Draft Grades - AFC South: Jags secure 2 top talents, Colts protect Luck
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
Jacksonville Jaguars
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | CB Jalen Ramsey |
| 2 | LB Myles Jack |
| 3 | DE Yannick Ngakoue |
| 4 | DT Sheldon Day |
| 6 | LB Tyrone Holmes |
| 6 | QB Brandon Allen |
| 7 | DE Jonathan Woodard |
The Jaguars watched as Jalen Ramsey, a player many had pegged as the best overall talent in the draft, fell into their laps with the fifth pick. Then, even more incredibly, they sat back and waited as linebacker Myles Jack, another prospect considered by some to be the best player in the draft, fell out of the first round because of medical concerns. Undeterred by the possibility Jack's career will be shorted by a chronic knee issue, the Jaguars traded up two spots in the early second round (surrendering a fifth-round pick) and added Jack to their roster. Two picks and potentially the two best players in the draft. The Jaguars could have stopped there and still finished with an A+ grade.
Grade: A+
Indianapolis Colts
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | C Ryan Kelly |
| 2 | S T.J. Green |
| 3 | OT Le'Raven Clark |
| 4 | DT Hassan Ridgeway |
| 4 | LB Antonio Morrison |
| 5 | OT Joel Haeg |
| 7 | LB Trevor Bates |
| 7 | C Austin Blythe |
A year after coming under intense criticism for sticking to a best-player-available philosophy and drafting wide receiver Phillip Dorsett in the first round, the Colts reversed course and made selections that addressed some of their biggest areas of need. They should be commended for avoiding reaches, something that's difficult when drafting for need, and for greatly improving the protection in front of Andrew Luck, but it's impossible to overlook that the Colts exited this draft without finding a player who can help improve the team's woeful pass rush.
Grade: B
Houston Texans
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | WR Will Fuller |
| 2 | G Nick Martin |
| 3 | WR Braxton Miller |
| 4 | RB Tyler Ervin |
| 5 | S K.J. Dillon |
| 5 | DT D.J. Reader |
The Texans made improving their team speed a top priority in the draft and certainly accomplished it. Taking drop-prone Will Fuller with Josh Doctson and Laquon Treadwell still on the board was a highly questionable decision, but it seems the Texans were enamored with Fuller's blazing speed and how it will open up things for the offense. Braxton Miller is another home run-hitter, but may never develop into a reliable NFL starter, so his selection in the third round carries some risk. Not selecting a tight end is a notable omission.
Grade: B-
Tennessee Titans
| Rd. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | OT Jack Conklin |
| 2 | DE Kevin Dodd |
| 2 | DT Austin Johnson |
| 2 | RB Derrick Henry |
| 3 | S Kevin Byard |
| 5 | WR Tajae Sharpe |
| 5 | CB LeShaun Sims |
| 6 | G Sebastian Tretola |
| 7 | LB Aaron Wallace |
| 7 | CB Kalan Reed |
General manager Job Robinson was celebrated for trading the first overall selection to the Los Angeles Rams for a bounty of draft picks. He used some of those picks to move up from No. 15 back into the top 10 to select Jack Conklin - despite Laremy Tunsil remaining on the board at the time. The Titans gave up three premium draft picks for Conklin, an awful lot for a right tackle, but should have accomplished their primary goal of better protecting Marcus Mariota. Kevin Dodd and Austin Johnson are solid additions in the second round. Derrick Henry could be a steal in the second round, but was a puzzling selection considering the Titans just traded for DeMarco Murray.
Grade: B+