by Sterling Xie

This site won't pass firm judgments on this year's draft until 2021, but as we do every year, we have accrued snap reaction grades from the top media draftniks for our report on the teams that garnered the best, worst and most divisive draft classes. (Previous NFL Draft Report Card Reports can be found here: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004.). The list of draft analysts underwent another shakeup this year. Yahoo! Sports has chosen to rerun the grades from Rotoworld's Evan Silva rather than compile their own list, so we won't have data from Eric Edholm. In his place goes Dan Kadar, the primary NFL Draft analyst at SB Nation. Everyone else from the 2014 survey returns this spring (at Sports Illustrated, Chris Burke again graded the AFC teams while Doug Farrar handled the NFC side):

Per usual, we'll look at the five teams with the highest, lowest and greatest deviation in their average GPA, while also examining the year-over-year averages for each grader.

Highest Draft Grades

There was a surprisingly substantial divide between the top four teams and the rest of the field, so it'll be interesting to see if this projected Rushmore holds up over time:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

GPA: 3.86 Highest Grade: A+ (Silva, Kadar) Lowest Grade: B+ (Kiper) Comments: Dave Caldwell's Jags received the only two A+ grades in the entire survey. Silva and Kadar both praised the abundance of draft picks likely to end up starting, with the Rotoworld writer suggesting that the 2015 squad will "be a tough out with a nasty defense, playmakers in the passing game, and a formidable rushing attack." Kiper was the only grader not to give Jacksonville an A-level mark, dinging them marginally for T.J. Yeldon, whom he saw as a reach at 36th overall. It's also notable that Caldwell selected just one player from a non-Power Five conference: Monmouth wide receiver Neal Sterling in Round 6. Gene Smith's bizarre fixation with small-school prospects played a role in decimating the Jacksonville roster, but in three drafts, Caldwell has spent just two picks on players from non-FBS schools.

2. Baltimore Ravens

GPA: 3.71 Highest Grade: A (Three tied) Lowest Grade: B+ (Burke and Kadar) Comments: Ozzie Newsome's draft process has become so mechanically efficient that we can hardly envision him failing anymore. The draftniks universally hailed the mid-round values Baltimore unearthed -- Carl Davis' hot-and-cold motor questions look a lot better when they come with a third-round investment instead of a first, while Kentucky edge defender Za'Darius Smith has become known as Bud Dupree's more polished teammate. Burke placed the biggest hedge on top picks Breshad Perriman and Maxx Williams, the "talented but unpolished products" who will need to play outsized roles in an offense that lost Torrey Smith and Owen Daniels to free agency. Kadar also docked the Ravens for not better addressing their cornerback need.

3. Atlanta Falcons

GPA: 3.61 Highest Grade: A (Three tied) Lowest Grade: B (Kiper) Comments: SackSEER saw Clemson's Vic Beasley as the best pass-rusher in this class, and the Falcons reaped the rewards for addressing their biggest need. Rang was one of the analysts who gave Atlanta a solid A for the selections of collegiate teammates Beasley and Grady Jarrett, both of whom should play vital roles as Dan Quinn rebuilds Atlanta's dilapidated defense. Most analysts also liked the skill position values the Falcons nabbed in the middle rounds with Tevin Coleman and Justin Hardy. On the other hand, Kiper perceived the Beasley selection as a bit of a reach based on his big board, though he admitted that off-field concerns for Randy Gregory and Shane Ray limited Atlanta's choices. He also pointed out the unaddressed concern at guard, where the Falcons appear primed to start either Harland Gunn or Mike Person opposite Jon Asamoah.

4. Minnesota Vikings

GPA: 3.57 Highest Grade: A (Iyer and Farrar) Lowest Grade: B (Kiper) Comments: The last of the Big Four, Minnesota is the fourth of five teams to have received multiple solid A grades. Iyer and Farrar praised the Vikings for scooping up three first-round caliber talents in Trae Waynes, Eric Kendricks, and T.J. Clemmings, all of whom also happen to address need positions. Both writers were also fascinated by LSU defensive end Danielle Hunter, whom Farrar called "freakishly athletic and raw like sushi." Kiper was once again the harshest grader because of Waynes, whom he saw as a reach based on the fact that the Michigan State corner was ranked 22nd on his big board. But Kiper was largely complementary, especially of Day 3 picks Stefon Diggs, MyCole Pruitt, and Tyrus Thompson. On a side note, this is the third straight year Rick Spielman's Vikings have finished in the top five of these rankings. The NFC North still runs through Lambeau, but if Spielman continues to draft premium talent, the trendy Vikes could become Green Bay's top challenger as Aaron Rodgers enters his 30s.

