It's time for my annual tradition of evaluating last year's draft, and my draft grades at the time. Yes, there has been only one season of football played by the Class of 2016 and each player has plenty of time to prove himself, but it's a good time for a progress report.
Remember: The updated grades are just a fun exercise in seeing how the draft class appears to be shaping up. It's a check to see how players are coming along. A few parameters:
I look at first-year impact from the rookie class based on relative value -- contributing to a winner is worth more than piling up reps for a bad team.
I included rookie undrafted free agents added after the draft. (That's part of the process, really.)
As with the rookie rankings, I try to ask whether players who contributed could do so for most teams. Again, relative value matters.
OK, let's see whether my draft night grades held up, starting with the AFC East.
AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
Post-draft grade: B
At the time I wrote that this 2016 draft class was a "double-edged sword for Rex Ryan and brother Rob Ryan" because "it gives them some much-needed help on defense, and could also be the class the front office points to if the defense doesn't get better. It's 'Here you go, Rex. This better work.'"
It didn't work. But that wasn't all on Rex. For one, Reggie Ragland got hurt in camp and was out all year. And Shaq Lawson's shoulder, an issue everyone knew about at the time of the draft, became a problem, and he played just 225 snaps (with two sacks) after returning. The Bills' defense was safely in the bottom 10 by any metric, and, well, here's a new coach. The class gets better if Ragland steps up now that he's healthy and if Lawson comes up with sacks. Hopefully Adolphus Washington plays a bigger role and Cardale Jones is at least a reliable backup. But for now it dips, because it certainly couldn't save Rex.
New grade: C
Miami Dolphins
Post-draft grade: B+
Nobody could have suspected that Laremy Tunsil would be around when the Dolphins were picking, but thanks to the draft-night shenanigans, arguably the consensus best player on paper in the entire draft at the time was there for the taking at No. 13 overall. Credit Miami for making the pick, and I think they have to be pleased with the results so far, though with one big question mark that drags the grade down. Tunsil played guard, and often played it pretty well. He really needs to show he can be an NFL left tackle before we start calling this class a success story.
After Xavien Howard, I wrote, "From there, this was all about getting Ryan Tannehill and Adam Gase more weapons." Kenyan Drake flashed but had just 33 carries as the Jay Ajayi Show took off, and Leonte Carroo was a non-factor. If Miami gets more out of Tunsil -- and it should -- and it gets more from Howard and the offensive weapons, the Dolphins' class could shape up pretty well.
New grade: B
New England Patriots
Post-draft grade: C+
This is a classic Patriots draft so far in that they made a pick I considered a total head-scratcher but also had some big hits. And when you get rookies to contribute to a Super Bowl champion, it's hard to complain. As I wrote then, "They did get some good players, but the grade suffers just because they didn't have the opportunity to add as much talent." Blame Deflategate for that.
The hits? Joe Thuney was a stud, starting all 19 games and piling up 1,283 snaps. He ended up No. 7 overall on my All-Rookie Team. Jacoby Brissett ended up being forced to start two games after Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt, and the Patriots went 1-1. You'll take that. He's a nice little project for Josh McDaniels. Malcolm Mitchell was a classic Belichick pick, a guy who can play receiver pretty well, as we saw, but also started as a cornerback at one time while at Georgia. Elandon Roberts also got some starts as the Patriots turned over their linebacking corps, and Vincent Valentine saw action. That's good! Cyrus Jones is the mess here. He didn't help the defense and was a fumble machine (five total) when he returned the ball. Overall, however, they have to be thrilled with the early contributions from this class.
New grade: B+
New York Jets
Post-draft grade: B-
Let's start with the obvious: Round 2. I wrote at the time, "I don't think the value range is too bad for Christian Hackenberg if they feel he can be a starter. I think Hackenberg can get there, but he needs a lot of work with Chan Gailey. I think it's an awful idea to throw him out there early." Well, apparently the Jets agreed, because Hackenberg barely even got in uniform. That he's a total mystery and the Jets are letting it be known that they'll look hard at QBs in this draft is pretty telling. I had Connor Cook rated higher (and said so at the time), and while I don't suspect Dak Prescott would have played nearly as well in New York as he did in Dallas, fans can always wonder.
