Broncos: B-
WR Marvin Mims, Oklahoma, 2nd Round, ILB Drew Sanders, Arkansas, CB Riley Moss, Iowa, 3rd Round, S J.L. Skinner, Boise State, 6th Round, C Alex Forsyth, Oregon, 7th Round
The Broncos traded away their 1st and 2nd round picks on Russell Wilson and Sean Payton, but moved up into the end of the 2nd round to select Mims. Mims is an explosive slot WR who defenses will have to account for in space and as a deep field threat, but he is undersized. Sanders is an athletic pass rushing LB with good cover skills and experience inside and outside as the top Inside Linebacker in the draft; he should provide depth early. Moss is a tough playmaker with good speed and a nose for the football, he may play nickel CB as well as Safety. Skinner is a big, run stopping in the box safety and LB hybrid, but he needs to improve in coverage and add to his frame. Forsyth is a tough lineman who plays with good technique and has versatility playing multiple positions; he has a good chance to provide depth inside.
Chiefs: B
DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State, 1st Round, WR Rashee Rice, SMU, 2nd Round, T Wanya Morris, Oklahoma, 3rd Round, S Chamarri Conner, Virginia Tech, 4th Round, LB B.J. Thompson, Stephen F Austin, 5th Round, DT Keondre Coburn, Texas, 6th Round, CB Nic Jones, Ball State, 7th Round
The Chiefs chose Anudike-Uzomah a tough edge rusher who can also stop the run with a high motor, but he needs to get better at facing double teams and being more consistent. He will help replace Frank Clark and start off as a situational pass rusher, but he has starting potential. Rice is a solid WR with good size, hands, and playmaking ability in space, but he’s not very explosive and needs to improve his route running; he will provide depth and he has #2 WR potential with inside and outside ability. Morris is a strong pass protecting lineman with the strength to excel in run blocking also, but he does have some technique issues; he will provide depth and could work his way into a starting job. Conner is a run stopping DB with the ability to cover RB’s and TE’s, although his overall pass coverage is still improving; he will provide depth and play Special Teams, but he does have starting potential. Thompson is a lanky defender with pass rush potential who needs to add weight, Coburn is a run stuffing Nose Tackle who may provide depth, and Jones is a lanky press CB who will have to earn a spot as well.
Chargers: B
WR Quentin Johnston, TCU, 1st Round, LB Tuli Tuipulotu, USC, 2nd Round, ILB Daiyan Henley, Washington State, 3rd Round, WR Derius Davis, TCU, 4th Round, G Jordan McFadden, Clemson, 5th Round, DT Scott Matlock, Boise State, 6th Round, QB Max Duggan, TCU, 7th Round
The Chargers selected Johnston, another tall WR target for Herbert, but he provides a different skill set as a lanky playmaker in space and consistent deep threat who would be best used in the slot, however he does come with injury concerns. Tuipulotu is a tough edge rusher with good size, strength and a high motor for his size, he should see time early in certain situations as he continues to improve his technique and run stopping, but he has starter potential. Henley is an athletic coverage LB with some pass rush potential who is still raw at the position and needs to add weight; he will provide depth early and play Special Teams. Davis is an explosive deep threat from the slot and uses that same speed to be an explosive returner, but he comes with size limitations and may only be used on offense situationally. McFadden is an athletic undersized pass blocking Tackle who will have to move inside to Guard or Center as his likely long term position. Matlock is a tough high motor DT with pass rush potential, but he needs to get stronger. Duggan is known as a tough clutch QB who has improved every year, coming off his best year, but he doesn’t project as more than a career backup.
Raiders: B+
DE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech, 1st Round, TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame 2nd Round, DT Byron Young, Alabama, WR Tre Tucker, Cincinnati, 3rd Round, CB Jakorian Bennett, Maryland, QB Aidan O’Connell, Purdue, 4th Round, S Christopher Smith, Georgia, 5th Round LB Amari Burney, Florida, 6th Round, DT Nesta Jade Silvera, Arizona State, 7th Round
The Raiders surprised me going with a safe pick in Wilson who has the size, strength, run stopping and passing rushing skills to contribute from day 1 as a starter across from (or maybe next to) Maxx Crosby; he lacks consistent explosiveness and top athleticism, but should be a balanced DE/DT for the long term. Selecting Mayer in the 2nd round was great value as many had a mid 1st round grade on him as the top TE at the beginning of the process, but there’s no better coach for a TE known as baby Gronk than HC Josh McDaniels. Mayer should be a solid pass catching option and decent blocker to help replace Darren Waller. Young is a strong, high motor undersized DT who does a good job stopping the run and has shown improving pass rush ability, but he needs to add more weight to his frame; he should be in the rotation from day 1. Tucker is an undersized WR with great speed as a deep threat and playmaker in space, but he is undersized and will mostly be used as a returner and situationally on offense. Bennett is a physical CB with good speed and the ability to play inside and outside, but he does have some technique and tackling issues; he will provide depth and could see time early. O’Connell is a smart accurate passer with good size who struggles with the deep ball and has limited mobility, but he could be a solid backup QB. Smith is an undersized Safety who loves stopping the run and can play in the box, deep, or as nickel CB which may be his way onto the field. Burney is a run stopping LB/S hybrid with sideline to sideline tackling and playmaking ability, but he needs to get stronger and Silvera is a DT with pass rush potential, both will have to work their way up the depth chart.
