With the SFL Draft being officially wrapped up, and the newest generation of college athletes chomping at the bit to showcase their talent in the SFL, Many team have selected phenomenal talent and multiple day one starters. So I thought that its only right to grade each selection of the draft
1.01 Detroit Lions- MLB Luke Kuechly
With the 1st overall pick in the draft, the Lions opted to go with the best overall player in the draft rather than filling positional needs, even with the depth at MLB for the Detroit Lions, Kuechly is an absolute beast and a once in a blue moon talent, I think this was a fantastic pick, only thing stopping this from being an A+ pick, is the aforementioned depth at MLB
Draft Grade: A-
1.02 Tennessee Titans- CB Casey Hayward
The Tennessee Titans went for the latter approach of filling positional needs, and Casey Hayward without a doubt was their guy, Hayward is uber athletic, strong, and a sure tackler. Great pick (of many) by Apollo.
Draft Grade: A+
1.03 Baltimore Ravens- WR Alshon Jeffery
The Ravens taking a Wide Receiver here is something I didn't see coming, Rather than addressing the lack of depth at positions such as LT or MLB. With that being said, they opted for an absolute unit of a WR in Alshon Jeffery. Jeffrey is tall, fast, agile, and sure handed, and arguably the best receiver in the draft as opposed to Josh Gordon being more athletic while not being as great of a catcher. Overall decent pick.
Draft Grade: B-
1.04 San Diego Chargers- CB Stephon Gilmore
Speaking of Alshon Jeffrey, The Chargers selected Alshon’s college teammate in Stephon Gilmore, Gilmores athleticism is above average at best, but he is an amazing tackler and will be a solid addition to the Chargers
Grade: B+
1.05 Tennessee Titans- WR Josh Gordon
With the Titans second 1st round pick they selected WR Josh Gordon, Gordon is an absolute speed demon, but his strength and catch leaves much to be desired, but with that being said, he is still a fantastic receiver. And will be great addition to the Tennessee locker room
Draft Grade: B+
1.06 Tennessee Titans (Again)- MLB Dont’a Hightower
While remaining unbiased (it is very hard to) I thought Dont’a would be a very nice addition to the Carolina Linebacker squad, but lo and behold here comes Apollo to take him right before my pick. Might I remind you this is the second time my projected pick has been taken right before my pick (WR AJ Green) but Hightower is a great MLB and at the young age of 21 is a fantastic pick
Draft Grade: A
1.07 Carolina Panthers- LT Matt Khalil
With the previous pick putting my draft board into utter chaos, I managed to fall back onto a diamond of an Offensive Tackle in Matt Khalil, much to the chagrin of GM Will Cook. In retrospect, I am glad for the person drafting ahead of me. Great Pick
Draft Grade: A+
1.08 New Orleans Saints- QB Andrew Luck
With multiple QBs in the top 10 is somewhat of a head scratcher for me, But the Saints drafted who I think falls just short of the top QB in this draft next to Kirk Cousins, but that's just personal preference, but with QBs David Green and Jamarcus Russell getting up there in age, I like this pick by the saints
Draft Grade: B-
1.09 Denver Broncos- QB Chandler Harnish
With two QBs going back to back, I'm guessing that the Broncos were banking on bagging Luck, but looking at Harnish, I am not a fan of this pick, I feel like Harnish’s lack of any Athletic ability whatsoever and his height, trumps any other statistical attributes, Not a terrible pick, just not one I like.
Draft Grade: D+
1.10 Buffalo Bills- LT Lamar Holmes
The Bills ended up with an athletic anomaly in Lamar Holmes, very quick and agile for such a gigantic lineman, not to mention his great blocking stats. I can't wait to see how Holmes turns out
Draft Grade: A
1.11 “The Evil” Tampa Bay Buccaneers- QB Kirk Cousins
Typing this up is making me sick to my stomach, but I absolutely love this pick, Kirk is in my opinion the best QB in this draft class and for him to end up in a Tampa Bay locker room, there's no telling what felonious activities go on in there, Cousins must be petrified for OTAs. Overall great pick.
Draft Grade: B+
1.12 Cincinnati Bengals- CB Morris Claiborne
Morris Claiborne is a player you either love or hate. He has great athletic features, but his size and stature is just so small that the question must be asked, “Was he worth the pick?” In my eyes, he is 100% worth the pick.
Draft Grade: B
1.13 San Francisco 49ers- TE Coby Fleener
Fleener is another athletic anomaly like Lamar Holmes. Fantastic speed and agility for such a large player, although not a very solid blocker, Another pick that I really like.
Draft Grade: A
1.14 Houston Texans- QB Brock Osweiler
Another head scratcher here, The Texans have a great QB room in “Big Money” Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford. But Brock Osweiler is a welcomed addition to this Texans roster. His height, size, and stats justify taking him this early, but would he have stayed on the board for them later?
