NFL Draft Grades
Picking the winners and losers of this year's draft
Now that the NFL Draft happened a week ago, I think it’s about time to go back and reflect on the new classes. In the moment, some picks seemed like home runs, but my opion has changed in the past week. For the most part, I think teams made some good selections, but there are definitely some reaches. These grades are based on how much I liked the players the team selected, if the team reached, and how they handled trades.
Arizona Cardinals: B
Arizona had the first surprise of the draft, when they took Jeremiyah Love with the third pick. While Love is talented, I felt like they had bigger needs to address with their pick. That being said, I like a lot of the picks made on day three, and Chase Bisontis was a great pickup in the second round. My biggest complaint is with Carson Beck, who felt like a massive reach in the third round. This was a weak quarterback class, and I felt that Beck wasn’t the best quarterback available at that point. Besides Love and Beck, the Cardinals had a solid draft that felt like a team trying to start a rebuild right. Getting a cornerstone piece in Love doesn’t hurt, however.
Atlanta Falcons: A-
Despite the fact they didn’t have a first round pick, Atlanta made the most out of their draft, with a lot of solid selections. The Falcons’ first two selections were the crown jewel of the class, as they reunite Avieon Terrell with his brother AJ, to shore up their secondary. Terrell was a first round pick in my mock draft, and getting him midway through the second round was a steal. Zechariah Branch was much better than quite a few of the wide receivers taken ahead of him, and he should provide a spark for Atlanta’s wide receiver room. The rest of the picks were solid as well, and I like the chance they took on Harold Perkins, as that could turn into a huge steal if he regains his pre-injury form. Even if he doesn’t I feel like he can at least become a solid rotational player.
Baltimore Ravens: B+
Baltimore started off the draft extremely well, snagging interior offensive line help with Olaivavenga Ione in the first round, then following that up with Zion Young in the second round. For the most part, I really liked this draft, except for one position Baltimore tried to address. Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas were both picks I found myself questioning on day three, especially because I felt there were better tight ends available. I understand the need to replace Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, but I think they could have gone in a different direction with the players selected. There were at least three tight ends I would have taken over Hibner and Cuevas, but they will likely work out, as the Ravens typically know what they’re doing when it comes to the position.
Buffalo Bills: B
The Bills put together a solid draft, despite the fact they traded out of the first round. While I wasn’t a fan of how much Buffalo traded back, they managed to get a lot of players to fill holes and build depth with the extra picks. Skyler Bell in the fourth round was a great pick who should contribute early on, and Davison Igbinosun should help their secondary. I also like the TJ Parker pick, as he slid into the early second. That being said, I do think this draft was more quantity over quality, as the Bills didn’t snag many stars, as a lot of their picks will be solid contributors and depth. If this draft ends up netting Buffalo a superstar, which is possible, this grade will go up. I do think this was an incredibly solid draft, that has the potential to look better if the mid-round picks contribute early.
Carolina Panthers: A
Carolina continues to build their case as the best team in the NFC South after an incredibly done draft. The Panthers filled most of their holes with players that I thought could’ve gone much sooner, and they did so without trading too many of their picks. Monroe Freeling and Lee Hunter are excellent headliners for this class, who will help fortify the trenches for years to come. In a division that has a lot of great running backs, Hunter is especially valuable, and I think he was Carolina’s best pick. On day three, the Panthers got a couple of guys who could crack the starting lineup by the end of the season in Will Lee III and Sam Hecht, both of whom were drafted later than I expected. Chris Brazzell II will help out a wide receiver room that is already pretty decent, and I could see him becoming the third wide receiver with a strong camp. Carolina nailed this draft, and it seems like they’re gearing up for a “prove it” year for Bryce Young.
Chicago Bears: B-
The Bears started off this draft really well, snagging Dillon Thieneman in the first after he fell to them. I even liked their second round pick, as Logan Jones will be the center of the future after Drew Dalman retired. That’s about where the great picks in this draft ended. For some reason, Chicago decided not to address their defensive line until the seventh round, when they took Jordan Van der Berg. He’s is a decent pick in. the seventh, but nowhere near the difference maker the Bears need. Instead, Chicago took Sam Roush, a blocking tight end who has short arms that will hurt him at the next level, and Zavion Thomas, a wide receiver who wasn’t on my radar at this point in the draft. Thomas was a seventh round projection, and his 40 time makes me think Chicago became the latest team to fall for a super fast receiver and reach. The Malik Muhammad pick saved this draft from going fully off the rails, but a wasted third round hurts the overall quality of this class.
