NFL Draft Day One Winners and Losers: Veteran Edition

Ryan McDowell

While Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft (and the entire weekend) is largely about the incoming rookie class, the picks made by each NFL team also have a major impact on veterans around the league. With each announcement made, NFL veterans can instantly gain or lose dynasty value. Some of these we saw coming, while others were huge surprises. Let’s take a quick rundown of veteran winners and losers from day one.

Winners

Tavon Austin, WR STL

I could include essentially the entire Rams offense along with their most talented receiver, Austin, thanks to the addition of first overall pick Jared Goff of California. Goff is expected to start from day one and should be a huge upgrade over the Nick Foles/Case Keenum combination the team dealt with in 2015. Despite that poor quarterback play, Austin was able to breakout and finally show why the Rams made him their first round pick in 2013. If Goff can succeed early on and improve the passing offense, it could also help open things up for star back Todd Gurley.

Justin Forsett & Javorious Allen, RBs BAL

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Right before the first round of the draft kicked off, a rumor was circulating that the Baltimore Ravens could be a sleeper team to have interest in Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott. Of course, the Cowboys grabbed Zeke early and took the option away from the Ravens, which gives a little bit of life to their current pair of backs, the veteran Forsett and last year’s rookie, Allen. To make that even better, the ended up choosing one of the top offensive tackles in the class, Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley, which helps the current backs, and Joe Flacco, entering 2016.

Marcus Mariota, QB TEN

While Mariota and the Titans did not get another receiver, as some had speculated, they did add a big offensive tackle in Michigan State’s Jack Conklin. The selection of Conklin came with some criticism as the team moved up from the fifteenth pick to the eight spot to grab the former walk-on over talented, but controversial Laremy Tunsil. Mariota took his share of abuse during his rookie season and any more to give him more protection gets a passing grade from me.

Robert Griffin III, QB CLE 

The Cleveland Browns were viewed as one of the big winners from Day One, partially due to another trade down they were able to execute. After dropping from the second to the eighth pick prior to the draft, the Browns moved down to the fifteenth choice and chose the first wide receiver off the board, Baylor’s Corey Coleman. With the loss of Travis Benjamin and the uncertainty surrounding Josh Gordon, the Browns had to add a pass catcher early. The addition of the electric playmaker Coleman is a boost for the starting quarterback, whether it is Griffin or Josh McCown.

Teddy Bridgewater, QB MIN

Another quarterback who has a new weapon to throw to is Bridgewater, whose Vikings made Laquon Treadwell their first round selection. While the former Ole Miss receiver was the fourth pass catcher off the board, he still is my top rookie receiver and should be a huge boost to Bridgewater. Expectations were high for Bridgewater and the Vikes in 2015, but his receivers let him down, namely Mike Wallace and Charles Johnson. If it wasn’t for the unexpected breakout of Stefon Diggs, things could’ve been really ugly.

Losers

Sam Bradford, QB PHI

This is one of the situations we saw coming. Of course, the Eagles had made the big move, trading up for the second overall pick and all reports were clear that move was made with the intention of selecting Carson Wentz, which the team did. Bradford, the team’s veteran starter who was re-signed earlier this off-season, has already demanded a trade, though Philadelphia doesn’t seem interested in shopping him. If possible, things got worse for Bradford as the door was slammed on one of his potential destinations when the Denver Broncos traded up to select their own rookie quarterback.

Alfred Morris & Darren McFadden, RBs DAL

This is another situation that was clearly volatile as the Dallas Cowboys have been a long-time rumored landing spot for Ohio State’s Elliott and that is just how it played out. The Cowboys backfield is a gold mine and even Darren McFadden found success running behind that line in 2015. While he was still with the team and they had added veteran Alfred Morris, they couldn’t pass up the chance to add a difference maker. The good news is the pair of veteran backs didn’t carry a great deal of value even as potential starters for Dallas, but this does hurt those of us who were hoping for one solid season of starting level production from either Morris or McFadden. Elliott is one of the most talented backs to enter the league in some time and he can be a three down back from the jump.

Jaelen Strong, WR HOU

In 2015, Strong had a rough rookie season for the Houston Texans, who were searching for a running mate for DeAndre Hopkins. Strong struggled with drops, among other things and barely saw the field in his first season. Add in some off the field issues this season and the team clearly doesn’t trust Strong. The Texans had been projected to select a wide receiver in the majority of mock drafts I read and that’s just what happened. Oddly enough, they opted for a player who has also had trouble holding onto the ball, Notre Dame’s Will Fuller. Just as Strong did last season, Fuller will have every opportunity to earn a starting role and hopefully take some of the heat off Hopkins. Strong on the other hand, must prove he belongs in the league.

Mark Sanchez, QB DEN

Similar to Morris and McFadden, Broncos quarterback Sanchez didn’t have much dynasty value to lose, but it still happened. After the Eagles dumped Sanchez on the Broncos, it appeared the former first round pick could be the starting quarterback of the Super Bowl champions and he was even gaining some dynasty value, at least in 2QB leagues. That cam crashing down as the team traded up to select former Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch. While Lynch has been labeled as “raw” and a “project,” he could still see plenty of starts in his rookie season. Sanchez might be worth hanging onto in those quarterback premium leagues, but that’s the extent of his value.

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ryan mcdowell