Essential The Official ESPN Insider Thread (ESPN+)

[Skooby]

Should Cavs trade Kyrie Irving for Chris Paul?

Trade targets: Should the Clippers deal Chris Paul for Kyrie Irving?
Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 28-15
4th in West





Status: Buyers

Chris Paul's age (30) and the desire of owner Steve Ballmer and coach Doc Rivers to win a championship have combined to produce a sense of urgency for the Clippers.


Alas, having already made a series of win-now moves over the past couple of years, L.A. doesn't have much else to offer to upgrade its roster.







Potential trade targets



Kyrie Irving
See below.

P.J. Tucker
The Clippers have been in the market for 3-and-D wings more or less since they acquired Paul. Tucker isn't an elite 3-point shooter, having made 33.7 percent of his attempts from long distance this season and 35.4 percent in his career. However, he would still be an upgrade over Clippers starter Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who's made just nine triples all season.

A deal of Lance Stephenson for Tucker and Sonny Weems (whose 2016-17 salary is non-guaranteed, making him effectively an expiring contract) would work financially if the Clippers added some kind of future pick.

Gerald Henderson
Henderson doesn't fit as ideally as Tucker because, at 6-foot-5, he's not as equipped to defend small forwards while playing alongside J.J. Redikk. Still, a Henderson-for-Stephenson swap could be a workable option for the Clippers.


Most trade value


1. Blake Griffin
In his prime at age 26 (he'll turn 27 in March), Griffin has more long-term value than his more accomplished (but older) teammate, Paul.

2. Chris Paul
Because the Clippers appear unlikely to seriously challenge for a championship during the remainder of his prime, Danny Leroux of the Sporting News suggested the Clippers explore a Paul trade. While the idea isn't crazy, it's hard to see a good fit for a Paul suitor who could send the Clippers the young star they'd want in return.

Perhaps the only Paul trade that would make sense for both teams is swapping him for Kyrie Irving (and a deep Cleveland reserve, needed to make the trade work financially; see the deal in ESPN's NBA Trade Machine).

That deal would give the Cavaliers a better chance of beating the Golden State Warriors or San Antonio Spurs now and allow the Clippers to wait out this period in which those two teams dominate the Western Conference while developing a younger core of stars. If the two teams are feeling desperate about their current situations, a deal might help both of them.

3. DeAndre Jordan
After famously changing his mind and re-signing with the Clippers last summer, Jordan is signed through at least 2017-18 to a contract that will pay him sub-max money as the cap rises.

4. J.J. Redikk
The NBA's leader in 3-point percentage this season, Redikk continues to play his best basketball in his 30s and will make a reasonable $7.4 million in 2016-17, the final year of his contract.

5. Jamal Crawford
An unrestricted free agent this summer, Crawford could help another team as a rental if the Clippers decided to move him for a better defender.





Most valuable draft pick
2019 first-rounder
Because the Clippers owe their 2017 first-round pick to Toronto (via Milwaukee from the Jared Dudley trade), they can't trade a first-rounder in 2016 or 2018 (under the Ted Stepien rule), so 2019 is the earliest one they can deal. Of course, more distant Clippers picks might be more valuable anyway because by that point the team may not be in contention.

The Clippers' final record is worth watching closely because the team traded a second-round pick to the New Orleans Pelicans (for Rasual Butler all the way back in 2009) that is top-55 protected. If the Clippers finish with one of the league's five best records, New Orleans gets the pick. Otherwise, the Clippers get to swap second-round picks with the Brooklyn Nets, which would give them one of the most valuable picks in the second round (33rd overall, if the season ended today). As of now, the Clippers and Toronto Raptors are tied for the league's fifth-best record, which would mean the fate of their second-round pick would be decided by a coin flip.





Player most likely to be traded


Lance Stephenson
Give Rivers credit for his willingness to admit mistakes in his role as the Clippers' president of basketball operations. The team has already traded Josh Smith, one of its marquee offseason additions, and could also part ways with Stephenson less than a year after acquiring him.

Like Smith, Stephenson has fallen out of Rivers' rotation, playing just 41 total minutes in January. Since his contract has a team option for 2016-17, Stephenson is the best option for the Clippers to match salary in a trade for wing help. Failing that, the Clippers could send him to a team like the Portland Trail Blazers that is under the salary floor, cutting their luxury-tax bill.

 

[Skooby]

thx breh
Tuesday Truths: The secret to Texas A&M's success

Tuesday Truths: The secret to Texas A&M's success

SEC: A&M shoots and scores and shoots and scores and shoots....



SEC
Team W-L Pace PPP Opp. PPP EM
1. Texas A&M 5-0 68.6 1.15 0.96 +0.19
2. LSU 4-1 72.8 1.11 1.02 +0.09
3. Arkansas 3-2 72.5 1.11 1.03 +0.08
4. Kentucky 3-2 69.6 1.09 1.02 +0.07
5. Florida 3-2 71.0 1.02 0.98 +0.04
6. Vanderbilt 2-3 72.6 1.02 0.98 +0.04
7. South Carolina 3-1 71.4 0.98 0.98 0.00
8. Tennessee 2-3 74.1 1.08 1.08 0.00
9. Alabama 1-3 65.5 1.01 1.04 -0.03
10. Georgia 2-3 70.6 0.95 1.02 -0.07
11. Ole Miss 2-3 71.2 1.01 1.10 -0.09
12. Auburn 2-3 71.9 0.96 1.06 -0.10
13. Mississippi State 0-4 68.3 1.01 1.11 -0.10
14. Missouri 1-3 68.7 0.98 1.14 -0.16
Average 70.6 1.03







Danuel House, Jalen Jones, Alex Caruso and their Texas A&M teammates are doing things in the SEC that we haven't seen done in a while by any team that doesn't come from Lexington, Kentucky, or Gainesville, Florida. From my chair, a good deal of A&M's fast start boils down to just two factors:

1. Timing: This is the first season since 2010-11 when both Kentucky and Florida will, seemingly, be relatively non-dominant. (Put another way, in any of the previous four seasons, Texas A&M could have been exactly as good as the Aggies are now and still would have faced an SEC rival that's even stronger on paper.) This leaves an opening for 12 other long-suffering teams, and while there's much basketball still to be played, no SEC team has seized that opportunity better in the early going than the Aggies.
2. Shot volume: Excuse me while I clamber up on my soapbox, but sometimes I think pure shot volume may be the most underrated stat in hoops. At a time when the fashion in college (and pro) basketball is to give up on offensive rebounds, Texas A&M is doing the exact opposite and reaping the rewards. Combining that with a notably low turnover rate has given Billy Kennedy's men plenty of chances to score.

Bear in mind, the Aggies' shooting has been good but by no means spectacular. Vanderbilt, to take one example, has been even more accurate from the field in SEC play (while getting to the line far more often), yet the Commodores' offensive efficiency is nowhere near A&M's. (See above.) Shot volume's important, and the Aggies are living proof.











ACC: Savor an unusual concentration of extremely good offenses



ACC
Team W-L Pace PPP Opp. PPP EM
1. North Carolina 5-0 72.1 1.17 1.01 +0.16
2. Louisville 3-1 65.4 1.01 0.90 +0.11
3. Duke 3-3 67.3 1.16 1.06 +0.10
4. Pittsburgh 4-1 63.9 1.16 1.08 +0.08
5. Notre Dame 3-2 64.3 1.23 1.16 +0.07
6. Clemson 5-1 64.2 1.12 1.06 +0.06
7. Syracuse 3-4 63.0 1.05 1.01 +0.04
8. Virginia 2-3 61.6 1.10 1.07 +0.03
9. Miami 2-2 64.9 1.00 0.99 +0.01
10. Virginia Tech 4-1 69.2 1.06 1.09 -0.03
11. Georgia Tech 1-4 70.2 1.06 1.11 -0.05
12. Florida State 2-3 72.8 1.04 1.10 -0.06
13. NC State 0-5 66.1 1.02 1.12 -0.10
14. Wake Forest 1-4 69.3 1.02 1.17 -0.15
15. Boston College 0-4 64.5 0.84 1.20 -0.36
Average 66.6 1.07




Over the weekend, as I watched the telecast of Notre Dame eking out a 95-91 win on the road at Duke, my colleague Dan Shulman referred to the new clock and this season's rule changes when he said, "It's nice to see the ball going through the net." As it happens, Shulman was well-situated to witness that phenomenon, since the Irish and the Blue Devils are two of the best in that department.

