Live 2017 NFL Draft Grades: Round 2

These Live 2017 NFL Draft Grades will be posted minutes after each pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Follow @walterfootball for updates.

2017 NFL Draft Grades - Round: Picks 1-16 | Picks 17-32 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | NFL Draft Team Grades

Green Bay Packers: Kevin King, CB, Washington: A Grade
There was some speculation that Kevin King could’ve gone toward the end of the first round. I had him going No. 24 to the Raiders, and I thought he was a very realistic target for the Packers in the first frame. They could’ve taken him with the 29th pick, but they moved down and still filled a need by selecting a player at very good value. King has great size and athleticism, which is exactly what Green Bay looks for.

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Jacksonville Jaguars: Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama: A+ Grade
The Jaguars surrendered a sixth-round pick to move up one spot. I’d say it was worth it because Cam Robinson drew some interest from teams in the top 20. He fell, much like many of the other Alabama prospects, but the Jaguars stand to benefit from it. Jacksonville acquired Branden Albert this offseason, but given his injury history, the Jaguars had to find a blocking upgrade to protect Blake Bortles and open running lanes for Leonard Fournette.
Seattle Seahawks: Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State: C+ Grade
The Seahawks did a terrific job of moving down, picking up third-, fourth-, sixth- and seventh-round picks just for moving down nine spots. That’s pretty good, and it’ll help this grade a bit. Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of the end result. McDowell was a second-round talent I dropped into the third because he interviewed extremely poorly. He has the traits the Seahawks look for in a prospect, but doesn’t seem very competitive, so it’s surprising to me that Seattle would take him.

Arizona Cardinals: Budda Baker, S, Washington: B Grade
The Cardinals surrendered two fourths (one this year, one next year) and they swapped picks late to move up to this spot. Many thought the Cardinals would do that to trade up for a quarterback, but I don’t think I would’ve liked that as much. Budda Baker makes more sense to replace Tony Jefferson. Baker is very talented, and I’m not sure he could’ve lasted to Arizona even though I had it that way in my mock draft. The thing is, there are a number of talented safeties available, so the Cardinals could’ve been more patient to fill this need.
Buffalo Bills: Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina: B Grade
I think this mirrors the Cardinals’ pick of Budda Baker. I have Baker and Zay Jones rated about the same, and like Arizona, Buffalo moved up for him. I like Jones, but there are some solid receivers available in the second round, so I’m not sure he was worth swapping third- and fifth-round picks for, even though he may not have fallen to their spot. Still, it’s a decent choice, as Jones finally gives the Bills a solid second receiver.
Los Angeles Chargers: Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky: A+ Grade
Wow, what a steal! Forrest Lamp could’ve been chosen as high as the early 20s, so it was a surprise that he fell out of the first round because he was the top interior offensive lineman by a wide margin. This is a great pick for the Chargers, who desperately needed to give Philip Rivers better protection in the twilight of his career.

New York Jets: Marcus Maye, S, Florida: A- Grade
Back-to-back safeties!? It makes sense, as the Jets had multiple needs at the position. The Jets just broke a lot of hearts, as many teams were hoping he’d fall to them in the second round. I guess it wasn’t very realistic because there was some speculation Maye could go late first. He’ll pair well with Jamal Adams to bolster New York’s atrocious secondary.
Carolina Panthers: Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State: A- Grade
The Panthers were expected to address their lack of speed at receiver in the wake of the Ted Ginn departure. Curtis Samuel certainly qualifies, as he should be able to emulate what Ginn brought to the offense and special teams. Hopefully he doesn’t drop as many passes. Samuel is a solid selection, as he fits the range at this spot. Cam Newton has to be thrilled with these new weapons.
Minnesota Vikings: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State: A+ Grade
This might end up being the best pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The fact that Dalvin Cook fell this far is ridiculous. I know he tested very poorly at the combine, but his vision, which isn’t taken into account via the analytics, is excellent. It’s an extremely important trait for a running back. The Vikings signed Latavius Murray, but no one really considers him to be a viable starter. Cook can be, and he’s a top-15 talent to boot. Great job by Minnesota with this selection.

