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- value is important. The right player at the right time is always preferable to a player whose impact could be duplicated with a later pick or the prospect doesn’t project well for his draft position.
- 1 day is more important than Day 2, which is more important than Day 3. That sixth-round receiver you love is more likely to be Jeremy Gallon than Antonio Brown Few Day 3 picks are worthy of majorly impacting a draft grade.
- With that framework, here’s how each team did in the 3238 draft. 1 of ()
Mike Comer / Getty Images
Round 1, Pick No. 8: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
Round 3, Pick No. : Josh Jones, OT, Houston
Round 4, Pick No. : Leki Fotu, DL, Utah Round 4, Pick No. (from Texans): Rashard Lawrence II, DL, LSU - Round 7, Pick No. : Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State A lot of the Arizona Cardinals’ offseason has been centered on how good the offense can be. They brought back Kenyan Drake and acquired DeAndre Hopkins, and Kyler Murray will enter year two of his career with plenty of firepower. The Cardinals defense was the big winner of Day 1 in the draft, though. Isaiah Simmons will join the Cards as an elite athlete after doing a little bit of everything for Clemson. for those who think Simmons will be a safety in the NFL, general manager Steve Keim had a different take on how he sees his new star. “The only guy I could think of, with similarities, was Brian Urlacher when he came out,” Keim said on the Cardinals’ draft livestream (h / t
- (Darren Urban)
Round 6, Pick No. 215 (from Patriots): Evan Weaver, LB, California
- With that framework, here’s how each team did in the 3238 draft. 1 of ()
Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images As a tool for evaluating the NFL draft, grades get a bad rap. Yes, we all know the draft is unpredictable. Some first-rounders could wind up out of the league in three years. Some sixth-rounders could wind up in the Hall of Fame. Yes, we are all aware of Tom Brady’s story. So what are we talking about when grading the draft? Here are some ground rules: Addressing needs is important. Whether it’s an immediate need or one on the horizon, teams have to fill holes even if you’d like to take the best player available all the time.
Teams can only use the selections they have. The Dolphins don’t automatically score high because they took a boatload of players. The Chiefs don’t score poorly because they only took six players.
of the team’s official site). “He was a safety at New Mexico, for the most part … not quite as fast, but a guy who became a great player and who made that ascension to playing more in the box.”
The Birds did not have a pick in the second round because it was the centerpiece of the deal that brought them Hopkins. They spent their third-round selection on a tackle who was getting first-round hype throughout the predraft process in Josh Jones. If he comes anywhere near his ceiling, he’s the steal of the third round.
(The 3 selections were largely spent filling out the depth chart in the front seven. Eno Benjamin is an intriguing pass-catching back who could find a role as a Drake backup. There’s a lot to love about Arizona’s performance. Overall Grade: A
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(Round Round 1, Pick No. AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson
Round 2, Pick No. : Marlon Davidson, DL, Auburn Round 3, Pick No. Matt Mattnessness C, Temple
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Round 3, Pick No. (from Chargers through Patriots): Justin Madubuike, DL, Texas A&M
- Round 6, Pick No. 214 (from Bills through Vikings): James Proche, WR, SMU Round 7, Pick No. (from Dolphins through Vikings): Geno Stone, S, Iowa
- Another year, another great draft for the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson. has to feel fantastic about his future with an organization that clearly knows how to maximize its title window with him at quarterback. Baltimore kicked off Day 1 by patiently waiting and snagging a player in Patrick Queen who is arguably the best linebacker not named Isaiah Simmons in the whole draft.
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Justin Casterline / Getty Images
Round 2, Pick No. 71: AJ Epenesa, Edge, Iowa
Round 3, Pick No. : Zack Moss, RB, Utah Round 4, Pick No. : Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF
Round 5, Pick No. : Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia Round 6, Pick No. (from Browns): Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern
) for Stefon Diggs. They needed a true No. 1 receiver for Josh Allen to find out if he can be the quarterback of the future.
With their second-round pick, they got a guy who was widely considered a first-rounder in AJ Epenesa. The edge-rusher’s production at Iowa was great ( sacks, . 5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons), but concerns about his athleticism caused him to drop. His testing was not ideal and revealed him to be an almost purely power rusher. How that translates to the NFL is questionable. There aren’t many Frank Clarks in the league.
