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McShay: Most improved teams after draft
It's impossible to judge a team's draft class the day the draft ends, in part because some picks are made with the future rather than immediate impact in mind.
But based on the picks made Thursday through Saturday, which draft classes improved their teams the most heading into the 2016 season? Below, I identify six franchises that saw their rosters get markedly better thanks to the just-completed draft.
Baltimore Ravens
In the first two days of the draft, GM Ozzie Newsome addressed two of his team's three biggest needs with the selections of OT Ronnie Stanley and OLB Kamalei Correa. An outstanding pass-blocker, Stanley can be trusted to protect QB Joe Flacco's blind side from day one. Correa, meanwhile, has the burst and closing speed to be a difference-maker off the edge. Baltimore needed to get younger at pass-rusher because OLBs Terrell Suggs (33 years old) and Elvis Dumervil (32) are showing a little wear.
Newsome really went to work on Day 3, though, nailing the fourth round with five slam-dunk selections. CB Tavon Young, WR Chris Moore, OT Alex Lewis, DT Willie Henry and RB Kenneth Dixon are all underrated prospects who will find a way to contribute in 2016. Moore, in particular, was a steal at No. 107. The 46th-ranked player on our board, Moore averaged 22 yards per catch and should fit right in with an offense that loves to chuck it deep.
Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/6 Ronnie Stanley OT Notre Dame
2/42 Kamalei Correa OLB Boise State
3/70 Bronson Kaufusi DE BYU
4/104 Tavon Young CB Temple
4/107 Chris Moore WR Cincinnati
4/130 Alex Lewis OT Nebraska
4/132 Willie Henry DT Michigan
4/134 Kenneth Dixon RB Louisiana Tech
5/146 Matt Judon DE Grand Valley State University
6/182 Keenan Reynolds WR Navy
6/209 Maurice Canady CB Virginia
Chicago Bears
Last season, Lamarr Houston led the Bears in sacks with just 8.0, so Chicago had to find a way to get faster and more athletic off the edge. Enter No. 9 overall pick Leonard Floyd, whose 4.60 40 at the combine helped him shoot up draft boards. Floyd has the versatility to drop in coverage and a ton of upside as a pass-rusher. Second-round pick Cody Whitehair started 50 of 51 career college games at Kansas State, and his experience is immediately evident when you watch him on film. He's quick to locate stunts and blitzes and is a plug-and-play starter along the interior of the O-line.
A three-down player with underrated athleticism, fourth-rounder Nick Kwiatkoski is the most instinctive linebacker in this class. He should fit nicely with free-agent acquisitions Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. And DE Jonathan Bullard has the versatility to line up all over the Bears' D-line, with the first-step quickness and motor to make an impact as a rookie.
Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/9 Leonard Floyd OLB Georgia
2/56 Cody Whitehair G Kansas State
3/72 Jonathan Bullard DE Florida
4/113 Nick Kwiatkoski ILB West Virginia
4/124 Deon Bush S Miami
4/127 Deiondre' Hall CB Northern Iowa
5/150 Jordan Howard RB Indiana
6/185 Deandre Houston-Carson S William & Mary
7/230 Daniel Braverman WR Western Michigan
Houston Texans
The Texans accomplished the first goal of their offseason by signing QB Brock Osweiler in free agency. But they came into the draft needing to get Bill O'Brien some more toys to play with on offense. They accomplished that in the first round by drafting WR Will Fuller. His 4.32 speed and game-breaking ability is the perfect complement to DeAndre Hopkins.
Houston added two more versatile playmakers in the middle rounds -- WR Braxton Miller and RB Tyler Ervin. Miller is still developing as a wide receiver after playing quarterback for the majority of his college career, but that won't stop O'Brien from deploying him in creative ways. Ervin, meanwhile, is tough to wrangle in the open field and has the 4.41 speed to punish defenses for a misstep. Throw in second-round center Nick Martin, who fills a big need and should start right away, and it's clear that the Texans did everything in their power to surround Osweiler with a bevy of talent.
Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/21 Will Fuller WR Notre Dame
2/50 Nick Martin C Notre Dame
3/85 Braxton Miller WR Ohio State
4/119 Tyler Ervin RB San Jose State
5/159 KJ Dillon S West Virginia
5/166 D.J. Reader DT Clemson
It's impossible to judge a team's draft class the day the draft ends, in part because some picks are made with the future rather than immediate impact in mind.