Teams like ND, Duke and North Carolina have all been making themselves at home atop the national rankings for offensive efficiency at KenPom.com this season. And, as seen here, this illustrious group (which Pittsburgh is not too far behind) is getting it done in conference play as well.

If the ACC were to score 1.08 points per possession as a group, the league would set a new Tuesday Truths standard for major-conference efficiency. (Which, by the way, would be remarkable for a 15-team conference. Large memberships typically mean more members performing at a level that's closer to the Division I average.) Does this mean the conference is really good at offense or just really bad at defense? I incline mostly toward the former explanation (Boston College's last-place offense is hurting the league's "best ever" quest more than the last-place BC defense is helping it), but to each their own. Whatever the cause, this is the major conference to watch if you like seeing the ball going through the net.





Big 12: Look out if KU's offense catches up with its D



Big 12
Team W-L Pace PPP Opp. PPP EM
1. West Virginia 4-1 72.7 1.05 0.95 +0.10
2. Kansas 4-1 70.9 1.08 0.98 +0.10
3. Baylor 4-1 67.7 1.17 1.07 +0.10
4. Iowa State 3-3 71.5 1.14 1.10 +0.04
5. Oklahoma 4-2 72.8 1.08 1.06 +0.02
6. Texas 3-2 66.6 1.05 1.04 +0.01
7. Kansas State 1-4 67.2 1.03 1.07 -0.04
8. Texas Tech 2-4 67.3 1.03 1.08 -0.05
9. Oklahoma State 1-4 66.0 1.01 1.07 -0.06
10. TCU 1-5 66.5 0.94 1.13 -0.19
Average 68.9 1.06




When last we saw Kansas, Cheick Diallo was recording five blocks and a season-high 21 minutes in the Jayhawks' 70-63 win over TCU in Lawrence. I'm seeing this portrayed in some quarters as a flash of the interior defense that KU's been needing all along, but we should be under no misapprehensions on this front. Kansas was already getting great rim protection from its rotating cast of characters in the paint (namely Diallo, Jamari Traylor, Carlton Bragg Jr., Hunter Mickelson and Landen Lucas). When your conference opponents are shooting just 39 percent on 2s, the interior D is fast approaching its natural (and ideal) limit.


The Jayhawk offense, conversely, still shows plenty of room for improvement. This is where you think I'll say that KU's 3-point shooting has been amazing (45 percent in conference play), and instead of dismissing 3s as "fool's gold," Bill Self should be giving his shooters a steady green light. Well, you thought wrong. No matter what I say, Self will allot 30 percent of his team's shot attempts to 3s -- period. He does so every season. Let's mark this as a given.

No, if Kansas is going to put points on the board more efficiently, they'll have to improve their accuracy inside the arc. On the regular season as a whole, KU's been fine in this department. Over their first five Big 12 games, however, the Jayhawks have connected on just 45 percent of their 2s. When Perry Ellis and Frank Mason III (combining to shoot 41 percent inside the arc in conference play) start converting at a higher rate, a tough Kansas team will become that much tougher to beat.

 

[Skooby]

Big East: A dry spell for the Friars



Big East
Team W-L Pace PPP Opp. PPP EM
1. Villanova 6-0 66.6 1.12 0.93 +0.19
2. Georgetown 4-2 68.5 1.05 0.97 +0.08
3. Creighton 4-2 70.5 1.06 0.99 +0.07
4. Xavier 4-1 70.9 1.08 1.02 +0.06
5. Providence 3-2 71.9 0.97 0.92 +0.05
6. Seton Hall 3-2 74.6 1.00 0.98 +0.02
7. Butler 2-3 67.7 1.04 1.06 -0.02
8. Marquette 2-4 74.6 0.92 1.03 -0.11
9. DePaul 0-6 69.9 0.98 1.13 -0.15
10. St. John's 0-6 73.7 0.92 1.11 -0.19
Average 70.9 1.01





Over the last three games (including losses at home to Marquette and Seton Hall), Providence has scored just 0.85 points per possession while shooting just 19 percent from beyond the arc. This tailspin on offense is showing up in mock NCAA tournament brackets, as PC has dropped from a consensus No. 3 seed to a projected spot on the No. 5 line in just the past week.

Don't blame Kris Dunn. Well, blame him for fouling out with three minutes left in the Seton Hall game if you wish, but few cases better illustrate the limits of the "Star player X must have a big game" vein of analysis than Dunn and the Friars. Ed Cooley's point guard has scored 16 points or more in every Big East game, and while Dunn's turnover rate has increased in conference play, so has his true shooting percentage. Dunn's doing pretty much what you'd expect -- so what's wrong with the Friars?

Put simply, Providence players not named Kris Dunn are having a terrible time getting the ball in the basket. Against the rest of Division I outside the Big East, for example, Ben Bentil's a career 36 percent 3-point shooter. But when playing against a league opponent, the sophomore has rather bewilderingly connected just 15 percent of the time from beyond the arc in his time as a Friar. Nor is Providence lighting it up from inside the arc in conference play (43 percent). Possession-for-possession, this has been as good as any defense in Big East play, but Cooley's men need the ball to go through the net. Soon.





Big Ten: Why the Hawkeyes have been even more impressive than you think



Big Ten
Team W-L Pace PPP Opp. PPP EM
1. Maryland 5-1 67.2 1.14 0.95 +0.19
2. Iowa 5-0 66.5 1.17 0.99 +0.18
3. Purdue 4-2 66.8 1.15 0.98 +0.17
4. Indiana 5-0 69.5 1.07 0.93 +0.14
5. Nebraska 3-3 66.3 1.16 1.06 +0.10
6. Michigan State 3-3 66.8 1.11 1.04 +0.07
7. Michigan 3-2 65.5 1.13 1.10 +0.03
8. Northwestern 3-3 64.2 1.06 1.03 +0.03
9. Wisconsin 2-4 63.3 1.04 1.02 +0.02
10. Ohio State 4-2 71.3 1.02 1.04 -0.02
11. Illinois 1-4 69.5 1.00 1.10 -0.10
12. Penn State 2-4 66.7 1.00 1.13 -0.13
13. Minnesota 0-6 66.2 0.94 1.17 -0.23
14. Rutgers 0-6 70.7 0.88 1.27 -0.39
Average 67.2 1.06





This week Iowa made its debut in the AP poll's top 10, and deservedly so. The Hawkeyes have already swept their season series with Michigan State (a team that was No. 1 nationally just three weeks ago), and Fran McCaffery's men also have a seven-point win at Purdue to their credit. Throw in home wins over Nebraska and Michigan, and Iowa is 5-0 despite not having faced a team in the bottom half of the per-possession table above. Simply put, no major-conference team has started league play in such an impressive fashion.


The road to the Big Ten title now goes through Iowa City, and to understand why, let's start with Jarrod Uthoff's presence on the Wooden Award midseason top 25. At 6-foot-9, Uthoff is a high-volume stretch-4 on offense who then turns around and functions as one of the Big Ten's best shot-blockers on D.

Maybe Iowa won't continue to shoot 13 percentage points better on its 3s than its conference opponents do, but, again, a more normal strength-of-schedule in Big Ten play may well cancel out any regression to the mean on the perimeter. Let the word go forth that the Hawkeyes are for real, and next week's game at Maryland shapes up to be quite a collision.





Pac-12: Road tests for Arizona and USC



Pac-12
Team W-L Pace PPP OPPP EM
1. Arizona 3-2 70.2 1.23 1.06 +0.17
2. USC 4-1 74.4 1.10 1.00 +0.10
3. Oregon 3-2 67.1 1.07 1.02 +0.05
4. California 2-3 69.0 1.04 1.00 +0.04
5. Colorado 3-2 67.6 0.99 0.97 +0.02
6. Stanford 3-2 66.2 0.99 1.00 -0.01
7. Oregon State 2-3 64.8 1.01 1.04 -0.03
8. UCLA 2-3 72.9 1.09 1.12 -0.03
9. Washington 4-1 77.2 1.06 1.11 -0.05
10. Arizona State 1-4 74.0 1.05 1.12 -0.07
11. Utah 2-3 62.9 0.93 1.01 -0.08
12. Washington State 1-4 74.4 1.04 1.16 -0.12
Average 70.1 1.05





Arizona looks great here, but I suspect we'll have to let the dust settle in the Pac-12 for just a bit longer before we make any sweeping pronouncements. The teams that show best in per-possession terms -- the Wildcats, USC, Oregon and California -- are a combined 8-0 in conference home games but just 4-8 on the road in Pac-12 play.

