2015 NFL Draft Recap/New Depth Charts: AFC PLAYOFF HOPEFULS

Instead of doing pointless "draft grades" I just plugged in key draft picks to see how they fit on their new team

Here is my color code:
Has a good chance to be a starter by next season 
Quality depth 
Need not addressed in the draft 



AFC PLAYOFF HOPEFULS 
Vegas predicts these teams will be fighting for a playoff spot late in the year. 
Vegas odds project them to win 9-7.5 games 




MIAMI DOLPHINS
Head Coach/GM: Joe Philbin/Dennis Hickey
Offensive Coordinator/Style: Bill Lazor/Spread-Pass Heavy in 2014
Pass/Run Ratio: 59.8/40.1
Defensive Coordinator/Base Scheme and Coverage
Kevin Coyle/4-3 Man
Offensive Star: Branden Albert-OT
Defensive Star: Cameron Wake-DE/OLB and Ndamukong Suh-DT (new)
Position Analysis 
QB:
Ryan Tannehill-Good
Pass Rush/D-Line: 
RDE: Oliver Vernon-Good
LDE: Cameron Wake-Elite
#3 DE: Dion Jordan-Young/2013 1st RD/Bust so far
RDT: Earl Mitchell-Average
LDT: Ndamukong Suh-Elite/New
Jordan Phillips
LB: 
SLB: Chris McCain-Young/2014 Undrafted
MLB: Koa Misi-Good
WLB: Jelani Jenkins-Young/2013 4th RD
CB: 
LCB: Brent Grimes-Very Good
RCB: Will Davis-Young 2013 3rd RD
Slot CB: Brice McCain-New/Average
#4 CB: Jamar Taylor-Young 2013 2nd RD
Bobby McCain
Safety:
SS: Reshad Jones-Very Good
FS: Louis Delmas-New/Average
Cedric Thompson
WR/TE: 
WR: Jarvis Landry-Young/2014 2nd RD/Good as a rookie
DeVante Parker
WR: Kenny Stills-New/Good
#3 WR: Rishard Matthews-Average
TE: JordanCameron-New/Good when healthy
O-Line: 
LT: Brendan Albert-Very Good
LG: Dallas Thomas-Young/2013 3rd RD/Poor so far
C:   Mike Pouncey-Good
RG: Billy Turner-Young/2014 3rd RD
RT: Ja'Wuan James-Young/2014 1st RD
Jamil Douglas
RB: 
Lamar Miller-Good

NEEDS: 
CB:   Grimes is a stud, but he'll turn 32 this year.  All they have are a bunch of unproven guys with him.  They need a big corner to guard guys like Gronk, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.
C/OG:  They can draft a center and move Pouncey over to guard or they can add depth to the guard spot.
SLB:  Undrafted Chris McCain is the current starter.
FS:  Delmas isn't the long term answer.
Big WR : Good duo with Landry and Stills, but both guys are 6-0.  They could use a big Red Zone threat. If Devante Parker slips to #14, he will be very hard to pass up.

14. DeVante Parker-WR-Louisville
6-3/209
52. Jordan Phillips-DT-Oklahoma
6-5/329
114. Jamil Douglas-OG-Arizona State
6-4/304
145. Bobby McCain-CB-Memphis
5-9/195
149. Jay Ajayi-RB-Boise State
6-0/221
150. Cedric Thompson-FS-Minnesota
6-0/208
156. Tony Lippett-WR-Michigan State
6-2/192

BREAKDOWN: 
The Dolphins got the #1 WR they've been searching for. Parker has all the tools to become the go to guy in Miami. The Dolphins have surrounded Ryan Tannehill with a plethora of young pass catchers in Parker, Landry, Stills and Cameron. Phillips is a project, but you can't teach his size and power. They addressed depth on the O-Line with Douglas and added depth in the secondary with McCain and Thompson. If Tannehill can take the next step forward, the Dolphins have a real chance at dethroning New England a top the AFC East.


