2024 NFL Draft Grades For All 32 Teams

After three days, seven rounds and 257 picks, the 2024 NFL Draft is in the books. Now it’s time for a team-by-team report card grading the haul for each squad. There’s a school of thought that a draft pick can’t be judged for three years. To a point, that’s true. It can take time for a rookie to find their footing in the league. 

However, there are some general maxims to follow that historically have shown to be successful.

• Trading down and accumulating more picks is more often than not the optimal approach. The draft is uncertain. More picks equals more chances to hit. 
• Every team’s board is different due to different team cultures and systems, so there will be differences from consensus big boards that have to rank every player. But as a broad rule, the media consensus is directionally right. Players taken above consensus are more likely to underperform, so teams that reach for a player are gambling their evaluation is better than 31 other evaluations. 
• Gaining surplus value from players on cheap rookie contracts is a pillar of successful team building. Hitting on a player at a premium position, like quarterback, is more valuable than hitting on a non-premium position like running back. Therefore, it’s usually better to use premium picks on premium positions. 
• Filling needs is good because the draft is about making a team better. However, taking a more long-term approach to the roster and not sacrificing value for a short-term fix is usually optimal. Positions that don’t seem like a need now can quickly become pain points. 

Ultimately, the draft is a game. Every team starts out with the same number of picks slotted based on how well or poorly they performed the prior year. So with this in mind, we’ll grade the process for each team in the draft, highlighting the best pick, the worst pick and an overall grade for how well they played the game.

San Francisco 49ers

Best pick: Puni

Worst pick: Guerendo

Grade: C+

San Francisco got some interesting players who I think will be a good fit, but mixed in some questionable moves, hence the C grade. Let’s start with the negative. Pearsall was a reach in the first round but not as glaring as it first appeared. He was likely going to be an early second-round pick after an outstanding pre-draft process where his tape and testing outweighed mediocre production and his age (nearly 24). Pearsall should slot into the slot in three-receiver sets and give San Francisco another player who can punish man coverage. 

The team moved a sixth into the fifth by swapping spots with the Chiefs at the end of Round 2, but traded up twice. The 49ers gave up two fifth-round picks to get a fourth for Guerendo and surrendered another fourth to move up for Puni. As far as the picks go, I like landing Puni far more than I do Guerendo. He’s a nasty blocker and timed great in the short shuttle. It would not be a surprise to see him starting this year anywhere from center to right tackle. Guerendo fits the size-speed mold HC Kyle Shanahan loves in his backs, but his technical ability to play the position lags behind his athletic traits right now. 

It’s also worth mentioning Green and Mustapha as the type of gritty defensive backs the 49ers love. Cowing is tiny but can do some similar things to Pearsall and gives the 49ers more depth at receiver with some uncertainty long-term about both Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, even though neither were traded this past weekend. Bethune fits the profile of late-round linebackers the 49ers have turned into starters, so he’s another watchlist candidate.

Chicago Bears

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	1	Caleb Williams	QB
1	9	Rome Odunze	WR
3	75	Kiran Amegadjie	OT
4	122	Tory Taylor	P
5	144	Austin Booker	DE

 

Best pick: Odunze

Worst pick: Taylor

Grade: A-

A five-pick haul is small, but the Bears made these count with two top-ten selections and five in the top 150. Getting Odunze to pair with Williams was a major coup and Bears fans would be justified in feeling optimistic heading into this season. We’ll see how it plays out, but these two together have the potential to quickly become one of the best quarterback/receiver duos in the league if they reach their ceiling. 

Amegadjie gives the Bears a high-upside option at tackle. Braxton Jones has held things down admirably on the left side, especially as a former fifth-round pick, but Amegadjie has a higher ceiling if he can reach it. Booker had some buzz as a potential Day 2 pick, so landing him in the fifth was a great outcome for the Bears. The big blemish here is using a fourth-round pick on a punter. The Bears aren’t good enough for luxury picks like that yet. 

Cincinnati Bengals

Best pick: Burton

Worst pick: All

Grade: B

There’s a major boom-bust factor to the Bengals’ 2024 draft. Their first-round pick, Mims, looks straight out of central casting as an NFL tackle at 6-7 and 340 pounds with easy athleticism. He could hold down the right side of the offensive line for a long time, but with just eight collegiate starts to his name, there’s a lot of risk for Cincinnati with this pick too.

