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2015 NFL Draft Results

1-16

17-32

Round 3

Clive Walford was a premium talent. Where would Miami's tight end go in the third round.

Posted By Chris Ransom Last Updated: May 1, 2015.

Indianapolis Colts: D'Joun Smith, CB, Florida Atlantic B- Grade

Indianapolis needed a corner. My issue with this pick is that Smith is more of a late third round pick. Guys like Steven Nelson, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Charles Gaines, and P.J. Williams are still available and you took D'Joun Smith after trading down with Tampa Bay.

In the Colts' defense, Indianapolis loved Quentin Rollins and probably thought he might be there at 65 with P.J. Williams on the board at that spot since we mocked Williams to the Packers.
Tennessee Titans: Jeremiah Poutasi, LT, Utah B- Grade

This is a solid pick. You already got Taylor Lewan at left tackle as a 2014 first round pick. Then you got Byron Stingley and Byron Bell competing for the starting right tackle.

Poutasi isn't a starter with his 12 quarterback hurries in 2013 and 9 quarterback hurries allowed in 2014. The thing I like about him is he only allowed 3 sacks in 824 snaps at left tackle at Utah. Good job finding a backup left tackle for depth Tennessee.
Jacksonville Jaguars: A.J. Cann, LG, South Carolina B Grade

Jacksonville has Zane Beadles at left guard, Stephen Wisniewski at center, and Brandon Linder at right guard. Cann can play all 3 positions on the interior offensive line that these guys play and gives you depth on the interior offensive line. This was my favorite pick the Jaguars made. Since Cann is not starting right away, I gave Jacksonville a B grade for the time being. It wouldn't surprise me if Cann was still on this roster and Fowler became a total bust in 5 years though. Anything can happen.
Oakland Raiders: Clive Walford, TE, Miami FL A+ Grade

Reggie McKenzie does it again. I'm starting to think the Raiders GM stole the Austin Powers mojo that Ted Thompson had for so many years in Green Bay. Oakland will have a lethal passing game with Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper, and Clive Walford. The Raiders found the cornerstone pieces to their passing game.

The Raiders are still a year away from contending. One thing I will say is that the Raiders will be more competitive this upcoming season. Your offense will need to score at least 24 points or have a quarterback throw for multiple touchdowns if you want to defeat the Raiders. Be patient Raider fans, your time is coming.
Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Lockett, WR, Kansas State A- Grade

Lockett may not have the size of a #1 receiver that I covet. He is a complete receiver in every other aspect and is a tremendous value pick. Lockett is basically the Russell Wilson of wide receivers. Lacks size can do everything else.

We already have Beast Mode in Seattle. Remember that rap song Pop, Lock, and Drop it? Well when Lockett scores I plan on singing Pop, Lockett, Drop it or I'll sing that when he drops easy passes. Either way get used to hearing that.
Houston Texans: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State A+ Grade

Houston needed a wide receiver to replace Andre Johnson. DeAndre Hopkins needs to step forward and become the #1 guy in year 3 after being a 2013 1st round pick. At the same time someone needs to take pressure off Hopkins. Jaelen Strong is capable of beating out Free Agent Cecil Shorts for the #2 receiver job. Excellent pick by a guy that should have gone in the first round.
Chicago Bears: Hroniss Grasu, C, Oregon A- Grade

The Chicago Bears made another good draft choice. After releasing Roberto Garza you needed a new center, and Grasu is an excellent communicator that called blocking schemes for other offensive lineman at Oregon. Jay Cutler will do better with Grasu if he starts at center.

Now if the can get Brett Hundley from the Titans by giving up their 4th round pick and a 2016 third round pick this draft will be perfect assuming Hundley falls that far.
St. Louis Rams: Jamon Brown, RT, Louisville D- Grade

St. Louis continues to lay an egg on draft day. Their solution to right tackle is to have two day 3 picks to compete for the right tackle job. At the rate the Rams draft offensive linemen, the only way this blocking unit blossoms is if they pay Orlando Pace $1 million dollars a year to be the offensive line coach.
Atlanta Falcons: Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana A Grade

Tevin Coleman is a great pick for Atlanta. The Falcons needed a starting running back and Coleman ran for over 2,000 rushing yards without much of an offensive line.
New York Giants: Owamagbe Odighizuwa, RE, UCLA B Grade

Jason Pierre Paul got franchise tagged. If he underperforms this season, Odighizuwa could take his job. I like the idea of bringing UCLA's defensive end as an understudy to Pierre Paul despite the fact that he played 3-4 right end at UCLA. I think Odighizuwa might start for the Giants in 2016 if the Giants miss the playoffs.
New Orleans Saints: Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State A Grade

New Orleans needs a successor to Drew Brees. There were rumors about the Saints taking Bryce Petty going as early at 31 to New Orleans. The Saints narrowed it down to Petty and Clemson's Stephone Anthony.

