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 (30). Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
2 (62). Washington OT Roger Rosengarten
3 (93). Penn State EDGE Adisa Isaac
4 (113). North Carolina WR Devontez Walker
4 (130). Iowa State CB T.J. Tampa
5 (165). Marshall RB Rasheen Ali
6 (218). Kentucky QB Devin Leary
7 (228). Michigan State C Nick Samac
7 (250). Purdue S Sanoussi Kane
Overview: Comparable to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as a blazing-fast (4.28) if lightweight (6’2/173) boundary cover man, Wiggins should be a day-one starter opposite Marlon Humphrey with Kyle Hamilton in the slot. Rosengarten allowed zero sacks as a two-year starter at right tackle for the Huskies. Isaac tore his Achilles’ in 2021 but blends standout length with an explosive get-off and amassed more production than college bookend Chop Robinson. Tampa was a day-two talent who fell to the late fourth due to alleged character concerns; teams were ostensibly turned off by Tampa turning down a Senior Bowl invite. I was disappointed Baltimore didn’t come away with a starting candidate on the interior offensive line but think they got a slew of really talented prospects. Another well-graded Ravens draft.
Grade: B
Buffalo Bills
2 (33). Florida State WR Keon Coleman
2 (60). Utah S Cole Bishop
3 (95). Duke DT DeWayne Carter
4 (128). Kentucky RB Ray Davis
5 (141). Georgia C Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
5 (160). Washington LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
5 (168). Troy EDGE Javon Solomon
6 (204). UCF OT Tylan Grable
6 (219). Penn State CB Daequan Hardy
7 (248). England OT Travis Clayton
Overview: GM Brandon Beane kicked off this draft with consecutive trades down, all told collecting seven picks inside the top 163 for a team in a soft rebuild. Initial selection Coleman is a king-sized (6’4/213) ball snatcher and ex-basketball player who slipped due to a 4.61 forty time but plays faster, averaged an impressive 12.0 yards per punt return as a Seminole, and scored 19 TDs on 115 college catches. Bishop is a slot-safety hybrid who was a pre-draft favorite among film grinders. Carter is a three-technique gap shooter with passable athleticism at 6-foot-2, 302. On day three, Beane swindled the Bears’ 2025 fourth-round pick in exchange for Buffalo’s 2024 fifth-rounder (No. 144). Davis was among the NCAA’s most efficient interior runners in 2023 and complements James Cook. British product Clayton has never played in a real-life American Football game but showed freaky athleticism with a 4.81 forty time at 6-foot-7, 301 before the draft. I appreciate Beane’s trade-down and forward-thinking approach but was disappointed that Buffalo did not select multiple pass-catching weapons.
Grade: C
Cincinnati Bengals
1 (18). Georgia OT Amarius Mims
2 (49). Michigan DT Kris Jenkins
3 (80). Alabama WR Jermaine Burton
3 (97). Texas A&M DT McKinnley Jackson
4 (115). Iowa TE Erick All
5 (149). TCU CB Josh Newton
6 (194). Arizona TE Tanner McLachlan
6 (214). Ole Miss EDGE Cedric Johnson
7 (224). Ole Miss S Daijahn Anthony
7 (237). Miami (FL) C Matt Lee
Overview: The Bengals went to early-round work in the trenches, selecting inexperienced (eight college starts) yet immensely gifted right tackle Mims at No. 18, then following up with low-production Michigan man Jenkins at No. 49. Jenkins has impressive lineage (Cullen, Kris Sr.) but managed four sacks as a four-year Wolverine. Burton is a first-round talent who slipped to round three due to character concerns but has the capability to supplant franchise-tagged Tee Higgins by 2025. All enters the NFL in good company; the last four Iowa tight ends drafted were Sam LaPorta, T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, and George Kittle. Involving so many high-ceiling, unsafe-floor prospects, I’m viewing this as a boom-or-bust haul for Cincy.
