Talk about a tough act to follow.
This year’s NFL Draft was going to suffer, regardless, in comparison with its star-filled 2012 predecessor, which opened with a bang — Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III — and was so deep that eventual Rookie of the Year Russell Wilson wasn’t taken until the third round.
The follow-up was considered no match in terms of talent or depth, with several scouts proclaiming it the worst draft they had seen in years. Offensive linemen dominated (a whopping nine of them went in the first round, including the top two picks) and franchise difference-makers — especially at the play-making positions — were few and far between.
With that in mind, here’s an early assessment of a league that did the best it could with a draft class that overwhelmed no one:
NFC EAST
GIANTS: GM Jerry Reese is a draft master, but his latest work was a gamble (second-round DT Johnathan Hankins and third-round DE Damontre Moore) and a head-scratcher (QB Ryan Nassib).
Cowboys: Traded down to take a center (Travis Frederick) with a third-round grade. Owner/GM Jerry Jones is hopeless.
Eagles: New coach Chip Kelly obviously is calling the shots, for better or for worse. OT Lane Johnson has cornerstone potential, but the Matt Barkley pick was a stunner
Redskins: No first-round pick because of the Robert Griffin III trade last year, and they reached for CB David Amerson in the second. Blah.
NFC NORTH
Bears: Safe, smart drafting by GM Phil Emery, who got an immediate starter in OG Kyle Long and a potential fourth-round steal in Rutgers LB Khasim Greene.
Lions: Inexperienced DE Ziggy Ansah will either be the next Jason Pierre-Paul or the next Vernon Gholston. He’s a big-time gamble by Detroit, which also reached for CB Darius Slay in the second round.
Packers: Green Bay celebrated Aaron Rodgers’ contract extension by giving him an instant running game in Eddie Lacy and fourth-round steal Johnathan Franklin. Now, if the Packers could only give Rodgers a defense…
Vikings: Got the most out of the first round of any team, loading up with DT Sharrif Floyd, CB Xavier Rhodes and WR Cordarrelle Patterson — three players rated the best at their positions by many scouts.
NFC SOUTH
Buccaneers: No first-rounder due to the Darrelle Revis trade, and the rest of their draft on the second day was a pair of gambles (CB Johnthan Banks and especially QB Mike Glennon).
Falcons: Went entirely for need with their first two picks in CBs Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford. Not the best strategy, but Atlanta doesn’t need to rebuild.
Panthers: Where’s the beef? It’s in Charlotte, where new GM Dave Gettleman went strictly on need with defensive tackles with his first two picks. Top choice Star Lotulelei is boom-or-bust.
Saints: Had a much better second day than first, getting sleeper OT Terron Armstead and DT John Jenkins after an initial leap of faith on non-playmaking safety Kenny Vaccaro.
NFC WEST
49ers: Smartly traded up in the first to get Eric Reid, who fills a safety need, and the Marcus Lattimore pick will be fascinating to watch.
Cardinals: Jonathan Cooper addresses a huge offensive-line need, and Arizona got great second-day value picks in LB Kevin Minter and CB Tyrann Mathieu.
Rams: Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey instantly give St. Louis one of the league’s most interesting (and potentially dangerous) receiving corps. An aggressive but smart draft.
Seahawks: Seattle’s first-round pick essentially is Percy Harvin. The Seahawks’ actual draft was unremarkable, but they didn’t need to hit a grand slam after cleaning up in free agency.
AFC EAST
JETS: New GM John Idzik went for defense in the first round despite a glaring need for playmakers, then turned the franchise upside down in the second round with the shocking Geno Smith pick.
Bills: Traded down from No. 8 to take a massive first-round gamble on QB E.J. Manuel, who will get GM Buddy Nix and new coach Doug Marrone statues or fired.
Dolphins: Traded way up in a desperation move to take LB Dion Jordan, who is a talent but undersized. Lots of other reaches the rest of the way by desperate GM Jeff Ireland.
Patriots: Trader Bill Belichick was at it again, moving down this time to load up on wide receivers. Josh Boyce in the fourth round looks like a steal.
AFC NORTH
Bengals: Apparently planning to copy the Patriots’ two-tight end model by taking Tyler Eifert. The two second-round picks — RB Giovani Bernard and DE Margus Hunt — are risks.
Browns: Added arguably the best pass rusher in the draft in Barkevious Mingo but had just one more pick before the sixth round and used it on an undersized corner.
Steelers: Pittsburgh went back to basics, fortifying the defense and pass rush with Jarvis Jones and going big in the run game with Le’Veon Bell. Safety Shamarko Thomas and QB Landry Jones were interesting third-day picks.
Ravens: Although GM Ozzie Newsome long ago earned the benefit of the doubt, undersized safety Matt Elam was a reach in the first round. Defense will have a lot of new faces.
AFC SOUTH
Colts: Needed to boost their pass rush, but it remains to be seen if German-born Bjoern Werner is the answer. Had just one of the first 85 picks in a bad draft, so GM Nick Grigson’s hands were tied.
Jaguars: Interesting — potentially great — first effort from new GM Dave Caldwell. OT Luke Joeckel and S John Cyprien have cornerstone potential, and getting Denard Robinson in the fifth looks like a steal.
Texans: A lot of scouts considered DeAndre Hopkins the best wide receiver in the draft, and second-round safety D.J. Swearinger is a big hitter with attitude.
Titans: First-rounder Chance Warmack is a potential line cornerstone, and WR Justin Hunter looks like a steal in the second round.
AFC WEST
Broncos: DT Sylvester Williams was a reach even at the end of the first round and Montee Ball over Eddie Lacy in the second round looks like the wrong move.
Chargers: Manti Te’o is a big gamble even in the second round, but San Diego might have gotten the steal of the draft with WR Keenan Allen in the third.
Chiefs: Andy Reid went the safe route first overall with OT Eric Fisher, then rolled the dice on character question TE Travis Kelce with his next pick in the third.
Raiders: Moved down in the first round and still ended up with a terrific choice in CB D.J. Hayden, then added solid OT Menelik Watson in the second round.