Draft Grades - NFC West: Seahawks upgrade OL, Rams go all in for QB
With the 2016 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
Arizona Cardinals
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | DT Robert Nkemdiche |
| 3 | CB Brandon Williams |
| 4 | C Evan Boehm |
| 5 | S Marqui Christian |
| 5 | OL Cole Toner |
| 6 | CB Harlan Miller |
Getting a top-10 talent at the end of the first round should be considered a steal. Presumably taking on a role opposite Calais Campbell, Robert Nkemdiche gives Arizona an incredibly stout defensive front. If the trade of a second-round pick for Chandler Jones isn't to be included among the draft day, though, this class is fairly underwhelming. Nkemdiche may be the only draft pick that carves out any sort of substantial role for himself as a rookie.
Grade: C+
San Francisco 49ers
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | DE DeForest Buckner |
| 1 | G Joshua Garnett |
| 3 | CB Will Redmond |
| 4 | CB Rashard Robinson |
| 5 | DE Ronald Blair |
| 5 | OT John Theus |
| 5 | OT Fahn Cooper |
| 6 | QB Jeff Driskel |
| 6 | RB Kelvin Taylor |
| 6 | WR Aaron Burbridge |
| 7 | CB Prince Charles Iworah |
DeForest Buckner falling to No. 7 gave the 49ers plenty of value in the opening round. He joins fellow Oregon alum Arik Armstead to formulate an impressive tandem on the defensive line. The focus on upgrading the offensive line and secondary was clear from that point forward, as six of the next 10 selections were used in those two areas. Along with Buckner and Joshua Garnett, Will Redmond getting healthy could give the 49ers a minimum of three instant-impact players. Others to keep an eye on include John Theus, and Kelvin Taylor.
Grade: A-
Seattle Seahawks
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | OL Germain Ifedi |
| 2 | DT Jarran Reed |
| 3 | RB C.J. Prosise |
| 3 | TE Nick Vannett |
| 3 | OL Rees Odhiambo |
| 5 | DT Quinton Jefferson |
| 5 | RB Alex Collins |
| 6 | C Joey Hunt |
| 7 | WR Kenny Lawler |
| 7 | RB Zac Brooks |
The Seahawks finally addressed the offensive line with a pair of early round picks. That alone is deserving of praise, but there are several other strong selections throughout this class. Most notable, of course, is the addition of Jarran Reed. One of the league's most dominant defenses adds an elite-level run stopper to shore up what may be the lone area of relative weakness. Nick Vannett, a true every-down tight end, should also be quick to find a role for himself on the offensive side. Though using three picks on running backs is somewhat curious, doing so may have been necessary to provide insurance for Thomas Rawls.
Grade: B
Los Angeles Rams
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | QB Jared Goff |
| 4 | TE Tyler Higbee |
| 4 | WR Pharoh Cooper |
| 6 | TE Temarrick Hemingway |
| 6 | LB Josh Forrest |
| 6 | WR Mike Thomas |
The Rams did what they had to do. An opportunity presented itself to sacrifice picks in moving up to get a potential franchise quarterback, and the move will certainly be worth it if Jared Goff pans out. But in looking at this class as a whole, the return leaves something to be desired. As much as the Rams may need passing-game targets for their new quarterback, using four of five picks in that area, isn't the way to go. Day 3 picks likely won't be landing the club the kind of difference-makers it's seeking in that area anyways.
Grade: C-