2016 NFL DRAFT THREAD

[Vitamike]

Arizona Cardinals
Positions of Need: S; OL; LB; CB; TE
Need
Drafted

Needs Analysis: Adding additional playmakers to a defensive backfield that already includes Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu could help make the Cardinals formidable against the pass. Arizona will likely be on the lookout for an edge-bending, disruptive pass rusher. Defensive ends Frostee Rucker and Cory Redding aren't getting any younger and the Cardinals' defense feeds off of an active defensive front. Center and tight end are the two biggest areas of need on offense.

Round 1, Pick 30 (29) Robert Nkemdiche DT 6'3" 294 Mississippi 6.3


Pick Analysis: "The Cardinals made a trade this offseason to make the pass rush better by getting Chandler Jones from the Patriots. Now, they make the inside better. This is a top-10 talent, but has inconsistent tape. I think he ended up in a great spot. The Cardinals were 20th in the league in sacks last season, and they will get better this year. From a value perspective, this is a home-run pick." -- Mike Mayock


Round 3, Pick 30 (92) Brandon Williams CB 5'11" 197 Texas A&M 5.3


Pick Analysis: "He has big-time speed and athleticism. He can carry the vertical routes easy with that speed, but those double moves will get him. There are a lot of raw tools to work with here." -- Daniel Jeremiah


Round 4, Pick 30 (128) Evan Boehm C 6'2" 309 Missouri 5.4


Pick Analysis: Boehm has starter qualities and center is a need for the Cardinals. He's a lunch pail hog with the intangibles you want from the leader of your offensive line. This is a good value for a future starter. --Mark Dulgerian


Round 5, Pick 30 (167) Marqui Christian SS 5'10" 196 Midwestern St. 5.2

Pick Analysis: Christian was a super-productive small school box safety with some developmental traits to be a reliable backup and special teams player. --Mark Dulgerian


Round 5, Pick 33 (170) (Compensatory Selection) Cole Toner OT 6'5" 306 Harvard 5.0

Pick Analysis: With some of the contract situations along the Cardinals' OL, they bring in some versatility and see where Toner fits. He hangs his hat on mobility in pass pro and on run downs. --Mark Dulgerian


Round 6, Pick 30 (205) Harlan Miller CB 6'0" 182 Southeastern Louisiana 5.5

Pick Analysis: The depth in Arizona's defensive backfield will be competitive. Miller is an aggressive corner who will be fighting for reserve jobs early in his career. --Mark Dulgerian

 

[Vitamike]

San Francisco 49ers
Positions of Need: QB; LB; OL; WR
Need
Drafted

Needs Analysis: The 49ers hoped that Colin Kaepernick would somehow turn it around, but he didn't. With Chip Kelly in the fold, finding a quarterback could take precedence with the first pick, but help along the offensive line must be addressed at some point as well. Kelly will target specific types of WRs to fit into his scheme, but look for Trent Baalke to do what he does best, which is find inside linebackers.

Round 1, Pick 7 (7) DeForest Buckner DE 6'7" 291 Oregon 7.2


Pick Analysis: "Buckner reminds of the Cardinals' Calais Campbell. He has power and length. Ideally, he's a five-technique, which is the defense that San Francisco plays." -- Mike Mayock

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/1
Round 1, Pick 28 (28) (From Chiefs) Joshua Garnett OG 6'4" 312 Stanford 5.8

Pick Analysis: "You're getting a brilliant young man, and a tough son of a gun. He has some work to do as a pass protector, which he's worked on every year. He can down block. He can pull. He's physical and nasty. He's ready for Sundays." -- Stanford coach David Shaw

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/3
Round 3, Pick 5 (68) Will Redmond CB 5'11" 182 Mississippi St. 5.6

Pick Analysis: "If healthy, he could have snuck into the back end of the first round. He has a big-time burst, but was unable to put a time down on paper due to injury." -- Daniel Jeremiah

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/4
Round 4, Pick 35 (133) (Compensatory Selection) Rashard Robinson CB 6'1" 171 LSU 5.4

