For Silva’s NFC Draft Grades, click here.
AFC East: Buffalo Bills | Miami Dolphins | New England Patriots | New York Jets
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns | Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Houston Texans | Indianapolis Colts | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tennessee Titans
AFC West: Denver Broncos | Kansas City Chiefs | Las Vegas Raiders | Los Angeles Chargers
Baltimore Ravens
1 (22). Boston College WR Zay Flowers
3 (86). Clemson LB Trenton Simpson
4 (124). Mississippi EDGE Tavius Robinson
5 (157). Stanford CB Kyu Blu Kelly
6 (199). Oregon OT Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu
7 (229). USC OG Andrew Vorhees
Overview: LB Roquan Smith is part of this haul after the Ravens sent Chicago 2023 second- and fifth-round picks to acquire him before last year’s trade deadline. Baltimore wound up paying Smith far too expensive a deal to warrant positive impact on their draft grade, however. Dynamic slot WR Flowers’ addition completes Baltimore’s top pass-catcher corps of Lamar Jackson’s career teamed with Mark Andrews, Odell Beckham, Rashod Bateman, Isaiah Likely, and Nelson Agholor. Robinson is a long-limbed EDGE with an explosive get-off. I liked the idea of Baltimore taking a seventh-round flier on Vorhees, who could have gone on Day 2 were he not slated to miss his entire rookie year with a torn ACL suffered at the Combine. He’ll be stashed on the non-football injury list. While this draft haul isn’t going to blow anyone away, I think it’s clear the Ravens are planning to progress their offense in a pass-friendlier direction by re-signing Lamar and stockpiling weapons under new “Air Raid” OC Todd Monken.
Grade: C+
Buffalo Bills
1 (25). Utah TE Dalton Kincaid
2 (59). Florida OG O’Cyrus Torrence
3 (91). Tulane LB Dorian Williams
5 (150). Florida WR Justin Shorter
7 (230). Mississippi OG Nick Broeker
7 (252). Oregon State CB Alex Austin
Overview: Smartly realizing they needed a weapons upgrade after last year’s offense grew stale outside of Stefon Diggs, the Bills sent pick No. 130 to Jacksonville to climb two slots and hop the Cowboys for Kincaid. While I preferred Michael Mayer as a prospect straight up, there’s no question Kincaid brings dynamic vertical capability. I think he will take over quickly as Buffalo’s primary slot receiver. A power blocker with plus length, Torrence had legit late first-round buzz and addressed an underrated need in Buffalo. For a 6-foot-1, 227-pound linebacker, Williams has freaky arm length (33 ¾”) and blazed 4.54 before the draft. He should earn a role next to Matt Milano sooner rather than later. Big but sluggish, Shorter is a poor man’s Gabe Davis. This was a solid draft that brought value and hit on weaknesses.
Grade: B-
Cincinnati Bengals
1 (28). Clemson EDGE Myles Murphy
2 (60). Michigan CB D.J. Turner
3 (95). Alabama S Jordan Battle
4 (131). Purdue WR Charlie Jones
5 (163). Illinois RB Chase Brown
6 (206). Princeton WR Andrei Iosivas
6 (217). Michigan P Brad Robbins
7 (246). Miami (FL) DB D.J. Ivey
Overview: As they often do, the Bengals sit and picked their way through this one, placing an obvious emphasis on rebuilding a pass defense that was depleted in free agency. “You can never have too many pass rushers” is a credo I subscribe to, and Murphy gives Cincinnati four good ones off the edge behind Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard, and Joseph Ossai. Turner can absolutely fly (4.26) and had quality ball production in the Big Ten. Safety was arguably Cincy’s top on-paper need; as a four-year starter in Nick Saban’s secondary, Battle is prepared to compete right away. A smallish blazer, Jones gives the Bengals an option if they can’t figure things out with Tee Higgins. Due to Samaje Perine’s departure and Joe Mixon’s off-field situation, Brown was a necessary fifth-round addition. He’s a physical grinder with plus receiving skills and ran 4.41 in Indy. I thought this was one of the better top-to-bottom drafts in the AFC.