CINCINNATI BENGALS 
Head Coach/GM: Marvin Lewis/Mike Brown
Offensive Coordinator/Style: Hue Jackson/West Coast-Run Heavy in 2014, Balanced previous two years
Pass/Run Ratio: 50.6/49.4
2013: 55.0/45.0
Defensive Coordinator/Base Scheme and Coverage: 
Paul Guenther/4-3 Under, uses both man and zone
Offensive Stars: A.J. Green-WR and Andrew Whitworth-LT
Defensive Star: Geno Atkins-DT
Position Analysis
QB:
Andy Dalton-Average
Pass Rush/D-Line: 
RDE: Michael Johnson-New/struggled in Tampa last year, was good in Cincinnati in 2013
3T/DT- Geno Atkins-Elite when healthy
NT: Domata Peko-Poor
Marcus Hardison
LDE: Carlos Dunlap-Very Good
LB: 
SLB: Emmmanuel Lamur-Below Average
MLB: Ray Maualuga-Average
WLB: Vontaze Burfict-Very Good
Paul Dawson
CB: 
LCB: Dre Kirkpartick-Average
RCB: Adam Jones-Good
Slot CB: Leon Hall-Good
Josh Shaw
Safety:
SS: George Iloka-Good
FS: Reggie Nelson-Good
Derron Smith
WR/TE: 
WR: AJ Green-Elite
WR: Mohamed Sanu-Below Average
 #3 WR: Marvin Jones-Average
TE: Tyler Eifert/Young/2013 1st RD/Average so far
Tyler Kroft
O-Line: 
LT: Andrew Whitworth-Elite
LG: Clint Boling-Good
C:   Russell Bodine-Young/2014 4th RD
RG: Kevin Zeiter-Very Good
RT: Andre Smith-Good
Cedric Ogbuehi
Jake Fisher
RB: 
Power: Jeremy Hill-Young/2014 2nd RD/Good
Scat: Gio Bernard-Young/2013 2nd RD/Good
The best RB duo in the NFL

NEEDS: 
NT:  Peko was terrible last year, luckily for the Bengals, they should have their choice of Malcolm Brown, Eddie Goldman and Jordan Phillips at #21.
#2 WR:  AJ Green is an absolute superstar, but the rest of the WR core is average at best, plenty of good choices in rounds 2-4.
O-Line Depth:  Whitworth is great but he will be 34 this year. The bigger need is a NT, but if a good OT slips to them at #21, the opportunity may be too good to pass up.
Pass Rush Depth:  Signing Johnson was a good move, they still need more depth
SLB:  Lamur is graded as below average according to Pro Football Focus but he is good in coverage. They need an outside backer that can contribute in coverage, pass rush and against the run.
Backup QB:  AJ McCarron has an attractive wife, good for him, but it won't help Cincinnati if Dalton gets injured.  Investing in a QB in the 3rd or 4th round would be a smart move.

21. Cedric Ogbuehi-OT-Texas A&M
6-5/306
53. Jake Fisher-OT-Oregon
6-6/306
85. Tyler Kroft-TE-Rutgers
6-5/246
99. Paul Dawson-ILB-TCU
6-0/235
120. Josh Shaw-CB/FS-USC
6-0/201
135. Marcus Hardison-DT-Arizona State
6-3/307
157. C.J. Uzomah-TE-Auburn
6-5/264
197. Derron Smith-FS-Fresno State
5-10/200
238. Mario Alford-WR-West Virginia
5-8/180

BREAKDOWN:
The Bengals made it priority one to add depth the the offensive line by taking 2 OTs with their first two selections. Kroft is a nice insurance pick in case Tyler Eifert gets injured agiain. Like they have in the past, they took guys high college production over guys that test well. Dawson, Shaw, Hardison and Derron Smith all fit this model. Another good draft for Cincinnati.



HOUSTON TEXANS
Head Coach/GM: Bill O'Brian/Rick Smith
Offensive Coordinator/Style: George Godsey (new)/Ball Control-Balanced
Pass/Run Ratio: 46.8/53.2
Defensive Coordinator/Base Scheme and Coverage
Romeo Crennell/3-4 Cover 1
Offensive Star: Arian Foster-RB, DeAndre Hopkins-WR and Duane Brown-LT
Defensive Star: JJ Watt-DE/5T/Pass Rusher
Position Analysis
QB:
Brian Hoyer-New/Below Average
Ryan Mallet-Unproven
Pass Rush: 
5T/DE: JJ Watt-Elite
Jack LB: Jadeveon Clowney-Young/2014 1st RD (#1 overall pick)
SLB:  Whitney Mercilus-Below Average
Interior D-Line: 
NT:  Vince Wilfork-New/Good
3T/DT: Jered Crick-Below Average
Christian Covington
LB: 
LILB: Brian Cushing-Average/Very Good when healthy
RILB: Justin Tuggle or Mike Mohammed-Both unproven
Benardrick McKinney
CB: 
LCB: Kareem Jackson-Good
RCB: Jonathan Joseph-Good
Kevin Johnson
Safety:
SS: DJ Swearinger-Young/2013 2nd RD/Below Average so far
FS: Rahim Moore-New/Average/Good
WR/TE: 
WR: DeAndre Hopkins-Very Good
Jaelen Strong
WR: Cecil Shorts-New/Average when healthy
TE: Garrett Graham-Below Average
O-Line: 
LT: Duane Brown-Very Good
LG: Xavier Su'a Filo-Young/2014
C:    Ben Jones-Average
RG: Brandon Brooks-Very Good
RT: Derek Newton-Good
RB: 
Arian Foster-Good/Elite when healthy
Alfred Blue-Young/2014 6th RD