Elsewhere, things don't look so bad from a developmental standpoint. Darron Lee had nine starts and flashed; Jordan Jenkins had 11 starts and nearly 500 snaps; and Lachlan Edwards ... well, he was the punter but needs to be better or he'll have competition soon. Charone Peake chipped in with 19 catches, and the Jets found an undrafted gem in former Temple speedster Robby Anderson -- he ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at his pro day -- who started eight games at receiver and had 42 catches and two touchdowns.
There are some pieces here, but it's hard to call it a success when a Round 2 QB for a QB-needy team is this much of a mystery.
New grade: C
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
Post-draft grade: A
There isn't one standout here, but really early on you have a bunch of players who either contributed or are certain to stick, not to mention a new left tackle, so it's hard to knock the grade down too far. Ronnie Stanley was obviously a huge talker, because the (reasonable) suspicion was that pick could have been Laremy Tunsil if not for the draft-night circus. Stanley did start to come on over his 12 starts and nearly 800 snaps, so if you feel you have your future at left tackle nailed down in a league where there are so few really good ones, you're thrilled.
Kamalei Correa was a disappointment, but after that it looks pretty good (setting aside Bronson Kaufusi, who was injured in camp). Tavon Young had 11 starts and often played well over nearly 800 snaps; Alex Lewis saw a lot of time and put in more than 500 snaps mostly at guard, where he figures to start in 2017; and there are two notable sleepers here. Matt Judon showed he could be a useful pass-rusher, which is a find in Round 5, and they score bonus points for getting important reps out of nose tackle Michael Pierce, whom they nabbed as an undrafted free agent.
Overall, a solid start for a class that, like Miami, is counting on that Round 1 tackle pick to be the blindside guy they hoped for.
New grade: B+
Cincinnati Bengals
Post-draft grade: A-
I loved this draft at the time, but the Bengals had some bad luck with injuries, which drags it down a little now. Since people still haven't seen William Jackson III since he lost the season because of a pec injury, here's what I wrote then for a little context: "In the secondary, Adam Jones is 32 and Dre Kirkpatrick could be an unrestricted free agent next season, so cornerback was a quiet need. The addition of William Jackson III -- a player with exceptional ball skills -- not only made sense, it deprived the rival Steelers from the chance to take him one slot later." Now, Kirkpatrick is back, but any Bengals fan knows they still need Jackson to become a useful starter.
Elsewhere, Tyler Boyd at least tried to fill the hole left by the free-agent departures of Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, catching 54 passes, but beyond that there isn't much here. Andrew Billings missed the year with a knee injury, and Nick Vigil was just depth. Cody Core had some flashes and could play a bigger role if he develops, as a sneaky size-speed combo. Let's see what Jackson does in 2017.
New grade: B-
Cleveland Browns
Post-draft grade: C
At the time, I wrote that I didn't mind the Browns trading down to stack picks, because (A) I always like trading down with the belief that more picks mean more chances to get players, and (B) the roster was so lean they might as well. But it was whom they picked that I struggled with. I wrote, "I did have an issue: This was not a bonanza, but it should've been." Now, the 2017 draft needs to be a part of that bonanza as well, because while Carson Wentz is no star yet, he at least is considered the quarterback of the future for one franchise while the Browns continue to look.
What did they get? Well, I thought Corey Coleman showed occasional star quality when healthy, but he missed 10 games. Emmanuel Ogbah showed a lot of potential (5.5 sacks) while starting every game. The tricky one here is Cody Kessler, who played really well for a rookie at times, but it was never enough to win as a starter, and you can't assume he'll be your guy just yet, because we don't know if he can stay healthy. (Kessler is another QB who was taken before Dak Prescott.) Spencer Drango played well in spots, as did Nassib. But overall, it's hard to give the Browns too much credit until they turn all the draft capital into players. Sure, a lot of these guys played, but rookies see the field for 1-15 teams, historically -- that's often why the 1-15 happens.
Do I buy the philosophy? Sure. Is it an A+ run of drafting? We'll see.