Burton would have gone much higher if he hadn’t picked up some red character flags during the pre-draft process, but the Bengals historically have had a much higher tolerance for these kinds of players. He was a top-50 talent they got at pick No. 80. At tight end, All might not ever play a game for the Bengals due to his extensive injury history. He had spinal surgery in 2022 and tore his ACL last year. He also has starting potential if he’s healthy, that just seems like a big if. 

Buffalo Bills

 

Best pick: Ulofoshio

Worst pick: Carter

Grade: B

Buffalo traded down twice to drop out of the first round entirely, passing on three receivers in the process. It’s probably fair to say they were about as high on Coleman as either Xavier Worthy or Xavier Legette, the two taken with the picks they traded. He brings a physical presence to their receiving corps that they didn’t have before but there are questions about his speed and if he can transcend some of the struggles other contested catch receivers have had in the past. There will be an interesting contrast with those three for the rest of their careers. 

The Bills had 10 picks to try and rebuild their depth and there are some interesting prospects to watch from Day 3, including Ulofoshio. He’s an excellent athlete, running a 4.56-second 40 at 236 pounds, and he plays like his hair is on fire. Van Pran-Granger, Davis and Solomon are others worth keeping an eye on. 

While there’s some potential bust factor with Coleman, the other pick I was underwhelmed by was Carter. He profiles as more of an average contributor and not an impact player. Ideally, you’d like more upside out of a third-round pick. 

Denver Broncos

Cleveland Browns

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
2	54	Michael Hall Jr.	DT
3	85	Zak Zinter	OG
5	156	Jamari Thrash	WR
6	206	Nathaniel Watson	LB
7	227	Myles Harden	CB
7	243	Jowon Briggs	DT

 

Best pick: Hall

Worst pick: Thrash

Grade: C

The Browns were operating without a first-round pick again due to the Deshaun Watson trade so that acts as a major drag on the class. Hall stands out as a potential pass-rushing threat to juice the interior of the Browns’ defensive line, although he’ll have to put things together to a greater level than he did at Ohio State. Zinter is a potential long-term successor to star LG Joel Bitonio.

Apart from that, this class lacks punch. Cleveland has already invested so much into the receiver position with various trades that I’m not sure Thrash really stands out in their room. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	26	Graham Barton	C
2	57	Chris Braswell	LB
3	89	Tykee Smith	S
3	92	Jalen McMillan	WR
4	125	Bucky Irving	RB
6	220	Elijah Klein	OG
7	246	Devin Culp	TE

 

Best pick: McMillan

Worst pick: Klein

Grade: B+

At first glance, this doesn’t seem like a flashy draft for the Buccaneers but they got some projectable players who fill major needs. Barton makes them better up front and should help them have more success running the ball than they’ve had the past few seasons. Braswell is a great athlete and gives them another pass-rushing option to develop. My favorite pick might have been McMillan who gives them a reliable slot receiver with perhaps some upside for more down the road when either Mike Evans or Chris Godwin is done in Tampa Bay. 

Smith seemed like a bit of a reach in the third round and Irving didn’t test as well as you’d want to see from a scatback at his size. Klein was a major reach too. But other than that, it’s hard to find fault with Tampa Bay’s draft.

Arizona Cardinals

Los Angeles Chargers

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	5	Joe Alt	OT
2	34	Ladd McConkey	WR
3	69	Junior Colson	LB
4	105	Justin Eboigbe	DT
5	137	Tarheeb Still	CB
5	140	Cam Hart	CB
6	181	Kimani Vidal	RB
7	225	Brenden Rice	WR
7	253	Cornelius Johnson	WR

 

Best pick: Colson

Worst pick: Still

Grade: B+

Overall the Chargers had a nice intersection of need and value with their board. They passed on a receiver with their top-five pick in favor of creating a potentially dominant duo at tackle. They still were able to add three receivers, all lower than where the consensus projected them to go. The Chargers bet on the depth of this class and they have a good chance of being right. Rice and Johnson slipped to the seventh but both are talented enough to be starting-level receivers eventually, if not high-end options. That’s sufficient for an offense that looks like it will lean heavily on the run. 

Colson and Vidal are two other standout picks. Colson was rated by some analysts as the top linebacker but slipped to the third round because he’s more of a downhill player than the space linebacker some teams covet with how much passing there is in the NFL. However, he lands with his college head coach and defensive coordinator in Los Angeles who know exactly how to highlight his strengths. Vidal is another notable sleeper in a largely unheralded running back class, and there’s a chance for a big role with the injury history of current Chargers RBs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. 

Still might not have the athleticism to survive at cornerback in the NFL.

