Well it's over , and I am getting a good nights sleep again after a hurried final week before draft day. So now it's time to give grades based on what I think right now , even though you usually don't know how a teams draft actually worked out for 2 to 4 years. Without further ado here it is. I will post each teams detailed grade alphabetically , but if you just want the overall letter grade , and team rankings they will be at the bottom of the page. A good solid pick is graded as a B , and so is the overall draft. I count both value of the player at their draft slot , and filling a need equally , but if a team had a big need and didn't fill it that is a no-no. The higher I rate the player the more value I subscribe , and the higher picks count for more most of the time. Plus later in the draft from day 3 on I fully support just taking BPA ( Best Player Available ) over need. Plus there are times you just have to take BPA no matter what because the value is too great compared to the available players who can fill a need. Examples like CD Lamb in 2019 or Kyle Hamilton 2021 were A+ picks to me even though neither was a immediate need. Plus players that can help now should be emphasized by teams in a legit Championship window. In the 6th & 7th round any draft pick that isn't a value is just a B to me , because special teams are usually a big point of emphasis that late so I won't even mention them unless its really good or bad. Also I have absolutely no idea how to grade kickers & punters so I just don't count them as part of the grade unless they take them very high , which is a negative in my opinion. The greatest kickers of ALL TIME (Tucker & Vinatieri ) were undrafted , and with the exception of Ray Guy ( 1rst round) punters are even more random. As always if I think a team got a franchise QB that is a automatic A+ for the pick, because even if the rest of their draft is crap the overall draft was still a success. Plus if you get a guy I believe is a blue chip player that pick is automatic A+ too. Agreeing or disagreeing is welcome, but please do it intelligently & respectfully or I just won't post it. so here it is. Enjoy.
ARIZONA CARDINALS - A - The cards had the most draft ammo of anyone with two 1rst rounders , 7 of the top 90 picks , 9 of the top 138 , and 12 picks overall. Getting the highest graded player in the draft with the 5th pick , and filling a need with Marvin Harrison JR. is a beast mode move. Plus I love that they didn't trade away from him. A+ . Darius Robinson was a high 2nd rounder on my board, but he fills a need , and has both a high floor & upside - B- . They got CB Max Melton about right where I had him and he fills a need - B . Trey Benson was my highest rated RB , I had him in the second , they got in the top of the 3rd, and he fills a secondary need considering the age & wear & tear on Conner - A- . Guard Isaiah Adams fills a need , and they got him in the late 3rd where I had him , but I had 3 other guards ranked ahead of him that were still available ahead of him when he was picked. - B- . I had a late 5th round grade on Tip Reiman , I had 5 TE's ranked ahead of him that were available when they took him , and it was a secondary need but he does have a high upside. - C- . CB Elijah Jones was a mid 5th rounder on my board, they took him in the late 3rd, and a whole lot of corners I like more were available when they took him. - D+ . Safety Dadrion Taylor-Emerson was taken in the early 4th & I had a late 4th on him , and I had a few safeties available ranked ahead of him . - C+ . I had edge rusher Xavier Thomas in late 5th , I had multiple other edge's available ahead of him , but they took him in the early 5th & I had him in the late 5th. - B- . They got OT Christian Jones in the mid 5th , I had him in the late 3rd, and he fills a need. - A+ .
ATLANTA FALCONS - C - The Michael Penix pick made no sense to me unless they have reason to believe that Kirk Cousins isn't going to be returning on time or that he won't be healthy at all. You just gave the guy a 4 year 180 million dollar deal with 100 million guaranteed. That 100 million means you are committed to him for at least 2 seasons , and this team is primed to win the division this year with a good draft ,and once you are in the playoffs anything can happen. Atlanta was also in a prime position to take the first defensive player off the board, and they really need help on defense. All signs pointed to the Raiders taking Penix at #13 so I get not trading back, but he better be a Aaron Rodgers type or the franchise will be hearing about this pick for years if they come up a edge rusher short in the post season in the next few years. They tried to trade back into the first and take Latu , but it didn't work. Penix is a QB so over drafting comes with the territory , but Latu would look really good in black & red. Latu went 15th to the Colts so they could have traded back a few spots , picked up some extra draft capitol , and still got him if they didn't take Penix. - D . Not only did they over draft Ruke Orhorhoro , but they also traded up to do it giving up a mid 3rd rounder as the price. Ruke was a very late 2nd on my board, they took him high in the 2nd, and there were 3 much higher rated DT's on the board, including JERZAHN FREAKING NEWTON! - D+ . Edge Bralen Trice is a solid pick in the 3rd as a power strong side end if they are playing a 4-3. B . DT/DE Brandon Dorlus is great value in the early 4th , but he is also a similar player to Ruke Orhorhoro even if they look nothing alike. So maybe they are playing some 3-4 too. I had a solid 2nd on him. A . I love the JD Bertrand pick in the 5th because I had a early 4th on him. A .
BALTIMORE RAVENS - B+ - Baltimore always drafts well , and they usually just sit & wait for good players that fall into their lap. They are the team that proves that BPA works so often , especially on day 3. Nate Wiggins at pick #30 is a value , and fills a need. I had a late 1rst on him , and teams rarely have a 1st round grade on a player they pick that late. I admit to being a little surprised when they took him because he isn't the bravest guy in run support or as a tackler, and that doesn't fit the Ravens ,, or the NFC North. If he wants to fit into that locker room he will have to man up tackling. B . OT Roger Rosengarten fills a need, and went right about where I expected. B . Edge rusher Adissa Isaac was value. I had him in the early 3rd and they got him in the late 3rd. B+ . I had a late 3rd on WR Tez Walker , they got him in the mid 4th , and he fills a need. B+ . I had a solid 2nd on corner TJ Tampa , and they got him in the late 4th. A+ . RB Rasheen Ali was a 6th for me , and they took him in the late 5th. B- . Developmental QB Devin Leary was a 6th for me also. B .