Grade: B+
Cleveland Browns
3 (74). Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman
3 (98). Baylor DT Siaki Ika
4 (111). Ohio State OT Dawand Jones
4 (126). Missouri EDGE Isaiah McGuire
5 (140). UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
5 (142). Northwestern CB Cameron Mitchell
6 (190). Ohio State C Luke Wypler
Overview: Handicapped by last year’s trade for Deshaun Watson, the Browns nevertheless made the most of their remaining draft capital beginning with Tillman, a big, strong possession receiver who was often featured over Jalin Hyatt when both were healthy at Tennessee. Ika is a one-trick pony space eater in the Danny Shelton mold. Trent Brown lookalike Jones is a classic boom-or-bust prospect easily worth a fourth-round flier in a draft as weak as this one. McGuire is a bull rusher with quality college production. In the Watson mold, Thompson-Robinson lacks a big arm but is a dangerous dual threat and completed nearly 70% of his passes as a 2022 senior. WR Elijah Moore is also a part of this haul after the Browns got him from the Jets for a song. (They wound up turning the No. 42 overall pick into Tillman and Moore.) Unfortunately, so is Watson, who played poorly in six starts last season and was a questionable acquisition in the first place. The Browns’ draft grade gets heavily penalized for that.
Grade: C-
Denver Broncos
2 (63). Oklahoma WR Marvin Mims
3 (67). Arkansas LB Drew Sanders
3 (83). Iowa CB Riley Moss
6 (183). Boise State S J.L. Skinner
7 (257). Oregon C Alex Forsyth
Overview: Sean Payton’s first draft in Denver was obviously severely depleted by last year’s trade for Russell Wilson, the 2022 results of which couldn’t have been worse. Their draft grade is going to pay for that. The Broncos traded up for Mims after reportedly shopping Courtland Sutton all offseason and wavering on exercising Jerry Jeudy’s fifth-year option. With Tim Patrick coming back from injury, the Mims move seemed like major overkill. Especially after the Lions reached for Jack Campbell at No. 18, Sanders looks like a big-time value pick at No. 67. Campbell and Sanders were widely considered neck and neck for this year’s top off-ball linebacker, and Sanders is a much better blitzer. Built big and highly athletic, Moss was an interception magnet for the Hawkeyes. TE Adam Trautman is also included in this haul after Denver acquired him from the Saints in a late-round pick swap. Unfortunately, so is Wilson.
Grade: F
Houston Texans
1 (2). Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
1 (3). Alabama EDGE Will Anderson
2 (62). Penn State C Juice Scruggs
3 (69). Houston WR Tank Dell
4 (109). TCU EDGE Dylan Horton
5 (167). Alabama LB Henry To’oTo’o
6 (201). Notre Dame C Jarrett Patterson
6 (205). Iowa State WR Xavier Hutchinson
7 (248). Pittsburgh S Brandon Hill
Overview: The Texans were the NFL’s most aggressive trade-up team in this year’s draft, first sending Arizona 2023’s No. 33 pick plus 2024 first- and third-rounders to climb from 12 to 3 for Anderson, then sacrificing middle-round selections in smaller moves up for Scruggs and Dell. The Texans do deserve credit for swindling OG Shaq Mason from Tampa Bay for a late Day 3 pick swap before the draft, then emerging from the weekend with this class’ top pass rusher Anderson and No. 2-rated QB Stroud. Based on their dimensions, I wouldn’t be surprised if Scruggs ends up starting at guard with sixth-round technician Patterson emerging at center. Dell weighs only 165 pounds but won’t have to worry about the wind blowing him away beneath Houston’s retractable roof. The Texans plan to play Dell outside with 2022 second-round pick John Metchie in the slot. Horton profiles as a situational outside rusher. Undersized but heady, To’oTo’o best projects as a special teamer and off-ball reserve. I think the Texans gave up too much in the Anderson deal, but I really like the group of players they came away with.
