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Grading the 2015 draft

Slaine

Still wants to trade Fu for a third
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Taken from https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/05/29/nfl-draft-grades-2015-jameis-winston-marcus-mariota

SI.com said:
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
1 (22) Bud Dupree, linebacker, Kentucky
2 (56) Senquez Golson, DB, Ole Miss
3 (87) Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
4 (121) Doran Grant, DB, Ohio State
5 (160) Jesse James, TE, Penn State
6 (199) Leterrius Walton, DE, Central Michigan
6 (212) Anthony Chickillo, OLB, Miami (FL)
7 (239) Gerod Holliman, S, Louisville

An odd draft for the Steelers in that they made up for a shaky first, second and third round with production throughout the back end. Chickillo logged three sacks last year, while Walton had two. Jesse James is a suitable No. 2 tight end just about anywhere in the NFL. The selection of Coates wasn’t a total bust in my mind. His home run potential was obvious, but so was his downside, and Ben Roethlisberger did get a valuable stretch out of him in 2016 as a deep threat.

GRADE: B-

I personally would give the draft a C at best. What do you guys think?
 
C is good for now but if Bud doesn't drastically improve and get a 2nd contract where he is a true starting OLB, then it drops to an F.
 
I find it interesting that small school players in Brown, Hargrave, and Walton have made positive impact, while so many big conference players have failed. Seems like there is a lot of untapped potential at the lower tier conferences.
 
I hated the Golson pick and did not like Coates either. Likely Colbert's worst effort in years. Dupree is all right as a starter. James and Chickillo, are solid back ups. If Dupree leaves in free agency, this draft is going to stink.

Coates drop off was due to injury. he had his moments.
 
curious, which picks did you hate that turned out great?


2007-2018, picks I hated in Red. Pick's I really liked in Green.

You could say Poucney was the player I didn't like that turned out the best, however keep in mind I felt we really needed DB in round one ( after getting ripped in the playoffs and superbowl loss ) ...and we passed on two that were pro bowl players at DB.


Terrell Edmunds
James Washington
Mason Rudolph
Chukwuma Okorafor
Marcus Allen

Jaylen Samuels
Joshua Frazier

T.J. Watt
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Cameron Sutton
James Conner
Joshua Dobbs
Brian Allen
Colin Holba
Keion Adams

Artie Burns
Sean Davis
Javon Hargrave
Jerald Hawkins
Travis Feeney
Demarcus Ayers
Tyler Matakevich

Bud Dupree
Senquez Golson
Sammie Coates

Doran Grant
Jesse James
Leterrius Walton
Anthony Chickillo
Gerod Holliman

Ryan Shazier
Stephon Tuitt
Dri Archer
Martavis Bryant
Shaquille Richardson
Wesley Johnson
Jordan Zumwalt
Daniel McCullers
Rob Blanchflower

Jarvis Jones
Le'Veon Bell
Markus Wheaton
Shamarko Thomas
Landry Jones
Terry Hawthorne
Justin Brown
Vince Williams
Nicholas Williams


David DeCastro
Mike Adams
Sean Spence
Alameda Ta'amu
Chris Rainey
Toney Clemons
David Paulson
Terrence Frederick
Kelvin Beachum



Cameron Heyward
Marcus Gilbert
Curtis Brown
Cortez Allen
Chris Carter
Keith Williams
Baron Batch


Maurkice Pouncey - I wanted a DB in round one, but felt Pouncey was a decent football player..

Jason Worilds
Emmanuel Sanders
Thaddeus Gibson
Chris Scott
Crezdon Butler
Stevenson Sylvester
Jonathan Dwyer
Antonio Brown
Doug Worthington

[TABLE="width: 64"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Evander Hood[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Kraig Urbik[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Mike Wallace[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Keenan Lewis[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Joe Burnett[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Frank Summers[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Ra'Shon Harris[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]A.Q. Shipley[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]David Johnson[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Rashard Mendenhall[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Limas Sweed[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Bruce Davis[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Tony Hills[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Dennis Dixon[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Mike Humpal[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Ryan Mundy[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Lawrence Timmons[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]LaMarr Woodley[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Matt Spaeth[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Daniel Sepulveda[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Ryan McBean[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Cameron Stephenson[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]William Gay[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Dallas Baker[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
 
2007-2018, picks I hated in Red. Pick's I really liked in Green.

