Terez Paylor draft grades

[the Talking Can]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...e20112057.html

Baltimore Ravens: A-

▪ 1 (26) Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida.

▪ 2 (55) Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota.

▪ 3 (90) Carl Davis, DT, Iowa.

▪ 4 (122) Za’Darius Smith, LB, Kentucky.

▪ 4 (125) Javorius Allen, RB, Southern California.

▪ 4 (136) Tray Walker, DB, Texas Southern.

▪ 5 (171) Nick Boyle, TE, Delaware.

▪ 5 (176) Robert Myers, G, Tennessee State.

▪ 6 (204) Darren Waller, WR, Georgia Tech.

The Ravens found their replacement for Torrey Smith, who left for San Francisco in free agency, in Perriman, a big, speedy big-play threat with NFL bloodlines (his father, Brett, was a receiver in the league from 1988 to 1997) and inconsistent hands. Williams is an excellent value pick in the second round — he boasts excellent hands and possesses a natural feel for the position. His father, Brian, also played in the league as a center for several years. Davis is gifted but his motor runs hot and cold. Smith offers depth, while Allen and Walker offer starter potential down the road. Boyle is a tough guy who profiles as a capable inline blocker. Waller is an intriguing developmental target with size and athleticism.

Buffalo Bills: D+

▪ 2 (50) Ronald Darby, DB, Florida State.

▪ 3 (81) John Miller, G, Louisville.

▪ 5 (155) Karlos Williams, RB, Florida State.

▪ 6 (188) Tony Steward, LB, Clemson.

▪ 6 (194) Nick O’Leary, TE, Florida State.

▪ 7 (234) Dezmin Lewis, WR, Central Arkansas.

The Bills — who only had six picks — were without a first-round pick because of the Sammy Watkins trade — Florida State center Cam Erving went to Cleveland with their pick. Had they just stayed at their pick last year, they could have had Odell Beckham Jr. Darby is a talented player with plus athleticism for the position, but he’s raw with his technique and will need to be coached up. Miller is an experienced-but-undersized lineman who should add some-much-needed depth to the position, but it will be interesting to see if he will develop into a starter. Williams has great physical skills but is still developing his instincts for the position.

Kansas City Chiefs: C+

▪ 1 (18) Marcus Peters, DB, Washington.

▪ 2 (49) Mitch Morse, OT, Missouri.

▪ 3 (76) Chris Conley, WR, Georgia.

▪ 3 (98) Steven Nelson, DB, Oregon State.

▪ 4 (118) Ramik Wilson, LB, Georgia.

▪ 5 (172) D.J. Alexander, LB, Oregon State.

▪ 5 (173) James O’Shaughnessy, TE, Illinois State.

▪ 6 (217) Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DT, Southern Miss.

▪ 7 (233) Da’Ron Brown, WR, Northern Illinois.

The Chiefs went hard after needs in this draft with their wealth of picks, attacking corner, receiver, inside linebacker and center with their first five picks. Peters is a gifted player whose off-field concerns likely pushed him down some team’s draft boards, but if he can keep his emotions in check, he could prove worthy of the pick. Morse was a bit of a surprise in the second round, but the Chiefs bet other teams thought higher of him than draftniks who pegged him as a third- or fourth-round guy. He’s a smart, tough lineman with good feet and versatility, and he’ll immediately compete for the starting center position. Conley is a bit raw as a receiver but he’s smart, super-athletic and has flashed the ability to make the tough catch. He and Nelson, a short-but-competitive corner with athleticism, represent good value in the third round. The Chiefs view Wilson as a “run-and-hit” inside linebacker with plus athleticism and a high ceiling, and Alexander — who boasts 4.5 speed — is cut from the same mold. O’Shaughnessy and Nunez-Roches are interesting developmental prospects at positions of need.

Denver Broncos: B-

▪ 1 (23) Shane Ray, DE, Missouri.

▪ 2 (59) Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State.

▪ 3 (92) Jeff Heuerman, TE, Ohio State.

▪ 4 (133) Max Garcia, C, Florida.

▪ 5 (164) Lorenzo Doss, DB, Tulane.

▪ 6 (203) Darius Kilgo, DT, Maryland.

▪ 7 (250) Trevor Siemian, QB, Northwestern.

▪ 7 (251) Taurean Nixon, DB, Tulane.

▪ 7 (252) Josh Furman, DB, Oklahoma State.