Kansas City Chiefs

Indianapolis Colts

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	15	Laiatu Latu	DE
2	52	Adonai Mitchell	WR
3	79	Matt Goncalves	OT
4	117	Tanor Bortolini	C
5	142	Anthony Gould	WR
5	151	Jaylon Carlies	S
5	164	Jaylin Simpson	S
6	201	Micah Abraham	CB
7	234	Jonah Laulu	DT

 

Best pick: Bortolini

Worst pick: Goncalves

Grade: B+

Colts GM Chris Ballard traded down twice and up once, netting two additional fifth-round picks he used on Gould and Simpson. He still got great value with his other selections, stopping Mitchell’s freefall in the second round and adding a potential double-digit sack player in the first with Latu. 

The pick that’s easiest to knock is Goncalves, who was picked 55 slots ahead of consensus and doesn’t fit the usual measurable thresholds for the Colts. He played tackle in college but will likely move inside at the next level. Indianapolis made up for that by getting Bortolini in the next round who could eventually take over for starting C Ryan Kelly. Bortolini ran the third-fastest short shuttle ever at the Combine for a center, and it’s a drill that is strongly predictive of future success for linemen.

Washington Commanders

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	2	Jayden Daniels	QB
2	36	Jer’Zhan Newton	DT
2	50	Mike Sainristil	CB
2	53	Ben Sinnott	TE
3	67	Brandon Coleman	OG
3	100	Luke McCaffrey	WR
5	139	Jordan Magee	LB
5	161	Dominique Hampton	S
7	222	Javontae Jean-Baptiste	DE

 

Best pick: Sainristil

Worst pick: McCaffrey

Grade: B

In Commanders GM Adam Peters‘ first draft, Washington took some interesting steps. They did not address a glaring need at left tackle until their fifth pick and landed a player in Coleman who might end up transitioning inside to guard, though he does project as a potential starter one way or another. Washington ended Newton’s slide early in the second round but that pick could raise some interesting questions about the future of one of the Commanders’ highly-paid veteran defensive tackles, more than likely Jonathan Allen who has two years left on his deal and no guarantees. 

The best pick was getting Sainristil after trading down. The former Michigan defender might have to move to nickel in the NFL due to his size but he just made play after play in college and was easy to love on tape due to his intelligence and toughness. In exchange for moving down from No. 40 to No. 50 with the Eagles, the Commanders moved up from No. 78 to No. 53, giving them a crack at Sinnott as the second tight end off the board. That’s another pick I’m bullish on due to Sinnott’s athleticism and grit. Tight end has been a trouble spot for Washington and Sinnott could change that. 

Apart from not finding a way to materially address needs at edge rusher and left tackle, the most questionable Commanders pick was McCaffrey to close out the third round. It was nearly 50 spots ahead of consensus and there were some other more dynamic options on the board. McCaffrey is likely a slot-only receiver at the next level. 

Dallas Cowboys

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	29	Tyler Guyton	OT
2	56	Marshawn Kneeland	DE
3	73	Cooper Beebe	OG
3	87	Marist Liufau	LB
5	174	Caelen Carson	CB
6	216	Ryan Flournoy	WR
7	233	Nathan Thomas	OT
7	244	Justin Rogers	DT

 

Best pick: Beebe

Worst pick: Liufao

Grade: B+

Dallas needed to come away from this draft with two future starters along the offensive line. Guyton and Beebe is a strong haul through that perspective. Guyton needs some seasoning and might not be ready to start right away but he’s got outstanding tools. If he comes anywhere close to the ceiling he has due to his athleticism, the Cowboys will be in good shape at left tackle. As a little cherry on top, they picked up an extra third-round pick by moving down in the first round and still came away with one of their top targets. 

Beebe slide due to his short arms but he’s a much safer projection. Whether it’s at guard or potentially even center, he should be just as reliable a blocker for Dallas as he was at Kansas State. 

On top of the offensive line reinforcements, the Cowboys got an intriguing pass rusher with outstanding athleticism in Kneeland and a potential sleeper cornerback in Carson. Rogers fills an underrated need for a nose tackle as well. Going off of the consensus board, Liufao was the biggest reach, going nearly 80 picks ahead of his ranking. However, it’s a weak linebacker class, so it’s tough to fault the Cowboys too much for going after a player they liked as a fit. Another thing worth noting — the Cowboys passed entirely on this running back class despite a thin depth chart, one that seems like it will soon be bolstered by the return of RB Ezekiel Elliott.

