Baltimore Ravens
1 (28). LSU linebacker Patrick Queen
2 (55). Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins
3 (71). Texas A&M defensive tackle Justin Madubuike
3 (92). Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay
3 (98). Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison
3 (106). Mississippi State guard Tyre Phillips
4 (143). Michigan guard Ben Bredeson
5 (170). Texas Tech defensive tackle Broderick Washington
6 (201). Southern Methodist wide receiver James Proche
7 (219). Iowa safety/linebacker Geno Stone
Overview: Baltimore’s draft haul is improved by its swindling of Jacksonville for Calais Campbell in exchange for the 157th selection and similarly advantageous acquisition of Marcus Peters for the No. 173 pick and backup LB Kenny Young. Queen and Dobbins are good football players, but beginning a draft with an off-ball linebacker and a running back is unideal on a position-value basis. Madubuike’s probable ceiling is a situational inside rusher, Duvernay’s a rotational slot receiver. Baltimore doubled down on potential Marshal Yanda replacements in Phillips and Bredeson in the 100s. Stone is a long-shot bet to develop into a new-age safety-linebacker hybrid. He was an ubiquitous presence in the middle of Iowa’s defense and should at very worst contribute on special teams. This draft felt more needs based than usual by Baltimore yet still disappointingly failed to yield both a field-stretching wideout and edge pass rusher. Still, the Ravens picked up enough sheer value on days one and two and supplemented the class so well with proven veterans that they warrant an above-par final draft grade.
Grade: B-
Buffalo Bills
2 (54). Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa
3 (86). Utah running back Zack Moss
4 (128). Central Florida wide receiver Gabriel Davis
5 (167). Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm
6 (188). Georgia Southern kicker Tyler Bass
6 (207). Oregon State wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins
7 (239). Pittsburgh cornerback Dane Jackson
Overview: Stefon Diggs represents Buffalo’s first-round pick after GM Brandon Beane acquired him from Minnesota for this year’s first- (No. 22), fifth-, and sixth-round selections plus next year’s fourth-rounder. Otherwise, this was a nuts-and-bolts draft lacking flash and pizzazz but addressing the Bills’ relatively short list of needs and depth concerns. Commonly considered a late first-round prospect, Epenesa ultimately lacks round-one athleticism but wins with length, toughness, and a non-stop motor. He’s what the Bills believed they were getting in Trent Murphy in 2018. A hard-charging, meat-grinder runner at 223 pounds with underrated passing-game utility, Moss will complement diminutive Devin Singletary in the old Frank Gore role. Davis lacks near-term opportunity but was a quality value pick, while John Brown and Cole Beasley are on the wrong side of 30. Plus sized with an exciting highlight reel, Hodgins was worth a day-three stab for an offense in need of a big receiver upgrade; this draft put Duke Williams and Robert Foster on obvious notice. Fromm has a well-known name but is likely to prove a throwaway pick without an NFL-level arm or mobility. Matt Barkley should beat him out.
Grade: C+
Cincinnati Bengals
1 (1). LSU quarterback Joe Burrow
2 (33). Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins
3 (65). Wyoming linebacker Logan Wilson
4 (107). Appalachian State linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither
5 (147). Notre Dame edge rusher Khalid Kareem
6 (180). Kansas guard Hakeem Adeniji
7 (215). Purdue linebacker Markus Bailey
Overview: Burrow gives Cincinnati a realistic chance at a quick offensive turnaround with A.J. Green, Joe Mixon, Tyler Boyd, and John Ross returning. The Bengals’ draft went downhill from there. A vertical receiver at Clemson whose game may not translate with mid-4.5s speed and a 31-inch vertical, Higgins was a disappointing selection with USC WR Michael Pittman, Louisiana OG Robert Hunt, TCU DT Ross Blacklock, Boise State OL Ezra Cleveland, and Baylor WR Denzel Mims still available. Offensive line was a bigger Bengals need than both receiver and off-ball linebacker, the latter of which Cincinnati arguably overkilled with three members of its seven-man class. Wilson does look likely to contribute positively soon, albeit at a devalued position. Kareem lacked production in South Bend. Adeniji is a legitimate late-round sleeper as a tackle-to-guard conversion with plus length and better-than-advertised athleticism. The Bengals got a lot better on draft weekend solely by virtue of Burrow’s addition, but I don’t think they maximized their other picks from a value standpoint in terms of draft slot and positional impact.
