Sunday, April 28, 2019

AFC NORTH DIVISION DRAFT RECAP




Baltimore Ravens
Needs: QB, RB, WR, TE, EDGE               Pressing: WR, EDGE
Draft Picks:

Round 1 - (From PHI) (25) Marquise Brown   WR / Oklahoma
Round 3 - (85) Jaylon Ferguson   OLB / Louisiana Tech
Round 3 - (From NO) (93) Miles Boykin   WR / Notre Dame
Round 4 - (From DEN) (113) Justice Hill   RB / Oklahoma State
Round 4 - (123) Ben Powers   G / Oklahoma
Round 4 - (From PHI) (127) Iman Marshall   CB / USC
Round 5 - (160) Daylon Mack   DT / Texas A&M
Round 6 - (From PHI) (197) Trace McSorley   QB / Penn State

Grade: 83
Best Value: Trace McSorely   QB / Penn State

The Ravens had a busy offseason even before the draft as they lost pass rushers Terrell Suggs and Za'Darius Smith to free agency but added former Saints RB Mark Ingram and Seahawks safety Earl Thomas. If Baltimore is going to run the style of offense they ran last season, they will always have to find elite receiver talent through the draft, because no big-name receiver is going to want to sign there. I'm not sure if Lamar Jackson has the type of arm talent to consistently hit Marquise Brown deep, but luckily for the Ravens all Jackson will have to do is get the ball to Brown. Brown is the best run after catch (RAC) receiver in this draft. I also like the selection of Justice Hill out of Oklahoma State, although he played in an air raid offense in college, he excels at catching the ball out of the backfield and that should help out 2nd year QB Lamar Jackson. Trace McSorely almost conforms to me that the Ravens are sticking with run heavy/zone read/RPO system. Look for McSorely to do more than just sit on the bench, he is a versatile athlete that could become what Taysom Hill is for the Saints.


Cincinnati Bengals
Needs: QB, WR, TE, OL, EDGE, INT DL, LB     Pressing: OL, LB
Draft Picks:

Round 1 - (11) Jonah Williams   OL / Alabama
Round 2 - (From DEN) (52) Drew Sample   TE / Washington
Round 3 - (72) Germaine Pratt   OLB / North Carolina State
Round 4 - (From SF) (104) Ryan Finley    QB / North Carolina State
Round 4 - (From DEN) (125) Renell Wren    DT / Arizona State
Round 4 - (From DAL) Michael Jordan   C / Ohio State
Round 6 - (From DEN) (182) Trayveon Williams   RB / Texas A&M
Round 6 - (Comp) (210) Deshaun Davis   ILB / Auburn
Round 6 - (Comp) (211) Rodney Anderson   RB / Oklahoma
Round 7 - (223) Jordan Brown   CB / South Dakota State

Grade: 91
Best Value: Deshaun Davis   ILB / Auburn

This was an impressive haul for a Bengals team that desperately needed it. Jonah Williams should be an immediate upgrade on the offensive line alongside last year’s 1st round selection Billy Price. Drew Sample was a reach for me, not just because of the value, but they don't really have a pressing need at TE. I think the Bengals got a steal in Ryan Finley. He had the most experience out of any QB in this class with 46 games played in college. Trayveon Williams is a scat back out of Texas A&M with big play ability, look for him to play a big role on special teams and catching balls out of the backfield. Deshaun Davis was the defensive captain for Auburn for the past two seasons, and a great leader which this Bengals' defense desperately need.


Cleveland Browns
Needs: OL, LB       Pressing: None
Draft Picks:

Round 2 - (From IND) (46) Greedy Williams   CB / LSU
Round 3 - (80) Sione Takitaki   DE / BYU
Round 4 - (119) Sheldrick Redwine   S / Miami
Round 5 - (155) Mack Wilson   ILB / Alabama
Round 5 - (From NE) (170) Austin Seibert   K / Oklahoma
Round 6 - (189) Drew Forbes   OT / Southeast Missouri State
Round 7 - (From JAX) (221) Donnie Lewis Jr.   CB / Tulane

Grade: 80
Best Value: Mack Wilson   ILB / Alabama

Cleveland traded their first-round pick to the New York Giants in deal that resulted in Odell Beckham Jr. becoming a Brown, not too bad if you ask me. Greedy Williams is a super athlete who excels at man coverage and jump balls. Sione Takitaki is an undersized edge rusher at 6-1, 240 lbs., but he excels at using his speed to get around tackles. The best pick of this draft for the Brownies was getting the quarterback of Alabama's defense, Mack Wilson. He's no Devin Bush or Devin White, but I believe he will become a solid, steady pro for the Browns.


Pittsburgh Steelers
Needs: WR, TE, EDGE, ILB, DB       Pressing: ILB
Draft Picks:

Round 1 - (From DEN) (10) Devin White   ILB / Michigan
Round 3 - (From OAK) (66) Diontae Johnson   WR / Toledo
Round 3 - (83) Justin Layne   CB / Michigan State
Round 4 - (122) Benny Snell   RB / Kentucky
Round 5 - (From OAK) (141) Zach Gentry    TE / Michigan
Round 6 - (From OAK) (175) Sutton Smith   OLB / Northern Illinois
Round 6 - (192) Isiah Buggs   DT / Alabama
Round 6 - (From ARI) (207) Uylsees Gilbert III   ILB / Akron
Round 7 - (From TB) (219) Derwin Gray    G / Maryland

Grade: 94
Best Value: Isiah Buggs   DT / Alabama

I was texting my friend who is a Packers fan during the first round of the draft and he really believed Devin Bush could solidify the Packers defense. When the Raiders drafted Clelin Ferrell, I told him the Packers need to trade up now in order to get Devin Bush. They didn't and low and behold the team he hates the most, the Pittsburgh Steelers jump up and grab Bush. I thought the trade that allowed the Steelers to move up to 10th overall was a steal for Pittsburgh (gave up 20th overall, 52nd overall, and a 2020 3rd rounder). The Broncos knew Pittsburgh was desperate for inside linebacker help, they could've and should've bleed them out for more in that trade. After that Benny Snell with help James Conner in the Pittsburgh running committee, and Sutton Smith is underrated pass rusher of the edge. The best value for the Steelers was DT Isiah Buggs. Buggs was the unsung hero of an Alabama defense that allowed just over 100 yards rushing a game in 2018. He'll translate to a 3-4 DE in Pittsburgh and be the hopeful replacement for the aging Cam Heyward.


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