NEEDS: 
QB:  Unless they trade up for Mariota or Winston they will have to roll with the Hoyer/Mallet duo in 2015. They still can challenge for a playoff spot if everyone else stays healthy.  If not, coach Bill O'Brian may have a shot to draft his former Penn St QB Christian Hackenberg next draft.
ILBs:  Cushing is good but he's always injured, the other spot is is occupied by two unproven players.
#2 WR: Hopkins is a clear cut #1 guy but right now he's the only consistent threat .
TE:  See above 
SS/Slot Corner: Upgrade may be needed over Swearinger
C/G Depth
Pass Rush Depth 


16. Kevin Johnson-CB-Wake Forest
6-0/188
43. Benardrick McKinney-ILB-Mississippi State
6-4/246
70. Jaelen Strong-WR-Arizona State
6-2/217

175. Keith Mumphery-WR-Michigan State
6-0/215
211. Reshard Cliett-OLB-South Florida
6-2/235
216. Christian Covington-3T/DT/DE-Rice
6-2/289
235. Kenny Hilliard-RB-LSU
6-0/226

BREAKDOWN: 
The Texans may have the best draft of any team this weekend. They were able to get three players with first round talent. Kevin Johnson will likely start at nickel corner while McKinney has a good chance to start at ILB. In my opinion, Strong will be the biggest steal of the draft. I see him being this year's Jarvis Landry. Houston needed WRs to complement Hopkins, so they drafted two of them. FOr the second year in a row the Texans took a RB out of LSU. Hilliard and Alfred Blue are now reunited in Houston.


KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 
Picks in first 3 rounds: 18, 49, 80, 98
10 total picks
Head Coach/GM: Andy Reid/John Dorsey
Offensive Coordinator/Style: Doug Pederson/West Coast-Balanced
Pass/Run Ratio: 54.0/46.0
Defensive Coordinator/Base Scheme and Coverage:
Bob Sutton/3-4 Press Man
Offensive Star: Jamaal Charles-RB
Defensive Star: Justin Houston-OLB  
Position Analysis
QB:
Alex Smith-Good
Pass Rush/OLB: 
ROLB: Tamba Hali-Good
LOLB: Justin Houston-Elite
Interior D-Line: 
RDE: Mike DeVito-Good
NT:   Dontari Poe-Good/Elite potential
LDE: Jaye Howard or Allen Bailey-both Average
LB: 
LILB: Derrick Johnson-Very Good
RILB: James Michael Johnson-Below Average
Ramik Wilson
D.J. Alexander
CB: 
LCB: Phillip Gaines-Young/2014 4th RD
RCB: Sean Smith-Good
#3 CB: Jamell Fleming-Average
Marcus Peters
Steven Nelson
Safety:
SS: Husain Abdullah-Average
FS: Ron Parker-New/Average
Eric Berry-Elite when healthy, is currently recovering from Hodgkin's Lymphoma and may miss all of 2015
WR/TE: 
WR: Jeremy Maclin-New/Good
WR: Jason Avant-New/Below Average
Chris Conley
Slot WR: De'Anthony Thomas-Young/2014 4th RD
TE: Travis Kelce-Very Good/Young/2013 3rd RD
O-Line: 
LT: Eric Fisher-Young/2013 1st RD (#1 overall)/Bust so far
LG: Ben Grubbs-New/Good
C:   Eric Kush-Young/2013 6th RD
RG: Jeff Allen-Below Average
RT: Donald Stephenson-Below Average
Mitch Morse
RB: 
Jamaal Charles-Elite/Very Good
FB: Anthony Sherman-Elite in role