Draft Grade: C+
1.15 Tennessee Titans (Finally)- LOLB Melvin Ingram III
For the last pick by the titans, they elected to obtain a stud of an OLB in Melvin Ingram III, who with his stature and athleticism, will be a force to be reckoned with either in coverage or off the edge
Draft Grade: A-
1.16 “America's Favorite Losing Team” Dallas Cowboys- RT Riley Reiff
While not being as great of a blocker as Matt Khalil or as much as an athletic freak as Lamar Holmes, Reiff is still a great OT, while there are struggles in his pass protection, likely due to his mentality of a downhill blocker rather than an agile backwards kick step style of Lineman, this is a great pick.
Draft Grade: B+
1.17 Jacksonville Jaguars- CB Josh Norman
Josh Norman is the type of corner who I had a feeling would fly under the radar due to his low AWR and TAK, but for the value of Josh Norman at 1.16 is great. Just be careful of his lack of a filter with his trash talk
Draft Grade B
1.18 Seattle Seahawks- CB Josh Robinson
Josh Robinson is basically Morris Claiborne but a better athlete, but also a worse corner. With that being said, Robinson is still a great pick here, with his high kick return stat, Robinson would make a hell of a return specialist.
Draft Grade: C+
1.19 Detroit Lions- TE Micheal Egnew
Egnew is another speedy TE, slightly worse that Fleener, but a better run blocker than him, Another great pick by the Lions
Draft Grade: B-
1.20 Denver Broncos- RE Malik Jackson
Without a doubt the best DE in the draft. Great speed for his frame, very strong, but not an incredibly sure tackler. I look at Malik Jackson, a hybrid DE and a 4-3 DT, which to me just adds to his value.
Draft Grade: A
1.21 Washington Redskins/Football Team/Commanders- CB Dre Kirkpatrick
If it wasn't for his height, Dre Kirkpatrick would be an average dime a dozen corner. But his attributes for his height makes him a solid corner, but along the same lines of Brock Osweiler, “Will he be available later?” Not a blockbuster of a pick, but a solid strategic pick.
Draft Grade: C
1.22 Carolina Panthers (Via trade from Tennessee) ROLB Bobby Wagner
When I found out that the 22nd pick was up for trade, I almost broke my keyboard trying to snatch it up. Bobby Wagner is an absolute unit of a LB who could play anywhere in the linebacker position. But this pick came with a huge risk of next year's first, so that heavily impacts the grade of this pick. Only time will tell if this is a steal or a bust
Draft Grade: ?
1.23 New England Patriots- HB Doug Martin
Doug Martin has all of the necessary ingredients to become a very great RB to compliment Donald Brown. Great Value for the best RB in the draft
Draft Grade: B+
1.24 Houston Texans- WR Brian Quick
Despite the name, Brian Quick's biggest strength is not his speed, but rather is incredible height and catching. Great weapon for a loaded QB room.
Draft Grade: A-
1.25 “The League Villain” Tampa Bay Buccaneers- DT Dereck Wolfe
If the Kirk Cousins pick didnt hurt enough, this one hurts even more. This is a great pick, maybe even steal of the draft so far. Wolfe is such a quick and strong DT. He is going to be a nightmare for interior offensive lineman this season. I just hope the villainous GM doesn't corrupt his mind too much
Draft Grade: A+ (This pains me to type)
1.26 Oakland Raiders- SS Mark Barron
I am a huge fan of Mark Barron's attributes, Tall, Big, Fast, and a sure tackler, he checks all the boxes for a star SS, although it wouldn't hurt for him to put the “strong” in strong safety before the season starts
Draft Grade: B+
1.27 Green Bay Packers- Kendall Reyes
What happens when you mix a wrecking ball with an NFL Nose Tackle? You get Kendall Reyes. A massive anchor of a DT who will thrive best in a 3-4 system due to his size, strength, and tackle rating. Great player if used right.
Draft Grade: B
1.28 Atlanta Falcons- HB David Wilson
What best matches a team with 4 Quarterbacks? Adding 5 RBs to that said team of course! In all seriousness, with the RBS for the Falcons having reached or soon to reach regression, I don't hate a RB taken here, I just don't like the RB taken here I just can't look past that low AWR for him, Again, just personal preference.
Draft Grade: C-
1.29 New York Giants- DT Fletcher Cox
Fletcher Cox is a direct cross between Reyes and Wolfe, Great speed and Great strength, only thing that stopped Cox from being a top 5 pick is he's just not a barn burner athletically, Still a fantastic value pick.
Draft Grade: A
1.30 Minnesota Vikings- WR Tommy Streeter
Tommy Streeter is another sleeper WR. A Skyscraper of a man being 6’5, and in an isolated 1v1 role, Streeter will be unmatched. Good pick here.
Draft Grade: B+
1.31 Buffalo Bills- MLB Vontaze “A Whistle Doesn't Stop Me” Burfict
The Buffalo Bills selected a hard hitting, trash talking, nasty linebacker in Vontaze Burfict. One thing that I love about Burfict is his AWR is a 70! Match that with his frame and tackling, this is a fantastic pick. Good thing the Bills don't have to worry about any Personal Fouls.
Draft Grade: B+
1.32 Chicago Bears- CB Trumaine Johnson
Trumaine Johnson just looks average to me, average speed and tackling. Also his height is not doing him any favors. Not a superstar, But still an okay pick.
Draft Grade: C-
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