Draft Grades - AFC West: Chargers land a top target, Chiefs get their QB
With the 2017 NFL Draft officially complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for how teams fared during all seven rounds.
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
Denver Broncos
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | OT Garett Bolles |
| 2 | DE DeMarcus Walker |
| 3 | WR Carlos Henderson |
| 3 | CB Brendan Langley |
| 5 | TE Jake Butt |
| 5 | WR Isaiah McKenzie |
| 6 | RB De'Angelo Henderson |
| 7 | QB Chad Kelly |
The Broncos targeting a top lineman in the first round was a must. The board fell such that they had their pick of the bunch at No. 20, and getting Garett Bolles gives them an athletic left tackle who could be poised to step in as the blindside protector as a rookie. DeMarcus Walker is a curious fit in Denver's defense, but perhaps the club is hoping he can hold his own on the interior and address a major need. Scooping up an underrated receiver in Carlos Henderson on Day 2 gives the Broncos a receiving corps that will be difficult for opposing defenses to handle. The rest is mediocre, but Chad Kelly as Mr. Irrelevant is extremely interesting. For all his question marks, the former Ole Miss quarterback is certainly not short on ability. Could he be groomed to start down the road?
Grade: B-
Kansas City Chiefs
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | QB Patrick Mahomes |
| 2 | DE Tanoh Kpassagnon |
| 3 | RB Kareem Hunt |
| 4 | WR Jehu Chesson |
| 5 | LB Ukeme Eligwe |
| 6 | S Leon McQuay III |
The Chiefs made the splash everyone had been hoping for in the first round, trading from No. 27 all the way up to No. 10 and landing a potential franchise quarterback. Patrick Mahomes may not start this year, and he'll have a significant transition ahead of him if he's to be expected to play and excel within structure. But the move finally gives Kansas City some long-term upside at the position and a means by which to move on from Alex Smith. The rest of the draft, aside from landing a potential starting running back in Kareem Hunt, is less than spectacular. That's okay, though. Addressing the one spot that was holding this team back from Super Bowl contention was the priority. Mission accomplished.
Grade: B+
Los Angeles Chargers
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | WR Mike Williams |
| 2 | OL Forrest Lamp |
| 3 | OL Dan Feeney |
| 4 | S Rayshawn Jenkins |
| 5 | DB Desmond King |
| 6 | OL Sam Tevi |
| 7 | DE Isaac Rochell |
The Chargers surprised the football world with their first-rounder for the second time in as many years, opting to bring in a top weapon for Philip Rivers in the passing game. Surprising as the move may have been, pairing the big-bodied Mike Williams with a healthy Keenan Allen could pay off in a big way. Los Angeles then turned to the offensive line, taking care of its issues on the interior with not one, but two of this year's top guard prospects. The importance of those moves, after years of the front-five crumbling in front of Rivers, can't be undersold. Don't look now, but these are three moves that could help the Chargers take another step toward playoff contention.
Grade: A-
Oakland Raiders
| RD. | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | CB Gareon Conley |
| 2 | S Obi Melifonwu |
| 3 | DT Eddie Vanderdoes |
| 4 | OL David Sharpe |
| 5 | LB Marquel Lee |
| 7 | S Shalom Luani |
| 7 | OL Jylan Ware |
| 7 | RB Elijah Hood |
| 7 | DT Treyvon Hester |
It's tough to evaluate Oakland's first-round pick, as Gareon Conley had seemingly been falling down boards due to allegations that surfaced late in the pre-draft process. The cornerback being exonerated would make this a phenomenal value pick for a team that needed defensive back help in the worst way, but the situation remains unresolved. The Raiders doubled down on that area of the field when Obi Melifonwu was still available late in the second round, giving themselves an incredible athlete to pair with 2016 first-rounder Karl Joseph at safety. If his flashes of dominance can be taken as any indication, Eddie Vanderdoes could also prove to be a major addition. But the Raiders deserve criticism for how long they waited once again to get a linebacker. Will that position hold the defense back for another year?
Grade: B