2014 NFL Draft: Handing out Grades to every first round pick
By Matt Shetler
The first round of the 2014 NFL Draft is in the books.
How did your team fare?
Let’s take a look as I hand out grades for all 32 first-round picks.
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina) poses for a photo with commissioner Roger Goodell selected as the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Houston Texans at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
1. Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
The Texans get the single best player in the draft, which is what you are supposed to do with the No. 1 overall pick.
On paper Clowney may not be a great fit with the Texans’ base defense, he will be a terror getting after opposing quarterbacks paired with J.J. Watt.
The only surprise is that the Texans still tried to trade out of the pick given Clowney was clearly the top dog in the draft.
Grade: A+
2. St. Louis Rams (via Washington): Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
The Rams liked Robinson the whole time and with good reason as he has been the top rated offensive linemen for most of the offseason.
They need to protect Sam Bradford and Robinson goes a long way to helping St. Louis doing so.
Robinson is also a great run blocker who can help the Rams’ run game flourish. He’s far from a finished product, but the guy is a beast and an athletic freak.
Grade: A
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles, QB, UCF
Talk about a shocker.
The Jags did need a quarterback badly and it made sense to get one of the top prospects rather than reach on someone later on, but Bortles at No. 3 doesn’t represent great value.
Considering what the Cleveland Browns got from the Buffalo Bills to allow Buffalo to move up to No. 4, the Jags probably should have listened and moved down.
That being said, I like Bortles and he fills a need. I just don’t like him at No. 3.
Grade: C+
4. Buffalo Bills (via Cleveland): Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
Could Watkins be the second coming of a guy like Reggie Wayne?
His skill set suggests so and the Bills paid quite the price to move up and get him.
Watkins was the best playmaker on the board and the Bills needed to get a playmaker for young quarterback E.J. Manuel. That being said, they paid a big price to get him.
Grade: B+