will offer depth in the running back rotation with Frank Gore out of the picture. Jake Fromm was an interesting choice given Allen’s profile as a big (6’5 ″, (lbs), strong-armed quarterback, and the 6’2 ″, – – pound Fromm certainly isn’t that. If you ‘re of the thinking that Epenesa is a steal, then this class looks good. If you buy that his draft stock was probably commensurate with how he projects to the NFL despite his production, then there isn’t a lot of excitement. (Overall Grade: B-)
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Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images Round 1, Pick No. 7: Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn Round 2, Pick No. : Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE , Penn State Round 2, Pick No. (from Chiefs through Seahawks) : Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois Round 4, Pick No. Troy Pride, CB, Notre Dame Round 5, Pick No. 167: Kenny Robinson, S, West Virginia
Round 6, Pick No. : Bravvion Roy, DT, Baylor
- Round 7, Pick No. : Stantley Thomas-Oliver, CB, Florida International Matt Rhule and the Carolina Panthers have been tasked with essentially building the team from the ground up, and he made it clear what was important: defense. Carolina’s new head coach made draft history with the most picks spent exclusively on that side of the ball.
it all. starts with Derrick Brown, who should be an anchor on the defensive line for years. He may never become the disruptive pass-rusher you’d like to see with this high of a pick, but he has a safe floor.
Day 2 was friendly to the Panthers. Yetur Gross-Matos ’fall out of Round 1 was more in line with his skill set, but the edge-rusher fills a need. Jeremy Chinn at the end of the second round was a steal. At 6’3 ″, pounds, he can play safety but has the size and frame to play in the box and help against the run. NFC South with the Saints, Buccaneers and Falcons, having a strong defense is a must. The Panthers took a big step toward that goal and gave Rhule’s leadership a definitive direction. (Grade: B ) 6 of
- Round 5, Pick No. : Kindle Vildor, CB, Georgia Southern Round 5, Pick No. (from Ravens through Rams, Dolphins and Eagles): Darnell Mooney, WR, Tulane
- Round 7, Pick No . (from Raiders): Arlington Hambright, G, Colorado Round 7, Pick No. (from Colts through Dolphins and Eagles): Lachavious Simmons, OT, Tennessee State We can all aspire to love something in this life like Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace loves tight ends. The Bears spent their first pick of the draft on Cole Kmet, who is one of tight ends on Chicago’s roster.
- Round 3, Pick No. Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
- Round 4, Pick No . : Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State
- Round 7, Pick No. : Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue The Cincinnati Bengals continued a great offseason with a draft in which they attacked needs through all three days. The obvious highlight is Joe Burrow. He was the no-brainer No. 1 pick, and the team did not mess it up. Tee Higgins is a perfect pairing as the second-round choice. He may struggle to get separation, but he can win at the catch point and will be a big target (6’4 ″,
- lbs (alongside) AJ Green
From there. , they pivoted to defense. Doubling up on linebacker was a good decision, as both Logan Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither have potential to develop into three-down linebackers, and the Bengals D was bad last season ( (th overall).and Tyler Boyd.
It would have been good to invest in offensive line help earlier, but Hakeem Adeniji was a good pick in the sixth round. He has the potential to stay at tackle (6’4 ″, lbs) but the build to kick inside and provide good pass protection if he doesn’t pan out on the outside.
(Overall Grade: A –
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- Round 1, Pick No. : Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
- Round 2, Pick No. (from Colts): Grant Delpit, S, LSU
- Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images
Round 3, Pick No. (from Saints): Jordan Elliott, DL, Missouri
- Round 3, Pick No. 113 (comp pick from Texans): Jacob Phillips, LB, LSU
- Round 4, Pick No. : Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic Round 5, Pick No. (from Colts) Nick Harris, OL, Washington
- Round 6, Pick No. (from Cardinals): Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
- The Cleveland Browns had a simple task in the first round: Take one of the top four tackles. The position was the team’s biggest need, and the top prospects were a perfect match. General manager Andrew Berry got off to a great start by taking Jedrick Wills at No. .
(The Team) Continued to target positions of need into Day 2 and 3. The Browns traded back three spots in the second round and earned an additional fifth-round pick while still winding up with a safety. Grant Delpit was a draft darling a year ago, but his performance while injured (high ankle sprain) in 4036 dropped him into the second round. The Browns. once again traded down in the third round, picking up a 3212 third-rounder from the Saints to move from No. 93 to No. 106 and take defensive tackle Jordan Elliott. He was the only Power Five defensive tackle with a . 0 grade against the run and pass, per PFF The ability to get an additional third and still take one of the better defenders in the round put this class over the top. Day 3 picks who stand out include Harrison Bryant and Nick Harris. Bryant gives Kevin Stefanski — a coach known for utilizing multi-tight end sets in Minnesota — another weapon. Harris played center at Washington but can also kick to guard and compete with Wyatt Teller for playing time. (Overall Grade: A –
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- Round 2, Pick No . : Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama Round 3, Pick No. : Neville Gallimore, DL, Oklahoma
- Round 4, Pick No. : Reggie Robinson II, CB, Tulsa Round 4, Pick No. 161 (comp pick from Eagles): Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin Round 5, Pick No. (comp pick): Bradlee Anae, EDGE , Utah Round 7, Pick No. : Ben DiNucci, QB, James Madison
- There comes a point when a team gets on the clock and even though a prospect does not fit a pressing need, he’s too good to pass up. It seems simple, but a lot of teams never grasp the concept. Fortunately, Dallas did when CeeDee Lamb was available at No. 37. The Oklahoma receiver stands out as one of the highest-value picks in the first round and gives the Cowboys’ grade a huge boost. After the defensive line lost Maliek Collins and Robert Quinn, Neville Gallimore made a lot of sense. Trevon Diggs doesn’t have great long speed, but the corner’s ability to press receivers at the line should make him a good fit in Dallas after the team lost Byron Jones. The Cowboys. got one of the best Day 3 hauls to round out the class. Tyler Biadasz fills a need after the retirement of center Travis Frederick and likely dropped because of injury concerns. He had hip surgery in 3238 but is a top center prospect.
