Rapid Reaction: Picks 5-8 2015 1st Round Grades

5. Washington Redskins: G/T Brandon Scherff

-This was a surprise pick for sure. With Leonard Williams and Vic Beasley on the board the Redskins took G/T Brandon Scherff. While some might call it a reach (and not really b/c he was likely to go in the top 10), Scheff fills a major need in Washington and adds nastiness and physicality to an OL that lacked it. This pick also appears to have the fingerprint of new OL coach Bill Callahan who last year with Dallas took a similar G/T player in Zach Martin and turned him into an All-Pro as a rookie.

Grade: B

6. New York Jets: DL Leonard Williams

-From a need perspective the Jets didn’t need Leonard Williams as they have a pair of former first round picks at DE with Muhammed Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson who are two of the best in the league. Whether this leads to a Wilkerson trade, or the Jets just find away to play all three, this is a homerun pick for the Jets. They get the best player in the draft and someone who will continue to build up their top notch defense.

Grade: A+

7. Chicago Bears: WR Kevin White

-The Bears dumped Brandon Marshall and his contract this offseason so they needed another weapon. Kevin White is a big physical receiver who replaces Marshall extremely well and gives Jay Cutler another big physical target. The Bears could have gone defense here, but now they can focus the rest of the draft on the defensive side of the ball.

Grade: A

8. Atlanta Falcons:

-The Falcons needed major edge help this offseason and didn’t do much in free agency so landing a top pass rusher was a priority. Vic Beasley was 1 or 2 (with Fowler the other) on just about every board out there for pass rushers so Atlanta got a good one. Beasley is a bit undersized, but he gets after the QB big time.

Grade: A+