Draft Nuggets 2014: Entry #16
By Jeff Bowers of www.thedraftnarrative.com
Twitter: @sportsnarrative
Final Draft Grades Part I:
The exercise of evaluating a draft even before one of these players sees the field is, of course, ridiculous. However, what can be evaluated is ability to fill needs, maneuver up of down the draft board via trades and find value by successfully scouting and rating the talent available. Here are my grades for each team in the 2014 NFL Draft, noting the key player for each team’s selections.
[Quick Note: A sincere thank you to The Ticket, Jeff Catlin, Norm Hitzges, all my pals in NYC, every member of this year’s draft team and, most importantly, to the P1’s for allowing me to be a part of The Ticket’s NFL Draft coverage. I am so proud of the work we have done and hope that we can continue to entertain and inform the way no one else in America does. Thanks for all the wonderful feedback and hope to be back here again next year – Jeff Bowers]
Arizona Cardinals: B
|
Rd |
Pk |
Pos |
Player |
College |
|
(1) |
27 |
S |
Deone Bucannon |
Washington State |
|
(2) |
52 |
TE |
Troy Niklas |
Notre Dame |
|
(3) |
84 |
DE |
Kareem Martin |
UNC |
|
(3) |
91 |
WR |
John Brown |
Pittsburg State |
|
(4) |
120 |
QB |
Logan Thomas |
Virginia Tech |
|
(5) |
160 |
DE |
Ed Stinson |
Alabama |
|
(6) |
196 |
WR |
Walt Powell |
Murray State |
Key Player: Bucannon
The Cards traded back in round 1 and landed the hard hitting safety from Washington State, though some had him projected in round 2. For this draft to excel, the Cards will need Bucannon to earn the starting SS spot in camp.
Atlanta Falcons: B-
|
Rd |
Pk |
Pos |
Player |
College |
|
(1) |
6 |
T |
Jake Matthews |
Texas A&M |
|
(2) |
37 |
DT |
Ra'Shede Hageman |
Minnesota |
|
(3) |
68 |
DB |
Dez Southward |
Wisconsin |
|
(4) |
103 |
RB |
Devonta Freeman |
Florida State |
|
(4) |
139 |
OLB |
Prince Shembo |
Notre Dame |
|
(5) |
147 |
DB |
Ricardo Allen |
Purdue |
|
(5) |
168 |
LB |
Marquis Spruill |
Syracuse |
|
(7) |
253 |
OLB |
Yawin Smallwood |
UConn |
|
(7) |
255 |
LB |
Tyler Starr |
South Dakota |
Key Player: Hageman and Southward
The Falcons came into this draft looking for an OT, a pass rusher and help in the secondary. Matthews solidifies their line, but Hageman must emerge as a true disruptor inside and Southward, seen as a pretty big reach by many, needs to win at least a rotational job.
Baltimore Ravens: B+
|
Rd |
Pk |
Pos |
Player |
College |
|
(1) |
17 |
ILB |
C.J. Mosley |
Alabama |
|
(2) |
48 |
DT |
Timmy Jernigan |
Florida State |
|
(3) |
79 |
S |
Terrence Brooks |
Florida State |
|
(3) |
99 |
TE |
Crockett Gillmore |
Colorado State |
|
(4) |
134 |
DE |
Brent Urban |
Virginia |
|
(4) |
138 |
RB |
Lorenzo Taliaferro |
Coastal Carolina |
|
(5) |
175 |
C |
John Urschel |
Penn State |
|
(6) |
194 |
QB |
Keith Wenning |
Ball State |
|
(7) |
218 |
WR |
Mike Campanaro |
Wake Forest |
Key Player: Jernigan
The Ravens did what they always do: trust their scouts, sit back and take the best talent on their board. Jernigan slid into their laps in round 2 and will need to emerge as the playmaker he was at FSU.
Buffalo Bills: B
|
Rd |
Pk |
Pos |
Player |
College |
|
(1) |
4 |
WR |
Sammy Watkins |
Clemson |
|
(2) |
44 |
T |
Cyrus Kouandjio |
Alabama |
|
(3) |
73 |
LB |
Preston Brown |
Louisville |
|
(4) |
109 |
CB |
Ross Cockrell |
Duke |
|
|