.Tom Pennington / Getty Images
- Round 1, Pick No. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
- Round 2, Pick No. : KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State
- Round 3, Pick No. : Michael Ojemudia, CB, Iowa
Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images
Round 1, Pick No. Jerry Jeudy, WR , Alabama
- lbs (alongside) AJ Green
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images ound 2, Pick No. (from Raiders): Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame Round 2, Pick No. 67: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah Round 5, Pick No. 170 (from Browns through Bills and Vikings): Trevis Gipson, EDGE, Tulsa
Kmet was Widely viewed as the best tight end in a bad class of them, so the pick itself seems like it was made at the right time. It’s just a questionable fit. They won’t carry 29 tight ends into the season (probably?), but there are still a lot of them. The Khalil Mack trade and other moves left the team without a ton of picks, so the haul itself was always going to look unimpressive. Fortunately, Jaylon Johnson redeems their draft a bit. He fills a need at corner and has an argument as the best value of the second round. The trio. of fifth-round picks consists of lottery-ticket types with high upside. If just one of them is a productive contributor, they will have done a good job on Day 3.
(Overall Grade: B –
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Chris Graythen / Getty Images
Round 1, Pick No. 1: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU Round 2, Pick No. : Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
- Round 5, Pick No. 162: Khalid Kareem, EDGE , Notre Dame Round 6, Pick No. : Hakeem Adeniji, OT, Kansas
Round 3, Pick No. (from Steelers): Lloyd Cushenberry III, OL, LSU
Round 3, Pick No. (from ers): McTelvin Agim, DT, Arkansas Round 4 , Pick No. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri Round 5, Pick No. (comp pick): Justin Strnad, OLB, Wake Forest Round 6, Pick No. (from Redskins): Netane Muti, OL, Fresno State Round 7, Pick No. 342 (comp pick): Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Florida
- Round 7, Pick No. 350 (comp pick): Derrek Tuszka, DE, North Dakota State
- Drew Lock should send John Elway a box of chocolates or something. The Denver Broncos clearly made him and the offense a top priority in the draft. The general manager said after the event he wanted to add speed and explosiveness, per the
team’s website , and he did just that with his first two picks.Jerry Jeudy was the Biletnikoff Award winner (top receiver in the nation) among an incredibly gifted crop of pass-catchers last season. K.J. Hamler’s ceiling as a versatile burner is a great complement to the crafty route running and consistency of Jeudy.
Perhaps just as important was the third-round selection of Lloyd Cushenberry III. He could presumably slide into the center spot and let free-agent addition Graham Glasgow play guard. (The Team) is poised to see what it has in Lock over the next two seasons. There’s no reason for him to not reach his potential with what the Broncos are putting around him. (Overall Grade: A –
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Leon Halip / Getty Images Round 1, Pick No. 3: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State Round 2, Pick No. : D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
- Round 3, Pick No. (from Colts): Jonah Jackson, OL, Ohio State Round 4, Pick No. (from Raiders): Logan Stenberg, OL, Kentucky Round 5, Pick No. (from Eagles): Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin
- Round 5, Pick No. (from Seahawks through Lions, Patriots and Raiders): Jason Huntley, RB, New Mexico State
- (Round , Pick No. 210 (from Cowboys through Dolphins and Colts): John Penisini, DL, Utah
- Round 7, Pick No. (from Eagles through Patriots): Jashon Cornell, DL, Ohio State With Darius Slay in Philadelphia, the Detroit Lions were fortunate to find the perfect replacement in Jeff Okudah. The Ohio State corner was the no-brainer best player at his position in this class and has all the makings of a shutdown corner. The D ‘Andre Swift pick is good in a vacuum. He was arguably the best running back in the class, but Kerryon Johnson and Bo Scarbrough weren’t the biggest problems on the team last season. Addressing either the offensive or defensive line at No. would have been better. At least they did that with the next three picks. Julian Okwara can develop into a good pass-rusher under head coach Matt Patricia. Both Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg should compete for playing time on an offensive line that was mediocre and lost graham Glasgow. (Grade: B)