Grade: C+
Cleveland Browns
2 (54). Ohio State DT Michael Hall
3 (85). Michigan OG Zak Zinter
5 (156). Louisville WR Jamari Thrash
6 (206). Mississippi State LB Nathaniel Watson
7 (227). South Dakota CB Myles Harden
7 (243). Cincinnati DT Jowon Briggs
Overview: For better or worse, Jerry Jeudy is part of this haul after Cleveland acquired him from Denver for 2024 fifth- and sixth-round picks. GM Andrew Berry began this draft with an upside shot on Hall, a 20-year-old third-year sophomore who incredibly ran 4.75 at 6-foot-3, 299 during Ohio State’s Pro Day. Hall’s 2023 pass-rush win rate of 15.4% (Football Insights) was near tops in this class among interior D-Linemen. Zinter slipped a bit after breaking his fibula and tibia late last season but allowed zero sacks in 2023 and perfectly fits HC Kevin Stefanski’s zone-blocking scheme. Thrash runs 4.46 at 6-foot, 188 and flashed vertical ability between Georgia State and Louisville. The Browns entered this draft shorthanded after the Jeudy and Deshaun Watson trades. Their results were satisfactory given what they had left.
Grade: C-
Denver Broncos
1 (12). Oregon QB Bo Nix
3 (76). Utah EDGE Jonah Elliss
4 (102). Oregon WR Troy Franklin
5 (145). Missouri CB Kris Abrams-Draine
5 (147). Notre Dame RB Audric Estime
7 (235). Utah WR Devaughn Vele
7 (256). South Carolina C Nick Gargiulo
Overview: Denver entered this draft missing its second-round pick (No. 45) via 2023’s trade for HC Sean Payton. For better or worse, Zach Wilson is part of this haul after the Broncos executed an innocuous day-three pick swap to acquire the Jets’ bust. Turning 25 in less than a year, Nix was an obvious reach at No. 12 overall but fits Payton’s system as a high-percentage short and intermediate passer with more than enough athleticism. Elliss profiles as a high-efficiency sub-package pass rusher who probably won’t become an every-down player at 243 pounds. Reuniting college teammates Franklin and Nix makes some sense, although the Broncos traded up to make it happen, and Franklin’s vertical-finesse game is hardly a lock to translate successfully to the pros at 6-foot-2, 176 pounds. Estime is a poor man’s Derrick Henry as a 221-pounder who persistently broke off breakaway runs in college, yet it’s fair to argue his addition didn’t improve Denver’s running back room behind Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Samaje Perine. The Broncos do get credit for swindling starting-caliber DE John Franklin-Myers from the Jets for a 2026 sixth-round pick. I still see this as a dangerously low-floor draft for one of the NFL’s worst teams.
Grade: D+
Houston Texans
2 (42). Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter
2 (59). Notre Dame OT Blake Fisher
3 (78). USC S Calen Bullock
4 (123). Ohio State TE Cade Stover
6 (188). Oregon LB Jamal Hill
6 (205). Louisville RB Jawhar Jordan
7 (238). USC EDGE Solomon Byrd
7 (247). Auburn DT Marcus Harris
Overview: The Texans were missing their 2024 first-rounder following 2023’s trade up for Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson. They acquired Stefon Diggs from the Bills in exchange for two day-three selections and a 2025 second-rounder. Houston also received Joe Mixon for pick No. 224. Lassiter was viewed as a first-round prospect before running 4.65 prior to the draft. His peripheral metrics were elite, however, and it’s likely Lassiter lands at slot corner, a positional need in Houston. Either way, the Texans got a good player at a discount price. I’m normally a fan of Notre Dame offensive linemen – they tend to simply get guys blocked – but Fisher allowed high pressure rates in college and profiles as a right tackle only. I didn’t love him as a second-round pick. Bullock projects as a high safety behind Jimmie Ward with Jalen Pitre staying near the line of scrimmage. Ex-linebacker Stover is an in-line “Y” tight end who can block and box out in the red zone. As a bettor on the Texans’ Super Bowl LIX odds, I wasn’t ecstatic about this haul but don’t hate it, either. (I did absolutely love C.J. Stroud’s in-draft TV analysis.)
