1 (17). Florida SS Keanu Neal
2 (52). LSU LB Deion Jones
3 (81). Stanford TE Austin Hooper
4 (115). Minnesota LB De'Vondre Campbell
6 (195). San Jose State OG Wes Schweitzer
7 (238). UCLA WR Devin Fuller
Good Move - The Falcons main objective entering the draft was to add speed, aggressiveness and versatility on defense. They achieved this with the picks of Neal, Jones and Campbell. Coach Quinn is being given players that fit his template for success. Whether the template is the winning formula or not remains to be seen, but the good move was in the Falcons focusing on this specific strategy and executing it during the draft.
Bargain Pick - Austin Hooper was generally regarded as the second best TE in the class with ability to help as an in-line blocker as well as a pass catching weapon. There are some favourable comparisons of Hooper with fellow Stanford TE Zach Ertz. He'll likely spend a year behind Jacob Tamme, but should still feature lots as a rookie in the two TE sets that Kyle Shanahan likes to employ frequently. He should be the starting TE in 2017.
Risk / Reward Gamble - Both Keanu Neal and Deion Jones were taken ahead of their projected draft spots. The consensus was that "better value" was available at the spots the Falcons picked, but credit is due to the Falcons sticking to positions of need and guys identified as scheme fits. History will prove whether the Front Office was brave or foolhardy when the policy pays off or not.
Tell Me Why Again - With only 19 sacks in 2015 the organisation seemingly failed to address the pass rush with this draft class. However, Vic Beasley should kick on from his rookie season and Atlanta did acquire Derrick Shelby from Miami in free agency. It might be churlish to pick apart the back end of draft classes, but Atlanta's final two picks felt like particular reaches, especially with seemingly better prospects still available at these positions.
1 (30). Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler
2 (62). Samford CB James Bradberry
3 (77). West Virginia CB Daryl Worley
5 (141). Oklahoma CB Zack Sanchez
7 (252). Montana State TE Beau Sandland
Good Move - Vernon Butler adds further depth to an already formidable Panthers D-line. As Kawann Short enters his contract year this displays exemplary forward planning by GM Dave Gettleman to ensure continuity in the Panthers approach on the field.
Bargain Pick - Beau Sandland is raw but not without ball skills. He's got a chance to stick in Carolina and is the long wingspan type of receiver that Cam Newton enjoys. He'll be a bit of a project but well worth the 7th round investment.
Risk / Reward Gamble - The analogy of throwing three darts and hoping one sticks springs to mind with the Panthers draft strategy of picking 3 corners. However, the secondary was the most pressing need and the pre-draft departure of Josh Norman just added to the priority. They will need a contribution somewhere from this class of corners early in their careers.
Tell Me Why Again - The Panthers surprisingly failed to address the offensive line in the draft, due in large part to only retaining 5 picks. I have to question them relinquishing the two draft picks (4th and 5th round) to move up 16 places to acquire Worley, which ultimately left them unable to address other needs.
1 (12). Louisville DT Sheldon Rankins
2 (47). Ohio State WR Michael Thomas
2 (61). Ohio State S Vonn Bell
4 (120). Manitoba DT David Onyemata
7 (237). California RB Daniel Lasco
Good Move - I'd expect all of the first three picks to be immediate starters. Rankins is NFL ready and fills an immediate need for New Orleans. Vonn Bell was arguably the best cover safety in the draft and upgrades the secondary.
Bargain Pick - Daniel Lasco was an intriguing pick. He has some injury history and doesn't have the most robust of frames for the position, but had an excellent combine and is explosive in the open field. It will be really interesting to see how Sean Payton plans to utilise him.
Risk / Reward Gamble - The Saints took a flyer on a small school DT whilst also expending a further draft pick to move up to acquire David Onyemata. He'll have to overcome a huge step up in class from Manitoba to the NFL but the Saints have a history of small school success stories so we'll give them the benefit for now.
Tell Me Why Again - The Saints twice spent picks aggressively moving up the draft to secure players. I've no issues with doing this aside from the fact that the Saints have lots of holes to fill and ended up with only 5 draft picks. They still have holes at Guard, Corner and DE which those picks could surely have helped address;
1 (11). Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves
2 (39). Eastern Kentucky DE Noah Spence
2 (59). Florida State K Roberto Aguayo
4 (108). North Carolina Central CB Ryan Smith
5 (148). UCLA T/G Caleb Benenoch
6 (183). Oklahoma LB Devante Bond
6 (197). Northwestern FB Dan Vitale
Good Move - The Bucs not only landed their number one target in the draft, they somehow managed to acquire a 4th round pick from Chicago in the process. Hargreaves should start early and immediately addressed the teams biggest need. This was a complete win-win on day one.
Bargain Pick - I really liked the pick of Caleb Benenoch. It's a likely developmental pick for 2016 but Benenoch is agile, athletic and aggressive. With a year of pro development he could definitely contribute.
Risk / Reward Gamble - Noah Spence was one of the top pass rush talents in the draft, but off-field concerns were always going to push his stock down as he remains a risk. Spence was kicked off the Ohio State programme for continued drug test fails but appears to have turned round his career after transfer to Eastern Kentucky.
Tell Me Why Again - Kickers are allegedly people too, but are they really 2nd round picks? What made this selection more astonishing was the Bucs spending a 4th round pick to move up 15 slots to select him. It was an otherwise strong draft which gets marked down a grade for this move.
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