5. Miami Dolphins

GPA: 3.13 Highest Grade: A (Prisco) Lowest Grade: C+ (Iyer and Silva) Comments: The Dolphins were the best of the rest according to these graders, though you can plainly see the big drop-off from Minnesota to Miami. As the lone analyst to hand Dennis Hickey an A, Prisco probably skewed this enough to push Miami into the top five. The CBS writer labeled Jordan Phillips, one of the draft's most divisive prospects, Miami's best pick. Silva actually didn't mind the Phillips pick but was down on DeVante Parker, whom he envisions "more as a rich man's Brandon LaFell than A.J. Green." Overall, the analysts didn't seem to know what to do with Miami's draft, as the Fins also had the sixth-highest standard deviation, just below the top-five cut we'll discuss below. The Dolphins finished a smidgen ahead of the division rival Jets, who compiled a 3.06 average GPA.

Lowest Draft Grades

[ad placeholder 3]

32. Buffalo Bills

GPA: 1.63 Highest Grade: C+ (Kadar) Lowest Grade: D (Prisco and Iyer) Comments: On the other end of the AFC East spectrum, the Bills received universal derision as the worst draft class by a fairly substantial margin. Having mortgaged their short-term future for Sammy Watkins last May, the Bills were left reaching for scraps as the bill came due. There was a palpable lack of buzz surrounding this six-man class, half of which came from Florida State (Ronald Darby, Karlos Williams, and Nick O'Leary). Prisco even cheated and labeled Watkins the best pick of this class. Kadar gave them slightly higher marks for the selection of guard John Miller, who could displace one of the uninspiring Richie Incognito-Chris Williams duo. Buffalo didn't enter the draft with many holes -- this team did finish ninth in DVOA last year, after all -- but the Bills earned the ignominy of being the only team not to earn a B-level grade from any analyst.

31. San Francisco 49ers

GPA: 1.99 Highest Grade: B- (Farrar) Lowest Grade: D (Iyer) Comments: Somewhere, Jim Harbuagh cackles. Trent Baalke's questionable offseason continued through the draft, as the Niners were the other team with a sub-2.0 GPA. Even though Farrar gave San Francisco its highest grade, he questioned how much playing time the class' top two picks, Arik Armstead and Jaquiski Tartt, would see in 2015. Iyer criticized the class for holding "more potential than polish" and suggested that it could handcuff new coach Jim Tomsula in his first season. Overall, analysts were befuddled by the redundancy with last year's draft class, with Tartt and Mike Davis ostensibly blocked by Jimmie Ward and Carlos Hyde, respectively.

30. Indianapolis Colts

GPA: 2.33 Highest Grade: B- (Kiper and Prisco) Lowest Grade: C (Iyer) Comments: Phillip Dorsett felt like one of the more questionable first-round selections when it happened, and that sentiment didn't change by the end of the weekend. Even though Kiper and Prisco both accepted the pick due to Dorsett's speed, they also labeled the Miami burner as Indy's most questionable selection. Day 2 picks D'Joun Smith and Henry Anderson received generally positive reviews. But the big downgrade came due to the total lack of investment in O-line help, with Kiper criticizing Ryan Grigson's approach to "take for granted that Andrew Luck won't get hurt despite all the hits." Indy didn't draft a single offensive lineman until Division II tackle Denzel Goode from Mars Hill, the 255th overall pick who should slot in next to Mars Blackmon along the line.

29. New York Giants

GPA: 2.40 Highest Grade: B (Rang) Lowest Grade: C- (Iyer and Silva) Comments: The G-Men generally received a B- type of vibe from the analysts, but a pair of especially poor marks from Iyer and Silva pushed Jerry Reese's class down into the bottom five. Silva disliked every pick outside of Owa Odighizuwa, calling first-round tackle Ereck Flowers "a virtual lock to struggle in pass protection in the pros." He and Silva both questioned the trade up for Landon Collins, as Reese sacrificed New York's fourth- and seventh-round selections for a seven-spot swap. Rang was one of the few to stump for the Flowers pick and argued that "no club improved more than Big Blue with its first three picks" of Flowers, Collins, and Odighizuwa.

28. Carolina Panthers

GPA: 2.43 Highest Grade: B- (Three tied) Lowest Grade: C (Prisco) Comments: There was a strong consensus concerning Dave Gettleman's work, as the Panthers finished with the fourth-lowest standard deviation. Unfortunately, few had very nice things to say about a class that was curiously lacking in tackles. Prisco saw Shaq Thompson as a major reach, a sentiment Kiper and Kadar also echoed in their analysis. Silva also questioned the Devin Funchess selection, suggesting that the offense could have used "a smaller, speedier complement" to Kelvin Benjamin. With just five players, the Panthers tied the Chargers for the year's smallest draft class. Most liked Oklahoma tackle Daryl Williams in Round 3, but given that Williams is a better guard prospect, Cam Newton may soon join Andrew Luck's support group.

