Three years later, report cards for 2014 NFL draft put Raiders at top
Few events on the sports calendar are more heavily analyzed or parsed than the NFL draft, whether during the lead-up to the first round or during the postmortem. However inevitable and ubiquitous grades that will be rampant after the draft's completion always tend to skew as hyper-reactionary. Assessing a draft after three years is a much fairer gauge of how teams navigated it.
So what better time than the present to dig into a 2014 draft that looks a bit star crossed in retrospect?
A+
Oakland Raiders: Probably accurate to say the franchise is once again a contender due to the performance of GM Reggie McKenzie and his staff in 2014. It's exceedingly rare to obtain two franchise players in one draft, but McKenzie pulled off that double by taking newly minted defensive player of the year Khalil Mack fifth overall before getting ascending Pro Bowl QB Derek Carr in Round 2. Third rounder Gabe Jackson has established himself at guard for what is probably the AFC's top O-line. All three players are in line for huge second contracts and will be the faces of the franchise as it migrates to Las Vegas. Even seventh rounder T.J. Carrie has been a valuable presence in the secondary and on special teams.
A–
New York Giants: At No. 12, they snared arguably the biggest impact player of the entire draft. Odell Beckham Jr.'s production through three seasons is historically good among receivers. Second-round C Weston Richburg is the team's most consistent offensive lineman, and Devon Kennard (Round 5) has been a solid contributor at linebacker.
B+
Atlanta Falcons: The NFC champs got a fourth-round steal in RB Devonta Freeman, who comes off consecutive seasons with 1,500-plus yards from scrimmage. LT Jake Matthews, the sixth overall pick, had some struggles making the transition from Texas A&M's offense but has been reliable overall while starting 47 of a possible 48 games. DL Ra'Shede Hageman and DB Ricardo Allen are part of an up-and-coming defense. But LB Prince Shembo proved unworthy of the risk the team assumed investing a fourth rounder in him.
Green Bay Packers: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Round 1), WR Davante Adams (2) and C Corey Linsley (5) should be good-to-great starters for the next several years. Fourth rounder Richard Rodgers will always be remembered for snagging QB Aaron Rodgers' Hail Mary at Detroit in 2015 but probably won't ever be more than a backup tight end.
New England Patriots: An impressive assessment considering how their draft started. They gambled and lost on DT Dominique Easley, the first-round selection despite a history of knee injuries at Florida. But the Easley bust is more than offset by unsigned free agent Malcolm Butler, the hero of Super Bowl XLIX before developing into a Pro Bowl-caliber corner. A solid fourth round produced C Bryan Stork, a rookie starter in Super Bowl XLIX before concussions sidetracked his career, Super Bowl LI hero James White and offensive line super sub Cameron Fleming. The big unknown is Jimmy Garoppolo, whose value remains undetermined. Even if he doesn't stick around to be QB Tom Brady's successor, Garoppolo should fetch a nice return on his second-round investment in next year's trade market.
Pittsburgh Steelers: A very good draft still has the potential to grade out better. First-round LB Ryan Shazier and second-round DE Stephon Tuitt have matured into defensive cornerstones. But GM Kevin Colbert missed badly on third rounder Dri Archer, whose flaws were masked by his 4.26 40 speed. Fourth-round WR Martavis Bryant remains the X-factor. He's already shown what an explosive player he can be, but substance-abuse issues cost him the entire 2016 season and cloud his long-term outlook.
B
Baltimore Ravens: Two-time Pro Bowler C.J. Mosley (17th overall pick) has eased the loss of Ray Lewis. Fifth rounder John Urschel could take over as the starting center in 2017 but is much more renowned for being an MIT Ph.D. candidate. Second-round DL Timmy Jernigan was recently offloaded to Philadelphia for a swap of third-round picks, and S Terrence Brooks was a wasted pick in Round 3. Undrafted LB Zach Orr blossomed in 2016, but a neck injury forced his retirement.
Carolina Panthers: WR Kelvin Benjamin (28th pick) has had two productive campaigns sandwiched around a season lost to a knee injury. Third rounder Trai Turner has been selected to two Pro Bowls, and fellow G Andrew Norwell has settled in as a starter despite not being drafted. WR Corey Brown was another productive free agent find before leaving for Buffalo. Second-round DE Kony Ealy nearly won Super Bowl 50 MVP honors but wasn't nearly as good otherwise, leading to his trade to New England.
Dallas Cowboys: Jerry Jones and Co. wisely bypassed QB Johnny Manziel and opted for G Zack Martin, who's become a three-time all-pro on what is widely rated as the NFL's best O-line. But after that? Second-round DE DeMarcus Lawrence has had one useful year but missed too much time overall. Fourth-round LB Anthony Hitchens has been serviceable. Five of Dallas' nine picks in 2014 were in Round 7, and none are still on the roster.
