2016 NFL Draft: AFC North grades

AFC North members in the  Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers all made picks within the top 25 of the NFL draft order in the first round. The Ravens and Browns went towards addressing the offensive side of the ball and the Steelers and Bengals addressed the defensive side of the ball.

Ravens select OT Ronnie Stanley with the 6th overall pick               Grade? A-

Stanley: Height 6'6             Weight 312 pounds

While Stanley wasn't the top rated player on the Ravens draft board, he has the talent to develop into the best overall player in the 2016 NFL Draft. Stanley's main competitor along the offensive line was offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil who is considered a slightly better pass blocker than Stanley,  but Stanley is considered the better run blocker with less off the field issues. The NFL is quarterback driven league and when you have the kind of investment the Ravens have in quarterback Joe Flacco, you have to go with the more balanced player and the Ravens did that with Stanley.

Stanley's durability played into the Ravens consideration of drafting him with the sixth overall pick. The fact that Stanley is healthy gives him the edge right out of the gate over Ravens starting left tackle Eugene Monroe. Stanley also has a high football IQ with long arms to give a good punch to opposing pass rushers.

Browns select WR Corey Coleman with the 15th overall pick

Grade? B

Coleman: Height 5'11         Weight 194 pounds

Coleman has blazing speed with the combination of a nice leaping ability. Arguably his best attribute is being able to avoid press coverage which is key in a division where he will be facing aggressive corners throughout his time with the Browns. The potential for Coleman to be one of the leagues best wide receivers is there, but he can get better learning the route tree and understanding where he is in coverage at all times. Once Coleman studies the playbook more and becomes more seasoned in the league, he can do damage despite his height.

Coleman is a bit of a 50/50 guy in terms of being able to haul in the great catches but can't hold on to the easy ones. That can be coached and with Hue Jackson in the fold as the Browns head coach, he won't let Coleman fail. Coleman is a little raw which is why he is graded at a B but he is far from a finished product.

Bengals select CB William Jackson III with the 24th overall pick

Grade? A-

Jackson III: Height 6'0       Weight 189 pounds

Everyone talks about Jalen Ramsey and even Vernon Hargreaves as being the two best cornerbacks in the 2016 NFL Draft. William Jackson III may have something to say about that over the course of his career. He played in a small school at Houston, but that doesn't change the fact that he has playmaking capabilities and that is something you can't teach in the defensive player. You either have it or you don't. Not to mention he has the ideal size of a cornerback.

With cornerbacks such as Leon Hall and Adam Jones nearing the end of their careers, William Jackson III provides a bridge to help the Bengals secondary for the next several seasons. This selection with the 24th overall pick is pretty good value as some expected him to be selected in the teens.

Steelers select CB Artie Burns with the 25th overall pick

Grade? B-

Burns: Height 6'0           Weight 193 pounds

Burns, like William Jackson III, has the prototypical size you would want in an NFL cornerback. Burns has speed as he a 4.3 at his pro day with the Miami Hurricanes. Burns is a savvy cornerback who knows how to position himself for a turnover but sometimes his talent in that department can be his own demise. Burns doesn't have the discipline yet to stay with his man down the field as he is reading the quarterbacks eyes trying to guess their every move.

Burns is really a hit or miss player depending on who you talk to or what you look at. Some mock drafts had Burns going in the second round, but his raw talent has the Steelers interested to say the least.  Burns has the capability of adding a bit of swagger to a Steelers secondary which has lacked one for quite some time now.