I wanted to give a best value pick in the draft of every round, now that the draft is over and there is a clearer picture for most rosters. When examining the draft, there were several players that really stuck out to me as great picks. I thought that I would put my insight on the draft and pick a player that was great value and a runner-up so to speak for each round and one undrafted free agent. So find out which player to me was the best value, and what team had the best draft in my opinion.
1st Round – Pittsburgh Steelers with the 24th pick selected David DeCastro of Stanford who to me was the best value pick. You hear people say that there were only five players that were can’t miss. Although I understood the statement, I believed there were six players. My six players you cannot miss on were, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Matt Kalil, Morris Claiborne and David DeCastro. The Steelers stole this pick from everyone and I believe sooner than later, that David DeCastro will be an All-Pro Guard and help the Offensive Line for the Steelers for a very long time.
Runner-Up – Michael Floyd going 13th overall to Arizona was a steal in my opinion as well. Floyd along with Fitzgerald is going to be amazing in Arizona. If the QB can get them the ball they are going to be a very serious tandem, for years to come.
2nd Round – Philadelphia Eagles with the 59th overall pick selected Vinny Curry from Marshall. To me this was a highway robbery; Curry is the best pure Defensive End in this draft. I think Curry is going to be an immediate impact player for the Eagles, and he is a tough, strong player who has a great motor. After reading that Curry selected number 75 in Philly because of the 75 people that died in the plane crash at Marshall, I had an even bigger love for the kid. This was a huge steal; he should have been a first rounder.
Runner – Up – Cordy Glenn to Buffalo in the second was a huge steal. Glenn is a very athletic big guy who can play 4 positions on the offensive line. He will be used as a Left Tackle in Buffalo which is their biggest need coming into the draft. Glenn could be a guy that teams dread not picking in three or four years.
3rd Round – Indianapolis Colts with the 64th pick selected Dwayne Allen of Clemson. Everyone wants to talk about how much of an impact Fleener is going to have in Indy. I think Allen will be a bigger player for the Colts, people will be focusing on Fleener, but will struggle with Allen. There are not too many linebackers who are going to be able to cover him one on one. He will be a stud for Andrew Luck, and I think will be more of a go to guy than Fleener will.
Runner – Up – Jayron Hosley was selected by the New York Giants with the 94th pick and he was a steal for them. He is a good cover corner, but he will have to change his off the field blues. He could be a huge asset to the G-Men. I can see Perry Fewell falling in love with this gamer early and often. Hosley could come in right away and compete for a nickel spot.
4th Round – Arizona Cardinals selected Bobby Massie with the 112th pick, and to be honest Massie should have been drafted in the second round. Massie is a big, physical player, who will end up taking over the Right tackle position in Arizona sooner than later. Arizona’s offensive line went from good to better in just one selection. Massie will be able to protect the front side of the quarterback for years to come. He is not just a steal in the 4th round, but he is one of the biggest steals in the draft.
Runner – Up – Lamar Miller was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 97th pick in the 4th round, and even though he had a shoulder surgery he is still a very good player. I liked his running style better than the Giants newest member David Wilson of Virginia Tech. Miller is a guy who will end up being the guy that takes over for Reggie Bush in Miami.
5th Round – Buffalo Bills selected Zebrie Sanders of Florida State with the 144th pick and this kid is a little raw, but has been a huge starter for the Florida State team. I am not trying to keep just focusing on the ACC, but Sanders should have been taken a lot earlier than he was. Buffalo has Eric Pears on their roster that plays right tackle, but they could have solidified their O-Line with this pick for the next few years. If Sanders can change some little things where he was making mistakes, he could be a final piece to the Bills O-Line problem.
Runner – Up – Josh Norman the cornerback from Coastal Carolina was probably pumped to be taken but he should have been taken way before the 5th round. I had him rated in my top 96 players in the draft, he is a big, physical player who loves to jump a route and get in front of the ball. Norman has the potential to be an All –Pro for the Carolina Panthers.
6th Round – The Saint Louis Rams selected Greg Zuerlein from Missouri Western with the first pick in the round, and I know you are all probably thinking I am a joke for putting a kicker on the list. This kid should be an instant starter, and he is a very accurate kicker. I like his skills, he hits the ball hard, and as a former kicker myself; I love this pick. Remember this post in a couple years from now, this kid is going to be a good kicker. #KICKSQUAD
Runner – Up – Jeremy Lane the small school cornerback from Northwestern State (LA), who always lived up to playing against the top talent was taken by the Seahawks with the 2nd pick. This kid is a gamer, who stands at 6’0 and is an in your face type of player. Lane will be a good special teamer right away and could be an asset to the cornerback position for the Hawks.
7th Round – I hate giving anything to the New England Patriots but this one was easy. Alonzo Dennard with the 224th pick in the draft was the smartest pick in the draft. I can’t believe that he was not taken before the seventh round. I first had him mocked in the 2nd round back in January. Even before his fight with Alshon Jeffrey, you have to love his tenacity. The Patriots will find a way to make this kid an All-Pro, it is only a matter of time.
Runner – Up – When the Packers selected Andrew Datko in the 7th round, my stomach hurt. This kid before the beginning of the year was by far one of the best left tackles in all of college football. After suffering a shoulder injury, he really hurt his stock. This kid is a wall, and to be honest, if he gets healthy Bulaga better watch out, because he can take this blindside spot from him. Datko is a special kid, who has great heart, and is very intelligent.
BEST UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT SIGNING – Dallas Cowboys signed Adrian Hamilton, I still feel that he should have been drafted. He will probably have to sit behind Demarcus for a year, but when he understands the positions and playbook, the Cowboys could be one of the best rushing teams in the NFC. They will finally have two players that can get to the QB.
Runner – Up – Vontaze Burfict, I know he went to Cincinnati Bengals as a UDFA, but he will have a great chance to succeed with Marvin Lewis. I think Burfict could be a guy that is starting on week one, especially if the suspension is carried out with their starting MLB Rey Maualuga. He will still have a ton to get over, but I still feel, he will prove everyone wrong if he can keep his head in the game.
What team had the best draft?
I believe the best draft was the Pittsburgh Steelers; their first four picks will probably all end up starting. In the first round David DeCastro was a huge steal for them. In the second round they took Mike Adams, who failed a drug test, but was a very dominate player at Ohio State. In the 3rd Round the Steelers picked up a kid, who I think has great upside in Sean Spence from the U. The fourth rounder Alameda Ta’amu was exactly what the Steelers need with Casey Hampton getting older, and will be in a rotation with him. I liked the Bengals draft as well, because they went out and focused on the BPA and they did a great job.