B–
Arizona Cardinals: First rounder Deone Bucannon was a relative unknown but has helped herald in widespread use of safety/linebacker hybrids. Third-round WR John "Smokey" Brown has made his share of big plays and turned in one 1,000-yard season. Undrafted K Chandler Catanzaro, who signed with the Jets last month, was usually reliable. Second-round TE Troy Niklas hasn't produced, and fourth-round QB Logan Thomas was a project who didn't pan out.
Denver Broncos: C Matt Paradis, snatched in Round 6, has been a gem and easily Denver's best pick. First rounder Bradley Roby rarely starts, though he would for most teams, and is a valuable component of the "No Fly Zone" as the No. 3 corner. G Michael Schofield (Round 3) has played extensively if not with distinction. Second-round WR Cody Latimer hasn't blossomed. Free agent LB Shaq Barrett might make a splash in 2017 with DeMarcus Ware retired.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Plenty to like here. Mid-round picks Brandon Linder and Telvin Smith have settled in at center and linebacker, respectively. WR Marqise Lee had disappointed until last season, but fellow second rounder Allen Robinson is a budding star. WR Allen Hurns is a reliable starter and one of the best free agent finds of 2014. But the Jags pulled a surprise by taking QB Blake Bortles No. 3 overall, and it remains unclear if that was a good call.
Tennessee Titans: Interesting mix of hit and miss. Top pick Taylor Lewan (11th overall) is a Pro Bowl left tackle for an ascending front five. Fourth-round DE DaQuan Jones and fifth-round ILB Avery Williamson are solid starters. On the flip side, Bishop Sankey was the first running back selected in 2014 but didn't make it to a third season with the Titans. Sixth-round QB Zach Mettenberger had compelling talent that never materialized and lost his roster spot after going 0-10.
Washington Redskins: Top pick Trent Murphy (47th overall) put it together in 2016 with nine sacks ... then got busted for a performance-enhancing drug violation. Third rounders Morgan Moses (right tackle) and Spencer Long (center) are nice players. Fourth rounder Bashaud Breeland sees a lot of action, but should probably be a No. 3 corner. Overall, a good group for a team that didn't pick in Round 1.
C+
Houston Texans: After two injury-riddled years, Jadeveon Clowney has finally emerged into the force he was expected to be as the No. 1 overall pick. But at what cost? The quarterback-starved Texans had multiple shots at Derek Carr, winding up instead with still-unproven Tom Savage in Round 4. TE C.J. Fiedorowicz also started to flourish in 2016, but fellow third rounder Louis Nix, a nose tackle, never played for the team. Seventh-round S Andre Hal is a two-year starter, but second-round G Xavier Su'a-Filo has disappointed — especially since the team could have had Carr in his slot.
Kansas City Chiefs: Iffy at the top, pretty good at the bottom. Dee Ford finally began consistently bagging quarterbacks in 2016, but the first-round pick is probably still the team's third-best pass rusher and benefits playing with Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. K.C. lost its second-round pick as part of the Alex Smith trade. Neither third-round CB Phillip Gaines, fourth-round playmaker De'Anthony Thomas, nor fifth-round QB Aaron Murray panned out. However GM John Dorsey found his starting guards, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Zach Fulton in Round 6, while K Cairo Santos was signed off the street.
C
Minnesota Vikings: LB Anthony Barr has earned two Pro Bowl nods after being taken fourth overall, though he did seem to regress in 2016. QB Teddy Bridgewater, who was snagged at the end of Round 1 after a trade, looked like a keeper before suffering a very unfortunate knee injury last summer. His future remains in doubt. Aside from a few nice moments from third-round RB Jerick McKinnon, the Vikes got very little from their other seven selections.
St. Louis Rams: This draft was overshadowed by the selection of openly gay DE Michael Sam in the seventh round. Ultimately, he didn't make the 53-man roster or practice squad but remains emblematic of the group since most already have or soon will follow Sam into obscurity. The obvious exception is first-round DT Aaron Donald, who has become one of the league's dominant players. Lamarcus Joyner and Maurice Alexander continue to hold down jobs in the secondary. Otherwise, T Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick, has been a complete disappointment. Third-round RB Tre Mason never followed the team to Los Angeles and was recently waived after a series of bizarre incidents.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Mike Evans, the seventh overall pick, has been a mismatch since the day he donned a Bucs uniform. Unfortunately, his five draftmates were overmatched in the NFL. Second-round TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins was especially vexing, justifying the red flags that dogged him at Washington and earning his release last year after being charged with DUI. Undrafted Harvard TE Cameron Brate has been a nifty pickup, though.
C–
Cincinnati Bengals: Second-round RB Jeremy Hill has 29 TD runs in three seasons, but he's also had fumbling issues and clearly had his best year as a rookie. Russell Bodine (Round 4) is fine, holding down the center position since his arrival. First-round CB Darqueze Dennard has only started four games in three seasons. If backup QB AJ McCarron winds up netting a high-end pick in a trade, the overall evaluation improves.