Cincinnati Bengals: B+
Cincinnati put together a really solid draft, despite not having their first round pick. Granted, they used that pick to snag Dexter Lawrence, who will help a struggling defense. The Bengals put most of their focus towards the defense and interior offensive line, two major areas of need. Cashius Howell is reunited with former teammate Shermar Stewart, and that connection can help both live up to their full potential. I really liked the Tacario Davis pick, and I think he should be able to start in a depleted Bengals’ secondary. The only head-scratching pick here was Colbie Young in the fourth round, only because the last position Cincinnati needs is wide receiver. If they would have used that pick on a linebacker or offensive tackle, this draft class would have gotten a slight grade bump. Overall, a lot of solid picks that should help Cincinnati return to the playoffs, as long as Joe Burrow stays healthy.
Cleveland Browns: A+
Cleveland has quietly turned in one of the best drafts in each of the past two seasons, and it signals a step in the right direction for the franchise. The Browns stayed away from a flashy pick in the early first, and took Spencer Fano in the first round, which should do a lot to help keep whatever quarterback they choose upright. I also liked the decision to get receivers with back to back picks, as KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston should improve a wide receiver room that struggled last season. On the defensive side, getting Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the late second was a great addition, even if safety wasn’t a position of need. The rest of the picks filled depth and make this roster feel like it is a quarterback away. If Cleveland manages to get Taylen Green to reach his high ceiling, they could even solve that problem with this class. The Browns feel like they’re getting closer to being a contender again, and I’m excited to see how this class pans out.
Dallas Cowboys: B
Dallas started the draft perfectly, by having Caleb Downs fall right to them. For a defense that needs any sort of help it can get, a do-it-all safety is perfect. Downs is the difference maker Dallas needed, and they didn’t stop attacking defense in this draft. Malachi Lawrence felt like a reach to me, but he should play pretty quickly either way. Trading down a bit to select him does lead me to be more forgiving on the reach, too. Jaishawn Barham is an interesting player who will fill in wherever Dallas needs him, and the Cowboys got another rotational edge in LT Overton. The other picks are solid depth, nothing too crazy in terms of reaches or steals. The Cowboys can walk out of this draft feeling good about their selections, even if they did reach a bit with the Malachi Lawrence pick. I feel like this class could get a better grade if I liked some of the picks outside of Downs and Barham more, but it is a very solid, middle of the pack draft.
Denver Broncos: C
Denver traded away their first round pick for Jaylen Waddle, which by itself is the. best thing they could have done, especially considering how the rest of their draft went. Not having a first round pick in a draft with limited top-end talent will tend to weaken a class, but it felt like the Broncos could have done more with their picks. Jonah Coleman, while a good player, felt like a wasted pick when JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey both had strong seasons running the ball. Justin Joly is a fun player, and I think Sean Payton will use him well, but he was one of two picks I actually liked in this draft. The other one was Mr. Irrelevant Red Murdock, who has a chance to be a special teams contributer while working towards a rotational spot. Denver filled their needs, but I feel like there were better players available compared to who they ended up taking.
Detroit Lions: A-
Bias aside, the Lions put together a great draft. This felt like the first time in a while Brad Holmes went in the direction everyone expected, and he got some great players out of it. Blake Miller will be a reliable right tackle, Derrick Moore provides a perfect compliment to Aidan Hutchinson on the edge, and Jimmy Rolder gives Detroit another hard hitting linebacker. Those first three picks are enough to secure a solid draft, but then Detroit went and got two more players who have starting potential. Keith Abney was one of the biggest steals of the draft, and getting a potential starter in the fifth round does a lot for a weak Lions secondary. Skyler Gill-Howard gives Detroit another rotational defensive lineman, whose pass-rushing ability will pair him well with Alim McNeil. As a fan, I’m obviously very excited for this class to make an impact. As an neutral observer, I can say Brad Holmes delivered on the draft once again.