Grade: B
Indianapolis Colts
1 (4). Florida QB Anthony Richardson
2 (44). Kansas State CB Julius Brents
3 (79). North Carolina WR Josh Downs
4 (106). BYU OT Blake Freeland
4 (110). Northwestern DT Adetomiwa Adebawore
5 (138). South Carolina CB Darius Rush
5 (158). California S Daniel Scott
5 (162). Miami (FL) TE Will Mallory
5 (176). Northwestern RB Evan Hull
6 (211). Wagner EDGE Titus Leo
7 (221). Texas A&M CB Jaylon Jones
7 (236). Northern Michigan OT Jake Witt
Overview: The Richardson fit in Indy is ideal under rookie coach Shane Steichen, who helped coach fellow dual-threat QB Jalen Hurts to stardom in Philadelphia. And Richardson’s toolbox is even more extensive than Hurts’. The Colts’ cornerback depth chart was downright embarrassing before the draft, so 6-foot-3 beanstalk Brents will get every opportunity to start right away. DC Gus Bradley is going to love Brents’ length. Downs is a T.Y. Hilton lookalike. Freeland combines ideal length with freakish athleticism and has a realistic chance to turn into a starter on the blindside. He was a steal in the fourth. Another workout freak, Adebawore destroyed the Senior Bowl and Combine, where he blazed 4.5-flat at 6-foot-2, 283. He’s a high-ceiling three-technique prospect. The struggling Colts needed a quarterback and an influx of young talent and got both with this haul. It’s an exciting start to the Steichen era.
Grade: A-
Jacksonville Jaguars
1 (27). Oklahoma OT Anton Harrison
2 (61). Penn State TE Brenton Strange
3 (88). Auburn RB Tank Bigsby
4 (121). Florida LB Ventrell Miller
4 (130). Oklahoma State EDGE Tyler Lacy
5 (136). Louisville LB Yasir Abdullah
5 (160). Texas A&M S Antonio Johnson
6 (185). Penn State WR Parker Washington
6 (202). Rutgers CB Christian Braswell
6 (208). Pittsburgh DB Erick Hallett
7 (226). Appalachian State OT Cooper Hodges
7 (227). North Carolina DT Raymond Vohasek
7 (240). Houston EDGE Derek Parish
Overview: Due to Cam Robinson’s PEDs suspension, the Jags are kicking Walker Little to left tackle and starting Harrison immediately on the right, where they believe he’ll benefit from playing next to RG Brandon Scherff. Long, experienced, and plenty athletic, Harrison was regarded more highly by teams than media. Strange went earlier than expected but is one of the best blocking tight ends in the draft, a fluid mover, and has room to grow as a pass catcher. Evan Engram is wearing a one-year franchise tag. A compact, tough runner with exceptional balance on contact, Bigsby will smoothly complement Travis Etienne. Miller profiles as a special teamer. Lacy is a 6-foot-4, 280-pound inside-outside tweener who wasn’t supposed to go that early. Calvin Ridley is also part of this haul after the Jaguars acquired him for a Day 3 pick in 2023 and a conditional second-/third-rounder in 2024. Jacksonville made a bunch of trades down and picked up a bunch of additional selections, a strategy I typically like. I didn’t like it as much this year because of the weakness of the draft as a whole. I still think the Jags got better as a team.
Grade: C+
Kansas City Chiefs
1 (31). Kansas State EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah
2 (55). SMU WR Rashee Rice
3 (92). Oklahoma OT Wanya Morris
4 (119). Virginia Tech CB Chamarri Conner
5 (166). Stephen F. Austin EDGE B.J. Thompson
6 (194). Texas DT Keondre Coburn
7 (250). Ball State CB Nic Jones
Overview: WR Kadarius Toney is included in this haul after Kansas City acquired him from the Giants for third- and sixth-round picks. Anudike-Uzomah compares to Yannick Ngakoue as a highly-skilled pass rusher and playmaker who gets washed out versus the run. The Chiefs traded up for Rice, who arguably had the best combination of size, athleticism, and college production of any wide receiver in the draft. Morris was considered a college underachiever but maintains NFL starter-level talent and gives Kansas City an alternative if RT Lucas Niang doesn’t pan out. Conner profiles as a big nickel safety who can match up with tight ends in man coverage. The Chiefs perennially prioritize measurables in the draft and did so again here, with success I believe. And I’m excited to see where Rice goes in Dynasty rookie drafts!