- Round 5, Pick No. Kamal Martin, LB, Minnesota Round 6, Pick No. (from Raiders): Jon Runyan, OL, Michigan
- Round 7, Pick No. (From Ravens): Jonathan Garvin, EDGE, Miami
- In an ideal draft, a team should come away with one or two immediate starters, two or three part-time players who could become starters and three or four developmental players with upside. (The Green Bay Packers traded up for Jordan Love. The Utah State quarterback may be good enough to be an NFL starter, but he isn’t supplanting (Aaron Rodgers) in the next two years. Running back Aaron Jones is in the final season of his contract, but AJ Dillon isn’t taking his job this year. Josiah Deguara is not a traditional tight end but is an H-back type who was the (th-ranked tight end on) (Matt Miller’s) big board. So the odds that he takes over as the team’s No. 1 tight end are low. To recap. , that’s zero immediate starters, two part-time players and one developmental player with upside in the first three picks. It was good to see them invest in the offensive line with their Day 3 selections, but if even one of them becomes a starter, it will be a win. Overall Grade: D (of)
- Round 3, Pick No. 108: Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Florida Round 4, Pick No. (from Rams): Charlie Heck, OT, North Carolina Round 4, Pick No. (comp pick from Dolphins): John Reid, CB, Penn State
- Round 5, Pick No. : Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island
Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Round 2, Pick No. (from Cardinals): Ross Blacklock, DL, TCU
The Houston Texans don’t just receive a less than ideal grade because they did not have many picks — Bill O’Brien’s questionable decision-making extended into the draft. Second- round defensive tackle Ross Blacklock was the team’s first selection. He’s a huge gamble given his upside. At his best he is a disruptive penetrator on the inside, but the injury concerns he carries are legitimate. He was a freshman All-American at TCU before missing all of 03178 with a torn Achilles. He rebounded in , but others in the draft fell because of previous injuries, and the Texans did not get a discount. Jonathan Greenard was productive at Florida (31 sacks, (tackles for loss in) ) but did not show the athleticism you’d like to see in an edge-rusher
at the combine (John) was a good selection in the fourth round. He was the No. 117 player on PFF’s big boardand could be a great fit as their nickel corner. Overall Grade: C –
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(Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images )
(Round Round 2, Pick No. (from Redskins): Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
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Grant Halverson / Getty Images Round 1, Pick No. (from Texans through Dolphins): Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
- Round 2, Pick No. AJ Dillon , RB, Boston College
Round 3, Pick No. : Josiah Deguara, TE, Cincinnati
Round 6, Pick No. (from Titans): Jake Hanson, OL, Oregon Round 6, Pick No. Simon Stepaniak , OT, Indiana Round 7, Pick No. (From Bills through Browns): Vernon Scott, S, TCU
(Round Round 2, Pick No. (from Browns): Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
- Round 3, Pick No. (from Eagles via Lions): Julian Blackmon, S, Utah
- Round 6, Pick No. (from Chiefs through Jets ): Isaiah Rodgers, CB, UMass Round 6, Pick No. (comp pick from Patriots) Dezmon Patmon, WR, Washington State Round 6, Pick No. (comp pick from Patriots): Jordan Glasgow, LB, Michigan The Indianapolis Colts were without a first-round pick because of the DeForest Buckner (trade ) with the San Francisco 69 ers but still left the draft with a good haul of impact players. Michael Pittman Jr. might not have been the best receiver on the board, but he was the best fit for what the colts needed. He could be the big-bodied (6’4 ″, (lbs), jump -ball target they were hoping to get when they acquired Devin Funchess before last year. They traded. up three spots with the Browns in the second round to get Jonathan Taylor. His blend of size (5 ’29 ”, (lbs) and speed (4.) (second) – yard dash) makes him a gr eat potential replacement for Marlon Mack, who is entering his fourth season with the team. Safety Malik. Hooker hasn’t lived up to the hype as the No. (pick in) , so even though Julian Blackmon was a reach, he was at least a reach that made sense in terms of roster construction. value of all may have been the 6 ‘ 6 ″, 244 – pound Jacob Eason. It’s amazing that a team didn’t reach on the quarterback given the NFL’s fascination with size and arm strength. However, if he ends up being Philip Rivers ’successor, finding him on Day 3 is an incredible value. (Overall Grade: B )