NEEDS: 
O-Line Depth:  They lost arguably the best center in the league in Rodney Hudson via free agency. Trading for Grubbs was a smart move but they still need a ton of help up front. Fisher has struggled in his 1st two seasons and now there are rumors that he may move to right tackle.
#2 WR:  Signing Maclin was a smart move, but they still need another pass catcher to take the pressure off of him
ILB:  Derrick Johnson continues to play at a high level even at age 32, but he needs some help on the inside
LDE Upgrade
DB Depth

18. Marcus Peters-CB-Washington
6-0/197
49. Mitch Morse-OT/G-Missouri
6-5/305
76. Chris Conley-WR-Georgia
6-2/213
98. Steven Nelson CB Oregon State
5-10/197

118. Ramik Wilson-ILB-Georgia
6-2/237
172. D.J. Alexander-ILB-Oregon State
6-2/233
173. James O'Shaughnessy-TE-Illinois State
6-4/245
217. Rakeem Nunez-Roches-DT-Southern Mississippi
6-2/307
233. Da'Ron Brown-WR-Northern Illinois
6-0/205

BREAKDOWN:
Very solid all-around draft by KC. 2nd round pick Mitch Morse will compete for the starting RT and RG spots while first round pick Marcus Peters will compete for a starting corner spot. They drafted two ILB's in Wilson and Alexander, both have a chance to start along side Derrick Johnson. Conley provides KC with a big red zone WR while Nelson adds depth to the secondary. The Chiefs' playoff hopes will once again depend on QB Alex Smith and RB Jamaal Charles.


BUFFALO BILLS
Head Coach/GM: Rex Ryan (new)/Doug Whaley
Offensive Coordinator/Style: J Greg Roman (new)/Ball Control
Pass/Run Ratio: 59.0/41.0
Roman last year with the 49ers was 50.9/49.1
Defensive Coordinator/Base Scheme and Coverage
Dennis Thurman (new)/Hybrid 3-4 Press Man
Offensive Star: LaSean McCoy-RB
Defensive Stars: Marcel Dareus-DT, Mario Williams-DE/OLB, Kyle Williams-DT
Position Analysis
QB:
Matt Cassel-Below Average  or
EJ Manuel-Young/2013 1st RD/Poor so far
Pass Rush/D-Line: 
LDE: Mario Williams-Very Good
NT:  Marcel Dareus-Elite
3T/DT: Kyle Williams-Elite
OLB/RDE: Jerry Hughes-Good
LB: 
ILB: Nigel Bradham-Good
ILB: Preston Brown-Young/2014 3rd RD
ILB: Randell Johnson-Young/2014 7th RD
CB:  
LCB: Corey Graham-Good
RCB: Stephon Gilmore-Good
Slot CB: Leodis McKelvin-Good
Ronald Darby
Safety:
SS: Aaron Williams-Average
FS: Duke Willimas-Average
WR/TE: 
WR: Sammy Watkins-Young/2014 1st RD
WR: Robert Woods-Young/2013 2nd RD
Slot WR: Percy Harvin-New/Good when healthy
TE: Charles Clay-New/Good
Nick O'Leary
O-Line: 
LT: Cordy Glenn-Good
LG: Chris Williams-Poor  or
      Cyril Richardson-Young/2014 5th RD
       John Miller 
C:   Eric Wood-Average
RG: Richie Incognito-New/Good/Average
RT: Seantrel Henderson-Young/2014 7th RD  or
      Cyrus Kouandjio-Young/2014 2nd RD
RB: 
LaSean McCoy-Elite
Fred Jackson-Good
Karlos Williams-Goal Line 

NEEDS: 
QB:  Matt Cassel is a stop gap and EJ Manuel has been a major bust so far.
ILB:  They traded Kiko Alonso in order to get McCoy.
DB Depth:  They have lost Da'Norris Searcy and Jarius Byrd in consecutive off seasons. The starters are solid but a backup that can play safety and nickel corner would be a plus
O-Line Depth:  Upgrades are needed at LG and RT

50. Ronald Darby-CB-FSU
5-11/193
81. John Miller-OG-Louisville
6-2/303
155. Karlos Williams-RB-FSU
6-1/230
188. Tony Steward-WLB/ILB-Clemson
6-0/235
194. Nick O'Leary-TE-FSU
6-3/252
234/ Dezmin Lewis-WR-Central Arkansas
6-4/214

BREAKDOWN: 
The Bills must of been very attentive at the FSU Pro Day. Half of their six picks are from FSU. The Bills already filled most of their needs through free agency and trades. They just used the draft to add depth. Contrary to popular opinion (including mine), the Bills did NOT draft a QB. The Matt Cassel/EJ Manual duo will be under center in 2015.


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