Grade: C
Indianapolis Colts
1 (15). UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu
2 (52). Texas WR Adonai Mitchell
3 (79). Pittsburgh T/G Matt Goncalves
4 (117). Wisconsin C/G Tanor Bortolini
5 (142). Oregon State WR Anthony Gould
5 (151). Missouri S Jaylon Carlies
5 (164). Auburn S Jaylin Simpson
6 (201). Marshall CB Micah Abraham
7 (234). Oklahoma DT Jonah Laulu
Overview: GM Chris Ballard made Latu 2024’s first defensive player drafted, betting on his pristine pass-rush technique and college production. Latu left UCLA with 24 career sacks, 35 ½ tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles. Perhaps due to immaturity, first-round talent Mitchell slipped deep into round two even after he scored 11 touchdowns across 14 games in 2023 and tested as a 99th-percentile athlete before the draft. Goncalves is a college tackle who will probably kick inside to guard or even center. Bortolini has a real chance to eventually replace contract-year C Ryan Kelly. Ballard typically hones in on high-end athletes and did so again here while knocking out needs and picking off draft-board fallers.
Grade: B
Jacksonville Jaguars
1 (23). LSU WR Brian Thomas
2 (48). LSU DT Maason Smith
3 (96). Florida State CB Jarrian Jones
4 (114). Missouri OT Javon Foster
4 (116). LSU DT Jordan Jefferson
5 (153). Ole Miss CB Deantre Prince
5 (167). Texas RB Keilan Robinson
6 (212). Arkansas K Cam Little
7 (236). Texas Tech DE Myles Cole
Overview: Backup QB Mac Jones is part of this haul after Jacksonville acquired him from New England for the No. 193 pick. GM Trent Baalke began the draft with a bang, picking up the No. 167 selection plus Minnesota’s 2025 third- and fourth-rounders to drop from No. 17 to 23. There, Baalke stole height-weight-speed specimen and SEC touchdown-scoring machine Thomas, addressing a glaring need. Smith is a boom-bust interior disruptor. Jones ran 4.38 at 6-foot-, 190 at the Combine but lacked standout on-ball college production. At 6-foot-3, 316, Jefferson looks like a surefire rotational asset at worst with an aggressive demeanor and productive resume. This shapes up as an okay if unspectacular draft collection.
Grade: B-
Kansas City Chiefs
1 (28). Texas WR Xavier Worthy
2 (63). BYU OT Kingsley Suamataia
4 (131). TCU TE Jared Wiley
4 (133). Washington State S Jaden Hicks
5 (159). Penn State OL Hunter Nourzad
6 (211). Tennessee DB Kamal Hadden
7 (248). Holy Cross OL C.J. Hanson
Overview: The rest of the NFL should be kicking itself for allowing the defending Super Bowl champs to address their two biggest needs in immediate fashion via 4.21 speed burner Worthy and prototypical blindside protector Suamataia. Worthy is a demon with the ball in his hands, while Suamataia is a plus athlete at 6-foot-5, 322 with 34 ¼-inch arms. Wiley is a seam-stretching pass catcher worth stashing behind Travis Kelce, who turns 35 early this season. Experienced at high safety, slot corner, and box safety, Hicks is a versatile DB with a background covering tight ends in man coverage. Nourzad gives Kansas City an option behind contract-year C Creed Humphrey. Cornerback help would have boosted the Chiefs’ draft grade, but I believe they added two and maybe three year-one contributors and maximized value with most of their picks. In the NFL, good teams tend to stay good. Kansas City is staying good.
