Note: My grades are based on pick quality – value in slots, and addressing team needs. They do not factor in trades.
Arizona Cardinals: C+
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
2.55 | Trey McBride | TE1 | 55 | Dallas Goedert | 8.2 | 6035 | 245 |
3.87 | Cameron Thomas | ED15 | 81 | Carl Nassib | 8.69 | 6041 | 267 |
3.100 | Myjai Sanders | ED18 | 91 | Ben Banogu | 8.72 | 6052 | 247 |
6.201 | Keaontay Ingram | RB28 | 295 | Chris Ivory | 8.69 | 5116 | 220 |
6.215 | Lecitus Smith | iOL21 | 244 | Nate Davis | 6.52 | 6033 | 313 |
7.244 | Christian Matthew | CB88 | N/A | 8.46 | 6022 | 195 | |
7.256 | Jesse Luketa | ED24 | 132 | Ola Adeniyi | 5.65 | 6027 | 257 |
7.257 | Marquis Hayes | iOL17 | 188 | Larry Warford | 6.4 | 6047 | 318 |
I wouldn’t have traded a first-rounder for Hollywood Brown, but we’re not grading trades, here. In the slots they picked in, Arizona got solid value. The McBride pick was a bit of a surprise with Zach Ertz on the roster, but Kliff Kingsbury should be able to leverage McBride’s versatility to get him on the field early. EDGE was a huge need and the Cardinals attacked it with a pair of strong selections at the end of Round 3.
Atlanta Falcons: B+
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
1.8 | Drake London | WR1 | 9 | Mike Evans | 6037 | 219 | |
2.38 | Arnold Ebiketie | ED6 | 29 | Shaq Barrett | 8.91 | 6026 | 247 |
2.58 | Troy Andersen | LB8 | 77 | Baron Browning | 10 | 6034 | 243 |
3.74 | Desmond Ridder | QB3 | 38 | Marcus Mariota | 9.61 | 6033 | 213 |
3.82 | Deangelo Malone | ED16 | 82 | Tyus Bowser | 9.05 | 6032 | 239 |
5.151 | Tyler Allgeier | RB14 | 197 | Alex Collins | 7.4 | 5106 | 221 |
6.190 | Justin Shaffer | iOL23 | 272 | John Simpson | 7.53 | 6040 | 319 |
6.213 | John FitzPatrick | TE10 | 186 | Jack Doyle | 6071 | 262 |
Strong work by the Falcons this weekend. Atlanta kicked off the record-setting receiver run we saw in R1 in the 1.8 slot with Drake London, who I agreed was the best prospect at that position in the class. Sorely needed infusion to the league’s worst receiving corps – expect London to have a big rookie season. Liked the value on Ebiketie and Ridder at positions of need. Also appreciated that Atlanta refused to reach throughout.
Carolina Panthers: A
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
1.6 | Ikem Ekwonu | OT2 | 5 | Trent Williams | 8.51 | 6040 | 328 |
3.94 | Matt Corral | QB2 | 21 | Jake Plummer | 6015 | 215 | |
4.120 | Brandon Smith | LB12 | 139 | Germaine Pratt | 9.97 | 6034 | 244 |
6.189 | Amare Barno | ED19 | 101 | Eli Harold | 9.17 | 6045 | 247 |
6.199 | Cade Mays | iOL18 | 202 | Matt Slauson | 7.56 | 6046 | 311 |
7.242 | Kalon Barnes | CB22 | 166 | Brandin Echols | 6.39 | 5114 | 183 |
The Panthers entered the draft without much equity past the 1.6 slot. They managed to make lemonade in Las Vegas. We knew Carolina was leaning towards taking a tackle in R1 – but who could have guessed that Ikem Ekwonu, a top-5 overall prospect in the class and a local product, would fall to No. 6? I loved the dart throw on Matt Corral in R3 for a team that desperately needed a talent infusion in the QB room. While I don’t think Corral is a viable option to start immediately, I like his odds of turning into a quality starter down the line. I really liked the Day 3 plan. Why not roll the dice on Brandon Smith, Amare Barno, and Kalon Barnes’ ridiculous physical packages (or Mays’ pedigree)?