BUFFALO BILLS - B- - The Bills pissed me off when they traded back, and it wasn't because they traded back, but because they got so little while doing so. Yes they have cap problems and need more picks , but their GM Brandon Beane needs to do a better job of getting what his team deserves. Dallas got a high 3rd to move back from 24 to 28 , and that's value. The Bills went from 28 to 32 with a team they are chasing in KC, and all they got was a swap of a 4th for a 3rd and slightly higher 7th rounder? Then they traded back one spot , but out of the first round with Carolina giving up the very valuable 5th year option, What did they get ? A 5th for a 6th. That's just plain stupid , and I am docking them a full letter grade for that on the overall tram grade. WR Keon Coleman fills a big need , and I had a few WR"s ranked ahead of him , as he as 50th on my board. I am not going to punish them for that much because they need a big WR. B- . Safety Cole Bishop fills a need, and I had early 3rd on him , and the took him in the late 2nd. He fits their team though because he can play both high & low and flipping their safeties is one of the ways they disguise coverages. B . They got DT Dwayne Carter right where I had him in the late 3rd , and he fills a need. B . I had a late 3rd on RB Ray Davis and they got him in the late 4th. A . Center Sedrick Van Pran-Grainger fills a big need, I had him in the late 4th , and they got him with a high 5th. B+ . I had a late 4th on LB Edefuan Ulofoshio and they got him in the mid 5th. A- . I had Edge rusher Javon Soloman as a high 5th and they got him in the late 5th. Plus they traded back a few spots and got a extra 6th out of it bumping up the grade. A .
CAROLINA PANTHERS - B - I am not punishing the Panthers for trading away the #1 pick, because I still believe in the long term future of Bryce Young , and that's the price you pay for trading up to number one to get a potential franchise QB. Kudos for suckering the Bills and paying a teeny price to move up one spot , and get the 5th year option on Xavier Legette. I had other WR's ranked ahead of him available , but they needed a big strong handed WR , and that's Xavier. B . I like Jonathan Brooks , and they are rebuilding so even if he isn't fully ready to play to his past level this year it makes sense because he had the best tape of all the RB"s in the draft this season. Not a need though. Although I did have a high 3rd on him , and 2 other RB's ahead on my board. B- . LB Trevin Wallace has a very high ceiling , but isn't ready to be starter yet, but again they are rebuilding for the future , and he should at least be a core special teamer this season. Yet I had a high 4th on him, and they took him in the high 3rd. C . TE Ja'tavion Sanders was a high 2nd on my board, fills a big need, and they got him with the first pick of the 4th round. Plus he is a big target with great hands again. A+ . If they flipped the Wallace and Sanders picks it would make more sense to me. I had a very late 5th on CB Chau Smith-Wade and they got him with a mid 4th, but he fills a need. B- .
CHICAGO BEARS - A - It's hard to screw up a draft with the #1 & #9 overall picks , and the bears didn't by getting 2 of my blue chip players which is A+. Despite my worries about Caleb Williams being a myopic selfish snowflake & liking Drake Maye slightly more he is still absolutely worth the # 1 overall pick. Plus the trade that netted them the #1 overall pick , and DJ Moore was a masterpiece. A+ . When you already have DJ Moore & Keenan Allen getting Rome Odunze is overkill , but this is the last year of Allen's deal. The bears nailed this pick, and the rest of the league should be kicking themselves for not trading up and taking him before they could snag him. A+ . They got high ceiling developmental Yale O-Lineman Kiran Amegadjie right where I had him. B . Getting high ceiling edge rusher Austin Booker in the early 5th when I had a late 3rd on him is a steal. A+ . For only drafting 4 players ( I don't count punters or kickers) they did awesome.
CINCINATTI BENGALS - B - The Bengal's need to protect Joe Burrow , but they already have 2 massive OT's in Orlando & Trent Brown. Yet Trent is on a cheap short deal , and has played both sides so he would be a high level swing tackle if Mims is ready to play now. Mims is another giant with a high upside, but only 8 starts is a worry so I have him just outside the first round. B- . DT Kris Jenkins fills a big need and they got him about where I had him. B . WR Jermaine Burton fills a need , and has 2nd round talent. Yet he has a large list of character questions which is why I put him in the high 4th round , and they took him in the mid 3rd. The Bengals have a history of taking guys with these problems and they workout enough of the time that I get it. C+ . DT Mckinnley Jackson can help fill that DJ Reader sized hole in their defense. I had him at the top of the fourth , and the got him in the late 3rd. Plus he was the only viable Nose Tackle left. B . TE Erick All is very talented , but injury prone so I put him in the 5th, and they took him in the mid 4th. C . I had CB Josh Newton with a high 6th round grade and they took him in the mid 5th. C+ . TE Tanner McLaclan is a 5th on my board ,and they got him in the mid 6th. it's good value , but they now have 5 viable NFL TE's on the roster. Is All going to start on IR? A . I had a late 4th on run stuffing edge Cedrick Johnson and the got him in the late 6th. A+ . I had a 6th on center Matt Lee and they got him in the 7th. A- .
