Round 1 Recap

Draft grades are stupid. Draft grades after the 1^st Round are really stupid. However, there were some teams I thought did a good job, and teams I thought did not do as good.

Well Done

Tennessee Titans

Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama - CJ2K is still an elite RB, but has had troubles the past 2 years because he has too many defenders to dodge in the backfield. The Titans helped create room for their best player by drafting Warmack at #10. Not a flashy pick, but a solid pick.

Carolina Panthers

Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah – The Panthers sucked at stopping the run in 2012. Lotulelei was the best run stuffer in the 2013 draft and at one point was considered an option for the #1 overall pick. The Panthers got him at 14 and helped improve a glaring weakness.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia – It pains me to say it, but the Steelers are very solid on draft day. While they were playing football, Jones was considered the top NFL prospect. He has only fallen once football ceased being played. That doesn’t make sense to me. This was an excellent pick, excellent value, and fills the hole that was left by James Harrison’s departure.

Cincinnati Bengals

Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame – Speaking of teams that draft well, the Bengals have slowly become one of the top drafting teams. Eifert is a great pick at #21.

Not as Well Done

New York Jets

Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama and Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri – Both are good players and were not reaches where they took them. What I don’t understand is how does a team with two 1^st Round picks and the worst offensive roster in the league not pick an offensive player?

Saint Louis Rams

Tavon Austin, WR, WVU and Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia – Both are great athletes and have great potential. The draft gurus loved the picks. However, they both have high bust potential as well. A 5’7” 175 lb WR at #8 is a big gamble. He has big play potential, he may also get killed if he gets hit. Carving up a weak Big 12 at that size is much different than the NFL. Ogletree also has the talent, but has proven to be a problem off the field. If he can stay out of trouble, this may be a steal, however, he could also be Odell Thurman Jr.

Dallas Cowboys

Travis Frederick, C, Wiconsin – Sure he is the top rated Center, but this was not a strong draft for Centers and he was also projected to be there in the 2^nd or 3^rd Round. Seems like there were better players available…..but why try and make sense of a Jerry Jones decision?

WTF?

Buffalo Bills

EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State – I did predict that Manuel would go in the first round, however, I did not believe he should. Especially as the 1^st (and only) QB of the draft. Despite my general dislike for Todd McShay, he does have some knowledge, and he had Manuel as his 103^rd ranked player and a mid 3^rd Round pick. Buffalo should have been able to get him in Round 2, and even if they couldn’t, they could have got a better player at 16 and a better QB in the 2^nd Round. This has to be one of the largest jumps up a draft board in draft history. EJ Manuel needs to add Colin Kaepernick to his Christmas list. Kaepernick’s success in the read option moved Manuel from the 3^rd-4^th Round all the way to #16 overall.