New Orleans Saints: Marcus Williams, S, Utah: C Grade
Over Obi Melifonwu? I’m not so sure about that. Marcus Williams is very athletic, and he has that going for him. The Saints certainly love their athletes, so this makes sense from that perspective. However, some teams we spoke to were down on Williams because they considered him to be soft. Williams helps in the secondary and fills a need, but better picks could’ve been made.
Philadelphia Eagles: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington: A+ Grade
If you were to tell the Eagles two months ago that they could select Sidney Jones in the second round, the front office probably would’ve had you committed to a mental ward. And yet, here we are, as Jones is coming off a torn Achilles. Jones is a top-15 talent and may not be able to play in 2017. There’s a chance he could, and even if he does, he probably won’t be 100 percent. However, Jones should be fully recovered by 2018, and by that time, Philadelphia will be ready to compete for the Super Bowl (though I’d say they are ready this year.) Jones will likely emerge as a No. 1 shutdown cornerback by then, making this a terrific selection.
Los Angeles Rams: Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama: C Grade
As a former NFL running back once said, “The more things change, the more they are different.” The Rams continue to draft poorly. I wouldn’t say this pick is horrible because Gerald Everett was going to generate interest from some teams at the end of the second round, but they thought they could obtain him in he third frame. This is a bit of a reach, but not an egregious one. It also fills a need, so at least the Rams have that going for them here. This selection just could’ve been so much better, so it’s disappointing.

Chicago Bears: Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland: KIELBASA CHEESESTEAK MILLEN Grade
Ugh. Adam Sheehan? He’s a freak athlete … but that’s about it. I had him in the fourth round, as he’s a project. This is a major reach, and it doesn’t even fill a prominent need. The Bears had to find a tight end eventually because of Zach Miller’s injury history, but Chicago had other glaring holes to address.
Indianapolis Colts: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida: A- Grade
The Colts obtained a mega steal in Round 1, and now they obtained a slightly lesser steal in the second frame. Quincy Wilson is a talented cornerback who once garnered first-round consideration. That changed as the draft process went on as scouts and front offices had a closer look at him, but he could’ve been chosen a dozen or so selections earlier than this without much protest. Wilson fills a need for the Colts, who had to upgrade corner.

Baltimore Ravens: Tyus Bowser, DE/OLB, Houston: A- Grade
The Ravens clearly needed a pass-rusher this offseason. They struggled to get to the quarterback in 2016 for the most part, and they ended up losing Elvis Dumervil on top of that. Terrell Suggs doesn’t have much time left, but now they have Tyus Bowser to breathe some fire into a poor pass rush. Bowser broke out of his shell at the combine, and there was some discussion that he could be chosen at the end of the first round. This is good value for Baltimore.
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma: A+ Grade
What a great pick by the Bengals. I know Joe Mixon has a checkered past, to say the least, but had he been clean off the field, he would’ve been a top-15 pick. He has behaved well recently, so there’s a chance he has changed for the better. If so, Cincinnati is getting a potential All-Pro running back. And the cherry on top is that the Bengals obtained Mixon after trading down!
Washington Redskins: Ryan Anderson, DE/OLB, Alabama: C+ Grade
I think we can safely say that the Redskins really like Alabama prospects who don’t test well analytically. They’ve paired Jonathan Allen with Ryan Anderson to bolster their front seven, and Anderson makes sense because Washington needed help at the position. However, Anderson was a third-round prospect in my rankings, so I think this is a bit of a reach. It’s not egregious though, so I’m not going to grade this too harshly.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Justin Evans, S, Texas A&M: B Grade
See what I mean about talented safeties being available. Both Justin Evans and Obi Melifonwu make a ton of sense for the Buccaneers, who desperately needed to fill a hole at safety. Both are also extremely athletic, which fits what Tampa looks for. Evans makes sense in this range, and this appears to be a solid pick.
Denver Broncos: Demarcus Walker, DE, Florida State: B- Grade
Demarcus Walker makes sense for the Broncos from a needs perspective. They lost Malik Jackson last offseason and were worse against the run because of his departure. Walker will take his place, and he could be a decent replacement. However, Walker tested poorly, and so I think his proper range was the third round. The Broncos probably could’ve moved down to obtain him, but I don’t hate the pick.
Cleveland Browns: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame: B Grade
Meh. This pick is fine. DeShone Kizer is an extremely raw quarterback. He has upside, but he’s not the perfect mixture of Tom Brady and Cam Newton, like he proclaimed himself to be. I would’ve hated Kizer as a first-round pick, but he makes sense in the second frame. I’m not optimistic about his chances of being a successful NFL quarterback, but he’s worth a shot here in the middle of Round 2. The Browns had to take a shot with some sort of quarterback.