CLEVELAND BROWNS - B - I had a late 3rd on DT Mike Hall , and they took him in the late 2nd but he has character issues. He is from Ohio , and I am not sure if that's a good or bad thing for his future character. Does he have troubled friends from home ? Or will being around family , and good friends help him stay the course? He is very like current DT Maurice Hurst . C I love the pick of guard Zak Zinter , and maybe even more than I should because I predicted it in my draft day mock. B . WR Jamari Thrash was a steal to me. I had him in the 4th and they took him in the 5th. A . LB Nathaniel Watson is one of 4 guys I mistakenly left off my board while typing it up. I had him in the 5th and they got him in the 6th. A . I had CB Myles Harden in the 6th and they got him in the 7th. A- .
DALLAS COWBOYS - B+ - I have been highly critical of the Jones family , and how badly they had botched the off season before the draft , but with the exception of not getting a RB they did pretty well. I can't give them an A because they completely ignored that huge need at running back , and I absolutely believe that they should have either traded back into the 4th or 5th to get a RB. Audrick Estime can do everything Zeke can do at this stage , and he would have been younger & cheaper. Estime went in the 5th. Getting that high 3rd rounder to move back 4 spots in the first , and still getting high upside OT Tyler Guyton was a boss move. Fills a need too , and grabbing the extra 3rd bumps up the grade. A . Edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland was solid value , and fills need after losing Armstrong & Fowler to former DC Dan Quinn with the rival Commanders. B . Getting mauling guard Cooper Beebe in the 3rd filled a big need , and they got him where I had him , but its even better because they want to move him to center which I wanted to do as well. B+ . LB Marist Liufau is one of 4 players I mistakenly left on my board when I was typing it up , but I had him in the early 4th and they took him in the late 3rd. B- . I had a late 3rd on CB Caelen Carson and they got him in the late 5th. Plus he fills a need. A+ . WR Ryan Flournoy one was one of 3 players that were drafted that I hadn't watched at all , but I did 3 games on Sunday. I would have put him in the mid 5th , and they got him in the late 6th. A- . I had a 6th on rocked up developmental up O-Lineman Nathan Thomas , and they got him in the 7th. A- .
DENVER BRONCOS - B - I had a late 2nd on QB Bio Nix , and they took him in the top half of the first. If they had traded back , and had gotten some picks before taking him it would have made more sense to me because he is a QB who fits what HC Sean Payton wants. Its just poor value at #12 , and I don't see anyone else taking him in the top 25. C- . Edge rusher Jonah Ellis was taken in the 3rd where I had him , but I thought there were better edge rushers available , and he may end up as just a situational pass rusher. B- . I had a 2nd on WR Troy Franklin , and they got him in the 4th. He not only fills a need , but he was the #1 WR of new QB Bo Nix , and they will already have great chemistry. A+. I had a late 3rd on undersized CB Kris Abrams-Draine , but they stole him at the top of the 5th. Plus he fills a need. A+ . I have a late 3rd on powerful RB Audric Estime and the got him in the 5th. Plus he is a natural replacement for Samaje Perine when his contract runs out. A+ .
DETROIT LIONS - B+ - Every year in the Dan Campbell era the Lions trade up , and reach for players but they also get steals later in the draft so if they had taken the same players in a different order I would have liked it. CB Terrion Arnold was a steal at #24 . He was my 2nd corner , #15 overall on my board , and I had a solid 1rst round grade on him so he probably shouldn't have been available that late. I am actually OK with them giving up a relatively high 3rd rounder to move up for this guy. He fills a big need too. B+ . I had a high 2nd on feisty CB Ennis Rakeshaw and they got him in the late 2nd. They now have turned the weakest position on their roster into a potential strength. B+ . This is where it gets dicey. Big athletic raw Canadian OT Giovanni Manu was a 6th on my board as a developmental draft & follow guy. They traded a 2025 third rounder to take him in the 4th. It's unlikely this guy helps this years team much, and they are in a ALL IN championship window so if they had taken a guy that would help them more this season I would get it. So it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. The Lions have to keep him on the 53 man roster because multiple rebuilding teams would steal him off the practice squad. Has a great upside , but it seemed out of character for this teams right now Superbowl aspirations. D . Safety/RB Sione Vaki is another guy who isn't real ready to play now , although I like his upside at RB more than safety , but he said in the pre-draft process that he prefers to play safety. Plus the Lions are already stacked at RB. They took him in the late 4th and I had a late 5th on him. C . I had a late 3rd on stocky explosive DT Mekhi Wingo . and they got him in the mid 6th. A+ . I freaking love the run blocking of guard Christian Mahogony , and I had a high 3rd round grade on him , and if it weren't for some injury questions I would have him in the 2nd round & in my top 50. Maybe the injuries are worse than I thought , but getting this guy with a late 6th is a Oceans 11 type heist of a steal! Unless he needs surgery this season I expect him to start some games this year , and be a long term starter in Detroit. A++ . So they did it again , because if you put these picks in a different order I would love them , but trading away that 2025 3rd bugs me enough to dock them half a letter grade.