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Don Juan Moore / Getty Images
Round 1, Pick No. 9: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida Round 1, Pick No. (from Rams): K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
Round 2 , Pick No. 63: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
- Round 3, Pick No. : DaVon Hamilton, DL, Ohio State
Round 4, Pick No. Ben Bartch, OT, St. Andrews. John’s (Minn.) - Round 4, Pick No. (from (ers through Broncos): Josiah Scott, CB, Michigan State (Round 4, Pick No.) (comp pick from Bears): Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami
Ben Bartch On Day 3 is a great example of an upside project who could pay off in a big way. He’s a former tight end who moved to tackle and has the frame (6’6 ″, (lbs) to develop into an NFL tackle. As a fourth-round pick, he can sit for at least a year as he makes the jump from Division III football and might become a starter. (Overall Grade: A –- Round 5, Pick No. () from Falcons through Ravens): Daniel Thomas, S, Auburn Round 5, Pick No. (from Rams): Collin Johnson, WR , Texas Round 6, Pick No. 204: Jake Luton, QB, Oregon State Round 6, Pick No. (from Seahawks): Tyler Davis, TE, Georgia Tech Round 7, Pick No. Chris Claybrooks, CB, Memphis The Jacksonville Jaguars entered the draft as one of its most intriguing teams. With two first-round picks and a borderline need at quarterback, they could have shaken things up. even though They essentially pledged their allegiance to Gardner Minshew II by eschewing a first-round QB, they still shook up the first round a bit when they made CJ Henderson a top – (pick. Henderson was one of the most athletic prospects at corner, so it’s easy to see why they fell in love with him even if he struggled to cover explosive routes last season, per CFB Film Room. He’ll be aided by K’Lavon Chaisson, who is one of the most explosive pass-rushers in the draft class. Laviska Shenault. Jr. could be a steal in the second round. If it weren’t for concerns concerns
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Round 1, Pick No. : Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
- Round 2, Pick No. (from (ers): Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi State
- Round 3, Pick No. : Lucas Niang, OT, TCU
- Round 4, Pick No. : L’Jarius Sneed, CB / S, Louisiana Tech
- Round 5, Pick No. : Mike Danna, EDGE, Michigan Round 7, Pick No. (from Patriots through Broncos and Titans): Thakarius Keyes, CB, Tulane
The defending Super Bowl champions pulled a mild surprise when they took Clyde Edwards-Helaire to close the first round. He was the No. 4 running back and the th overall player on
The Athletic’s consensus big board. He makes sense within the context of the Kansas City Chiefs offense, but an elite running back hardly seems like their biggest concern. Their Day 2 picks redeemed their overall grade. Willie Gay Jr., at 6’1 ″, 255 pounds, looks the part of a modern NFL linebacker. His size and speed (4. 63) combination makes him the kind of elite athlete you need in the middle, and the Chiefs’ linebacker room is underwhelming. Lucas Niang is a great long-term fit. He could be a replacement for Mitchell Schwartz or Eric Fisher down the road but could slide in at one of the guard spots as early as this year. that they waited to address the defensive backfield until the third day drops their grade a bit. The Chiefs are much more likely to lose a playoff game because their secondary wasn’t up to par than the lack of an elite running back. (Overall Grade: B)38 of 53
- (Round , Pick No. : Lynn Bowden Jr., RB / WR, Kentucky Round 3, Pick No. (from Bears): Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina Round 3, Pick No. 117 (comp pick from Patriots): Tanner Muse, LB, Clemson Round 4, Pick No. (from Lions ): John Simpson, G, Clemson
- Round 4, Pick No. (from Buccaneers through Patriots): Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech an incredibly gifted athlete who showed steady hands at Alabama. He was also the team’s No. 3 receiver throughout his time there, so it’s surprising he was the first wideout taken — even over teammate Jerry Jeudy. You’d be hard-pressed to find a mock draft with Arnette in the first round, but the Ohio State cornerback did showcase some toughness while playing with an injured wrist for a large portion of 3212. Lynn Bowden Jr. is the modern-day Kordell Stewart or Antwaan Randle-El, depending on what era you’d like to look back on. He played quarterback in college but will be a receiver / gadget player for the raiders. Bryan Edwards is a talented receiver but dealt with a knee injury that probably dropped his stock.
