DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2015 NFL Season The NFL Draft 2015 Reflecting on the top 100...

1a) Danny Shelton- NT- 6'2”; 339lbs (12)
--A pure zero. Impressive strength and punch. Reports of getting gassed at senior bowl and decline in productivity as the year wore on may point to a conditioning concern, but also played a large number of snaps for a man his size. Sack total is noticeably inflated do to first 2 games of 2014, but big, reliable noses are hard to find. Generally fell within slots 8-14 for most major publications. My unsolicited grade: B

1b) Cameron Erving- C/OG- 6'5”; 313lbs (19)
--May have only graded out initially as a 3rd round left tackle do to limitations on the edge, however graded out as a 2nd round guard and a 1st round center. Flexibility is his calling card. Generally graded within slots 20-32 for most publications, but IMO was the 4th best overall O-line prospect after La'el Collins was removed from the board. My unsolicited grade: C-

2) Nate Orchard- OLB- 6'3”; 251 lbs (51)
--A high motor guy with limited overall athletic ability. Quick first step but relies mostly on tenacity and a handful of moves to create pressure. Though instincts appear solid, will need to improve punch and overall strength at next level. Plays better versus big competition. Absolute monster games versus UCLA and Stanford followed by a disappointing game at Colorado?? Generally graded between slots 50-80, though I do like him better than Danielle Hunter. My unsolicited grade: C

3a) Duke Johnson- RB- 5'9”; 207lbs (77)
--An explosive speed back with impressive quickness and a well-built (I'll-be-it short) frame. Should complete the RB stable and add some homerun capability on 3rd downs. High likelihood of competing for kick return/gunner duties on Special Teams. Generally graded in slots 45-75. Though not a big need, on the surface may present best value. My unsolicited grade: B+

3b) Xavier Cooper- DE- 6'3”; 294lbs (96)
--Alternated between under tackle in the even front and 5 tech in the odd. High motor, explosive first step and nimble feet. Often struggles at the point with initial punch and strength, will need to get stronger and improve tackling form. A surprisingly sound trade considering I was expecting New England to push for max value holding both 96 and 97. Generally fell within picks 65-90 for most major publications. My unsolicited grade: B+


Weighted grade: B- Just barely.

Though I think most of us were really hoping to grab pass-catchers (WR/TE) by now, this may be the first time we don't have a pick that the interweb “gurus” would consider a bad reach.

5 down and 5 to go...

4 areas I would still like to see.
WR
TE
ILB
DB (yes...every year)

how does that description come out to a C-?

I'm going to take this as you saying this it the "Grade the Draft so far" :-P

1A) Danny Shelton: Awesome pick. Strength, toughness, ability, attitude, energy. He has it all. Keep him in shape and teach him a little more technique, and he'll be a really really great player. Grade: A+

1B) Cameron Erving: I've said that although I really don't like 1st round OL for this team, he's the guy I would understand. A real ground masher, he'll replace someone on the right side this year, and then return to center later. Unfortunately, I don't like 1st round OL. Grade: C+

2) Nate Orchard: I'm not going to lie, I really like Nate Orchard. I'm really, really happy we managed to move down, because I like Orchard a lot more at 51. I think right now, he's a situational pass rusher until they teach him how to defend the running game. He has all the tools in the tool box, just needs NFL Strength and Conditioning and some technique on run defending. Solid pick in the 2nd. Grade: B

3A) Duke Johnson: I love Duke Johnson. He's the perfect back to compliment Crow and West. Or they are the perfect backs to compliment him, whatever. Johnson will be the middle head of our 3 headed monster on the ground. Speed, Quickness *his jump cut is like football porn*, toughness, vision, hands...he has it all. Grade: A+

3B) Xavier Cooper: A real pass rushing threat from the defensive line. He's still not strong enough, but is quick enough and has enough technique to be a force in the passing game. He's a freak athletically. Same as Orchard, a few years and he'll be a starter on the line. Grade: B+

Overall, this is shaping up to be a great draft. Traded down when they should have, trading up for players who fell a little, getting scheme fits...all of it is awesome. The value at times was off, and we can debate all day about offensive skill, but this draft was about setting your football philosophy up.

Overall grade is a B+/A-. Depending on who we get tomorrow, this could be an all-timer, IMO.

Cameron was moved up the board do to Collins issues. IMO, there was only one top-10 O-lineman in the draft so taking a guy who normally would have been the 5th best o-line prospect is not good value at 19. If he manages to push out a guard that we already have or Schwartz (taken in the 2nd) then it still will have been worth it (but barely). Then again, I'm still Hoping Mack stays through his contract at center which would negate Erving's 1st round grade as a center.

I am wondering why he is considered such a great center when he only played a few games there last year. Wasn't he mainly used as a left tackle?

First game I saw him in as a center was against Georgia Tech in the ACC championship. it was only his fourth game ever playing center and he looked like a future pro bowler. He made protection calls at the line, blitz pickups, and destroyed defensive tackles and linebackers.

And of course, that was a year after being a 2nd team All American tackle.

That sounds promising, hopefully that will carryover to the NFL.

D- at best.