GREEN BAY PACKERS - B+ - Overall I like The Packers draft , because like the Lions they amassed a lot of talent even if it was drafted out of order on my board. Yet this team is in the last year of Jordan Loves cheap contract , and I wish they had went ALL IN both in free agency & the draft , but they didn't. Instead of signing some key free agents & trading some 2025 picks they just played it like any other year. Short armed athletic OT Jordan Morgan reminds me of their right tackle Zach Tom , and I had a high 3rd round grade on him , but they took him in the late first. Although the Packers do develop O-Lineman very well. D+ . LB Edgerrin Cooper was the #1 off the ball linebacker on my board , and I had him just outside the 1rst round at #28 overall. They got him in the mid 2nd at pick 45. A-. I absolutely love Safety/slot CB Javon Bullard. He was just outside the first round on my board at #30 and they got him in the late 2nd. A . RB Marshawn Lloyd was my #2 overall runner at 59th on my board with a 2nd round grade , and they got him in the late 3rd round. A . I had a high 6th on LB Tyrone Hopper because even though he is athletic & toolsy he is lacking at diagnosing plays, and he plays out of control. They took him in the late 3rd when a whole lot of LB's I liked more were still available. D . I had a priority free agency grade on center Jake Monk , and they took him in the 5th. Plus I had 2 draftable centers available on my board, but again the Packers do develop O-Lineman very well. D .Safety Kitan Oladapo was a late 4th on my board , and they got him in the late 5th. A . QB Michael Pratt was a early 6th on my board, and they got him in the late 7th. A .Once highly touted CB Kalen King went downhill this season , and I think he lost some confidence after Marvin Harrison JR. took it to him. I had him in the 6th , and they got him in the really late 7th. A- .
HOUSTON TEXANS - B - The ALL IN Texans already had a pretty stacked roster , and that's why I believe they traded out of the 1rst round before the draft , but I bet that if they knew that Jerzahn Newton would be available at pick #27 they wouldn't have. I liked all of their first 4 picks anyway , but I'm not sure of the value on 2 of them. CB Kamari Lassiter is a smart, tough , grinder , but he also ran a very slow 4.64 at his Pro Day . However in the Texans scheme he has a good chance to work out. I moved him back a full round after he didn't run at the combine , and then ran slow at the Pro day. So its a round early for me, and there were multiple higher ranked CB's on my board . Yet again I like the fit ,especially in the slot. Also both Cooper Dejean & Koolaid Mckinstry went in the picks before him , and I wish they had traded back up a little for either one instead. C . They got OT Blake Fisher where I had him , and he fills a need. I think he's their starting right tackle this season. B . Tall lean safety Calen Bullock was a guy I thought might have a chance to go in the first round if he had a good season , but he didn't . He covers a lot of ground from centerfield , but had some serious lapses tackling & being too aggressive in coverage. I really think he should move to corner, and so I put him in the late 4th , but they took him in the mid 3rd. C . I had a late 3rd on TE Cade Stover , and they got him in the late 4th. A .
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - A- - I'm pretty sure that the Colts hope was that TE Brock Bowers would fall to the 15th pick, but the Falcons shocked the world by drafting Penix at #9 , and so the Raiders pivoted to Bowers. Consequently the Colts pivoted to Laiatu Latu , but it was a great pick in my opinion. He is not only clearly the best pass rusher in the draft , but the most polished pass rusher to enter the draft since Nick Bosa. He is ready to produce right now , and getting my 8th overall player at pick 15 is awesome. A . AD Mitchell is a big , fast , toolsy WR , but type one diabetes and his failure to consistently manage it caused him to fall. He was 32nd on my board , and they got him at 52. A . Matt Goncalves was a early 4th on my board, and they took him in the mid 3rd. C+ . I had athletic center/guard Tanor Bortolini as a solid mid 3rd rounder , and they got him in the mid 4th. I think there is a chance he starts over Will Fries at right guard this year , and at the very least he is your gameday backup interior swingman. A- . WR Anthony Gould was a 5th on my board and that's where they got him. B . Safety Jaylin Carlies looks like a specials teams player who needs to move to LB full time. He was a priority free agent on my board, but if he moves to LB I could see it. They took him in the mid 5th. C- .
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - B- - I love that they traded back and still got WR Brian Thomas JR. Picking up a 5th in this draft , and a 3rd & 4th in 2025 and still getting Thomas was probably the most savvy move that GM Trent Baalke has ever made, as I am not usually not a fan. B+ . Disappointing DT Maason Smith has never lived up to the promise of his freshman tape. He has a elite frame & all the tools , and I actually thought he would return to form and end up a 1rst rounder this year. Yet he was inconsistent. He fits Baalke's tools & traits over production mind set though. If he hits it could be huge. I had him in the mid 4th , and they took him in the mid 2nd. C- . I had late 5th on speedy , but sometimes clueless CB Jarrian Jones. They took him in the late 3rd. C- . I had a 5th on OT Javon foster, and they took him in the 5th. B . I had a 5th on DT Jordan Jefferson and they took him in the 4th. C . I had a 6th on CB Deantre Prince , and they took him in the 5th. C . RB Keilan Robinson has very little tape as a RB so I couldn't put him on my board, but he looks like a great special teams player. B . 7h rounder Myles Cole is a super toolsy edge , but he rarely uses his length right , and you only see him live up to his talent in flashes. He is another guy that fits Baalke profile. B .So for the most part is was tools & traits over good football players again , but if just half of them hit it will end up a great draft.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - B- - WR Xavier Worthy has ELITE speed , but he is limited by his light frame. There are 2 coaches who I believe have a good chance to use him right ,and they are Mike Mcdaniel & Chiefs coach Andy Reid. Plus every WR is better with Mahomes throwing them the ball. Its just that he was a late 2nd on my board, and they traded up in the first to take him , but they did it cheaply at least. C+ . The Chiefs needed to replace at least one OT , and when they traded up I thought they were trading up to take Tyler Guyton who was the last the last OT I would have taken in the first round. Instead they took Worthy , and then took Kingsley Suamataia at the end up the 2rd in another small trade up. Kingley is powerful , and he reminds me of Chiefs RG Trey Smith, because I think he would have to play guard to give quality NFL snaps right now. Hopefully they took him for because they won't be able to afford Smith who is a free agent after the season. Maybe the can coach him up , because he has the tools , but I had him in the 3rd for a reason. C. Jared Wiley. I had a late 3rd on toolsy TE Jared Wiley , and they got him in the 4th. I am not comparing him To Travis Kelce who is one of the greatest TE's in history , but he does have a similar athletic traits. At Kelce's age drafting a guy who can learn from him , and hopefully be the # 1 TE after Kelce retires in 2 or 3 years makes a ton of sense. B+ . I have a 2nd on safety Jaden Hicks , and I was surprised he fell to the late 4th , but he is a steal there. A+ . C/G Hunter Nourzad was needed after Nick Allegretti signed with Washington. I had him in the 5th and that's where they got him. B . I had CB Kamal Hadden in the 6th and they took him there too. B .