The good news is that the league's dust should be settling sooner rather than later. The Pac-12 currently has one ranked and one near-ranked team in Arizona and USC, respectively, and both the Wildcats and the Trojans will be playing on the road this week. Sean Miller's taking his team to Stanford and then Cal, while Andy Enfield's men will visit Oregon and Oregon State.

Does Miller really have an outstanding offense to go along with his far more normal defense? Will Enfield's almost perfectly balanced rotation sound the death knell for hero-ball expectations once and for all? Speaking of hero ball, can Washington ride 40th-, 45th- and even 50th-minute glory all the way to a regular-season title? We're about to have answers to these questions and the ones we don't know to ask yet.







American: SMU is still running the table



American
Team W-L Pace PPP Opp. PPP EM
1. SMU 6-0 63.4 1.15 0.94 +0.21
2. Memphis 3-1 71.1 1.03 0.94 +0.09
3. Houston 3-2 63.3 1.04 0.95 +0.09
4. UCF 3-1 68.8 1.12 1.05 +0.07
5. Cincinnati 3-3 61.6 1.03 0.97 +0.06
6. Connecticut 3-2 67.0 0.98 0.94 +0.04
7. Tulsa 3-2 64.5 1.00 0.99 +0.01
8. Temple 4-2 63.4 1.00 1.00 0.00
9. Tulane 1-5 66.2 0.93 1.06 -0.13
10. South Florida 0-6 64.5 0.95 1.10 -0.15
11. East Carolina 0-5 66.1 0.89 1.13 -0.24
Average 65.4 1.01





Next up for the Mustangs, a home game against Houston on Tuesday and then, this weekend, a road test at Temple. At the moment, Larry Brown really does have the best team in the American, but the degree to which they dominate may not be quite as extreme as what you see here. SMU's coming off wins against two of the league's least-daunting opponents, East Carolina and Tulane.

Still, the Ponies have given us ample reason to believe they'll score points even when the schedule becomes more challenging. In effect, Brown has a four-headed monster on offense with Ben Moore, Jordan Tolbert, Nic Moore and (coming off the bench) Markus Kennedy. With this quartet carrying the load on offense, the Mustangs have excelled at getting -- and converting -- opportunities at the rim. Brown may or may not run the table with this team, but his offense is running at peak efficiency.

 

[TrillCauleyStein]

Lange: Time to back Kentucky, other CBB betting takeaways
skooby

 

[Chris Cool]

https://docupub.com/docs/b9393201-3e91-4749-8d2f-0ce079ab8d57/Mel Kiper hands out new grades for every 2015 NFL draft class.pdf

can you re-up this one?

 

[Skooby]

can you re-up this one?

AFC East


Buffalo Bills[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: C-minus

Two players made the grade jump. As you'll recall, a big reason the Bills had a low grade was because they didn't have a first-round pick after moving up in 2014 for Sammy Watkins (with Mike Evans and Odell Beckham Jr. available to them had they stayed put). That said, Watkins started to show this season how special he can be, and then Ronald Darby played for much of the season like one of the NFL's top 10 cornerbacks. Karlos Williams was useful depth, which wasn't a surprise, and John Miller saw time, though he struggled. But Darby's breakthrough and Watkins' emergence really carry the grade. The Bills have two guys on the cusp of stardom.

New grade: B



Round/Pick Name Pos College
2/50 Ronald Darby CB Florida St
3/81 John Miller G Louisville
5/155 Karlos Williams RB Florida St
6/188 Tony Steward OLB Clemson
6/194 Nick O'Leary TE Florida St
7/234 Dez Lewis WR Central Arkansas




Miami Dolphins[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B

In my post-draft grades I noted that DeVante Parker was "one of my favorite picks of Round 1, and they didn't have to move to get their guy. ... I could have seen him going with any of the four picks ahead of Miami." It was only at the end of the season, however, that we saw Parker start to show off what he's capable of. If he's healthy, he can be special. Jordan Phillips worked his way into the rotation and we also got a glimpse of Jay Ajayi, but it's fair to call the early returns underwhelming, especially when the team took a step back overall. A healthy Parker changes that going forward.

New grade: C-plus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/14 DeVante Parker WR Louisville
2/52 Jordan Phillips DT Oklahoma
4/114 Jamil Douglas G Arizona St
5/145 Bobby McCain CB Memphis
5/149 Jay Ajayi RB Boise State
5/150 Ced Thompson S Minnesota
5/156 Tony Lippett WR Michigan St




New England Patriots[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B-minus

Wrote it then: "Malcom Brown was an absolute steal at No. 32." That alone gives New England's draft a decent grade when you consider Brown helped a winner keep winning, but they have to get even more credit because they used a lot of rookies and are again contending for a Super Bowl. Beyond Brown, Shaq Mason, David Andrews and Tre' Jackson were all useful this year on the O-line, Joe Cardona stepped in as the long-snapper, and I liked the pickup ofChris Harper as an undrafted addition. That helped, because my big question was a lack of a wide receiver or cornerback. If you think the new grade is too high, remember these guys are still playing -- a big difference from most rookie classes.

New grade: A



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/32 Malcom Brown DT Texas
2/64 Jordan Richards S Stanford
3/97 Geneo Grissom DE Oklahoma
4/101 Trey Flowers DE Arkansas
4/111 Tre' Jackson G Florida St
4/131 Shaq Mason C Georgia Tech
5/166 Joe Cardona LS Navy
6/178 Matt Wells OLB Mississippi St
6/202 AJ Derby TE Arkansas
7/247 Darryl Roberts CB Marshall
7/253 Xzavier dikkson DE Alabama




New York Jets[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: A-minus

The last sentence in my draft grades write-up was this: "And remember: I factor Brandon Marshall into this draft." Well, for a sixth-rounder, all Marshall did was deliver an All-Pro-caliber season (in my book) with 109 catches, 1,502 yards and 14 touchdowns. Not too shabby. The Jets also have my defensive rookie of the year in Leonard Williams, whom they got at No. 6 even though he was No. 1 on my Big Board. Lorenzo Mauldin really came on down the stretch, and Devin Smith had flashes before he got hurt, though he looked raw. Something worth noting: Plenty of Jets fans wanted them to grab Kevin White of West Virginia at No. 6. They went with Williams. White didn't play a down this season and Marshall was a star. The front office deserves a lot of credit.

New grade: A





Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/6 Leonard Williams DE USC
2/37 Devin Smith WR Ohio State
3/82 Lorenzo Mauldin OLB Louisville
4/103 Bryce Petty QB Baylor
5/152 Jarvis Harrison G Texas A&M
7/223 Deon Simon DT Northwestern St

 

[Skooby]

AFC North


Baltimore Ravens[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: A-minus

This draft class takes a step back only because Breshad Perriman didn't play at all due to injury. But beyond that, they did use a lot of these guys, though it was partially due to so many injuries during a season that kind of spun out of control from an attrition standpoint. Maxx Williams showed potential with 32 catches, as did Carl Davis and Za'Darius Smith on defense. Javorius "Buck" Allen could be the future No. 1 and rushed for more than 500 yards. Perriman needs to pan out, but he kind of epitomized the season in Baltimore. If Perriman reaches his potential, this class looks a lot better.

New grade: B-minus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/26 Breshad Perriman WR UCF
2/55 Maxx Williams TE Minnesota
3/90 Carl Davis DT Iowa
4/122 Za'Darius Smith DE Kentucky
4/125 Buck Allen RB USC
4/136 Tray Walker CB Texas Southern
5/171 Nick Boyle TE Delaware
5/176 Robert Myers G Tennessee St
6/204 Darren Waller WR Georgia Tech




Cincinnati Bengals[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B-plus

If you ask where the rookie production is, the reality is no team went into the draft needing less from the rookie class. There just weren't clear voids the draft would help fill. It was all about the future, and Cedric Ogbuehi at No. 21 overall illustrated that, as he was coming off a knee injury and wouldn't be available until late in the season. They could still have both of their future tackles in Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher, whom they took in Round 2. In a weird way, this is just what you want from a rookie class -- some pretty impressive talent that you didn't need to call on because the roster was in good shape.

