Pittsburg always has good drafts and theirs looks good again, plus they are a good team anyway.

Ravens have a good team and I think it was Ozzie Newsome's last draft. They look like they had a good draft.

Bengals won 7 games after awful 0-2 start. Bengals needed blockers and tacklers and that's what they got in free agency and draft. Bengals had a good draft.

Browns have won 1 game in 2 years. With all their top picks, I think they blew it. They could have walked away with a Jim Brown or Leroy Kelly in Saquan Barkley and also Bradley Chubb at DE, but they got neither. Oh, they took QB as they do every year ever since expansion new Browns took Tim Couch. It's not a bad draft but when you have these picks at top, you take the top. Browns who need help everywhere kind of blew it. They didn't really get the top players in the draft. The CB is top notch, but it's not a good draft. Again, 1 win in last 2 years. 0-16 last year. Are the Browns back on top in the AFC North ? No Way, not with this typical Browns draft. Again they passed up great players to reach for yet another questionable QB. Barkley and Chubb they will regret passing on and Notre Dame monster blocker Quenton Nelson. Browns draft another QB, what else is new. Same old Browns.

So Steelers and Ravens didn't need much but had good drafts. Bengal did need help, but went out and got it. Those 3 teams did good. Bengals won 7, Browns didn't win a game. Browns needed plenty, but I say they blew the draft picks. They even blew AJ McCarron trade by celebrating and forgetting to turn trade in before deadline. I see why they have won only 1 game in 2 years and pretty much last place since real Browns moved to Baltimore.

I'll give Steelers, Ravens, Bengals a B grade. You learn in business not to hand our A's. I'll be nice and give Browns a C, but for the picks they had this 0-16 team needed an A. They had the picks to get an A. I give them a C, which might get them 4 wins. 4 wins in one season is great considering they are now on pace to take 8 seasons to win 4 games, one win every 2 years.

So Steelers and Ravens remain at top, but Bengals set to climb up from 7 wins into a winning season to challenge. 0-16 Browns and 1-31 under Hue and losing too many key players like LT- Joe Thomas. The only good news is you can't be worse than 0-16. Are they contenders ? Heck No, with heck being the nicer word to use. So Steelers, Ravens with Bengals knocking on the door and Browns the door mat at the door you wipe your feet on.

The Browns need to build a team before they can have a young qb develop anyways. As I said in another thread, they should have taken Barkley #1 and Chubbs or Ward #4. OT at 33 was fine, but then they wouldn't have had to take a RB at 35. Tyrod Taylor is good enough to take snaps in the mean time.

How the Steelers landed a power back short yardage touchdown machine who doubles as a tight end who ran a 4.54 40 yard dash at the end of the 5th round is beyond me. 

(04-29-2018, 02:56 PM)6andcounting Wrote: The Browns need to build a team before they can have a young qb develop anyways. As I said in another thread, they should have taken Barkley #1 and Chubbs or Ward #4. OT at 33 was fine, but then they wouldn't have had to take a RB at 35. Tyrod Taylor is good enough to take snaps in the mean time.

How the Steelers landed a power back short yardage touchdown machine who doubles as a tight end who ran a 4.54 40 yard dash at the end of the 5th round is beyond me. 

NFL Draft 2018: AFC North grades

https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2018/4/28/17287898/nfl-draft-2018-afc-north-grades-lamar-jackson-terell-edmunds-baker-mayfield-denzel-ward-hayden-hurst


Baltimore Ravens

First-round, 25th overall - TE Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
First-round, 32nd overall - QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Third-round, 83rd overall - OT Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
Third-round, 86th overall - TE Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
Fourth-round, 118th overall - CB Anthony Averett, Alabama
Fourth-round, 122nd overall - LB Kenny Young, UCLA
Fourth-round, 132nd overall - WR Jaleel Scott, New Mexico State
Fifth-round, 162nd overall - WR Jordan Lasley, UCLA
Sixth-round, 190th overall - S DeShon Elliott, Texas
Sixth-round, 212th overall - OT Greg Senat, Wagner
Sixth-round, 215th overall - C Bradley Bozeman, Alabama
Seventh-round, 238th overall - DE Zach Sieler, Ferris St