Detroit Lions: Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida: B+ Grade
Remember when Jalen Tabor was a first-round pick? I certainly remember, but he killed his once-fantastic draft stock with off-the-field issues and a horribly slow 40 time in the pre-draft process. It’s not a surprise he dropped this far, and I thought he could fall even further. I think there’s some value with Tabor, but I’m not crazy about this pick. It makes sense, though.
Miami Dolphins: Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State: B Grade
Some thought the Dolphins would select Jarrad Davis in the first round. They never got a chance to do so because the Lions plucked him off the board, but he’s a solid choice in the second round. He fits the range and fills a big need, as Miami absolutely had to address its poor linebacker situation. McMillan will be able to help a lot in run support, though he can’t be counted on much in coverage.
New York Giants: Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama: C+ Grade
I had Dalvin Tomlinson in the third round, so I think this is a little bit early for the Alabama product. Tomlinson definitely fills a need, as New York had to replace Johnathan Hankins. However, I think they could’ve taken a better player and filled their linebacker need by selecting Zach Cunningham. It’s odd that the Giants have passed on him twice.

Oakland Raiders: Obi Melifonwu, S/CB, Connecticut: A+ Grade
The only question I have is how the Raiders will plan on using Obi Melifonwu, as he’s a Swiss Army Knife, capable of playing so many roles in a defense. He’s extremely athletic and versatile, so I’m shocked that he lasted this long. I thought he could’ve gone as early as No. 21 overall! This is another great steal for the Raiders, who could have one of the top secondaries in the NFL if both of their draft picks thus far pan out.
Houston Texans: Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt: A+ Grade
I have to believe the Texans think they’re living in some parallel universe where every team drafts poorly, because I can’t imagine they ever would’ve thought Zach Cunningham would be available in the second round. There was a chance Cunningham wasn’t even going to be available for Houston in the first frame in an ideal world! Cunningham is a very talented linebacker, and he’ll be able to replace the declining Brian Cushing. What a steal.
Seattle Seahawks: Ethan Pocic, C/G, LSU: C Grade
The Seahawks wanted Garett Bolles, but they’re taking another offensive lineman instead in the second round. Only, it’s at a different position, and one that isn’t needed. The one thing the Seahawks do have up front is a solid center, so I imagine Ethan Pocic will play guard. I guess that’s fine, but I had Pocic in the fourth round, so I think this is a bit of a reach.
Kansas City Chiefs: Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE/DT, Villanova: B+ Grade
Tanoh Kpassagnon is a stout run defender, and he’s very big and athletic, but needs to be molded into a better, seasoned player. So, he’s about a year away from being a capable starter. Notice a trend here? Alex Smith can’t be happy about this pick either, but the Smith formula wasn’t working. The Chiefs are now looking to build for the future, and it makes sense that they would do so. Kpassagnon is a solid choice, as he could’ve gone a bit earlier with no complaints.
Dallas Cowboys: Chidobe Awuzie, CB/S, Colorado: B Grade
There are definitely mixed reviews about Chidobe Awuzie. One team thought he was good enough to be chosen in the top 20, but they had a better player fall into their laps. Two other teams had Awuzie marked as a fourth-round prospect. There are questions about Awuzie’s deep speed, but he did run a 4.44 at the combine. He has great athleticism, which the Cowboys like, and he fills a big need.
Green Bay Packers: Josh Jones, S, N.C. State: A Grade
Here’s another talented safety to go in the second round. Josh Jones is a very athletic player whom I had going off the board in the middle of the second round. The Packers are getting with some solid value with Jones at this juncture. He also fills a need, as Green Bay lost Micah Hyde to free agency. He’s a very nice replacement for Hyde.

Pittsburgh Steelers: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC: B+ Grade
I thought the Steelers should’ve gone after Chris Godwin, but JuJu Smith-Schuster makes a lot of sense as well. Smith-Schuster fits the range, as I moved him back and forth between the second and third rounds, and he definitely fills a need as well. Pittsburgh had no offense when Le’Veon Bell got hurt in the AFC Championship, which allowed Bill Belichick to completely focus on Antonio Brown. The Steelers can’t count on Martavis Bryant, so Smith-Schuster could be a big factor in this offense.
Buffalo Bills: Dion Dawkins, G/OT, Temple: B+ Grade
The Bills dealt two fifth-round picks (149, 156) to move up into the back end of the second round. Dion Dawkins is a solid blocker who can play both guard and tackle, but is probably best at the former position. The Bills have such a huge need at right tackle, so I wonder if he’ll be used there. Regardless, Buffalo is getting a quality offensive lineman who could’ve been taken earlier in the second round.
Carolina Panthers: Taylor Moton, OT, Western Michigan: B Grade
I’m not sure Taylor Moton will be able to fix Carolina’s offensive tackle needs, but it’s slim pickings as far as that position is concerned in this class. Moton is a fine choice, as he could play either tackle or guard for the Panthers. He fits the range at the bottom of the second round.

2017 NFL Draft Grades - Round:

Picks 1-16

Picks 17-32

NFL Draft Team Grades

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