New grade: B



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/21 Cedric Ogbuehi OT Texas A&M
2/53 Jake FIsher OT Oregon
3/85 Tyler Kroft TE Rutgers
3/99 Paul Dawson OLB TCU
4/120 Josh Shaw S USC
4/135 Marcus Hardison DT Arizona St
5/157 C.J. Uzomah TE Auburn
6/197 Derron Smith S Fresno St
7/238 Mario Alford WR West Virginia




Cleveland Browns[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B

This class just doesn't look as good today. I liked the pick of Danny Shelton, but called the choice of Cameron Erving a "surprising pick" because of the lack of an immediate need for him, and that's a spot (No. 19) where you can get major talent. I said Duke Johnson Jr. was one of the best pass-catchers in the draft, even at running back, and he looked good. But I was all over the Browns to get a truly useful wide receiver in that offense, and when they took Vince Mayle I wrote: "the speed is a major issue, and the hands can be inconsistent." He was a reach. Mayle didn't even survive camp, and as a fourth-rounder, that's just brutal. No wide receivers, no interesting depth shot at QB like a Bryce Petty. The grade was better then because they got a lot of raw talent, but much of it underperformed. Nate Orchard's usefulness helps, but they're back near the top of the draft, again with QB in mind.

New grade: C-minus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/12 Danny Shelton DT Washington
1/19 Cameron Erving C Florida St
2/51 Nate Orchard OLB Utah
3/77 Duke Johnson RB Miami (FL)
3/96 Xavier Cooper DT Washington St
4/115 Ibraheim Campbell S Northwestern
4/123 Vince Mayle WR Washington St
6/189 Charles Gaines CB Louisville
6/195 Malcolm Johnson TE Mississippi St
6/198 Randall Telfer TE USC
7/219 Hayes Pullard ILB USC
7/241 Ifo Ekpre-Olomu CB Oregon




Pittsburgh Steelers[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: A-minus

This draft class took a major hit early on and it affected the season, in my opinion. I wrote then, "Senquez Golson is one of my favorite players in the draft, an INT machine at Ole Miss who plays bigger than his size." Well, Golson got hurt before the season started, and I think that really hurt because the secondary was already going to be a rebuilding project. If he comes back strong the secondary looks better. Bud Dupree often looked raw, but gave them 500-plus snaps and has potential. Hopefully Sammie Coates makes a leap next year, and Golson comes back strong.

New grade: B-minus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/22 Bud Dupree OLB Kentucky
2/56 Senquez Golson CB Ole Miss
3/87 Sammie Coates WR Auburn
4/121 Doran Grant CB Ohio State
5/160 Jesse James TE Penn State
6/199 Leterrius Walton DT Central Michigan
6/212 Anthony Chickillo DE Miami (FL)
7/239 Gerod Holliman S Louisville




Houston Texans[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B

I didn't knock the Texans for not getting a QB because I just didn't think the opportunity was there to get one who would truly help. It's not sexy so far, but it's hard to knock the draft grade down when the team got a pair of defensive starters with their first two picks -- growing pains noted -- and went on to make the playoffs. Questions marks: I had Benardrick McKinney rated lower than both Eric Kendricks and Denzel Perryman, who were available and played well. And Jaelen Strong's role going forward is something of a mystery, especially because wide receiver was a need coming in.

New grade: B



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/16 Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest
2/43 Benardrick McKinney ILB Mississippi St
3/70 Jaelen Strong WR Arizona St
5/175 Keith Mumphery WR Michigan St
6/211 Reshard Cliett OLB South Florida
6/216 Christian Covington DT Rice
7/235 Kenny Hilliard RB LSU




Indianapolis Colts[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B-minus

This was how I ended my grades write-up: "If there's a big gripe, it's the Colts seem to consistently take for granted that Andrew Luck won't get hurt despite all the hits. They didn't add serious talent at tackle or guard, and I think more bodies and competition up front would make a difference for a team that really should have Super Bowl aspirations. Hopefully, they stay healthy up front." And while Henry Anderson could be one of the steals of the draft (even after the injury), David Parry was solid and Phillip Dorsett is still a talented "We'll see," I just think the team took a step backward this season, and the draft played a role. There were useful O-lineman available in several spots.

New grade: C





Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/29 Phillip Dorsett WR Miami (FL)
3/65 D'Joun Smith CB Florida Atlantic
3/93 Henry Anderson DE Stanford
4/109 Clayton Geathers S UCF
5/151 David Parry DT Stanford
6/205 Josh Robinson RB Mississippi St
6/207 Amarlo Herrera ILB Georgia
7/255 Denzelle Good OT Mars Hill




Jacksonville Jaguars[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B-plus

At the time I wrote, "Dante Fowler Jr. has the potential to be really good and the pass-rusher they really wanted, but both Leonard Williams and Amari Cooper were available at No. 3, and I had both players rated above Fowler." I still think Fowler can be really good coming back from injury, but I don't think he was the best player available. T.J. Yeldon was good, but he needed to be as a running back who was the first pick in Round 2. A.J. Cann is starting, andRashad Greene is useful depth so far. But pretty quiet otherwise. In essence, this is an "incomplete" because of Fowler, but could be a clear step back if Fowler doesn't make an impact in 2016.

New grade: C-plus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/3 Dante Fowler Jr. DE Florida
2/36 T.J. Yeldon RB Alabama
3/67 A.J. Cann G South Carolina
4/104 James Sample S Louisville
5/139 Rashad Greene WR Florida St
6/180 Michael Bennett DT Ohio State
7/220 Neal Sterling WR Monmouth
7/229 Ben Koyack TE Notre Dame




Tennessee Titans[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: C-plus

The draft looks better today because Marcus Mariota showed he has at least the potential to be special. What he wasn't able to do was stay healthy all season, so that will be the thing to watch along with his development under Mike Mularkey in 2016. Dorial Green-Beckham still has star upside if he puts it all together, Jeremiah Poutasi became a starter in his first year and Jalston Fowler is a useful player in the right system. If there's a steal, it's Tre McBride. I think he bumps the grade up to a B from a B-minus. It's hard to go further, however, because while you see potential, it was for a dreadful team.

New grade: B



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/2 Marcus Mariota QB Oregon
2/40 Dorial Green-Beckham WR Missouri
3/66 Jeremiah Poutasi OT Utah
4/100 Angelo Blackson DT Auburn
4/108 Jalston Fowler FB Alabama
5/138 David Cobb RB Minnesota
6/177 Deiontrez Mount OLB Louisville
6/208 Andy Gallik C Boston College
7/245 Tre McBride WR William & Mary

 

[Skooby]

AFC West


Denver Broncos[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B-minus

The draft class here didn't have a huge impact on the season, but give Denver credit, because they did find some use from the class on a team that is still playing. So it's hard to knock the grade down. Ty Sambrailo saw the field, Shane Ray played more than 300 regular-season snaps and showed flashes, and Max Garcia was used plenty. After that it's pretty quiet, with the preseason injury to Jeff Heuerman playing a role, as I think he could have played. Is there anything special here? We'll see what Ray becomes.

New grade: B-minus





Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/23 Shane Ray DE Missouri
2/59 Ty Sambrailo OT Colorado St
3/92 Jeff Heuerman TE Ohio State
4/133 Max Garcia C Florida
5/164 Lorenzo Doss CB Tulane
6/203 Darius Kilgo DT Maryland
7/250 Trevor Siemian QB Northwestern
7/251 Taurean Nixon CB Tulane
7/252 Josh Furman S Oklahoma St




Kansas City Chiefs[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B-minus

At the time I wrote: "The Chiefs had Marcus Peters as the top cornerback in the draft ... if he plays to his potential, K.C. might have gotten one of the top overall players at any position." So far, so good for Peters, who led the NFL in interceptions and looks like the rare true star at the cornerback position. Home run pick. Mitch Morse played a huge role for them this year and was crucial along the interior of the O-line. Chris Conley has a future, and they love Ramik Wilson. That's a lot of impact for a team that was among the final eight.