Grade: B-
Las Vegas Raiders
1 (7). Texas Tech EDGE Tyree Wilson
2 (35). Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer
3 (70). Alabama DT Byron Young
3 (100). Cincinnati WR Tre Tucker
4 (104). Maryland CB Jakorian Bennett
4 (135). Purdue QB Aidan O’Connell
5 (170). Georgia S Christopher Smith
6 (203). Florida LB Amari Burney
7 (231). Arizona State DT Nesta Jade Silvera
Overview: Kicking off their draft with a big-time value pick — Wilson was widely mocked as high as No. 2 to the Texans — the Raiders followed up with another in complete and NFL-ready TE Mayer. Climbing from No. 38 to 35 for Mayer did cost Vegas a fifth-round pick. A 3-4 end for the Crimson Tide, Young offers inside-out flexibility but profiles primarily as a five technique. Tucker was one of many wideouts in this draft with diminutive size but insane speed. Bennett was an inconsistent cover guy at Maryland but is built adequately and absolutely eviscerated the Combine, blazing 4.3-flat with an 11-foot-1 broad jump at 5-foot-11, 188. O’Connell is a poor man’s Jimmy Garoppolo, under whom he’ll learn with Las Vegas.
Grade: B-
Los Angeles Chargers
1 (21). TCU WR Quentin Johnston
2 (54). USC EDGE Tui Tuipulotu
3 (85). Washington State LB Daiyan Henley
4 (125). TCU WR Derius Davis
5 (156). Clemson OG Jordan McFadden
6 (200). Boise State DT Scott Matlock
7 (239). TCU QB Max Duggan
Overview: A staunch sit-and-pick GM, Tom Telesco annually lets the board come to him. I wouldn’t be surprised if other teams have stopped calling him to trade altogether. Famously addicted to plus-sized receivers, Telesco couldn’t help himself when 6-foot-3, 209-pound RAC monster Johnston made it to No. 21. He’ll start opposite Mike Williams with Keenan Allen in the slot. Scouts questioned Tuipulotu’s athleticism, but he led Division I in sacks (13.5) in 2022 and reminds me of Melvin Ingram with an ability to win inside. A new-age linebacker who can cover, Henley was a ubiquitous presence on the field for the Cougars and will have a chance to play early after the Bolts declined Kenneth Murray’s fifth-year option. Undersized flier Davis won 2022 Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year. He scored six career return TDs at TCU. Emphasizing production at every pick, this was another rock-solid draft for Telesco.
Grade: B-
Miami Dolphins
2 (51). South Carolina CB Cam Smith
3 (84). Texas A&M RB Devon Achane
6 (197). Stanford WR Elijah Higgins
7 (238). Michigan OT Ryan Hayes
Overview: The Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick for multiple violations of the NFL’s anti-tampering policy in discussions with Tom Brady. They traded the No. 29 pick to Denver for EDGE Bradley Chubb. Their fourth- and sixth-rounders went to Kansas City in the Tyreek Hill deal. Their fifth-rounder went to San Francisco for RB Jeff Wilson. And they acquired CB Jalen Ramsey from the Rams for a third-rounder. So their deck was severely limited. A swaggy ballhawk with plus size and speed, Smith played boundary and slot corner for the Gamecocks. Achane drew pre-draft Jahvid Best comparisons as a home-run hitter, adding to Miami’s already treasure trove of offensive speed. I have to penalize Miami for tampering — just as the league itself did — but I really liked the Dolphins’ individual picks and that they stole Ramsey.