New grade: C+
Pittsburgh Steelers
Post-draft grade: B
This draft was pretty solid at the time -- hey, a B is a good grade from me! -- and I think it looks even better now because I think they bagged three defensive starters that we can be sure of, and it's for a pretty good football team. Artie Burns was certain to struggle early -- you can repeat that phrase for pretty much any rookie cornerback -- but he showed what a competitor he is as he got better during the season, finishing with nine starts and even three interceptions. Sean Davis also had nine starts and should have that starting role locked down going into 2017. He also shined during the playoffs.
The steal? I wrote then, "Defensive line help was a need, and Javon Hargrave has a chance to be really good." Well, I didn't think he'd be this good, this early. Hargrave started 19 games and will have a starting role heading into 2017. That's really it for this class so far, but three starters is pretty good even if none becomes a star, especially because they contributed to a contender.
New grade: B+
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
Post-draft grade: B+
Welp. At the time I wrote: "If Brock Osweiler plays well and these new toys in the offense are part of the reason why, it'll look good; if Osweiler struggles, not so much." The bottom line was that this draft seemed built around the idea that Osweiler could be something if he had some useful weapons beyond DeAndre Hopkins. That Houston is again hitting reset at quarterback says a lot. But it's not all bad. If Tony Romo has these weapons, for instance, I think Houston could have an upper-echelon offense in a heartbeat.
Just basing this on what they got, the grade dips some. Will Fuller V showed both his home run ability and that he can occasionally make you crazy with a big drop. He finished with 47 catches but was limited with a knee injury. Braxton Miller hinted at being a real player at wide receiver but got hurt after six starts. D.J. Reader showed he can be a defensive rotation player and could have a bigger role in 2017. Nick Martin was out all year with an injury but could be the starting center in 2017. If he starts, and Fuller and Miller step up, this class looks a lot better. The question is who gets them the ball.
New grade: C+
Indianapolis Colts
Post-draft grade: B
I gave this draft a good grade at the time because I thought the Colts finally made it all about Andrew Luck. The line did get better in 2016, but the problem was that it did better as a run-blocking unit but still often struggled with protection. Ryan Kelly, I thought, was a solid pick and should stick there for a long time. Joe Haeg saw 14 starts, getting time at both guard and tackle. Le'Raven Clark also got some starts. So the Colts did get some O-line help out of this draft, but hopefully the line can still get better.
If there's a downside, it's that they also drafted a trio of defensive players, and while that amounted to a combined 13 starts, it was for a defensive unit that was often a mess. T.J. Green could step up this year but struggled as a rookie (not a shock), and Sean Davis was taken one spot later by Pittsburgh and played pretty well. Antonio Morrison should be a starter in 2017, and Hassan Ridgeway will be in the mix. In short, the Colts got some players out of this rookie class, but it didn't boost the overall product enough to get you excited yet.
New grade: B-
Jacksonville Jaguars
Post-draft grade: A
I'm always fighting with myself on Jacksonville when the draft ends. On one hand, the Jaguars always get some really good, highly rated players who figure to start. On the other hand, that's sort of inevitable, because they're drafting high every year and they need the help, so you just pencil guys into starting roles and tell yourself they did well. This class is another example. Jalen Ramsey was a stud coming out, figured to start and played well. Again, is that a great pick? Sure. But Ramsey also had his growing pains, and the Jags' defense, while better in 2016 than it was in 2015, certainly couldn't do enough to get them to win more games, considering how dreadful the offense was. Yannick Ngakoue had a fabulous rookie year (eight sacks, four forced fumbles), and as a third-rounder, he's an early leader for one of the steals of the draft.
After that? Not much, with the hope that Myles Jack (only 230 defensive snaps) can take his immense potential and become a player assuming he stays healthy. Overall, the draft grade has to drop, because while the Jags got two good players Jack is still a mystery, and the team just hasn't made any on-field strides.
New grade: B
Tennessee Titans
Post-draft grade: A-
Wrote this at the time: "The Titans not only got a bunch of good football players in this draft, they should have one of the best 2017 draft classes thanks to the premium picks they added when they moved out of the No. 1 slot."
Can't say I feel any different, even with a couple of "eh" seasons from this class. But again, there's a lot of good.
