Live 2016 NFL Draft Grades: Round 7

These Live 2016 NFL Draft Grades will be posted minutes after each pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Follow @walterfootball for updates.

2016 NFL Draft Grades - Round: Picks 1-16 | Picks 17-32 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | NFL Draft Team Grades

Tennessee Titans: Aaron Wallace, DE/OLB, UCLA B- Grade
This pick is all upside. Aaron Wallace barely saw any action at UCLA, but he caught Tennessee’s eye during his Pro Day, where he tested extremely well. It never hurts to add a talented pass-rusher.

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Miami Dolphins: Brandon Doughty, QB, Western Kentucky B Grade
The Dolphins might be able to groom Brandon Doughty into being their next No. 2 quarterback behind Ryan Tannehill (or whoever replaces him). Doughty doesn’t have the tools to be an NFL starter, but he might be able to become a solid reserve.
San Diego Chargers: Donovan Clark, G/OT, Michigan State C Grade
The Chargers definitely needed offensive line depth, and it’s actually surprising that they selected just one blocker in the first six rounds. Does this make up for it? I don’t think so. I didn’t have Clark in my top 400, and I don’t know of any publication that thought he’d be draftable. Clark, who toggled between guard and tackle at Michigan State, will have to move inside because of his short arms.
New England Patriots: Devin Lucien, WR, Arizona State B Grade
Bill Belichick has spent a lot of time drafting players off many radars in this draft thus far. Devin Lucien is not a name known to many, but he played well for Arizona State this past season, thanks to his quality route-running. Lucien, who has tested as an average athlete, definitely has a chance of contributing at some point.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonathan Woodard, DE/DT, Central Arkansas C+ Grade
Jonathan Woodard has solid athleticism, but hasn’t really shown any other signs that he should’ve been drafted. Perhaps he’ll develop into a solid backup, but Woodard was probably better off on the UDFA wire.
Minnesota Vikings: Stephen Weatherly, DE, Vanderbilt A- Grade
I expected the Vikings to draft a defensive lineman earlier than this. I guess it’s better late than never, especially when a solid value in the seventh round is obtained. Stephen Weatherly, who is a superb athlete, could have easily been chosen in the fifth frame. He dropped because he didn’t have the greatest tape at Vanderbilt, but he possesses a ton of upside that can’t be ignored.
Denver Broncos: Riley Dixon, P, Syracuse B- Grade
I won’t be mean to the Broncos for taking a punter in the seventh round. That’s perfectly fine. Better options are available, of course, but it’s not a killer like taking a kicker during the second day.
Pittsburgh Steelers: DeMarcus Ayers, WR, Houston B Grade
DeMarcus Ayers was extremely productive in Houston’s offense, but butchered his draft stock by running a 4.69 40. That scared plenty of teams off, but he’s absolutely worth taking in the final round. Other receivers have recovered from a slow 40 time, after all.

Chicago Bears: Daniel Braverman, WR, Western Michigan A- Grade
Daniel Braverman is a small (5-10) receiver who endured a miserable Pro Day, running a 4.53 40, which is awful for his size. However, Braverman seems like one of those players where measureables don’t tell the whole story. He was a very successful receiver in Western Michigan’s offense, and he projects as a potentially semi-productive slot receiver in the NFL.
Miami Dolphins: Thomas Duarte, TE, UCLA A- Grade
I mocked Thomas Duarte to the Dolphins in the fifth round, but despite his solid athleticism, I can’t say I’m surprised that he dropped to the seventh frame. Duarte played receiver at UCLA, but he’ll have to transition to tight end or H-back in the pros. Duarte does have a high amount of potential, however, and I could see him becoming a matchup nightmare of sorts in Miami’s offense.
Washington Redskins: Steven Daniels, ILB, Boston College B Grade
Steven Daniels makes sense at this juncture, and it wouldn’t have been the worst idea had a team picked him a round earlier. Daniels was very productive at Boston College, but dropped because of a severe lack of athleticism. However, Daniels can be a two-down run-stuffer, and the Redskins needed depth in the middle of their defense.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Mills, S/CB, LSU A+ Grade
This is Philadelphia’s best pick in the 2016 NFL Draft just in terms of pure value. I can’t begin to explain why Jalen Mills dropped all the way to the seventh round when he easily could’ve been a day-two pick. Mills is coming off an outstanding 2015 campaign at LSU and then showed off his excellent athleticism at the Combine. Mills can play both cornerback and safety, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he eventually emerged as a starter at one of those two positions in Philadelphia.

