AFC West 2019 NFL Draft Grades: Raiders Remain Clueless, Broncos Makes Some Noise

It’s that time of year. The 2019 NFL Draft is over so now it’s time to over-analyze the hell out of it. The draft is a franchise-altering event for every single team. When it comes to the AFC West, we already have a really competitive division. The Chiefs and Chargers are both talented. The Broncos are close but still need work. The Raiders? Well, still a mess. I’m not sure anything changed. Nevertheless, let’s hand out draft grades for the AFC West!

Denver Broncos: Grade B-

• Round 1, Pick 20 (No. 20 overall): Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
• Round 2, Pick 9 (No. 41 overall): Dalton Risner, T, Kansas State
• Round 2, Pick 10 (No. 42 overall): Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
• Round 3, Pick 7 (No. 71 overall): Dre’Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State
• Round 5, Pick 18 (No. 156 overall): Justin Hollins, LB, Oregon
• Round 6, Pick 15 (No. 187 overall): Juwann Winfree, WR, Colorado

The good new for Denver is that they picked up some picks. Trading down allowed Denver to collect more talent. Noah Fant in the first round was too rich for my blood but Joe Flacco loves the tight end so I’m sure they will get run out of him. Fant is an athletic tight end. I’m just not sure that he’s a good one.

Dalton Risner is a weird one. I’m convinced that he sucks. Risner was awful at the Senior Bowl but rebounded at the combine. I think he can make it at center or guard in a zone scheme but that’s about it. The key to this draft is Drew Lock. If he is a franchise quarterback that can win a Super Bowl, then this draft is an A. If not, this draft is another waste of time. Lock is a hell of an arm talent so I’m rooting for him to succeed.

Dre’Mont Jones is a sneaky pick in round 3. He might just be a sub package guy but he can get after the quarterback. Jones could have gotten first round hype if he was 20 pounds heavier. Just the way the cookie crumbles I guess.

Kansas City Chiefs: Grade C

• Round 2, Pick 24 (No. 56 overall): Mecole Hardman, WR, Georgia
• Round 2, Pick 31 (No. 63 overall): Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia
• Round 3, Pick 20 (No. 84 overall): Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois
• Round 6, Pick 28 (No. 201 overall): Rashad Fenton, CB, South Carolina
• Round 6, Pick 41 (No. 214 overall): Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah St.
• Round 7, Pick 2 (No. 216 overall): Nick Allegretti, G, Illinois

It’s hard to love this draft without a first rounder but KC actually did pretty well. Giving up Dee Ford for Frank Clark while losing a first round pick in the process makes zero sense. Besides that, I like the Chiefs draft. Mecole Hardman is a weapon in the passing game with real speed and quickness. Hardman will do his best impersonation of Tyreek Hill. Hardman isn’t nearly Tyreek Hill but still a really awesome playmaker.

Juan Thornill is a really athletic, rangy safety. Thornhill blew up the combine. He should start right away next to the Honey Badger. Kansas City does deserve credit for at least trying to repair the defense. Khalen Saunders is a hell of a gamble worth taking. Saunders is a small school prospect but he wowed me at the Senior Bowl. Saunders is a demon in the middle of any defense. Chris Jones has a new best friend and that’s all that matters. Rashad Fenton adds to much needed corner depth.

Los Angeles Chargers: Grade B-

• Round 1, Pick 28 (No. 28 overall): Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
• Round 2, Pick 28 (No. 60 overall): Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
• Round 3, Pick 27 (No. 91 overall): Trey Pipkins, T, Sioux Falls
• Round 4, Pick 28 (No. 130 overall): Drue Tranquill, LB, Notre Dame
• Round 5, Pick 28 (No. 166 overall): Easton Stick, QB, North Dakota St.
• Round 6, Pick 27 (No. 200 overall): Emeke Egbule, LB, Houston
• Round 7, Pick 28 (No. 242 overall): Cortez Broughton, DT, Cincinnati

The Chargers got great value at the top of the draft. The rest didn’t do anything to impress me. Jerry Tillery is a nice pick at the back of the first round. Tillery has serious pass rushing ability. That’s what the Chargers needed. If they can create interior pressure with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram on the edge… wow. Landing Tillery was a great start. Nasir Adderley was a nice pick. He’s a boom or bust player from a small school. Adderley had a real shaky Senior Bowl but does come with elite ball skills for the position. He’s a great fit next to the vulture, Derwin James.

The rest of the draft stunk. Good luck with Trey Pipkins. He’s a developmental tackle with zero power. Not something I’m doing in round 3. Drue Tranquill is interesting but has serious durability concerns. I’m not sure where he plays either unless he’s an undersized linebacker. The Easton Stick pick makes zero sense. Why even waste the pick? Why isn’t Tyrod Taylor acceptable as a backup quarterback? Don’t ask me how Stick even makes the roster.

Oakland Raiders: Grade F

• Round 1, Pick 4 (No. 4 overall): Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson
• Round 1, Pick 24 (No. 24 overall): Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
• Round 1, Pick 27 (No. 27 overall): Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
• Round 2, Pick 8 (No. 40 overall): Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson
• Round 4, Pick 4 (No. 106 overall): Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan
• Round 4, Pick 27 (No. 129 overall): Isaiah Johnson, CB, Houston
• Round 4, Pick 35 (No. 137 overall): Foster Moreau, TE, LSU
• Round 5, Pick 11 (No. 149 overall): Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson
• Round 7, Pick 16 (No. 230 overall): Quinton Bell, DE, Prairie View

I’m going to try to keep this segment as short as I possibly can. If you took a random 5-year-old and told him to pick random names out of a hat, he would have had more success than the Raiders. I can’t get over how stupid Jon Gruden / Mike Mayock could be.

Clelin Ferrell at 4 is a major reach. He’s Kevin Dodd all over again. Limited athlete that doesn’t have a high ceiling. Ferrell has some power and bull rush to his game but that’s literally it. Don’t expect anything more than a Shaq Lawson type. The Raiders whiffed big time. I almost pissed myself in disbelief over how stupid this was.

Then we have the Khalil Mack pick. You would think that the Raiders would try to replace him in some capacity. NOPE. Oakland only did the dumbest thing possible with the pick… taking a collegiate backup running back. This idea that Josh Jacobs is some all-world talent is just wrong. If he were, then why did Damien Harris start over him at Alabama? Taking a running back in round one to begin with is normally a bad idea. Taking a running back with 640 rushing yards in 2018 is an even dumber idea. This is what you have to show for Khalil Mack? Totally pathetic.

Now let’s get to the Amari Cooper pick. You would think that Oakland would make a splash to replace Cooper? NOPE. Instead, the Raiders went with a box safety that can’t cover. Don’t forget that Oakland also gave too much money to Lamarcus Joyner. They better hope John Abram is Keanu Neal.

I can’t waste my time writing another word. Don’t ever say I couldn’t be a gm. I’d bet my life I could have drafted better than Oakland. Come revisit this a year from now. I’ll bet my life on it. My draft would have been (assuming I picked at those spots and didn’t trade) Devin White at 4, Jerry Tillery at 24, Deebo Samuel at 27, and Greedy Williams at 40. I’ll bet my life on it.