Pick Analysis: Robinson has just 8 career starts under his belt, but that tells you what the 49ers think about his upside. Robinson is a long, press corner leaking with talent. If he stayed clean off the field, he's likely a top 40 pick. There are plenty of question marks, but he's an early candidate for steal of the draft. --Mark Dulgerian

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/5
Round 5, Pick 3 (142) (From Chargers) Ronald Blair DE 6'2" 284 Appalachian St. 5.4

Pick Analysis: The 49ers' have loaded up on their 34 front. Blair was a highly productive 4 year starter on the Mountaineers' odd front and brings edge setting ability along with the athleticism to shoot gaps on passing downs. --Mark Dulgerian

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/5
Round 5, Pick 6 (145) John Theus OT 6'6" 313 Georgia 5.1

Pick Analysis: Theus' athleticism jumps out on film, so it isn't surprising Chip Kelly added him. Kelly values technically sound, mobile linemen and Theus checks those boxes. His strength deficiencies were exposed at the Senior Bowl so he'll need some grooming before he's ready to see the field. --Mark Dulgerian

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/5
Round 5, Pick 37 (174) (Compensatory Selection) Fahn Cooper OT 6'4" 303 Mississippi 5.0


Pick Analysis: Chip Kelly likes to run the ball and Cooper has some "mauler" to him. He was a reliable replacement at LT in games Tunsil missed but he may struggle to mirror NFL edge speed. --Mark Dulgerian

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/6
Round 6, Pick 32 (207) (From Broncos) Jeff Driskel QB 6'4" 234 Louisiana Tech 5.1

Pick Analysis: Driskel looks the part and all the tools are there. He regained some confidence in 2015 after playing under 4 different offensive coordinators in his career. Chip has a chance to see if he can squeeze out all the talent scout's saw in flashes during his career. --Mark Dulgerian


Round 6, Pick 36 (211) (Compensatory Selection) Kelvin Taylor RB 5'10" 207 Florida 5.3


Pick Analysis: Taylor has some "grinder" to him and he's pro-ready thanks to the tutelage of his father. He should emerge from camp as the team's No.2 or No.3 back. --Mark Dulgerian

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/6
Round 6, Pick 38 (213) (Compensatory Selection) Aaron Burbridge WR 6'0" 206 Michigan St. 5.4

Pick Analysis: Connor Cook's favorite target last season lacks dynamic qualities as a receiver but he's adept at working the short to intermediate parts of the field. His comfort with crossers and timing routes likely caught Chip Kelly's attention. --Mark Dulgerian

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/7
Round 7, Pick 28 (249) (From Chiefs) Prince Charles Iworah CB 5'9" 192 Western Kentucky 5.1

 

[Vitamike]

Seattle Seahawks
Positions of Need: OL; CB; DL
Need
Drafted

Needs Analysis: The Seahawks' porous offensive line is in even worse shape after the loss of Russell Okung. If the Seahawks want to keep their Super Bowl "window of opportunity" open, they might have to address offensive tackle in the first round. The loss of Brandon Mebane hurts in the middle of the defensive line, and the loss of Bruce Irvin's speed off the edge is a concern as well. Seattle did a god job of building its defensive front through the draft and will need to do that once again. Seattle covets play-making secondary players and adding new cornerback depth at some point would make sense.

Round 1, Pick 32 (31) (From Broncos) Germain Ifedi OG 6'6" 324 Texas A&M 5.8


Pick Analysis: "He was announced as a tackle, but some people like him inside at guard. He's massive and powerful, but I question his technique. He's a bit of a waist-bender. Whether he plays tackle or guard, he will be coached by one of the best in the business in Tom Cable. This is a really good pick for a team that needs offensive linemen." -- Mike Mayock

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/2
Round 2, Pick 18 (49) (From Bears through Bills) Jarran Reed DT 6'3" 307 Alabama 6.1

Pick Analysis: "Talk about value, this was my 13th-rated player in the draft. He is always working forward with that powerful base and dominates against the run." -- Daniel Jeremiah