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS - A - All week Leading up to the draft , on draft day & after day one was over rumors pointed to the Raiders being locked in on QB Michael Penix with the 13th pick. Yet they sure pivoted well after the Falcons took Penix by drafting ACE tight end Brock Bowers. It wasn't a need, and I did expect them to fill a bigger need with a right tackle or corner, but getting a blue chipper at pick #13 is a steal worthy of Doris Payne! Plus Bowers is a offensive weapon more than a TE , and getting him and Michael Mayer on the field at the same time will help the run game, and open up big play opportunities for all the receiving weapons. This team now has future HOFer Davante Adams , a good slot WR in Jakobi Myers, and 2 good receiving TE's. If Aidan O'connell or Gardner Minshew can't at least be solid with all that they don't deserve to be starting NFL games. Although if any good veteran QB becomes available next off season they should be seriously be considering the Raiders. A+ . Apparently a couple of concussions caused Jackson-Powers Johnson to fall to the 2nd round. He was the clear cut best center in this draft with 1rst round tape , but he can also play guard , and I think he will be their starting right guard from day one. A+ . Supposedly they drafted Delmar Glaze to be a tackle, and he has the ability , but not the technique. I gave him a high 6th round grade , and they took him in the 3rd. Maybe they can coach him up , but for now it's a big reach to me. D . I have a 4th on CB Decamerion Richardson, and that's where they got him. B . I had a 4th on high IQ LB Tommy Eichenberg , and they got him at the top of the 5th. B+ . They got RB Dylan Laube in the 6th where I had him. B . I see getting CB MJ Devonshire in the 7th as a steal because I had him in the 5th. A .
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS - A- - I really expected the Chargers to trade back , and gather picks at #5 , but I can't hate on anyone who takes Joe Alt , and he fills a need. He was a blue chip player , and #3 on my overall board , and I don't like trading away from blue chippers. A+ . I also like WR/return man Ladd McConkey at the top of the 2nd, but I kind of feel sorry for him. He went from a college offense that doesn't throw him the ball enough to a Pro offense that probably won't throw him the ball enough. B . I had Michigan LB Junior Colson being drafted by Harbaugh in the early second. He was #37 on my board , and they got him in the early 3rd round. A+ . DT Justin Eboigbe was a high 6th to me , and taking him in the top of the 4th was a large reach to me. D . I think CB Tarheeb Still was too high , but he is a press man guy who fits Harbaugh's defense. C- . I love the fit even better for their next CB in Cam Hart. I had a early 4th on him , and they got him in the late 5th. A . They got RB Kimani Vidal in the 6th where I had him . B . I have no idea how or why WR Brendan Rice fell to the 7th round, but I had a late 3rd on him , and getting him in the 7th is a steal worthy of Frank Abagnale JR. A+ . WR Cornelius Johnson is another Michigan guy , and he can help the other WR's learn the scheme. B .
LOS ANGELES RAMS B+ - Powerful edge rusher Jared Verse is a 1rst rounder worthy of the pick and he fills a big need. B . DT/DE Braden Fiske is a perfect fit , and solid value. B . I had RB Blake Corum in the 2nd , they got him in the mid 3rd , and he fits the power man/gap scheme Mcvay Switched to last season. Plus he will keep them from running down 2023 breakout Kyren Williams with overuse. A . I had safety Kamren Kinchens in the late 3rd , and that's where they took him. In this safe vanilla defense where he won't have so many responsibilities I think he might return to his 2022 form where he looked like a future 1rst rounder. B .They got another power edge in Brennan Jackson , and they took him in the 5th where I had him. B .Stocky NT Tyler Davis has solid tape , but I'm not sure if he will play as well in the NFL. He has short arms , and is undersized for nose in the pros. C . I had a late 5th on interior swingman Beau Limmer ,and they got him in the late 6th. A . KT Leveston can play both tackle & guard, but I had him as a 6th , and they got him near the end of the 7th. A .
