Live 2016 NFL Draft Grades: Round 4

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

Cleveland Browns: Joe Schobert, DE/OLB, Wisconsin B Grade
A point was made that the Browns have drafted players with high levels of production thus far. That’s Joe Schobert in a nutshell. He’s not a good athlete, but he’s a solid football player and should be able to bolster a weak Cleveland pass rush. Not a bad way to start Day 3.

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Oakland Raiders: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State C- Grade
Why trade up for Connor Cook? I don’t like this at all. And let’s be clear here: Cook did not fall. Teams expected him to be taken off the bottom of the third round. The fact that he wasn’t voted team captain really bothered organizations, and things only got worse when he interviewed absolutely horribly throughout the process. On the field, Cook is very inconsistent, so he’s not like some great quarterback. This is not a good move.
Dallas Cowboys: Charles Tapper, DE, Oklahoma B Grade
The Cowboys were apparently getting a ton of flak for not addressing the pass rush in the first two days of the draft. It’s no surprise that they picked Charles Tapper; he was projected to be chosen atop Round 4, and he has the athleticism that Dallas covets.
San Diego Chargers: Joshua Perry, LB, Ohio State B+ Grade
It seems like Manti Te’o was just drafted yesterday, but he’s coming up on his contract season, so the Chargers had to find an inside linebacker for current depth and future starting potential. Joshua Perry may eventually enter the starting lineup. He’s a skilled linebacker I expected to be chosen in the third round. This is my favorite pick of San Diego’s thus far from a value perspective.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame A Grade
The Jaguars have been enjoying a great draft thus far, so it’s not surprising that they began their third day with a bang. Sheldon Day is a very good football player, but he dropped because he’s a poor scheme fit for a lot of teams because of his size limitations. I struggled finding a spot for Day, but this makes a ton of sense. Day figures to be a great situational pass-rusher for Jacksonville.
Baltimore Ravens: Tavon Young, WR, Temple B Grade
I mocked Tavon Young to the Ravens in the fourth round, so I can’t really give this a bad grade, can I? I thought that Young was going to be a solid fit in Baltimore’s defense. He figures to be a strong nickel, and he obviously addresses the team’s biggest need. Baltimore should still look into adding another corner.
Kansas City Chiefs: Parker Ehinger, OT/G, Cincinnati: C+ Grade
Is anyone surprised that Andy Reid addressed his offensive line? It makes sense, as the Chiefs needed depth up front, but there were better linemen available. I’ve been mocking Ehinger (pronounced “Inger”) in and out of my fifth or sixth round, so I think this is a bit too early for him. Still, the selection makes sense, so I won’t be giving the Chiefs a bad grade.
Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Murray, CB, Minnesota: B+ Grade
I like this pick better than No. 105. Eric Murray, unlike Parker Ehinger, fits the range as an early fourth-round pick. He’s the second cornerback the Chiefs have selected thus far in the 2016 NFL Draft, but depth was needed at the position, and it never hurts to have as many cornerbacks as possible. Murray is very athletic and has tons of upside, so he could start some day.

