NFL draft grades: Seahawks get a B+

The picks are in, the hats have been donned and teams are looking toward rookie minicamps — and the season beyond. How did each team do through all seven rounds of the 2016 NFL draft? Here are the grades, team-by-team.

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals had just two picks over the first three rounds and used one of them to take an opening-round gamble on DT Robert Nkemdiche. It probably was worth it by that point in the first round, No. 29 overall. Nkemdiche’s talent is obvious. But so, too, were his off-field issues after his hotel-room incident that led to his suspension from the Sugar Bowl. Third-round CB Brandon Williams has promise and fourth-round center Evan Boehm fills a need. Grade: B-minus

Los Angeles Rams

After taking QB Jared Goff first overall, the Rams didn’t pick again until Day 3. No matter. Quality will trump quantity if Goff becomes the franchise QB that the Rams hope he will be. They simply had to have a productive QB, with other pieces to a contending team already in place. And they did what they had to do, via their mega-trade with the Titans before the draft, to give themselves a chance to get one. Now all they can do is hope that it works out. Grade: A-minus

San Francisco 49ers

Trading back up into the first round for a guard not widely viewed entering the draft as a likely first-rounder, Joshua Garnett, was a puzzling move. Not addressing the QB situation in a meaningful way — taking Jeff Driskel in the sixth round as a developmental project doesn’t qualify — is something the 49ers might end up regretting. Third-round CB Will Redmond is talented but coming off a knee injury. There is plenty to question here but taking DE DeForest Buckner with the No. 7 overall choice was justifiable. Grade: C-minus

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks ended up with five of the draft’s first 97 picks and used three of them to rebuild along the offensive and defensive lines. First-rounder Germain Ifedi will help along the offensive line but it’s unclear if he’ll be a tackle or guard in the NFL. Getting DT Jarran Reed in the middle of the second round was a terrific value, and third-round RB C.J. Prosise should have an immediately significant role on offense. Grade: B-plus

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

This is truly a mixed bag of a draft class and difficult to assess. Using the No. 4 overall pick on Ezekiel Elliott gives the Cowboys a potentially special RB who could be a centerpiece of their offense. But productive runners can be gotten far later in a draft and the Cowboys had to pass up Jalen Ramsey to get Elliott. Linebacker Jaylon Smith was taken 34th overall. Was that too expensive a pick for a player who might not play at all as a rookie but could be a future standout? The pass rush wasn’t addressed until the fourth round with DE Charles Tapper and the secondary wasn’t particularly bolstered. Dallas might have gotten its eventual successor to Tony Romo at QB by using a fourth-round choice on Dak Prescott and took Baylor basketball player Rico Gathers as a prospective TE in the sixth round. Grade: B-minus

New York Giants

The Giants focused initially on defense even after spending huge money in free agency on that side of the football. Considering how bad the defense was last season, especially at the end of games, it’s understandable. But taking CB Eli Apple 10th overall might have been a bit of a stretch. Second-round WR Sterling Shepard could have an impact. Grade: B

Philadelphia Eagles

If Carson Wentz becomes a future star, this will be a memorably great draft for the Eagles. For now, they seem to have created a QB issue for themselves by re-signing Sam Bradford to a significant contract and trading up to draft Wentz in the same offseason. One or the other probably would have sufficed, along with the free agent addition of Chase Daniel. It will be interesting to see if there is an immediate role for third-round G Isaac Seumalo or fifth-round RB Wendell Smallwood. Grade: C-minus

Washington Redskins

There’s nothing wrong with adding to a position of current strength, as the Redskins did when they used their first-round choice on WR Josh Doctson. There’s every reason to believe that pick will work out well over the longer term. But the Redskins perhaps should have come back sooner in the draft than the fifth round to address their most glaring current need for run-stopping help along the defensive line. Getting CB Kendall Fuller in the third round further strengthens the secondary following the free agent addition of Josh Norman. Grade: B

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

The Bears added likely immediate contributors in first-round LB Leonard Floyd and second-round G/T Cody Whitehair. Fifth-round RB Jordan Howard also has a chance to carve out a rookie-year role for himself in Chicago’s Matt Forte-less backfield. Grade: B-plus

Detroit Lions

The Lions improved considerably along their offensive and defensive lines. They pretty much had to have an offensive tackle and got one in the opening round, with Taylor Decker at No. 16 overall. Decker was well worth the 16th pick. Detroit got a second-round break when DT A’Shawn Robinson dropped to them for the draft’s 46th overall selection. Grade: B-plus