MIAMI DOLPHINS - B - Twitchy edge rusher Chop Robinson was a overdraft for me because he has more talent than production , and he may end up as just a situational pass rusher. Plus interior O-Lineman Jackson Powers-Jhonson and Graham Barton were still available and would have filled a big need. Although since Miami does run a 3-4 Robinson has a better chance to become a starter at OLB. I had Chop as mid 2nd and they took him in the first where multiple players were available with actual 1rst round grades. C- . I love the Patrick Paul pick. He fills a big need with the injury history of Terron Armstead , and they got him right where I had him. B . Explosive RB Jaylen Wright fits this team. He not only is a home run hitter, but a plus in the passing game as both a receiver & blocker. With Mostert being in his 30's , and despite playing a lot last season he is injury prone. So the wheels could fall off any time. Speedster Achane is undersized too. Plus he was hurt multiple times last season, and doesn't have Jaylen's size & power to be a bell cow back for the long term. I had Wright with a high 3rd round grade , and they got him in the mid 4th. A . I had small school edge Mo Kamara in the 6th where they got him. B . Explosive WR Malik Washington kind of reminds me of current Dolphin Jaylen Waddle. I had him in the 3rd , and they stole him in the 6th like they were Vincenzo Peruggia in a museum. A+ .
MINNESOTA VIKINGS - B - I have a high 2nd round grade on QB JJ McCarthy , and if they had traded up into the top 5 at a huge cost for him I would have given them a F for the pick, but they stayed cool. They ended up only moving up one spot using a couple of day 3 picks to get their QB of the future. C+ . I love trading up to get high upside young edge rusher Dallas Turner. He was 11th on my board , and they got him at #17. A . CB Khyree Jackson has ELITE upside if he is dedicated to football , they got him at the top of the 4th where I had him , and he fills a need. B . LT Walter Rouse is a 5 year starter on the blindside. I mistakenly left him off my board when I was typing it up , but I had him in the 6th where they got him. B .
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - B+ - Drake Maye ended up my #1 QB in a great QB draft , and this blue chip signal caller fell to the Patriots at #3. I still think they need a upgrade at left tackle, but this pick was a slam dunk in my book. A+ . I had a 2nd on Polk , and that's where they got him. He is a tough versatile WR with good hands , and I think he ends up as Mayes's number one guy early , but is better as a #2 wideout long term. B . Caeden Wallace has always been a right tackle, and that's' where I think they should leave him. They got him in the 3rd where I had him , and he fills a need. I believe he starts there as a rookie, but I question the results if they flip him over to the left side. B . I had guard Layden Robinson in the 5th , and they drafted him at the top of the 4th when I had a few guards available ahead of him. C . WR Javon Baker was good value in the 4th. I had him in the 3rd , and they took him the 4th. Plus they got Maye another potential weapon. Big rocket armed QB Joe Milton went in the 6th where I had him, but he's a long term developmental guy. B . I'm not sure what they will do with versatile TE/WR/RB Jaheim Bell, but I think he would be best as a RB. I had him in the 6th and they got him in the 7th. A .
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - B+ - I love freaking mauler Taliese Fuaga , but I think he should stay at right tackle , or at least on the right side. If Ryan Ramczyk isn't healthy he can slide in to RT , or even play guard, but I think their plan is to move him to the blindside. Not sure how that works out early in pass pro , but he will kick ass in the run game wherever he is lined up. B . Corner Koolaid Mckinstry fell to the 2nd round due to injury concerns, but I have a 1rst round grade on him. Plus he can return punts well. A . QB Derek Carr gets real expensive soon , and they drafted Jake Haener last year , and now Spencer Rattler in the 5th this year. Rattler fell due to maturity issues , but even then the 5th round is a great value for a guy with his mechanics & tight spiral. I had him in the late 3rd. A+ . WR Bub Means was a priority free agent to me , but they got him in the late 5th. D+ . I had LB Jaylan Ford in the 6th , and they got him in the late 5th. B- . Strong DT Khristian Boyd is a value in the 6th , because I had him in the 5th. A .
NEW YORK GIANTS - A- - I still think the Giants need a QB badly , but I can't blame them for taking Nabers when any QB left at #6 would have been a reach. They needed a #1 WR badly , and a blue chip WR is a slam dunk at #6 as my #2 overall player in the whole draft. A+ . I had a 1rst round grade on Nubin , and they got him in the mid 2nd. Plus he fills a need. A . I had a late 2nd on high upside CB Andru Phillips , and they got him in the top of the 3rd. B+ . TE Theo Johnson looks like the prototype inline T tight end , and he has the tools to pull it off , but he's still raw right now. They got him at the top of the 4th , and I admit that I thought someone this talented might go even higher. I had him in the top of the 5th , but it's hard to punish a team much for taking a guy with this much natural ability early. B- . RB Tyrone Tracy has a ton of ability , but he needs to play more to unlock his potential. I had him in the 4th and they got him in the 5th. A . Overall a good job , but I wish they had addressed the O-Line somewhere in the draft.