Baltimore Ravens: Chris Moore, WR, Cincinnati A- Grade
I didn’t like what the Ravens did in the first round, but they’ve picked well since then. Chris Moore is a tall (6-2) receiver with some major game-breaking ability. He’ll be able to stretch defenses, and he could’ve gone earlier than this if it wasn’t for some injury concerns. Kudos to Ozzie Newsome though for buying low, as usual.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ryan Smith, CB, N.C. Central B+ Grade
It’s hardly a surprise that the Buccaneers have spent another pick on a cornerback, given how dire that situation has been for them. They’re getting a good one at the beginning of the fourth round, though, as Ryan Smith could’ve been chosen a bit earlier than this. It’s a bit surprising that the Buccaneers didn’t take a corner with more athletic ability, but this is a solid choice.
New York Giants: B.J. Goodson, LB, Clemson B+ Grade
B.J. Goodson had a ton of buzz in the lead-up to the 2016 NFL Draft, taking tons of meetings. This is the right spot for him though, and it’s hardly a surprise that the Giants chose a linebacker, as they have one of the worst situations at the position in the NFL. A solid tackler, Goodson should be able to compete for a starting job right away.
Los Angeles Rams: Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky: C- Grade
Wow. I did not think Tyler Higbee would be drafted. Higbee, in terms of a pure football player, would’ve been chosen in the second round if there were no other factors involved. However, the issue is that Higbee has both a knee injury and serious character issues. Higbee is a recidivist; he has gotten into trouble countless times, most recently being arrested for assault. He also fled from police. The Rams have taken chances on players with character concerns before, and it has worked out. Perhaps this will as well, but there were teams that didn’t have Higbee on their board, so why risk it this early with so few selections? I was tempted to give this a “Jerrah” (for Jerry Jones), but there’s a chance this could pan out.

Detroit Lions: Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah B+ Grade
Miles Killebrew was a highly productive safety in Utah, and then he thrived at the Combine, testing extremely well. There was some concern about him not having a pure position in the NFL, but I could see the hard-hitting Killebrew working out as a linebacker-safety hybrid that is becoming ever popular in the NFL.
New England Patriots: Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia B+ Grade
This pick makes more sense than some of the selections the Patriots made during the second day. Malcolm Mitchell easily could’ve been chosen a round earlier than this. He was a highly productive receiver at Georgia with very good athleticism. The problem is that there are some knee concerns. If those aren’t an issue going forward, Mitchell should be a good player for the Patriots.
Chicago Bears: Nick Kwiatkoski, LB, West Virginia C+ Grade
The Bears surrendered a sixth-rounder to move up four spots to select Nick Kwiatkoski. I’m not sure if that was necessary, as there are plenty of solid fourth-round linebackers available. Kwiatkoski doesn’t even fill an obvious need, though depth is needed at inside linebacker. Kwiatkoski will play exclusively special teams in the near future.
Cleveland Browns: Ricardo Louis, WR, Auburn C Grade
The Browns obviously needed a second receiver, and definitely a third as well. Ricardo Louis is a reach, however, as he easily could’ve been chosen two rounds later. Louis has incredible athleticism and possesses major upside, but he hasn’t been a good player. He drops way too many passes, which will agonize Cleveland fans.
Atlanta Falcons: De’Vondre Campbell, LB, Minnesota C- Grade
I don’t think I can get behind De’Vondre Campbell in the fourth round. Campbell, who was probably a sixth-round prospect, maintains below-average athleticism and put together mediocre film from his time in Minnesota. He’s a project for sure, and he’ll be relegated to special teams. The Falcons could’ve done better.
Indianapolis Colts: Hassan Ridgeway, NT, Texas B+ Grade
This is the very definition of a boom-or-bust pick. Hassan Ridgeway came out a year too early and didn’t have much production at Texas. He was bothered by injuries, and there were work-ethic concerns as well. Some teams told us they were interested in taking him in the second round before really digging into him. This could pan out for the Colts though; Ridgeway has lots of talent, and nose tackle was a need for sure.
Los Angeles Rams: Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina: B+ Grade
Pharoh Cooper was once considered a second-round prospect, but his stock sunk because of some horrible testing numbers at the Combine. He was a good football player at South Carolina, however, and at the very least, he’ll be a solid a return specialist. The Rams needed more weapons on offense, and this seems like a quality pick.
New York Jets: Juston Burris, CB, N.C. State B- Grade
With Antonio Cromartie gone and Darrelle Revis declining, a cornerback was needed. Juston Burris could’ve gone a bit later, but I don’t have an issue with this pick. Burris is a tall corner who played extremely well at N.C. State. He didn’t test very well at the Combine, but the Jets apparently didn’t care.