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/3
Round 3, Pick 27 (90) C.J. Prosise RB 6'0" 220 Notre Dame 5.5


Pick Analysis: "Prosise is a former wide receiver, and Pete Carroll likes players with unique skill sets. He could be a special back in this league." -- NFL Media analyst Michael Robinson

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/3
Round 3, Pick 32 (94) (From Broncos) Nick Vannett TE 6'6" 257 Ohio St. 5.7

Pick Analysis: "He's a made player. His first two years weren't very good, but in the last two years he was phenomenal. He has very good size and is a good route runner." -- Ohio State coach Urban Meyer

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/3
Round 3, Pick 35 (97) (Compensatory Selection) Rees Odhiambo OG 6'4" 314 Boise St. 5.4

Pick Analysis: "Tom Cable is going to love this guy. I have two issues with him. One, durability. Two, I don't know where to play him. Cable will love him because he's athletic,and he can turn these type of guys into good football players." -- Mike Mayock

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/5
Round 5, Pick 8 (147) (From Patriots through Dolphins) Quinton Jefferson DT 6'4" 291 Maryland 5.1

Pick Analysis: Jefferson is a 1-gapper who rotated along Maryland's 34 front. There is some uncertainty with the future of Seattle's defensive front so this is a depth pick as well as a future investment. --Mark Dulgerian

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/5
Round 5, Pick 34 (171) (Compensatory Selection) Alex Collins RB 5'10" 217 Arkansas 5.5

Pick Analysis: Collins fits what Seattle likes in it's runners-a downhill, power-back with enough speed to break through the 2nd level. Their RB depth is shaky so Collins should get plenty of opportunity to contribute early. --Mark Dulgerian

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/6
Round 6, Pick 40 (215) (Compensatory Selection) Joey Hunt C 6'0" 295 TCU 4.8

Pick Analysis: Tom Cable has a set of kids to mold into his scheme. Hunt has size deficiencies but he's the type of mobile blocker Cable can work with. --Mark Dulgerian

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/tracker/by-round/round/7
Round 7, Pick 22 (243) (From Patriots through Texans) Kenny Lawler WR 6'2" 203 California 5.4


Round 7, Pick 26 (247) Zac Brooks RB 6'1" 200 Clemson --

 

[bluepigpen]

Thanks Vita.

 

[Vitamike]

Thought this should go here too...

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

If they were intent on taking a developmental TE, I would've rather they taken MoBo because of his speed and athleticism.

Hope he doesn't blow up with the Vikes and make the Rams regret passing on him.

 

[shopson67]

If they were intent on taking a developmental TE, I would've rather they taken MoBo because of his speed and athleticism.

Hope he doesn't blow up with the Vikes and make the Rams regret passing on him.

Is he really a TE though?

Given that the kid's favorite team was the Vikings and gets to play with his favorite player in Peterson, I can't be mad at him ending up with the Vikes; it's a great story.

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

Is he really a TE though?

Given that the kid's favorite team was the Vikings and gets to play with his favorite player in Peterson, I can't be mad at him ending up with the Vikes; it's a great story.

I think he can still add some bulk to his frame and end up around Gronks build.

 

[Vitamike]

Draft prospect Tyler Higbee intends to plead not guilty to charges

Western Kentucky tight end Tyler Higbee plans to plead not guilty to charges stemming from an altercation this weekend. His lawyer told NFL Media that Higbee was defending himself during the incident.

According to Brian Lowder, Higbee's Bowling Green-based attorney, the alleged victim shoved Higbee's girlfriend after following her from another establishment. Per Lowder, that led Higbee to throw a punch that knocked the victim, Nawaf Alsaleh, to the ground.

"Our defense is that (Higbee) was justified in using force based on the aggressive and physical actions of the alleged victim," Lowder said. "(Alsaleh) started the altercation, escalated it, shoved Mr. Higbee's girlfriend, and at that point, Mr. Higbee utilized force to neutralize the situation. Mr. Higbee struck the individual one time and unfortunately, he hit his head, which caused the injuries."