Grade: C+
Cleveland Browns
1 (10). Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills
2 (44). LSU safety Grant Delpit
3 (88). Missouri defensive tackle Jordan Elliott
3 (97). LSU linebacker Jacob Phillips
4 (115). Florida Atlantic tight end Harrison Bryant
5 (160). Washington center Nick Harris
6 (187). Michigan wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones
Overview: A projected top-five pick in many circles, Wills fortuitously slipped to tackle-needy Cleveland at No. 10 overall. Although Wills played right tackle at Alabama, he has the requisite footwork, movement skills, and length to seamlessly move to left tackle. Wills is also experienced in blindside protection after blocking for southpaw Tua Tagovailoa in college. The Browns’ draft began by plucking four straight SEC standouts at positions of need while adding the 160th overall pick in a trade down with the Colts and a 2021 third-round pick in a trade down with the Saints. Delpit catches flak for his tackling, but he compensates with dynamic coverage talent and ball skills. Delpit shouldn’t struggle to earn an immediate starting job. Elliott provides depth at a position where the Browns badly needed it. The Mackey Award winner as college football’s top tight end, Bryant furthers multi-tight end proponent Kevin Stefanski’s formational flexibility. Peoples-Jones’ production was severely lacking at Michigan, but his elite combination of size and athleticism made him worthy of a flyer late. This was a calculated draft that should net numerous year-one contributors and as many as four long-term building blocks.
Grade: A-
Denver Broncos
1 (15). Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy
2 (46). Penn State wide receiver K.J. Hamler
3 (77). Iowa cornerback Michael Ojemudia
3 (83). LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry
3 (95). Arkansas defensive tackle McTelvin Agim
4 (118). Missouri tight end Albert Okwuegbunam
5 (178). Wake Forest linebacker Justin Strnad
6 (181). Fresno State guard Netane Muti
7 (252). Florida wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland
7 (254). North Dakota State edge rusher Derrek Tuszka
Overview: This home-run group also includes CB A.J. Bouye, whom Denver acquired from the Jaguars in exchange for a mere fourth-round pick (No. 137). In an even bigger steal, Denver robbed the Titans of DT Jurrell Casey for this year’s No. 237 pick. Separation dominator Jeudy was my favorite receiver in the draft and makes for a perfect stylistic bookend to perimeter clasher Courtland Sutton. GM John Elway doubled down in round two with T.Y. Hilton clone Hamler, a vertical slot weapon. Ojemudia is a developmental corner with starting-caliber traits. Cushenberry is a power player on the interior with enough length to handle either guard spot in addition to his natural center position. Okwuegbunam has a plethora of flaws but freakishly runs a 4.49 forty at 6-foot-6, 258 and scored 23 touchdowns in three seasons at Missouri. Elway hammered needs up top and stressed athleticism and physicality throughout this draft. My lone quibble was the Broncos’ failure to add competition for frustrating LT Garett Bolles. Nevertheless, this haul warrants a rock-solid A considering the prospects and proven veteran talent brought aboard. Denver’s roster has gotten an awful lot better this offseason.