Most Polarizing Grades

1. Arizona Cardinals

GPA: 2.90 Standard Deviation: 1.05 Highest Grade: A (Iyer and Prisco) Lowest Grade: D (Silva) Comments: The fifth team to receive multiple A grades (and the only to finish outside the top five) also produced the most divisive draft. Steve Keim received a B or better from four of the seven graders, but Silva's grade was an anchor on the Cards' average. The Rotoworld writer hated Arizona's Day 3 trade, in which the team sacrificed fourth-, sixth-, and seventh-rounders to move up from No. 123 to No. 116 for Delaware State defensive end Rodney Gunter. Conversely, Iyer liked that Gunter, along with Markus Golden and Shaquille Riddick, replenished Arizona's edge depth in the front seven. Prisco also labeled third-round running back David Johnson the best pick of the class, opining that the bruising Northern Iowa back should serve as a nice complement to Andre Ellington.

[ad placeholder 4]

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

GPA: 3.00 Standard Deviation: 0.98 Highest Grade: A- (Kiper) Lowest Grade: D (Silva) Comments: Pittsburgh finished out with a nice even B grade, good for eighth overall, but things could have been even better if not for Silva. Again handing out the lowest grade, Silva criticized Kevin Colbert's top three picks: Bud Dupree, Senquez Golson, and Sammie Coates. He saw Dupree and Coates as projects whose immediate contributions would be limited, while noting that the diminutive Golson "gave up way too many touchdown passes last season and will be limited to slot corner in the NFL." Conversely, Kiper didn't give any team a higher grade than Pittsburgh. The ESPN luminary labeled Golson one of his favorite players in the draft, while also praising Pittsburgh's Day 3 secondary additions, safeties Doran Grant and Gerod Holliman.

T-3. St. Louis Rams

GPA: 2.47 Standard Deviation: 0.79 Highest Grade: A (Farrar) Lowest Grade: C- (Iyer) Comments: The Rams received the lowest grade of the five most polarizing teams, as Farrar was the only analyst to give them anything better than a straight B. The FO writer emeritus was high on Les Snead's O-line quartet of Rob Havenstein, Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal, and Cody Wichmann, while also calling Todd Gurley "the best overall offensive player in this draft class if his ACL injury isn't a lingering issue." Iyer actually thought the Rams went too heavy on the offensive line and called Gurley a "luxury pick," while also shrugging his shoulders at third-round quarterback Sean Mannion. Farrar and Rang were the only analysts to give the Rams anything better than a C level grade, as Jeff Fisher's run-oriented draft class feels a bit anachronistic.

T-3. Houston Texans

GPA: 2.91 Standard Deviation: 0.79 Highest Grade: A- (Iyer and Burke) Lowest Grade: C- (Rang) Comments: There was a nice symmetry to Houston's draft class grades, as Rick Smith received two A level grades, three on the B level and two more C marks. Iyer and Burke immediately led with the Texans' top three picks of Kevin Johnson, Benardrick McKinney, and Jaelen Strong as the rationale for their grades, as all three had first-round projections from various mocks. Rang also liked the Wake Forest cornerback, but bemoaned the lack of immediate help for a potential playoff push. Silva didn't like that Smith sacrificed fourth-, fifth-, and seventh-round picks in moving up for McKinney and Strong, and dismissed Houston's Day 3 haul as mostly a morass of prospects unlikely to develop into useful contributors. However, he and other analysts did like Rice defensive tackle Christian Covington, a seventh-round selection whom NFL Draft Scout projected as a Round 3 or 4 pick.

5. New York Jets

GPA: 3.06 Standard Deviation: 0.75 Highest Grade: A (Iyer) Lowest Grade: C- (Silva) Comments: Silva was the lowest grader for three of the five most polarizing teams, and his grade dragged Gang Green out of the top five. Although he had no criticism for the universally hailed Leonard Williams pick, Silva thought that Ohio State burner Devin Smith was "a suspect fit as a vertical stretcher" in Chan Gailey's scheme. Moreover, he lamented that New York didn't do more to address its needs at running back and edge rusher. On the other hand, Iyer thought that third-round outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin could address that need on the edge, a sentiment Burke also held. The Smith selection received generally positive reviews elsewhere, and Kadar actually thought Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty was the team's best pick. Silva was ultimately a significant outlier here, as every other grader gave the Jets a B level mark or better.