Houston Texans: Tyler Ervin, RB, San Jose State B+ Grade
Houston’s incredible draft continues. There’s also a developing trend. The Texans have added a couple of home-run hitters thus far, and Tyler Ervin fits that theme. Ervin can go the distance any time he touches the ball, and he fills a need as a solid backup behind Lamar Miller. Ervin, who is very athletic, can be used as a gadget weapon on offense, giving the Texans a new dimension.
New Orleans Saints: David Onyemata, DE, Canada D Grade
Did the Saints mean to move up for David Onyemata? Did they hit the “trade up” button instead of the “trade down” button? That’s my explanation for this. Onyemata had a solid East-West Shrine week, but I haven’t heard any team ranking him as a fourth-round prospect. The Saints probably could’ve moved down and still acquired him. He’s a project.
Minnesota Vikings: Willie Beavers, OT, Western Michigan B Grade
This pick makes sense all around. Willie Beavers was projected as a fourth-round prospect. The Vikings had to add another tackle in the wake of speculation that they’d be releasing one of their tackles sometime in the near future.
Cincinnati Bengals: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor A+ Grade
The best pick of Day 3 thus far. There’s no reason Andrew Billings should’ve fallen out of the second round. He could’ve gone in the first as well, and it wouldn’t have been a problem. No one seems to have any clue why Billings dropped, but the Bengals won’t care. They obtained a great football player who could start sometime in the near future, taking the place of Domata Peko.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU B Grade
I had Jerald Hawkins mocked much earlier than the fourth round, but that’s where I ultimately settled on him. Hawkins has a solid skill set, but he struggled this past season. He made the mistake of declaring early, and then he further hurt himself by testing poorly at the Combine. It’s possible, however, that the Steelers could develop him to eventually become a capable starter.
Chicago Bears: Deon Bush, RB, Miami B Grade
Deon Bush makes sense as a fourth-rounder. He was productive at Miami, but tested poorly at the Combine. Still, he should be able to be a solid reserve safety – something Chicago needed – and a quality special-teams player.
Indianapolis Colts: Antonio Morrison, ILB, Florida C+ Grade
Antonio Morrison was one of the worst testers at the Combine, showing a severe lack of athleticism. Morrison is also coming off a torn meniscus, so perhaps that had something to do with it. This is a bit early for Morrison, but it’s not an egregious reach. He could potentially fill the need Indianapolis has at inside linebacker.
Kansas City Chiefs: Demarcus Robinson, WR, Florida: C- Grade
This is surprising, to say the least. We didn’t speak to one team that hadn’t removed Demarcus Robinson from their board. Robinson, of course, has some major character concerns. He was suspended four times at Florida and never took well to coaching. Making matters worse, he was just a mediocre tester at the Combine. Andy Reid has enjoyed success with poor-character guys, but he’ll need to put in a ton of work with Robinson.
Chicago Bears: Deiondre’ Hall, CB/S, Northern Iowa B+ Grade
This is another quality pick by the Bears, though it’s unclear where they view Deiondre’ Hall. It’s possible that Hall could play safety, though cornerback makes sense as well. Hall is a tall, long defensive back, and if he does play corner, he’ll be filling a huge need. Hall could’ve been chosen about 30 or so selections earlier than this, so this pick provides some nice value.
Arizona Cardinals: Evan Boehm, C/G, Missouri B Grade
I was told that the Cardinals wanted a versatile lineman entering the draft. They would’ve chosen Ryan Kelly had he fallen to No. 29. Later, at No. 92, Graham Glasgow was an option. With that in mind, I’m disappointed in myself that I didn’t slot Evan Boehm to Arizona in my re-draft. Boehm has played both center and guard, though he’ll likely slide into the former position in Arizona, addressing a huge need.
Cleveland Browns: Derrick Kindred, S, TCU C Grade
Derrick Kindred was projected as a sixth- or seventh-round prospect, but it’s not a terrible thing to reach at the end of the fourth frame. Kindred seems like he’ll be good in run support, but his coverage skills are questionable, at best. I’d say the Browns needed a safety, but they needed everything except a left tackle entering the 2016 NFL Draft.
Baltimore Ravens: Alex Lewis, OT, Nebraska B+ Grade
There was some buzz that Alex Lewis would be chosen on Day 2, so the Ravens are getting value here, as far as that’s concerned. Lewis has the potential to start at left tackle at some point in the future, but he needs some work. In the meantime, Lewis will provide needed depth at the position.