Higbee, one of the top tight end prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft, was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with second-degree assault, second-degree evading police and public intoxication. It was the result of a fight outside a Bowling Green bar that left the victim, Alsaleh, with a concussion and brain hemorrhage, according to police.

Higbee was released at 3:15 p.m. CT on Sunday.

According to the police report, Higbee was at a bar with his girlfriend when Alsaleh repeatedly bothered them. Lowder said that Alsaleh left the previous bar to follow Higbee's girlfriend. Alsaleh and Higbee did not know each other prior to this weekend.

As for the charge of evading police, Lowder said Higbee did leave the scene, but upon encountering police, he stopped on their command and has been cooperating.

Alsaleh has two DUIs and has been booked at Warren County Regional Jail five times, according to court records.

Higbee is rated as NFL Media draft expert Mike Mayock's fifth-best tight end prospect. He is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on May 5, a week after the NFL draft. There will be a preliminary hearing a week or so after.

 

[LongtimeRamsFan42]

Draft prospect Tyler Higbee intends to plead not guilty to charges

Western Kentucky tight end Tyler Higbee plans to plead not guilty to charges stemming from an altercation this weekend. His lawyer told NFL Media that Higbee was defending himself during the incident.

According to Brian Lowder, Higbee's Bowling Green-based attorney, the alleged victim shoved Higbee's girlfriend after following her from another establishment. Per Lowder, that led Higbee to throw a punch that knocked the victim, Nawaf Alsaleh, to the ground.

"Our defense is that (Higbee) was justified in using force based on the aggressive and physical actions of the alleged victim," Lowder said. "(Alsaleh) started the altercation, escalated it, shoved Mr. Higbee's girlfriend, and at that point, Mr. Higbee utilized force to neutralize the situation. Mr. Higbee struck the individual one time and unfortunately, he hit his head, which caused the injuries."

Higbee, one of the top tight end prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft, was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with second-degree assault, second-degree evading police and public intoxication. It was the result of a fight outside a Bowling Green bar that left the victim, Alsaleh, with a concussion and brain hemorrhage, according to police.

Higbee was released at 3:15 p.m. CT on Sunday.

According to the police report, Higbee was at a bar with his girlfriend when Alsaleh repeatedly bothered them. Lowder said that Alsaleh left the previous bar to follow Higbee's girlfriend. Alsaleh and Higbee did not know each other prior to this weekend.

As for the charge of evading police, Lowder said Higbee did leave the scene, but upon encountering police, he stopped on their command and has been cooperating.

Alsaleh has two DUIs and has been booked at Warren County Regional Jail five times, according to court records.

Higbee is rated as NFL Media draft expert Mike Mayock's fifth-best tight end prospect. He is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on May 5, a week after the NFL draft. There will be a preliminary hearing a week or so after.

So basically, it was some drunk loudmouth a-hole(with a record) who likely knew EXACTLY who Higbee was and wanted to start some crap with him and his girlfriend(probably a hotter chick than he's EVER had and was jealous).

Sound about right???

 

[Retroram52]

P. Cooper ran a 4.58, 40 at the combines. Supposedly, he has football quickness!

 

[Retroram52]

Sometimes I wonder what cool-aid the writers over at SBNation are drinking but I think this Forrest kid is going to be more than Bates replacement under the tutelage of Williams and Fassel. I think he may even get playing time in the middle moving Olgetree back outside when they play together.

2016 NFL Draft: Grading the Los Angeles Rams' Selection Of Josh Forrest

 

[Battlelyon]

Arizona Cardinals, C-
1 (29) Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
3 (92) Brandon Williams, CB, Texas A&M
4 (128) Evan Boehm, C, Missouri
5 (167) Marqui Christian, S, Midwest State
5 (170) Cole Toner, OT, Harvard
6 (205) Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana

Day 1: Nkemdiche has interior pass-rush potential after grading at +23.4 as a rusher, ninth in the class. He’s not great against the run, but if he can line up over tight ends on early downs before kicking inside to rush the passer, the Cardinals can maximize his value.

