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Grading offensive rookie first-rounders: Highest marks for QBs
With three quarters of the 2015 regular season in the books, I'm taking a look at how this year's rookie first-round picks have fared to this point. I assign a grade for each offensive player here, and I unveiled my marks for the defensive first-round rookies on Thursday.
Heads of the class
Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston
Grade: A+
Pick: No. 1 overall
The skinny: After a rough opener, Winston steadily has improved and is currently playing at a very high level. His ability to quickly work through progressions and throw with anticipation is very impressive.
Titans QB Marcus Mariota
Grade: A+
Pick: No. 2 overall
The skinny: The Titans have struggled to compile wins, but Mariota has far exceeded expectations. He's playing winning football from the pocket and he's starting to be more aggressive as a runner.
Raiders WR Amari Cooper
Grade: A
Pick: No. 4 overall
The skinny: Cooper has been a dynamic addition to the Raiders' passing attack. He's had a couple drops along the way, and that's the only thing keeping him from an A+ grade.
Rams RB Todd Gurley
Grade: A-
Pick: No. 10 overall
The skinny: Gurley got a late start to the season after recovering from a knee injury he suffered last year at Georgia, but he quickly ripped off four straight 100-yard games. His production has taken a dip over the last few weeks, but he has Pro Bowl ability right now.
Knocking on the door
Redskins G Brandon Scherff
Grade: B
Pick: No. 5 overall
The skinny: Scherff has been overmatched at times in pass protection, but I love his physicality and temperament in the running game. He has improved throughout the course of the season.
Giants OT Ereck Flowers
Grade: B
Pick: No. 9 overall
The skinny: Flowers has battled some injuries this season, but he's proven to be a very physical run blocker. He is still very raw in pass protection, but I believe he is a key building block for the Giants' offense.
Mixed results
Dolphins WR DeVante Parker
Grade: C+
Pick: No. 14 overall
The skinny: Injury and a lack of opportunity delayed Parker's coming-out party, but he started to shine over the last two weeks. He has an excellent catch radius and big-play potential. I anticipate this grade will improve over the last four weeks of the season.
Lions G Laken Tomlinson
Grade: C
Pick: No. 28 overall
The skinny: Tomlinson has started 10 games for the Lions and he's shown signs of improvement. However, he still gets caught out of position too often, which leads to negative plays and penalties.
Colts WR Phillip Dorsett
Grade: C
Pick: No. 29 overall
The skinny: Dorsett flashed some big-play ability before breaking his ankle in late October. If healthy, this grade would've been higher.
Saints OL Andrus Peat
Grade: C-
Pick: No. 13 overall
The skinny: Peat has started a handful of games this season (3 at OT, 2 at G) and he's been underwhelming. He lacks ideal foot quickness at tackle and he plays too high inside at guard.
Chargers RB Melvin Gordon
Grade: C-
Pick: No. 15 overall
The skinny: Gordon hasn't looked comfortable in the San Diego system for the majority of the season, and he's had ball-security issues. He has been a little more decisive and aggressive over the last two games, but overall, he's been disappointing.
Eagles WR Nelson Agholor
Grade: C-
Pick: No. 20 overall
The skinny: I had high expectations for Agholor following the preseason, but he's failed to make much of an impact for the Eagles' offense. Despite starting eight games, he's only produced one game of 40-plus receiving yards and he's yet to catch a touchdown.
Major disappointments
Browns G Cameron Erving
Grade: D
Pick: No. 19 overall
The skinny: Erving plays too high and he lacks the strength to anchor in pass pro. He's playing out of position (he's started two games at guard; his future is at center), but the early returns aren't positive.
Cardinals OT D.J. Humphries
Grade: F
Pick: No. 24 overall
The skinny: Humphries has yet to dress for a game this season. I believe in his skill set and upside (he was my top-rated OT in the draft class), but he was atrocious in the preseason.
Bears WR Kevin White
Grade: Incomplete
Pick: No. 7 overall
The skinny: White was one of my favorite players in the draft class, but, unfortunately, he's missed the entire season due to a shin injury he suffered in training camp.
Bengals OT Cedric Ogbuehi
Grade: Incomplete
Pick: No. 21 overall
The skinny: Ogbuehi has only been active for one game after rehabbing a torn ACL he suffered in college.