Green Bay Packers: Blake Martinez, LB, Stanford B Grade
I was wondering whether the Packers planned to use Kyler Fackrell inside or on the edge. Perhaps this provides an answer, as Blake Martinez is certainly an interior player. Martinez fits the range as a low fourth-round prospect. He can play the run well, but figures to struggle in coverage.
Baltimore Ravens: Willie Henry, DT, Michigan A Grade
It figures that Ozzie Newsome would hit on one of his supplemental picks, where he has thrived over the years. Everyone was talking about Andrew Billings being a ridiculous steal, and rightfully so, but Willie Henry turned out to be a great bargain as well. Henry can generate a solid pass rush, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he emerged as a starter in a year or two.
San Francisco 49ers: Rashard Robinson, CB, LSU C Grade
It’s not horrible to take a major risk at the end of the fourth round, but that’s exactly what Rashard Robinson is. Robinson missed all of 2015 because he was suspended for violating team rules. Robinson also has work-ethic issues, so he desperately needs to mature if he ever wants to make a living playing football.
Baltimore Ravens: Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech A Grade
It’s amazing how some of the talented running backs in this class slipped in the draft. I don’t know exactly why, but it’s further proof that taking a back in the top-five picks is pretty ridiculous. The Ravens will be happy with Dixon, who was very productive at Louisiana Tech and then tested well at the Combine. Running back was needed, so why not draft a talented runner at this spot?
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State A Grade
I mocked Dak Prescott to the Cowboys in the third round, so while I’m not surprised that they drafted him, I thought they’d take him a bit earlier. Then again, perhaps it shouldn’t be shocking that Prescott dropped in the wake of his DUI. Prescott, originally tabbed as a second-round prospect, certainly paid the price, but he definitely has enough promise to eventually take over as the starter once Tony Romo moves on.
Denver Broncos: Devontae Booker, RB, Utah A+ Grade
This is certainly one of the top picks of the third day of the 2016 NFL Draft. Devontae Booker easily could’ve been chosen in the second round. Multiple talented runners have dropped for some reason, but it’s still a huge surprise. The Broncos won’t complain, as they needed someone better than Ronnie Hillman to be a change-of-pace runner behind C.J. Anderson. Booker should be able to be a starter some day.
Green Bay Packers: Dean Lowry, DE/DT, Northwestern B- Grade
Dean Lowry probably was an undraftable prospect until he made a name for himself at the Combine. He showed off some surprising athleticism, which intrigued some teams. He’s definitely a project, but perhaps he’ll end up as a starter at some point in his career. If not, he could be a decent rotational player.
Cleveland Browns: Seth DeValve, TE, Princeton D Grade
Leave it to the Browns to use a fourth-round pick on a player no one has ever heard of. I didn’t rank Seth DeValve in my top 400 prospects, and I imagine that most teams had him as UDFA fodder. I don’t get it, though it should be noted that Facebook friend Luke T. joked that he though the Browns drafted someone named Safety Valve.
Buffalo Bills: Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State A Grade
Cardale Jones made a huge mistake by not declaring for the draft last year. He may have emerged at the end of the first round. Teams told us that they were highly intrigued with Jones’ physical talents, and that if he put together a dynamic 2015 campaign, he would’ve been a top-10 pick. Of course, that didn’t happen. Jones struggled and was exposed. Still, he has immense upside and probably should’ve been taken two rounds earlier. He’s a nice backup and possible future starter for Buffalo.

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Picks 1-16

Picks 17-32

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