Jacksonville Jaguars: B+
The Jags did well here — if for nothing else that it secured a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. It’ll now be up to the front office to craft a team around the transcendent talent to completely maximize his ability. Taking Lawrence’s college teammate Travis Etienne was a shrewd move. He’ll bring instant pop to the backfield. In the second round, some felt as if the team may have reached for Tyson Campbell.
Walker Little hasn’t played football in two years — yet was taken in the second round (presumably as a starter at tackle). It’ll be very interesting to see how the picks not named Lawrence and Etienne perform within the next few years.
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New York Jets: B
Is Zach Wilson the right choice? We won’t know that for a few years — though the Jets seemed pretty locked in on the BYU gunslinger from the start. He’s exceptional in making plays from an improvisational standpoint. However, there are some concerns over his somewhat slight frame, as well as the propensity to potentially turn the ball over. He’ll also always be compared to this somewhat loaded crop of quarterbacks (five of which went in the first round).
With that said, we LOVE the next two picks the Jets made. They traded up to nab a future Pro Bowl offensive lineman in Alijah Vera-Tucker. Without having to sacrifice draft capital, they also collected one of the draft’s most explosive wide receivers in Elijah Moore. Credit New York for at least attempting to try and make life easier for their prized possession (Wilson).
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Miami Dolphins: A
The Dolphins arguably had the best draft of any team. In the first round, Miami added arguably the most explosive WR in the draft (Jaylen Waddle) — a guy who’s been compared to Tyreek Hill by more than a handful of scouts. Later in the round, the draft’s best pass rusher (Jaelan Phillips) stayed in South Beach after playing his college ball at the University of Miami.
From there, the Dolphins nabbed a ball-hawking safety (Jevon Holland), a very good tackle prospect (Liam Eichenberg), and a potential playmaker at tight end (Hunter Long). All in all, the depth of this team — not to mention the overall talent level — grew with this crop of players.
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Atlanta Falcons: A-
Atlanta may have lucked out and drafted the best player in the entire pool at pick four. Pitts is a freakish talent with the ability to function as both a traditional tight end and split out wide as a receiver. Assuming he stays healthy, the sky is the absolute limit for the 6-foot-6 monster out of Florida. Atlanta did well to help the balance of its roster.
Safety Richie Grant is likely a Day 1 starter — and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see OL Jalen Mayfield and DB Darren Hall also play a bunch as first-year competitors. Nabbing Drew Dalman in the fourth round was a smart move. A center from Stanford, we could be looking back on Dalman as an athlete drafted far below where he should have been.
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Cincinnati Bengals: C+
We don’t fault Cincinnati for taking Chase at No. 5 overall. He’s an excellent prospect — and already has a built-in chemistry with Joe Burrow. Still, based upon Burrow’s recent knee injury, we wonder if taking OL Penei Sewell may have been the wiser pick longterm. The team did bounce back with OL Jackson Carman in the second round. From there, the Bengals drafted three defensive linemen (Joseph Ossai, Cameron Sample, Tyler Shelvin) in a row.
It will be fascinating to look back and determine whether taking Chase was the move. Cincinnati’s WR group was already talented before his selection. Additionally, trading down in order to take Carman enabled other teams to leapfrog the Bengals and pick up some more highly-touted tackle prospects.
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Philadelphia Eagles: A-
The Eagles did a very nice job in procuring some big-time needs. Of course, the group of receivers needed to be strengthened. Enter DeVonta Smith — the reigning Heisman Trophy winner/Isaac Bruce clone. He should immediately impact the team as the top pass-catching threat not named Zach Ertz.
We like the selection of Smith’s teammate Landon Dickerson as well. A player with the versatility to play literally any of the five offensive line spots, he’ll be a plug-and-utilize guy from the jump. Fourth-round pick Zech McPhearson out of Texas Tech is a guy to keep an eye on — particularly as it pertains to special teams. USC defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu should add some nice depth as well up front.
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Detroit Lions: A-
The new braintrust in Detroit wanted to get bigger and more physical along both lines. As such, it was no surprise to see Detroit take three linemen with its first three picks. Penei Sewell — a phenomenal RT prospect — fell into their laps without even having to trade up. Active DT Levi Onwuzurike plays the position with energy, effort, and great technique.
Third-round pick Ifeatu Melifonwu is a monster of a defensive back. Coming out of Syracuse, he can play both safety and corner in a pinch. Even late-round RB Jermar Jefferson out of Oregon State has some ability. We don’t often say this about the Lions, but they nailed this draft.
