The 2016 NFL Draft is over and the Lions fared well, earning a B in most national draft grades.
So how did the Lions' 2016 opponents do?
Let's find out:
Week 1 @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
The picks: Ryan Kelly (No. 18 overall), T.J. Green (No. 57 overall), Le'Raven Clark (No. 82 overall), Hassan Ridgeway (No. 116 overall), Antonio Morrison (No. 125 overall), Joe Haeg (No. 155 overall), Trevor Bates (No. 239 overall), Austin Blythe (No. 248 overall)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter):A ; Ryan Kelly will be a stud in the middle, and protecting Andrew Luck became truly important after he missed time last season. The Colts required help in the secondary and Green is a versatile, hard-charging defender worth a late second round pick. Clark brings some nasty to the offensive line ...
Week 2 vs. TENNESEE TITANS
The picks:Jack Conklin (No. 8 overall), Kevin Dodd (No. 33 overall), Austin Johnson (No. 42 overall), Derrick Henry (No. 45 overall), Kevin Byard (No. 64 overall), Tajae Sharpe (No. 140 overall), LeShaun Sims (No. 157 overall), Sebastian Tretola (No. 193 overall), Aaron Wallace (No. 222 overall), Kalan Reed (No. 253 overall)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter):A ; Even after giving up quality picks in the trade up for Conklin, the Titans still made out due to their move down from the top spot. Conklin's a beast who will thrive on the right side of the line, across from Taylor Lewan. So they met their need and gained picks ... that's a win ...
Week 3 @ GREEN BAY PACKERS
The picks:Kenny Clark (No. 27 overall), Jason Spriggs (No. 48 overall), Kyler Fackrell (No. 88 overall), Blake Martinez (No. 131), Dean Lowry (No. 137), Trevor Davis (No. 163), Kyle Murphy (No. 200)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter): B ; There wasn't much question that the Packers were going to bolster their front seven with their opening pick. Another no-brainer will be fan comparisons of the careers of their selection, Clark, and two available Alabama studs: linebacker Reggie Ragland and nose tackle Jarran Reed ...
Week 4 @ CHICAGO BEARS
The picks:Leonard Floyd (No. 9 overall), Cody Whitehair (No. 56 overall), Jonathan Bullard (No. 72 overall), Nick Kwiatkoski (No. 113), Deon Bush (No. 124), Deiondre' Hall (No. 127), Jordan Howard (No. 150), DeAndre Houston-Carson (No. 185), Daniel Braverman (No. 230)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter):B ; Chicago needed a pass rusher in the worst way, and Vic Fangio found one in Floyd. Not everyone is sold on his ability to be an elite player, however. Normally, giving up a fourth-round pick wouldn't be a big deal; in this deep draft, that's like giving up a starter ...
Week 5 vs. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The picks:Carson Wentz (No. 2 overall), Isaac Seumalo (No. 79 overall), Wendell Smallwood (No. 153), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (No. 164), Blake Countess (No. 196), Jalen Mills (No. 233), Alex McCalister (No. 240), Joe Walker (No. 251)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter): C ; The Eagles are gambling big (gave up CB Byron Maxwell, LB Kiko Alonso, 2017 first-round pick, two top-100 picks this year, 2018 second-rounder) on the ability of Carson Wentz to become a legitimate top-tier starter. We'll see ...
Week 6 vs. LOS ANGELES RAMS
The picks:Jared Goff (No. 1 overall), Tyler Higbee (No. 110), Pharoh Cooper (No. 117), Temarrick Hemingway (No. 177), Josh Forrest (No. 190), Mike Thomas (No. 206)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter):*C ; Goff is the best quarterback in the class, so there's no issue there. The team gave up a lot of picks to get him; the Rams received a bunch of picks in the RGIII trade, however, and it didn't improve the team because it needed a quarterback. So I can't seriously downgrade the move ...