Jack Conklin was a stud, an All-Pro as a rookie. That's amazing. Derrick Henry showed he can do damage at this level, and he did well as DeMarco Murray's understudy. Tajae Sharpe is one of the steals of the draft so far and bagged 41 catches. Kevin Byard even started seven games and had 51 tackles. There's just a lot of production here for a team that got better. Then you have the added picks for 2017. If there's a negative, it's that we don't know what they have in linebacker Kevin Dodd. I said at the time that I thought they should have added help at cornerback, and coverage was a problem. But overall, I liked it then, and I like it now.
New grade: A-
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
Post-draft grade: B-
Denver made a big splash when it moved up to get Paxton Lynch, which could go down as an all-timer regardless of whether Lynch turns into anything, because it meant that a certain team that plays in Dallas would not get Lynch, as Jerry Jones had hoped it would. So let's run this quickly: Denver gets Lynch, Dallas doesn't; Dallas ends up with Dak Prescott, so now Tony Romo needs a job. And many people think Denver should go get Romo, because Lynch isn't ready to start.
Sound about right? It actually is.
As for the draft, I wrote then, "I think Lynch is a gifted project, but I wouldn't want to start him in 2016 and maybe 2017." Seems John Elway might agree. Elsewhere, Adam Gotsis saw some useful reps, Justin Simmons saw time as well, Andy Janovich was the fullback on my All-Rookie Team, Devontae Booker overcame a fumble on the first run of his pro career to pick up 612 rushing yards, and Riley Dixon punted pretty well (though you should have good averages in Denver, of course).
The bad? We just have no idea what Lynch will become, and that clouds the future in Denver, where there's a Super Bowl defense and a big question mark at QB between Lynch and Trevor Siemian. That Siemian seems like the clear leader now says plenty.
New grade: C+
Kansas City Chiefs
Post-draft grade: B-
The Chiefs got at least one really good NFL player here, and maybe two, but in between that you have some big question marks.
The good players: Chris Jones played all 16 games and showed he can be a disruptive force on the interior. Tyreek Hill came with a lot of off-field baggage and deserved all the question marks, but he was dynamic on the field with 65 catches and a reception on almost 24 percent of routes run, which means he's a tough cover.
The questions: For one, we knew the Chiefs would probably draft a quarterback at some point as a developmental player behind Alex Smith, and they did -- it just turned out to be Kevin Hogan, who was drafted after the Chiefs passed on taking Dak Prescott three times in Round 4. Hogan played for the Browns last season. The second big question is how you can be confident enough to take a guy in Round 3 and then end up cutting him. That was KeiVarae Russell.
K.C. got some talent here, but after trading down to add picks, they also make you ask "What if?" more than once.
New grade: C+
Los Angeles Chargers
Post-draft grade: B-
Joey Bosa was a force of nature pretty much from the moment he stepped on the field for the first time at Ohio State, and his NFL career essentially mimicked that. Once on the field, he was a force, and he finished with 10.5 sacks and 41 tackles on just 538 snaps. He wasn't just a good rookie, he was a very good NFL pass-rusher, period. The guy is a star. But it's hard not to dock the Chargers for taking too long to get his deal done and contributing to him missing time early in the season.
It was good beyond Bosa, too. Hunter Henry (eight TDs) is going to a Pro Bowl at some point, and Jatavis Brown is a steal, an easy pick for my All-Rookie Team. Joshua Perry saw some action and could at least push to start in 2017. Drew Kaser stuck at punter but needs to improve. If there's a complaint, I wrote then, "I'm surprised they didn't add an offensive tackle at any point (or two) after the problems of the last few seasons on the O-line." O-line is definitely still a work in progress, and Philip Rivers struggled a lot in 2016.
But overall the Chargers did well, because already they have some good players from this class, including one legitimate star.
New grade: A-
Oakland Raiders
Post-draft grade: B+
For the last few years I've done this, I'd always have to factor in how much the team struggled. Like the situation in Jacksonville or Cleveland the past few years, you can't just call it a good draft when so many rookies play, because rookies tend to play on bad teams. It's still about winning football games, and when rookies contribute to that is when you're really impressed. Well, now the Raiders are good, so even though some of their rookies didn't play as much as they might have in years past, the draft still looks pretty good a year out.