Chicago Bears: C-
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
2.39 | Kyler Gordon | CB6 | 45 | Byron Jones | 9.69 | 5114 | 198 |
2.48 | Jaquan Brisker | S5 | 57 | Vonn Bell | 9.14 | 6013 | 206 |
3.71 | Velus Jones Jr. | WR26 | 185 | Pharoh Cooper | 7.16 | 5116 | 204 |
5.168 | Braxton Jones | OT12 | 121 | Matt Peart | 8.44 | 6054 | 307 |
5.174 | Dominique Robinson | ED17 | 86 | Benson Mayowa | 9.74 | 6051 | 252 |
6.186 | Zachary Thomas | iOL26 | 306 | Graham Glasgow | 9 | 6047 | 305 |
6.203 | Trestan Ebner | RB31 | 305 | Tony Pollard | 4.83 | 5106 | 209 |
6.207 | Doug Kramer | iOL36 | 375 | Tyler Orlosky | 8.46 | 6020 | 299 |
7.226 | Ja’Tyre Carter | OT25 | 248 | Dakota Dozier | 6033 | 312 | |
7.254 | Elijah Hicks | S31 | 408 | Quinten Rollins | 5107 | 198 | |
7.255 | Trenton Gill | P5 | N/A | 6043 | 220 |
The Bears have one of the NFL’s worst rosters and lacked a Round 1 pick. But all the holes meant they had true freedom to stick to a BPA ethos throughout the weekend. No argument with the first two picks, solid secondary options in the slots they picked. I thought Velus Jones was an enormous reach in Round 3. With such a shoddy offensive line in front of Justin Fields, I was surprised the Bears didn’t pick a prospect at that position until Round 5. That said, Braxton Jones was a strong developmental stab at that point.
Dallas Cowboys: D+
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
1.24 | Tyler Smith | OT5 | 31 | Donovan Smith | 8.77 | 6047 | 327 |
2.56 | Sam Williams | ED12 | 65 | Pernell McPhee | 9.72 | 6035 | 258 |
3.88 | Jalen Tolbert | WR10 | 58 | Gabriel Davis | 8.62 | 6015 | 193 |
4.129 | Jake Ferguson | TE7 | 140 | Dalton Schultz | 6.75 | 6046 | 245 |
5.155 | Matt Waletzko | OT17 | 164 | Larnel Coleman | 9.96 | 6067 | 305 |
5.167 | DaRon Bland | CB47 | 414 | Amani Oruwariye | 8.17 | 6002 | 197 |
5.176 | Damone Clark | LB17 | 213 | Ja’Whaun Bentley | 9.87 | 6030 | 239 |
5.178 | John Ridgeway | DL9 | 155 | Harrison Phillips | 4.73 | 6052 | 320 |
6.193 | Devin Harper | LB34 | 410 | Quentin Poling | 9.51 | 6002 | 234 |
If you’re going to assume risk in a transaction, you can’t extend yourself to do so. More so than anything, that was my issue with this class. I love Smith’s ability, but he’s a penalty machine who has a lot to work on. I had one of the highest grades on Williams in the industry... and Dallas reached over it on a Greg Hardy-like upside gamble. Clark’s career will be delayed -- and it might even be in jeopardy -- due to a spine injury.
Detroit Lions: A-
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
1.2 | Aidan Hutchinson | EDGE1 | 2 | Joey Bosa | 9.88 | 6065 | 268 |
1.12 | Jameson Williams | WR3 | 12 | Jerry Jeudy | 6014 | 180 | |
2.46 | Josh Paschal | ED11 | 62 | John Franklin-Myers | 9.7 | 6025 | 270 |
3.97 | Kerby Joseph | S7 | 85 | Steven Parker | 6007 | 203 | |
5.177 | James Mitchell | TE14 | 264 | Charles Clay | 6040 | 248 | |
6.188 | Malcolm Rodriguez | LB14 | 180 | Ben Burr-Kirven | 9.27 | 5110 | 236 |
6.217 | James Houston IV | ED42 | 421 | Arthur Moats | 7.92 | 6002 | 244 |
7.237 | Chase Lucas | CB21 | 161 | Shaun Wade | 8.89 | 5114 | 188 |
Fortune gifted Detroit with a pair of opportunities early and they seized each. The Lions capitalized on Jacksonville’s mistake in the top slot to keep local hero Aidan Hutchinson in the state of Michigan. Then, Detroit made a dramatic trade with a division rival to move up 20 slots to grab Jameson Williams right as receivers started flying off the board... at a price the Jimmy Johnson and Rich Hill charts suggested was a bargain. There weren’t any more fireworks in the class, but Detroit found good value in its slots and didn’t reach.
