The Armchair Quarterback’s Take Of The Week

The Armchair Quarterback’s Take Of The Week

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The Armchair Quarterback’s Guide To The NFL: Judging The Draft Classes

By Lyle Graversen

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number thirty-two overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Minnesota Vikings at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number thirty-two overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Minnesota Vikings at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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I’m Fine With What These Teams Did:

The teams in this tier did a solid job in the draft this year. I’m not knocking their drafts, I’m just not overly excited by them either. I really like some of their picks, but I think they could have done a little more in order to be higher up on this list.

17. New York Jets

The New York Jets had a whopping twelve picks in this draft. I REALLY like three of their picks. I think Calvin Pryor was a perfect fit for Rex Ryan’s defense. I think Jace Amaro is a good safety valve weapon for whomever is starting at quarterback. Finally, I really like Dakota Dozier as an offensive line prospect in the fourth round. So while there were some picks I really liked that still leaves nine picks that I thought were just ok. With that many picks in a draft this deep in talent, I think the Jets could have done more.

18. Chicago Bears

The Bears are one of the teams that I’ve seen others rank much better than I am here. While I really like the Fuller pick in the first round, I think they missed out in the second and third rounds a little bit. The Bears did need some defensive line help, but I think there were better players still on the board when Chicago took Ferguson and Sutton. I liked the value of both David Fales and Charles Leno late in the draft, but by that point I think the Bears had already missed out on getting some more impact players.

19. Detroit Lions

While I completely understand the logic of Detroit taking Eric Ebron in the first round, it wasn’t exactly their biggest need. I think the Lions would have been better served by taking one of the best defenders available in the first round and then taking a TE or WR early in the second round. I do like two of the defensive players they drafted (Kyle Van Noy and Caraun Reid) and Travis Swanson should compete at center right away. It was a solid draft for the Lions but I think they could have done even more.

20. Denver Broncos

As a confessed KC fan, I’m sure I’ll get killed for putting the Broncos this low when others have graded out their draft pretty favorably. However, I just don’t know if Denver did anything to really put them over the top after getting blown out in the Super Bowl last season. Denver was physically pushed around at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and yet their first two picks were at CB and WR. While I think both Roby and Latimer will develop into quality starters at their positions, I don’t think it will make a big difference when they run into more physical teams in the post season.

21. Dallas Cowboys

I feel like the Cowboys draft was a little hit and miss. I liked their first two picks in offensive lineman Zack Martin and edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence. I think those picks addressed two of Dallas’ biggest needs with quality players. However, that was about it for picks that I liked in this draft. I felt like the Cowboys needed to hit on a couple more difference makers in the mid rounds and think they missed the mark a little bit with the Hitchens and Street picks.

22. New York Giants

On one hand, I like what the Giants did to help Eli Manning in adding WR Odell Beckham Jr., OC Weston Richburg, and RB Andre Williams. Helping Manning rebound from a down 2013 is important. However, the Giants also needed to reload on defense after last season and I really don’t see the defense getting a lot of help from this draft class.

23. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals draft was another that I felt was mixed in its results. The picks I liked included Troy Niklas in the 2nd, Kareem Martin in the 3rd, and Ed Stinson in the 5th. I thought that Bucannon was a real reach in the first round and I don’t believe that Logan Thomas will ever be a starter at the NFL level. The Cardinals did ok in this draft, but I think they could have done more.

24. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers draft was a little bland in my opinion. I don’t hate any of their picks, but I’m not overly excited about any of them either. I think Verrett, Attaochu, and Watt may all be solid NFL starters, but I don’t know if any of them will ever become more than that. Ryan Carrethers has some interesting upside, but he’s a bit of a long shot. Again, they did a fine job, I just don’t see a lot of “wow factor” in their picks.

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