But based on the picks made Thursday through Saturday, which draft classes improved their teams the most heading into the 2016 season? Below, I identify six franchises that saw their rosters get markedly better thanks to the just-completed draft.
Baltimore Ravens
In the first two days of the draft, GM Ozzie Newsome addressed two of his team's three biggest needs with the selections of OT Ronnie Stanley and OLB Kamalei Correa. An outstanding pass-blocker, Stanley can be trusted to protect QB Joe Flacco's blind side from day one. Correa, meanwhile, has the burst and closing speed to be a difference-maker off the edge. Baltimore needed to get younger at pass-rusher because OLBs Terrell Suggs (33 years old) and Elvis Dumervil (32) are showing a little wear.
Newsome really went to work on Day 3, though, nailing the fourth round with five slam-dunk selections. CB Tavon Young, WR Chris Moore, OT Alex Lewis, DT Willie Henry and RB Kenneth Dixon are all underrated prospects who will find a way to contribute in 2016. Moore, in particular, was a steal at No. 107. The 46th-ranked player on our board, Moore averaged 22 yards per catch and should fit right in with an offense that loves to chuck it deep.
Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/6 Ronnie Stanley OT Notre Dame
2/42 Kamalei Correa OLB Boise State
3/70 Bronson Kaufusi DE BYU
4/104 Tavon Young CB Temple
4/107 Chris Moore WR Cincinnati
4/130 Alex Lewis OT Nebraska
4/132 Willie Henry DT Michigan
4/134 Kenneth Dixon RB Louisiana Tech
5/146 Matt Judon DE Grand Valley State University
6/182 Keenan Reynolds WR Navy
6/209 Maurice Canady CB Virginia
Chicago Bears
Last season, Lamarr Houston led the Bears in sacks with just 8.0, so Chicago had to find a way to get faster and more athletic off the edge. Enter No. 9 overall pick Leonard Floyd, whose 4.60 40 at the combine helped him shoot up draft boards. Floyd has the versatility to drop in coverage and a ton of upside as a pass-rusher. Second-round pick Cody Whitehair started 50 of 51 career college games at Kansas State, and his experience is immediately evident when you watch him on film. He's quick to locate stunts and blitzes and is a plug-and-play starter along the interior of the O-line.
A three-down player with underrated athleticism, fourth-rounder Nick Kwiatkoski is the most instinctive linebacker in this class. He should fit nicely with free-agent acquisitions Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. And DE Jonathan Bullard has the versatility to line up all over the Bears' D-line, with the first-step quickness and motor to make an impact as a rookie.
Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/9 Leonard Floyd OLB Georgia
2/56 Cody Whitehair G Kansas State
3/72 Jonathan Bullard DE Florida
4/113 Nick Kwiatkoski ILB West Virginia
4/124 Deon Bush S Miami
4/127 Deiondre' Hall CB Northern Iowa
5/150 Jordan Howard RB Indiana
6/185 Deandre Houston-Carson S William & Mary
7/230 Daniel Braverman WR Western Michigan
Houston Texans
The Texans accomplished the first goal of their offseason by signing QB Brock Osweiler in free agency. But they came into the draft needing to get Bill O'Brien some more toys to play with on offense. They accomplished that in the first round by drafting WR Will Fuller. His 4.32 speed and game-breaking ability is the perfect complement to DeAndre Hopkins.
Houston added two more versatile playmakers in the middle rounds -- WR Braxton Miller and RB Tyler Ervin. Miller is still developing as a wide receiver after playing quarterback for the majority of his college career, but that won't stop O'Brien from deploying him in creative ways. Ervin, meanwhile, is tough to wrangle in the open field and has the 4.41 speed to punish defenses for a misstep. Throw in second-round center Nick Martin, who fills a big need and should start right away, and it's clear that the Texans did everything in their power to surround Osweiler with a bevy of talent.
Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/21 Will Fuller WR Notre Dame
2/50 Nick Martin C Notre Dame
3/85 Braxton Miller WR Ohio State
4/119 Tyler Ervin RB San Jose State
5/159 KJ Dillon S West Virginia
5/166 D.J. Reader DT Clemson
They weren't in last place. And did you forget the Ravens signed Weddle? If the secondary actually stays healthy this year, it's already an improvement over last years.
