2016 Draft: First Round Reaction

Best Pick: Cardinals take Robert Nkemdiche.

                This pick made perfect sense. The Cardinals get a highly productive and talented lineman who can collapses the pocket and raw attention from Chandler Jones and Calais Campbell. While he slid due to his off-the-field issues and streaky effort, Bruce Arians has dealt with those before. The Cardinals have a support system in place and Tyrann Mathieu can be a great mentor is moving past these types of issues. They got a top 10 talent without having to give up a single pick to get him. Great Pick.

Worst Pick: Titans trading up to take Jack Conklin

                I understand that the Titans offensive line needs to play better. However, I always thought the idea of taking Laremy Tunsil at the top of the draft was about him being the best player available at that spot, not because they actually needed a new left tackle. Trading up, requiring them to give up some of the valuable draft picks they acquired in trading the first overall pick, to take a tackle that is not going to be any better than Taylor Lewan is just a waste. They could have found a solid right tackle at the top of the second round and used the 15^th overall pick to address their other needs, like pass catchers or defense. It just seems to me they panicked and reached for something they didn’t really need. I‘m not even going to begin on passing on Tunsil at that spot.

Most Baffling Move: Niners trading up for more Pac-12.

                Chip Kelly has three basic types of draft moves. Drafting a player out of Oregon, drafting a player out of the Pac-12 and what are they thinking? While the selection of DeForest Buckner fell into the first category, there was some logic to it. The Niners were best when their defense was dominant and Buckner falls into the same category of play maker as Calais Campbell. They most likely envision him pairing with last year’s first round pick Arik Armstead as a pair of ends that could collapse the pocket and open up opportunities for the outside linebackers to make big plays. But trading back up for Joshua Garnett was just plain confusing. By all accounts he’s a guard who would have been available to them with their second round pick. But they ended up trading that pick to move up to take him. It makes sense from a need perspective but just not from value side.

Best forward-looking move: Giants getting DRC’s replacement a few years early.

                While some are criticizing the Giants for not jumping up to get a tackle or a pass rusher, I think the Giants made a brilliant move by standing pat and taking the top player on their board right then. Eli Apple isn’t likely to be taking anyone’s starting job right away, but he can make an immediate impact in the slot and learn from a pair of veterans how to improve his game. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is 30 presently and has three years remaining on his contract. During the last three years of his deal, DRC will count at least 8 million against the cap, with his dead cap number dropping from 6 mil this year, to 4 mil next year and two mil the final year. This all points to the Giants having Apple learn during his first season or two, then parting ways with DRC and sliding Apple in opposite Janoris Jenkins. I will say I liked Hargreaves as a corner more, BUT I don’t think he makes the same immediate impact on a team with a pair of solid starting corners. Great move in terms of forward thinking.

Random other Thoughts:

                The Bears better hope Leonard Floyd turns into Aldon Smith or Justin Houston because if he doesn’t they just traded up for a big whiff.

                I want to criticize the Ravens for passing on Tunsil if they were going to go Offensive line, but I’ve too much respect for Ozzie Newsome. I’ll wait and see how Ronnie Stanley pans out.

                I’m interested to see where Brandon Albert goes now that Tunsil is going to be taking his job in Miami.

                The Browns selection of Corey Coleman is completely irrelevant if they don’t fix the other problems they made on their team.

                Colts made a sneaky great pick, improving their offensive line by adding leadership in addition to a great player at the center spot.

                The Panthers taking Vernon Butler likely means that Star Lotulelei will be available in the near future. Most likely they are going to pay Kawann Short a big contract and let Star walk, sliding Butler in once he’s gone.