Karl Joseph had his hiccups, but he started nine games and showed he can be an impact player if he can stay on the field (he had turf toe in 2016). Jihad Ward wasn't an impact guy, but did show he can play and had 13 starts. Connor Cook should be a capable backup and a possible trade chip at some point. DeAndre Washington has some juice and ran for nearly 500 yards. He could be a fantasy stud pretty quickly here. Cory James played in every game, and Vadal Alexander is useful depth on a good O-line.
Any stars? Hard to say. But on a good team, the rookies were useful.
New grade: B
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Post-draft grade: C
This was obviously a fabulous draft, netting a franchise-changer at the quarterback position and useful players elsewhere, with only one major question mark that directly affects the ability of this team to be a Super Bowl contender in 2017. First, let's get this out of the way: We all missed on Dak Prescott and what he was capable of. It's yet another reminder that where you land matters so much. This offense is a perfect incubator for a young QB, with a great offensive line and a solid running game, but we can't say, "Anybody could do what Dak did." No way. He was better than we could have imagined, and the only question now is how good he can be. Just remember: Dallas wanted both Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook before it was essentially forced to draft Prescott. But the Cowboys still pulled the trigger and deserve the credit.
I don't want to understate how good Ezekiel Elliott is (1,631 yards, 16 TDs) and was -- I called him "one of the best running back prospects in recent years" -- but I said then I expected him to have a huge rookie year, and I'd say the same for other running backs playing here. He's a great, great player, but he needed to be in order to justify the pick slot (see: Jordan Howard). If there's a big question, it's still Jaylon Smith in Round 2. Again, this is the best player in the draft if he's healthy, but what he'll become still remains a mystery, and that's a huge bet Dallas placed knowing its defensive personnel was a problem and will be again in 2017. And they did that two years in a row in Round 2, after taking Randy Gregory the year before. Charles Tapper, Dallas' fourth-round pick, also didn't see the field because of a back injury. This affects the on-field talent level. Outside of that, Dallas got useful contributions from Maliek Collins (670 snaps) and Anthony Brown, who might have to start in a suddenly empty secondary.
Make no mistake, it was a great draft based on Dak and Zeke alone. Hopefully, Smith can get on the field and make this an easy A+.
New grade: A-
New York Giants
Post-draft grade: B+
If Eli Apple realizes his potential, this looks like it'll be a really good draft class. Apple had his moments and the talent really shows up on tape, but he also got beaten plenty, as rookie corners often do. I called him a slight reach, because he was my No. 28 prospect and the Giants took him at No. 10, but bottom line: If he takes the next step, he, Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Landon Collins help make this a candidate for one of the NFL's best secondaries. Sterling Shepard is good and can get even better -- he had 65 catches in a year in which Eli Manning was inconsistent. Paul Perkins had 112 carries and could be the No. 1 back going into fall, so you can't knock that value. Jerell Adams looks like he'll be a useful target for them at tight end.
A sleeper here that keeps a good grade where it is -- safety Andrew Adams. He was undrafted, but the Giants get a bonus for him here, because they scouted him, got him in and got 13 starts out of him.
New grade: B+
Philadelphia Eagles
Post-draft grade: C
Philly fans weren't happy with the grade at the time, and probably won't be in love with the new one, but I'll explain. As I wrote then, "It's hard to give the Eagles an above-average grade just based on the draft value they gave away to get up to No. 2, where they are drafting a player I really like in Carson Wentz." Again, I liked Wentz and still had to factor in the picks they traded away. It was a steep price. If I could factor the Sam Bradford trade into this, then they'd get a bump because they recouped a first-rounder. Good on them. Now, if you think I'm still crazy because you're convinced Wentz is a franchise quarterback, I'd just say I really think he could be, but we don't know just yet. He really struggled down the stretch, finishing at 26th in QBR, and needs to take a step forward this season if the Eagles are going to contend in the NFC East. Can he? Sure. Especially with some added help at wide receiver.
Elsewhere, there isn't much to speak of just yet. Wendell Smallwood saw some action, as did Jalen Mills, and Isaac Seumalo picked up four starts. Ultimately, it's all about Wentz. If he becomes the franchise QB, it's a great draft.
