AFC West Draft Grades

Today, we wrap up the AFC portion of the draft with a recap of the AFC West.

Denver Broncos
1(31) Bradley Roby (CB, Ohio State)
2(56) Cody Latimer (WR, Indiana)
3(95) Michael Schofield (OT, Michigan)
5(156) Lamin Barrow (OLB, LSU)
6(207) Matthew Paradis (C, Boise State)
7(242) Corey Nelson (OLB, Oklahoma)

Best Pick: Lamin Barrow

Most people would go with Roby because of the fit for the Broncos defense. However, Roby has gotten destroyed against good competition in his career and I believe he will flop. Wisconsin tore Roby a new one in that game this past year. Therefore, I pick the one guy who I think will eventually be a starter.Picking Barrow in Round 5 is tremendous value as he is a guy that can start as a WILL linebacker in a 3-4 defense right now. The only problem with that is that the Broncos employ a 4-3 defense. Although he doesn't fit as well in the 4-3 he still holds great value in this round though. His speed is what sets him apart from some other at the position. This guy will be a quality player for a while.

Grade: D+

Summary: You'd like to get a few starters out of each draft. As I said, I don't see any quality starters for the future other than Barrow. Schofield could be as well, but I don't see it from the other guys. The one thing I will say is that the Broncos drafted positions of need which helps their grade to a D+. Otherwise, I would probably give this draft a D-. Not many impact players if any in the Broncos group. From a loaded draft, this club did not pick up much. Latimer was a major reach in my opinion. However, lucky for him he gets to play with Peyton Manning and get some very inflated stats because of it.

Undrafted Free Agents
Kenny Anunike (DE, Duke)
Shaquil Barrett (OLB, Colorado State)
Kapri Bibbs (RB, Colorado State)
Isiah Burse (WR, Fresno State)
Steven Clark (P, Auburn)
Brennan Clay (RB, Oklahoma)
Mister Cobble (DT, Kentucky)
Bennie Fowler (WR, Michigan State)
Greg Hardin (WR, North Dakota State)
Greg Latta (DE, Purdue)
Bryn Renner (QB, North Carolina)
Aslam Sterling (OT, Kansas)
Jordan Sullen (CB, Tulane)
Juwan Thompson (RB, Duke)
Louis Young (CB, Georgia Tech)

I love the Barrett pickup as Barrett definitely should have been drafted. Head-to-head against Alabama and Cyrus Kouandjo, Barrett picked up 1.5 sacks. He had 12 sacks on the season and is a very solid pass rusher. This was one of the better free agent pickups.
Bryn Renner has a lot of upside following his injury plagued 2014. He was considered by many to be the best QB in the ACC heading into the season.
I am a big fan of the Juwan Thompson pickup. He is a big back and the Broncos are small at this position. Thompson is a grinder and his 225 lb frame will do some damage in the Denver running game.
Louis Young is fast, but he can't tackle.
The other players are intriguing, but don't see any diamonds in the rough here.

Kansas City Chiefs
1(23) Dee Ford (DE, Auburn)
3(87) Phillip Gaines (CB, Rice)
4(124) De'Anthony Thomas (RB, Oregon)
5(163) Aaron Murray (QB, Georgia)
6(193) Zach Fulton (OG, Tennessee)
6(200) Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff (OT, McGill(Canada))

Best Pick: De'Anthony Thomas

This is one of the biggest reasons I said that you can wait for a runningback in the draft. The Oregon Ducks got who I believe is the most pro ready runningback in round 4 of the draft. He is the perfect complement/backup to Jamal Charles. Drafting Thomas allows the Chiefs to not put as much wear and tear on Charles and should keep Charles healthy. After losing McCluster, this was a big deal that the Chiefs got Thomas. De'Anthony Thomas can do everything McCluster did, but a bit faster. He will instantly be one of the fastest runningbacks in the NFL. If you look at the data, 40 yard time only positively correlates with one position and that is runningback. Drafting the fastest runningback makes a lot of sense for Kansas City.

Grade: C-

Summary: I like the Thomas pick a lot, but the Chiefs reached in other parts of the draft. Dee Ford will be a productive player and while most say that was a reach, I am ok with that pick. Picking the developmental Gaines in Round 3 was a reach. Aaron Murray should have been a 7th rounder or undrafted and he got picked in the 5th. Fulton is another guy I wouldn't have drafted. Admittedly, I know nothing about the kid from Canada. I've seen zero film. However, Mayock seems to like the guy. If he hits as a 6th rounder it changes the outlook of this draft a lot.

Undrafted Free Agents
James Baker (RB, Idaho)
Turvon Brandin (CB, Monmouth)
Stetson Burnett (OG, Tulsa)
Kenny Carter (DE, Auburn)
Joey Demartino (RB, Utah State)
Brandon Denmark (LB, Florida A & M)
Deron Furr (S, Fort Valley State)
Ben Gottschalk (OT, SMU)
Marcus Heit (LS, Kansas State)
Jon Jennings (QB, Saginaw Valley State)
Ben Johnson (LB, Tennessee-Martin)
Vincent Jones (C, Utah)
Cole Pensick (C, Nebraska)
Kacy Rogers (S, Miami)
Cairo Santos (PK, Tulane)
Kona Schwenke (DL, Notre Dame)
Daniel Sorenson (S, BYU)
Daryl Surgent (WR, Louisana-Lafayette)
David Van Dyke (DB, Tennessee State)
Charcandrick West (RB, Abilene Christian)
Albert Wilson (WR, Georgia State)

I'll be honest and say that out of every undrafted free agent group I know the least about these guys. Those guys I do know like, Kacy Rogers of Miami, do not impress me at all. On paper this group is not impressive. However, there may be a player in here that ends up being quite good.

