San Diego Chargers
The Chargers entered the draft with a lot of questions looming over the franchise. Quarterback Phillip Rivers was unsatisfied with the rumors of San Diego potentially relocating to LA, and there was some question about wether the team would trade him on draft day. They also looked vulnerable at running back. With so many rumors circulating, it was hard to pinpoint what the Chargers would do come draft day.
Best Pick- Denzel Perryman (ILB, Miami)
Although the Chargers had seen great play from linebacker Manti Te'o, there have been major struggles at the position. Perryman is a bit undersized, but does a great job at finding the ball and making plays in the run game. Even though he is undersized, he is not afraid to initiate contact or put his helmet into a pile. He needs work in the passing game, but should help the run-game immediately and be a big contributor on special teams.
Underrated Pick- Craig Mager (CB, Texas St.)
Mager comes from a small school, so the obvious worries that he can't adjust to pro-talent are going to surround his name. He has the size to play in the pros, and ran the best 40 out of all the cornerbacks at the combine. He has good closing speed and isn't afraid to mix it up with larger players. He isn't as instinctive as most players in the class, which could lead to a high reception count on him, but he closes in on the ball well and doesn't give up too much YAC. Mager could be in contention to get some snaps his rookie year, but will likely be a developmental player.
Final Thoughts
The Chargers didn't have an abundance of picks in this draft, but made use of what they did have. Melvin Gordon was considered by a lot of scouts as the best running back in the class, and will likely win the starting job during mini-camp. Perryman should be a run-stopping linebacker, playing early downs. Kyle Emanuel is an underrated outside linebacker that could be coached up into a starter, while Mager and 6th round pick Darius Philon will likely be development projects. San Diego didn't have many gaps in their roster, and used their picks wisely addressing those needs. They should be right in the mix atop the conference at the years end.
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City was a team that could have been a contender last year, but didn't produce the way a lot of people expected. No Chiefs receiver caught a touchdown pass the entire season, so it seemed that an overhaul was all but certain. After parting ways with veterans Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery, they signed Jeremy Maclin and reunited him with his old coach, Andy Reid. Kansas City has built itself an impressive offense, and looked to address some needs on defense as well.
Best Pick- Marcus Peters (CB, Washington)
Sean Smith only has one year remaining on his contract, so bringing in Peters will assure the Chiefs that if they cannot re-sign Smith, they'll have a player ready to replace him. Peters did have off-field issues, but was arguably the most talented defensive back in the 2015 class. He is a physically gifted player who isn't afraid to get in receivers faces. He excels in press coverage and has the size and speed desired to be a true starting corner.
Underrated Pick- Chris Conley (WR, Georgia)
Conley snuck in under the radar in comparison to the elite receivers of the 2015 class. Conley does a lot of things that would suggest he can produce right away for the Chiefs. With very little experience in their receiving corps, he should see the field immediately. He seeks the ball out and gets to the highest point to retrieve it. He tracks the ball well when it's in the air, and has the size and speed to separate and grab jump balls. He may need to work on his route running a little, but overall he should be a good piece for Kansas City.
Final Thoughts
The Chiefs knew they had to revamp their depth chart, and adding Maclin and drafting Conley is a good start. Peters will eventually be a Pro Bowl level player. The addition of Mitch Morse (guard) will be overshadowed, but he may be starting week one. Linebackers Ramik Wilson and DJ Alexander should produce on special teams early while learning the pro defense, and tight end James O'Shaughnessy and receiver Da'Ron Brown are going to be project players that may be solid backups. The Chiefs positioned themselves to be contenders in the division again, adding more weapons on offense and toughening up the defense. The fate of the team will still rely heavily on Alex Smith, and wether or not he can take the next step as a leader. he might also want to throw a touchdown to a receiver.
Oakland Raiders
Put aside the fact that Oakland had a terrible record last year. They had a lot of players they invested money into fizzle out, and cut ties with a majority of them. The bright side is the Raiders were able get some young players some valuable snaps. Latavius Murray had success in the limited snaps he saw, and is poised for a breakout year. Quarterback Derek Carr took some bumps and bruises but gained valuable field time. Khalil Mack emerged as a force at linebacker, finishing second in DROY voting, With a young core filled with talented players the Raiders could make a huge leap, and the draft class they brought in could help them become contenders.
