Atlanta Falcons
1- OL Greg Robinson, Auburn
1- DE Dee Ford, Auburn
4- RB Jeremy Hill, LSU
4- OG Chris Watt, Notre Dame
5- TE Xavier Grimble, USC
6- WR Mike Davis, Texas
7- S Jonathan Dowling, Western Kentucky
7- TE Erik Swoope, Miami
7- S Hakeem Smith, Louisville
The Robinson - Ford tandem is something that I'm very excited about, and cost me far less than a trade up to get a guy like Clowney. I'm seeing Robinson as the short term answer either at RT or one of the guard spots. Long term he'll get his shot at the LT position when he needs to, but if Baker is playing back at his pre injury level then we'll ride that out and let GRob dominate one of those positions. He's most likely an Anthony Davis for the squad at RT to start his career. Ford gives the team a versatile passrusher that fits in multiple fronts, though many peg him as a 34 only player. He's like a Trent Cole, small but aggressive and physical at the line which allows him to play a wide DE spot in a 43. These are year one impact players.
Jeremy Hill is insurance for a Steven Jackson that looks as slow as he did at times last year. Hill can be the beast to ride for the majority of carries while Rodgers keeps his role as the #2. Chris Watt is a guy I like more than others (bordering on a top 5 interior lineman). He's there to develop and handle a spot when Robinson makes the official move outside.
Xavier Grimble is a guy who needs developing some, but can block and do the things that Toilolo can't do. I brought in Erik Swoope to sit on the practice squad for a year while we try to turn him into a football player. Average as a BBall player, teams have been working him out because he's a freak of an athlete. Mike Davis was a steal to me that late because of the fact he can step in as a #4 WR from day one.
Dowling and Hakeem Smith are very different types of safeties, and that late in the draft I like the idea of bringing in guys who will compete with each other for a job. That works especially for safeties who have a great starter/contributor rate on late picks. Best case they both impress enough, get spots, and push Dwight Lowery for the spot next to William Moore.
Cincinnati Bengals
1- OG Xavier Su'a Filo, UCLA
2- DE Scott Crichton, Oregon State
3- LB Jordan Tripp, Montana
4- QB Aaron Murray, Georgia
5- CB Chris Davis, Auburn
6- CB Victor Hampton, South Carolina
6- RB James Wilder Jr, Florida State
7- LB Howard Jones, Shepherd
7- C James Stone, Tennessee
I went the solid contributor route for Cinci, knowing that need certain pieces to make the jump. A guard like Su'a Filo starts instantly and improves the line tremendously. They need an infusion of talent like that, and would give them a line full of high picks. That's proven itself to be a pretty strong strategy in recent years. James Stone is just a guy I really like who showed out at the Combine and has starter potential, a great value with one of the last picks in the draft.
The same goes for a Scott Crichton, who would compliment some of the more dynamic, yet less consistent talents on the Bengal DL. Tripp adds his own ability as a passrusher if necessary as he goes into a potential starting role with Maualuga and Burfict. The third LB has not been a feature spot on that D, but he can be very effective there. A later pick, Howard Jones, is the raw addition to the squad, and hopefully someone who can be a long term pass rush option.
Aaron Murray has played with Green before and was an easy call as a guy who can push an established starter. Will he ever be a starter himself, who knows, but I feel like he can do a lot away from gameday to keep Dalton on notice.
Davs and the goon himself are two guys who fit the Cinci system with their physicality and frames, so I was more than happy to add both. Goon also gives us a viable safety convert option if the old dogs hang onto their spots outside. Adding two corners works because each has a strong positive, Goon on his physical potential (though the obvious drawbacks), and Davis as a returner.
Goon will need some guidance, as will James Wilder, but I loved the skill sets that late in the draft. Wilder may not stick as a RB with his running style, but I'd like to see what a pro team could do when they get an athlete like that in the fold.