New grade: A



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/18 Marcus Peters CB Washington
2/49 Mitch Morse OT Missouri
3/76 Chris Conley WR Georgia
3/98 Steven Nelson CB Oregon St
4/118 Ramik WIlson OLB Georgia
5/172 D.J. Alexander OLB Oregon St
5/173 James O'Shaughnessy TE Illinois St
6/217 Rakeem Nunez-Roches DT Southern Miss
7/233 Da'Ron Brown WR Northern Illinois




Oakland Raiders[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B

In 2014 they got Khalil Mack and Derek Carr. This year they got Amari Cooper and Mario Edwards Jr. -- and plenty more. Clive Walford is a player to be excited about, and Jon Feliciano looks like a future starter. A quietly good get will be Ben Heeney, who saw time at linebacker. I know it's easy to say this was a great draft based on early returns because the team is still building back to playoff caliber, but give them credit, because they took Cooper when many said Kevin White was worth that pick, and while I thought Edwards was a slight reach he looks like he'll be really good for them.

New grade: A-minus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/4 Amari Cooper WR Alabama
2/35 Mario Edwards Jr. DE Florida St
3/68 Clive Walford TE Miami (FL)
4/128 Jon Feliciano G Miami (FL)
5/140 Ben Heeney ILB Kansas
5/161 Neiron Ball OLB Florida
6/179 Max Valles ILB Virginia
7/218 Anthony Morris OT Tennessee St
7/221 Andre Debose WR Florida
7/242 Dexter McDonald CB Kansas




San Diego Chargers[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B-minus

I liked Melvin Gordon, but still wrote: "I don't like taking a running back in Round 1 typically, but the Chargers are in win-now mode ... The pressure is on Gordon to prove he was worth the lofty slot for a RB." So far, not so good. We do need take a deep breath and point out the guy still has a chance to be great. He's young, and that O-line was a disaster. But the fumbling questions follow you until you make people forget them, so Gordon has work to do. The pick I love is Denzel Perryman, who is proving to be every bit the thumper he was at Miami. After that, it's pretty quiet, and for a team that went backward. Hopefully Gordon pops in 2016.

New grade: C-plus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/15 Melvin Gordon RB Wisconsin
2/48 Denzel Perryman ILB Miami (FL)
3/83 Craig Mager CB Texas State
5/153 Kyle Emanuel OLB North Dakota St
6/192 Darius Philon DT Arkansas




Dallas Cowboys[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: C-plus

Byron Jones was a player I really liked, and he played well for a rookie. He really carries the grade. Randy Gregory is a talent, but I said then they were rolling the dice by taking him that early. They haven't gotten anything from him yet. Still a work in progress. There's nothing to write home about after that, and the team really fell off, with QB health the big culprit. I questioned not taking a running back anywhere, and I still think that's a legitimate concern. I should remind people that La'el Collins doesn't factor in here as he wasn't a part of this draft class, and could have been signed by anybody.

New grade: C





Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/27 Byron Jones CB Connecticut
2/60 Randy Gregory OLB Nebraska
3/91 Chaz Green OT Florida
4/127 Damien WIlson ILB Minnesota
5/163 Ryan Russell DE Purdue
7/236 Mark Nzeocha OLB Wyoming
7/243 Laurence Gibson OT Virginia Tech
7/246 Geoff Swaim TE Texas




New York Giants[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B-minus

I know Ereck Flowers was able to step in this season, but he struggled for the most part. I wrote then: "While the pick made sense, I had Flowers at No. 27 overall on my final Big Board, so for me this wasn't a 'best player available' situation." In a nutshell, the Giants reached on Flowers and have to hope he develops into the kind of player that can stick at left tackle. I see that as a major question. Landon Collins is a good player I think people need to be patient with given all that he was asked to do. After those two, it's hard to say who could break through based on early returns. Again, I saw Flowers as a first-rounder; I just thought it was a bit rich that early.

New grade: C-plus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/9 Ereck Flowers OT Miami (FL)
2/33 Landon Collins S Alabama
3/74 Owamagbe Odighizuwa DE UCLA
5/144 Mykkele Thompson S Texas
6/186 Geremy Davis WR Connecticut
7/226 Bobby Hart OT Florida St




Philadelphia Eagles[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B-plus

Here's a draft class that could look a whole lot better in a couple years than it does right now. Start with Nelson Agholor, a talented kid who was just way too inconsistent in 2015 and is going to get better; or Eric Rowe, who had a tough transition, but could get much better. Then there's Jordan Hicks, who was outstanding until he got hurt. There's also JaCorey Shepherd, who I thought could have played immediately in nickel looks but got hurt. Based on where things are now, the class doesn't look so great, but there's a lot of potential.

New grade: C-plus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/20 Nelson Agholor WR USC
2/47 Eric Rowe CB Utah
3/84 Jordan Hicks ILB Texas
6/191 JaCorey Shepherd CB Kansas
6/196 Randall Evans CB Kansas St
7/237 Brian Mihalik DE Boston College




Washington Redskins[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: A-minus

I loved this class at the time. I wrote: "Everywhere you look, they got tougher. Overall, I was really impressed with this draft." Not only did they get tougher, but the rookies rubbed off on other players and the team got tougher overall.Brandon Scherff had to be good at guard given that draft slot, and he settled down and played well. Preston Smith showed he's going to be a big part of that defense going forward, and Jamison Crowder was a reliable target. Matt Joneshad his moments and will in the future. Kyshoen Jarrett was a nice get late, and don't forget undrafted Quinton Dunbar. There's more to talk about with this class, but in short, it was really good.

New grade: A



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/5 Brandon Scherff OT Iowa
2/38 Preston Smith DE Mississippi St
3/95 Matt Jones RB Florida
4/105 Jamison Crowder WR Duke
4/112 Arie Kouandjio G Alabama
5/141 Martrell Spaight OLB Arkansas
6/181 Kyshoen Jarrett S Virginia Tech
6/182 Tevin Mitchel CB Arkansas
6/187 Evan Spencer WR Ohio State
7/222 Austin Reiter C South Florida

 

[Skooby]

NFC North


Chicago Bears[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B-plus

Give the Bears' front office a lot of credit, because it was a bad break to lose Kevin White for an entire season. They still managed to get some important building blocks out of this class, and they did it while winning more games than the year before. Progress was made, and the draft helped. Eddie Goldman was a good value in Round 2, and Jeremy Langford could take over for Matt Forte if the Bears and Forte part ways. A true steal was Adrian Amos in Round 5. I know I'm supposed to have a soft spot for him since we went to the same high school, but I certainly didn't pump up his value for that reason and was actually surprised at how well he played. I'd keep the grade the same for now, and it goes up or down based on what White delivers.

New grade: B-plus





Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/7 Kevin White WR West Virginia
2/39 Eddie Goldman DT Florida St
3/71 Hroniss Grasu C Oregon
4/106 Jeremy Langford RB Michigan St
5/142 Adrian Amos S Penn State
6/183 Tayo Fabuluje OT TCU




Detroit Lions[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B

I didn't mind the addition of Laken Tomlinson on paper because while it felt a little bit like a luxury pick -- you can get a guard well into Day 3 -- it was a clear area of need. Problem was, Tomlinson struggled too often and Detroit's Round 2 pick limited his own value because of fumbling problems. Ameer Abdullah is a special player with the ball in his hands, but it too often didn't stay there, and that could largely determine where his NFL career goes. A steal isQuandre Diggs in Round 6. When he was a freshman at Texas I figured him for a future first-rounder. Detroit got him in Round 6 and might have gotten the freshman I saw. The grade has to dip a bit because the team took a step back and the top guys in the class have to provide more.

New grade: C-plus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/28 Laken Tomlinson G Duke
2/54 Ameer Abdullah RB Nebraska
3/80 Alex Carter CB Stanford
4/113 Gabe Wright DT Auburn
5/168 Michael Burton FB Rutgers
6/200 Quandre Diggs CB Texas
7/240 Corey Robinson OT South Carolina




Green Bay Packers[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B

At the time I wrote: "I thought the Packers did a good job because they got players I can see helping them right away." My point was the roster was already in pretty good shape at the time, so getting help from the rookie class on a winner is a nice surprise. Damarious Randall gave them what they hoped for; Quinten Rollins has major potential and flashed some of that; Ty Montgomery was playing a bigger and bigger role before getting hurt; Jake Ryan stepped up later in the season. And I can pick out a bunch of teams who might wish they had Brett Hundley right now after what we saw from him in the preseason. Good class.