You could say Poucney was the player I didn't like that turned out the best, however keep in mind I felt we really needed DB in round one ( after getting ripped in the playoffs and superbowl loss ) ...and we passed on two that were pro bowl players at DB.


Terrell Edmunds
James Washington
Mason Rudolph
Chukwuma Okorafor
Marcus Allen

Jaylen Samuels
Joshua Frazier

T.J. Watt
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Cameron Sutton
James Conner
Joshua Dobbs
Brian Allen
Colin Holba
Keion Adams

Artie Burns
Sean Davis
Javon Hargrave
Jerald Hawkins
Travis Feeney
Demarcus Ayers
Tyler Matakevich

Bud Dupree
Senquez Golson
Sammie Coates

Doran Grant
Jesse James
Leterrius Walton
Anthony Chickillo
Gerod Holliman

Ryan Shazier
Stephon Tuitt
Dri Archer
Martavis Bryant
Shaquille Richardson
Wesley Johnson
Jordan Zumwalt
Daniel McCullers
Rob Blanchflower

Jarvis Jones
Le'Veon Bell
Markus Wheaton
Shamarko Thomas
Landry Jones
Terry Hawthorne
Justin Brown
Vince Williams
Nicholas Williams


David DeCastro
Mike Adams
Sean Spence
Alameda Ta'amu
Chris Rainey
Toney Clemons
David Paulson
Terrence Frederick
Kelvin Beachum



Cameron Heyward
Marcus Gilbert
Curtis Brown
Cortez Allen
Chris Carter
Keith Williams
Baron Batch


Maurkice Pouncey - I wanted a DB in round one, but felt Pouncey was a decent football player..

Jason Worilds
Emmanuel Sanders
Thaddeus Gibson
Chris Scott
Crezdon Butler
Stevenson Sylvester
Jonathan Dwyer
Antonio Brown
Doug Worthington

[TABLE="width: 64"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Evander Hood[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Kraig Urbik[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Mike Wallace[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Keenan Lewis[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Joe Burnett[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Frank Summers[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Ra'Shon Harris[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]A.Q. Shipley[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]David Johnson[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Rashard Mendenhall[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Limas Sweed[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Bruce Davis[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Tony Hills[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Dennis Dixon[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Mike Humpal[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Ryan Mundy[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Lawrence Timmons[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]LaMarr Woodley[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Matt Spaeth[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Daniel Sepulveda[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Ryan McBean[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Cameron Stephenson[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]William Gay[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 64, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"]Dallas Baker[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"][/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

Decastro fell and wasn't expected to be there. I seriously doubt he was your choice prior to being selected.
 
I'd grade it a C+ or B-.

Nothing sensational, although we got 2 starters, a backup, and a perpetual IR out of it.
 
Bud Dupree - C - He's an average to below average starter
Senquez Golson - F - You need to get on the field at some point.
Sammie Coates - D - Minimal impact, but at least saw the field.
Doran Grant - F - Only played three games, no real impact.
Jesse James - A - Just a guy at TE, but very good value coming from the fifth round.
Leterrius Walton - B - Depth player, but gets snaps and again, good value for a late-round pick.
Gerod Holliman - F - Disappointment

That averages out to a D+ grade.
 
Bud Dupree - C - He's an average to below average starter
Senquez Golson - F - You need to get on the field at some point.
Sammie Coates - D - Minimal impact, but at least saw the field.
Doran Grant - F - Only played three games, no real impact.
Jesse James - A - Just a guy at TE, but very good value coming from the fifth round.
Leterrius Walton - B - Depth player, but gets snaps and again, good value for a late-round pick.
Gerod Holliman - F - Disappointment

That averages out to a D+ grade.

Being picky but I don't see Coates as a D. He is still afloat, and was heading in the right direction before the hand injury that messed with his mental aspect of his game...
 
Being picky but I don't see Coates as a D. He is still afloat, and was heading in the right direction before the hand injury that messed with his mental aspect of his game...

He only has 28 receptions in three years as a third-round pick and is a borderline roster receiver at this point of his career. I expected more.
 