Miami Dolphins

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	21	Chop Robinson	DE
2	55	Patrick Paul	OT
4	120	Jaylen Wright	RB
5	158	Mohamed Kamara	DE
6	184	Malik Washington	WR
6	198	Patrick McMorris	S
7	241	Tahj Washington	WR

 

Best pick: Paul

Worst pick: Tahj Washington

Grade: B

Miami had a ton of holes to fill, more holes than picks in fact. So no matter what, this draft class was just going to be a start. On paper, there’s a lot to like with two more edge rushers to fortify the depth and make for a potentially imposing group if Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips return at 100 percent. The trade for Wright adds another player with 4.3 speed to the offense, albeit at the cost of next year’s third-round pick. 

Landing Paul was also major. He has starting-level tools for a tackle and a fair amount of experience. He can learn behind LT Terron Armstead for a year before eventually taking over if this proves to be the last year for the veteran. 

I really like the pick of the first Washington, who is a popular sleeper pick as a slot receiver. Getting the second Washington felt like overkill with the team’s current depth chart factored in as well.

Philadelphia Eagles

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	22	Quinyon Mitchell	CB
2	40	Cooper DeJean	CB
3	94	Jalyx Hunt	DE
4	127	Will Shipley	RB
5	152	Ainias Smith	WR
5	155	Jeremiah Trotter Jr.	LB
5	172	Trevor Keegan	OG
6	185	Johnny Wilson	WR
6	190	Dylan McMahon	OG

 

Best pick: DeJean

Worst pick: 

Grade: A

The Eagles were one of the busiest teams in the league this past week, making a record eight trades. The full list: 

1. No. 50, No. 53, and No. 161 to Commanders for No. 40 (DeJean) No. 78, and No. 152 (Smith)
2. No. 78 to Texans for No. 86 and No. 123
3. No. 86 to 49ers for No. 94 (Hunt) and No. 132
4. No. 120 to Dolphins for 2025 3rd
5. No. 123 to Texans for No. 127 (Shipley) and 2025 5th
6. No. 132 and No. 210 to Lions for No. 164, No. 201 and 2025 4th
7. No. 164 and No. 201 to Colts for No. 155 (Trotter Jr.)
8. No. 171 to Jets for No. 185 and No. 190 (Wilson and McMahon) 

That’s a lot of scheming and dealing from GM Howie Roseman but it essentially boils down to adding two picks this year in the aggregate despite also trading up twice, and adding third, fourth and fifth-round picks in 2025. Philadelphia didn’t sacrifice its ability to get quality players either. After the draft’s top cornerback fell to their pick in the first round, they doubled back with another first-round consensus player in DeJean, giving their secondary a much-needed infusion of youth and talent. 

Hunt looks like a reach on the consensus board but he flew under the radar as a small-school prospect. His true range was likely in that area due to how well he tested athletically. Shipley, Smith and Wilson are some fascinating skill players who can help improve the Eagles’ depth around their Big Four of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and Saquon Barkley. Trotter is a nice feel-good story who lands with his father’s team and also fills a major need, and both Keegan and McMahon are quality developmental prospects up front. There really isn’t much of a bone to pick with this class.

Atlanta Falcons

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	8	Michael Penix Jr.	QB
2	35	Ruke Orhorhoro	DT
3	74	Bralen Trice	OLB
4	109	Brandon Dorlus	DT
5	143	JD Bertrand	LB
6	186	Jase McClellan	RB
6	187	Casey Washington	WR
6	197	Zion Logue	DT

 

Best pick: Dorlus

Worst pick: Penix

Grade: D

After making one of the most shocking first-round picks in recent memory, things didn’t get a whole lot better for the Falcons in the draft. Atlanta went to the well twice on the defensive line to make up for passing on the position in the first. They surrendered a third-round pick to jump up eight spots for Orhorhoro. He’s an outstanding athlete and offers some developmental upside but that’s a major premium to give up. 

I’m also not keen on the Trice pick in the third. He’s a speed-to-power end without significant length or great size. While he was successful in college with 16 sacks over his final two seasons, being successful against college tackles is a different beast than NFL tackles. 

I hit on the reasons the Penix pick was problematic in the grades from the first round, so I won’t belabor them too much here. I did like the pick of Dorlus to lead off Round 4. They landed him 29 spots behind consensus and he should slot in as a base end on run downs who can slide inside and rush over the guards on third down. 