Grade: A
Houston Texans
2 (40). TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock
3 (90). Florida linebacker Jonathan Greenard
4 (126). North Carolina offensive tackle Charlie Heck
4 (141). Penn State cornerback John Reid
5 (171). Rhode Island wide receiver Isaiah Coulter
Overview: The Texans’ grade is damaged by Bill O’Brien’s stupefying, ego-driven pre-draft trade of DeAndre Hopkins, which netted Houston the 40th pick but cost them one of their three best players and arguably the NFL’s top wide receiver. The Texans also sacrificed their original second-rounder (No. 57) for five-times concussed WR Brandin Cooks and the 97th selection for Duke Johnson, who handled fewer than eight touches per game last year. The Seahawks robbed the Texans of Jadeveon Clowney for the 91st pick, which O’Brien sent to the Raiders for CB Gareon Conley. Houston’s draft began on day two, landing first-round talent Blacklock to spark its interior pass rush. Greenard brings plus length and production, but he spent five years in college and tested as a 21st-percentile athlete before the draft. The son of longtime NFL left tackle Andy Heck, Charlie has an outside chance to develop into the Texans’ right tackle of the future. Reid is a good athlete but has short arms and a troubling history of knee injuries, weighs just 187 pounds, and probably won’t be a functional defender anywhere other than slot corner. An exciting small-school playmaker with 4.45 jets, Coulter was worthy of a fifth-round stab. The picks the Texans made in this draft were fine, but O’Brien’s penchant for ill-advised trades severely depleted this class from a volume standpoint, and all told the Texans’ roster worsened this offseason.
Grade: D+
Indianapolis Colts
2 (34). USC wide receiver Michael Pittman
2 (41). Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor
3 (85). Utah defensive back Julian Blackmon
4 (122). Washington quarterback Jacob Eason
5 (149). Ball State guard Danny Pinter
6 (193). Penn State defensive tackle Robert Windsor
6 (211). UMass cornerback Isaiah Rodgers
6 (212). Washington State wide receiver Dezmon Patmon
6 (213). Michigan linebacker Jordan Glasgow
Overview: DeForest Buckner is the biggest piece in this haul after the Colts acquired him from San Francisco in exchange for this year’s 13th overall pick. Pittman is next biggest, addressing a glaring need with first-round talent near the top of round two. Pittman plays a quarterback-friendly game that should mesh quickly with Philip Rivers. Trading up for Taylor was perhaps an overly aggressive move by GM Chris Ballard with Marlon Mack already entrenched as a quality starter, however, and Blackmon may not contribute in year one after tearing his ACL in the Pac 12 championship game. Pre-draft round-two projections for Eason were way off, but he was a fine investment in round four. I like the idea of strong-armed Eason spending a season learning behind fellow pocket passer Rivers, who is on a one-year deal. While this was by no means my favorite draft of Ballard’s still-promising tenure, I do believe in his ability to identify value and properly evaluate his own roster, an often unspoken but crucial component of team management that gives the Colts a competitive advantage when it comes to the draft.
Grade: B-
Jacksonville Jaguars
1 (9). Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson
1 (20). LSU edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson
2 (42). Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault
3 (73). Ohio State defensive tackle Davon Hamilton
4 (116). St. John’s (MN) guard Ben Bartch
4 (137). Michigan State cornerback Josiah Scott
4 (140). Miami linebacker Shaquille Quarterman
5 (157). Auburn safety Daniel Thomas
5 (165). Texas wide receiver Collin Johnson
6 (189). Oregon State quarterback Jake Luton
6 (206). Georgia Tech tight end Tyler Davis
7 (223). Memphis cornerback Chris Claybrooks
Overview: Something to strongly consider when opining over this draft is just how much Jacksonville had to sacrifice to get these picks in the first place. They’ve won 11 games combined over the past two seasons. They traded Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye, Calais Campbell, and 2019 free agent flop Nick Foles. They’re still trying to trade Yannick Ngakoue and Leonard Fournette. And they’re probably going to be one of the NFL’s worst teams again this year. That’s an awful lot of losing, and an awful lot of talent removal in a short period of time. And in all likelihood, there still isn’t a franchise quarterback on the Jaguars’ roster. I do like some of the contents of this haul; many of the same knocks on Henderson were once levied against Stephon Gilmore, Chaisson is a classic high-ceiling edge prospect, Shenault is going to be a ton of fun to watch if utilized correctly, and sixth-rounder Luton was one of my favorite quarterback sleepers entering the draft. The Jaguars should emerge from the weekend with a handful of quality short- and long-term starters. But, like last year’s Raiders, so much of that will have come at painful expense and be strongly driven by sheer opportunity due to so many roster holes created by the team itself.