Green Bay Packers: B+
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
1.22 | Quay Walker | LB6 | 64 | Anthony Walker Jr. | 9.63 | 6036 | 242 |
1.28 | Devonte Wyatt | DL2 | 27 | Tommie Harris | 9.59 | 6027 | 304 |
2.34 | Christian Watson | WR6 | 32 | Javon Walker | 9.96 | 6041 | 208 |
3.92 | Sean Rhyan | iOL10 | 83 | Jack Anderson | 8.17 | 6046 | 323 |
4.132 | Romeo Doubs | WR24 | 173 | Quintez Cephus | 6016 | 204 | |
4.140 | Zach Tom | iOL13 | 114 | David Quessenberry | 9.59 | 6042 | 307 |
5.179 | Kingsley Enagbare | ED13 | 70 | Brian Orakpo | 6.21 | 6040 | 271 |
7.228 | Tariq Carpenter | S27 | 374 | Brandon King | 8.92 | 6027 | 230 |
7.234 | Jonathan Ford | DL24 | 326 | Eddie Goldman | 3.59 | 6051 | 338 |
7.249 | Rasheed Walker | OT13 | 127 | Bobby Massie | 6055 | 324 | |
7.258 | Samori Toure | WR43 | 297 | Kenny Bell | 6.14 | 6007 | 191 |
We knew one NFL team had become enamored with Quay Walker in the week lead-up to the draft because Walker’s odds to go in the first round went from more than 10-to-1 to 1-to-2 in mere days. It turned out that was the Packers. I hated the pick. Walker was outperformed in his own position group by Round 3 pick Channing Tindall last year. The rest of the class, however, was legitimately slick work from Brian Gutekunst. Swooping in to grab Watson was inspired, via a shocking trade with the archrival Vikings. As was stealing Tom, Enagbare, and Walker.
Los Angeles Rams: F
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
3.104 | Logan Bruss | iOL15 | 150 | Austin Corbett | 8.76 | 6050 | 308 |
4.142 | Decobie Durant | CB29 | 209 | Buster Skrine | 5.14 | 5095 | 183 |
5.164 | Kyren Williams | RB18 | 246 | Demetric Felton | 3.49 | 5092 | 199 |
6.211 | Quentin Lake | S22 | 309 | Jordan Poyer | 6014 | 199 | |
6.212 | Derion Kendrick | CB25 | 183 | Darius Phillips | 1.55 | 6001 | 205 |
7.235 | Daniel Hardy | EDGE71 | N/A | 9.33 | 6017 | 235 | |
7.253 | Russ Yeast | S36 | 455 | Bryce Torneden | 5.47 | 5100 | 192 |
7.261 | AJ Arcuri | OT41 | 483 | Jay Humphrey | 6.97 | 6070 | 308 |
The Rams made a show in the lead-up to the NFL Combine that they would not be sending their GM and head coach. During the team’s Super Bowl celebration, GM Les Snead wore a shirt reading “[Expletive] them picks.” The Rams have shown there is more than one way to skin a cat. But their lack of scouting effort stuck out like a sore thumb this weekend. This is a non-athletic class with almost zero upside – I see a lot of summer cuts.
Minnesota Vikings: C+
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
1.32 | Lewis Cine | S2 | 24 | Adrian Amos | 9.92 | 6022 | 202 |
2.42 | Andrew Booth | CB5 | 36 | 6002 | 194 | ||
2.59 | Ed Ingram | iOL12 | 103 | Jonah Jackson | 7.42 | 6035 | 312 |
3.66 | Brian Asamoah | LB9 | 90 | David Long | 8.9 | 6000 | 226 |
4.118 | Akayleb Evans | CB16 | 120 | Ahkello Witherspoon | 9.55 | 6020 | 201 |
5.165 | Esezi Otomewo | ED27 | 187 | LaVar Edwards | 6.65 | 6053 | 284 |
5.169 | Ty Chandler | RB24 | 281 | Xavier Jones | 6.38 | 5112 | 203 |
6.184 | Vederian Lowe | OT18 | 174 | Isaiah Prince | 5.71 | 6045 | 310 |
6.191 | Jalen Nailor | WR28 | 194 | Andre Roberts | 8.08 | 5112 | 192 |
7.227 | Nick Muse | TE29 | N/A | Ben Koyack | 8.8 | 6044 | 258 |
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first two picks were strong, and both targeted a leaking secondary crying out for help. Cine joins Harrison Smith in what will become the hardest-hitting safety duo in the NFL. After that, it was hit-and-miss. I’m confused by the Ingram pick. It felt like the Vikings reached for a prospect with a serious off-field concern in his past by at least a round, a prospect who doesn’t have the ceiling to justify the reach. The Asamoah pick was similarly odd. If you wanted to take an undersized linebacker, by all means. But why Asamoah over Nakobe Dean? Minnesota could have traded down half a round and still picked the latter.