The Saints' front office deserves major props for sending a smoke screen to NFL Network. For starters 12 of the 16 NFL teams that emailed us their draft boards had Grayson as the top quarterback after Winston and Mariota. When 12 teams feel that strongly about a quarterback, getting drafted after Winston and Mariota, that's the signal-caller that gets drafted after Winston and Mariota. That's how logistics work.

I would have gave the Saints an A+ pick if they took Brett Hundley instead since I like him better. Still, you have to love this pick because this was the best situation for Garrett Grayson. There was talk about him going to Chicago in round 3, but that turned out to be a smokescreen and I'm glad.

Grayson is a perfect candidate to backup Drew Brees and succeed him in New Orleans. New Orleans has to be thrilled with this pick.
Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Conley, WR, Georgia B Grade

Chris Conley went to the Chiefs in round 2 of our Group Mock Draft thanks to Michael Harris. When it comes to Chris Conley, I'm not the biggest fan, but the Chiefs got a nice pick in round 3, and made Michael very proud for getting him a round later than Michael took him.
Cleveland Browns: Duke Johnson, RB, Miami FL A+ Grade

Duke Johnson is a very good sleeper. I think he's an upgrade over Terrance West, who I thought was overrated coming out of Towson. Johnson will be the feature back for the Browns' offense by 2016. Cleveland may struggle until Johnson starts, but once Duke gets his carries, I think the Browns will be very competitive.
New Orleans Saints: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State A+ Grade

P.J. Williams had first round talent, and the Saints liked what they saw from him at Florida State's Pro Day. New Orleans continues to have a perfect draft. If they can get a tight end and left guard on day 3 with their remaining picks they have a shot to get to San Francisco with this young nucleus.
San Francisco 49ers: Eli Harold, 3-4 LOLB, Virginia A Grade

Eli Harold was a second round talent. I love the idea of pairing him up with Aldon Smith at this point since he can play on either side. The reason I didn't give the 49ers an A+ grade is because Alex Carter is still there, and the 49ers have yet to add a cornerback.
Detroit Lions: Alex Carter, CB, Stanford A Grade

You can question the Lions choice to move up for this pick. I love how the Lions just decided to shoot for the stars here.

Detroit needed another corner. Since the Lions gave the Ravens their fourth and fifth round picks, they needed to go all out here by moving up for a cornerback.

Carter was one of the 3 three corners left in the PAC 12 3 card monte cornerback game with Steven Nelson and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu as other options. Detroit could have waited, but you cannot fault them for moving up a few spots to get the guy they wanted.
Buffalo Bills: John Miller, LG, Louisville A+ Grade

I had the Bills taking John Miller in my final mock. I'm starting to respect the Bills for turning to Draft Utopia for our advice. I'd like to see them get to the playoffs as long as they don't face the Patriots.

In all seriousness, this was a good pick for multiple reasons. Buffalo needed a left guard because Chris Hairston is expendable. Richie Incognito is expected to play right guard. John Miller was a 3 year starter at left guard and he gives the Bills depth at guard.
New York Jets: Lorenzo Mauldin, 3-4 ROLB, Louisville A+ Grade

The Jets needed a 3-4 right outside linebacker. Awesome pick New York.
San Diego Chargers: Craig Mager, CB, Texas State F Grade

Craig Mager missed tackles on tape and looked sloppy in coverage during his 2013 and 2014 seasons on tape. When you miss tackles against FCS players and struggle in coverage, how do you expect to succeed in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Hicks, 3-4 ROLB, Texas Chip Kelly Ate Too Many Pringles Grade

Jordan Hicks played 4-3 right outside linebacker at Texas. He suffered 2 season ending injuries with Texas and struggles in zone coverage making him a 4-3 only right outside linebacker.

Once again Chip Kelly amazes me on Draft Day. Hopefully he can keep it up so I hand out more Kelly grades.
Cincinnati Bengals: Tyler Kroft, TE, Rutgers B Grade

I liked Ben Koyack and Nick Boyle better. A lot of people were high on Kroft, and Green Bay had Kroft as their third best tight end after Maxx Williams and Clive Walford.

Cincinnati has two Tyler's at tight end with Eifert and Kroft. Also Kroft has no relation to Laura Croft of Tomb Raider. Feel free to nickname the Rutgers tight end Tomb Raider COWPOTE!
Arizona Cardinals: David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa A+ Grade

David Johnson will make Andre Ellington's job so much easier. This guy is capable of being the Cardinals starting running back if he stays healthy.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn C Grade

I liked what Sammie Coates did throughout the draft process. My problem with this pick is that Pittsburgh should not take a wide receiver earlier than round 5. This draft is so deep at wide receiver that you really cannot give any team anything less than a C grade for taking a wide receiver.