Best Pick- Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama)
Cooper was regarded as the best receiver in this class, along with Kevin White. Cooper seems to be more ready to produce at a high level right out of the gate. He has amazing hands and a great catch radius, and is a very polished route runner. He has a large route tree, and utilizing that will help him adjust faster to playing in the NFL. Adding Cooper will give Oakland a true number one receiver for Derek Carr, and adds another weapon to an offense already featuring Carr, Murray, Michael Crabtree and Mychal Rivera.
Underrated Pick- Clive Walford (TE, Miami)
Although it seems that Mychal Rivera solidified his spot as the starting tight end, there could be some contention for his spot with Walford. Walford has an athletic background, and was one of the more impressive overall athletes at the combine. He ran a 4.79 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, best among all tight ends that attended the combine. He does a sufficient job blocking in both the run and passing game, which should get him time on the field to help protect Carr. He has the desired height and weight for an NFL tight end, and should come down with jump balls more times than none. As a rookie, even if he isn't the starter, he will be a valuable asset to the Raiders' offense, especially in the red-zone.
Final Thoughts
Oakland has to climb out of a hole dug by their front office. Building on an impressive draft class from last year, they added a lot of young talented players that could have them atop the division sooner than later. Cooper will be an All-Pro. Walford has the potential to be a Jimmy Graham type player, and the rest of their class was solid also. Mario Edwards comes in as a hybrid-type defensive lineman who could play inside to outside, and will be a rotational player as a rookie. The additions of linebackers Ben Heeney, Neiron Ball, and Max Valles give them depth. All three of the linebackers should see the field bat least on special teams. Receiver Andre Debose from Florida is a wildcard, but can immediately help the team in the return game. Oakland has had a very productive offseason, and should they win anymore than 5 games, it would be a large improvement in my eyes.
Denver Broncos
After another season where the Broncos fell short of a Super Bowl. Denver needed to have a successful offseason to keep themselves sitting on the throne of the AFC West. They parted ways with Head Coach John Fox and replaced him with Gary Kubiak. They also lost star tight end Julius Thomas to Jacksonville, but replaced him with Owen Daniels. They placed the Franchise Tag on receiver Demaryius Thomas, which should allow them to work on a long term deal, and seem to be moving on from veteran Wes Welker. More importantly, they were assured by Peyton Manning that he'd be healthy and returning for at least another season. Still, the Broncos needed to have a successful draft, and early indications show they may have done just that.
Best Pick- Shane Ray (EDGE, Missouri)
Denver already has an excellent outside rush, led by Von Miller and Demarcus Ware, but the value they got selecting Ray 23rd overall was too much to pass on. They traded up and didn't have to give up much to select a player that was regarded in most circles at a top-10 pick. Ray has had his fair share of issues off the field, but with a strong veteran presence in Denver, he shouldn't find himself in trouble as a pro. Ray has all the tools to excel in the NFL and should be the replacement for Ware when he retires. Pairing Ray with Von Miller has the makings of a lethal combo, and potential to be the best pass-rushing duo in the NFL.
Underrated Pick- Max Garcia (Center, Florida)
When the Broncos traded up to select Shane Ray, they parted ways with Manny Ramirez as well. This opened up some holes in the offensive line that would potentially be filled by free-agents and young players. Garcia was a center in college, but his knowledge of a zone-blocking scheme along with his talent could make him a target to fill the gap at guard. The Broncos could also slide new addition Gino Gradkowski over to guard which would allow Garcia to play center. Any of these combinations should be an upgrade from Ramirez, and finding players to protect Manning is always important for Denver.
Final Thoughts
The Broncos had a busy offseason, adding veteran players to an already stacked roster. They came into the draft needing additions at a few spots, but weren't in a pressure situation to immediately start the young prospects. The addition of Shane Ray comes at a cost, likely a suspension to start the year, but should pan out in their favor down the road. I already discussed Garcia and the probability that he will be a starter sooner than later. Offensive Tackle Ty Sambrialo will also be in contention to produce for the Broncos immediately. He was a little underrated coming into the draft, in my opinion, and will be a valuable asset. Tight end Jeff Heuerman (Ohio State) will have some time to learn the playbook and take in knowledge from veterans Owen Daniels and Virgil Green. Cornerback Lorenzo Doss should be a welcome addition to the secondary, and may be the nickel corner, due to his ball skills and work ethic. Although there wasn't much outside of those players, the rest of the class should be in competition to make the team and help out with special teams work, or be assigned to the practice squad. The meat of the draft for the Broncos is really what impressed me, due to the fact that they targeted talented players that were good fits for their system without reaching in the draft. With an offseason like Denver had in 2015, it will be hard for the rest of the AFC West to catch up to them, and they should be sitting atop the division yet again.
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