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Best Value Pick For Each Team
By Kevin Mullendore
Special to sfl-football.com

Well, my intention was to make it through all 32 teams by the 9pm cutoff for double APs. But it has taken waaaayy longer than I anticipated. Will try to complete as able.

So which player on each team was the best pick in terms of value where chosen? See below for my take on it using my player evaluation and criteria.

In cases where more than one player on a team represented very good value, the best was chosen and others were mentioned below. This list was compiled based off of the best information available at the time: posted actual attribs, private workouts, or just pre-skew draft pool if that was all that was readily available. Clearly in cases where final attribs were unknown, skew results could increase/decrease the value of a player.


[1.21] CB Jaire Alexander, Louisville
Analysis: It is often more difficult for a first-round player to be an exceptional value pick, but I had Jaire Alexander as the third-best cornerback in the draft and the Bengals landed him with pick 21. Most mocks had Alexander going anywhere from 15th to 23rd overall so regardless of how you look at it, his value at 21 was good and the Bengals top value pick.

Other good value picks: N/A


[3.5] CB Simeon Thomas, Lafayette
Analysis: Most mocks and analysts had five cornerbacks in the top tier, all going likely in the first round. That's exactly what ended up happening. I had Simeon Thomas as the top cornerback of the second tier, so for him to go with the fifth pick of the third round is really good value. Clearly he fell due to his 85ACC. But it can top out at 90ACC which is sufficient when paired with his good speed, exceptional height and strength.

Other good value picks: N/A


[3.23] HB Royce Freeman, Oregon
Analysis: I had Freeman as the 5th best HB in the draft. Personally, I probably prefer him over Lindsay who the Ravens also selected exactly two rounds earlier (just personal preference - GM Huszti knows what he is doing). But just really good value for a late third round pick.

Other good value picks: 2.13 TE Dallas Goedert


[1.11] CB Carlton Davis, Auburn
Analysis: The Steelers had two decent value candidate picks, both in the first round of the draft, in Carlton Davis and Veta Vea. Neither was picked too far from where projected by most mocks, projections, and this analyst’s view. However, the consensus was that Davis was a top-10 selection and many considered him the best cornerback in the draft - or at least 1a/1b. So to get Davis at 1.11 is pretty good value.

Other good value picks: N/A


[4.21] CB Anthony Averett, Alabama
Analysis: The Colts had a strong first round of the draft, landing the consensus top offensive lineman and middle linebacker in the class. But I think both players were selected close to where they should have been. Although he will probably not get the playing time or investment to increase his awareness to the point he makes much of an impact, the Colts’ best value pick was fourth round cornerback Averett.

Other good value picks: N/A


[3.12] SS Marcus Allen, Penn State
Analysis: The Jaguars didn’t pick until 3.12, and it appears the rest of their selections were chosen more for potential Draft Gem greatness as opposed to a player that good value today. Marcus Allen is the lone exception. Like many in this draft class his awareness is a little low, but it could be argued Allen is the fifth or sixth best safety in the class and should have gone late in the second round.

Other good value picks: N/A


[4.27] OT Will Richardson, N.C. State
Analysis: For not having any picks higher than #52 overall, the Texans likely had the best value draft class in the league with four players offering very good value where selected. The Texans got three future (if not current) starters on the OL from the group with Richardson from the end of the fourth round being the best value.

Other good value picks: 2.20 OT Brandon Parker, 2.28 C Mason Cole, 5.6 CB Dane Cruikshank


[4.2] CB Kevin Toliver II, LSU
Analysis: I had Toliver as likely the seventh-best cornerback in the class, slightly behind Thomas who was taken nearly a full round earlier (and also good value). Like most players in this class he has his warts (namely ACC that caps out at 89), but 6’2” corners with 99SPD are rare. If his ACC was 2-3 points higher he probably goes late in the first round.

Other good value picks: 2.25 DT Julian Taylor


[5.12] C Daniel Russell, Louisville
Analysis: It took a while to sift through all twelve (wait, what?? major penalty forthcoming?) of the Broncos draft selections. From the group, there were three that were especially good value, and of the three fifth-rounder Daniel Russell is the most intriguing. He will need some playing time and investment but has the potential to be a very good starting Center for GM Miller. Finding even a future starter in the fifth round is great value.