- (Round , Pick No . 6: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon Round 1, Pick No. Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma Round 4, Pick No. Joshua Kelley, RB, UCLA (Round Round 5, Pick No. 166: Joe Reed, WR, Virginia Round 6, Pick No. : Alohi Gilman, S, Notre Dame Round 7, Pick No. : KJ Hill, WR, Ohio State
- Round 2, Pick No. 74 (from Texans): Van Jefferson, WR, Florida
- Round 3, Pick No. 121 (comp pick): Terrell Burgess, S, Utah
- Round 4, Pick No. (from Dolphins through Texans): Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue
- Round 6, Pick No. 212: Jordan Fuller, S, Ohio State Round 7, Pick No. : Clay Johnston, LB, Baylor
- Round 7, Pick No. 302 (comp pick from Texans): Sam Sloman, K, Miami (Ohio)
- Round 7, Pick No. 302 (comp pick from Texans): Sam Sloman, K, Miami (Ohio)
Vasha Hunt / Associated Press (Round , Pick No. : Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama Round 1, Pick No. (from Bears): Damon Arnette, CB , Ohio StateAlmost every Raiders pick was a high-risk, high-reward play. They could make this grade look dumb or generous in a few years, depending on how many of their bets hit. (Grade: C –
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Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press
The Los Angeles Chargers have staked their entire draft on two players: Justin Herbert and Kenneth Murray. Once they sent the (th and st picks to the Patriots so they could move into the first round and take Murray , they were left with nothing but Day 3 selections. Maybe at least one of that group becomes a starter or rotational player. Receiver K.J. Hill stood out Ohio State, which is not an easy place to do so. But if you’re banking on a Day 3 guy to become a starter so you can come out of a draft with three total, that’s not a good place to be. Obviously, if Herbert becomes the man, none of this will matter. It will simply be the draft where the Chargers got their franchise quarterback. But is anyone that excited about Herbert? If it weren’t for Tua Tagovailoa’s hip injury, Herbert would be the clear-cut third-best quarterback prospect in the class. (Murray is a do-it-all linebacker who should be a starter immediately, but it’s questionable if he was worth giving up another potential starter in the third round for. Overall Grade: C of 54
.Don Juan Moore / Getty Images
Round 2, Pick No. 69: Cam Akers, RB, Florida State
Round 3, Pick No. : Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama
Round 7, Pick No. 320 (comp pick from Texans): Tremayne Anchrum, OL, Clemson
- The Los Angles Rams. have quickly gone from NFC champions to a team that might be in need of a rebuild — having compromised their draft capital in and to do it. So getting good pieces in this draft was incredibly important.
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Round 1, Pick No. 5: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama Round 1, Pick No. (from Steelers): Austin Jackson, OT, USC
Round 1 , Pick No. from (Packers): Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn (Round Round 2, Pick No. : Robert Hunt, G, Louisiana
Round 2, Pick No. 73 (from Saints): Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama
- Round 3, Pick No. : Brandon Jones, S, Texas Round 4, Pick No. (from Dolphins through Texans ): Solomon Kindley, G, Georgia Round 5, Pick No. 169 (from Jaguars through Steelers): Jason Strowbridge, DE, North Carolina Round 5, Pick No. (from Cowboys through Eagles): Curtis Weaver, OLB, Boise State Round 6, Pick No. : Blake Ferguson, LS, LSU Round 7, Pick No. (from Chiefs): Malcolm Perry, WR, Navy
Offensive tackle. Ezra Cleveland must get stronger to handle the bull rush he will see in the NFL but was a good pick in terms of need and draft capital. Regarding Day. 3 picks, DJ Wonnum seems like a reach, but getting Oregon linebacker Troy Dye makes up for it. His abilities in coverage give him the upside to develop into an every-down linebacker if he can get more physical against the run. The Vikings. did well to utilize their treasure trove of picks to fill roster holes — and they’ll need a lot of them to contribute right away. (Overall Grade: A) (of)- for better or worse, this draft will shape the Miami Dolphins for years. After trading Minkah Fitzpatrick, Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills and Kenyan Drake for picks in this class and tanking for Tua, they had to nail the picks.
5 tackles for loss, sacks in three seasons. (Overall Grade: A –- Round 5, Pick No. (from Saints): Harrison Hand, CB, Temple Round 5, Pick No. KJ Osborn, WR, Miami
- Round 6, Pick No. 218: Josh Metellus, S, Michigan Round 7, Pick No. (from Jets through Ravens): Kenny Willekes, EDGE, Michigan State Round 7, Pick No. (from Packers through Browns and Saints): Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa Round 7, Pick No. 309 (comp pick): Brian Cole II, S, Mississippi State
- Round 7, Pick No. 345 (comp pick): Kyle Hinton, OL, Washburn
- after the mass exodus of cornerbacks in free agency and trading of Diggs, the Minnesota Vikings had to find corners and a receiver in this draft. They did just that with their duo of first-round selections in Justin Jefferson and Jeff Gladney. Jefferson was primarily a slot receiver at LSU but is likely to produce wherever he lines up. Gladney will bring attitude to a cornerback room that is in for an overhaul and will need confidence. Cameron Dantzler will join him as a guy who gets early playing time. His length and size (6’2 ″, (lbs) make him a good complement to Gladney (5 ‘ , (lbs), who is smaller and more physical.
Round 3, Pick No. (from Seahawks through Texans and Raiders): Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA
- Round 3, Pick No. 118 (comp pick from Jets): Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech
- Round 5, Pick No. (from Raiders ): Justin Rohrwasser, K, Marshall
- Round 6, Pick No. (from Lions through Colts): Michael Onwenu, OL, Michigan
- Round 6, Pick No. 217 (from Texans): Cassh Maluia, LB, Wyoming
- Round 7, Pick No. (from Falcons): Dustin Woodard, OL, Memphis
- Round 7, Pick No. (from Texans): Tommy Stevens, QB, Mississippi State ) The New Orleans Saints walked away with one of the smallest draft hauls, but that’s a product of their win-now status. They don’t have many holes and should be looking for specific players to put them over the top.