New grade: C+
Washington Redskins
Post-draft grade: A-
Redskins fans are probably ready for some good news after what has been a trying offseason so far, but this draft class doesn't look as good as it did last April, though there is one player who can change that. I'll remind you what I said then for some hope: "Josh Doctson is the top wide receiver in the draft for me, and the Redskins got him at No. 22. An absolute steal." Let's hope Doctson gets healthy, because I really do think he can be a good one. With DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon gone, he really needs to be.
Beyond that, it's pretty early to say so far on this class. Su'a Cravens flashed ability and played in 11 games, with three starts; Kendall Fuller played 13 games and started six. That's about it. Keith Marshall is a talented player if he can stay on the field, and Matt Ioannidis did get some reps. Hopefully, Doctson is healthy and Cravens or Fuller breaks through.
New grade: C+
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
Post-draft grade: A-
The Bears have to get a really good grade so far, because at two spots they got guys who are already really good NFL players -- among everybody, not just rookies -- and they got exceptional value. I'll start there: Cody Whitehair is already one of the top handful of centers in the NFL, and the Bears got him late in Round 2. Jordan Howard is already one of the top five or six running backs in the NFL, and the Bears got him in Round 5. On a per-snap basis, he was every bit as good and arguably better than Ezekiel Elliott. Just look.
I expressed concern at the time about Leonard Floyd's frame and how well he could hold up, but he had 12 starts, seven sacks, made my All-Rookie Team and showed he can be a disruptive force. With guys like that, you have to ask those questions, but so far he's showing he has what it takes. Jonathan Bullard also saw almost 300 snaps and could be useful going forward. I said then I thought Nick Kwiatkoski could start early, and that could be the case in Year 2. From there, the only question is if the Bears can develop some of the secondary talent they added. If so, it's a bonus on a solid class.
New grade: A
Detroit Lions
Post-draft grade: B-
The Lions have been looking for consistent play at left tackle since Matthew Stafford arrived -- that's a while. Taylor Decker might have finally given them a long-term solution. You could make a case that if he gets any better, and new addition Ricky Wagner holds recent form, the Lions have one of the better tackle tandems in the NFL. A'Shawn Robinson was a pretty good value in Round 2, and while not an impact guy (30 tackles, two sacks), he did play in all 16 games and start a handful of them. He should be the starter going into 2017.
There was more good. Graham Glasgow started 11 games and could be the starting guard going into 2017. You could see Miles Killebrew developing into something, but it's early. Dwayne Washington was needed as attrition hit the backfield, and it was the same story with Antwione Williams at linebacker. There isn't a lot of sizzle here, but if Decker gets better this draft improves even from B+, because that's a huge hole filled.
New grade: B+
Green Bay Packers
Post-draft grade: B
As with New England, you have to consider the Packers' overall success when you evaluate how much the their rookies contributed. If the Packers were 7-9, this class wouldn't look nearly as good. But as a final four team, it looks pretty strong. Rookies filled some useful roles on a contender. Starting in Round 1, Kenny Clark wasn't a starter, but he was an important role player on the D-line and probably starts in 2017. The Packers see Jason Spriggs as a tackle -- Mike McCarthy said just that this week -- but he plugged in at guard in spots in 2016 and could start there in 2017, flipping to right or left tackle if someone goes down. Blake Martinez was called on to start nine games but then got hurt, though he made it back and was used in the playoffs.
A sleeper we need to add in here is Geronimo Allison, who wasn't drafted but found himself making some big catches. He could play a bigger role in the future.
Overall, not splashy, but guys played roles on a good team.
New grade: B
Minnesota Vikings
Post-draft grade: B-
Yikes. It's obviously way too early to say this class is a bust, but I'm asked to grade the draft at the time and then again now, and it's pretty obvious to any Vikings fan there are bigger question marks today than on draft day. Laquon Treadwell is the mystery, because I wasn't alone in having a high grade on him, but he played a total of 76 snaps. And for anyone saying Mike Zimmer is holding back his rookies, what did you make of Stefon Diggs, Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks and even Trae Waynes the year before?