New York Giants

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	6	Malik Nabers	WR
2	47	Tyler Nubin	S
3	70	Andru Phillips	CB
4	107	Theo Johnson	TE
5	166	Tyrone Tracy Jr.	RB
6	183	Darius Muasau	LB

 

Best pick: Nabers

Worst pick: Passing on a QB

Grade: B+

The Giants spent a ton of time with this quarterback class from top to bottom, yet ultimately decided to pass on it completely in favor of building up the rest of the roster. That’s understandable at the top of the draft where there was a run on the top prospects. The next player didn’t go off the board until the fifth, so there was some opportunity for the Giants to at least throw a dart at the board and hope to get lucky. 

Still, they were able to address several needs with the rest of their picks. Nabers is a star and will help make life easier for whoever the quarterback is over the next few seasons. Nubin and Phillips should help out in the secondary, and Tracy is the sleeper Day 3 pick to watch as a receiver-turned-running back with dynamic athleticism. The pick of Johnson in the fourth round is likely a clue as to how the Giants see the Darren Waller retirement decision going. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	23	Brian Thomas Jr.	WR
2	48	Maason Smith	DT
3	96	Jarrian Jones	CB
4	114	Javon Foster	OT
4	116	Jordan Jefferson	DT
5	153	Deantre Prince	CB
5	167	Keilan Robinson	RB
6	212	Cam Little	K
7	236	Myles Cole	DE

 

Best pick: Smith

Worst pick: Robinson

Grade: A-

The Jaguars traded down in Round 1, picking up a fifth this year and a third and a fourth next year, and still got the player they likely would have taken at No. 27. That’s a great process by GM Trent Baalke. His actual picks have been more hit or miss in recent years but Smith is a promising selection for the defensive line with high-end length and athleticism and the potential for a more productive NFL career than college career. 

Jones, Foster and Jefferson are all potential role players who could develop into starters at some point. It’d be easy to knock the Jaguars for drafting a kicker but they spent even more capital on Robinson who had just 180 yards from scrimmage last year. He tested fairly well and could be an interesting option at kickoff returner under the new special teams rules but they already have WR Devin Duvernay for that role. It’s a curious pick. 

New York Jets

Best pick: Stiggers

Worst pick: Allen

Grade: A-

New York did a good job of moving down the board and picking up a few extra mid-round picks, as well as a future third from the Lions. That didn’t compromise their ability to address their biggest needs at tackle and receiver. The Jets got a left tackle of the future in the first round, then traded up for another weapon in Corley at the top of the third. On Day 3, the Jets addressed needs at backup running back, backup quarterback and in the secondary. 

Corley is a physical, yards-after-catch receiver who should be able to start in a limited role for the Jets and grow into more of a contributor. Travis gives the Jets a young developmental option in the pipeline. But my favorite pick is Stiggers, who was the rookie of the year in the Canadian Football League. He didn’t play college football but tested very well and already has a year of pro football under his belt. Cornerback is a famously tough position but I like Stiggers’ chances of developing into a meaningful player for the Jets. 

Interestingly, the Jets double-dipped at running back after already having a mid-round pick from last year on the roster in Israel Abanikanda. Davis profiles as a potential kickoff returner under the new rules and Allen is a burly power back. I think going with just Davis and using that fourth-round pick elsewhere might have been a more optimal move. 

Detroit Lions

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	24	Terrion Arnold	CB
2	61	Ennis Rakestraw Jr.	CB
4	126	Giovanni Manu	OT
4	132	Sione Vaki	S
6	189	Mekhi Wingo	DT
6	210	Christian Mahogany	OG

 

Best pick: Mahogany

Worst pick: Vaki

Grade: C

I should know better than to give the Lions a poor draft grade at this point. They weren’t as wild this year as they were last year in terms of abandoning consensus, though there were still a couple of those picks. Instead, they got one of the top-rated cornerbacks in Arnold, doubled back with another buzzy prospect in Rakestraw and got two linemen in the sixth round who were getting buzz as potential third or fourth-round picks for most of this past spring. 

However, the Lions traded up a lot this year. They gave up a third-round pick this year to move up for Arnold and a third-round pick next year for the fourth-rounder they used on Manu. He’s a developmental prospect from Canada with freakish measurables but a long way to go to be a contributor on the field. Detroit also gave up a future fourth to move up from the fifth for Vaki, who has the profile more of a special teamer at best than a future starter on defense. He played just two years of college football and ran a 4.62-second 40 at the Combine.

