But with the dust settled from all that activity, let’s check out which teams came away with the best and worst picks in Day 1 of the NFL Draft. And for more NFL coverage, check out our list of the best/worst NFL free agent signings here.
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2016 NFL Post Draft Analysis – 1st Round
Best Picks
Jalen Ramsey – No. 5 to Jacksonville Jaguars
Arguably the best player in the entire draft class just fell to the Jaguars’ lap at No. 5. Jalen Ramsey is just the player Jacksonville need – a potentially elite defensive back who can solidify their secondary – and they didn’t even need to draft up to get him. The best case scenario came true for the Jags after the Chargers and Cowboys went back-to-back Buckeyes, and they couldn’t be happier.
Laremy Tunsil – No. 13 to Miami Dolphins
Speaking of best players in the draft, Laremy Tunsil has a legitimate claim to that title, and he fell all the way to the Dolphins at No. 13. The hacking of his social media accounts are very unfortunate, and indicative that all is not well with his personal life. But anytime you come away with one of the best players in the draft in the teens, it’s still a win until proven otherwise.
Robert Nkemdiche – No. 29 to Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals weren’t scared off by red flags concerning Tyrann Mathieu following some drug issues in college, and they weren’t deterred by those same issues by taking Robert Nkemdiche at No. 29. Their gamble on Mathieu has paid off for the most part (injuries have been more of a problem than the drug issues) and it could pay off once again with Nkemdiche, an elite-level pass rusher the Cards desperately needed.
Nkemdiche will be a big contributor in the Cards’ bid to repeat as NFC West champions, which they’re priced at +225 to do.
Worst Picks
Karl Joseph – No. 14 to Oakland Raiders
Keanu Neal – No. 17 to Atlanta Falcons
The Raiders and Falcons both needed a safety and they filled that need with some good players. But after seeing so many teams trade down, it’s only fair to ask whether both teams would’ve been better served moving out of their spot in the teens and getting some extra picks (the Falcons, especially, since they have just four left in the entire draft) instead of reaching for safeties who probably would’ve been on the board in Day 2.
Leonard Floyd – No. 9 to Chicago Bears
The Bears fans in attendance at the draft weren’t quite so enthusiastic about Chicago trading up a couple spots to take Leonard Floyd at No. 9. The outside linebacker from Georgia is a physical specimen with the tools to become a terrific pass rusher, but was he really worth giving up a fourth-round pick to get?
Joshua Garnett – No. 28 to San Francisco 49ers
Garnett is a bruising, run-blocking guard, and fills a need for the Niners. But the price San Francisco paid to go up and grab him in the first round, when he could so easily have fallen to Day 2, seemed pretty excessive. The Niners really could’ve used those extra picks to try and fill the many other holes in their roster aside from guard.
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