2015 NFL Draft Analysis: AFC North Draft Review and Grade

Rotoballer kicks off the 2015 NFL Season by reviewing each teams draft, continuing with the AFC North. Draft expert Owen Elle gives his take on each teams ability to fill their needs and add overall talent to their rosters.

Also check out our AFC East review.

Baltimore Ravens

Round 1, Pick 26 - WR Breshad Perriman, Central Florida
Round 2, Pick 55 - TE Maxx Williams, Minnesota
Round 3, Pick 90 - DT Carl Davis, Iowa
Round 4, Pick 122 - DE Za’Darius Smith, Kentucky
Round 4, Pick 125 - RB Javorius Allen, Southern California
Round 4, Pick 136 - CB Tray Walker, Texas Southern
Round 5, Pick 171 - TE Nick Boyle, Delaware
Round 5, Pick 176 - G Robert Myers, Tennessee State
Round 6, Pick 204 - WR Darren Waller, Georgia Tech

Given the decline in the Raven’s offensive production last season, this was a great draft. Baltimore gives Joe Flacco two great weapons in the first two rounds by picking up Breshad Perriman and Maxx Williams. Perriman's a very athletic burner who will be asked to take over Torrey Smith's previous role as a deep man and potentially become a YAC threat in the short game. Williams was considered the best of the TE crop and will be sitting behind veteran Dennis Pitta, a player who he's sometimes been compared to, as he eases into his NFL transition. There's a chance Pitta is unable to play at all this upcoming season, so Williams might even see starting time early on. The Ravens were smart enough to catch the falling Carl Davis in the third round, doing a great job of identifying value. Darren Waller, who the Ravens took in the sixth round, in my opinion, has the potential to be an integral part of Baltimore’s red zone offense, seeing that Waller stands at 6’6.

Grade: B+

Cincinnati Bengals

Round 1, Pick 21 - OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
Round 2, Pick 53 - OT Jake Fisher, Oregon
Round 3, Pick 85 - TE Tyler Kroft, Rutgers
Round 3, Pick 99 - ILB Paul Dawson, Texas Christian
Round 4, Pick 120 - S/CB Josh Shaw, Southern California
Round 4, Pick 135 - DT Marcus Hardison, Arizona State
Round 5, Pick 157 - TE C.J. Uzomah, Auburn
Round 6, Pick 197 - S Derron Smith, Fresno State
Round 7, Pick 238 - WR Mario Alford, West Virginia

This draft was nothing short of confusing. I like the value of taking Paul Dawson and Derron Smith in the third and sixth round respectively, however I can’t figure out what Cincinnati’s brass was thinking. Selecting Ogbuehi makes some sense, given the aging tackles on the Bengals roster, but then coming back in the second and taking another tackle makes no sense. I didn’t think the Bengals needed two tight ends, especially considering they have Tyler Eifert on roster. Perhaps instead of wasting four picks on tight ends and offensive tackles, the Bengals should have spent more than one pick in the fourth round fixing a defensive line that was near the bottom of the league in sacks.

Grade: D-

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Cleveland Browns

Round 1, Pick 12 - DT Danny Shelton, Washington
Round 1, Pick 19 - OL Cameron Erving, Florida State
Round 2, Pick 51 - EDGE Nate Orchard, Utah
Round 3, Pick 77 - RB Duke Johnson, Miami
Round 3, Pick 96 - DT Xavier Cooper, Washington State
Round 4, Pick 115 - S Ibraheim Campbell, Northwestern
Round 4, Pick 123 - WR Vince Mayle, Washington State
Round 6, Pick 189 - CB Charles Gaines, Louisville
Round 6, Pick 195 - TE Malcolm Johnson, Mississippi State
Round 6, Pick 198 - TE Randall Telfer, Southern California
Round 7, Pick 219 - ILB Hayes Pullard, Southern California
Round 7, Pick 241 - CB Ifo Ekpre-Olumu, Oregon

I am really surprised that the Browns didn’t find a way to mess up this draft. Instead they might have actually won the draft. They use two first round picks to upgrade both lines, which isn’t flashy but incredibly necessary for this team. Duke Johnson, while not the fastest running back, is a powerful runner who certainly will challenge Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell for the starting job in Cleveland. I don’t feel as is the Browns reached for anyone in this draft, which is very impressive considering they had 12 picks in this draft. Cleveland nailed the seventh round, selecting Hayes Pullard and Ifo Ekpre-Olumu, who fell into their laps. Ekpre-Olumu, who just as recently as last year was a projected first round pick, fell due to injuries and his 5’9 stature, but still is very valuable to the Browns, who are still getting a first round talent.

Grade: A+

Pittsburgh Steelers

Round 1, Pick 22 - EDGE Bud Dupree, Kentucky
Round 2, Pick 56 - CB Senquez Golson, Mississippi
Round 3, Pick 87 - WR Sammie Coates, Auburn
Round 4, Pick 121 - CB Doran Grant, Ohio State
Round 5, Pick 160 - TE Jesse James, Penn State
Round 6, Pick 199 - DT Leterrius Walton, Central Michigan
Round 6, Pick 212 - DL Anthony Chickillo, Miami
Round 7, Pick 239 - S Gerod Holliman, Louisville

The Steelers did a good job at getting bodies to compete in the secondary after the departure of Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor. Sammie Coates and Jesse James should fit in nicely in Pittsburgh with Ben Roethlisberger’s style of play. Coates however might have a difficult time seeing the field early on, partly because of his high drop rate and also because of having Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant ahead of him. In fact, it was a little surprising seeing them pick a player like Coatss after drafting Bryant last year, who are in some ways similar players- possibly hinting what the Steelers think of Bryant's future with the team. Pittsburgh also got lucky when Dupree fell over ten spots down to the lap of the Steelers at pick 22. Overall Pittsburgh did a fantastic job at spending a fair amount of picks on both sides of the ball accordingly.

Grade: B

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