Analysis:


The Ravens made a whopping six trades in the 2018 NFL Draft. They turned eight picks in this draft into 12, but they did as a result lose a 2019 second-round selection. Baltimore had five glaring roster holes heading into the draft, wide receiver, right tackle, tight end, center and inside linebacker. Other roster needs included safety and running back.


The biggest storyline from this draft for the Ravens is Lamar Jackson. There is no way around it and it would be hard to argue against it. Jackson is likely the future franchise quarterback in Baltimore. The question is when will he take the field as the starting quarterback? Will it be in 2018, or will they wait until 2019?

Baltimore addressed their need at tight end early and often. They traded back in order to select, arguably, the top tight end in the class within Hurst’s draft range. Baltimore then double dipped at tight end by selecting another top tight end in this class, Andrews. The theme of pass-catchers carried into day three as the Ravens selected two wide receivers back-to-back. They bolstered their offensive line by essentially stealing Brown Jr., and securing Bozeman. Baltimore also selected Senat, who is deemed a project.
Hurst is an athletic freak, and he has the best hands in this class. He is a huge upgrade for Baltimore, while Andrews also brings another component. Although he is not as athletic as Hurst, Andrews has reliable hands, and is a red zone threat.
Selecting Jordan Lasley over Deon Cain, Equanimeous St. Brown and Braxton Berrios could come back to haunt Baltimore. Lasley is a talented receiver, who struggles with drops. According to PFF, he had 11 drops on 92 targets in 2017.
The Ravens passed over some top-tier talent, while trading back. Most notably, they opted to trade back instead of selecting Tremaine Edmunds or Derwin James in the first-round. In the third-round, Baltimore traded back twice instead of selecting Michael Gallup. In the fifth-round, the Ravens traded back, instead of selecting Dane Cruikshank. He would have been an upgrade to their secondary, and he, arguably, fits their system better than Elliott.
They made several questionable picks, but they clearly improved their roster. There is no disputing that. The Ravens could have went with a running back, but they must feel confident with their current group.

Grade: B



Cleveland Browns

First-round, first overall - QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
First-round, fourth overall - CB Denzel Ward, Ohio State
Second-round, 33rd overall - OT Austin Corbett, Nevada
Second-round, 35th overall - RB Nick Chubb, Georgia
Second-round, 64th overall - DE Chad Thomas, Miami
Fourth-round, 105th overall - WR Antonio Callaway, Florida
Fifth-round, 150th overall - LB Genard Avery, Memphis
Sixth-round, 175th overall - WR Damion Ratley, Texas A&M
Sixth-round, 188th overall - CB Simeon Thomas, Louisiana


The Cleveland Browns seemingly had the perfect opportunity to really turn around their years and years of losing, and it appears they did just that. Cleveland took the number one quarterback on my big board. Mayfield has the attitude that the Browns desperately need, but how will his skillset translate to the NFL. He is an undersized quarterback, and he doesn’t have the biggest arm in this class either. Although he can make all the NFL throws and is fairly accurate. Mayfield’s football IQ is very high and is a proven winner. When he takes over in Cleveland, it should bode well for them.
Although I disagree with the selection of Ward over Chubb, it still bolsters their secondary. Ward is super athletic cornerback, who will make an immediate contribution. He can play in the slot or on the outside. Ward is a playmaker, but he is undersized, which may be concerning.
As I stated in my day two grades, the selection of Corbett was questionable with Will Hernandez on the board. Although Corbett’s versatility may have been more enticing to Cleveland than Hernandez, who is strictly a guard. Corbett is an underrated prospect, who could have pro-bowl potential.
Nick Chubb has the potential to be the best running back in this class. The only legitimate knock on Chubb is his injury history. Chubb will be a perfect complementary piece to Carlos Hyde, if he can stay healthy. Chad Thomas was selected at the very top of his range. He is a physical edge rusher, who will only improve their dominant front-seven, but they could have went in several different directions with this pick.
Antonio Callaway is the ultimate boom-or-bust pick. His off-the-field issues are certainly a red flag, but if he can stay out of trouble, this will be the biggest steal in the entire draft. Callaway was considered one of the most talented receivers in this class, but his character concerns pushed him down the board. Pairing him with Corey Coleman, Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon could be a recipe for disaster for opposing defenses.
Genard Avery is an underrated prospect, who will be a significant upgrade for the middle of their defense. He is an incredible athlete, who is solid in coverage as well. Avery has the ideal size and strength for a linebacker.