Oakland Raiders: Vadal Alexander, G, LSU B Grade
Twenty more picks to go! Once upon a time, Vadal Alexander was in the second round of my mock draft. And then his Combine happened. They needed an hourglass to time the LSU product, as he ran a 5.57 40. Forty times for offensive linemen may not seem like a big deal, but there’s an extensive track record of slow blockers failing in the NFL. Alexander could be next, but he’s worth taking a shot on here in the seventh round.
New York Jets: Lachlan Edwards, P, Sam Houston State B- Grade
I’m not going to analyze a punter pick all that much, but the Jets did need to address the position. As with all seventh-round punter selections, this earns a B-.
Detroit Lions: Dwayne Washington, RB, Washington C+ Grade
Dwayne Washington made a terrible mistake of leaving school early despite not having much experience at Washington. He paid the price, dropping to the seventh round despite testing well at his Pro Day. It’ll be tough for him to make Detroit’s final roster.
New Orleans Saints: Daniel Lasco, RB, California A- Grade
Daniel Lasco blew up the Combine, testing as one of the top running backs in his class. Still, it apparently wasn’t enough to get him out of the seventh round, as he simply couldn’t stay healthy at California. If Lasco can become more durable, he could have a future as a third-down back in the NFL. He may have trouble making the Saints’ final roster in his first year, however. Still, the upside makes him worth it in Round 7.
Atlanta Falcons: Devin Fuller, WR, UCLA B+ Grade
Credit the Falcons for buying low with this pick. Devin Fuller played well prior to 2015, but dealt with numerous injuries this past season. A solid athlete, Fuller has the talent to make Atlanta’s final roster if he can remain healthy. That’s a good thing, as Mohamed Sanu is terrible and needs to be upgraded eventually.
Indianapolis Colts: Trevor Bates, DE/OLB, Maine C+ Grade
I’m not going to lie: I had absolutely nothing on Trevor Bates. He wasn’t in my top 400, and after looking around, no one had him ranked either. Bates is an edge rusher who tallied four sacks in 2014, so that doesn’t sound too exciting.
Philadelphia Eagles: Alex McCalister, DE/OLB, Florida A- Grade
The good news here is that Alex McCalister is one of the top edge rushers in this class in terms of pure athleticism. He was also very productive when on the field for the Gators. The bad news is that McCalister doesn’t have much experience, and he was also kicked off the team. Still, McCalister is the sort of boom-or-bust prospect worth taking a chance on in the seventh round.
New York Jets: Charone Peake, WR, Clemson A Grade
I’m shocked Charone Peake went this late. I’ve constantly mocked him in the fourth round, as he was productive this past season and showed off some decent athleticism for a receiver his size (6-2, 209) at the Combine. I’m not sure why Peake dropped to the seventh frame. Sure, he’s raw, and he still needs to learn how to become a true receiver, but there’s just so much untapped potential. He could end up being a solid player for the Jets down the road with some good coaching.