Green Bay Packers: B+
Green Bay didn’t have a first round pick, which they gave up in return for Micah Parsons. If you count Parsons as Green Bay’s first pick, it’s a huge success, and probably beats whatever value they could have gotten from their original pick. As for their actual picks, the Packers made a lot of solid picks, especially right at the end of the draft. Domani Jackson and Trey Smack were great uses for their sixth rounders, and they add depth and fill positions of need. Smack is probably the best use of a late round pick, as the Packers’ kicking situation has been questionable at best the past couple of years. Brandon Cisse and Dani Dennis-Sutton were god picks in earlier rounds, and they add talent to a defense that already was pretty solid. This draft wasn’t flashy, but it got a lot of depth and solid players, which is all you can ask for in a draft. My only slight complaint is that there were some picks where better players were available, but there were no major reaches.
Houston Texans: B
Houston early had a perfect draft, especially because they attacked the offensive line, something that was a dire need. Rutledge and Nwaiwu should turn into solid starters, and they should keep CJ Stroud upright, which is something the Texans have failed to do. Kayden McDonald makes the already-great Texans defense even better, which should worry the rest of the AFC. If the offensive line additions work out, Houston could end up as real contenders this year. However, the Texans had a major reach that can’t be overlooked. Marlin Klein, while having a decent ceiling, isn’t anywhere close to a second round pick. This pick alone dropped Houston’s grade, despite the day three picks being generally solid. I also would have liked to see the Texans take a day three flier on a developmental tackle to further bolster their offensive line, but I don’t hate the selections they did make. Take away the one major reach, and Houston comes away with a very good draft, instead of one that was just ok.
Indianapolis Colts: A-
The Colts did very well in this draft despite not having a first rounder, which they gave up for Sauce Gardner. While I’m sure they may want that pick back considering how their season ended, I didn’t hate them taking that risk while they were contending. As for the draft, Indianapolis got a ton of value from their picks, getting major steals in CJ Allen and Caden Curry. Allen could have been a first rounder, and getting him late round two was unbelievable. Curry was very productive in college, and he could turn into a great rotational piece. The rest of their draft brought in great depth and rotational guys, and Deion Burks is a seventh rounder who I could see making an impact, considering how far he fell. Out of all the teams who didn’t have a first round pick, I think Indianapolis did more with less, snagging some good talent past where I expected them to go.
Jacksonville Jaguars: C-
What a confusing draft. Jacksonville started off by taking Nate Boerkircher, a tight end who wasn’t even the best in their own draft class. This reach signified what would come for Jacksonville, as they continued to make head-scratching decisions. The only picks that saved this draft from being a total disaster were Emmanuel Pregnon, who they took after a long fall, and Tanner Koziol, a tight end who I thought would go day two. Wesley Williams was a decent get as well, but there were a couple of players who I would have taken over him in that position. It also doesn’t help that Cleveland, who had Jacksonville’s first round pick, did an incredible job with their selections. While I could have a wrong read on some of these players (after all, I’m not a professional scout), my early impressions tell me this won’t be a draft that is remembered fondly by Jaguars fans.
Kansas City Chiefs: B+
Kansas City was surprisingly in the top ten of this year’s draft, something that would have been a shock to hear at the beginning of last season. However, the Chiefs put together a very nice draft that completely rebuilt their defense, which was needed after losing two of their top players in the offseason. Mansoor Delaine can step in and be cornerback one right away, but I don’t think Kansas City needed to trade up three spots to get him. Other than that, most of their picks filled a need without reaching too much on the player drafted, Wide receiver Cyrus Allen was a small reach, especially when his former teammate Jeff Caldwell was available, but I think it doesn’t matter all that much once you hit day three. Garrett Nussmeier could end up being a huge steal and a long-term solution at backup quarterback if his medicals end up fine, considering they got my fourth-ranked quarterback in the seventh round. He even could start if Patrick Mahomes takes a while to recover from his ACL injury.