Grade: B+


Pittsburgh Steelers

First-round, 28th overall - S Terrell Edmunds, Virginia Tech
Second-round, 60th overall - WR James Washington, Oklahoma State
Third-round, 76th overall - QB Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
Third-round, 93rd overall - OT Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan
Fifth-round, 148th overall - S Marcus Allen, Penn State
Fifth-round, 165th overall - RB Jaylen Samuels, N.C. State
Seventh-round, 246th overall - DT Joshua Frazier, Alabama

The Steelers opened this draft with a rather questionable selection in Edmunds. He was pegged by most as a second or third round selection. Safety was a need for Pittsburgh, but they ‘reached’ for Edmunds as opposed to taking Justin Reid or Jessie Bates III. Edmunds, like his brother Tremaine, is extremely athletic. He has intriguing size and speed, which could translate to the next level.
Washington is an undersized receiver, who is explosive with the ball in his hands. His draft stock has been up and down since the Senior Bowl. Washington has reliable hands, but he is not a pure route runner. His ability to create separation at the next level will be something worth monitoring.
Mason Rudolph is one of the more fascinating quarterbacks in this class. He has the arm strength and accuracy to be a great quarterback in the NFL. He led the FBS in passing yards last season, but the biggest knock on him is the system he played in. Will his skillset translate? With Ben Roethlisberger likely playing a couple more seasons, Rudolph will have an opportunity to sit and learn, before eventually taking over.
Okorafor is an offensive tackle with sloppy footwork, but his versatility is enticing. Although he may not be a day one starter, Okorafor could develop into a starter in a couple of seasons. In a rather weak class, Okorafor was pushed up the board and is definitely considered a project.
Marcus Allen , a fifth-round pick, is a great value for the Steelers. He will make an immediate contribution on special teams, while likely getting an opportunity in nickel and dime packages. Jaylen Samuels is one of the most versatile players in this draft, and he will be used in several different ways in Pittsburgh’s high octane offense.

Grade: C+



Cincinnati Bengals

First-round, 21st overall - C Billy Price, Ohio State
Second-round, 54th overall - S Jessie Bates III, Wake Forest
Third-round, 77th overall - DE Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
Third-round, 78th overall - LB Malik Jefferson, Texas
Fourth-round, 112th overall - RB Mark Walton, Miami
Fifth-round, 151st overall - CB Davontae Harris, Illinois State
Fifth-round, 158th overall - DT Andrew Brown, Virginia
Fifth-round, 170th overall - CB Darius Phillips, Western Michigan
Seventh-round, 249th overall - QB Logan Woodside, Toledo
Seventh-round, 252nd overall - OL Rod Taylor, Ole Miss
Seventh-round, 253rd - WR Auden Tate, Florida State

The Cincinnati Bengals had the perfect draft. Heading into the offseason, Cincinnati needed help on the offensive line, and they made some additions via free agency. Now, they get, arguably, the best center in this class in Price. His stock only fell because of an injury he suffered at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.

