2014 NFL Draft – Complete Draft Grades
B+’s
Buffalo Bills:
Sammy Watkins (Clemson). Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
The Bills got arguably the top wide receiver in the draft in Sammy Watkins. However, the Bills gave up a lot to get Watkins, and that will affect their grade also. In the second round the took Alabama OT Cyrus Kouandjio. They got good value and address a need. The Bills addressed needs and got good value with both of their third and fourth round picks in ILB Preston Brown and CB Ross Cockrell. The value the Bills gave up in order to draft Watkins has to be deducted from their final grade. But over all a very good draft for the Bills. Grade: B+
Cincinnati Bengals:
The Bengals started strong with their first round pick of CB Darqueze Dennard at pick 26. Which might end up as a steal, as some feel he’s the best corner in the draft. But their pick of RB Jeremy Hill was good value, but it wasn’t a huge need for the Bengals. DE Will Clarke in their third round filled a need. But their fifth round pick of QB A.J. McCarron filled a need to get some competition for Andy Dalton, and was also for good value.
Grade: B+
Denver Broncos:
The Broncos filled a need and got good value in the first round with Ohio State CB Bradley Roby. And got a good wide receiver prospect in the second round with Indiana’s Cody Latimer. OT Michael Schofield was a good pick in the third, As was LB Lamin Barrow in the fifth round. Good Draft by the Broncos.
Grade: B+
Houston Texans:
The Texans got the consensus best player in the draft in Jadeveon Clowney. They filled a need and got outstanding value. Another team might have screwed this up, but the Texans did the right thing. They filled another need and got great value in the second round with UCLA guard Xavier Su’a-filo. They hit again in the third round with value and need with TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, and NT Louis Nix. They missed on getting a franchise QB, but Tom Savage is a good developmental prospect in the fourth. Grade: B+
Oakland Raiders:
The Raiders took OLB Khalil Mack at pick 5, and got one of the best pass rushers in the draft. He should help them tremendously on defense. They then took a good QB prospect with Derek Carr in round two. OG Gabe Jackson gave them good value in the third, and in the fourth the Raiders got super-sized CB Keith McGill. The Raiders filled some needs and got some good value.
Grade: B+
San Francisco 49ers:
Safety Jimmie Ward was a good pick at the end of the first round, and he fills a need. But their second round pick Carlos Hyde doesn’t, as the 49ers already have a stable of good running backs. Good value though. Center Marcus Martin and ILB Chris Borland were both great picks in the third round. As were WR Bruce Ellington and CB Dontae Johnson in the fourth. As usual, the 49ers address needs and get great value in the draft at the same time.
Grade: B+