Ravens WR Breshad Perriman
Grade: Incomplete
Pick: No. 26 overall
The skinny: This will be a redshirt year for Perriman due to injury.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...ve-rookie-firstrounders-highest-marks-for-qbs
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- By Daniel Jeremiah
- NFL Media analyst
With three quarters of the 2015 regular season in the books, I'm taking a look at how this year's rookie first-round picks have fared to this point. I assign a grade for each offensive player here, and I unveiled my marks for the defensive first-round rookies on Thursday.
Heads of the class
Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston
Grade: A+
Pick: No. 1 overall
The skinny: After a rough opener, Winston steadily has improved and is currently playing at a very high level. His ability to quickly work through progressions and throw with anticipation is very impressive.
Titans QB Marcus Mariota
Grade: A+
Pick: No. 2 overall
The skinny: The Titans have struggled to compile wins, but Mariota has far exceeded expectations. He's playing winning football from the pocket and he's starting to be more aggressive as a runner.
Raiders WR Amari Cooper
Grade: A
Pick: No. 4 overall
The skinny: Cooper has been a dynamic addition to the Raiders' passing attack. He's had a couple drops along the way, and that's the only thing keeping him from an A+ grade.
Rams RB Todd Gurley
Grade: A-
Pick: No. 10 overall
The skinny: Gurley got a late start to the season after recovering from a knee injury he suffered last year at Georgia, but he quickly ripped off four straight 100-yard games. His production has taken a dip over the last few weeks, but he has Pro Bowl ability right now.
Knocking on the door
Redskins G Brandon Scherff
Grade: B
Pick: No. 5 overall
The skinny: Scherff has been overmatched at times in pass protection, but I love his physicality and temperament in the running game. He has improved throughout the course of the season.
Giants OT Ereck Flowers
Grade: B
Pick: No. 9 overall
The skinny: Flowers has battled some injuries this season, but he's proven to be a very physical run blocker. He is still very raw in pass protection, but I believe he is a key building block for the Giants' offense.
Mixed results
Dolphins WR DeVante Parker
Grade: C+
Pick: No. 14 overall
The skinny: Injury and a lack of opportunity delayed Parker's coming-out party, but he started to shine over the last two weeks. He has an excellent catch radius and big-play potential. I anticipate this grade will improve over the last four weeks of the season.
Lions G Laken Tomlinson
Grade: C
Pick: No. 28 overall
The skinny: Tomlinson has started 10 games for the Lions and he's shown signs of improvement. However, he still gets caught out of position too often, which leads to negative plays and penalties.
Colts WR Phillip Dorsett
Grade: C
Pick: No. 29 overall
The skinny: Dorsett flashed some big-play ability before breaking his ankle in late October. If healthy, this grade would've been higher.
Saints OL Andrus Peat
Grade: C-
Pick: No. 13 overall
The skinny: Peat has started a handful of games this season (3 at OT, 2 at G) and he's been underwhelming. He lacks ideal foot quickness at tackle and he plays too high inside at guard.
Chargers RB Melvin Gordon
Grade: C-
Pick: No. 15 overall
The skinny: Gordon hasn't looked comfortable in the San Diego system for the majority of the season, and he's had ball-security issues. He has been a little more decisive and aggressive over the last two games, but overall, he's been disappointing.
Eagles WR Nelson Agholor
Grade: C-
Pick: No. 20 overall
The skinny: I had high expectations for Agholor following the preseason, but he's failed to make much of an impact for the Eagles' offense. Despite starting eight games, he's only produced one game of 40-plus receiving yards and he's yet to catch a touchdown.
Major disappointments
Browns G Cameron Erving
Grade: D
Pick: No. 19 overall
The skinny: Erving plays too high and he lacks the strength to anchor in pass pro. He's playing out of position (he's started two games at guard; his future is at center), but the early returns aren't positive.
Cardinals OT D.J. Humphries
Grade: F
Pick: No. 24 overall
The skinny: Humphries has yet to dress for a game this season. I believe in his skill set and upside (he was my top-rated OT in the draft class), but he was atrocious in the preseason.
Bears WR Kevin White
Grade: Incomplete
Pick: No. 7 overall
The skinny: White was one of my favorite players in the draft class, but, unfortunately, he's missed the entire season due to a shin injury he suffered in training camp.
Bengals OT Cedric Ogbuehi
Grade: Incomplete
Pick: No. 21 overall
The skinny: Ogbuehi has only been active for one game after rehabbing a torn ACL he suffered in college.
Ravens WR Breshad Perriman
Grade: Incomplete
Pick: No. 26 overall
The skinny: This will be a redshirt year for Perriman due to injury.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...ve-rookie-firstrounders-highest-marks-for-qbs