NFC Draft Grades

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Arizona Cardinals: C+
Bucannon and 3rd round DE Kareem Martin can play right away. 2nd round TE Troy Niklas is a project lacking ideal athleticism and foot speed. He is big and strong but doesn't use it well enough as a blocker or receiver. He also struggles to get separation. Best Pick: S Deone Bucannon 1st Round. He might have gone a little earlier than some expected, but they traded down to get their man and he is the perfect fit to round out their secondary. He is a big time hitter and can close on the ball in a hurry. Keep an eye on: QB Logan Thomas, 4th round. Thomas is one of the most talented players in this draft at any position. He has tremendous size, athleticism, and a big arm. He needs a lot of work, but he'll get time to sit and learn behind a solid veteran in Carson Palmer.

Atlanta Falcons: B+
Matthews and Hageman were tremendous picks in the first two rounds, while 3rd round S Dezmon Southward bring some versatility and Freeman will provide excellent depth. The Falcons also needed depth at linebacker, and selected four linebackers on day three with a legitimate chance to stick. Best Pick: DT Ra'Shede Hageman, 2nd round. Jake Matthews in the first round was a great selection, but picking 6th overall, that's expected. Hageman is as gifted as any defensive linemen in this draft, but has some work to do. The potential he carries is much greater than the typical second rounder. Keep an eye on: RB Devonte Freeman, 4th round. He isn't the biggest or fastest back, but he runs hard, is quick, and can catch the football. He won't push Steven Jackson out the door, but he has the ability to step up as a starter if called upon.

Carolina Panthers: C+
Landing two players that can make a difference right away in the top two rounds is what you hope for, and that's what they got in WR Kelvin Benjamin and Ealy. 3rd round G Trai Turner and Benikwere could be called upon early. Best Pick: DE Kony Ealy, 2nd round. Ealy has a big frame but is still a fluid athlete that can get upfield and rush the passer. He was a borderline first rounder obtained near the end of the second, providing excellent value. Keep an eye on: DB Bene Benikwere, 5th round. He brings tremendous instincts and versatility to the secondary. He lacks great speed but can play corner or safety. Guys that can play multiple positions and make plays are in high demand these days, and Benikwere could earn early PT for the Panthers.

Chicago Bears: B
Fuller fills an immediate need, as do the next two picks, DT's Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton. Day three saw them add a potential early impact DB in Brock Vereen, and some immediate depth with QB David Fales and RB Carey. Best Pick: CB Kyle Fuller, 1st Round. There may be some debate about him being the second corner to come off the board, but he is a talented kid, heading to a team in dire need of help on the back end. Fuller has the size, cover skills, and willingness to help in run support and will play a lot right out of the gate for the Bears. Keep an eye on: RB Ka'Deem Carey, 4th Round. Running backs overall were devalued, especially ones that turn out a 4.7 40. Ignore that speed Ð Carey can run. He plays much bigger than his size, the first defender never brings him down, and has excellent quickness. Matt Forte isn't going to lose any carries this year, but they have added great depth and could potentially have a full time starter in the future.

Dallas Cowboys: C
After Martin and Lawrence, there isn't much for the Cowboys to count on for an impact this year, and even less in terms of long term projection. 3rd round LB Anthony Hitchens was a reach and doesn't project as anything more than a backup, and nobody selected on day three jump out as possible impact players down the road. Best Pick: OL Zack Martin, 1st Round. Martin's versatility pushed him up with the elite at the position, and him still being on the board at 16 was a find for the Cowboys. They are building a tremendous young offensive line, which will help keep Tony Romo on his feet. Keep an eye on: DE Demarcus Lawrence, 2nd round. Adding defensive line help was a huge need for the Cowboys over the weekend, and they got an edge rusher with some legitimate upside. He may be needed to make a bigger impact early than he is ready for, but he's a good fit and could become an impact defender for the Cowboys.

