was
pretty good, but not great. Title also doesn’t
make sense, because Detroit does love you Eric.
They do. He also just proposed to his girlfriend tody
11. Tennessee Titans- Taylor Lewan OT,
Michigan
Walkout Song: Rock City- Kings of Leon
Pick Rating: 4
Song Rating: 2
This was a
solid pick as Taylor Lewan is one of the most talented prospects in the
draft. I think the Titans really wanted
either Barr or Gilbert but since both of them were gone they took Lewan. Lewan’s main thing holding him back is that
he has had a slew of character issues in his time in college. If he gets those under control he will be a
good pick.
Two white
offensive tackles and two rock songs so far.
Sweet! Loved the Bill Cotti
choice by Matthews but Kings of Leon isn’t doing it for me. Sorry Taylor.
12. New York Giants- Odell Beckham Jr.
Walkout Song: Sky is the Limit- Lil Wayne
Pick Rating: 3
Song Rating: 4
Giants
probably reached a bit for OBJ here but I think it is still a solid pick. They probably wanted either Ebron or one of
the top 3 OT’s but it didn’t work out that way.
They definitely need something to help the disaster of offense that they
had last year. Beckham Jr. may have been
a reach but he is probably the best offensive player on the board so I understand. Beckham Jr. is a great player and definitely
will be exciting next year.
Song choice
was awesome, some old school Lil Wayne to change things up. However, I don’t know how they possibly made
this song clean enough to play at Radio City Music Hall. Think of the children Odell.
13. St. Louis Rams- Aaron Donald DT,
Pitt
Walkout Song: None
Pick Rating: 5
Song Rating: N/A
Aaron
Donald is a beast and this was one of my favorite picks of the draft. Many expected the Rams to go for a safety
like Calvin Pryor or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix but they went with the best player
available and picked Aaron Donald. He
will team up with Robert Quinn and make that front seven even better next year.
14. Chicago Bears- Kyle Fuller CB,
Virginia Tech
Walkout Song: We Made It- Drake ft. Soulja Boy
Pick Rating: 4
Song Rating: 3
Another
team everyone mocked a safety to the Bears too because Chris Conte is
legitimately terrible at football. However,
they chose to help their secondary in a different way by selecting the Corner
from Virginia Tech. Fuller was one of my
favorite prospects and another guy I wanted to see on the Eagles. I definitely like the pick for Chicago
Song was ok
but I had to give it a three based on my “any song with Soulja Boy on it can’t
be rated higher than a 3 rule” that I made up two minutes ago.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers- Ryan Shazier
OLB, Ohio State
Walkout Song: Everythang- Young Jeezy
Pick Rating: 3
Song Rating: 4
I love
Shazier as a prospect but I’m not exactly the biggest fan of the pick. Shazier is probably the single most athletic
player in this draft class with a blazing unofficial 40 of 4.36 at his pro
day. That’s pure speed. Shazier will be good but I actually think
they should have drafted Darqueeze Dennard.
The Steelers are very short at corner and Ike Taylor is very old. They needed some young talent at the corner
position but passed on Dennard. I think
if they pick a corner in round 2 this rating will move from a 3 to a 4.
Shazier
decided to walk out to Jeezy’s rags to riches tale “Everythang.” I don’t know if Ryan ever had the rags but he
certainly now has the riches.
16. Dallas Cowboys- Zack Martin OG,
Notre Dame
Walkout Song: None
Pick Rating: 3
Song Rating: N/A
Oh Jerry
Jones, you picked a non offensive tackle lineman in the first round again! I wanted to rate this as a two but Zack Martin
is versatile and will definitely bolster that offensive line. Now they just need to throw together a
semblance of a defensive line and they will go 8-8 again this year!
17. Baltimore Ravens- CJ Mosley ILB,
Bama
Walkout Song:
My Favorite Song- Wiz Khalifa
Pick Rating: 4
Song Rating: 3
With the 17th
pick the Ravens chose Ray Lewis replacement for the future. Mosley is one of the best prospects in the
draft and getting him at 17 is great value.
He will be a good defensive anchor for years to come.
Not down
with Wiz Khalifa, especially Favorite Song.
If you are going to play Favorite Song make sure it is thisversion.
18. New York Jets- Calvin Pryor SS,
Louisville
Walkout Song: Dreams and Nightmares- Meek Mill
Pick Rating: 4
Song Rating: 5
This pick
is pretty solid because I think Pryor will be an absolute beast but the Jets
probably should have gone offense here.
We all know that the Jets have no problem on the defensive side of the
ball but they have a total lack of talent on O.
I feel like Brandin Cooks would have been a much better pick here.
If Pryor
got drafted by Philly and walked out to a Meek Mill song I would have given
this a 15 on a 5 point scale. However he
picked this awesome song and got drafted by New York so he will have to settle
for a 5.
19. Miami Dolphins- Jawuan James OT,
Tennessee
Walkout Song: None
Pick Rating: 3
Song Rating: N/A
This pick
is pretty standard. Dolphins desperately
need help along the offensive line and picked the best Tackle available. Solid pick but not really exciting or
special.
20. New Orleans Saints via Arizona
Cardinals- Brandin Cooks
Walkout Song: Everythang- Young Jeezy
Pick Rating: 5
Song Rating: 5
One of my
favorite picks in the draft right here.
Saints give up a third rounder to move up and take the speedster from
Oregon State. Cooks will give Brees an
amazing tool to work with because he can do almost anything. Deep passes, screens, reverses, you name
it. Brandin Cooks can do it all.
Song choice
is beyond perfect. This is Jeezy’s rags
to riches anthem and if you read the Grantland profile on Brandin Cooks from earlier this week you know this applies to him.
