eta: Id love someone to grade my draft... maybe a Browns fan and a non-Browns fan
Diffcult to grade a draft in a vacum. I'd have to go through every single pick by evey single team and also would have to have a good solid understanding of the needs of each team to put things into proper context and I'm not doing that.I can give my feedback.
- First pick Sammy Watkins
The top QBs of this draft will determine the outcome for any team who takes on in the top 8 picks. If they hit then the sky is the limit but if they miss it could set them back because next year's crop of QBs looks better on top. If in the real NFL draft, Browns GM Ray Farmer moves-up for a QB his entire career will hinge on that selection and many of the top draft guys have the QBs ranked much lower on their top-fifty lists than where they are projected to go. So I love that you did not reach for a QB at the top and that you were able to trade-down and get 'something' in return but I'd prefer a clean extra pick instead of moving up a round but I love that you didn't feel the pressure to take a QB and that you were able to game a trade-down and still pick up the top WR of this class. You filled a need and avoided a potential disaster and you got extra so that is an A+ move.
- Second pick OG David Yankey
If you look at this draft you took the top interior offensive lineman and it started a bit of a run where all of the top interior O-Linemen got plucked. Yankey not only fills a team need but he fills a dire team need since our weakest link on our O-Line was/is RG and new OC Kyle Shanahan has stated he will install a slide-zone blocking scheme and Lavauo doesn't fit that scheme so for the Browns David Yankey is a fantastic pick here. A+ for the Browns.
- Third pick QB Jimmy Garoppolo
Hard to project where he'll go so I don't know if this was a value. His best attribute is he throws guys open which I personally feel is crucial for a QB. He's not ready, won't start, and I'm not sure of his upside. Browns biggest need is long-term stability at QB and I can't say for sure Jimmy is the long-term answer. C grade due to unsure upside and where he was selected.
- Fourth pick CB Marcus Roberson
Tall CB, projected to go at the end of the 1st round in many mocks I've seen. Not the top rated prospect at both WR Sammy Watkins and OG David Yankey so he can't get an A let alone an A+ as those prospects got. Fills a big hole on the team. B+.
- Fifth pick RB Bishop Sankey
Few teams need a RB so I think that position could have been filled later to gain more value. RB is a need for Cleveland and it will be filled, either in the draft or free agency. I like Bishop but having looked into Kyle Shanahan's system he likes bigger backs so although he's a great talent and fills a need I have to ding this pick a bit because I don't see other teams needing RBs so I felt RB could have been addressed later and I also don't think he fits the system that Shanahan will install. B-
Overall? Excellent draft and its because the Browns hold the most picks in a deep draft and if this was the draft then four of the five picks would have legitmate shots to turn into starters so that obviously would rate an A+ grade for any team.