Grade: C+
New England Patriots
1 (17). Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez
2 (46). Georgia Tech DL Keion White
3 (76). Sacramento State LB Marte Mapu
4 (107). Troy C Jake Andrews
4 (112). Maryland K Chad Ryland
4 (117). Eastern Michigan OG Sidy Sow
5 (144). UCLA OG Atonio Mafi
6 (187). LSU WR Kayshon Boutte
6 (192). Michigan State P Bryce Baringer
6 (210). Liberty WR Demario Douglas
6 (214). Michigan State DB Ameer Speed
7 (245). Jackson State CB Isaiah Bolden
Overview: The Patriots’ draft was all over the map, beginning hot by stealing consensus No. 2-rated CB Gonzalez at No. 17 even after a trade down that netted them a surplus fourth-round pick, then inside-out DE/DT White, who somehow ran 4.49 at 281 pounds in Indy. At 6-foot-3, 221, Mapu is a sort of linebacker-safety hybrid who dominated in the FCS with a ton of on-ball production but tore his pec in February. Andrews made starts at both guard and center at Troy. The Patriots spent draft capital at kicker and punter, unsurprising from a team that’s literally drafted long snappers before. I do bet they get at least one starter from the Andrews-Sow-Mafi O-Line triumvirate. Ultimately, this was a fun and voluminous draft for a team that needed it. The Patriots’ roster has declined badly in recent seasons.
Grade: B-
New York Jets
1 (15). Iowa State EDGE Will McDonald
2 (43). Wisconsin C Joe Tippmann
4 (120). Pittsburgh OT Carter Warren
5 (143). Pittsburgh RB Israel Abanikanda
6 (184). Western Michigan LB Zaire Barnes
6 (204). LSU CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
7 (220). Old Dominion TE Zack Kuntz
Overview: Aaron Rodgers is included in this haul, significantly boosting Gang Green’s draft grade. The Jets started off with two first-round talents in McDonald and Tippmann, the former of whom is an insane edge-bending athlete, and the latter of whom is ready to start Day 1 at center. 6-foot-6/314 with nearly 36-inch arms, Warren started at left tackle all four years for the Panthers but missed most of 2022 with a meniscus injury. Abanikanda was a straight-linish home-run hitter at Pitt, drawing comparisons to Tevin Coleman. I can’t believe the Jets stole Kuntz in the seventh round; the Penn State transfer banked the top composite athleticism score of any tight end at the Combine — in a historically great tight end class.
Grade: A
Pittsburgh Steelers
1 (14). Georgia OT Broderick Jones
2 (32). Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr.
2 (49). Wisconsin DT Keeanu Benton
3 (93). Georgia TE Darnell Washington
4 (132). Wisconsin LB Nick Herbig
7 (241). Purdue CB Cory Trice
7 (251). Maryland OG Spencer Anderson
Overview: Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan kicked this draft’s ass, first moving up for Day 1 LT starter Jones to solidify an O-Line that now boasts quality starters at all five spots and has actual depth. A plus-sized press corner, Porter will learn from the best when he meets Patrick Peterson on the opposite side of Pittsburgh’s secondary. Stout and disruptive inside, Benton was a 3-4 nose tackle at Wisconsin but has tools to play both three and five technique and easily could have been a first-round pick. Washington purportedly fell due to medical concerns (knee). On tape, he’s a sixth offensive lineman and athletic enough to make occasional passing-game plays. Teams struggled with Herbig from a position standpoint; he was a pass rusher for the Badgers but may better project as a middle linebacker in the pros. Allen Robinson is included in this haul after the Steelers got him in an innocuous seventh-round pick swap.
Grade: A
Tennessee Titans
1 (11). Northwestern G/T Peter Skoronski
2 (33). Kentucky QB Will Levis
3 (81). Tulane RB Tyjae Spears
5 (147). Cincinnati TE Josh Whyle
6 (186). Maryland T/G Jaelyn Duncan
7 (228). Tennessee-Martin WR Colton Dowell
Overview: Moving past the Taylor Lewan era, the Titans began their draft with steady but short-armed Skoronski, whose position in Tennessee is TBD. Trading up for old-school pocket passer Levis cost the Titans a third-round swap with Arizona and their 2024 third-round pick. Ryan Tannehill turns 35 in July and will almost certainly be cut after this season. Spears enters the NFL with major knee concerns after tearing his ACL twice, then showing signs of arthritis in Combine checkups. He also weighs 201 pounds. Whyle is a super athletic pass-catching prospect. The Titans never did address their glaring wide receiver hole and could easily emerge from this draft with just one quality player. It was an unimpressive haul.
Grade: C-
