I will be finishing my draft grades for the 2017 NFL Draft this week, and we begin the final run down of the AFC teams tonight with the AFC West. Here are my final grades for these four teams:
Denver Broncos
1. Garret Bolles, OT, Utah (A)
2. DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida State (C)
3. Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech (B)
3. Branden Langley, CB, Lamar (D)
5. Jake Butt, Michigan, TE (B)
5. Isaiah McKenzie, WR, Georgia (B)
6. DeAngelo Henderson, RB, Coastal Carolina (A)
7. Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss (D)
Final Grade: 3.0 (B)
The Broncos nailed a couple of picks, with their best efforts going into Bolles and Henderson. Bolles is an immediate starter at OT, while Henderson provided good value for where he was taken, and can potentially add solid depth to the RB corps. Henderson will be an instant impact player as well, and Butt will more than likely over play his draft spot one he is healthy again. McKenzie was good value for where he was picked, and provides depth. Walker was a reach for the Broncos, as he earned a 4th round grade from most services. Langley was also a major reach, as he received a late round draft grade, and Kelly was just a throw away pick late.
Kansas City Chiefs
1. Patrick Mahomes II, QB, Texas Tech (C)
2. Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova (C)
3. Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo (B)
4. Jehu Chesson, WR, Michigan (F)
5. Ukeme Eligwe, LB, Georgia Southern (F)
6. Leon McQuay, S, USC (F)
Final Grade: 1.17 (D-)
This class was a mess for the Chiefs, who looked like they had no plan at all coming except to reach and whiff. Mahomes is strictly a developmental guy who is a technological mess that will need to be stripped down and rebuilt. Kpassagnon is a nice player, but he was a reach in the 2nd round. Hunt was the lone viable player with good pick value that may contribute heavily in year one, and could be a starter when the season ends. Kpassagnon could be that guy as well, but his draft value was not as good where the Chiefs took him. The picks of Chesson, Eligwe, and McQuay were all completely bonkers.
Los Angeles Chargers
1. Mike Williams, WR, Clemson (A)
2. Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky (A)
3. Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana (A)
4. Reyshawn Jenkins, S, Miami (B)
5. Desmond King, S, Iowa (A)
6. Sam Tevi, OT, Utah (A)
7. Isaac Rochelle, DT, Notre Dame (D)
Final Grade: 3.43 (B+)
The Chargers had a strong draft weekend from start to almost finish. Williams gives Phillip Rivers a dramatic upgrade at receiver in his final years, and Lamp could join Feeney as starters on the line in front of Rivers in short order. Jenkins would have gotten an A grade as well had he gone a round later, but he was a bit of a reach where they got him, and King fell into their laps long after he was graded to go. King and Jenkins give the Chargers a shot to aid their ailing back end of their defense. Tevi will add solid depth on the line. Rochelle was a late round throw away, and will be hard pressed to make the final 53 man roster.
Oakland Raiders
1. Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State (F)
2. Obi Melifonwu, S, U Conn (A)
3. Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, UCLA (B)
4. David Sharpe, OT, Florida (A)
5. Marquel Lee, LB, Wake Forest (A)
7. Shalom Luani, S, Washington State (F)
7. Jylan Ware, OT, Alabama State (F)
7. Elijah Hood, RB, North Carolina (F)
7. Treyvon Hester, DT, Toledo (B)
Final Grade: 2.0 (C)
This was not a great go for the Raiders, but they did pick up a few solid pieces. Melifonwu is rock solid at Safety, and will be a huge impact player right away. Sharpe was solid at rookie mini camp, as was Lee, and both players could be diamond in the rough types right away. Hester had late round value where they got him, and if he makes it, he could see time in a rotation role early. Vanderdoes was not a terrible pick, but was a bit of a reach, especially when you consider his considerable injury history. The pick of Conley was a massive risk being given that he was fresh off of a sexual assault accusation that still has not been cleaned up, and it's not like there were other cleaner, talented players available at the position in that spot. Luani, Ware, and Hood will likely not be on the final 53 man roster, and those are a lot of picks to just throw away.
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