NEW YORK JETS - B - The Jets need to get guys to protect Aaron Rodgers , and weapons for him to throw to , and they did with their top 2 picks. OT Olu Fashanu has the kind of rare feet & short area movement skills to make pass protection look easy. His hand use , timing , and run blocking need work though. I can't blame them much for taking him , because he could be a decade long blindside protector , but I had better OT's available when they took him. B- . WR Malachi Corley has Percy Harvin/ Deebo Samuel like YAC ability. They should hand him the ball too. He also can stretch the field out of the slot , but he needs to learn the full route tree. I had a late 2nd on him , and they got him at the top of the 3rd. B+ . I had a 3rd on big back Braelon Allen , and they got him in the late 4th. In a tandem with Breece Hall they can make play action passes even more wide open. A . I like undersized QB Jordan Travis in the 5th. He is a leader , and I still think that if he hadn't gotten hurt that he would have led Florida ST. to the National Championship game vs Michigan , and that it would have been a toss up on who won. B . I had power RB Isaiah Davis in the 5th too, but it seems like overkill at RB at this point . B . Former CFL corner Qwan'tez Stiggers was taken with the last pick of the 5th round , and I had him in the 6th. B- .
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - A - At this point I just think Howie Roseman is the best GM in the game. He's a wheeler dealer who maximizes his picks, acquires stockpiles of them , and deftly trades around with them. This year he actually made a NFL record 8 trades in the draft , still got a nice haul of picks for now , and acquired another 3rd, 4th, and 5th rounder for the 2025 draft. U DA MAN HOWIE! To sit at pick #22 without moving up , and to have have my top CB & #10 overall player fall into your lap is beautiful. A . Then versatile 1rst rounder Cooper Dejean falls into your lap in the 2nd . My top safety , a inside/out CB , and my #15 overall player at pick #40 is like winning the lottery. A+ . Talented edge rusher Jalyx Hunt needs to learn to hold up better against the run , but they got him in the late 3rd where I had him. B . Shifty RB Will Shipley can also return kicks , and make plays as a receiver , but he needs to get better in pass pro. Combining his skill as a receiver with Saquon Barkley makes me think they will be throwing to backs a lot more with Kellan Moore as the OC. I had him at the top of the 4th and they took him near the bottom of the same round. B+ . WR/return man Ainias Smith looked like a potential 3rd rounder at the beginning of the 2022 season , but then suffered a big leg & ankle injury missing the rest of the season. He didn't look as explosive or fast this year , and then a stress fracture in his shin was found at the combine. Its a 5th rounder so its worth the risk at that point hoping he returns to form , but he fumbled too many punts as well. C . Getting 2nd generation QB of the defense LB Jeremiah Trotter JR. to play for the same team as his former ALL PRO dad was probably a dream scenario for the Trotter family. I had him in the 3rd and they STOLE him in the late 5th like Bill Mason at a drunken Hollywood party. A+ . Guard Trevor Keegan was a 6th for me , but they got him in the late 5th. B- . I had a late 4th on freakishly big WR/move TE Johnny Wilson , but I would expect a guy with 10 inch hands to be a more dependable pass catcher. and they got him in the 6th. His upside is ridiculous. A+ .
PITTSBURGH STEELERS - A - Explosive mauler Troy Fautanu was my number 3 OT , and I think he might make a few Pro Bowls outside if he can play more in control, but if they moved him to guard he might end up a ALL PRO. Plus he fills a need. I didn't expect him to fall to pick 20, as he was 13th on my board, but it's a mini steal in my opinion. B+ . I had wrestling center Zack Frazier at #42 , and they got him at pick 51. Another need filled , and Russell Wilson & Najee Harris are probably both ecstatic with their first 2 picks. B+ .I had a solid 2nd on explosive slot guy Roman Wilson , and he should see more targets in Pittsburgh compared to Michigan, but not by much in this ball control Aurthur Smith offense. Another pick Wilson will love. A bigger steal this time. A . Payton Wilson has first round tape, and if it weren't for his age & injury history he might have been the only off the ball LB to have gone there. I figured he would go to a Superbowl contender because he might just be a one contract guy , and I was right. He was 36th on my overall board , and they stole him at the end of the 3rd. A steal worthy of Arsene Lupin! A+ . I had a 4th on small school guard Mason McCormick and that's where they took him. He can become a starter in time with better technique. B . This is a draft that sets them up for success now and in the future.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers - B+ - I like their draft , but if they trade Deebo they should have drafted a similar player to replace him like Xavier Legette or Malachi Corley. Taking Pearsall had me thinking they might trade Aiyuk , and that's worse in my opinion , because outside WR's like him are harder to replace. Anyway , they took Pearsall right where I had him , and his inside out versatility helps plenty. B . I had a late 2nd on versatile O-Lineman Dominick Puni , and while he can play all 5 positions in a pinch I want him at center or guard. They got him in the latter part of the 3rd. A . I had safety Malik Mustapha in the late 3rd , and they got him in the back of the 4th. A- . I feel like Kyle Shanahan drafts a speedy RB every year, and they rarely work out , which is why they traded for ACE back Christian Mccaffrey. The niners took him in the 4th where I had him , and lets hope watching Mccaffrey improves his efficiency & choices as a runner. B . I had a 4th on WR Jacob Cowing and they selected him there. B .
