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2015 NFL Draft Results





Round 1 Picks 17-32



Shane Ray slipped because of character concerns. Find out who traded up to get him.



Posted By Chris Ransom with updates by Don Portman Last Updated: April 25, 2016


  1. San Francisco 49ers: Arik Armstead, 3-4 LE, Oregon A+ Grade

    The 49ers got a player of need with Arik Armstead at 17. They also got a 4th rounder in this years draft and a 2016 fifth round pick to move down with San Diego. The 49ers needed the picks so this is a good selection.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Arik Armstead only started 1 game. The reason the 49ers got a B+ grade is cause they got more picks from the Chargers.


    Don Portman's Grade: B+ Grade


  2. Kansas City Chiefs: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington A- Grade

    Kansas City needed a #1 cornerback. Marcus Peters is the best cover corner. His character issues are the only reason why the Chiefs got an A- grade. Way to find a replacement for Brandon Flowers.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Kansas City got the 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year and a #1 field cornerback in Marcus Peters. Peters easily gets an A+ grade and is the steal of this draft as long as he can stay clean off the field.


    Don Portman's Grade: A+ Grade




  3. Cleveland Browns: Cameron Erving, C, Florida State C- Grade

    Cameron Erving has the versatility to play anywhere on the offensive line. I'm still puzzled as to why the Browns drafted him when they had a chance to draft a wide receiver. Erving is just an insurance policy behind Alex Mack at center and really doesn't address a need at right tackle, wide receiver, or pass rusher.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Cameron Erving didn't start right away. Cleveland needs to hit with Shelton and Erving otherwise they will be 0/7 with first round picks dating back to 2012. Right now the Browns are 0/5 on first round draft picks which is why I gave this pick a C grade.


    Don Portman's Grade: C Grade


  4. Philadelphia Eagles: Nelson Agholor, WR, USC B Grade

    Nelson Agholor goes to the Eagles. Passing on a left guard or safety. You've come to expect this from Chip Kelly after trading away all of his best player. He didn't sell the farm for Marcus Mariota.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Nelson Agholor was a day 2 prospect, yet the Eagles reached for him in typical Philly fashion. Agholor only had 26 receptions, 283 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown as a rookie which warrants a D+ grade.


    Don Portman's Grade: D+ Grade



  5. Cincinnati Bengals: Cedric Ogbuhei, LT, Texas A&M B- Grade

    The Bengals will need an offensive tackle in a year when both Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith have expiring deals. A.J. Green and Mohammed Sanu also have expiring deals in 2016. Cedric Ogbuhei is the top offensive tackle available when healthy. At the same time, I have mixed feelings about this pick.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Cedric Ogbuhei sat out as a rookie. He seems like a right tackle at best. Durability seems like a huge concern with Ogbuhei too. That's why the Bengals get an F grade for taking Ogbuhei this early in the first round when Shane Ray was still there.


    Don Portman's Grade: F Grade


  6. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alvin Dupree, 3-4 LOLB, Kentucky C Grade

    Shane Ray and Randy Gregory are both better than Alvin Dupree. Dupree doesn't get 10 sacks a year and he sucks in zone coverage. He plays like a 4-3 defensive end, but has the size of a 3-4 outside linebacker which usually translates to a bust in the NFL. The only reason Dupree went here was because Ray and Gregory both have character issues. Unlike Dupree both of those players got double digit sacks in college even if both got busted for marijuana.


    Dupree may have thrived under Dick LeBeau. I just have my doubts about him succeeding under Keith Butler.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Chris Ransom is 100 percent correct about Alvin Dupree even though they call him Bud Dupree in Pittsburgh. Z'Darius Smith, Dupree's teammate at Kentucky had more sacks than Dupree in the NFL as well as college. This warrants a C- grade only because some rave about Dupree's potential.


    Don Portman's Grade: C- Grade


  7. Denver Broncos: Shane Ray, 3-4 ROLB, Missouri B- Grade

    Denver traded up and got Shane Ray. I have mixed feelings about this pick. This will go really well or backfire completely.


