NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams
By Conor Dorney
Grade: B
Best pick: Shaquem Griffin (LB, Central Florida)
Questionable pick: Rashaad Penny (RB, San Diego State)
Sleeper pick: Rasheem Green (DL, USC)
You don’t have to be a fan of football, or of sports for that matter, to be inspired by the story of Shaquem Griffin. And perhaps no story was better during this draft than watching the emotion of Griffin as he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round. Shaquem will now officially get to join and play alongside his brother, donning the same jersey, in the National Football League.
Not all Seahawks fans had such warm hearts at the beginning of the draft, however, starting with the surprise selection of San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny with the club’s first-round choice. While I absolutely love Penny as a prospect, the first-round price was extremely steep and it’s still unclear if Seattle has done enough up front to even stimulate a running game in the first place. The Seahawks are hoping to regain their footing in the ground game next season, but it’ll be tough sledding if Penny doesn’t have any lanes to run through.
Rasheem Green was one of the more intriguing defensive line prospects and figures to play a similar role to the recently-departed Michael Bennett in the Seattle defense. Many felt Green was best served going back to school for another year, but Seattle feels that they can mold Green’s outstanding athletic talent into a disruptive pass rushing force at the next level. I worry about Green’s ability in the run game and at the point of attack, but the Seahawks were able to get a player who may have gone in the first round next year at a third-round cost.