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Carolina Panthers: A
We LOVE what the Panthers did here. With Sam Darnold now in the fold, Carolina opted to bypass selecting a QB in favor of corner Jaycee Horn. A physical corner with terrific bloodlines, he’ll slot in right away as a starter. LSU WR Terrace Marshall will help replace some of the explosiveness lost with Curtis Samuel moving to Washington. From there, a plethora of the mid-round picks (Brady Christensen, Tommy Tremble, Daviyon Nixon, Keith Taylor Jr.) all look like sure bets to make the team.
However, perhaps our most favorite pick was fourth-round selection Chuba Hubbard. He was one of college football’s most productive running backs at Oklahoma State. Don’t be shocked if he burrows his way into some playing time as a rookie.
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Denver Broncos: A
The Broncos could’ve gone a number of different directions with the No. 9 overall pick. Instead, it took the best player available in corner Patrick Surtain II. We know how good his father once was, and the younger Surtain is equally as impressive as a prospect. Defensive mastermind Vic Fangio must be licking his chops at obtaining an elite corner prospect — particularly in a division featuring Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.
Javonte Williams had a first-round grade — yet the Broncos smartly nabbed him in the second round. He’ll push Melvin Gordon in the backfield right away. From there, the offensive line gained toughness with Quinn Meinerz, and the linebacking corps added some speed with Ohio State star Baron Browning. When further adding some high-upside guys late in Caden Sterns and Seth Williams, the Broncos really did an exceptional job in accruing talent.
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Dallas Cowboys: C
It was very much a mixed bag for Jerry Jones and the front office. Micah Parsons ultimately became the pick once both corners came off the board. A fiery personality with ridiculous athleticism, he could develop into the best defensive player in this draft class. Former UCLA defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa is a beast physically, and has the versatility to be moved around the front. He should produce right away for the anemic Cowboys’ defense. The same can be said for former LSU LB Jabril Cox (who was taken in Round 4).
On the flip-side the Cowboys took Nahshon Wright in the third round. Many had him as either a seventh-round pick/going undrafted. After being drafted, Wright compared himself to a more atheltic, agile Richard Sherman (yes, a guy who’s one of the best corners to ever play the game). Second-round pick Kelvin Joseph is reported to have some character issues. He was selected out of necessity to help a porous Dallas secondary. It was a gamble considering the fact Asante Samuel Jr. went three picks later.
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New York Giants: B-
GM Dave Gettleman seemed more preoccupied by proving that he could trade down and accrue picks rather than improving his football team in a very legitimate way. After already spending a boatload of money on receivers in the offseason, the Giants still took Kadarius Toney in the first round. He was a borderline first-round selection heading into the draft, and wasn’t a player at a significant position of need (despite being explosive with the ball in his hands). Someone like Kwity Paye or Greg Newsome II may have been a better fit here.
In the other rounds, people really like Georgia rusher Azeez Ojulari. Despite some injury concerns, he’s a guy many believe can outperform his second-round draft status. However, this draft seemed much more geared towards next year — where the Giants have loaded up on picks.
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San Francisco 49ers: B
After much mystery surrounding their pick, the 49ers opted for a high-ceiling quarterback with more risk (Trey Lance) over the low-ceiling known commodity (Mac Jones). Lance’s mobility should allow for Kyle Shanahan to open up his already diverse offensive plan of attack. SF paid a pretty penny to move up to take the Minnesota native. However, he’s wowed effectively every team he’s met with from a personality standpoint. Lance will also be afforded the ability to sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo for a year.
Taking Notre Dame OL Aaron Banks in the second round was a bit of a reach — though he still has talent (likely inside as a guard). OU running back Trey Sermon gives the team some additional juice in its backfield. From there, the Niners opted for two ballhawks in the secondary (Ambry Thomas, Deommodore Lenoir) and a couple of high-potential picks (Talanoa Hufanga, Jaylon Moore) who need a bit of polishing. All in all, it was a solid draft for John Lynch and company.
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Los Angeles Chargers: B+
Talk about value. Rashawn Slater lasted all the way to the No. 13 pick. The Chargers didn’t have to sacrifice any future assets in order to draft the player many think is the best offensive lineman in this draft. Slater can play both inside and outside. Most importantly, he adds talent to a group tasked with protecting Justin Herbert. Getting Asante Samuel Jr. in the second round was also a major boon for the front office. He should be inserted into the starting lineup right away.