    On one end, I think the Broncos got a steal. At the same time, Ray won't start right away and will have to learn behind DeMarcus Ware. This could be the best thing that happened to him or this pick will backfire because Ray has no self control. Being drug tested every month for the next two years is a great way to help Ray stop doing drugs so this pick might work out.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: There isn't much that separates Alvin Dupree's 26 tackles and 4 sacks from Ray's 20 tackles and 4 sacks. Denver like Pittsburgh gets a C- grade.


    Don Portman's Grade: C- Grade


  8. Arizona Cardinals: D.J. Humphries, RT, Florida B- Grade

    D.J. Humphries goes to the Arizona Cardinals here. The Cardinals could use some competition for Bobbie Massie at right tackle. I'm just surprised that Arizona drafted Humprhies instead of taking a defensive player.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: D.J. Humphries did not get as much playing time as Bobbie Massie. Humphries will get more playing time in 2016, which is why I gave this pick a D+ grade.


    Don Portman's Grade: D+ Grade



  9. Carolina Panthers: Shaq Thompson, LOLB, Washington F Grade

    Carolina passed on a left tackle for Shaq Thompson. I like Thompson, but Carolina had bigger needs, and could have gotten Thompson in the second round.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Chris Ransom is 100 percent correct about Shaq Thompson. The Panthers had bigger needs and wasted this pick on Thompson.


    Don Portman's Grade: C- Grade


  10. Baltimore Ravens: Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida A+ Grade

    Ozzie Newsome better give Cleveland a Super Bowl ring with poop on it if Flacco hoists the Lombardi Trophy. This is an awesome pick for a team that lost Torrey Smith and is about to watch Steve Smith retire.


    The only reason to dislike this pick is because Baltimore passed on Jaelen Strong. I don't think you can knock the Ravens for that. I'm still giving the Ravens an A+ grade because Jaelen Strong and Breshad Perriman are 4A and 4B after Cooper, White, and Parker in this years draft.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Breshad Perriman missed his rookie season with an injury. That really limited what he could do early in his career.


    Don Portman's Grade: D+ Grade


  11. Dallas Cowboys: Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut A Grade

    Dallas drafted Byron Jones. I think Dallas should have gone with a defensive tackle, but you cannot fault this pick because Byron Jones.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Dallas gave Byron Jones a limited role and moved him around at cornerback and free safety. That's why the Cowboys got a C+ grade.


    Don Portman's Grade: C+ Grade


  12. Detroit Lions: Laken Tomlinson, LG, Duke B Grade

    Laken Tomlinson goes to Detroit. This may be a bit of a reach. Detroit really needed a new starter at left guard so I applaud their effort to move down for a left guard.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Detroit moved down a few spots. Tomlinson started 14 of 16 games and only allowed 3 sacks doing very well in pass protection. His run blocking was awful though. I think this pick warrants an A- grade though.


    Don Portman's Grade: A- Grade



  13. Indianapolis Colts: Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami FL B Grade

    The Colts needed cover corners and shutdown safeties. How does Andrew Luck expect to defeat Tom Brady if he cannot even get any assistance from the secondary. You need to cover star receivers and get turnovers in this league to beat quarterbacks like Tom Brady.


    Indianapolis needed a corner to compliment Vontae Davis. You also need a free safety to compliment Pro Bowler Mike Adams. This is a weak safety class, but I'm puzzled as to why the Colts passed on Ronald Darby or P.J. Williams at 29.


    The one guy that picked apart both Seminoles outside of DeVante Parker on tape was Phillip Dorsett. T.Y. Hilton is in a contract year. You got Dontae Moncrief and Andre Johnson at wide receiver. If Hilton doesn't duplicate his numbers and keep his mouth shut without requesting a payday then Dorsett can take his job. Way to set an example by ignoring the secondary. That being said, Dorsett is a good pick this late in the first round.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Phillip Dorsett got pushed up the board. The Colts had bigger needs besides wide receiver and look foolish for taking Dorsett here.