Day 2: A pure projection pick, Williams is an athletic former running back who graded at -5.5 overall last season, 117th in among the cornerbacks in the draft class. His production simply didn’t match his athletic reputation.

Day 3: Boehm struggled in pass protection as his -7.9 grade ranked 57th among 63 qualifiers in the class. Arizona rounded out the class with two small-schoolers who struggled at the Senior Bowl in Toner (-2.6) and Miller (-1.0).

Los Angeles Rams, A-
1 (1) (from Tennessee) Jared Goff, QB, California
4 (110) Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky
4 (117) (from Buffalo) Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina
6 (177) (from Tennessee) Temarrick Hemingway, TE, South Carolina State
6 (190) Josh Forrest, ILB, Kentucky
6 (206) (from Carolina via Chicago) Michael Thomas, WR, Southern Mississippi

Day 1: The Rams made the move up to get their franchise quarterback, and they got the best QB in the draft in Goff. Our top-graded FBS quarterback brings a lot of translatable skills to the table, from intermediate and deep accuracy to his handling of pressure to his excellent pocket presence. Goff has improved every year, and he’s still filling out his frame, so given his base of NFL skills, he should continue to get better.

Day 2: No picks

Day 3: Off-field issues aside, Higbee originally had a second-round grade as his +7.9 receiving grade ranked third in the class. He’s one of the most athletic options in the draft and he can become an intermediate weapon for new QB Jared Goff. Cooper can start out as a gimmick player, but he accelerates quickly and can become a vertical option from the slot, pairing well with Goff’s skillset. Thomas is one of our favorite picks in the draft as the No. 38 player on the PFF draft board has great body control and he won contested catches at a higher rate than the other top receivers in the class.

San Francisco 49ers, B+
1 (7) DeForest Buckner, DT, Oregon
1 (28) (from Kansas City) Joshua Garnett, G, Stanford
3 (68) Will Redmond, CB, Mississippi State
4 (133) Rashard Robinson, CB, LSU
5 (142) (from San Diego) Ronald Blair, DT, Appalachian State
5 (145) John Theus, OT, Georgia
5 (174) Fahn Cooper, OT, Ole Miss
6 (207) (from Denver) Jeff Driskel, QB, Louisiana Tech
6 (211) Kelvin Taylor, RB, Florida
6 (213) Aaron Burbridge, WR, Michigan State
7 (249) (from Kansas City) Prince Charles Iworah, CB, Western Kentucky

Day 1: One of the best picks in the draft, the 49ers took the No. 2 player on the PFF draft board in Buckner, a he happens to be a perfect fit for their 3-4 scheme. He’s a disruptive presence against the run, grading at +29.8 last season (eighth in the class), while leading the nation with a +43.8 pass-rush grade. Buckner rarely came off the field for Oregon, playing more snaps than any interior defensive lineman in the nation and he was able to maintain his production throughout the season. San Francisco then traded back into the first round to secure the top run-blocking guard in the draft in Garnett. He is excellent on the move and despite some question marks about his pass protection, he should be a good fit in Chip Kelly’s scheme.

Day 2: Redmond is a solid zone defender who is quick to read and break on the ball, although that aggressiveness can get him into trouble at times. His +1.6 coverage grade ranked No. 56 in the class.

Day 3: Robinson didn’t play in 2015, but his length and speed made him a coveted mid-round option. Blair’s +42.7 overall grade ranked 13th in the draft class, as he can make plays against the run and as a pass rusher though he has to get stronger at the point of attack in the run game. Driskel took a huge step forward this year for Louisiana Tech as his +22.0 passing grade ranked 11th in the class and his athleticism is a good fit for Chip Kelly’s system. His former teammate at Florida, Kelvin Taylor, made the most of subpar blocking at Florida to finish with the No. 7 run grade in the class at +19.4. Burbridge doesn’t separate well, but he can make contested catches and he caught 64.0 percent of his deep targets, fourth-best in the class.

