2017 NFL Draft: Instant grades
Second round
33. Green Bay Packers (via Browns): Kevin King, CB, Washington
Excellent value for the Packers, who traded back to net an additional fourth-round pick. King will help a porous secondary, giving Green Bay a nice base alongside Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. King is long and quick, and should be able to provide a physical corner for Dom Capers’ defense.
Grade: A-
34. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Seahawks): Cam Robinson, OL, Alabama
The Jaguars took Leonard Fournette in the first round, and now add some beef up front. Branden Albert was acquired this offseason, but he’s not long for the league. Robinson gives Jacksonville a true left tackle prospect who can start this season on the right side. The former Crimson Tide star is raw, but the talent is there.
Grade: B
35. Seattle Seahawks (via Jaguars): Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State
The Seahawks rolled the dice with their first pick of the draft, selecting McDowell. When he was engaged, McDowell was one of the best defensive linemen in the country at East Lansing. However, his motor runs hot and cold. If Pete Carroll can get that fixed, the Seahawks have a steal. Still, the risk is very real.
Grade: B-
36. Arizona Cardinals (via Bears): Budda Baker, S, Wsahington
Baker is small for a safety, but he plays like a much larger man. The Washington product also has the ability to run sideline-to-sideline, making him a real asset in Arizona’s defense. Baker should come in and replace Tony Jefferson, who left in free agency. The only knock here is the trade cost.
Grade: B
37. Buffalo Bills (via Rams): Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
Jones was thought be some to be a first-round pick, but this is the right spot for the big-bodied receiver. The Bills desperately needed to add a receiver behind Sammy Watkins, and the explosive Jones fits the mold. Buffalo should be happy with this choice.
Grade: B+
38. Los Angeles Chargers: Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
The Chargers should be thrilled that Lamp was available this late in the game. He’s going to convert into a guard after playing tackle in college. Lamp is likely the best guard in the draft, and will start immediately on a line that really needs the help. Great selection.
Grade: A+
39. New York Jets: Marcus Maye, S, Florida
This is confusing. New York selected Jamal Adams in the first round and got kudos from me, considering his high floor and clear talent. However, the Jets have so many needs across the board and walked away with a player who might have been both not needed and overdrafted.
Grade: D+
40. Carolina Panthers: Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State
Samuel gives Cam Newton another toy to play with.While Carolina has to be thinking about upgrading the secondary at some point, general manager David Gettleman has fixed the problems that plagued the offense. Samuel might take a bit to find his footing, but he’s a great athlete.
Grade: B-
41. Minnesota Vikings (via Bengals): Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
Cook has incredible talent. If he can keep his nose clean away from the field, he should be one of the steals in this draft. The former Florida State product is one of the most dynamic players in this class, and now he replaces Adrian Peterson.
Grade: B+
42. New Orleans Saints: Marcus Williams, S, Utah
The Saints need to fix their defense if they are going to make a real run in the NFC South, and that’s exactly what general manager Mickey Loomis is doing. After nabbing Marshon Lattimore in the first round, Williams comes in to fix the back end.
Grade: B
43. Philadelphia Eagles: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
The Eagles loved Jones so much, they used their second-round pick on a player not expected to see the field until late October, at the earliest. Before tearing his Achilles at his pro day, Jones was projected to be a surefire first round selection. Count me in for a player who should pay off in the long term.
Grade: B+
44: Los Angeles Rams (via Bills): Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama
Everett can play, but this pick is a bit rich for his talent. The Rams desperately needed to fill a need at the position, but they could have stayed in their original slot and taken Zay Jones. Instead, Everett is the consolation prize. It’s a questionable move for a team that needs more.
Grade: C
45. Chicago Bears (via Cardinals): Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland
Again, this feels forced. The Bears really need to upgrade the secondary and have all kinds of needs in the pass-rushing department opposite Leonard Floyd. Instead, Chicago adds a raw talent in Shaheen, who will need a year or two to truly develop. Ryan Pace is having a tough go of it.
Grade: C-
46. Indianapolis Colts: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
This is a great job by first-time general manager Chris Ballard. After getting Malik Hooker in the first round, Ballard doubled down on the secondary and gave Vontae Davis a running mate. Wilson was projected in the late first round, and should be a starter come September.
Grade: A-
47: Baltimore Ravens: Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston
Bowser might take some time to grow into his role, but this is a player who should be a pass-rusher from the jump. With the Ravens releasing Elvis Dumervil in the offseason, the time had come to find his replacement. Bowser is a solid pick by Ozzie Newsome.
Grade: B
48. Cincinnati Bengals (via Vikings): Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
The Bengals have never shied away from players with off-field problems, and that isn’t changing now. Mixon is very talented but the concerns are clear. Cincinnati is an obvious fit for him, considering the team needs a back to go with Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard.