Miami Dolphins: RT Ja'Wuan James seemed like a reach in the first round, and that's still the case even though he's a three-year starter. WR Jarvis Landry seemed like a steal in the second round, and that's still the case 288 catches later. But the Dolphins reaped next to nothing from their other six choices.
D+
Detroit Lions: TE Eric Ebron, the 10th overall pick, remains more sizzle than steak. Second-round LB Kyle Van Noy had negligible impact before being traded to the Patriots last season. Getting C Travis Swanson in Round 3 looks like Detroit's best pick, and fourth-round CB Nevin Lawson could still be a player after earning a starting job in 2016. K Nate Freese arrived in the seventh round and only needed three games to prove the NFL was too much for him.
Indianapolis Colts: They had no first-round pick after former GM Ryan Grigson sent it to Cleveland for RB Trent Richardson. Oops. Second-round OL Jack Mewhort and third-round WR Donte Moncrief have been decent contributors — more than can be said of anyone else in the five-man class.
San Francisco 49ers: Injuries, inconsistency, suspension, ineffectiveness, coaching turnover, even retirement — you name the setback, and this 12-man group has experienced it. DB Jimmie Ward has never lived up to his first-round billing. Second-round RB Carlos Hyde can be the real deal, but he's often banged up — perhaps because he's usually been the guy defenses try to take away. ILB Chris Borland may have been the pick of the litter, but he shockingly opted to stop playing football after his rookie season to preserve his health. Those that remain likely have little time to salvage their careers given how much poor football the Niners have played in recent years.
D
Buffalo Bills: Sammy Watkins, the fourth overall pick, has shown flashes when he's been healthy enough play. But the decision to take him looks less appealing given Mike Evans, Odell Beckham and Brandin Cooks were among the options at receiver. Second-round T Cyrus Kouandjio was outshone by seventh rounder Seantrel Henderson until the latter was waylaid by Crohn's disease and drug suspensions. Third-round LB Preston Brown has been the group's most dependable member.
Cleveland Browns: If judged by the headliners, the grade would scream F-minus. Taken in Round 1, Justin Gilbert and, more notably, QB Johnny Manziel were total flameouts, neither making it to a third season in Cleveland. Both are currently out of the league. But the Browns did find solid performers in second-round G Joel Bitonio and third-round LB Christian Kirksey. Undrafted RB Isaiah Crowell was good enough that the team traded third-round RB Terrance West, who's gone on to a productive pro career. Not pretty overall, but not nearly as ugly as the first-round faux pas suggest.
San Diego Chargers: Suffice it to say they won't be building statues of these guys in San Diego ... or L.A. First rounder Jason Verrett was an elite slot corner in 2015. Problem is, it's the only year he's been healthy. But the Bolts will take it given his five draftmates are already gone or likely soon will be.
Seattle Seahawks: Coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider are highly deserving of the praise they receive for building their program. But this draft wasn't their finest hour. Second rounder Justin Britt is now the most reliable player on a poor offensive line, seeing time at tackle, guard and center. But the other eight players Seattle took have been no better than rotational players, and some never made the team. WR Paul Richardson was that year's top pick (45th overall) and showed in last season's playoffs that he may yet become a factor. But his career has been beset by leg injuries, not good when speed is your best asset.
D–
Chicago Bears: Wonder why this team has struggled lately? DC Vic Fangio has called out first-round CB Kyle Fuller, who missed last season after a knee operation. Second-round DL Ego Ferguson was waived after battling his own injuries. The team has gotten the most production from sixth-round P Pat O'Donnell and seventh-round T Charles Leno, both decidedly unremarkable players.
New York Jets: Then-GM John Idzik accrued 12 choices ... and blew nearly all of them. First-round S Calvin Pryor hasn't become the tone-setting enforcer he was supposed to be. Second-round TE Jaca Amaro, who lasted just two seasons, is best known for lobbing verbal grenades at former coach Rex Ryan. Sixth-round DE IK Enemkpali made a huge imprint — on former QB Geno Smith's broken jaw. Only sixth-round WR Quincy Enunwa, who's expected to start this year after a breakout 2016 season, retains any promise.
Philadelphia Eagles: This disastrous draft preceded GM Howie Roseman's temporary demotion in the midst of the Chip Kelly era. First-round pass rusher Marcus Smith has four sacks in three seasons. WR Josh Huff (Round 3), DB Jaylen Watkins (4), converted T Taylor Hart (5), S Ed Reynolds (5) and DT Beau Allen (7) made marginal contributions. Only second-round WR Jordan Matthews has developed, though Roseman's decision to sign WRs Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith in free agency this year is a telling indicator of Matthews' perception within the organization.
I (incomplete)
New Orleans Saints: Easily the most difficult to evaluate. Ultimately, this draft is unlikely to look good after five of the six picks failed to make it beyond the 2014 season. But then there's the curious case of first rounder Brandin Cooks, a game-breaking receiver from Day 1 ... before he was sent to the Patriots last month for this year's first rounder. The fate of that pick will largely determine whether the Saints can salvage even a "C" grade for their 2014 haul.
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