I was torn between grading it a "C" or "B."

Positives:

1. Harrison was the right pick in round 1 plus they added a couple of picks,

2. Strange, Bigsby and Johnson are likely to become important parts of the team's nucleus.

3. Lacy and Washington should also be contributors in their rookie season, although Washington
    will be used mostly on special teams unless Kirk gets hurt.


Negatives:

1. Baalke did a very poor job getting the best value on his picks, especially on Day 2. While I like
    Strange and Bigsby, both were taken a round early and better players could have been taken. If he
    wanted to move up for Keion White, he had the ammunition to outbid the Patriots. White would have
    been an excellent choice to improve the pass rush.

2. He also failed at finding a starting nickel despite having several opportunities to get one. I'm admittedly
    a fan of Branch and would have moved up for him, but there were several other excellent nickel candidates they
    missed out on. One that stands out is Clark Phillips, who they easily could have moved up to get in round 4. He
    would have been a steal there and would have been an immediate starter. Again, I don't buy the argument that
    teams would not let him trade up; if the offer was good enough it would have been accepted. Phillips was originally
    expected to be taken no later than round 2 until his combine. He will make at least one pro-bowl and would have been
    much better than Ventrell Miller, who will be no better than an average linebacker in the NFL.

3. Pass rush was another big need I'm not sure they properly addressed. I don't see Lacy as a guy that will get the sacks
    that Smoot or Key did. Abdullah was an excellent pass rusher at Louisville, but his small stature (6'1", 237 pounds) will
    make it difficult to succeed in the NFL. Nick Herbig, another undersized PR, would have been a better pick as his sack
  numbers were equal to Abdullah against much better competition in the Big 10 plus he has a great bloodline.


For these reasons, I feel the draft was not bad but could have been much better. Even if they lost Strange and Bigsby, they could
have easily drafted a tight end and running back later (Kuntz or Durham at TE and several other good backs) who would have been
equally good. Adding White, Phillips and Herbig would have put this draft over the top, in my opinion, and I would have graded it an "A"
rather than the "C+" it deserves.

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