Las Vegas Raiders: A-
The Raiders did a great job with the amount of picks they had, getting a lot of quality talent to fix up one of the worst rosters in the league. Fernando Mendoza should be a high-floor quarterback who will elevate the team and help them get a quick turnaround, which is what you should expect with the first overall pick. After Mendoza, Las Vegas attacked needs, getting Treydan Stukes, who should be a solid option opposite Jeremy Chinn. Jermod McCoy could be the steal of the draft if he can get on the field and play, and I like that Las Vegas traded up in the fourth round to take a risk on a first round talent. Trey Zuhn will likely be depth, but any offensive line help is welcome on a team that struggled to protect their quarterback last season. I like the addition of Mike Washington Jr. as a complimentary back to Ashton Jeanty, but I can’t help but wonder if the Raiders could have gotten more offensive help or wide receivers in this draft to help Mendoza more.
Los Angeles Chargers: B+
This draft had Jim Harbaugh’s and Mike McDaniels’ fingerprints all over it, especially with the first four picks. A run stopping edge rusher, two big offensive linemen, and a speedy wide receiver is right up the Chargers’ alley. That being said, some of those picks weren’t my favorite, especially the Brenen Thompson pick. He’s a decent wide receiver, but I always am wary of players whose main selling point is their speed. Outside of that reach, I think Los Angeles filled gaps and put themselves in a great spot for next season. I really like the Genesis Smith pick, as he should do well learning under Derwin James for a couple of years before he progresses into being a starter. Aside from that, the Chargers also went heavy on offensive line, which makes sense after watching last season’s line fail to hold up after injuries.
Los Angeles Rams: D
All offseason all of the noise coming out of the Rams’ camp was centered around building for “one more run” with Matthew Stafford at quarterback. This was supported by the aggressive moves to fix the secondary, and it seemed like this theme would continue going into the draft. Instead, Los Angeles took Ty Simpson at 13, in order to prepare for the future. Even if you want to have a quarterback learn under Stafford for a couple years, this isn’t how you do it. The Rams should have either traded back, or tried trading up into the late first, where Simpson still would have been available. Heck, I would have skipped drafting him entirely and waited for Mac Jones to be a free agent because he could run Sean McVay’s system well. Add on the fact that the Rams have limited picks, and this blows up the entire idea of building for a championship this season. Even their second round pick, Max Klare, was drafted to fill in the gaps after two of the Rams’ tight ends leave in free agency after this season. I’m left wondering how this draft does anything to build for a run with Stafford, which should have been the Rams’ main concern.
Miami Dolphins: B-
The Dolphins had a very confusing draft, and I don’t really know what to make of it. I wasn’t very high on Kadyn Proctor, unlike many NFL teams, and felt he was a reach at 12. Then Miami goes and takes Chris Johnson, a cornerback who I was a fan of, to balance out their first round. This became a trend in the draft, as Miami would make a confusing pick or reach for a layer, then follow it up with a great pick. Jacob Rodriguez and Kyle Louis will be an amazing linebacker tandem, and were Miami’s best picks in the draft, but they also reached on Caleb Douglas and Will Kacmarek in between those two picks. That’s my other concern with Miami’s draft: Who is Malik Willis throwing to? Caleb Douglas is a fine receiver, but taking him as your first pass catcher in this wide receiver class isn’t a great move, especially since they passed on some strong players at the same position. Chris Bell will help, but I’m not sure when he will make the field for Miami due to his ACL tear. This draft had the potential to be great, but the lack of wide receivers hurts the draft, and overshadows some of the good picks made.
Minnesota Vikings: C-
Minnesota shocked me in the first round, as it seemed like Dillon Theineman was destined to become a Viking. Instead, they went with Caleb Banks, a defensive tackle who missed most of last season with a foot injury. Foot injuries are especially tough on lineman, and it could end up impacting how much he makes an impact for the Vikings. Outside of that pick, Minnesota didn’t do much else right, as they passed on Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and waited until the third round to address their need at safety. Minnesota also reached on Jake Golday, who they could’ve gotten even if they had traded back. I did like the Domonique Orange and Charles Demmings picks, but those were some of the only positive takeaways from this class. Even Max Bredeson, a player who I love, was taken way too high in the fifth round. I can patrially see what the Vikings plan was, but it felt like they made the wrong decision at most of their picks.