Grade: B-
Kansas City Chiefs
1 (32). LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire
2 (63). Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay
3 (96). TCU offensive tackle Lucas Niang
4 (138). Louisiana Tech defensive back L’Jarius Sneed
5 (177). Michigan defensive end Michael Danna
7 (237). Tulane cornerback Thakarius Keyes
Overview: Kansas City kicked off its draft with Austin Ekeler clone Edwards-Helaire, a passing-game extraordinaire who caught 55 balls last year and perfectly fits the Chiefs’ pass-first offense as Andy Reid’s next Brian Westbrook. While position value was lacking for each of Kansas City’s first two selections, fit and need were not. A run-and-chase linebacker with 4.46 wheels, Gay plays an energized game and injects badly needed athleticism into the second level of Steve Spagnuolo’s plodding defense. Niang checks boxes for size, length, and agility but slipped in the draft over medical concerns. He has starting right tackle traits. Sneed and Keyes are height-weight-speed prospects who add competition to the Chiefs’ patchwork secondary. Danna is probably a throwaway pick. This was a small class that did net playmaking upgrades on both sides of the ball but probably won’t move the AFC-race needle much.
Grade: C
Las Vegas Raiders
1 (12). Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs
1 (19). Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette
3 (80). Kentucky running back Lynn Bowden
3 (81). South Carolina wide receiver Bryan Edwards
3 (100). Clemson safety/linebacker Tanner Muse
4 (109). Clemson guard John Simpson
4 (139). Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Robertson
Overview: Raiders GM Mike Mayock’s second draft was long on big-school prospects and emphasized playmakers on both sides of the ball. As Derek Carr has lacked a true field stretcher throughout his NFL tenure, Ruggs’ 4.27 speed will give Mayock and Jon Gruden a fair evaluation of Carr in his make-or-break year. Announced as a running back, Bowden’s backfield-slot-return game versatility reminds of Randall Cobb. Edwards is a physical, target-commanding possession receiver who would have gone earlier if not for his checkered injury history. Muse led Clemson in interceptions in his final year, then blew up the Combine by running 4.41 at 230 pounds. Simpson provides insurance on RG Gabe Jackson, heavily rumored to be on the trade block. Robertson is a feisty 5-foot-8 college outside corner who will have to convert to the slot. Unfortunately, the Arnette pick dealt a major blow to Las Vegas’ grade as a third-round prospect the Raiders stunningly reached for in the top 20. Arnette is old for a rookie (24 in September), slow for a cornerback (4.56), and was removed from several teams’ boards due to off-field concerns. My guess is the Raiders panicked after the Falcons reached for A.J. Terrell three picks before.
Grade: C+
Los Angeles Chargers
1 (6). Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert
1 (23). Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray
4 (112). UCLA running back Joshua Kelley
5 (151). Virginia wide receiver Joe Reed
6 (186). Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman
7 (220). Ohio State wide receiver K.J. Hill
Overview: The quarterback-needy Bolts began their forgettable draft with milquetoast QB prospect Herbert, then dealt with Bill Belichick. They sent New England this year’s 71st pick to move from pick No. 37 to No. 23. There, GM Tom Telesco selected Murray, a probable quality starter unworthy of such a costly commitment at the devalued off-ball linebacker position. Kelley isn’t a surefire No. 2 back upgrade on Justin Jackson behind Austin Ekeler. Reed took a big step forward as a receiver in his final year for the Cavs and offers tremendous return value after scoring on five kickoffs over the past three seasons. Gilman’s 34th-percentile athleticism will work against his chances of ever earning a prominent non-special teams role, and Hill is a low-ceiling slot receiver prospect. The outcome of this draft will be determined almost entirely by Herbert’s development or lack thereof. And as someone who isn’t sold on Herbert’s NFL outlook, I’m compelled to give this draft a barely-passing grade.
