The 2022 Draft was a draft for the ages. After a wild offseason, the draft was expected to be exciting, but no one expected the amount of jaw-dropping moments that occurred during draft night.
Check out my pre-draft grades and breakdowns on all the players, including scouting reports, on my Draft Preview.
Make sure to check out the Pick-by-Pick grades for Round 1, or just jump right in the full draft class grades below!
Arizona Cardinals
Draft Grade – D+
- Rd 2 Pk 55 – Trey McBride TE Colorado State
- Rd 3 Pk 87 – Cameron Thomas EDGE San Diego State
- Rd 3 Pk 100 – Myjai Sanders EDGE Cincinnati
- Rd 6 Pk 201 – Keaontay Ingram RB USC
- Rd 6 Pk 215 – Lecitus Smith OL Virginia Tech
- Rd 7 Pk 244 – Christian Matthew DB Valdosta State
- Rd 7 Pk 256 – Jesse Luketa LB Penn State
- Rd 7 Pk 257 – Marquis Hayes OL Oklahoma
A big part of this grade includes the awful trade for Marquise Brown. Granted, he fills a need and is a perfect fit in the Cards’ offense. He is exactly what they’re looking for and need to take this offense to the next level. Still, he isn’t worth the 23rd overall pick.
After that, Trey McBride is a good player but there are much bigger needs, such as Edge Rusher, which they thankfully addressed later. Even so, Sanders doesn’t have the size for the NFL and Cameron Thomas is a project. I can’t imagine any of these rookies making an impact for at least 2 years.
Atlanta Falcons
Draft Grade – A
- Rd 1 Pk 8 – Drake London WR USC
- Rd 2 Pk 38 – Arnold Ebiketie EDGE Penn State
- Rd 2 Pk 58 – Troy Andersen LB Montana State
- Rd 3 Pk 74 – Desmond Ridder QB Cincinnati
- Rd 3 Pk 82 – DeAngelo Malone EDGE Western Kentucky
- Rd 5 Pk 151 – Tyler Allgeier RB BYU
- Rd 6 Pk 190 – Justin Shaffer OL Georgia
- Rd 6 Pk 213 – John Fitzpatrick TE Georgia
I felt very strongly that London was a reach, but everything that happened after that changed my mind. For starters, there was a MASSIVE Wide Receiver run right after 8. 6 of the first 18 picks were Wide Receivers, which is a staggering number. Then, they managed to address their needs with quality players at later picks, making the selection of a top wideout a necessary and valuable pick.
Ebiketie and Malone in the 2nd and 3rd is great value, and Allgeier in the 5th could be the bruiser this team needs to pair with the efficient Cordarrelle Patterson. I also love the Andersen pick, he is an ultra-athlete and natural football player, who with a few years under his belt could be an All-Pro talent.
Still, none of those were as perfect a pick as Ridder in the late-3rd. He is my QB1 in this class, and his play style mirrors Mariota. He could sit for a year and learn, and then inherit a more talented Falcons team in 2023.
Baltimore Ravens
Draft Grade – A+
- Rd 1 Pk 14 – Kyle Hamilton SAF Notre Dame
- Rd 1 Pk 25 – Tyler Linderbaum OL Iowa
- Rd 2 Pk 45 – David Ojabo EDGE Michigan
- Rd 3 Pk 76 – Travis Jones IDL Connecticut
- Rd 4 Pk 110 – Daniel Faalele OL Minnesota
- Rd 4 Pk 119 – Jalyn Armour-Davis CB Alabama
- Rd 4 Pk 128 – Charlie Kolar TE Iowa State
- Rd 4 Pk 130 – Jordan Stout P Penn State
- Rd 4 Pk 139 – Isaiah Likely TE Coastal Carolina
- Rd 4 Pk 141 – Damarion Williams CB Houston
- Rd 6 Pk 196 – Tyler Badie RB Missouri
In what seems to be an annual tradition, the Ravens showed that they play chess while the league plays checkers. Getting a Top 5 player in the draft at pick 14 is gorgeous, drafting Marquise Brown with pick 25 and trading him for pick 23 a few years later is a highway robbery, and scooping up Travis Jones – a 1st-round caliber player – in the 3rd is just astounding. Faalele, Kolar, and Likely in the 4th are all values too. Armour-Davis could be outstanding if he regains his early Alabama form, and Stout is a heck of a Punter. I don’t condone picking a Special Teamer that early, but it was understandable with the number of 4ths the Ravens had.