New England Patriots: B-
This draft had a lot of potential. New England started off getting a strong offensive tackle who can play either side in Caleb Lomu, then followed it up with one of the more underrated edge rushers in the class, Gabe Jacas. After that, the draft kind of went off the rails for me. Raridon is a fine enough tight end, but I thought there were both better tight ends and bigger needs at this point of the draft. I also thought New England reached on Karon Prunty in the fifth round, I didn’t think he’d end up being drafted. A lot of these picks either didn’t feel like needs or they just weren’t the right guy at the position. a part of me wonders if some of the more questionable day three picks were made because Mike Vrabel wasn’t there to offer his intel on who he wanted.
New Orleans Saints: A
The Saints went all in on Tyler Shough this draft, getting him weapons and protection galore. Jordyn Tyson and Chris Olave will be an amazing wide receiver duo for the young quarterback, as long as both of them can stay healthy. Oscar Delp can be a solid blocking tight end, while also adding more of a safety net for New Orleans. Bryce Lance is an exciting deep threat who may need some adjustment, but he can be good for a big play here and there. I liked the Saints’ decision to take LSU’s Barion Brown, as he can replace Rashid Shaheed as the kick returner. Jeremiah Wright can step in as a solid offensive lineman, even if he needs a year to develop. Overall, there’s no pick that I dislike, and the Saints managed to avoid reaching on all of their picks, which is pretty rare in the draft. The only reason I didn’t give an A+ is that New Orleans didn’t go after an edge rusher, which I felt was a pretty big need.
New York Giants: A-
New York made the most of their multiple first round picks, much like the team they share a stadium with, and they snagged players who should have instant impact. Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa were both at the very top of their positional rankings for me, and I felt that the Giants were lucky to have both fall to their respective spots. As the draft went on, the Giants picked a few more players who I feel can be instant impact players, like Colton Hood and Malachi Fields. I do think New York could have done more in the last couple of rounds, as I felt they passed on some good talent for the spots they were picking at. I also would have loved to see a guard taken here, although I’ve heard that is the plan for Mauigoa. It’s a risky move, but it could pay off and give Jaxson Dart solid protection. The only problem with moving Mauigoa in is that then they have a slight need at tackle that goes unfulfilled.
New York Jets: A+
The Jets crushed it. At first I was a little skeptical of the Kenyon Sadiq pick, but after they traded back up for Omar Cooper Jr., it made much more sense. New York managed to get the best pass rusher in the draft (David Bailey), while also securing two excellent weapons for Geno Smith. Cooper and Sadiq will help the offense get much more competitive, while also making New York a nice landing spot for whoever comes next (because let’s be honest, Geno isn’t the long-term answer). This draft would have been an easy A if it stopped there, but the Jets went ahead and got D’Angelo Ponds, one of my favorite cornerbacks in the draft. Combine that with a few more solid late round picks, and a late round flier on Cade Klubnik, and they easily had one of the best drafts in the league. If Aaron Glenn still struggles after this draft class, I fear his excuses are gone.
Philadelphia Eagles: A-
Death, taxes, and the Eagles having incredible luck when it comes to making draft day trades. Pittsburgh was on the phone with Makai Lemon, and Philly swooped in and took him before the Steelers could make their pick. While this means AJ Brown is all but gone, it does give the Eagles a strong replacement. Eli Stowers was another great pick for the future, as he can be a fun red zone receiving threat while he improves his blocking before replacing Dallas Goedert. This draft got Philly a lot of developmental players that could turn their class into the best in the league if they develop. For example, Markel Bell and Uar Bernard will terrorize the league if they live up to their physical potential. I didn’t love the Cole Payton pick, just because the Eagles seem to have the backup quarterback position mostly settled with Tanner McKee. Other than that, I really like the direction the Eagles went in this draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers: B+
When life gices you lemons, you make lemonade. Pittsburgh had to go to a quick plan B after Makai Lemon was taken while they were calling him, and they rebounded nicely with Max Iheanachor. Germie Bernard is a solid pick to bolster a wide receiver room that needed another piece, and Kaden Wetjen is a nice special teams pick up in the fourth round. I like Riley Nowakoski too, so why didn’t the Steelers get an A? Drew Allar. I get that the Steelers wanted to get another quarterback just in case Aaron Rodgers really is done, but Allar isn’t it. I can usually tell who has watched college football and who hasn’t based on what they think of Allar. His physical traits and decent numbers will make non-college football watchers think he will be a home run, but if you’ve watched him in a big game, you know the lights are too bright for him and that he was often carried by a solid run game. Will Howard, Drew Allar, and Mason Rudolph in a quarterback room is a scary thought for steelers fans, and they should hope Rodgers decides to come back soon.