Round 6, Pick No. 208 (from Broncos): Justin Herron, OT, Wake Forest
G Fiume / Getty Images Round 1, Pick No. : Cesar Ruiz, C / G, Michigan Round 3, Pick No. (from Browns): Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin Round 3, Pick No. 122 (comp pick from Vikings): Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton
That’s why. Cesar Ruiz made sense as their first selection. They brought back
Andrus Peat, but Ruiz gives them another player who can start on the interior of the offensive line immediately. He was a center at Michigan but played a few games at guard and should easily slide over to one of the guard spots if necessary.
saw a sharp drop from his No. (ranking on) Matt Miller big board. Some of that is likely because he’s a tweener. He was primarily used as a rush linebacker off the edge at Wisconsin, but Saints head coach Sean Payton
) the (th pick and a) third-round selection to Cleveland for him. Then they traded up again to get one of the best tight ends in a shallow class of them in Adam Trautman. His blocking should allow him to make a quicker contribution than most rookie tight ends.
- Round 1, Pick No. 4: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia Round 2, Pick No. : Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
- Round 3, Pick No. 115 (comp pick): Matt Peart, OT, UConn
- Round 4, Pick No. Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA (Round 5 , Pick No. 165: Shane Lemieux, OL, Oregon
- Round 7, Pick No. : Carter Coughlin, EDGE, Minnesota Round 7, Pick No. (from Saints): TJ Brunson, LB, South Carolina
- Round 7, Pick No. ((comp pick): Chris Williamson, CB, Minnesota
Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images
Round 6, Pick No. : Cam Brown, EDGE, Penn State
- Round 7, Pick No. 364 (comp pick): Tae Crowder, LB, Georgia
- Round 3, Pick No. : DaVon Hamilton, DL, Ohio State
Round 4, Pick No. : Jacob Eason, QB, Washington Round 5, Pick No. 164 (from Lions): Danny Pinter, OL, Ball State Round 6, Pick No. : Robert Windsor, DL, Penn State
New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman gets a lot of flak for his decision-making, but this draft should be cause for pause there. The decision to take Andrew Thomas may be (questionable to some, but he has all the makings of a franchise left tackle. their choice to pass on Isaiah Simmons — who would’ve been a flashier pick — was vindicated further in the second round when they made Xavier McKinney the first safety off the board. Alabama’s McKinney was one of the most versatile defenders in college football behind Simmons, playing snaps in the box, at slot corner and free safety for the Tide. The Giants. went to the offensive line well once again in Round 3 with Matt Peart. Taking a shot on a developmental tackle such as Peart is always good, because even if he doesn’t pan out on the outside, there’s a good chance he can still provide value as a guard down the line. With early picks spent on quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley over the past few years, it was smart to spend draft capital on the offensive line. Say what you want about Gettleman, but this is a strong class with a good opportunity to age well. (Overall Grade: A) (of)
- (Round , Pick No . : Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Timothy D. Easley / Associated Press
Round 2, Pick No. : Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Round 3, Pick No. (from Giants): Ashtyn Davis, S, California
- Round 4, Pick No. : K’Von Wallace, S, Clemson Round 4, Pick No. ((comp pick): Jack Driscoll, OL, Auburn Round 5, Pick No. (from Patriots): John Hightower, WR, Boise State
- Round 6, Pick No . (from Bears): Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple
- Round 6, Pick No. 213 (from Eagles through Bears): Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss
- Round 6, Pick No. (from 67 ers): Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn
- Round 7, Pick No. (from Bears): Casey Toohill, OLB, Stanford
The Philadelphia Eagles’ selection of Jalen Reagor in the first round launched a debate over the merit of taking him over LSU’s Justin Jefferson, but that’s overblown. Reagor wasn’t nearly as productive in 3212, but he also played with a freshman quarterback in Max Duggan, and only . 7 per cent
of the receiver’s targets were accurate, per PFF.
Meanwhile, Jefferson was playing with Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Edwards-Helaire and doing his damage almost exclusively from the slot.
round is where things got baffling. Jalen Hurts was the biggest surprise pick of the draft because it’s hard to even come up with a precedent. Hurts was a productive quarterback at Oklahoma and Alabama, but taking him in the second round with Carson Wentz on the roster doesn’t make much sense at first (or even second glance).
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- Round 6, Pick No. 211: Antoine Brooks Jr., S, Maryland Round 7, Pick No. Carlos Davis, DT, Nebraska
Alex Highsmith did face the greatest competition at Charlotte, but he has the bend and athleticism to offer upside as a pass-rusher. With Bud Dupree set to play on the franchise tag this season, Highsmith could be a big part of their defensive plans.