Grade: B
Las Vegas Raiders
1 (13). Georgia TE Brock Bowers
2 (44). Oregon C/G Jackson Powers-Johnson
3 (77). Maryland T/G D.J. Glaze
4 (112). Mississippi State CB Decamerion Richardson
5 (148). Ohio State LB Tommy Eichenberg
6 (208). New Hampshire RB Dylan Laube
7 (223). Air Force S Trey Taylor
7 (229). Pittsburgh CB M.J. Devonshire
Overview: Bowers was one of this draft’s best five pure football players, but pairing him with Michael Mayer will inevitably curb their collective production. The Raiders simply won’t be able to play both tight ends full time. Powers-Johnson looks like a steal based on pre-draft forecasts but fell due to medical and character concerns. A tackle only in college, Glaze is expected to convert to guard. Day-three stab Laube has a chance at a career in a Rex Burkheadian role. The Raiders glossed over quarterback and apparently are prepared to enter the season with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell atop the depth chart.
Grade: C-
Los Angeles Chargers
1 (5). Notre Dame OT Joe Alt
2 (34). Georgia WR Ladd McConkey
3 (69). Michigan LB Junior Colson
4 (105). Alabama DT Justin Eboigbe
5 (137). Maryland CB Tarheeb Still
5 (140). Notre Dame CB Cam Hart
6 (181). Troy RB Kimani Vidal
7 (225). USC WR Brenden Rice
7 (253). Michigan WR Cornelius Johnson
Overview: A silky-smooth pass protector with meaningful NFL lineage, Alt started 33 straight games to close out his college career and immediately increases Justin Herbert’s odds of going-forward success. To move from No. 37 to No. 34 for McConkey, the Bolts dropped from only No. 110 to No. 137 in a deal with New England. My favorite comparison for McConkey is Emmanuel Sanders as a versatile inside-out threat with devastating route-running ability. Jim Harbaugh recruit Colson was arguably the top off-ball linebacker in this draft. Hart is a height-weight-speed specimen with big upside as a press-man perimeter corner. Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman have made their vision clear; they’re going to run the ball with volume and build around a talented offensive line. (I’m skeptical their approach will succeed in this era.)
Grade: D+
Miami Dolphins
1 (21). Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson
2 (53). Houston OT Patrick Paul
4 (120). Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright
5 (158). Colorado State EDGE Mohamed Kamara
6 (185). Virginia WR Malik Washington
6 (198). California S Patrick McMorris
7 (241). USC WR Tahj Washington
Overview: The Dolphins drew criticism for Robinson’s selection because “Chop” produced only four sacks for the 2023 Nittany Lions as rotational rusher, yet his on-tape effort and measurable athleticism suggest Robinson could become a better pro than he was a collegiate. At 6-foot-8, 332 with 36 ¼-inch arms, Paul is a behemoth with plus athleticism who logged 44 college starts. I wonder if the Dolphins will kick Austin Jackson to left guard and start Paul at right tackle initially. The Fins sent Philly a 2025 third-round pick to draft 4.38 homerun hitter Wright in round four; Wright struggled with ball security and in pass protection in college but perfectly fits HC Mike McDaniel’s offensive design as a long-distance playmaker. Miami needed to emerge from this draft with another pass-catching weapon and may have found one in Washington, who stands 5-foot-9, 191 but runs 4.47 and caught 110 balls as a 2023 senior.
Grade: B-
New England Patriots
1 (3). UNC QB Drake Maye
2 (37). Washington WR Ja’Lynn Polk
3 (68). Penn State T/G Caedan Wallace
4 (103). Texas A&M OG Layden Robinson
4 (110). UCF WR Javon Baker
6 (180). South Carolina CB Marcellas Dial
6 (193). Tennessee QB Joe Milton
7 (231). Florida State TE Jaheim Bell
Overview: After Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels went 1-2, the Patriots wasted no time turning in the No. 3 overall card for Maye, whose skill set is loosely comparable to division-rival Josh Allen’s as a big-armed, plus runner in need of technical refinement. The Pats supplied Maye with weaponry in round two, tapping 6-foot-2, 204-pound Polk, who averaged 17.1 yards per catch in three years at Washington and banked an 89th-percentile Relative Athleticism Score before the draft. Wallace was a four-year starter at right tackle at Penn State. A right guard only at Texas A&M, Robinson struggles in pass protection but should be functional inside. Originally a highly-touted Alabama recruit, Baker wound up at Central Florida, where he dominated to the tune of a 52/1,139/7 (21.9 YPR) receiving line as a senior. I’m iffy on grading the Patriots’ draft because so much hinges on Maye. And I’m iffy on forecasting Maye’s future.