Seattle Seahawks: B-
The Seahawks started off really poorly with a reach on a luxury pick in Jadarian Price, but it has started to make a little more sense when you think of Zach Charbonnet’s injury. After that, Seattle got Bud Clark, who was by far their best pick of the draft. Clark should slot in as a starter right away, and his coverage ability and physicality fit the culture. After that, the Seahawks made a bunch of picks that were just ok. Nothing super special about them, and I just feel like they could have done more. I thought they had a need at edge rusher that they failed to address, and that pick should have been made over a running back in the first round, especially when TJ Parker was there. The Seahawks also could have gotten an offensive tackle in the later rounds, but instead decided to draft a couple of positions they didn’t really need. Overall, I’m disappointed in the way Seattle went after the draft.
San Francisco 49ers: C-
San Francisco may have had one of the worst starts to a draft in recent memory. They traded back twice, then took a wide receiver who I thought would go in the fourth round with the first pick of the second round. After that, they seemed to get back on track with Romello Height, who I think will be a great addition to their defense, even if it was a slight reach. Then the 49ers went back to their questionable decisions with Kaelon Black, who was a split-time back at Indiana who was not near the third round in any of my projections. The 49ers’ biggest issue with this draft was reaching, which they did with most of their selections. I did think Ephesians Prysock and Jaden Dugger were good late round picks, but they didn’t make up for the terrible start San Francsico had to their draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B+
Tampa Bay started the draft with a huge steal in Reuben Bain. I figured Bain would fall a little bit due to his measurables, but to 15? I couldn’t believe it when he got to Tampa. Pair that with his reaction to falling, and how angry he looked, and I am certain he will put the “short arms” talk to bed. Outside of that tremendous steal, the Bucs didn’t do anything else that was too crazy in either direction. I like the Ted Hurst pick, and I think he can get himself in the starting lineup early on and be productive in a slightly crowded room. Rest of the picks were pretty standard, and Tampa filled a lot of needs. I don’t really hate any of them, but because I like the other two picks so much, the Bucs get a pretty nice grade.
Tennessee Titans: A
The Titans are another team who could quickly flip their fortunes next season after an outstanding draft. They got their top wide receiver in Carnell Tate, got another strong edge rusher in Keldrick Faulk, and a potential Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate in Anthony Hill Jr. With those players at the start of the draft, it was hard for Tennessee to really mess up the rest of the draft. They didn’t and they even got some players who I think will contribute down the line, like Nick Singleton and Pat Coogan. Singleton can have an easy path to sharing reps if the Titans end up trading Tony Pollard which I think their next move should be based on this draft. Tennessee filled most of their needs, and Cam Ward should look much better with an actual wide receiver one.
Washington Commanders: B
The Commanders lucked in to Sonny Styles, as he fell further than I was expecting. He will have an amazing mentor in Bobby Wagner, who should help Styles reach his full potential. Antonio Williams was a god value pick who should see the field early with Deebo Samuel gone, and I expect Kaytron Allen to have some sort of impact. I think Washington should have gone after a cornerback in the middle to late rounds, and I was hoping that they also would go after safety. I also had an issue with the Athan Kaliakmanis pick, as I thought there a ton of quarterbacks I would have taken at that point, one of which being Garret Nussmeier, who was still available. Other than that, I don’t think Washington messed too much up, but they also didn’t nail nay of their later picks. I think they had a par for the course draft that will be headlined by Styles, with Williams being a nice supporting piece.