Detroit Lions: B+
The Lions had one of the best drafts in 2014. Ebron is a great fit in the first, and 2nd round LB Kyle Van Noy brings some intelligence and versatility. C Travis Swanson brings good value in the third, and the addition of two gifted athletes along the defensive line in DE Larry Webster and DT Reid could pay off down the road. The biggest question on the Lions draft was yet again waiting to address the glaring hole at the corner position, but they did a good job adding talent throughout the draft. Best Pick: TE Eric Ebron, 1st round. You are expected to land an impact player in the top ten, but Ebron could be a major weapon for the Lions. With all the attention placed on Calvin Johnson, Ebron's ability to move around and split out wide will create a lot of mismatches and give them two tremendous options in the red zone. Keep an eye on: DT Caraun Reid, 5th Round. Reid was a steal at that point of the draft. There may be a bit of an adjustment period adjusting to the jump from Princeton, but there is big time upside with this pick. Reid is a very good athlete with tremendous quickness and ability to disrupt the action. In a couple years, he could be starting next to Ndamukong Suh on the DL.

Green Bay Packers: A-
The Packers did a tremendous job of filling needs and getting great value. Clinton-Dix, Bradford and 3rd round DT Khyri Thornton add talent and depth to the defense right away. 2nd round WR Davante Adams gives the team another playmaker at WR, and 5th round WR Jared Abbrederis could turn out to be a solid slot receiver in time. Even 6th round CB Demetri Goodson has a lot of talent, but is very raw, after spending part of his career as a full time basketball player. Best Pick: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, 1st round. The Pack got the draft's best safety and tremendous value at #21. His ability on the back end is fills a big need for the team. This was one of the better picks in the entire first round. Keep an eye on: LB Carl Bradford, 4th Round. He's an undersized end making the transition to OLB for the Packers. He brings a big motor and pass rush ability off the edge, despite his lack of length.

Minnesota Vikings: A
LB Anthony Barr is the second best pass rusher in the draft. Landing him and Teddy Bridgewater early was as good as any teams first three selections. Crichton can play now, and 5th round OL David Yankey was a steal. Best Pick: QB Teddy Bridgewater, 1st Round. The Vikings traded back into the first round to select the draft's top QB. He's going to make many teams regret passing on him, and the Vikings will reap the benefits. Keep an eye on: DE Scott Crichton, 3rd round. Crichton has the skills to be a complete 4-3 end. He could've landed in the second and been a good pick, and the Vikes landed him in the third. He will push for a starting position as a rookie.

New Orleans Saints: B+
Cooks and Jean-Baptiste were great picks and should pay off immediately. A pair of fifth rounders Ð S Vinny Sunseri and LB Ronald Powell Ð could eventually be impact defenders. Powell was the #1 overall player in the country in 2010, and has all the physical tools necessary to be a force off the edge. Injuries and inconsistency plagued him at Florida, but he has the skills to develop in the NFL. Best Pick: WR Brandin Cooks, 1st round. The Saints traded up to get the explosive Cooks, and he should add an element to their passing attack that they have not had in awhile. His ability to move around and take it to the house is special and he should thrive in New Orleans. Keep an eye on: CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, 2nd round. While he was heavily discussed leading up to the draft, he could not have landed in a better spot than in a Rob Ryan defense. His size and natural ability is rare, and he could turn out to be a massive steal when all is said and done.

New York Giants: B
Beckham and 2nd round C Weston Richburg both will help the offense right away. 3rd round DT Jay Bromley will help against the run, and 4th round RB Andre Williams gives them a workhorse at RB. For a team that suffered through a lot of injuries at the position, that's an underrated trait. Best Pick: WR Odell Beckham, 1st round. The Giants have lost some of their star power in recent years, especially at WR. Beckham gives them a playmaker that is ready to play now and will help take some pressure off Victor Cruz. Keep an eye on: LB Devon Kennard, 5th round. Kennard's versatility stands out, as he has played MLB and DE in a 4-3, and OLB in a 3-4. He isn't an explosive athlete, but he has solid physical tools and is a smart and tough football player. He'll play on the strong side, but could kick down and play with his hand in the dirt on third downs.

Philadephia Eagles: C-
DE Marcus Smith in the first round was one of the draft's bigger reaches. He has some ability as a pass rusher, but was a third rounder taken in the first. They did add some help at the WR position which was a necessity, and they did so with kids that can play right away. Best Pick: WR Jordan Matthews, 2nd round. Riley Cooper thrived in Andy Reid's offense, and Matthews is better in every single way. He's ready to play now and will get a ton of balls thrown his way. Keep an eye on: WR Josh Huff, 3rd round. Huff played for Kelly at Oregon, which should aid his transition to the NFL. He may not have great breakaway speed, but he's a guy who could really thrive out of the slot and make a lot of plays as a chain mover.