New Orleans Saints: B-
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
1.11 | Chris Olave | WR2 | 11 | Terry McLaurin | 8.68 | 6004 | 185 |
1.19 | Trevor Penning | OT4 | 22 | Kyle Turley | 9.95 | 6071 | 333 |
2.49 | Alontae Taylor | S9 | 111 | Shaquill Griffin | 9.06 | 6001 | 199 |
5.161 | D’Marco Jackson | LB15 | 193 | Duke Riley | 8.26 | 6006 | 234 |
6.194 | Jordan Jackson | DL21 | 293 | Doug Worthington | 9.14 | 6044 | 294 |
I really liked what the Saints did on Thursday. I was surprised Olave didn’t get more love during the pre-draft process, but the Saints saw what I saw. Penning in New Orleans is one of the coolest fits in the draft – he’s Kyle Turley 2.0 but in a bigger package. I have to ding the grade, though, because I didn’t think the Saints did much with their final three selections in comparison to what they could have.
New York Giants: B+
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
1.5 | Kayvon Thibodeaux | EDGE2 | 3 | Jadeveon Clowney | 9.63 | 6040 | 256 |
1.7 | Evan Neal | OT1 | 4 | Jordan Mailata | 6074 | 345 | |
2.43 | Wan’Dale Robinson | WR12 | 80 | Elijah Moore | 7.36 | 5080 | 178 |
3.67 | Joshua Ezeudu | iOL34 | 364 | Royce Newman | 8.33 | 6042 | 313 |
3.81 | Cordale Flott | CB20 | 152 | Rashard Robinson | 7.46 | 6004 | 178 |
4.112 | Daniel Bellinger | TE8 | 149 | Kahale Warring | 9.66 | 6047 | 250 |
4.114 | Dane Belton | S12 | 136 | Amani Hooker | 9.42 | 6006 | 205 |
5.146 | Micah McFadden | LB18 | 220 | Tony Fields II | 9.47 | 6011 | 234 |
5.147 | D.J. Davidson | DL19 | 275 | Tedarrell Slaton | 4.1 | 6035 | 328 |
5.173 | Marcus McKethan | iOL30 | 329 | Matt Feiler | 7.1 | 6064 | 341 |
6.182 | Darrian Beavers | LB13 | 148 | K.J. Wright | 9.6 | 6036 | 243 |
What an incredible turn of events in the first round to walk away with both Thibodeaux and Neal. Both are former five-stars who more than lived up to the billing in college. To boot, they happened to plug the Giants’ two-biggest needs coming in. I wasn’t as big of a fan of the rest of the class. But it’s hard to argue too much with bringing in two guys that I believe will be NFL stars, both of whom address critical needs.
Philadelphia Eagles: B
Pick | Pos | Rk | Name | HT | WT | RAS | Comp |
1.13 | Jordan Davis | DL1 | 18 | Haloti Ngata | 10 | 6063 | 341 |
2.51 | Cam Jurgens | iOL6 | 63 | Richie Incognito | 9.94 | 6027 | 304 |
3.83 | Nakobe Dean | LB2 | 28 | Jessie Tuggle | 5113 | 231 | |
6.181 | Kyron Johnson | LB28 | 322 | Shaquem Griffin | 8.41 | 6003 | 231 |
6.198 | Grant Calcaterra | TE13 | 254 | Kylen Granson | 8.16 | 6037 | 243 |
I had zero problems with the Jordan Davis pick. Multiple teams in front of Philadelphia at least gave passing thoughts to taking him, and Davis almost assuredly would have been taken by Baltimore had the Eagles not pounced. Nakobe Dean was one of the draft’s biggest steals. The Eagles didn’t so much in the draft on Day 3, but spoiler alert: They were busy in the UDFA sweepstakes and came out with a haul. More on that in my upcoming UDFA class rankings.