Seattle Seahawks, C
1 (31) (from Denver) Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
2 (49) (from Buffalo via Chicago) Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
3 (90) C.J. Prosise, RB, Notre Dame
3 (94) (from Denver) Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State
3 (97) Rees Odhiambo, G, Boise State
5 (147) Quinton Jefferson, DT, Maryland
5 (171) Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas
6 (215) Joey Hunt, C, TCU
7 (243) Kenny Lawler, WR, California
7 (247) Zac Brooks, RB, Clemson

Day 1: We saw Ifedi as more of a mid-round developmental option, even though he has the size, length and athleticism that coaches covet. He had some ugly plays in pass protection, finishing with the No. 67 grade in that area in the draft class. He was better in the running game, ranking No. 23 in the class, but he has a ways to go to live up to his first-round selection. The Seahawks really need to improve their line play, as Russell Wilson was under pressure at the second-highest rate of any NFL QB last season.

Day 2: Reed posted the No. 2 grade against the run last year, disrupting blockers and making plays. He’s technically sound and can see the field immediately on run downs. Prosise had an impressive performance at running back last year, earning the 10th-best grade in the class. Vannett offers value as a blocking “move” tight end, while Odhiambo’s movement skills fit in at guard in Seattle’s zone scheme – even though he did whiff on too many blocks in the run game (-2.2 run-block grade).

Day 3: Jefferson made plays against the run in 2015, finishing with a +17.8 grade that ranked 23rd in the class though he can get moved off the point by double teams. Collins graded at +16.1, good for ninth in the class and his 58 missed tackles forced ranked third. He does a nice job maximizing his blocking though he lacks breakaway speed. Hunt is an undersized center, but his good movement skills make him one of the better zone-blocking centers in the draft. His +26.5 overall grade ranked fourth in the class.

 

[Battlelyon]

 

[icefreeze57]

Hey guys, long time no post. Hope everyone is well.


What's your thoughts on drafting the two TEs?! Kinda annoying to me. And if we were picking a project developmental receiver who may or may not be able to block at the next level, I much rather would've preferred the German kid.

 

[RamsFan88]

I like that they doubled up on receiving and TE options. The TE in the 6th is a project, but people rave about his athletic ability. Hopefully two or three of these guys work out.

 

[Vitamike]

Good to see you around @icefreeze57! Don't be such a stranger around here.

I'm good with the double down on Tight Ends, we were really thin at TE, and drafting just one takes away competition at the position, and we need true weapons for Goff to succeed. (Also protects us in case things go the wrong way with Higbee's assault plus charges, and we lose him for a while)

Hemingway is a project for sure (So is the German) but he offers difficult match-ups underneath, thus a weapon for Goff, and showed well in his pro day.

 

[Retroram52]

Last year, Snisher went on a run on O-lineman except for Center. We didn't draft one this year but there are a couple in the UDFA lists. Snisher used the same strategy this year on TEs and WRS. By logic, they'll be a run on LBs and secondary people next year. Apparently Snisher don't know how to do BPA. That requires too much work and cerebral activity that Snisher obviously are not keen about.

 

[icefreeze57]

Yeah I'm always under impressed by Snisher's drafts. They do very well with front 7 players, occasionally get someone else. But waste so many picks on unneeded projects.

Like you just said, 4 linemen, not one of them is a center! Not to mention the year before they spent the second overall pick on a project tackle instead of Watkins and Mack.

 

[icefreeze57]

Good to see you around @icefreeze57! Don't be such a stranger around here.

I'm good with the double down on Tight Ends, we were really thin at TE, and drafting just one takes away competition at the position, and we need true weapons for Goff to succeed. (Also protects us in case things go the wrong way with Higbee's assault plus charges, and we lose him for a while)

Hemingway is a project for sure (So is the German) but he offers difficult match-ups underneath, thus a weapon for Goff, and showed well in his pro day.

Thanks man! Been on facebook pages, there is more content (more posters and posts and threads and different pages) but the content here always seems like a higher standard which is why I like to post here too lol