Part of me wonders if the Steelers are relying on SEC Network and SEC Pro Days for all of their intel. Pittsburgh has had 3 picks and went with all SEC players. If the Steelers keep up this draft the best SEC player strategy they will either get strong safety Cody Prewitt out of Ole Miss or left tackle Corey Robinson out of South Carolina. Texas A&M guard Jarvis Harrison could be another SEC guy to keep an eye on.
Detroit Lions: Danielle Hunter, RE, LSU A+ Grade

Minnesota didn't need a defensive end. I like the name Danielle Hunter. Especially because he's a defensive end and his last name is Hunter.

Danielle Hunter only had 4 sacks. He made up for that with 12 quarterback hurries, 13.5 tackles for a loss, and excellent ability to drop back into zone coverage when lining up as a 4-3 right end in 2014. Imagine if Alvin Dupree was awesome in coverage. That's basically how I feel about Danielle Hunter.

Hunter went up against opposing left tackles in the SEC and was tested against some of the best offensive tackles on a weekly basis. Hunter may end up moving to left end or left outside linebacker where he starts out as a backup to Brian Robison or Chad Greenway only to replace them down the road. For now, I got Hunter as a backup right end to Everson Griffin.
St. Louis Rams: Sean Mannion, QB, Oregon State D Grade

Brett Hundley is the best quarterback left. Sean Mannion has Derek Anderson's accuracy and Matt Moore's awareness despite displaying a cannon like arm at times.

St. Louis did so bad on the first two days, that they need to turn to Ask Jeeves on Day 3. Does Ask Jeeves still exist or is it Ask.com now?
Baltimore Ravens: Carl Davis, NT, Iowa B Grade

Carl Davis has the size to play in a 3-4. I'm just not sure how he will transition from the 4-3 to the 3-4 which is my only concern at this point.
Dallas Cowboys: Chaz Green, RT, Florida B- Grade

Chaz Green is an ideal replacement for backup right tackle Jeremy Parnell who signed with the Jaguars. Dallas passed on a defensive tackle and snubbed Brett Hundley of being Tony Romo's successor two picks after St. Louis took Oregon State's Sean Mannion.

I really think this grade deserves a C. The reason I'm being so generous is because Green has the versatility to play offensive tackle on either side. The other reason I'm okay with this pick is because Kerm told us Dallas should target a right tackle in the first 3 rounds of the draft back in November. That was before Doug Free re-signed with the Cowboys.
Denver Broncos: Jeff Heurmann, TE, Ohio State C Grade

Denver already added Owen Daniels in Free Agency and retained Virgil Green. Daniels played in Gary Kubiak's offense in Baltimore so I don't understand this pick.

Denver has much bigger needs at nose tackle, inside linebacker, and center that they have ignored. It's not just that, Ben Koyack is the superior tight end. You cannot critique this pick too much, but it certainly feels like a slightly early reach.
Indianapolis Colts: Henry Anderson, 3-4 LE, Stanford A Grade

Pro Football Focus believes Henry Anderson is the best player in the entire Draft. I know because I watched their special on NBC Sports Network on T.V. They believe this guy is the next J.J. Watt. If Anderson is even as half as good as Watt, then the Colts will head to San Francisco this February.

The only reason I didn't give the Colts an A+ grade is because they passed on a safety. Indianapolis can take a safety in round 4. Great pick by the Colts.
Green Bay Packers: Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford C- Grade

This draft is so deep at wide receiver, that I'm not handing out any D grades. That being said, Green Bay could have waited until Day 3 to draft Jarrett Boykins replacement. You got Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb both under long term contracts. DaVante Adams also still has 3 years left on his rookie deal.

I'm just amazed that the Packers passed on Paul Dawson and Ben Koyack for someone like Ty Montgomery. Nobody is perfect, but Montgomery is a guy you take on Day 3.
Washington Redskins: Matt Jones, RB, Florida F Grade

Matt Jones is a sixth to seventh round pick. I'm amazed that Washington picked Jones here.
Cleveland Browns: Xavier Cooper, 3-4 RE, Washington State B+ Grade

Cleveland gets depth behind Desmond Bryant and Billy Wynn in the five technique. Cooper can play 3-4 right end or 4-3 defensive tackle.
New England Patriots: Geneo Grissom, LE, Oklahoma C- Grade

Geneo Grissom is a 4-3 left end and most had him listed as a Day 3 pick. This is a really poor selection, and I'm trying to be generous about it because the Patriots have developed such an impeccable reputation for building though the draft under Bill Belichick.
Kansas City Chiefs: Steven Nelson, CB, Oregon State A+ Grade

Marcus Peters will be playing with Steven Nelson. Kansas City made some good picks at cornerback on defense. If they took T.J. Clemmings instead of Mitch Morse in the second round, they might be a dark horse pick to win the AFC West.

Denver is still the favorite to win the AFC West. The more I watch Kansas City and Oakland draft circles around the AFC West, the more I believe one of those teams might take that next step. At the same time, Kansas City needs
Cincinnati Bengals: Paul Dawson, MLB, TCU A+ Grade

Cincinnati needs a new middle linebacker. I'm not sold on Maualuga. Dawson can be that guy in Cincinnati and he provides amazing value right before the fourth round.