In my top 10 best picks of the NFL draft article, I praised various general managers for the selections they made. On the flip side, though, some GMs made some very questionable decisions. It’s time for me to bring out my verbal beating stick and rip into some of these draft day atrocities. Knowing me, all of these players will turn out Pro-Bowlers.
10.San Fransisco 49ers, Round One, Pick Nine: Mike McGlinchey, OT
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate this pick. McGlinchey is the best tackle in the draft and the only one who can start day one. San Francisco needed a tackle and they got their guy. I feel nine is too high for McGlinchey, though. They also passed on elite talent here in Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James, and Tremaine Edmunds.
9. Oakland Raiders, Round Three, Pick One: Brandon Parker, OT
The Raiders had an abysmal draft. They reached for players and passed on talent multiple times. Up until this point, the Raiders drafted Kolton Miller (I’ll get to him later) and P.J. Hall, a very raw defensive tackle. Parker brought up the caboose of the reach train. He has great physical tools and could be a good lineman in the future but I bet Oakland could have got him in the fourth or fifth round.
8. Detroit Lions, Round Three, Pick 18: Tracy Walker, S
The Lions had a questionable first two rounds, reaching for Frank Ragnow and drafting Kerryon Johnson, a pick that some like and some don’t. I didn’t think Walker would go until the fifth round. They passed on some really good talent here such as Maurice Hurst and Harrison Phillips to name a few.
7. Baltimore Ravens, Round One, Pick 25: Hayden Hurst, T
I like Hurst as a player but I don’t think there was any tight end worth of a first round pick in this draft. If the Ravens knew they could get Mark Andrews in the third, I doubt they take Hurst here. Ozzie Newsome did a nice job trading back but wasted that pick in my opinion. Hey, at least he will have Lamar Jackson throwing to him for hopefully many years.
6. Cleveland Browns, Round Two, Pick One: Austin Corbett, G
I am not high on Corbett. At all. I wouldn’t have taken him in the third round if he was available. I was stunned when the Browns passed on Will Hernandez AND Connor Williams here. There were first-round talents here who could have markedly improved Cleveland’s roster here. I don’t get this pick.
5. Kansas City Chiefs, Round Two, Pick 14: Breeland Speaks, DL
I’m not going to lie, when I first saw this selection my reaction was “who?” After doing some homework, I realized why most people had Speaks slated as a fourth-round pick. He is not a bad player but was a colossal reach, especially given the talent on the board. Christian Kirk, Connor Williams, Anthony Miller, Isaiah Oliver, or Derrius Guice all would have been far superior picks.
4. New Orleans Saints, Round One, Pick 14: Marcus Davenport, EDGE
I really like Davenport as a player. He is raw as a rusher but is gifted physically and has the upside of a superstar. However, the Saints had to jump 14 spots to get him and gave up quite the haul. I don’t think Davenport is worth a future first-round pick. If you have to trade up that far, I would rather get Tremaine Edmunds or Derwin James. To be fair, the Saints have done well with rookies in the recent past, so Davenport may end up defensive rookie of the year for all we know.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers, Round One, Pick 28: Terrell Edmunds, S
Edmunds is a pretty solid player. He is fast, physical and versatile, but this pick absolutely was a reach. If the Steelers really wanted a safety they could have drafted Ronnie Harrison, Jesse Bates, Marcus Allen
2. Oakland Raiders, Round One, Pick 15: Kolton Miller, OT
I was shocked when Oakland made this pick. Trading down after Roquan Smith went made sense; I assumed they would nab Edmunds at 15. To Raiders fans’ dismay, they drafted Miller, who I had as a third-round talent and very overrated. Sure he’s athletic and tested well but he cannot block to save his life. Seriously. Turn on his tape and watch him get routinely beat by bums on the other end. Good job Gruden, good job.
1. Seattle Seahawks, Round One, Pick 27: Rashaad Penny, RB
This may be the most offensive draft pick I have seen. This pick is not just offensive in the sense that it was offensively bad, it was offensive to the Seattle Seahawks roster, namely Russell Wilson. The legion of boom is all but dead. I would have been fine with Seattle taking an edge defender like Harold Landry. What they needed was a lineman so Russell Wilson doesn’t run around like a chicken with his head cut off for all of the season. They have to be building around Wilson here. My second best offensive lineman in this class, Will Hernandez, was available here. Rashaad Penny isn’t a bad player but he isn’t a first or even second round talent. If I was Russell Wilson, I would be banging on John Schneider’s door demanding a trade.
Honorable Mentions
Cleveland Browns, Round One, Pick Four: Denzel Ward, CB
Detroit Lions, Round One, Pick 20: Frank Ragnow, C
Oakland Raiders: Round Two, Pick 25: P.J. Hall, DT
Ben Pfeifer is the Managing Editor of the Colts for Full Press Coverage, the AFC South Division Editor, and head NBA editor. Want to continue the discussion? Contact Ben Pfeifer on Twitter @Ben_Pfeifer_, @FPC_NBA and @FPC_Colts.