Year-Over-Year Comparison

Not much movement from this year's group -- the overall GPA dropped a tick from 2.87 to 2.86, though the standard deviation decreased from 0.71 to 0.63. The SI graders were once again the friendliest professors by a substantial margin, as Burke and Farrar were the only graders whose average GPA was higher than a B. The newcomer Kadar gave out an average GPA of 2.83, up slightly from Eric Edholm's 2.77 mark from last year. The largest change belonged to Iyer, whose 2.85 GPA from last spring dropped to 2.73 this year. The Sporting News writer also held the highest standard deviation once again at 0.92, while Farrar was the most consistent grader.

2014 NFL Draft Grades Team High Low Avg Avg Rk SD SD Rk Arizona A (Prisco, Iyer) D (Silva) 2.90 12 1.05 1 Atlanta A (Three tied) B (Kiper) 3.61 3 0.41 23 Baltimore A (Three tied) B+ (Burke, Kadar) 3.71 2 0.31 28 Buffalo C+ (Kadar) D (Prisco, Iyer) 1.63 32 0.48 17 Carolina B- (Three tied) C (Kiper) 2.43 28 0.28 29 Chicago B+ (Three tied) C+ (Rang) 3.03 7 0.35 26 Cincinnati B+ (Three tied) C- (Iyer) 2.90 13 0.57 10 Cleveland B+ (Rang) C+ (Iyer, Silva) 2.76 21 0.37 25 Team High Low Avg Avg Rk SD SD Rk Dallas B (Burke) C- (Iyer) 2.54 24 0.42 21 Denver B (Four tied) C+ (Kadar) 2.81 19 0.27 31 Detroit A- (Farrar) C+ (Silva) 2.96 9 0.45 19 Green Bay B+ (Farrar, Rang) C+ (Prisco,Silva) 2.84 16 0.42 20 Houston A- (Iyer, Burke) C (Silva) 2.91 11 0.79 4 Indianapolis B (Rang) D+ (Kadar) 2.33 30 0.56 12 Jacksonville A+ (Iyer, Kadar) B+ (Kiper) 3.86 1 0.27 30 Kansas City B (Rang, Burke) C (Prisco, Iyer) 2.59 23 0.42 22 Team High Low Avg Avg Rk SD SD Rk Miami A (Prisco) C+ (Iyer, Silva) 3.13 5 0.65 6 Minnesota A (Iyer, Farrar) B (Kiper) 3.57 4 0.38 24 New England B+ (Iyer) C- (Silva) 2.73 22 0.51 16 New Orleans B+ (Silva) C- (Rang) 2.49 26 0.59 9 NY Giants B (Rang) C- (Iyer, Silva) 2.40 29 0.52 14 NY Jets A (Iyer) C- (Silva) 3.06 6 0.75 5 Oakland B+ (Burke) C- (Prisco) 2.53 25 0.56 11 Philadelphia B+ (Kiper, Prisco) C+ (Iyer) 2.94 10 0.35 27 Team High Low Avg Avg Rk SD SD Rk Pittsburgh A (Iyer) D (Silva) 3.00 8 0.98 2 San Diego B+ (Rang) B- (Four tied) 2.83 18 0.24 32 San Francisco B- (Farrar) D (Iyer) 1.99 31 0.61 8 Seattle A- (Kiper) C+ (Kadar) 2.87 14 0.47 18 St. Louis A (Farrar) C (Silva, Kiper) 2.47 27 0.79 3 Tampa Bay B+ (Rang, Kadar) C- (Iyer) 2.86 15 0.55 13 Tennessee A (Silva) C (Prisco) 2.81 20 0.64 7 Washington A- (Kiper) C (Iyer) 2.83 17 0.51 15

Grading the Graders Grader High Low Avg SD Kiper A- (Five tied) C- (Buffalo) 2.86 0.55 Rang A (Baltimore, Atlanta) C- (Three tied) 2.94 0.57 Prisco A (Four tied) D (Buffalo) 2.76 0.70 Iyer A+ (Jacksonville) D (Buffalo, San Francisco) 2.73 0.92 Silva A (Three tied) D (Arizona, Pittsburgh) 2.50 0.80 Bur-rar A (Four tied) D (Buffalo) 3.13 0.50 Burke A (Jacksonville) D (Buffalo) 3.10 0.51 Farrar A (Three tied) B- (Five tied) 3.16 0.49 Kadar A+ (Jacksonville) D+ (Indianapolis) 2.83 0.52

Sterling Xie is an FO intern and has completed his junior year at Hamilton College. He has also written for Advanced Football Analytics the past two seasons. You can follow him on Twitter @SterlingXie.