*
Week 7 vs. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
The picks:Josh Doctson (No. 22 overall), Su'a Cravens (No. 53 overall), Kendall Fuller (No. 84 overall), Matthew Ioannidis (No. 152), Nate Sudfeld (No. 187), Steven Daniels (No. 232), Keith Marshall (No. 242)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter):A- ; Kirk Cousins needs as many weapons as he can get. DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon won't be around forever, so Doctson is a very good investment as a downfield threat. Washington met needs on defense on Day 2, selecting an outstanding football players in Cravens (whether he's a safety or linebacker in their system) and taking advantage of Fuller's drop due to injury ...
Week 8 @ HOUSTON TEXANS
The picks:Will Fuller (No. 21 overall), Nick Martin (No. 50 overall), Braxton Miller (No. 85 overall), Tyler Ervin (No. 119 overall), K.J. Dillon (No. 159 overall), D.J. Reader (No. 166 overall)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter):* B- ; The Texans needed speed to go along with DeAndre Hopkins' crisp routes. It's a great combination. Dropped passes are the only thing that can slow Fuller down -- this pick becomes an "A" if he tightens that up. Giving up a future sixth isn't an issue ... *
Week 9 @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS
The picks:Laquon Treadwell (No. 23 overall), Mackensie Alexander (No. 54 overall), Willie Beavers (No. 121), Kentrell Brothers (No. 160), Moritz Boehringer (No. 180), David Morgan (No. 188), Stephen Weatherly (No. 227), Jayron Kearse (No. 244)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter):A ; General manager Rick Spielman got the most physical receiver in the draft in Treadwell. There's no reason he won't be a to-go guy for Teddy Bridgewater. Alexander is an excellent defender, even without the turnover production. Then Spielman picked up two 2017 mid-round selections from Miami. That's building draft capital ...
Week 11 vs. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
The picks:Jalen Ramsey (No. 5 overall), Myles Jack (No. 36 overall), Yannick Ngakoue (No. 69 overall), Sheldon Day (No. 103 overall), Tyrone Holmes (No. 181 overall), Branden Allen (No. 201 overall), Jonathan Woodard (No. 226 overall)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter):*A ; The Jags needed a defensive playmaker and they got the top player on many teams' boards. His fit as a tall, long corner is perfect for Gus Bradley's system. Apparently, the Jaguars' doctors didn't have an issue with Jack's injury. If he gets back on the field, this will be an amazing bargain. Giving up pick No. 146 was worth it. Ngakoue is a pure pass rusher that will benefit from being used in subpackage to start his career ...
*
Week 13 @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
The picks:Sheldon Rankins (No. 12 overall), Michael Thomas (No. 47 overall), Vonn Bell (No. 61 overall), David Onyemata (No. 120), Daniel Lasco (No. 237)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter):*B ; Everyone knew the Saints needed a dynamic interior force that they haven't had since Sedrick Ellis. Rankins should fill that role well. He'll have to prove he can handle his run-stopping duties, however, to be worth this pick ...
*
Week 15 @ NEW YORK GIANTS
The picks:Eli Apple (No. 10 overall), Sterling Shepard (No. 40 overall), Darian Thompson (No. 71 overall), B.J. Goodson (No. 109), Paul Perkins (No. 149), Jerell Adams (No. 184)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter):B ; Apple fills a need and the young man has a lot of potential. There's a gamble here, though, especially when Vernon Hargreaves was available. The receiver position was looking a bit thin for the Giants, so picking up a bargain in Shepard was brilliant. Thompson didn't test well, but he plays like a boss against the pass and is not contact-shy versus the run ...
Week 16 @ DALLAS COWBOYS
The picks:Ezekiel Elliott (No. 4 overall), Jaylon Smith (No. 34 overall), Maliek Collins (No. 67 overall), Charles Tapper (No. 101), Dak Prescott (No. 135), Anthony Brown (No. 189), Kavon Frazier (No. 212), Darius Jackson (No. 216), Rico Gathers (No. 217)
The grade (via NFL.com's Chad Reuter):B ; I love Ezekiel Elliott as a player. There's always concern when a running back is taken early in the draft, however, because of attrition at the position ...