There isn't much after Treadwell either, but that's another case where you have to consider where the Vikings were good and where there was opportunity. I was concerned with Mackensie Alexander's ball skills, but the value was fine here on my board. He didn't play much because it's hard to crack a good secondary. Kentrell Brothers is also waiting his turn and could be a thumper when he gets his chance. If there's one thing that stands out now, it's that just another body at tackle could have helped, as Willie Beavers clearly wasn't close. I'm sure the Vikings were confident they'd get better play from their tackles, but it just didn't happen, and it really messed up the offense, and they had to shell out for more help. You hope Treadwell and Alexander can break through in 2017.
The Vikings also gave up their third-round pick for a third- and fourth-round pick in 2017, so they get points there.
New grade: C-
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
Post-draft grade: B-
This is a home run so far, with an undrafted player a part of the equation. It's good enough when rookies start, and it's even better when they start and help a team make the Super Bowl. Keanu Neal was out until Week 3 but started through the Super Bowl and was on my All-Rookie Team. So was Deion Jones, who piled up 126 tackles. De'Vondre Campbell piled up 10 starts and did so in the playoffs as well. That group really changes the defense -- they're just a faster unit, period. Brian Poole is the undrafted player we need to recognize. He played in all 19 games, started nine and piled up nearly 1,000 total snaps. Remember that Desmond Trufant went down, so they needed the extra body. I get that this defense wasn't really impressive from a statistical standpoint, but they got better and will continue to improve. It wasn't their fault the Falcons didn't do some simple things on offense to end the Super Bowl.
I also should mention Austin Hooper, who caught 19 passes and should be a bigger part of the Matt Ryan show in the years to come. Overall, a great draft for Atlanta, considering how much these guys helped a Super Bowl run.
New grade: A
Carolina Panthers
Post-draft grade: C+
This one is a little tough. The Panthers did see some production out of the class, but by the time James Bradberry and Daryl Worley started to find their footing, the season was all but over. I focus on those two because you have to remember this draft took place just a week after Josh Norman's unexpected departure. Remember, the Panthers had the choice to keep him in 2016 but decided to part ways. So Bradberry and then Worley got thrown to the wolves in some ways, and the early portion of the season was a mess, in part, because of how much the kids struggled. If there's a silver lining here, it's that Bradberry in particular looks like a good one, and no cornerback drafted before him in Round 2 looks better.
Vernon Butler is still a definite "we'll see" and drops the grade. He played in 10 games, didn't start any (not that it's easy to crack the rotation) and ended up with just over 200 snaps. If Bradberry and Worley progress and Butler makes an impact, this draft grade goes up.
New grade: C+
New Orleans Saints
Post-draft grade: B-
Let's start with the good: Michael Thomas was an absolute stud. I realize a lot of guys pile up stats on the other end of Drew Brees' throws, but anyone can see he showed the traits of a true No. 1 wideout. He had 454 more receiving yards than the next-closest rookie (Sterling Shepard). If there's anything that drags the grade a little bit, it's that yet again the Saints couldn't stop anybody. While they got some useful pieces in this class, we still need to see the dividends. Sheldon Rankins can be a disruptor when he plays (four sacks), but he missed the first seven games because of an injury he suffered in training camp. Vonn Bell played in every game, starting 14, and he got more comfortable later in the year after some early struggles. That's really it for the class, which totaled only a handful of players.
Thomas is a stud, and Bell is a starter. If Rankins steps up, the grade obviously jumps.
New grade: B-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Post-draft grade: B-
Let's get right into the kicker debate. At the time I didn't dislike the move as much as some others did, just because the Bucs had already hit on a pair of needs -- cornerback and pass rush were two big ones at the time -- so I could at least understand them trying to lock in a 10-year player late in Round 2. Remember, with extra points being moved back, finding a reliable kicker becomes a little more important. There's no question Roberto Aguayo needs to bounce back after missing nine of 31 kicks last year. But in three years at Florida State he never was under 80 percent accuracy for the season. Let's hope last year was an aberration. If Aguayo doesn't bounce back (and they brought in competition), yeah, you can say there were plenty of better players to be had late in Round 2. OK, now that we covered the kicker ...