Grade: C
New York Jets
1 (11). Penn State OT Olu Fashanu
3 (65). Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley
4 (134). Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen
5 (171). Florida State QB Jordan Travis
5 (173). South Dakota State RB Isaiah Davis
5 (176). Canada CB Qwan’Tez Stiggers
7 (257). Alabama S Jaylen Key
Overview: Arguably the draft’s most natural left tackle behind Joe Alt, the Jets couldn’t resist when Fashanu fell in their laps at No. 11. It’s an extremely poor bet that current LT Tyron Smith, 33, and RT Morgan Moses, 33, last a full season. Fashanu is certain to be a starter for Gang Green by 2025. Corley has drawn Deebo Samuel comparisons for his compact build and tackle-breaking ability. Allen was an underwhelming on-tape watch as a contact-averse finesse runner at 235 pounds. GM Joe Douglas did well to add pick Nos. 129 and 157 for dropping just one slot in Thursday’s deal with the Vikings, then swindled a 2025 third-rounder from the Lions in exchange for a late fourth-round selection (No. 126). Stiggers didn’t even play college ball but earned 2023 Rookie of the Year honors in the CFL, then ran 4.47 at 5’11/204 at his March 15 Pro Day. The Jets came away from this draft with two probable early-career contributors and set themselves up for some longer-term upside. I’d characterize this haul as “just fine.”
Grade: C+
Pittsburgh Steelers
1 (20). Washington T/G Troy Fautanu
2 (51). West Virginia C/G Zach Frazier
3 (84). Michigan WR Roman Wilson
3 (98). NC State LB Payton Wilson
4 (119). South Dakota State OG Mason McCormick
6 (178). Iowa DT Logan Lee
6 (195). Texas CB Ryan Watts
Overview: Unsurprisingly to anyone familiar with first-year OC Arthur Smith’s track record, the Steelers began 2024’s draft by doubling down on tone-setting offensive linemen. Fautanu is expected to take over at right tackle with 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones kicking to the blindside and Frazier handling center. Especially dangerous down the middle and over the top, 4.39 slot man Wilson is a tactical complement to boundary playmaker George Pickens. Both of Payton Wilson’s knees were red flagged during Combine medical checks, but he is a beast on tape and should make an immediate impact, even if Wilson lacks longevity. McCormick banked a 99th-percentile RAS score after making 57 consecutive college starts. The Steelers’ vision is clear; they’re going to run the ball voluminously with a tandem backfield behind a now-loaded offensive line. I was thrilled with each of their first five picks in this haul.
Grade: B+
Tennessee Titans
1 (7). Alabama OT J.C. Latham
2 (38). Texas DT T’Vondre Sweat
4 (106). North Carolina LB Cedric Gray
5 (146). Louisville CB Jarvis Brownlee
6 (182). Tulane WR Jha’Quan Jackson
7 (242). Miami (FL) S James Williams
7 (252). Michigan EDGE Jaylen Harrell
Overview: Physical press-man CB L’Jarius Snead is part of Tennessee’s haul after GM Ran Carthon acquired him from Kansas City in a pre-draft trade. Especially under OL guru Bill Callahan, gargantuan Crimson Tide product Latham gives the Titans a chance to turn their front five around alongside 2023 first-round LG Peter Skoronski and $50 million C Lloyd Cushenberry. I was shocked the Titans spent a second-rounder on Sweat, who carries major conditioning and character concerns. He ballooned north of 400 pounds in his college career and got busted for DUI three weeks before the draft. Gray piled up 100-plus tackles in each of his final three college seasons and tested as a plus athlete in Indy but plays a non-premium position. Under relatively new ownership, front office, and coaching leadership, the Titans are an obvious short- and long-term work in progress. I think this draft haul was an uninspiring step.
Grade: D+
