Mel Kiper Jr. handles the draft grades for us at ESPN every year, but what I've done here is gone through and identified the best pick for each of the 32 teams this year.
"Best pick" does not necessarily mean "best player" -- I also took into account team needs, the player's value relative to draft position and other players available on the board at the time the pick was made.
Note: Teams are listed in alphabetical order. To quickly get to your team, click on the links below.
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAC | KC | LA | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | OAK | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WAS
Arizona Cardinals
Harlan Miller, CB, Southeastern Louisiana (No. 205 pick)
I thought about putting Robert Nkemdiche here. I get why they took him in the first round, and as an organization, they've been good at handling players with baggage. But one thing that scares me off: Chandler Jones has had issues with synthetic marijuana, and now he'll be in the same meeting room with Nkemdiche, who has had his own off-field problems. So I went with Miller, on whom we had a fourth-round grade -- the Cardinals got him in the sixth. His combine performance scared off a lot of teams (4.65-second 40; 4.43 short shuttle), but some guys are better players than testers. With Tyrann Mathieu coming off injury and some other unanswered questions in the secondary, Miller is capable of making the roster and contributing, which is great for a sixth-rounder.
Atlanta Falcons
Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford (No. 81 pick)
The Falcons needed to find a tight end who can stretch the seam for QB Matt Ryan. Hooper has the speed (4.72 40) to get vertical in a hurry and the size (6-foot-4) to go up and get the ball. He isn't a great route runner and he needs to continue to add weight and strength, but for a team in major need of some pass-catchers with upside, Hooper is a good fit in Atlanta. Ryan can't have enough weapons.
Baltimore Ravens
Every fourth-round selection
Seriously. This might be the best fourth round I've ever seen from a team. The Ravens got CB Tavon Young, who can be a really good nickel corner. They got WR Chris Moore, the No. 46 player on my board and a true vertical threat for big-armed QB Joe Flacco. They got OT Alex Lewis, who can develop into a starting right tackle. They got DT Willie Henry, an elite run defender. And, finally, they got RB Kenneth Dixon, who runs with good power/balance and has some versatility in the passing game. General manager Ozzie Newsome killed it on Saturday.
Buffalo Bills
Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama (No. 41 pick)
Ragland fell to the second round due to concerns over his cover skills, but he flies to the ball in the run game. Rex Ryan will love the way he practices and tackles. He was the only player I saw who was able to stop Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott dead in his tracks and drop him backward. This was a great value and a big upgrade for the Bills, who saw Preston Brown really struggle last season. I also love the Shaq Lawson pick at No. 19 overall. He plays with a junkyard-dog mentality that's tough to stifle for 60 minutes. Lawson and Ragland will bring immediate energy and toughness to the Bills' defense.