Other good value picks: 2.23 DT Derrick Nnadi, 3.10 OT Isaiah Wynn


[2.17] DT Harrison Phillips, Stanford
Analysis: The Chargers used two of their top three selections (all second rounders) on a kicker and punter, which even if good selections would be hard-pressed to be called great value. But in a class where the difference between the best defensive tackles came to personal preference, the Chargers were able to land a good one in the middle of the second round. Solid value even if not exceptional.

Other good value picks: N/A


[3.7] LOLB Fred Warner, BYU
Analysis: My FAVORITE pick by the Chiefs was WR Jaleel Scott, but there is no way to argue that was great value for the seventh overall pick. Fortunately for the Chiefs they nailed selections in each of the other rounds, with the exception of their lone dud of the draft in the second round - Barkley. While arguments could be made for Edmunds and Gaulden as well, I think the best value pick was Warner in the third. He really has no flaws and will probably sneak in his sophomore progression which will put him at 85/83/80/87. He’s already a good tackler and his awareness is at least average. And he’s 22yrs old. Just a very solid pick for a player that was probably a solid second round selection.

Other good value picks: 1.22 OLB Tremaine Edmunds, 4.3 CB Rashaan Gaulden


[5.7] CB Taron Johnson, Weber State
Analysis: Three of the Raiders’ five draft picks were really good value, but I would say the best value was CB Taron Johnson at pick 5.7. His catch is low and he wears cement shoes, but his awareness and height are at least average. At the same time, his speed, strength and acceleration are elite. Hard to complain much about those attributes for a fifth round pick.

Other good value picks: 1.28 SS Terrell Edmunds, 5.19 CB Parry Nickerson


[3.17] ROLB Zaire Franklin, Syracuse
Analysis: ZaireFranklin will finish his sophomore season with 87SPD, 85STR, 87AGI, and 90 ACC without any additional AP boosts. Those are elite attributes - bordering on T.J. Watt physical attributes. Franklin doesn’t have the awareness, tackling ability, or youth to make him the equivalent of a 12th overall pick like Watt, but it probably does give him at least second round value.

Other good value picks: N/A


[2.2] DE Marcus Davenport, UTEP
Analysis: I’m not sure why Marcus Davenport lasted into the second round. His actual attributes went down slightly, and high-strength/low-weight defensive ends have not fared well at times (ie: Mike Neal). But Davenport brings more to the table, combining his other attributes with exceptional acceleration. I believe he was an excellent value pick at #34 overall and will be a very good defensive end.

Other good value picks: N/A


[5.8] HB Bo Scarbrough, Alabama
Analysis: Pre-skew I had Scarbrough roughly tied for the #3 HB in the draft alongside Jones and behind Chubb and Williams. To land him in the fifth round, the eleventh HB taken, was a very pleasant surprise and great value. I'm not sure if there has been a draft where the grades on halfbacks varied so much (ie: my #3/#4 ranked HB was the 11th taken).

Other good value picks: 4.30 OG Zach Novoselsky


[2.10] DT Da’Ron Payne, Alabama
Analysis: Little separated the top several Defensive Tackles in this draft, much of it coming down to a GM’s preference in attributes. I believe some may have even had Payne as the top defensive tackle in the draft. Really good value at pick 2.10.

Other good value picks: 1.10 CB Charvarius Ward


[2.4] OT Kolton Miller, UCLA
Analysis:

Other good value picks:



[1.20] WR Tre’Quan Smith, USF
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[1.6] DE Bradley Chubb, N.C. State
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[2.24] DE Chad Thomas, Miami
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[5.16] CB Josh Jackson, Iowa
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[7.8] TE Hayden Hurst, S. Carolina
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[1.18] OLB Dorian O’Daniel, LSU
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[3.20] OT Chukwuma Okorafor, W. Michigan
Analysis:

Other good value picks: 3.26 WR Marquez Valdez, 7.27 DT Maurice Hurst (Draft Gem)


[2.8] OLB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[1.25] OLB Shaquille Leonard, S.C. State
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[3.18] HB David Williams, Arkansas
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[4.20] OT Joseph Notebook, TCU
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[4.5] MLB Oren Burks, Vanderbilt
Analysis: The Cowboys had a strong draft pretty much across the board and two of the players in particular represented very good value where selected.

Other good value picks: 3.27 DE Breeland Speaks


[3.24] OLB Genard Avery, Memphis
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[5.3] CB Kamrin Moore, Boston College
Analysis:

Other good value picks:


[4.31] C James Daniels, Iowa
Analysis:

Other good value picks:
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