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay made some sensible moves in its draft. First-rounder Kenny Clark can fill the void at DT left when B.J. Raji decided not to play this season. Getting tackle Jason Spriggs in the second round fortifies the offensive line. If fourth-rounder Blake Martinez progresses quickly enough, he could play a role at ILB, a position of need for the Packers with Clay Matthews expected to return to the perimeter of the defense. Grade: B-plus

Minnesota Vikings

Pretty much everyone thought the Vikings would get a wide receiver early in this draft. And that’s exactly what they did, taking Laquon Treadwell 23rd overall. Some analysts regarded him as the top wideout available, although he ended up coming off the board fourth among receivers. Minnesota did very well to get CB Mackensie Alexander with the 23rd choice of the second round. Grade: B-plus

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta might not have needed to use the No. 17 overall selection to get S Keanu Neal. But the Falcons should benefit on defense from the additions of Neal and two LBs, second-rounder Deion Jones and fourth-rounder De’Vondre Campbell. Grade: B-minus

Carolina Panthers

The defending NFC champs said farewell to Josh Norman by lifting their franchise-player tag from him and watching him sign with the Redskins, and they spent the bulk of their draft attempting to replace him. The Panthers used three straight picks on cornerbacks with second-rounder James Bradberry, third-rounder Daryl Worley and fifth-rounder Zack Sanchez. Unfortunately for them, it’s unlikely that any of them develops rapidly enough to spend the 2016 season resembling the Norman of 2015. Carolina used its first-round choice to continue to build along its defensive front by taking DT Vernon Butler. Grade: C-plus

New Orleans Saints

The Saints’ seemingly never-ending quest to fix their defense received a considerable boost by the selections of first-round DT Sheldon Rankins and second-round S Vonn Bell. Grade: B

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

For better or worse, this will be remembered as the Roberto Aguayo draft for the Buccaneers after they became the first NFL team in 11 years to use a second-round pick on a kicker. To justify that, he’d better be Sebastian Janikowski-level good in the NFL. Tampa did bolster its defense considerably by using its first two choices of the draft on CB Vernon Hargreaves and pass rusher Noah Spence. Grade: B-minus

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo clearly got better on defense by taking DE Shaq Lawson in the opening round and LB Reggie Ragland in the second round. Third-round DT Adolphus Washington also could help. Using a fourth-round selection on QB Cardale Jones is an interesting pick that could pay dividends down the road. He is a long way from being a polished passer but there is plenty of talent there. Grade: B-plus

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins took the chance that teams ahead of them in the first-round order were unwilling to take when they used the 13th choice on Laremy Tunsil, the Mississippi offensive tackle once regarded as a candidate for the top overall pick. Tunsil’s ability or inability to overcome the issues that surfaced publicly on draft night clearly will make or break this Dolphins’ draft. If Tunsil turns out to be a solid NFL citizen, he clearly has the talent to be a Pro Bowl left tackle. Taking RB Kenyan Drake in the third round could work out well, too. Grade: B

New England Patriots

The Patriots, minus their first-round pick thanks to the Deflategate penalties, made unglamorous but solid choices in second-round CB Cyrus Jones and third-round G Joe Thuney. Their most noteworthy selection was QB Jacoby Brissett in the third round. He joins Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo on the New England roster and could end up being Garoppolo’s backup early in the season if Brady’s four-game suspension stands. Grade: B-

New York Jets

The Jets got their QB in the second round by taking Christian Hackenberg. But was it the right QB? They passed up Paxton Lynch earlier and could have taken Connor Cook instead of Hackenberg. All of this will look better in retrospect if the Jets re-sign free agent QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to remain their starter. For now, it’s a highly debatable approach for a team that just missed last season’s playoffs. LB Darron Lee, taken instead of Lynch in the first round, should contribute immediately on defense. Grade: C-minus

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens

Taking an offensive tackle at No. 6 was the obvious and right move. Whether taking Ronnie Stanley over Laremy Tunsil was the correct choice really comes down to whether Tunsil’s draft-night anguish was an ominous sign of career-derailing issues to come or a briefly unpleasant aberration that ultimately will be forgotten. Who really knows at this point? The Ravens did well to fortify their defensive front in the second and third rounds but might have waited a little long to find help in the secondary and at wide receiver. It will be interesting to see if the Ravens find an all-purpose role and a roster spot for Keenan Reynolds, the Navy QB taken in the sixth round as a running back. Grade: B