Grade: B-
49. Washington Redskins: Ryan Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
The Redskins needed to find a compliment in the pass-rush for Ryan Kerrigan, and the front office (not the general manager, because there isn’t one) believes Anderson could be that guy. The Redskins also added Crimson Tide star Jonathan Allen in the first round, so defense was a priority.
Grade: B-
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Justin Evans, S, Texas A&M
Evans is going to work his way into a Tampa Bay secondary that is unsettled at safety. The Buccaneers have an elite offense, and now have to piece together a quality defense to make a playoff push. Evans can bring the hammer in the run game but has enough speed to play a little center field.
Grade: B
51. Denver Broncos: DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida State
Denver is trying to keep that defense strong, and Walker should do that. The former Seminoles star will play opposite Derek Wolfe for new head coach Vance Joseph. Walker should be able to make waves from Week 1, getting ample snaps.
Grade: B+
52. Cleveland Browns: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
The Browns didn’t add a quarterback in the first round, but waited until deep into the second round before landing the Notre Dame product. Kizer should be able to sit behind Cody Kessler and Brock Osweiler for a year and learn. The tools are there, but he’s raw.
Grade: A-
53. Detroit Lions: Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
The Lions needed a corner opposite Darius Slay, and Tabor was their man. Tabor was projected to be a first-round pick early in the process, but struggled through the testing and pro day. His tape is better than his measurables. Let’s find out which wins out.
Grade: B-
54. Miami Dolphins: Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State
The Dolphins are trying to remake this defense. In the first round, Miami added Charles Harris on the line to rush the passer. Now, McMillan comes in to play next to Kiko Alonso. The Dolphins are doing a nice job of building off their playoff run.
Grade: A
55. New York Giants: Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama
New York needed a body to replace Johnathan Hankins, and did exactly that with a big-bodied nose tackle out of Alabama. Tomlinson is raw and might need to play limited snaps in the beginning, but he should be a run-stuffer alongside Damon Harrison.
Grade: B+
56: Oakland Raiders: Obi Melifonwu, DB, UConn
Melifonwu is massive for a defensive back, whether he plays safety or cornerback, weighing in at 224 pounds. He was dominant at the scouting combine, and his tape shows a player who can do multiple things. He’s a steal at this point in the draft for general manager Reggie McKenzie.
Grade: A
57. Houston Texans: Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt
The Texans are looking for the replacement of Brian Cushing, and could have him in Cunningham. The tackling is bad and the playmaking doesn’t always show up on film in pass defense, but the tools are there for defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel to work with.
Grade: B-
58. Seattle Seahawks: Ethan Pocic, OL, LSU
Pocic is goingto play on the inside at the NFL level, and he fits an immediate and long-term need for the Seahawks. After trading back time and time again, general manager John Schneuder has gone in the trenches with both picks. The Seahawks should feel good.
Grade: B
59. Kansas City Chiefs: Tanoh Kpassagnon, DL, Villanova
The Chiefs released Jaye Howard last week and now replace him with a younger version. Kpassagnon is very raw, but he has the skills of a pass-rusher with a hand in the dirt. Kansas City continues to build a very athletic, fast defense under coordinator Bob Sutton.
Grade: B
60. Dallas Cowboys: Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
After losing Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, J.J. Wilcox and Barry Church in one offseason, Dallas had to do something in the back end. Awuzie gives the Cowboys someone who can step in and play in the physical NFC East. Watching him against the Giants’ receivers should be awesome.
Grade: A-
61. Green Bay Packers: Josh Jones, S, North Carolina State
The Packers need to keep adding talent to the secondary, and they’ve done so with each pick of the draft so far. Green Bay know that it was blown out of the NFC Championship Game because it couldn’t cover at all. The Packers are rectifying that problem.
Grade: B+
62. Pittsburgh Steelers: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC
The Steelers don’t have a pressing need on the surface at wide receiver, but perhaps the front office doesn’t trust Martavis Bryant to stay on the straight and narrow. Smith-Schuster was dominant for the Trojans, and should be able to develop in the league’s best offense.
Grade: C+
63. Buffalo Bills (via Falcons): Dion Dawkins, OG, Temple
Dawkins is going to provide competition along the Buffalo line. The Bills have to get better offensively, and have added a pair of players on that side of the ball. Now the question is whether the Bills can improve enough to finally end a playoff drought dating back to 1999.
Grade: B-
64. Carolina Panthers (via Patriots): Taylor Moton, OL, Western Michigan
The Panthers have gone offensive with all three picks, helping out Cam Newton in a major way. The defense does remain a concern, though. The front seven is stacked, but the secondary has all kinds of problems. This is feeling like a missed opportunity.
Grade: C