For as good as those first two picks were, the next couple were somewhat interesting. Josh Palmer — a possession receiver — was selected in the third round (ahead of some other more highly-touted pass-catching threats). Tre’ McKitty had six catches his senior year, yet was picked in the fourth round. Based on his athletic profile, the Chargers are clearly hoping for him to be a big-time diamond in the rough despite not being a proven guy. Many had him as a Day 3 pick.
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Minnesota Vikings: C-
It was a bit of a weird class for the Vikings. On one hand, they drafted one of the better tackle prospects in the draft in Christian Darrisaw. However, they bypassed taking Mac Jones — and watched as the rival Bears swooped for Justin Fields. Without a second-round pick, the Vikings then took Kellen Mond in the third round — and former QB-turned-linebacker Chazz Surratt eight picks later.
Minnesota didn’t add much in the way of explosiveness to its offense. At this point, we’re operating under the assumption that the Vikings are all-in on Kirk Cousins. All the while, this was a very underwhelming group.
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New England Patriots: B
This played out exactly how Bill Belichick wanted. He didn’t have to move up in the draft, and still landed a quarterback fitting his team perfectly. Jones isn’t a tremendous athlete — nor does have a cannon for an arm. However, he’s wickedly accurate (especially against the blitz). He’ll be put into a position to succeed — and it wouldn’t really be all that surprising to see Jones end up with a rock-solid career.
Dipping back into the Alabama well, the Pats nabbed mammoth DT Christian Barmore. The front office then headed to Oklahoma — nabbing edge rusher Ronnie Perkins and RB Rhamondre Stevenson. Getting Perkins in the fourth round was terrific value. All in all, the Patriots continue to have a very nice offseason.
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Arizona Cardinals: C+
Wanting to get more mettle up front, jumbo linebacker Zaven Collins was poached mid-way through the first round. He’s the type of guy with the athleticism to play both standing up and with his hand in the dirt. The diminutive WR Rondale Moore was nabbed in the second round. He’s a perfect fit in the slot — and is exactly the type of explosive playmaker Kliff Kingsbury will get the most out of.
The Cardinals didn’t take a corner until the fourth round (Marco Wilson). Wilson has a laundry list of reported issues stemming from his time at Florida. Moore was a fun luxury pick — but not necessarily the one best suited to fill out major roster needs. The Cardinals are lacking depth at corner, and play in a division featuring some real gunslingers.
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Las Vegas Raiders: B
I’m not going to slam the Raiders as much as many other pundits. Mike Mayock did reach for Alex Leatherwood in the middle of the first round. The Raiders could’ve easily traded back to take the Alabama OL who had been projected to be a late second-round pick by most measures. However, Las Vegas redeemed itself by getting a first-round talent (Trevon Moehrig) in the second round. It was particularly exciting because Moehrig plays at a position of need (safety). He should come in right away and be a fixture in the starting lineup.
We also have to praise the Raiders for getting two quality defensive prospects in end Malcolm Koonce and safety/linebacker Divine Deablo. Koonce shot up the draft boards based off of his appearance in the Senior Bowl. He went to Buffalo — and the last time the Raiders selected a former Buffalo player (Khalil Mack), it didn’t turn out all that badly.
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Houston Texans: D-
Houston didn’t have a pick until the third round. Naturally, to keep the negative press going, it took QB Davis Mills out of Stanford. There’s a lot to like about Mills’ game. If he wasn’t so injury-prone, there’s a scenario in which he would’ve been a borderline first-round pick. However, this selection did nothing to quiet the controversy around Deshaun Watson. If anything, it exacerbated it even further.
Nico Collins and Brevin Jordan should provide the WRs group with some size. Aside from that, it was a rather ho-hum effort by the Texans.
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Washington Football Team: B-
This draft was curious in a number of ways. On the positive side of things, linebacker Jamin Davis figures to be plugged in right away. He’s been battle tested in SEC play, and was one of the fastest-rising players of the whole draft before being nabbed No. 19 overall in the first round. Sam Cosmi fills a need at tackle, and Minnesota DB Ben St-Juste represents the tall, lengthy corner in today’s NFL. Even fourth round pick Dyami Brown offered terrific value as a big-play guy.
On the flipside, the Washington Football Team did not select a quarterback at all. That’s curious considering the lack of depth and talent at the position. Duly, the team traded up for a long snapper (Michigan’s Camaron Cheeseman). How often do you see that happen?