Green Bay Packers

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	25	Jordan Morgan	OL
2	45	Edgerrin Cooper	LB
2	58	Javon Bullard	S
3	88	MarShawn Lloyd	RB
3	91	Ty’Ron Hopper	LB
4	111	Evan Williams	S
5	163	Jacob Monk	C
5	169	Kitan Oladapo	S
6	202	Travis Glover	OT
7	245	Michael Pratt	QB
7	255	Kalen King	CB

 

Best pick: Cooper

Worst pick: Hopper

Grade: B+

On paper, this draft doesn’t look that sexy. However, the Packers did a good job of trading back to accumulate more picks and addressing the major needs that were on a roster that otherwise was in pretty good shape. Linebacker and safety were the biggest weaknesses and the Packers shored up both spots on Day 2 before swinging back around on Day 3 to double dip on safety. With 11 picks, they set themselves up well to get a handful of contributors or starters from this class. 

Cooper was seen as one of the top linebackers in this class and his athleticism should help fill a big hole for the Packers. They double-dipped with Hopper, but took the latter nearly 60 spots ahead of his consensus ranking. The three safeties give them an interesting mix of athleticism and versatility to work with. 

Lloyd gives the Packers an explosive option in the backfield to replace veteran RB Aaron Jones. He’s a dynamic runner but it will be imperative for him to shore up his ball security. He fumbled eight times in just 325 career touches, and the Packers can keep him third on the depth chart until he’s ready to see the field. 

Morgan played left tackle in college and could remain there for the Packers. He could also be a fit at guard. Green Bay took three offensive linemen, but personally I would have liked to see another one instead of Hopper in the third. Their depth could use some help still. Pratt and King are fascinating dart throws in the seventh who at various points were held in much higher regard. 

Carolina Panthers

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	32	Xavier Legette	WR
2	46	Jonathon Brooks	RB
3	72	Trevin Wallace	LB
4	101	Ja’Tavion Sanders	TE
5	157	Chau Smith-Wade	CB
6	200	Jaden Crumedy	DT
7	240	Michael Barrett	LB

 

Best pick: Brooks

Worst pick: Legette

Grade: B-

Carolina hit the offensive skill positions hard in the draft in their continued effort to build more around QB Bryce Young, adding a receiver, running back and tight end. The Panthers traded up twice but their biggest move was actually trading down from their second second-round pick with the Rams and picking up a 2025 second, replacing the one they traded to the Bears for Young last year. That’s an important move by new GM Dan Morgan to ensure Carolina won’t be playing from behind in terms of assets anymore. 

My feelings about the actual class are a little more mixed. One big question when Morgan was promoted was what he would do differently after being a major voice in the front office the past few seasons, during which the Panthers have struggled to nail the draft. In his first draft, his selections struck similar notes to the past few years. Wallace is an athletic linebacker who needs polish, similar to failed former fourth-round LB Brandon Smith. The Legette pick has parallels to the selection of WR Jonathan Mingo in the early second round last year. They’re different players, but both were physical wideouts who rose high in the draft on the back of good athletic testing and one productive season in the SEC. Mingo was overwhelmed when pressed into immediate action as a rookie last year. Hopefully Legette fares better. 

There’s a school of thought that the second round is still too high for a running back, but Brooks is an outstanding talent and might have made a compelling case for the first round had he not torn his ACL last November. Reports about his rehab have been positive and he shouldn’t need a redshirt season or anything, giving the Panthers a talented offensive playmaker on an offense that was in short supply of those. I was bearish on Sanders as the consensus TE2, but ending his slide in the fourth round is solid value and gives the Panthers another pass-catching threat.

New England Patriots

Best pick: Polk

Worst pick: Robinson

Grade: B

The success or failure of Maye is going to dictate how this draft class is perceived. However, the Patriots were able to get players to address two other glaring needs at wide receiver and tackle. The catch is that New England specifically needed an “X” receiver and left tackle and the prospects they selected don’t cleanly fit into those roles. 

Wallace played on the right side in college but it seems like he’ll also be asked to switch to the left side along with veteran RT Chukwuma Okorafor as the Patriots keep Michael Onwenu at right tackle. There will be a learning curve but at least the Patriots attempted to get someone in the pipeline with a decent pick. At worst, he should improve what was non-existent depth. 

Double-dipping on receiver could pay off nicely, especially in such a deep class. Polk is a tough player with underrated speed and outstanding hands. He should quickly endear himself to Maye or veteran QB Jacoby Brissett. Baker is a former Alabama transfer who has similar strengths to Polk, especially with his catch radius. Both players are about the same size and similar athletes. Neither seems dynamic enough to be a clean fit at “X” receiver and consistently defeat man coverage. But they’re good players and the Patriots badly needed those at wide receiver. 