Oakland Raiders
1(5) Khalil Mack (OLB, Buffalo)
2(36) Derek Carr (QB, Fresno State)
3(81) Gabe Jackson (OL, Mississippi State)
4(107) Justin Ellis (DT, Louisiana State)
4(116) Keith McGill (CB, Utah)
7(219) Travis Carrie (CB, Ohio)
7 (235) Shelby Harris (DE, Illinois State)
7(247) Jonathan Dowling (SS, Western Kentucky)

Best Pick: Khalil Mack

Everyone expected the Raiders to be the Raiders and do something like draft Johnny Manziel. However, the Raiders did the smart thing and drafted the best player available on their board in the 1st round. Mike Mayock said he will certainly be an all-pro and he definitely has that potential. I wouldn't say its a lock, but there isn't a safer pick in this draft than Mack other than Jake Matthews. This was a very smart pick that fills a huge need. Mack could easily turn into the leader and cornerstone of this defense.

Grade: B-

Summary: The Mack pick was smart and at least they waited until Round 2 to pick a QB. That being said, I am not a big fan of the QBs in this draft and a team like the Raiders need help elsewhere. I personally would have gone wide receiver in round 2 as the Raiders desperately need help there and there were several options available. Derek Carr could be good, but I just don't see it happening. The Raiders already have 3 QBs better than Carr will ever be in my opinion. Matt McGloin, Terrell Pryor, and Matt Schaub are all better than Derek Carr. It is possible I am wrong, but they need a receiver more. Who are all these QBs going to throw to? James Jones was a good signing and helps a bit and Moore is a solid starter, but they don't have much beyond that. They could be counting on undrafted rookie Mike Davis in the slot. Other than the Carr pick, I love what the Raiders did. Gabe Jackson was great value in round 3 and I look for him to be an instant starter.

Undrafted Free Agents
George Atkinson III (RB, Notre Dame)
DJ Coles (WR, Virginia Tech)
Mike Davis (WR, Texas)
Carlos Fields Jr. (LB, Winston-Salem State)
Danny Kistler (OT, Montana)
Rob Smith (DT, Jackson State)
Karl Williams (FB, Utah)
Jake Murphy (TE, Utah)
Noel Grigsby (WR, San Jose State)
Scott Simonson (TE, Florida International)

Mike Davis is the best of this group and he should have been drafted. Again, players like this not being picked is why Texas had nobody drafted. It wasn't for lack of quality. Davis has sub 4.5 speed and could develop into a quality slot receiver in the pros. I see him as a quality #3 for some team down the line. A better QB in college has this guy drafted in the 3rd round.
The other players are pretty good quality for undrafted free agents. Adding these guys for competition was a wise move.

San Diego Chargers
1(25) Jason Verrett (CB, TCU)
2(50) Jeremiah Attaochu (OLB, Georgia Tech)
3(89) Chris Watt (OG, Notre Dame)
5(165) Ryan Carrethers (NT, Arkansas State)
6(201) Marion Grace (RB, Arizona State)
7(240) Tevin Reese (WR, Baylor)

Best Pick: Jeremiah Attaochu

The way the draft was falling the Chargers knew they had to move up in Round 2 to get Attaochu and they will be sure glad they did. I rarely like trading up, but it was smart in the Chargers case who want instant starters and to make a real run. Attaochu is one of the best 3-4 outside linebackers in this draft and he is a brilliant scheme fit for San Diego. He is a 1st round talent that is solid rushing the passer and defending the pass. Great pick for San Diego. Do not be surprised if Attaochu challenges Calvin Pryor for defensive rookie of the year.

Grade: B

Summary: The San Diego Chargers had an above average draft. Nothing really newsworthy besides the Attaochu selection, but they got solid players throughout. In Verrett and Attaochu they got two instant starters that help out a great deal. Much like the Raiders though they waited a bit too long to get a WR. This team could really use a good complement to Keenan Allen and Tevin Reese just doesn't cut it for me. Reese is fast, but I just don't see it. Their first three picks were more A- quality, but the talent they got on day 3 dropped them to a B. There is not much there for their day 3 picks.

Undrafted Free Agents
DJ Adams (RB, Portland State)
Torrence Allen (WR, West Texas A&M)
Brelan Chancellor (WR, North Texas)
Alden Darby (S, Arizona State)
Chris Davis (CB, Auburn)
Greg Ducre (CB, Washington)
Michael Flacco (TE, New Hampshire)
Micah Hartfield (WR, Oregon State)
Javontee Herndon (WR, Arkansas)
DJ Johnson (OG, New Mexico)
Tenny Palepoi (DT, Utah)
Alvin Scioneaux (OLB, Wofford)
Jeremiah Sirles (OT, Nebraska)
Chase Tenpenny (P, Nevada)
Ricky Tjong-a-Tjoe (DT, Boise State)
Colton Underwood (DE, Illinois State)
Ian White (OL, Boston College)

It is hard to find a better group of undrafted free agents than what the Chargers pulled off. Every one of their signings can compete for a roster spot. The best signing was Iron Bowl hero Chris Davis as he will almost certainly make the team. Several other players are notable though. The tight end Michael Flacco is the younger brother of Ravens QB Joe. Ian White is incredibly versatile on the offensive line and has played a lot of guard and tackle in the past. Several others DBs that were signed are high quality. Nice job by San Diego here.

-Noland