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Chicago Bears: A
Credit the Bears for being aggressive. It traded up the draft board to nab Justin Fields with the No. 11 overall pick. Not only did the Bears get tremendous value here, but Fields represents the type of dynamic talent at the position we haven’t seen in Chicago since perhaps the 1980’s. He can sit behind Andy Dalton for a bit before eventually being introduced to the NFL. In order to help Fields both in the interim and beyond, the Bears went OL with back-to-back picks.
Tackle Teven Jenkins was one of the more highly-regarded players at his position in the whole draft. Monster guard Larry Borom was then taken from Missouri. We even think two of Chicago’s sixth-round selections (RB Khalil Herbert, DB Thomas Graham) can play this upcoming season. Without a doubt, this was one of the better drafts Chicago has enjoyed in recent memory.
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Indianapolis Colts: B
Indianapolis didn’t have a lot in the way of picks in this draft. With a roster already loaded with depth, it was more about fine tuning some specific areas of need. Immediately, we witnessed as the Colts opted to address their defensive front. Michigan edge rusher Kwity Paye is eerily similar to that of Brandon Graham. Stout against the run and productive off the edge, he should be a dynamic player right away in Indy.
In the second round, the Colts opted for some damaged goods in the form of Vanderbilt DL Dayo Odeyingbo. He’s currently rehabbing a torn Achilles, and likely will be out for much of his rookie season. However, when healthy, Odeyingbo was a borderline first-round talent. The rest of Indianapolis’ draft was far from inspiring. Ultimately, it will be judged in the future by the two defensive linemen selected in the early rounds.
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Tennessee Titans: B+
Tennessee had a sneaky-good draft. If some of its picks play up to their potential, this grade may be vaulted even higher down the line. When healthy, Caleb Farley is the best corner in this draft. To get him at pick No. 22 was a major boon. From there, the Titans added a couple of high-upside guys in OT Dillon Radunz and LB Monty Rice.
We loved what the Titans did in the fourth round. All three picks (DB Elijah Molden, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, DL Rashad Weaver) should see playing time next year. Fitzpatrick in particular may help to make up for the loss of Corey Davis. Molden can be used in a number of ways — and also will help the vacated spot left by Adoree’ Jackson.
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Seattle Seahawks: D
Heading into this draft, Seattle had only two picks. It ended up trading for a third late in the sixth round (Florida OL Stone Forsythe). We actually like this move — primarily because Forsythe held his own in CFB’s toughest conference. He has a chance to stick on the roster.
Trying to give Russell Wilson some help, Seattle took speedster D’Wayne Eskridge in the second round. The Western Michigan pass catcher ran a sub-4.4 40-yard-dash at his combine, and routinely takes the top off opposing defenses. However, with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett already on the roster, it may have made more sense for the Seahawks to hit another need (OL, LB, DL, DB) at that spot.
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Pittsburgh Steelers: B
The worst kept secret of the first round came to fruition, as the Steelers took Alabama running back Najee Harris in the first round. He’ll instantly replace James Conner as a more dynamic rusher — both athletically and in the passing game. Pat Freiermuth from nearby Penn State figures to be a competitor to Eric Ebron. We’re not a huge fan of the pick strictly from the standpoint that it didn’t hit on a position of need.
From there, the Steelers did well to nab two OL in the mid-rounds (Kendrick Green, Dan Moore) before a run on defensive players. It’s a very workmanlike group across the board. However, Freiermuth really has to turn into a player for this draft to be considered a successful one.
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Los Angeles Rams: C-
We’re dinging the Rams here for its first pick. Speedster Tutu Atwell was taken in the second round by LA. Freakish when it comes to speed, Atwell reportedly weighed less than 150 pounds at his Pro Day. The Rams already acquired a slightly-built burner in DeSean Jackson this offseason. Why double up on that with Atwell — a guy who likely has to play in the slot (where Cooper Kupp likes to operate). That pick could’ve been used to address needs along the offensive line or even in the secondary (where the team lost both Troy Hill and John Johnson).
With that said, two of the Rams’ fourth-round picks (DT Bobby Brown, DB Robert Rochell) look like they could end up being players. We still can’t get over the decision to take Atwell that high in the draft knowing the team had bigger needs elsewhere. Lastly, we don’t see late-round picks Jake Funk or Ben Skowronek sniffing the 53-man roster.