Vernon Hargreaves III struggled for much of 2016, but he did stay on the field (missed 22 snaps all year). Noah Spence played in every game, started three and picked up 5.5 sacks. He could be in for a bigger 2017 at 100 percent. I know Aguayo is the story, but if he gets back to his college level, and Hargreaves and Spence improve, this class will look better. He's not a punchline just yet.
New grade: C
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Post-draft grade: B-
Based on production this new grade should probably be lower, but there's still a decent amount of potential here, and you could certainly make a case for several of the picks from a planning perspective. Remember, at the time the Cardinals were a good team trying to add talent at logical places. We just didn't see the Cardinals falling off so much in 2016, but a lot of that had to do with quarterback play, not these picks. As for the guys they got, there are question marks.
Robert Nkemdiche was a top-10 talent who dropped because of attitude concerns, and those popped up. Head coach Bruce Arians called him out at least once and used the word "maturity" in doing so. From a planning perspective, Nkemdiche made sense and could be a steal, because Calais Campbell was likely on his way out and now is in Jacksonville. Maybe Nkemdiche becomes a great player (he can be), given the starting role Campbell held for years. Brandon Williams was bound to struggle, given that he'd spent time at running back in college. But he has ability and can improve. We'll see about Evan Boehm, but he could start at right guard in 2017. This feels like an "incomplete" grade right now. Let's hope Nkemdiche comes hungry next season.
New grade: C+
Los Angeles Rams
Post-draft grade: B-
I suspect a lot of people think I should hammer this draft class, given Jared Goff's first-year struggles, but there's a problem with that: We said all along that Goff would struggle early on based on the system he was coming from at Cal and the lack of help on this Rams roster, so should we be surprised? I wrote at the time, "I'm a fan of Goff ... [but] they'll need to be extremely patient and find ways to protect him." When Goff played, the Rams had no running game to take pressure off him and didn't pass protect well, and his receivers were a parade of dropped passes, including some that bounced off hands and chests and right to a defender for a pick. Does this look good so far? Of course not. Is it all because of Goff? No way.
After Goff, that's just about it. They like Tyler Higbee's potential, but he had just 11 catches. Same story with Pharoh Cooper, who had 14. It's all about Goff at this point. I just hope he gets a real shot -- and some help.
New grade: C
San Francisco 49ers
Post-draft grade: C
A lot has changed since then-GM Trent Baalke and then-coach Chip Kelly were running point. If the re-grade seems harsh, just remember how bad this team was in 2016. You expect rookies to make contributions to a team this bad, but then the return was pretty lean. So far DeForest Buckner looks like a pretty decent pro. He started 15 games and moved around a lot, and he picked up six sacks and 73 tackles. I didn't like the Joshua Garnett pick, because if you trade up for a guard I hope it's not a reach on value. Garnett started the final 11 games at right guard but struggled a great deal.
After that, there just isn't much. Will Redmond didn't play, and Ronald Blair had some flashes (three sacks) and will be pass-rush depth in 2017. There isn't much to speak of after that, aside from part-time work for Rashard Robinson. If Buckner becomes a really good player and Garnett gets better, this class looks a little better. But the returns were pretty light in 2016.
New grade: C-
Seattle Seahawks
Post-draft grade: B+
I liked the players Seattle got for the most part, including one big steal, but the fact that some of them had to play such prominent roles was a problem. Germain Ifedi was a good pick, but as I said then, he was going to have to transition from tackle to guard, and that doesn't just happen with a snap of the fingers. I give the Seahawks credit for finding undrafted free agent George Fant, but when a guy not far removed from the basketball court is protecting Russell Wilson's blind side, that's not a good thing. Ifedi and Fant should get better, but they struggled last season.
But again, there's a lot to like. Jarran Reed was a steal on my board, and he got eight starts as part of the rotation on the defensive interior, and I like his potential to do more. C.J. Prosise looked good, but health questions are going to linger. Nick Vannett saw some time and could play a bigger role going forward. Alex Collins got a few carries, though it's now a full backfield. Undrafted free agent Trevone Boykin could be an effective backup. Overall, that's a good return for one of the five or six best teams in the league. You just hope the O-linemen develop.
New grade: B