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NFL Draft: First Round Grades For Every Team

By Jason Belschner

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Jared Goff (California) is selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Jared Goff (California) is selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Vernon Hargreaves III (Florida) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the number eleven overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Vernon Hargreaves III (Florida) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the number eleven overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Falcons

S Keanu Neal

D+

This may be the pick that finally gets Thomas Dimitroff fired. Neal is going to be a great run support safety, but this pick is massively too early. The Falcons haven’t been able to pressure the quarterback since Donnie Abraham left, and several good pass rushers were still available.

Carolina Panthers

DT Vernon Butler

B-

I think the Panthers took their top rated player available. Their front seven is amongst the best in the league, and it just got deeper. I’m sure that the Panthers would have liked William Jackson III to fall to them, but Butler should be a rotational player to start.

New Orleans Saints

DT Sheldon Rankins

B

With all of the talent at defensive tackle, the Saints were the only team to take a DT in the first half of the draft. Rankins is a dominant player who will quickly help this nonexistent defense.  This is a good pick that combines best player available and fills a need.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

CB Vernon Hargreaves III

A

Hargreaves is the player the Bucs wanted all along, and they were able to trade down two spots to acquire the Bears fourth round pick. He is the second best corner in the draft with great press cover skills.  Nothing better than getting what you want and an extra pick too.

Next: NFC West

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