San Francisco 49ers: D
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
2.61 | Drake Jackson | ED14 | 73 | Shillique Calhoun | 8.6 | 6025 | 273 |
3.93 | Tyrion Davis-Price | RB15 | 212 | Devontae Booker | 6.7 | 6006 | 219 |
3.105 | Danny Gray | WR22 | 159 | Kenny Stills | 6.81 | 5117 | 197 |
4.134 | Spencer Burford | OT16 | 158 | Antonio Garcia | 6.7 | 6041 | 301 |
5.172 | Samuel Womack | CB49 | 431 | Josiah Scott | 7.62 | 5090 | 189 |
6.187 | Nick Zakelj | OT26 | 280 | Colby Gossett | 9.83 | 6061 | 316 |
6.220 | Kalia Davis | DL10 | 163 | Trysten Hill | 6010 | 302 | |
6.221 | Tariq Castro-Fields | CB18 | 133 | Ka’Dar Hollman | 9.73 | 6005 | 197 |
7.262 | Brock Purdy | QB16 | 302 | Jake Browning | 4.48 | 6005 | 212 |
The 49ers didn’t have much equity. We don’t penalize for that. But the 49ers did little of note in their slots. I was confused by the strategy, and by the picks themselves.
Seattle Seahawks: A
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
1.9 | Charles Cross | OT3 | 16 | Andre Dillard | 7.58 | 6046 | 311 |
2.40 | Boye Mafe | ED7 | 34 | Kwity Paye | 9.92 | 6036 | 257 |
2.41 | Kenneth Walker III | RB2 | 41 | DeAngelo Williams | 9.26 | 5092 | 209 |
3.72 | Abraham Lucas | OT8 | 76 | Jake Fisher | 9.73 | 6063 | 316 |
4.109 | Coby Bryant | CB12 | 97 | Jalen Mills | 5.59 | 6013 | 193 |
5.153 | Tariq Woolen | CB9 | 72 | Ifeatu Melifonwu | 9.7 | 6041 | 205 |
5.158 | Tyreke Smith | ED21 | 117 | Shareer Miller | 7.15 | 6033 | 255 |
7.229 | Bo Melton | WR17 | 131 | John Brown | 9.25 | 5110 | 190 |
7.233 | Dareke Young | WR58 | 384 | Cody Latimer | 9.93 | 6020 | 224 |
I wasn’t the biggest Cross fan in the industry, and Seattle took him top-10. Regardless, I love this class. The value Seattle squeezed out of its picks on Friday and Saturday is going to infuse a roster that needed a talent upgrade with exactly that. I was a little confused that the Seahawks didn’t take a QB, but I can’t argue with the players they brought to town.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C-
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
2.33 | Logan Hall | ED9 | 44 | Margus Hunt | 9.4 | 6061 | 285 |
2.57 | Luke Goedeke | iOL7 | 69 | Mark Glowinski | 6050 | 313 | |
3.91 | Rachaad White | RB7 | 135 | David Johnson | 9.88 | 6006 | 215 |
4.106 | Cade Otton | TE2 | 87 | Austin Hooper | 6050 | 245 | |
4.133 | Jake Camarda | P3 | 332 | Steve Weatherford | 6010 | 193 | |
5.157 | Zyon McCollum | CB13 | 102 | Kevin King | 10 | 6021 | 199 |
6.218 | Ko Kieft | TE51 | N/A | 3.66 | 6043 | 259 | |
7.248 | Andre Anthony | EDGE54 | N/A | 5.95 | 6031 | 245 |
I liked the values the Bucs got on Otton and McCollum on Day 3. And I understand why the Bucs paid a small premium for White, one of the two elite receiving backs in this class (the other one, James Cook, went off the board late-R2). Didn’t like the strategy in the other slots.
Washington Commanders: D-
Pick | Name | Pos | Rank | Comp | RAS | HT | WT |
1.16 | Jahan Dotson | WR5 | 25 | Tyler Lockett | 6.34 | 5105 | 181 |
2.47 | Phidarian Mathis | DL6 | 74 | DaQuan Jones | 6042 | 310 | |
3.98 | Brian Robinson Jr. | RB9 | 146 | Chris Carson | 6.62 | 6015 | 224 |
4.113 | Percy Butler | S15 | 184 | Chris Culliver | 7.35 | 6002 | 194 |
5.144 | Sam Howell | QB6 | 99 | C.J. Beathard | 6005 | 224 | |
5.149 | Cole Turner | TE9 | 168 | Colby Parkinson | 7.38 | 6064 | 250 |
7.230 | Chris Paul | iOL20 | 238 | Larry Borom | 9.45 | 6037 | 328 |
7.240 | Christian Holmes | CB66 | N/A | 9.09 | 5117 | 201 |
I didn’t understand why the Commanders traded out of 1.11, bypassing the chance to take Chris Olave or Jameson Williams, to take Dotson at 1.16. You picked up two extra picks... and did what with them? The only pick of the entire bunch that I saw as a value was Howell… and I was one of the industry’s lowest on him.
Next page: AFC grades