Grade: D+
Miami Dolphins
1 (5). Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
1 (18). USC offensive tackle Austin Jackson
1 (30). Auburn cornerback Noah Igbinoghene
2 (39). Louisiana-Lafayette guard Robert Hunt
2 (56). Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis
3 (70). Texas safety Brandon Jones
5 (111). Georgia guard Solomon Kindley
5 (154). North Carolina defensive end Jason Strowbridge
5 (164). Boise State edge rusher Curtis Weaver
6 (185). LSU long snapper Blake Ferguson
7 (246). Navy running back Malcolm Perry
Overview: Miami did well to keep the world guessing as to its grade on Tagovailoa, landing him at No. 5 without having to trade up. After drafting this year’s near-consensus No. 2 quarterback prospect, the Dolphins went to work to repair their offensive and defensive lines. Jackson and Hunt project as definite day-one starters. Kindley is an interior road grader at 337 pounds. Despite pedestrian production, Davis earned second-team all-conference recognition from the SEC’s coaches last year. Strowbridge and Weaver were both expected to be drafted earlier than they were. The Dolphins also used a fifth-round pick to acquire Matt Breida, who will team with Jordan Howard in an underrated one-two punch. A slot back and running quarterback at Navy, Perry was worth a late seventh-round flyer. The Dolphins also own the Texans’ first- and second-round picks in next year’s draft. This year’s brought Miami its franchise quarterback, badly needed help in both trenches, a raw but exceptionally physical and athletic cornerback prospect who allowed a mere 40% completion rate in the SEC in Igbinoghene, and a versatile safety-nickel in Jones. Even quicker than expected, the Fins are building the foundation for a fast turnaround in the now Tom Brady-less AFC East.
Grade: B+
New England Patriots
2 (37). Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger
2 (60). Michigan linebacker Josh Uche
3 (87). Alabama edge rusher Anfernee Jennings
3 (91). UCLA tight end Devin Asiasi
3 (101). Virginia Tech tight end Dalton Keene
5 (159). Marshall kicker Justin Rohrwasser
6 (182). Michigan guard Michael Onwenu
6 (195). Wake Forest guard/tackle Justin Herron
6 (204). Wyoming linebacker Cassh Maluia
7 (230). Memphis center Dustin Woodard
Overview: Mohamed Sanu is part of this haul after the Patriots regrettably acquired him from Atlanta for what became this year’s 55th overall pick. Annual traders down, the Patriots stayed true to their philosophy by acquiring the Chargers’ Nos. 37 and 71 picks in exchange for No. 23. Dugger dominated Division 2 as both a safety and return specialist, then blew up the Combine with 99th-percentile SPARQ results. Uche generated buzz throughout the pre-draft phase for his versatility; he can be a situational blitzer, edge rusher, off-ball linebacker, and has extensive experience in pass coverage, checking boxes as a Bill Belichick-style player. Jennings has drawn comparisons to Kyle Van Noy as a long, heavy-handed linebacker who can rush with power and set the edge. The Pats doubled down on tight end toward the end of day two, pairing in-line prospect Asiasi with Dawson Knox clone Keene, who tested as the most athletic tight end in the entire class. Belichick made Rohrwasser this year’s first kicker drafted. The Pats took three day-three interior offensive linemen, perhaps paving the way for a post-draft Joe Thuney trade. Ultimately, this was a meat-and-potatoes draft for a Pats team in significant transition.