Milton and Bell are athletic curiosities more than they are projectable players but at that stage in the draft, the risk is well worth any reward for the Patriots. Robinson was taken more than 70 picks ahead of consensus but he’s a strong scheme fit for what the Patriots have run traditionally on offense.  

Las Vegas Raiders

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	13	Brock Bowers	TE
2	44	Jackson Powers-Johnson	C
3	77	Delmar Glaze	OT
4	112	Decamerion Richardson	CB
5	148	Tommy Eichenberg	LB
6	208	Dylan Laube	RB
7	223	Trey Taylor	S
7	229	M. J. Devonshire	CB

 

Best pick: Laube

Worst pick: Glaze

Grade: C

Bowers is an impressive talent but the Raiders had bigger needs. They hit the offensive line hard with their next two picks but neither player they drafted will play the same position they did in college. Powers-Johnson will move to guard since the Raiders have C Andre James who they re-signed instead of allowing to test free agency this offseason. Glaze will need to move inside too since he doesn’t have the athleticism to stick at tackle. 

Richardson and Taylor have some high-level athletic traits for defensive backs but my favorite sleeper in this class and one of my favorite under-the-radar picks of the entire draft is Laube. He’s a rocked-up third-down back who runs routes like a slot receiver. I would not be surprised if he pushed for a committee role in the Raiders’ backfield right away. 

Los Angeles Rams

 

Best pick: Limmer

Worst pick: Fiske

Grade: C+

Five of the Rams’ first six picks were on defense, showing their concern with that side of the ball and the overall lack of talent that remains. Four of those picks were on line of scrimmage players as they enter the first season without Aaron Donald since 2014. One of those players, Fiske, is also somewhat undersized for the position at under 300 pounds. He plays with incredible effort and intensity but his lack of size and length can be exposed. While he has a relatively high floor due to his style of play, the Rams used a future second to trade up to take him, increasing the level of risk with the pick. 

The other eyebrow-raising pick is the kicker but the Rams have had such a major need at the position for a few seasons and this draft class is so shallow that I don’t mind the pick as much as in other years. 

Limmer is a potential Day 3 find for the Rams, who landed him nearly 100 picks lower than consensus, perhaps due to how deep this center class was. He isn’t projected to start behind Steve Avila who’s moving over from guard but he’s valuable depth at minimum, which can be vital to have in the NFL. 

Baltimore Ravens

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	30	Nate Wiggins	CB
2	62	Roger Rosengarten	OT
3	93	Adisa Isaac	DE
4	113	Devontez Walker	WR
4	130	T. J. Tampa	CB
5	165	Rasheen Ali	RB
6	218	Devin Leary	QB
7	228	Nick Samac	C
7	250	Sanoussi Kane	DB

 

Best pick: Tampa

Worst pick: Ali

Grade: A-

Once again it’s hard to find fault with the Ravens’ draft haul. Baltimore is a master of lying in wait to poach value as it falls down the board. Four of their first five picks were lower than consensus. All of them filled positions of need as well. Double-dipping at cornerback with two prospects within the top 55 on the consensus big board was a great outcome for the Ravens who seem to be hit with injuries at the position every year. 

Baltimore also got a potential starter at right tackle to replace Morgan Moses in Rosengarten, perhaps as soon as Day 1. Isaac bolsters the edge rushing rotation and Walker gives them a deep threat. If there’s a nit to pick, it’s Ali in the fifth round with some other backs I liked a little bit better still left on the board.

New Orleans Saints

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	14	Taliese Fuaga	OT
2	41	Kool-Aid McKinstry	CB
5	150	Spencer Rattler	QB
5	170	Bub Means	WR
5	175	Jaylan Ford	LB
6	199	Khristian Boyd	DT
7	239	Josiah Ezirim	OT

 

Best pick: McKinstry

Worst pick: Means

Grade: B+

The Saints had to sacrifice a fifth and a sixth-round pick to move up a few slots to get McKinstry but getting the projected first-rounder at No. 41 overall was a massive steal. He adds to an already formidable Saints secondary and gives the team much-needed flexibility if an opportunity to trade CB Marshon Lattimore comes up later this summer. Landing Fuaga in the first round also fills a major need with the uncertainty about RT Ryan Ramczyk‘s future. 

New Orleans ended Rattler’s slide in the fifth round, and while I’m about as skeptical as the rest of the NFL that Rattler will figure things out at this stage, his talent is well worth a fifth-round pick as a developmental option. Boyd also got a lot of buzz during the pre-draft process and had well over double-digit visits. He could develop into a starter down the road at defensive tackle. Means is a good athlete but the Saints took him a round over consensus.