Cincinnati Bengals

There is much to like about this draft class for Cincinnati. The Bengals, with a need for WR help after losing Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu in free agency, had the misfortune of picking in the first round right after three wideouts were chosen in a row. No matter. They took talented CB William Jackson at No. 24, then came back in the second round to get WR Tyler Boyd. Getting DT Andrew Billings in the fourth round could be a major steal. Grade: A-minus

Cleveland Browns

Are there any wide receivers left in America that Cleveland didn’t draft? The Browns had so many picks. But did they make the most of them? They almost seemed to avoid selecting a QB who could challenge Robert Griffin III for the starting job this season. When they finally did take a QB late in the third round, it was USC’s Cody Kessler. There’s plenty of room to wonder if they should have opted for Connor Cook. That’s an awful lot of trust to put in Griffin reassembling his NFL career. The Browns did get a potential No. 1 receiver for Griffin by taking Corey Coleman 15th overall. Grade: C-minus

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh wasted no time attempting to upgrade its secondary, using its first two picks on defensive backs. Speedy first-round CB Artie Burns has tremendous potential. Grade: B-minus

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

The Texans did plenty to help the QB they signed in free agency, Brock Osweiler. They added a pair of potentially electrifying receivers in first-rounder Will Fuller and third-rounder Braxton Miller. They also improved Osweiler’s offensive line by getting C/G Nick Martin in the second round. Grade: B-plus

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts probably are about to give QB Andrew Luck a record-setting contract and they spent the draft attempting to improve his offensive line so that he does not have another injury-dominated season like the one that he just had. Indianapolis used two of its first three picks on offensive linemen, including a first-rounder on dependable center Ryan Kelly. Grade: B-minus

Jacksonville Jaguars

A case can be made that the Jaguars emerged with the two best defensive players available in this draft, with CB/S Jalen Ramsey and LB Myles Jack. The Jaguars were lucky to have Ramsey fall to them for the No. 5 overall choice, but that doesn’t make the selection any less right. Moving up to choose Jack five picks into the second round was absolutely the correct move. Yes, there are concerns about the long-term durability of his knee, which caused his plummet out of the opening round entirely. But no one is questioning his immediate ability to play, and he is talented enough to be a potential NFL defensive rookie of the year. Grade: A

Tennessee Titans

The Titans made things work well after their pre-draft trade out of the No. 1 spot. They traded back up to No. 8 for the offensive tackle they needed, in Jack Conklin. They got a promising player for their defensive front seven in the second round, in Kevin Dodd. They also added Heisman Trophy-winning RB Derrick Henry in the second round, although it remains to be seen how well it will work in the short term for Tennessee to have both Henry and DeMarco Murray. Grade: A-minus

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

John Elway the front office executive is not quite as good as John Elway the QB. But it’s getting closer all the time. Elway remained patient this offseason with his QB situation. He avoided making a costly trade for a middle-of-the-road veteran QB. And then he got his man on draft night by trading up five spots to select Paxton Lynch 26th overall. Lynch might not be the opening night starter for the Broncos, but don’t be surprised to see him become the starter by season’s end. If the Broncos indeed got their QB, that was enough for this draft class. But fourth-round RB Devontae Booker also could turn out to be a significant addition. Grade: A

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs traded out of the opening round and then devoted three of their first four picks to defensive players, beginning with second-round DT Chris Jones. They used a fifth-round choice on Stanford QB Kevin Hogan after losing Alex Smith’s backup, Chase Daniel, in free agency. Grade: B-minus

Oakland Raiders

A lot of talent evaluators really like Karl Joseph. But in today’s game, few safeties are worth the 14th overall choice in a draft. It’s questionable whether Joseph is such a game-changing player. Trading up in the fourth round to get QB Connor Cook is an intriguing move. It’s not a great situation for Cook, who dropped all the way to Day 3 of the draft and now is stuck behind a productive and established young passer in Derek Carr. But sometimes things work out for Michigan State QBs chosen in the fourth round as an understudy to a franchise QB. Just ask Kirk Cousins. Grade: C-plus

San Diego Chargers

Getting the top pass rusher in a draft never is a bad thing, as the Chargers did when they took Joey Bosa third overall. But to do so, they had to pass up Jalen Ramsey and opt against fortifying QB Philip Rivers’s offensive line with a marquee left tackle. It was an interesting choice. The Chargers did help Rivers, however, by getting him a reliable pass-catching tight end, in Hunter Henry, in the second round. Henry can complement Antonio Gates initially and succeed him later. Grade: B

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