2016 NFL Draft Grades: Round 1

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New Orleans Saints: Sheldon Rankins – DL – Louisville

The Saints needed to add some kind of a difference maker to their roster, and it looks like they did just that with Rankins. There were a number of positions and players the Saints could have gone and it would be a solid pick, but this might be the best they could have done given the board at the time. Best player available, pick of need, difference maker…Rankins was the way to go no matter how they looked at it. I like it.

Grade: A

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Eli Apple (Ohio State) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the New York Giants as the number ten overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Giants: Eli Apple – CB – Ohio State

This was the first shocker of a pick in the draft. Eli Apple is a quality player with a huge ceiling. However, there were definitely prospects that could have a better immediate impact here. And also some prospects that would have filled a real hole for the Giants. I don’t see how Apple gets on the field early in New York (an important factor when picking 10th).

Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie is coming off a Pro Bowl year and the Giants just paid a big contract to Janoris Jenkins. This pick makes no sense.

Grade: C-

New York Jets: Darron Lee – OLB – Ohio State

The Jets still have no idea what their offense will look like…but that defense is set up to be something else. With the addition of Lee, New York now has talented play makers at every level of the defense. They should be very tough to score on this year…which is a good thing since they don’t even know who their QB will be. Better picks available? Sure, but this was still a good one.

Grade: B

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Oakland Raiders: Karl Joseph – S – West Virginia

There is no doubt that GM Reggie McKenzie is running the show in Oakland these days. Karl Joseph is an outstanding player that a lot of folks were overlooking. No. 14 may be a little high for him, but he fills an immediate need for the Raiders and has a lot of talent and upside. This doesn’t solve the problems the Raiders have in the interior of their defense, but it should help in certain situations.

Grade: B

Next: Wentz goes to Philadelphia...

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