- Round 6, Pick No. (from Falcons through Eagles): Charlie Woerner, TE, Georgia
- Round 7, Pick No. (from Lions): Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee
- With two picks in the first round and no picks again until the fourth, the San Francisco 66 ers were in a position trade down from No. to get more Day 2 selections. Instead, they moved up to get wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at No. 45. With their first two picks, the Niners made up for two of their most important losses. Javon Kinlaw’s potential as a disruptive pass-rusher gives him a ceiling that is as high — if not higher — than Derrick Brown’s. He’ll need to replace DeForest Buckner. Aiyuk is the replacement for Emmanuel Sanders. The veteran receiver left for the Saints in free agency, and head coach Kyle Shanahan felt Aiyuk () (wouldn’t be available ) by the time they were on the clock at No. . It’s hard. to fault an organization for going after a guy it really likes, but this receiver class was so deep it’s tough to believe Aiyuk is that much better than Pittman, Shenault, Hamler or some of the receivers who fell to the second round. (Overall Grade: B –
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- Round 4, Pick No. : DeeJay Dallas, RB, Miami
- Round 5, Pick No. 163 (from Redskins through Panthers): Alton Robinson, EDGE, Syracuse
- Round 6, Pick No. (comp pick): Freddie Swain, WR, Florida
- (Round , Pick No. 328 (comp pick from Dolphins): Stephen Sullivan, TE, LSU
Ed Zurga / Getty Images
- With two picks in the first round and no picks again until the fourth, the San Francisco 66 ers were in a position trade down from No. to get more Day 2 selections. Instead, they moved up to get wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at No. 45. With their first two picks, the Niners made up for two of their most important losses. Javon Kinlaw’s potential as a disruptive pass-rusher gives him a ceiling that is as high — if not higher — than Derrick Brown’s. He’ll need to replace DeForest Buckner. Aiyuk is the replacement for Emmanuel Sanders. The veteran receiver left for the Saints in free agency, and head coach Kyle Shanahan felt Aiyuk () (wouldn’t be available ) by the time they were on the clock at No. . It’s hard. to fault an organization for going after a guy it really likes, but this receiver class was so deep it’s tough to believe Aiyuk is that much better than Pittman, Shenault, Hamler or some of the receivers who fell to the second round. (Overall Grade: B –
- Round 7, Pick No. (from Lions): Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee
David J. Phillip / Associated Press
Round 1, Pick No. (from Buccaneers) : Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina Round 1, Pick No. : Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State Round 5, Pick No. 168 (from Dolphins): Colton McKivitz, OT, West Virginia
DK Metcalf and Russell Wilson drew a lot of attention away from the fact that the Seattle Seahawks appear to have whiffed on their first two draft picks last year. L.J. Collier and Marquise Blair were both nearly invisible on defense last season. The Seahawks. might be once again calling on their third pick to carry the draft class. Trading up for Damien Lewis to upgrade the interior of their offensive line might be the best move they made. Seattle is no stranger to taking risks in the draft, and selecting linebacker Jordyn Brooks one pick ahead of Patrick Queen certainly qualifies. This edge. -rusher class wasn’t much to get excited about, but Darrell Taylor is a second-round project who may never help. the success. of the franchise and Wilson’s ability have hidden the fact that the Seahawks haven’t been that great in the draft recently. That trend continued over the weekend. Overall Grade: C –
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- Round 2, Pick No. : Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota Round 3, Pick No. : Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt Round 5, Pick No. Tyler Johnson, WR , Minnesota
- Round 6, Pick No. : Khalil Davis, DL, Nebraska
Round 1, Pick No. (from Colts via (ers): Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
Round 7, Pick No. (from Seahawks through Patriots): Chapelle Russell, OLB, Temple
Round 7, Pick No. 278 (from (ers): Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana
with the Tom Brady era getting started in Tampa, the Bucs couldn’t have asked for a better scenario. The offensive line is the last piece of the puzzle, considering the skill they have around TB . Wirfs ’floor seems to be that of one of the league’s best guards. Antoine Winfield. Jr. was the Wirfs of the safeties. He was in the same class as the rest of the second-rounders at his position, and the Bucs were once again fortunate that he made it to their next pick. He can do a little bit of everything in the defensive backfield and should provide a great return on the investment. Shawn Vaughn may have been a bit of a reach in the third round, but the Bucs needed to add to their running back rotation. Receiver Tyler Johnson is not great at any one thing but has an awful lot of polish for someone taken on Day 3.
Great value all over the place for Tampa. It keeps winning the offseason.
(Overall Grade: A)
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Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images
Round 2, Pick No. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
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- Round 1, Pick No. 2: Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State Round 3, Pick No. (Antonio Gibson, WR, Memphis) Round 4, Pick No. : Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU
Round 4, Pick No. (comp pick): Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
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