Grade: B-
New York Jets
1 (11). Louisville offensive tackle Mehki Becton
2 (59). Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims
3 (68). California safety Ashtyn Davis
3 (79). Florida edge rusher Jabari Zuniga
4 (120). Miami running back La’Mical Perine
4 (125). Florida International quarterback James Morgan
4 (129). NC-Charlotte offensive tackle Cameron Clark
5 (158). Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall
6 (191). Texas A&M punter Braden Mann
Overview: Although the Jets caught some flak for selecting Becton over Tristan Wirfs, it’s likely longtime Baltimore personnel man Joe Douglas drew similarities between Becton and ex-Ravens OTs Jonathan Ogden and Bryant McKinnie. Douglas did extremely well to emerge from days one and two with a franchise left tackle, Kenny Golladay clone Mims, an explosive safety with cornerback traits in Davis, and high-upside prospect Zuniga, who tested as the second most athletic edge defender in this class. Day three began less impressively with replacement-level RB Perine and erratic passer Morgan, although Clark was a worthwhile fourth-round stab as a probable tackle-to-guard conversion, and Hall almost certainly would have gone earlier if not for a late-career ankle fracture. The Jets also acquired CB Quincy Wilson from the Colts in exchange for the 211th overall pick, a risk worth taking on a 23-year-old former second-rounder who plays a position of great need in New York. All in all, I think Douglas came pretty close to knocking this one out of the park. And perhaps best of all, Douglas did not trade Jamal Adams.
Grade: B+
Pittsburgh Steelers
2 (49). Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool
3 (102). NC-Charlotte edge rusher Alex Highsmith
4 (124). Maryland running back Anthony McFarland Jr.
4 (135). Louisiana-Lafayette guard Kevin Dotson
6 (198). Maryland safety Antoine Brooks
7 (232). Nebraska defensive tackle Carlos Davis
Overview: The Steelers’ haul includes Minkah Fitzpatrick after they acquired him from Miami for this year’s first-round pick (No. 18). Amid persistent speculation an NFL team would convert Claypool to tight end, the Steelers announced him as a wide receiver, where he will play on the perimeter and challenge James Washington for snaps. Claypool’s physical characteristics much more closely resemble Vincent Jackson’s than any tight end. Highsmith provides talented insurance on walk-year EDGE Bud Dupree, while McFarland adds 4.44 juice behind injury-riddled James Conner. Dotson and Dolphins second-round pick Robert Hunt formed one of college football’s most powerful right sides with the former at guard and latter at tackle. Brooks’ ceiling is likely special teams, while Davis was a last-ditch traits-based flyer after he ran an absurd 4.82 forty at 313 pounds. Beyond Fitzpatrick, however, the Steelers aren’t guaranteed to get any near-term impact from this class unless Claypool ousts Washington right away.
Grade: B-
Tennessee Titans
1 (29). Georgia offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson
2 (61). LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton
3 (93). Appalachian State running back Darrynton Evans
5 (174). NC State defensive tackle Larrell Murchison
7 (224). Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald
7 (243). Marshall defensive back Chris Jackson
Overview: Maintaining their bully-ball philosophy on offense, the Titans began their draft with 6-foot-7, 350-pound mauler Wilson, who should seamlessly replace Jack Conklin at right tackle. GM Jon Robinson’s best value pick was Fulton, who allowed a miniscule 43.6% completion rate when targeted over the past two seasons and ran 4.46 at 6-foot, 197 before the draft. Both filled big needs on Tennessee’s roster. The Titans will hope darting change-of-pace prospect Evans succeeds behind Derrick Henry where Dion Lewis could not. Murchison projects as a situational three-technique tackle, while McDonald and Jackson are probable throwaways. This six-man class failed to yield an edge pass rusher but should net two immediate starters and at least one useful early-career role player.
Grade: B-