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - B+ - The Seahawks needed interior O-Line more than anything , and while they addressed it later I really think they should have drafted Troy Fautanu instead of Murphy. At least Murphy is worth the pick , and since they are probably going to a base 3-4 I get it. B . Christian Haynes was my favorite guard in the draft for guys who actually played guard last season. Dude is a straight ass kicker. I had him at 39th in my board , and they stole him like Albert Spaggiari digging a tunnel to the 81rst pick. A+ . LB Tyrice Knight seemed way too high to me. I had him in the 6th , and they took him in the 4th where a bunch of LB's I like more where still available. His football IQ is lacking right now, and he looks more like a core special teamer at this point. D . A blocking TE was needed after Dissly & Parkinson left in free agency , but Barner just looks like a #2 TE to me , and the 4th round seems high for that. I had him in the 6th. D . I had a high 5th on CB Nehemiah Pritchett , and they got him there . Plus the Seahawks have a history of drafting & developing corners well on day 3. B . I have guard Sataoa Laumea in the 5th , and they snagged him in the 6th. A- . CB DJ James was a solid 3rd for me , and they stole him in the 6th like Robinhood & his merry band jacking tax collectors in Sherwood forest. A+ . On the whole I like Seattle's draft , but in a different order than they took some of the picks , but you are judged on the total talent , and they got that.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS B- - Tampa Bay needed to replace their center or even a one of their guards, and Graham Barton can do either. Plus he can play LT in a pinch. B . Edge Chris Braswell can rush the passer, but he needs to get bigger to play the run better. At least the Bucs play a base 3-4 so he can contribute early at OLB. Safety Tykee Smith was a high 4th in my board , and they drafted him in the latter part of the 3rd , but he was very productive at Georgia. I'm not sure how he fits there because he played the hybrid star position, and I'm not sure how well he will fare covering the slot in the NFL. At the very least he can be a core special teams player as a rookie. C . I had deep threat Jalen McMillian as early 4th and they took him in the late 3rd . C+ . Undersized big play RB Bucking Irving was a late 3rd for me so good value taking him in the latter part of the 4th. A- .
TENNESEE TITANS - C+ - Far be it for me to gainsay Bill Callahan SR, because I believe him to be the best O-Line coach in the NFL , and that he has been so for over 2 decades. Yet taking powerhouse JC Latham to play left tackle is risky to me. He was very good at right tackle this year, but there is a reason that a lot of teams prefer him at guard. JC was 20th on my board, and they took him at #7 when Taliese Fuaga who has better tape at RT , and Troy Fautanu who actually played left tackle were still available. At least I had a 1rst round grade on him , and he does fill a need at RT. B- . I get the Titans needing a NT to replace Teair Tart , and he was also cut for character reasons, but at least he was in shape. Sweat does show first round tape at times , but unless there is a weight clause in T'vondre Sweat's contract he is too fat to play even 50% of the snaps. Plus his character issues are more than just a lack of commitment to staying in shape, because he got a DUI at around 4 AM right before the draft. I moved him all the way back to the 4th after that , and multiple teams had taken him entirely off their boards. They took him at the top of the 2nd? D . I had LB Cedrick Gray at the back of the 3rd round, and they got him in the early 4th. B+ . I had a 4th on corner Jarvis Brownlee and they drafted him in the high 5th. B+ . WR Jha'quan Jackson was apparently a 6th rounder for both of us. B
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS - B+ - I like Washington's draft , but I would like it even more if they had taken Maye over Daniels. I had Daniels at #9 on my board , and if Maye or Williams weren't available I would have drafted him at #3 too. B . Their 2nd pick was a Kevin Durant STEAL coast to coast slam dunk! Jer'zahn Newton was my top DT , and #14 on my overall board , and they got him at pick #36 at the top of the 2nd. He fell because of a foot injury that prevented him from working out , but he is a destroyer of blocks with high level hand use. A+ . ACE tough little slot guy Mike Sainristil went right where I had him , and Dan Quinn love's DB's who get their hands on the ball. B . I like versatile FB/TE Ben Sinnott. He was my 3rd ranked TE , but I had him in the 3rd , and they took him in the 2nd. At least he fills a need. C+ . Offensive Lineman Brandon Coleman was a reach to me. His left guard tape was promising, but I didn't like his tackle tape. I think they plan to play him at left tackle , because their guards look solid. I had him in the 4th , and they took him in the top of the 3rd. C . I like slot receiver Luke Mccaffrey in the late 4th early 5th , and they took him with the final pick of the the 3rd round. Although its fair to believe he will keep improving rapidly considering how short a time he has played WR , and who his dad & brother are. C- . We both had LB Jordan Magee in the 5th apparently. B . I had a 4th on safety Dominique Hampton , and if they had taken him ahead of Mccaffrey & Magee the picks would make more sense to me. They got Hamilton in the late 5th. A .
OVERALL TEAM DRAFT RANKINGS ORDER
1.CHICAGO BEARS - A
2.PITTSBURGH STEELERS - A
3.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - A
4.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS - A
5.ARIZONA CARDINALS - A
6.LOS ANGELES CHARGERS - A-
7.NEW YORK GIANTS - A-
8.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - A-
9.BALTIMORE RAVENS - B+
10.WASHINGTON COMMANDERS - B+
11.LOS ANGELES RAMS B+
12.DETROIT LIONS - B+
13.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - B+
14.DALLAS COWBOYS - B+
15.AN FRANCISCO 49ers - B+
16.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - B+
17.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - B+
18.GREEN BAY PACKERS - B+
19.NEW YORK JETS - B
20.CAROLINA PANTHERS - B
21.MINNESOTA VIKINGS - B
22.HOUSTON TEXANS - B
23,MIAMI DOLPHINS - B
24.CINCINATTI BENGALS - B
25.DENVER BRONCOS - B
26.CLEVELAND BROWNS - B
27.BUFFALO BILLS - B
28.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS B-
29.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - B-
30.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - B-
31.TENNESEE TITANS - C+
32.ATLANTA FALCONS - C