San Francisco 49ers: A+
Loaded with a plethora of picks, the 49ers did not disappoint. They added a great deal of talent. Talent that can play now, and talent for the future. You could go down the list pick by pick and sing the praises, but that would take awhile. Simply put, the 9ers loaded up again and are looking like they will be contenders for a long time. Best Pick: RB Carlos Hyde, 2nd round. While many teams are downgrading the value of running backs, the 9ers took advantage of Hyde sliding. Frank Gore has been a workhorse but he's slowing down. Hyde can help keep him fresh or take over for him completely right now. Keep an eye on: WR Bruce Ellington, 4th round. While the team did add Stevie Johnson in a trade, they didn't address the need for a playmaker until they landed Ellington. He's doubled as a point guard on the South Carolina basketball team so he needs to add some polish, but he is an explosive weapon and exactly what the 9ers have been searching for.

Seattle Seahawks: C-
It's hard to knock Pete Carroll because many people have done it, only to see the Seahawks dominate on their way to becoming Super Bowl Champions. But he traded out of the first round and after selecting Richardson, reached for OT Justin Britt. Pete has done a great job of filling out the team with players other teams passed over, but it's hard to count on day three picks, which is what will have to happen to make this draft a success. Best Pick: WR Paul Richardson, Colorado. He is a big time playmaker and his speed will be a welcomed addition to the Seattle offense. His ability to get down the field vertically should help open up the entire offense. Keep an eye on: LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, 4th round. This is a great fit for the Seahawk defense. He can fly and really chase down the football. He can be washed out of the play with his lack of bulk and strength, but his ability to chase and run plays down is exactly what Carroll looks for in his linebackers.

St. Louis Rams: A-
Blessed with two first rounders should give you a leg up on the rest of the league in terms of having a great draft, but the Rams were able to maximize it. They got much better on both lines in the first, then addressed a glaring hole in the secondary with Lamarcus Joyner. Mason will help the running game, and fourth round CB EJ Gaines gives them some depth and potential at corner. Best Pick: OT Greg Robinson, 1st Round. Robinson was one of the draft's elite talents and could be one of the game's best linemen in no time. Keep an eye on: RB Tre Mason, 3rd Round. Mason isn't the biggest guy out there, but he is a workhorse that can run it between the tackle, but has the quickness to make people miss and turn the corner. He'll need to prove his receiving ability to maximize his rushing talent, however. Zac Stacy had a solid rookie year but Mason could become the teams leading rusher and help pick up the pace of the offense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B+
The Bucs were clearly focused on upgrading the offense in the draft. Every pick went to that side of the football. Evans and 2nd round TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins are immediate impact players, and team with Vincent Jackson to give the team three weapons standing 6'5 or taller. Charles Sims is a slasher at RB that is a tremendous receiver. He'll give them great depth, an issue that was tested last year with the injury to Doug Martin. Best Pick: WR Mike Evans, 1st round. The trade of Mike Williams left the team with a glaring hole at WR opposite Vincent Jackson. They added a clone of Jackson physically in Evans, which will really help the QB, whoever takes the job. Keep an eye on: WR Robert Herron, Wyoming. Herron has excellent speed and a think frame. The Bucs have some jumbo wideouts that will command a lot of attention, so Herron could really surprise with his speed and ability to make plays.

Washington Redskins: C
The lack of a first round pick definitely impacts this grade. They did a good job upgrading the offensive line with Moses and 3rd round OG Spencer Long, as well as getting deeper and tougher at OLB wth 2nd round pick Trent Murphy. 4th round CB Bashaud Breeland could have an impact if he's ready to work, and Seastrunk adds another element to the rushing attack. Best Pick: OT Morgan Moses, 3rd round. Moses was a borderline first round talent. He'll battle for the starting RT job, and gives them depth on the left side as well. Keep an eye on: RB Lache Seastrunk, 6th round. Seastrunk must improve his receiving skills, but his speed and big play ability are a great complement to Alfred Morris' power between the tackles.