    Don Portman's Grade: C- Grade


  14. Green Bay Packers: Damarious Randall, FS, Arizona State Who Got Ted Thompson Drunk In Chicago Grade

    Landon Collins is the best safety in the draft. Not just that, Green Bay had the nerve to pass on an inside linebacker to replace A.J. Hawk and ignored a glaring need at cornerback with the departure of Tramon Williams. Green Bay should win the NFC North again, but there's a strong temptation to pick the Vikings to beat the Packers if they meet in a wild card game.


    Damarious Randall went in the fourth round of my mock and most had him as a top 50 pick at the earliest in the second round. He doesn't fill a position of need and I think the NFL needs to investigate who got Ted Thompson Drunk. The Draft is in Chicago and you can bet the Bears, Lions, or Vikings had a motive to screw Green Bay over on Draft Day after years of flawless work by Ted Thompson. Roger Goodell needs to get on this ASAP! I kid. Seriously, this was terrible choice by the Packers and clearly the worst pick in the first round.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Damarious Randall had the versatility to play cornerback, strong safety, or free safety. In a way he was a hybrid player like Jalen Ramsey, the top defensive back in the 2016 NFL Draft. Randall had 56 total tackles, 14 deflections from pass breakups, and 3 interceptions. Randall put together an excellent rookie year and was easily the best defensive back in this draft after Marcus Peters.


    Don Portman's Grade: A Grade


  15. New Orleans Saints: Stephone Anthony, LOLB, Clemson C+ Grade

    This was an okay, but nothing to clap about excessively like a Saints fan type of pick. Anthony had 10 quarterback hurries and fits a need at 3-4 middle linebacker across from Dannelle Ellerbe who won Super Bowl 47 in the Mercedes Benz Super Dome when he was on the Baltimore Ravens before being shipped to Miami for the next two years. With two inside linebackers in Ellerbe and Anthony, the Saints will be ready to stop the run.


    My issue with this pick is that guys like Jaelen Strong, La'El Collins, Randy Gregory, Maxx Williams, and Eric Kendricks the only legit 3 down linebacker in this years draft with 77 career tackles in each of his 4 seasons at UCLA were still available. Anthony is a good fit for the Saints, but I'm confused as to why New Orleans passed on one of those guys. New Orleans could have did worse by reaching into the Mississippi State Cookie Jar for Benardrick McKinney, but at least New Orleans had enough common sense to settle for Anthony after passing on those five players.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Stephone Anthony had 112 total tackles as a 4-3 middle linebacker. Now Anthony is moving to left outside linebacker. That's why he gets an A- grade rather than an A grade. If Anthony remains at middle linebacker, this is an A grade. James Laurinaitis and Anthony should make this linebacker core stronger.


    Don Portman's Grade: A- Grade


  16. New England Patriots: Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas A+ Grade

    Malcolm Brown is a perfect replacement for Vince Wilfork as a 6-5 315 lb defensive tackle with the size, upper body strength, and ability to play 0, 1, 2, or 3 technique as a 4-3 defensive tackle. Not only does Brown have the versatility to play nose tackle, I'm amazed that the Lions, Cardinals, and Broncos passed on him.


    Part of me wonders if Bill Belchick deflated the Draft Picks after Obama joked about deflate gate during the Patriots visit to the White House because some of the draft picks were that questionable, that controversial, and that unexpected. At the same time, the Patriots are just that brilliant on draft day.


    If Belichick did deflate the draft, that's not our business, and Belichick isn't notorious enough to come up with a scheme of that magnitude. This is just a case of the rich getting richer as New England capitalizes off of teams poor draft day decisions. If New England gets a cornerback in the second round, my Patriots will increase their odds of repeating greatly.


    Don Portman's Rookie Update: Malcolm Brown had 48 total tackles and 3 sacks. He played next to Dominique Easley for most of the season before Easley's injury and now Brown has Terrance Knighton playing next to him. I'm giving the Patriots and A grade, because I think Brown is gonna be a special player for years to come.


    Don Portman's Grade: A Grade








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