New grade: A-minus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/30 Damarious Randall S Arizona St
2/62 Quinten Rollins CB Miami (OH)
3/94 Ty Montgomery WR Stanford
4/129 Jake Ryan OLB Michigan
5/147 Brett Hundley QB UCLA
6/206 Aaron Ripkowski FB Oklahoma
6/210 Christian Ringo DE UL Lafayette
6/213 Kennard Backman TE UAB




Minnesota Vikings[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B

When you consider how much the Vikings improved, and that they should have had at least one playoff win, this rookie class looks even more impressive. Trae Waynes had his share of struggles, but you expect that from a rookie corner, and he'll get better. Eric Kendricks is a stud, and Danielle Hunter looks like an absolute steal. Stefon Diggs is a player I couldn't imagine falling so far during his final year at Maryland, but there he was in Round 5 and the Vikes got a steal. We'll see what becomes of T.J. Clemmings, but he's got some ability to work with. Even Edmond Robinson played well on special teams. Just a fantastic start for a class -- no way around it.

New grade: A



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/11 Trae Waynes CB Michigan St
2/45 Eric Kendricks ILB UCLA
3/88 Danielle Hunter DE LSU
4/110 T.J. Clemmings OT Pittsburgh
5/143 MyCole Pruitt TE Southern Illinois
5/146 Stefon Diggs WR Maryland
6/185 Tyrus Thompson OT Oklahoma
6/193 B.J. Dubose DE Louisville
7/228 Austin Shepherd OT Alabama
7/232 Edmond Robinson OLB Newberry




Atlanta Falcons[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B

How you see this draft depends a lot on what you think of Vic Beasley's potential. At the time, I had some questions. I wrote, "Beasley is a slight reach on my board -- he can rush the passer, but can he provide value elsewhere?" I think that's still an open question. Beasley flashes, but he needs to give them more than occasional pressure. Jalen Collins wasn't going to be an overnight star and needed development. Tevin Coleman can be good, but the fumbles were an issue. If there's a steal here, it's Grady Jarrett, who was just so much better on tape than his draft slot. I think this class still has a lot of potential, but all three of the first picks are still in "We'll see" mode.

New grade: C-plus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/8 Vic Beasley OLB Clemson
2/42 Jalen Collins CB LSU
3/73 Tevin Coleman RB Indiana
4/107 Justin Hardy WR East Carolina
5/137 Grady Jarrett DT Clemson
7/225 Jake Rodgers OT Eastern Washington
7/249 Akeem King S San José St




Carolina Panthers[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: C

The Panthers went 15-1 and are still playing as of this writing, so any contributions from the rookie class look pretty good at this point. I'd still say Shaq Thompson was a minor reach where they took him, but as I pointed out then, Arizona taking a tackle one spot ahead of them might have changed things. Thompson didn't play a ton of snaps, but had 10 starts officially, worked his way in and figures to have a bright future. Devin Funchess caught 31 passes and looks like he has transformed his body a bit. Lots of potential there. Cameron Artis-Payne also has seen some action. So far it's not a game-changer, but they got usefulness and have won a ton at the same time. Nice combo.

New grade: B



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/25 Shaq Thompson OLB Washington
2/41 Devin Funchess WR Michigan
4/102 Daryl Williams OT Oklahoma
5/169 David Mayo ILB Texas State
5/174 Cameron Artis-Payne RB Auburn




New Orleans Saints[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: C

It's hard to be excited about this draft class so far. I know New Orleans got major reps out of both Stephone Anthony and Hau'oli Kikaha, but while I like both those guys as prospects, do they start on a normal defense? The Saints had one of the worst defenses in league history and missed the playoffs because of that, so do we just say "Great draft!" because the guys played a lot? I don't think so, though I really like Anthony. Also remember, Anthony was added only because Jimmy Graham, a franchise icon, was traded. Anthony can be a great player and that swap is still unsettling for some. Andrus Peat is still an unknown, and beyond that it's mostly wait and see.

New grade: C-plus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/13 Andrus Peat OT Stanford
1/31 Stephone Anthony ILB Clemson
2/44 Hau'oli Kikaha OLB Washington
3/75 Garrett Grayson QB Colorado St
3/78 P.J. Williams CB Florida St
5/148 Davis Tull OLB Chattanooga
5/154 Tyeler Davison DT Fresno St
5/167 Damian Swann CB Georgia
7/230 Marcus Murphy RB Missouri




Tampa Bay Buccaneers[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: B-minus

Safe to say this draft looks a lot better. Not only did Jameis Winston make major strides and end up throwing for more than 4,000 yards -- the third-highest rookie total since the merger behind Cam Newton and Andrew Luck -- he showed he can be a locker room leader early on. Can he maintain that into the offseason? That's the question, but judging on what he did, Tampa's decision looks smart. Donovan Smith was a slight reach for me, but he came in and played left tackle. It wasn't always pretty, but what can you expect? Ali Marpet also started and was solid in the run game, and Kwon Alexander looks like one of the steals of the draft. It'd be one thing if this team played all these guys and was a train wreck, but they truly got better in 2015. So they deserve a major bump.

New grade: A



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/1 Jameis Winston QB Florida St
2/34 Donovan Smith OT Penn State
2/61 Ali Marpet G Hobart College
4/124 Kwon Alexander OLB LSU
5/162 Kenny Bell WR Nebraska
6/184 Kaelin Clay WR Utah
7/231 Joey Iosefa RB Hawaii

 

[Skooby]

NFC West


Arizona Cardinals[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: C-plus

This class looks a lot better today when you consider where this team is, and that's even without getting a snap out of their first-round pick. D.J. Humphries was essentially redshirted, but that means the O-line held up. (I also thought Humphries was talented but raw, so the practice reps are important.) Elsewhere, they got some production out of Markus Golden, and he could be a major player for this defense in years to come. David Johnson has been needed -- he's not a true every-down type but is at worst a solid third-down back and returner -- and Rodney Gunter is a steal. I might have seen Humphries as a slight reach, but they didn't need him and got plenty of use elsewhere. Nice draft so far.

New grade: B-plus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/24 D.J. Humphries OT Florida
2/58 Markus Golden DE Missouri
3/86 David Johnson RB Northern Iowa
4/116 Rodney Gunter DE Delaware St
5/158 Shaq Riddikk DE West Virginia
5/159 J.J. Nelson WR UAB
7/256 Gerald Christian TE Louisville




San Francisco 49ers[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: C-plus

I felt like the 49ers really targeted the ceiling with this class. But I also felt they missed on some areas where they could use help. I wrote then: "If there's a theme here, it's that you really need to believe in your ability to coach these guys up. The other thing I wonder about is the lack of a true inside linebacker or cornerback." I think Arik Armstead played fairly well given how raw I thought he was coming in, and Jaquiski Tartt also emerged. But it was mostly quiet elsewhere. You hope Eli Harold comes along, and perhaps Blake Bell develops. There's talent here, but it was a rough season and they need to see more from these guys. They did get a punter ...

New grade: C-plus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/17 Arik Armstead DE Oregon
2/46 Jaquiski Tartt S Samford
3/79 Eli Harold OLB Virginia
4/117 Blake Bell TE Oklahoma
4/126 Mike Davis RB South Carolina
4/132 DeAndre Smelter WR Georgia Tech
5/165 Bradley Pinion P Clemson
6/190 Ian Silberman OT Boston College
7/244 Trent Brown G Florida
7/254 Busta Anderson TE South Carolina




Los Angeles Rams[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: C

Todd Gurley was really good once he hit the field, but you have to be good if you're a running back who goes No. 10 overall. When you consider where the next team on this list got a rookie running back they're really excited about, that adds some perspective. I thought Rob Havenstein was a bit of a reach, but he was the best rookie right tackle this season, so they did pretty well there. Beyond that, the class was relatively quiet. It was another year where the Rams did find some talent in the draft, but a lack of anything at quarterback had the team essentially running in place. Gurley makes the draft look better, but a running back can only change the trajectory of the team so much.