The Bengals had, arguably, the best day two out of any team in the draft. Cincinnati landed one of the top safeties in this class in Bates III, while also ‘stealing’ Hubbard and Jefferson. All three of those prospects will make immediate contributions and bolster their defense.
Here’s what I wrote last night about Cincinnati’s day two selections.

Quote:The Bengals selected Wake Forest safety Jessie Bates III with the 54th overall pick. He is seemingly a perfect fit in Cincinnati’s defensive scheme. Bates III is a true free safety. He is a ballhawk, who is an immediate upgrade for the Bengals’ defense. Some considered Bates III to be worthy of a first-round selection, which makes this a great value selection. He was one of the surprise fallers in this draft.
With the 77th overall pick, the Bengals selected Ohio State defensive end Sam Hubbard. He has a ton of upside. Hubbard is not an athletic edge rusher, but he has great technique and is phenomenal with his hands. Hubbard adds another element to Cincinnati’s front-seven.
Cincinnati selected Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson with the next pick. Jefferson is excellent in coverage, and has sideline to sideline speed. Jefferson is not a strong run-defender and lacks the ability to shed blocks at times. With Vontaze Burfict’s future up in the air, the Bengals bolstered their linebacker corps.

On day three, the Bengals, again, got great value out of their selections. Auden Tate in the seventh-round was an amazing pick, for a team needing another wide receiver. Tate is a red zone threat, but his play speed is the biggest concern. Brown is an intriguing defensive tackle, who could be a valuable member of their rotation and he has a high motor. Logan Woodside was a sleeper quarterback prospect. Woodside had intriguing production in college, but the biggest knock on him is his size and arm strength.

Grade: A

(04-29-2018, 05:43 PM)Vambo Wrote: Pittsburgh Steelers

First-round, 28th overall - S Terrell Edmunds, Virginia Tech
Second-round, 60th overall - WR James Washington, Oklahoma State
Third-round, 76th overall - QB Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
Third-round, 93rd overall - OT Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan
Fifth-round, 148th overall - S Marcus Allen, Penn State
Fifth-round, 165th overall - RB Jaylen Samuels, N.C. State
Seventh-round, 246th overall - DT Joshua Frazier, Alabama

The Steelers opened this draft with a rather questionable selection in Edmunds. He was pegged by most as a second or third round selection. Safety was a need for Pittsburgh, but they ‘reached’ for Edmunds as opposed to taking Justin Reid or Jessie Bates III. Edmunds, like his brother Tremaine, is extremely athletic. He has intriguing size and speed, which could translate to the next level.
Washington is an undersized receiver, who is explosive with the ball in his hands. His draft stock has been up and down since the Senior Bowl. Washington has reliable hands, but he is not a pure route runner. His ability to create separation at the next level will be something worth monitoring.
Mason Rudolph is one of the more fascinating quarterbacks in this class. He has the arm strength and accuracy to be a great quarterback in the NFL. He led the FBS in passing yards last season, but the biggest knock on him is the system he played in. Will his skillset translate? With Ben Roethlisberger likely playing a couple more seasons, Rudolph will have an opportunity to sit and learn, before eventually taking over.
Okorafor is an offensive tackle with sloppy footwork, but his versatility is enticing. Although he may not be a day one starter, Okorafor could develop into a starter in a couple of seasons. In a rather weak class, Okorafor was pushed up the board and is definitely considered a project.
Marcus Allen , a fifth-round pick, is a great value for the Steelers. He will make an immediate contribution on special teams, while likely getting an opportunity in nickel and dime packages. Jaylen Samuels is one of the most versatile players in this draft, and he will be used in several different ways in Pittsburgh’s high octane offense.

Grade: C+

Steelers pick another undersized receiver an athletic safety with a motor.

LOL be fun to revist this thread in two years to see how the grades fit.

jaylen Samuels for the Steelers will be a problem for the rest of the AFC north.