NFC West Team Grades

Arizona Cardinals

1-1 Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

2-33 Byron Murphy, CB, Washington

2-62 Andy Isabella, WR, UMass

3-65 Zach Allen, DE, Boston College

4-103 Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State

5-139 Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama

6-174 KeeSean Johnson, WR, Fresno State

6-179 Lamond Gaillard, C, Georgia

7-248 Joshua Miles, OL, Morgan State

7-249 Michael Dogbe, DT, Temple

7-254 Caleb Wilson, TE, UCLA

Analysis:

Kyler Murray ended up being the pick and now he will take over as the Cardinal QB. He has the potential to be a franchise QB but will need to clean up some warts. He does bring an ability to throw accurately and run well. Byron Murphy was a little overrated by the media, but he is an interesting pick in the second round. The playmaker may be able to unseat Robert Alford but needs to be better at staying in phase. Andy Isabella is a firecracker. He is only 5’9 but can really move and showed up against Boston College on tape. Zach Allen might be my favorite pick by the Cardinals in the draft. He is a physical pass rusher and should really get a look over Robert Nkemdiche. Hakeem Butler has the tools to be a good outside receiver in the NFL. Dionte Thompson is probably a Day Two value pick if he was healthy. KeeSean Johnson needs to develop awareness but does show the ability to run routes well at times. Caleb Wilson was this year’s Mr. Irrelevant but should have gone higher. He has good hands and is an aggressive blocker

Grade: B+

San Francisco 49ers

1-2   Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State

2-36 Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina

3-67 Jalen Hurd, WR, Baylor

4-110 Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah

5-148 Dre Greenlaw, LB, Arkansas

6-176 Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford

6-183 Justin Skule, T, Vanderbilt

6-198 Tim Harris, CB, Virginia

Nick Bosa was a good pick at #2. He instantly upgrades their defensive line and now they have one of the more formidable 4-3 defensive lines in the NFL. Deebo Samuel was another good pickup. He brings an explosiveness that will make the 49ers offense more dangerous. The 49ers took a bit of a risk taking a punter in the fourth round. If Wishnowsky becomes their long-term punter then it will be a good pick. Dre Greenlaw has average instincts and coverage skills. He needs to get stronger though. Kaden Smith is an average blocker with a good catch radius.

Grade: B

Seattle Seahawks

1-29 LJ Collier, DE, TCU

2-47 Marquise Blair, DB, Utah

2-64 D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

3-88 Cody Barton, LB, Utah

4-120 Gary Jennings Jr., WR, West Virginia

4-124 Phil Haynes, OL, Wake Forrest

4-132 Ugo Amadi, S, Oregon

5-142 Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington

6-204 Travis Homer, RB, Miami (FL)

6-209 Demarcus Christmas, DT, Florida State

7-236 John Ursua, WR, Hawaii

Analysis

LJ Collier was a surprise in the first-round but I think his tape showed that he should go there. Marquise Blair was a reach as I think he needs better instincts as a safety to be considered a second rounder. D.K. Metcalf dropped but I think he went at the point he should have because of his drops on tape. He did do well from a measurables point of view which is something the Seahawks like. Gary Jennings is a slot guy who is a good open field runner, deep threat and has a nice catch radius. Ben Burr-Kirven is an underrated linebacker who has good tape. Travis Homer was another good pick. He is an underrated running back in this draft. Demarcus Christmas has plenty of power but lacks the athleticism he need to be an effective defender in the league. John Ursua is a pure slot guy who has some route running ability. I like the pick for the seventh round.

Grade: B

Los Angeles Rams

2-61 Taylor Rapp, S, Washington

3-70 Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis

3-79 David Long, CB, Michigan

3-97 Bobby Evans, OL, Oklahoma

4-134 Greg Gaines, DL, Washington

5-169 David Edwards, OL, Wisconsin

7-243 Nick Scott, S, Penn State

7-251 Dakota Allen, LB, Texas Tech

Taylor Rapp is the new Rams free safety. This is a player that can execute a lot of what coaches will ask of him. As long as they keep him as a centerfielder and don’t ask him to play man coverage he will be effective in the NFL. Darrell Henderson is a quick outside runner who can also line up in the slot. David Long was pick where he should have because he is physical in coverage and stays in phase. Bobby Evans is decent in both the run blocking and pass blocking departments but needs to have better feet and square that big frame better. Greg Gaines is a true nose tackle but needs to play with better leverage and needs to get off blocks better. David Edwards is a decent pass blocker but isn’t much of a run blocker. Dakota Allen is a good linebacker but just needs to get off blocks better.