I personally would give the draft a C at best. What do you guys think?

Funny that the #5 and #6B ended up being the best of the lot. Or not so funny.
If Jarvis Dupree was picked at say, #3, I wouldn't ***** as much, but he has woefully underperformed for a #1 pick. How much is due to poor scouting by Tombert, how much is due to less-than-first-round talent, and how much is due to coaching from Cool Shades' best bud J. Peezy who would have been fired from any other team is hard to say.
 
I'm not as harsh on the players.

NI = Bud Needs Improvement - flashes some greatness, but no consistency and should be a playmaker
I = Golson gets an incomplete. He withdrew from class before he was ever tested
C is for crappy Sammie coates. Started hot, looked like the next Randy Moss, then a nagging injury turned him into an alligator armed receiver. His final comparison to Randy Moss; He was traded for a 4th round pick...
D Grant is still in the league (Chicago), but the only games he played in was for the Steelers
B+ Jessie James, could have gotten an A if he held on to the TD to get the Steelers the #1 seed, but he's a good enough player.
B Walton - nice to get a solid backup this deep in the draft. Good depth player.
F Holliman - he was a risk reward player. Excellent Ball skills, terrible tackler. Kind of like Dion Sanders....
 
I dont know how anyone gives an F for a 7th round pick. Just getting one on the roster woupd be an A. Anything else is average.
 
I'm not as harsh on the players.

NI = Bud Needs Improvement - flashes some greatness, but no consistency and should be a playmaker
I = Golson gets an incomplete. He withdrew from class before he was ever tested
C is for crappy Sammie coates. Started hot, looked like the next Randy Moss, then a nagging injury turned him into an alligator armed receiver. His final comparison to Randy Moss; He was traded for a 4th round pick...
D Grant is still in the league (Chicago), but the only games he played in was for the Steelers
B+ Jessie James, could have gotten an A if he held on to the TD to get the Steelers the #1 seed, but he's a good enough player.
B Walton - nice to get a solid backup this deep in the draft. Good depth player.
F Holliman - he was a risk reward player. Excellent Ball skills, terrible tackler. Kind of like Dion Sanders....

I think you are spot on. I forgot about the pick for Coates. So if you factor that in, he damn sure was worth a C.
 
Last edited:
Enough time has passed to grade the players

Bud Dupree B- Average starting OLB , a little weak vs the run. Just an Okay 1st round pick
Senquez Golson F BUST. Too small, slow and injury prone. Perhaps our worst 2nd round pick since the AFL-NFL merger
Sammie Coates C- A one trick pony, with below average hands, and injury prone
Doran Grant -D- Too small to play safety, not quick enough for the corner.
Jesse James B A decent later round pick. Solid back up type, and YES that was a catch.
Leterrius Walton C A very non-descript type of player
Anthony Chickillo B. A solid back up, who can start if needed. Decent on special teams. Nice later round fine.
Gerod Holliman - F Was awful in camp. Yes, this was round seven.
 
C unless Dupree earns a second contract, which would move the grade to B-
I think Durpee will get a second contract unless his demands are too high, which I doubt because he and his agent know what his stats are and they're not much. He's still better than Jarvis Jones but the team always over-values that "knowing the system" thing. I rather doubt anyone will get into a bidding war for him.

Coates would have been a serviceable #3 or #4 WR but he had the double whammy of being hurt and having to move up because Smokey Bryant was suspended.
 
Last edited:
I think Durpee will get a second contract unless his demands are too high, which I doubt because he and his agent know what his stats are and they're not much. He's still better than Jarvis Jones but the team always over-values that "knowing the system" thing. I rather doubt anyone will get into a bidding war for him.

Coates would have been a serviceable #3 or #4 WR but he had the double whammy of being hurt and having to move up because Smokey Bryant was suspended.

When I watch Dupree, sometimes I think he doesn't know the system.

My best guess is Chickillo knows " the system " a bit better. Chickillo has started nine games. He might not be as good as Dupree, but the gap between the two is not that far apart either.

If forced to choose between Dupree at 6 million a year or Chickllio at 2 million a year in free agency, I'd take Chickillo and either spend 4 million on veteran free agent OLB or draft an OLB high.
 
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