New grade: B-minus



Round/Pick Name Pos College
1/10 Todd Gurley RB Georgia
2/57 Robert Havenstein OT Wisconsin
3/72 Jamon Brown OT Louisville
3/89 Sean Mannion QB Oregon St
4/119 Andrew Donnal OT Iowa
6/201 Bud Sasser WR Missouri
6/215 Cody Wichmann G Fresno St
7/224 Bryce Hager ILB Baylor
7/227 Martin Ifedi DE Memphis




Seattle Seahawks[/paste:font]
Post-draft grade: A-minus

Throw me a bone here. I wrote after the draft: "The pick of Tyler Lockett (they moved up for him) is one of my favorites in the entire draft. The guy is just always open, and anybody who watched the Super Bowl knows how much the Seahawks need pass-catchers who can create some separation." Lockett has been everything they hoped for, and will be a big part of things in years to come. Steal. And if you don't like the Jimmy Graham trade now, just remember thatThomas Rawls is part of this class (undrafted pickup) and might have beaten Gurley for the rookie rushing title had he stayed healthy. Frank Clark showed flashes of major potential this season, and figures to be a big part of the defensive front next year. It's relatively quiet after that, but again: major contributions to a winning team. Draft still looks good.

New grade: A



Round/Pick Name Pos College
2/63 Frank Clark DE Michigan
3/69 Tyler Lockett WR Kansas St
4/130 Terry Poole OT San Diego St
4/134 Mark Glowinski G West Virginia
5/170 Tye Smith CB Towson
6/209 Obum Gwacham DE Oregon St
6/214 Kristjan Sokoli DE Buffalo
7/248 Ryan Smith-Murphy S Oregon St

 

[TrillCauleyStein]

Bilas Index: The Bilastrator says 'I told you so'

 

[TrillCauleyStein]

please get that one^ skooby, yeah?

 

[Skooby]

Bilas Index: The Bilastrator says 'I told you so'

Bilas Index: The Bilastrator says 'I told you so'

Welcome to Volume V of The Bilas Index for the 2015-16 season, the most comprehensive catalog of basketball accomplishment on this or any other planet. While the basketball literati soil themselves trying to figure out this mouth-watering smorgasbord of disorder, with the ability only to say "parity" while drooling over themselves in the belief there is only turmoil and upheaval all around them, The Bilastrator is able to bring order and stability with The Bilas Index.

Of course, the mythical "parity" does not exist. If it did, there would be no need for committees or experts. If all teams were equal, which they are not, one could just throw them in a bracket without thought and -- voilà! -- the public would have a balanced national tournament, subject to exceptions only for geography. After all, there are only billions of dollars at stake. If some teams can ride a bus, it is certainly worth screwing up the entire tournament.

Yet again, The Bilastrator presaged the current landscape and told all of what would happen, including the resurrections of Indiana and LSU, to name a few. But The Bilastrator does not like saying "I told you so." The Bilastrator lovesit.

As the hoop cognoscenti frazzle themselves asking whether having no great teams is good or bad for the game, whether seniors are better than "one-and-done" NBA lottery picks and whether the new rules have made the game better after spending the past 20 years telling you a good shot was not possible in less than 35 seconds, enjoy the basketball bliss in The Bilas Index, the most precise, consistent and constant panorama of college basketball. As always, you're welcome.

1. North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels are the nation's best team, and they're No. 1 in the ESPN Basketball Power Index. There is depth and improved perimeter shooting, but the strength of the team is in the frontcourt. An underrated player for North Carolina has been Isaiah Hicks, who has averaged 10 points and five rebounds per game off the bench and has shot better than 67 percent from the floor. Carolina is unbeaten in ACC play, and Marcus Paige seemingly hasn't made a shot in two weeks. Last year, Carolina would have been 0-3 in such a fortnight.

2. Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners continue to shoot the lights out, and it isn't just Buddy Hield. Jordan Woodard and Isaiah Cousins are among the top four 3-point shooters in the Big 12, giving OU three of those top four. Oklahoma is shooting 46.4 percent from deep, best in the country and on pace to be the best mark by any team in the past two decades. Ryan Spangler is overlooked as a key cog in a very successful wheel, so look at him. He's really good.

3. Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes change defenses, press at times and keep teams off-balance. They make offenses do things they would rather not. Jarrod Uthoff has been magnificent and is one of the better perimeter shot-blockers in the country. Iowa can spread the floor, and Peter Jok and Uthoff are one of the best one-two punches in the college game.

4. Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies continue to lead the SEC in offensive efficiency, with 112 points per 100 possessions and 87.9 points per game. Their defensive efficiency is at 91.5 points per 100 possessions. Coach Billy Kennedy has two point guards, two athletic wings and a load in the post that can seal for angles. Texas A&M is really good and getting better.

5. Villanova Wildcats
The Wildcats have 12 wins against teams ranked in the top 100 of the BPI, the most of any team in the nation. Josh Hart is the most underrated star in the Big East and one of the best rebounders among guards in the country. Providence ended Villanova's 22-game win streak in the Big East, but the Wildcats are still the league's best team.

6. Louisville Cardinals
The Cardinals rank third in the BPI and on KenPom.com and rate as the nation's second-best defense. Louisville gets turnovers and offensive rebounds, and the Cardinals play really hard. Although Louisville can be streaky offensively, coach Rick Pitino's defense keeps the Cards in every game with a chance to win.

7. SMU Mustangs
The Ponies finally lost when Temple shot lights-out in the blizzard in Philly. But don't expect SMU to back off one bit. The Mustangs can shoot, and when they miss, they get more than 43 percent of their misses, best in the nation.

8. Michigan State Spartans
Tom Izzo is still recovering from the most awkward yet moving man hug of the season (What, you missed it? Watch it now). His team seems to have found its emotion again. The Spartans remain one of the nation's best passing teams, with assists on 71 percent of baskets, but are still not fully healthy. When Bryn Forbes shoots well and Eron Harris defends as he did against Maryland, Michigan State is Final Four-worthy.

9. Maryland Terrapins
The Terps gave up too many transition buckets and far too many offensive rebounds against Michigan State. Rebounding and turnovers are the only things limiting Maryland in any way. Although Maryland is 1-3 against teams ranked in the BPI, this is still a Final Four-caliber team.

10. Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks average 115.5 points per 100 possessions, which makes them the most efficient offense in the Big 12. But Kansas lacks leadership, poise and toughness on the road, and there is nary a competitor who will grab a teammate's jersey and get in his grill. Kansas is good and can get better, but this team is missing something intangible -- but vital.

 

[Skooby]

11. Xavier Musketeers
Lefty big man James Farr has proved to be one of the best and most underappreciated big men in the nation. Xavier allows only 8.9 second-chance points, fewest in the Big East. Xavier is good at almost everything but is perhaps not great in any one area of the game. The explosive Edmond Sumner is averaging almost 13 points per game in his past three.

12. Purdue Boilermakers
The Boilermakers have size with A.J. Hammons, Isaac Haas and Caleb Swanigan, and they also have some good players on the perimeter. This is a complete team. Iowa could spread them out and take advantage of matchups, but there are not that many teams that can. Purdue is allowing only 39.9 percent shooting from 2-point range, so opponents had better be able to hit some perimeter shots.

13. Virginia Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are a perfect 4-0 against teams ranked in the BPI top 25. But Virginia is 11th in field goal percentage defense in ACC games and is allowing opponents to shoot close to 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep. Virginia has struggled on the road, beating only Ohio State in December and Wake Forest on a banked-in prayer at the buzzer Tuesday.

14. West Virginia Mountaineers
For the Mountaineers, it is all about forcing turnovers and making the opponent uncomfortable. West Virginia is not adept at scoring in half-court situations, but Jaysean Paige is averaging 20 points per game in his past four contests heading into Kansas State.

15. Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones are thin in numbers but long on skill. While all rightfully praise the versatility and skill of Georges Niang, it's one of the five best point guards in college basketball who's the main reason Iowa State is a Big 12 contender.Monte Morris is gutsy, efficient, speedy and really, really good. He never shies from the big moment.

16. Providence Friars
Ben Bentil is proving he is among the country's top big men. He is averaging 22 points and 9.6 rebounds over his past three games, including 31 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Villanova. Bentil gives Kris Dunn, the best point guard in the nation with assists on 47.5 percent of his teammates' buckets (best in the nation), a reliable second scorer and a devastating matchup problem because he can shoot it to 3-point range, face up and attack. He can post too.

17. Miami Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are second in the ACC in field goal percentage defense, trailing only Louisville in ACC games. Miami is not a great offensive team, but it wins games on the defensive end. Miami is 5-1 against teams ranked in the BPI top 50.

18. Indiana Hoosiers
The Hoosiers have an effective field goal percentage of 61.3, which is second in the nation behind Saint Mary's. Coach Tom Crean's bunch has improved in every area since the loss to Duke, when The Bilastrator told all that Indiana was going to be good. Of course, The Bilastrator doesn't like to say "I told you so." To repeat, he loves it. The overtime loss at Wisconsin was nearly a win, but Indiana has made significant strides and can make even more.

19. Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats have bounced back with wins over Arkansas and Vanderbilt, with Kansas and Tennessee coming up on the road. Kentucky is improving and still capable.

20. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks have some defensive challenges, but this team can score. Dillon Brooks and Tyler Dorsey are key guys. They have to produce on the offensive end. Oregon beat both USC and UCLA at home but has important road trips to Arizona and the Bay Area coming up.

21. Wichita State Shockers
The Shockers are healthy and, shockingly, under the radar of the unwashed masses. Wichita State has won nine straight games and 12 of the past 13. As usual, the Shockers defend and finish possessions with defensive rebounds. Don't be surprised to see Wichita State in the Sweet 16.

22. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Irish have been very good on the offensive end, and coach Mike Brey has kept his team confident and playing with a free mind. Notre Dame is No. 1 in the nation in offensive efficiency, but it needs a healthy Demetrius Jackson, who is one of the 10 best point guards in the nation.

23. Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats have really improved and have grown since a gutsy win against Gonzaga in The Kennel. But without Allonzo Trier healthy, Arizona can only be so good. With Trier in the lineup, Arizona might be the best team in the Pac-12.

24. Michigan Wolverines
Even without injured Caris LeVert, Michigan is 5-2 in Big Ten play. Duncan Robinson has been a game-changer for the Wolverines. He is the nation's best stand-still jump-shooter, making every open shot and drawing defensive attention. Robinson is deadly from the right side and has made 67 of 130 3-point attempts.

25. VCU Rams
After losing three straight, VCU has won 10 in a row and now sits atop the Atlantic 10 at 7-0. The Rams are fourth in the nation in turnover rate, as they force a turnover on 24.4 percent of opponents' possessions.

26. Saint Mary's Gaels
The Gaels are one of the best offensive teams in the nation, and they score almost 40 percent of their points off 3-point field goals. Saint Mary's shoots 46 percent from deep and 59 percent inside the arc for an effective field goal percentage of 62.7 percent.

27. Pittsburgh Panthers
The Panthers are terrific on the offensive end and really hard to guard. But Pitt does not play the kind of defense we were used to seeing in the old Big East days. Pittsburgh ranks outside the top 100 in overall defensive efficiency, which is too much of a challenge for its offense to overcome consistently.

28. Duke Blue Devils
What a difficult team to evaluate. On one hand, Duke has six McDonald's All-Americans available to play, while one McDonald's All-American is injured. Yet this team is limited and without depth. Duke is 4-4 in the ACC, the worst conference record for Coach K since 1996. Think about that one -- 4-4 is his worst in 20 years. Duke has the inconsistency of youth combined with opponents' smelling blood in the water. The Bilastrator still thinks Duke is capable and will be an NCAA tournament team. For now, with Amile Jefferson out and rebounding a vulnerability, Duke is No. 28.

29. South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks' opponents score only 32 percent of their points in the paint, the lowest percentage of paint scoring in Division I. But South Carolina is 11th in the SEC in offensive efficiency in league games and last in the league in turnover percentage, as the Gamecocks cough the ball up on 22 percent of their possessions. Michael Carrera had 34 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks against Mississippi State.

30. Valparaiso Crusaders
The Crusaders have had some fits and stops on the offensive end but have been very consistent in guarding. Valparaiso is rated the No. 1 defensive team in the nation and is sixth in 2-point percentage defense (40.7 percent). Alec Petershas hit 49 3-point field goals and is shooting 46 percent from deep.

 

[Skooby]

31. Syracuse Orange
After losing four straight, Syracuse has won three of its past four, including wins at Wake Forest and Duke. The Orange defense is not great, but it is the offense that has held Syracuse back. The Orange are shooting only 46 percent from 2-point range.

32. Baylor Bears
The Bears are 5-2 in Big 12 play, with wins over Iowa State and Kansas State and losses only to Kansas and Oklahoma. Baylor is among the top five teams in the nation in offensive rebounding, as the Bears grab more than 41 percent of their misses.

33. UConn Huskies
The Huskies defend well and play hard, but scoring is a challenge, and UConn does not get enough second-shot opportunities to make up for it. Daniel Hamilton is the most versatile player on the roster and the best defensive rebounder in the American Athletic Conference.

34. Gonzaga Bulldogs
All Gonzaga's losses have come to teams ranked in the BPI top 100. The Zags are 3-5 in such games and 12-0 against teams ranked outside the BPI top 100. Gonzaga has taken some lumps, but don't count coach Mark Few's team out for the NCAA tournament.

35. Texas Longhorns
Coach Shaka Smart has done a great job building a positive culture at Texas. Even without Cameron Ridley, the Longhorns have continued to fight and win games. The most difficult stretch will be in a couple of weeks, with Oklahoma twice and Iowa State on the road. With wins over North Carolina, Stanford, Washington, Kansas State, Iowa State and West Virginia, Texas has done enough to merit an at-large NCAA tournament bid.

36. Florida Gators
The Gators have a top-10-rated defense, which makes it very difficult to get an open shot or a straight-line drive. Scoring, though, has been a chore. Florida shoots only 31 percent from 3-point range, 273rd in the country.

37. Dayton Flyers
The Flyers have won nine of 10 and have Dyshawn Pierre, one of the most challenging matchup problems in the country, back. Dayton has wins over Vanderbilt, Alabama and Iowa to its credit, as well as a 6-1 start in the Atlantic 10.

38. USC Trojans
The Trojans have made great strides and have beaten Wichita State, Arizona and UCLA. It is important for USC to do a better job on the defensive glass in finishing possessions.

39. Butler Bulldogs
The Bulldogs average 116.6 points per 100 possessions, the most efficient offense in the Big East. Yet Butler has lost five of its past seven games and drops to No. 5 in offensive efficiency in Big East games.

40. California Golden Bears
The Bears still don't have injured Tyrone Wallace, Cal's leading scorer, but they were able to beat Arizona and Arizona State in Haas Pavilion. Cal is 4-3 in the conference and ranks among the top teams in the nation in defending the paint. But the team struggles with turnovers and ranks 12th in the Pac-12.

41. Colorado Buffaloes
Josh Scott has proved to be one of the most valuable and underrated big men in the country. He is averaging 17 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game while shooting 59 percent from the floor and 77 percent from the foul line.

42. LSU Tigers
This is the week of "Green Room Guys" on ESPN, and Ben Simmons is the one guy we know will be there. Simmons is putting up 19.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals. He gets to the foul line more than eight times per game, but he doesn't shoot it from the perimeter -- yet.

43. Cincinnati Bearcats
The Bearcats are solid on the defensive end and can really pound the offensive glass. Cincinnati does not get to the foul line enough and needs to take better care of the ball.

44. Saint Joseph's Hawks
DeAndre Bembry is one of the best players in the nation, and too few people talk about him. Bembry is a great athlete, can handle the ball and averages 17.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He is a pro.

45. Vanderbilt Commodores
The Commodores are 11-8 overall and 3-4 in the SEC and have not lived up to their own expectations, let alone ours. Vanderbilt runs really good stuff but does not score efficiently and does not have a collective toughness on either end of the floor. Vandy's best win thus far is against Stony Brook.

46. Wisconsin Badgers
The Badgers were struggling early, but lately Nigel Hayes has been the workhorse stud we all expected. Wisconsin has won three straight, including over Michigan State and Indiana, to get to 4-4 in the Big Ten.

47. Seton Hall Pirates
The Hall was 12-2 but has lost four of five, with the lone win coming against Providence. Seton Hall has talent but has not taken good care of the ball.

48. George Washington Colonials
The Colonials are 15-4, but the analytics don't favor GW as a team. But The Bilastrator does. The Colonials can play and are better than the numbers suggest.

49. Washington Huskies
The Huskies are really talented, and guard Andrew Andrews has been mentoring this young bunch to a 5-2 start in Pac-12 play, with wins over Colorado, USC and UCLA. Washington needs to continue to improve on the defensive glass.

50. Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles have been a bit disappointing, but Dwayne Bacon and Malik Beasley, Florida State's two outstanding freshmen, are among the best players in the country. Beasley is averaging more than 18 points per game in ACC play, fifth in the league.