Washington Redskins: Keith Marshall, RB, Georgia B+ Grade
I’m all for picking players with immense upside in the seventh round, and that certainly happens to be the case with Keith Marshall. The Georgia product began his collegiate career with a bang, but he never recovered from a torn ACL he sustained a couple of years ago. Marshall, however, possesses quality talent, so perhaps he’ll eventually become 100 percent and contribute for the Redskins, who needed running back depth in the wake of Alfred Morris’ departure.
Seattle Seahawks: Kenny Lawler, WR, California B Grade
It’s a bit telling that the Rams didn’t even try to draft Kenny Lawler so that Jared Goff could continue throwing to him. Lawler was productive at California, but he tested very poorly at the Combine. He has no upside, but the range is right for him toward the end of the seventh round.
Minnesota Vikings: Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson B- Grade
Teams had very unflattering things to say about Jayron Kearse throughout the draft process. We had him in the Round 3-4 range to start, but steadily moved him down each week. It’s not shocking to see him picked in the seventh frame, though he’s just basically a body-builder and not a real football player. He’s a poor athlete overall, and it’s hard to imagine him sticking in the NFL. Still, Minnesota is buying low, so I don’t hate the pick.
Cincinnati Bengals: Clayton Fejedelem, S, Illinois B- Grade
Clayton Fejedelem didn’t produce much at Illinois, but had a decent 2015 campaign. He helped himself by showing off some solid athleticism at his Pro Day, so perhaps that’s why the Bengals are drafting him. Cincinnati probably could’ve done something better here, but this isn’t a bad pick by any means.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyler Matakevich, ILB, Temple A+ Grade
This is my favorite pick in the seventh round. It would not surprise me at all if Tyler Matakevich not only starts, but becomes a stellar player for the Steelers or some other team in this league. There are few linebackers in this class who have better instincts than he does, as he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He enjoyed a prolific career at Temple, but dropped because he tested poorly at the Combine. However, there have been plenty of defensive players who struggled in Indianapolis and then went on to have great careers. Matakevich could be the next, and the Steelers are getting outstanding value as a result. Some team could’ve taken him in the third round, and it wouldn’t have been embarrassing.
Seattle Seahawks: Zac Brooks, RB, Clemson MAKE THE PLACE LOOK NICE FOR SOME KIELBASA TIME MILLEN Grade
I don’t think I’ve ever given out a Millen grade in the seventh round. I once did so in the sixth frame when the Redskins wasted a pick on Colt Brennan. But this seems like some kind of joke. Zac Brooks retired from football so he could venture into a career of interior design. I assume he’s going to show up to OTAs, but perhaps he’ll only do so just so he can make the locker room look pretty.
Indianapolis Colts: Austin Blythe, C, Iowa B+ Grade
Is anyone surprised that the Colts selected four offensive linemen after what transpired last season? It’s exactly what they had to do, so Ryan Grigson needs to be commended. At any rate, Austin Blythe is just a middling athlete with short arms, but he should be able to evolve into a solid backup center in the NFL.
San Francisco 49ers: Prince Charles Iworah, CB, Western Kentucky B- Grade
Prince Charles Iworah was just an above-average player for Western Kentucky, but I guess he caught Chip Kelly’s eye when he showed off some stellar athleticism at his Pro Day. He has upside, but he’s very raw.
Cleveland Browns: Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona A Grade
This is a lot like the Tyler Matakevich pick. If you were to just look at Scooby Wright as a pure football player and ignore all measureables, he would’ve been a second-round pick for sure. However, Wright, who is coming off an injury, tested so poorly that it knocked him all the way down to No. 250. The Browns figure to benefit from this, as Wright is a great football player who might be able to overcome his lacking athleticism.
Philadelphia Eagles: Joe Walker, LB, Oregon B Grade
Was this done to stick it to Chip Kelly, so he couldn’t pick up yet another Oregon player as a UDFA signing? It wouldn’t surprise me if that were the case. Based on his play alone, Joe Walker wasn’t worth drafting, but he has elite athleticism that’ll give him a chance. He might latch on to Philadelphia’s final roster as the fifth linebacker.
Carolina Panthers: Beau Sandland, TE, Montana State: B+ Grade
It’s not out of the question that Beau Sandland could be Carolina’s starting tight end following the 2019 offseason, when Greg Olsen will be a 34-year-old free agent. I say that because Sandland, while raw, has extreme upside, thanks to his elite athleticism. Sandland enjoyed a great 2015 campaign for Montana State, but doesn’t have a great track record of production. Of course, Sandland may not make the final roster, but the potential is there for him to make an impact.
Tennessee Titans: Kalan Reed, CB, Southern Miss B Grade
This year’s Mr. Irrelevant is a solid prospect for a seventh-rounder. Kalan Reed has enjoyed a productive career at Southern Miss, and he also possesses above-average athleticism. The Titans are in desperate need of corner help, so Reed might just be able to make the final roster.