Seattle Seahawks

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	16	Byron Murphy II	DT
3	81	Christian Haynes	OG
4	118	Tyrice Knight	LB
4	121	A. J. Barner	TE
5	136	Nehemiah Pritchett	CB
6	179	Sataoa Laumea	OG
6	192	D. J. James	CB
6	207	Michael Jerrell	OT

 

Best pick: Haynes

Worst pick: Knight

Grade: B+

Seattle waited until the second day of the draft to address its need at guard and that proved to be a savvy move with Haynes sliding to their pick in the third round. He’ll have a chance to start right away and develop into a quality player for the Seahawks. Seattle double-dipped in the sixth round with another guard in Laumea who had a fourth-round grade from the Athletic’s Dane Brugler and was highlighted as another future developmental starter. 

Getting both Auburn cornerbacks to reinforce the depth in the secondary was solid, as both players slipped lower than the consensus rank. Knight fills a major need at linebacker but Seattle took him 74 picks higher than the consensus. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	20	Troy Fautanu	OT
2	51	Zach Frazier	C
3	84	Roman Wilson	WR
3	98	Payton Wilson	LB
4	119	Mason McCormick	OG
6	178	Logan Lee	DT
6	195	Ryan Watts	CB

 

Best pick: Frazier

Worst pick: 

Grade: A

It’s really hard to take issue with the Steelers’ draft. They were patient and landed two of their top targets on the offensive line, which was their biggest priority. Frazier is a perfect fit for them at center and Fautanu seems like he’ll slot in at one of the tackle spots. 

But it didn’t stop there. The Steelers have had a lot of success in the third round with receivers and Roman Wilson is the latest candidate after sliding nearly a round past his consensus ranking. Payton Wilson also slid due to understandable medical concerns but at that point in the draft his athleticism is well worth rolling the dice on, especially given the Steelers’ issues at linebacker. 

On Day 3, the Steelers landed three viable future contributors. McCormick is a great athlete for his position and checks a lot of boxes you want to see from a small-school sleeper. Lee is a low-ceiling player but should work his way into a rotational role. Watts is an outstanding athlete and can at minimum contribute on special teams while he develops. 

Houston Texans

Tennessee Titans

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	7	JC Latham	OT
2	38	T’Vondre Sweat	DT
4	106	Cedric Gray	LB
5	146	Jarvis Brownlee Jr.	CB
6	182	Jha’Quan Jackson	WR
7	242	James Williams	S
7	252	Jaylen Harrell	EDGE

 

Best pick: Brownlee

Worst pick: Sweat

Grade: C

With a premium selection at No. 38 overall, the Titans took a major risk with Sweat whose pre-draft process has been plagued with questions about his maturity and a DUI arrest earlier this month. While Sweat has size that can’t be taught and is a potential unique player as a space-eating nose tackle, his ability to maintain his weight has been called into question, and a DUI while preparing for the draft is a huge red flag. The Titans got burned a few years ago in a similar range of the draft with OT Isaiah Wilson. Hopefully this pick doesn’t turn out as disastrous. 

Latham will be moving from the right side to the left which adds some uncertainty to his outlook as a top-ten pick. But the Titans did get some interesting potential contributors on Day 3 with Gray, Brownlee and Jackson. Brownlee is my favorite of the group with a ton of competitiveness and ball skills at the cornerback position. He might project best to the slot but having a quality slot corner is important for a defense. 

Minnesota Vikings

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Note
1	10	J.J. McCarthy	QB
1	17	Dallas Turner	DE
4	108	Khyree Jackson	CB
6	177	Walter Rouse	OT
6	203	Will Reichard	K
7	230	Michael Jurgens	C
7	232	Levi Drake Rodriguez	DT

 

Best pick: McCarthy

Worst pick: Reichard

Grade: B

While the Vikings didn’t have to trade a whole lot to go up and get McCarthy, they made up for that with the trade for Turner when factoring in the initial trade to acquire a second first-rounder from the Texans. They’ll be hoping this helps supercharge the franchise just like it did for the Texans last year when they added a polarizing Big 10 quarterback and a highly-rated Alabama pass rusher. 

Minnesota’s draft capital has been severely depleted over this draft class and next due to all the trades, so most of the organization’s picks were on Day 3. Jackson has some fascinating size and speed measurables for a cornerback. He’s nearly 6-4 but he’s also already almost 24 years old. The Vikings might not have had the luxury of using a draft pick on a kicker but it was a shallow class and there was a little mini run on Saturday.