2016 AFC North Draft Grades

Cincinnati Bengals

Grade: B

First Round Pick: William Jackson III-Cornerback-Houston

Best Pick: Round Two-Tyler Boyd-Wide Receiver-Pittsburgh

Although that the Cincinnati Bengals have failed to win a playoff game since 1991, they have done a solid job of stockpiling talent under head coach Marvin Lewis at the National Football League Draft, and 2016 was no different.

The Bengals were getting older in the secondary and thus they used their first-round pick of the draft on Houston Cougars cornerback William Jackson III. Jackson III comes to the Bengals as a two-time, first-team All-American Athletic Conference member. And last year at Houston, Jackson III led the Cougars in interceptions with 5, while he wasn’t afraid to mix it up as he tallied 43 tackles which was ninth on the team.

In the second round, the Bengals selected Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Tyler Boyd. Coming into the 2015 college football season, Boyd was expected to be a big-time contributor at Pittsburgh, but he was slowed by injuries which saw him fall in the second round. However Boyd does have exceptional ball skills, and at 6’2″, he can be a matchup problem for opposing defensive backs.

The fourth round would see Cincinnati select Baylor Bears defensive tackle Andrew Billings. Like Boyd, Billings watched himself slip at the National Football League Draft, but he did go to a team in the Bengals where he could be a rotational player on their defensive line as a rookie.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Grade: B

First Round Pick: Artie Burns-Cornerback-Miami

Best Pick: Round Seven-Tyler Matakevich-Outside Linebacker-Temple

Since 1969, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been the best team in the National Football League as far as finding and drafting talent which is evident by their six Super Bowl Titles over that stretch being that it is the most in the league. The Steelers entered the 2016 NFL Draft owning the 25th overall pick which they used on Miami Hurricanes cornerback Artie Burns.

The Steelers need help in their secondary, and although that Burns wasn’t the player that they were seeking at that position, he is still a guy that fits into the team’s mold as he has possesses solid ball skills which was highlighted by him having 6 interceptions last year at Miami. At 6’0″, Burns has good size which will give him the chance to match up with some of the bigger wide receivers that the AFC North has, while he’ll get a workout everyday in practice as he faces the likes of wide receiver Antonio Brown.

The Steelers kept the secondary theme going in the second round where they selected Maryland Terrapins safety Sean Davis. Unlike Burns, the Steelers like Davis’ range and physicality as his 88 tackles were second on Maryland’s team in 2015. And since the retirement of Troy Polamalu in 2014, the Steelers have missed having a player at safety that plays like a linebacker.

In the sixth round, the Steelers might have found themselves another player in the mode of Brown when they selected Houston Cougars wide receiver DeMarcus Ayers. At 5’9″, 182 lbs., Ayers is a burner that knows how to get in and out of breaks as any defensive back that is covering him needs to make sure that his ankle are taped.

And in the final round of the National Football League Draft, the Steelers found themselves a good old-fashioned football player in Temple Owls linebacker Tyler Matakevich. Matakevich fits the mold of what the Steelers seek from their linebackers as his grit and toughness are a throwback to the days of players such as Jack Lambert. Last year at Temple, Matakevich recorded 138 tackles while taking home the Bednarik and the Bronko Nagurski Awards for his defensive prowess as it won’t take him that long to find himself on the field making plays for the Steelers.

Baltimore Ravens

Grade: B

First Round Pick: Ronnie Stanley-Offensive Tackle-Notre Dame

Best Pick: Ronnie Stanley

Like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens know a thing or two about hitting on their selections at the National Football League Draft. Ozzie Newsome has been the only general manager that the Ravens have ever employed in their 21-year history and he has a keen eye for talent; especially in finding impact players early on in the draft.

2016 was no different for the Ravens as their first-round pick was used on Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. Stanley comes to the Ravens as an All-American and he’ll be expected to anchor Baltimore’s offensive line for the next decade.

But the Ravens most intriguing pick came last Saturday in the sixth round when they selected Navy Midshipmen quarterback Keenan Reynolds. Reynolds comes to the Ravens as a very decorated player as he set an NCAA record with 88 career rushing touchdowns while he finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting last year which is the highest that a Naval cadet has finished since Roger Staubach in 1963. Reynolds will be used as a running back in the National Football League, and the Navy could make it

possible for him to play this year with a special waiver.

Cleveland Browns

Grade: A+

First Round Pick: Corey Coleman-Wide Receiver-Baylor

Best Pick: Round Three-Carl Nassib-Defensive End-Penn State 

One way to describe the Cleveland Browns at the 2016 National Football League Draft was that they were active. The Browns drafted 14 players and unlike in year’s past, they appear to have found some impact players.

The Browns used their first-round pick on Baylor Bears wide receiver Corey Coleman. Coleman comes to the Browns after winning the Biletnikoff Award winner last year as the nation’s top wide receiver, and Cleveland is hopeful that they won’t get burned again that position like they have in year’s past.

The Browns then turned to the trenches where they selected Oklahoma State Cowboys defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Carl Nassib. Ogbah had 13 sacks last year at Oklahoma State and he should be able to come in and immediately contribute while Nassib has a relentless motor that will allow him to make plays and win over the folks in the “Dawg Pound”.

The Browns used a third-round choice on Auburn Tigers offensive tackle Shon Coleman. Coleman comes to the National Football League as a 24-year old rookie, and he has had his fair share of issues as medical issues were attempting to derail his collegiate career. But now Coleman has overcome all of that as his determination is a testament of the new direction that the Browns are attempting to go in. Also in the third round, Cleveland found Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler who will push quarterback Robert Griffin III for reps in training camp as he is an accurate signal caller along with having terrific pocket awareness.

In the seventh round, the Browns found an absolute steal in Arizona Wildcats linebacker Scooby Wright III. In 2014, Wright was the Pac-12 Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and if he had been eligible for the draft in 2015, he would have been a top-10 choice. But Wright was only a sophomore, and in 2015, a knee injury slowed him down. However the Browns found themselves an absolute football player in Wright that is now healthy and he should be a starter come Week 1 of the regular season.

Source; Cfbstats.com