21. Green Bay Packers- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Walkout Song:
Never Would’ve Made It- Marvin Sapp
Pick Rating: -376
Song Rating: 4
Jokes. This is actually a very solid pick and one of
the best in the draft. I just
reeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyyy wanted him to go to the Eagles and the Packers punched
the birds in the balls with this pick. Dix makes big plays and can force turnovers in
the secondary and will also help in the run stopping game. Great pick from Green Bay.
A little
bit of soul from Ha Ha. He gets a 4 for
mixing things up, this song is really nice to listen to.
22. Cleveland Browns via Philadelphia
Eagles- Johnny Manziel QB, Texas A&M
Walkout Song: Draft Day- Drake
Pick Rating: 5
Song Rating: 5
For me,
this was the second best pick in the draft.
Browns got heat at the beginning for not taking him at 9 and then
grabbed him at 22. Teaming Johnny up
with Josh Gordon will be interesting at the worst and dynamic at the best. I think Cleveland may have found its sports
savior. Finally, a nationally televised
decision for Cleveland that actually went right!
“Draft Day,
Johnny Manziel. 5 years later how am I the
man still.” Opening lines from this
song. What more needs to be said? Perfect, just perfect.
23. Kansas City Chiefs- Dee Ford OLB/DE,
Auburn
Walkout Song: None
Pick Rating: 2
Song Rating: N/A
This pick
seemed like a reach and I also question drafting a defensive end when the
chiefs need receiver help. I think
Marquise Lee or Cody Lattimer would be the smarter move here.
24. Cincinnati Bengals- Darqueeze
Dennard CB, Michigan State
Walkout Song: None
Pick Rating: 5
Song Rating: -1(will explain)
This was
one of the best picks in the draft as Dennard fell all the way to 24 for the
Bengals to scoop him up. I don’t know how
he fell past the Steelers, Cardinals, and Eagles before the Bengals but it
happened. Bengals can pair him with Dre
Kirkpatrick for their CB tandem of the future.
Gave
Dennard a negative rating because his team was so closely tied to the song “SomeType of Way” by Rich Homie Quan this season, why didn’t he walk out to this
song?
25. San Diego Chargers- Jason Verrett
CB, TCU
Walkout Song: Icy- Gucci Mane
Pick Rating: 3
Song Rating: 3
Pick seems
like a bit of a reach and with recent rumors swirling that Jason Verrett would
fall into the second round due to medical issues. However, if the Chargers were dead set on
picking a CB this pick is much better than picking Roby would be in this
spot. Too bad they didn’t get Dennard.
This dude
walked out to Gucci Mane. I’m done.
26. Philadelphia Eagles via Cleveland
Browns- Marcus Smith OLB/DE, Louisville
Walkout Song: None
Pick Rating: 3
Song Rating: None
My whole
reaction to this pick summed up in one gif. I don’t think this is a bad pick by any
means, but it does come as a surprise.
Chip Kelly has long preached the draft strategy of taking the best
player available and Marcus Smith was not the best player available. However, he does fit the scheme and I think
he will be very successful in Philly.
The Eagles desperately need some pass rushing help and Smith will
provide that.
27. Arizona Cardinals via New Orleans
Saints- Deone Buchannon S, Wash St.
Walkout Song: None
Pick Rating: 2
Song Rating: N/A
This pick
was very much a reach. It is a passing
league and you need a safety that can cover well. Love Deone as a second round pick but not so
much as a first.
28. Carolina Panthers- Kelvin Benjamin
WR, Florida State
Walkout Song: None
Pick Rating: 1
Song Rating: N/A
Worst pick
in the entire draft so far in my opinion.
I get the need for a Wide Receiver because the Panthers don’t have any
but why Benjamin over Marqise Lee? This
pick makes absolutely zero sense, Benjamin is a second round talent at the very
best. They could have Lee or Lattimer
instead.
29. New England Patriots- Dominque
Easley DE, Florida
Walkout Song: None
Pick Rating: 3
Song Rating: N/A
This is a
very generous three rating because people have been slamming this pick. Easley has the potential to be great but he
has had tons of medical issues in the past that are holding him beck. Also, I trust Belichek at this point.
30. San Francisco 49ers- Jimmie Ward S,
Northern Illinois
Walkout Song: None
Pick Rating: 3
Song Rating: N/A
Pretty
average pick here for the 49ers. I like
Ward much more than I like Buchannon and Ward will just be another great tool
in an awesome defense. He will certainly
be an upgrade over Dashon Goldson.
31. Denver Broncos- Bradley Roby CB,
Ohio State
Walkout Song: Believe Me- Drake and Lil Wayne
Pick Rating: 3
Song Rating: 5
Bradley
Roby had a pretty off year this year compared to his sophomore campaign but he
is still one of the premier athletes at the corner position in this draft. The Broncos could use some help in the
secondary so I think this is a pretty solid pick.
Roby goes
with the brand new Believe Me by Drake and Lil Wayne. This song came out only 5 days ago, way to
keep it current Bradley!
32. Minnesota Vikings- Teddy Bridgewater
QB, Louisville
Walkout Song: The World’s Greatest- R. Kelly
Pick Rating: 5
Song Rating:
4
This was my
favorite pick in the draft. I think
Bridgewater will be the best QB to come out of this draft class and to get him
at 32 while the Jaguars took Bortles at 3 is a complete and total steal. Vikings fans should be overjoyed by this
outcome.
The song
was pretty good but he should have chosen “The Worlds 32nd Greatest”
or “The Worlds 3rd Greatest QB.”
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