The Broncos got excellent value in the first round with Ray, a top-10 talent who fell after he was issued a citation for the possession of marijuana a few days before the draft. In the short term, he gives Denver an awesome trio of pass-rushing edge rushers, along with Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. Sambrailo is a tough, physical lineman who needs to get stronger but plays with an edge and offers long-term starting potential. Heuerman didn’t have terrific production as a pass catcher in 2014 but he played hurt and he has good ball skills and could develop into a nice receiving options. Garcia is a mauler who could develop into a starter. Kilgo is an interesting developmental nose.

Oakland Raiders: B

▪ 1 (4) Amari Cooper, wr, Alabama.

▪ 2 (35) Mario Edwards, DE, Florida State.

▪ 3 (68) Clive Walford, TE, Miami.

▪ 4 (128) Jon Feliciano, G, Miami.

▪ 5 (140) Ben Heeney, LB, Kansas.

▪ 5 (161) Neiron Bell, LB, Florida.

▪ 6 (179) Max Valles, LB, Virginia.

▪ 7 (218) Anthony Morris, OT, Tennessee State.

▪ 7 (221) Andre Debose, WR, Florida.

▪ 7 (242) Dexter McDonald, DB, Kansas.

Cooper, a polished route runner and big-play threat, will eventually give Derek Carr the No. 1 receiver he needs. Edwards is a gifted player with NFL bloodlines whose motor ran hot-and-cold in 2014. Walford is a talented pass catcher who shows great comfort working the middle of the field, while his Miami teammate, Feliciano, is a tough-guy brawler who could stick in the league for a long time. Heeney is undersized but flies to the ball and will immediately help on special teams.

San Diego Chargers: C+

▪ 1 (15) Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin.

▪ 2 (48) Denzel Perryman, LB, Miami.

▪ 3 (83) Craig Mager, DB, Texas State.

▪ 5 (153) Kyle Emanuel, DE, North Dakota State.

▪ 6 (192) Darius Philon, DT, Arkansas.

Gordon is a nice fit; he’ll immediately give Philip Rivers and the Chargers some much-needed balance on offense. Perryman is a hammer at inside linebacker who might have some coverage limitations but plays with an attitude. Mager offers some upside at corner or safety. Emanuel is a try-hard guy with some developmental value.

[ChiefGator]

Strange.. Not sure how that equates to a C+ draft after all his comments.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by ChiefGator

Strange.. Not sure how that equates to a C+ draft after all his comments.

My first thought as well.

[Anyong Bluth]

I like Terez as a "reporter", but I value his scouting acumen and draft grades to the same degree as if I took the mother of all shits and refused to flush so I could show company when they visit.

[Reerun_KC]

Started out as an A+, dropped to a C-/D+ area. Then finished at a B-/C+ area.

Reached early and left too many playmakers on the board in the second. Them seems to struggle with the later rounds.

[mcaj22]

gets an A for finally getting a guy in the first round that wont take 3 years to make an impact.

[Mother****erJones]

Draft grades are meaningless right now but I get why they do them. I like our draft. Wasn't flashy but flashy doesn't equate to panning out.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Mother****erJones

Draft grades are meaningless right now but I get why they do them. I like our draft. Wasn't flashy but flashy doesn't equate to panning out.

True, I ultimately take stock in judgment of the draft based on my own opinion from watching the players' tape, combine, breakdowns, etc. But, admittedly I will peruse what others have graded the Chiefs' picks, and by comparison to the rest of our division rivals.

That said, if the grade is good or at least seems objectively "fair" based on my subjective opinion, then it's just more positive feedback to reinforce some sense of optimism for next season. You're screwed if you can't find anything positive if your team already sucks AND you think they just put you through 3 more days of terrible draft selections.

On the flipside, if the grade is bad, you can easily say to yourself, "This clown's not some expert draft guru, who cares about his shitty opinion.

win-win

[RunKC]

Don't see how Chiefs fans wouldn't give this draft a B at worst. Our first 5 picks will play a lot.

Hell 3 of them will start IMO.

[Dave Lane]

The 2nd round pick of a center that many had ranked as a 5th round pick is a head scratcher. I think it pulled the grade down from a B to B+. But who knows, he may be a HOFer. Just seemed way to early. Time will tell but on the surface its was something you'd expect the Browns to do.

[Easy 6]

Pretty close to what I went with last night, B-.