I thought I’d get something published for discussion…
Mel Kiper regraded his 2015 draft classes, found on espn.com. It was not surprising that the Browns grade dropped significantly, but it was surprising that the Ravens grade only fell to a B- considering their top picks did little.
Read and discuss…
Mel writes:
Baltimore Ravens
Post-draft grade: A-minus
This draft class takes a step back only because Breshad Perriman didn’t play at all due to injury. But beyond that, they did use a lot of these guys, though it was partially due to so many injuries during a season that kind of spun out of control from an attrition standpoint. Maxx Williams showed potential with 32 catches, as did Carl Davis and Za’Darius Smith on defense. Javorius “Buck” Allen could be the future No. 1 and rushed for more than 500 yards. Perriman needs to pan out, but he kind of epitomized the season in Baltimore. If Perriman reaches his potential, this class looks a lot better.
New grade: B-minus
ROUND/PICK NAME POS COLLEGE
1/26 Breshad Perriman WR UCF
2/55 Maxx Williams TE Minnesota
3/90 Carl Davis DT Iowa
4/122 Za’Darius Smith DE Kentucky
4/125 Buck Allen RB USC
4/136 Tray Walker CB Texas Southern
5/171 Nick Boyle TE Delaware
5/176 Robert Myers G Tennessee St
6/204 Darren Waller WR Georgia Tech
Cincinnati Bengals
Post-draft grade: B-plus
If you ask where the rookie production is, the reality is no team went into the draft needing less from the rookie class. There just weren’t clear voids the draft would help fill. It was all about the future, and Cedric Ogbuehi at No. 21 overall illustrated that, as he was coming off a knee injury and wouldn’t be available until late in the season. They could still have both of their future tackles in Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher, whom they took in Round 2. In a weird way, this is just what you want from a rookie class — some pretty impressive talent that you didn’t need to call on because the roster was in good shape.
New grade: B
ROUND/PICK NAME POS COLLEGE
1/21 Cedric Ogbuehi OT Texas A&M
2/53 Jake FIsher OT Oregon
3/85 Tyler Kroft TE Rutgers
3/99 Paul Dawson OLB TCU
4/120 Josh Shaw S USC
4/135 Marcus Hardison DT Arizona St
5/157 C.J. Uzomah TE Auburn
6/197 Derron Smith S Fresno St
7/238 Mario Alford WR West Virginia
Cleveland Browns
Post-draft grade: B
This class just doesn’t look as good today. I liked the pick of Danny Shelton, but called the choice of Cameron Erving a “surprising pick” because of the lack of an immediate need for him, and that’s a spot (No. 19) where you can get major talent. I said Duke Johnson Jr. was one of the best pass-catchers in the draft, even at running back, and he looked good. But I was all over the Browns to get a truly useful wide receiver in that offense, and when they took Vince Mayle I wrote: “the speed is a major issue, and the hands can be inconsistent.” He was a reach. Mayle didn’t even survive camp, and as a fourth-rounder, that’s just brutal. No wide receivers, no interesting depth shot at QB like a Bryce Petty. The grade was better then because they got a lot of raw talent, but much of it underperformed. Nate Orchard’s usefulness helps, but they’re back near the top of the draft, again with QB in mind.
New grade: C-minus
ROUND/PICK NAME POS COLLEGE
1/12 Danny Shelton DT Washington
1/19 Cameron Erving C Florida St
2/51 Nate Orchard OLB Utah
3/77 Duke Johnson RB Miami (FL)
3/96 Xavier Cooper DT Washington St
4/115 Ibraheim Campbell S Northwestern
4/123 Vince Mayle WR Washington St
6/189 Charles Gaines CB Louisville
6/195 Malcolm Johnson TE Mississippi St
6/198 Randall Telfer TE USC
7/219 Hayes Pullard ILB USC
7/241 Ifo Ekpre-Olomu CB Oregon
Pittsburgh Steelers
Post-draft grade: A-minus
This draft class took a major hit early on and it affected the season, in my opinion. I wrote then, “Senquez Golson is one of my favorite players in the draft, an INT machine at Ole Miss who plays bigger than his size.” Well, Golson got hurt before the season started, and I think that really hurt because the secondary was already going to be a rebuilding project. If he comes back strong the secondary looks better. Bud Dupree often looked raw, but gave them 500-plus snaps and has potential. Hopefully Sammie Coates makes a leap next year, and Golson comes back strong.
New grade: B-minus
ROUND/PICK NAME POS COLLEGE
1/22 Bud Dupree OLB Kentucky
2/56 Senquez Golson CB Ole Miss
3/87 Sammie Coates WR Auburn
4/121 Doran Grant CB Ohio State
5/160 Jesse James TE Penn State
6/199 Leterrius Walton DT Central Michigan
6/212 Anthony Chickillo DE Miami (FL)
7/239 Gerod Holliman S Louisville
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