NFL Draft Grades: Giants, Packers get full marks
Denver Broncos: B
The Broncos can safely consider themselves the luckiest team in the draft after watching Bradley Chubb fall into their laps in the first round. Unfortunately, Denver failed to capitalize on that early momentum.
Courtland Sutton has all of the measurables you want from a wide receiver, but his film never looks that good. He’s a lot more prospect than player at this point. The team’s fourth-round wide receiver, DaeSean Hamilton, may actually be the superior prospect.
The Broncos get marked down for reaching to pick Royce Freeman in Round 3. There were better running backs still available at that spot.
Kansas City Chiefs: D
The Chiefs gave this year’s first-round pick to acquire Patrick Mahomes in last year’s draft. Even if you take that into consideration, their haul in this year’s draft was pretty sub par.
Kansas City clearly felt they had to improve their defensive line in this draft. That caused them to reach to take both Breeland Speaks and Derrick Nnadi. Both players fit their system, but weren’t anywhere near the most talented prospects available when they were selected. The Chiefs committed the cardinal sin of prioritizing need over talent. Their grade accurately reflects that mistake.
Los Angeles Chargers: B+
Similar to the Broncos, the Chargers really benefited in round one from other teams’ mistakes. Getting Derwin James all the way down at No. 17 was a great stroke of luck.
After that, Los Angeles was able to make a series of solid, but unspectacular selections. Uchenna Nwosu can really rush the passer and should play right away on passing downs. Justin Jones and Scott Quesenberry could both develop as starters at their respective positions. The Chargers only hit one home run this year, but they followed it up with a series of singles. It was a good haul for Los Angeles.
Oakland Raiders: F
The Raiders conducted this draft like a team who’d been out of the NFL for around a decade. Of course, that’s exactly what the Raiders have in coach Jon Gruden.
The team took some big swings in this draft and they better hope a few pay off. Kolton Miller at 15th-overall was a huge reach. P.J. Hall in the second round was almost as surprising. The Raiders’ best chance of success in this year’s group is with third round defensive end Arden Key. If he can’t overcome his off-the-field issues it could go down as an empty haul for the Raiders.