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Cleveland Browns: B+
Value was the name of the game for this front office. One can make an argument that every single pick made by the Browns was excellent from a timing standpoint. Second-round pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had a firsts-round grade by virtually everybody.
Cleveland picked up explosive UCLA playmaker Demetric Felton in the sixth round — where many thought he’d go in Round 3. Tony Fields is a ballhawk safety/linebacker hybrid. Getting him in the fifth round was smart business — as was landing the ultra-fast WR Anthony Schwartz in Round 3. Greg Newsome II is smart, savvy, and technical enough to help the Browns right away. Without question, an already strong roster got even better.
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Baltimore Ravens: A
Finally — some help for Lamar Jackson! The team had a big-time need at WR, and it was filled brilliantly by Rashod Bateman. He may have not gotten the pub that others did, but the dude can play. Bateman is highly competitive — particularly in jump ball situations. DE/LB Jayson Oweh out of Penn State is a physical freak. While the production wasn’t there in college, if there’s ever going to be a team able to unlock the upside, it’s Baltimore. Oweh is a top-five talent being taken at No. 31 overall. This is terrific value.
Former Ohio State DB Shaun Wade fell all the way to the fifth round despite being pegged as a potential first rounder heading into this year. Georgia OL Ben Cleveland adds nice depth, and late-round selection Daelin Hayes out of Notre Dame has a chance to contribute.
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New Orleans Saints: C-
With QB being an obvious need, the Saints could’ve theoretically traded up to get one of Justin Fields, Mac Jones, Davis Mills, Kyle Trask or Kellen Mond. Instead, the Saints reached on a DL with its first pick (Payton Turner), took an average athlete with its second pick (LB Pete Werner), and and nabbed a lesser QB (Ian Book) in the fourth round.
We love the Paulson Adebo acquisition. Coming from Stanford, he’s a heady player with good length and impressive ball skills. He’ll likely start from Day 1 in New Orleans. The rest of the draft, however…not so much.
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Green Bay Packers: C
Will the Packers ever learn? If there’s one year to take a skill player in the first round, it’s when your MVP franchise QB is disgruntled. Instead, Green Bay took a corner with a second-round grade (Eric Stokes) who is plenty fast but not very skilled at his position. While center Josh Myers might ultimately be a solid pick in the second round, it’s not exactly one to excite Rodgers, either.
Ironically enough, the best pick of the evening likely came in the form of WR Amari Rodgers. The Clemson athlete has been compared to a slightly slower D.J. Moore (among other athletes). He’s stocky yet quick and powerful in space. With many of Green Bay’s existing WRs being taller, Rodgers might be able to carve out his own role with this team sooner than later.
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Buffalo Bills: B
The Bills had a rock-solid draft. There wasn’t a lot of pomp and circumstance in regards to their haul. However, Buffalo filled a number of needs — primarily along the defensive line. Gregory Rousseau has the upside of a guy who can routinely accrue 10-plus sacks in any given year.
Second round pick Carlos Basham is a big-time sleeper with terrific pass-rushing skills. We also like the Bills’ next two picks (Spencer Brown, Tommy Doyle). Both are offensive tackles — and each stand 6-feet-8 at approximately 320 pounds.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B
All things considered, Tampa had a very good draft. Joe Tryon was taken with the last pick in the first round. The Washington defensive lineman didn’t play this last year (sitting out due to COVID-19). With that said, he’s an explosive edge rusher. He’ll learn from the preexisting group and could figure as a threat in obvious passing situations.
Kyle Trask was a fascinating selection. Bruce Arians took him in the second round — presumably as the heir apparent to Tom Brady. He’s a quarterback relying upon accuracy and moxie rather than physical gifts. Among the late-round picks, North Texas WR Jaelon Darden was our favorite. Remember the name…he may be making plays on the field sooner than you’d think.
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Kansas City Chiefs: B+
After trading its first-round pick away in the Orlando Brown Jr. deal, the Chiefs had to be creative with this year’s class. At first glance, the front office did a very good job in landing an energizer bunny of a middle linebacker in Missouri’s Nick Bolton — along with one of the best pure interior prospects in Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey. If both of those guys became longterm starters, no one would be surprised.
We even like the additions of Florida State DE Josh Kaindoh and Clemson receiver Cornell Powell as late-round selections. From a value standpoint, getting the talented Tennessee OL Trey Smith in the six round was a nice grab as well.
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