We may be witnessing one of the most well-run and stable organizations in history. I was beyond impressed with this draft.
Buffalo Bills
Draft Grade – C+
- Rd 1 Pk 23 – Kaiir Elam CB Florida
- Rd 2 Pk 63 – James Cook RB Georgia
- Rd 3 Pk 89 – Terrel Bernard LB Baylor
- Rd 5 Pk 5 – Khalil Shakir WR Boise State
- Rd 6 Pk 180 – Matt Araiza P San Diego State
- Rd 6 Pk 185 – Christian Benford CB Villanova
- Rd 6 Pk 209 – Luke Tenuta OL Virginia Tech
- Rd 7 Pk 231 – Baylon Specter LB Clemson
The Elam pick was a great pick, but aside from that, there’s very little to get excited about with this draft class. Even with that pick, the trade up seemed unnecessary. Of all positions to hit in the 2nd, a pass-catching Running Back seems like the least of their concerns. A bruiser and early-down ‘Back would have been much better.
Carolina Panthers
Draft Grade – A+
- Rd 1 Pk 6 – Ikem Ekwonu OL NC State
- Rd 3 Pk 94 – Matt Corral QB Ole Miss
- Rd 4 Pk 120 – Brandon Smith LB Penn State
- Rd 6 Pk 189 – Amare Barno EDGE Virginia Tech
- Rd 6 Pk 199 – Cade Mays OL Tennessee
- Rd 7 Pk 242 – Kalon Barnes CB Baylor
Given the limited resources the Panthers had, this was a phenomenal draft. They had two massive needs – LT and QB, and with only one pick in the Top 90, it seemed they could only fill one of those with a starter. To make matters worse, those positions aren’t mutually exclusive, as the QB will struggle without a Left Tackle, and the Left Tackle is pointless if the QB behind him is terrible.
Somehow, they managed to come away with my OT1 and QB2. They followed that up by getting freakish athletes with all of their remaining picks. I love this draft for them.
Chicago Bears
Draft Grade – D-
- Rd 2 Pk 39 – Kyler Gordon CB Washington
- Rd 2 Pk 48 – Jaquan Brisker SAF Penn State
- Rd 3 Pk 71 – Velus Jones WR Tennessee
- Rd 5 Pk 168 – Braxton Jones OL Southern Utah State
- Rd 5 Pk 174 – Dominique Robinson EDGE Miami (OH)
- Rd 6 Pk 186 – Zach Thomas OL San Diego State
- Rd 6 Pk 203 – Trestan Ebner RB Baylor
- Rd 6 Pk 207 – Doug Kramer OL Illinois
- Rd 7 Pk 226 – Ja’Tyre Carter OL Southern
- Rd 7 Pk 254 – Elijah Hicks DB California
- Rd 7 Pk 255 – Trenton Gill P NC State
The only thing keeping this draft class from getting an F, is the fact that they had no 1st rounder. After that, this draft class is a mess.
With a young rookie QB surrounded by ZERO talent, the offense should have been a priority. Instead, they drafted a project Corner and a Safety, followed by a gadget/special teams player to round out their only 3 Top 100 picks. Even after that, they didn’t snag any screaming values. I truly pity Justin Fields.
Cincinnati Bengals
Draft Grade – D
- Rd 1 Pk 31 – Daxton Hill DB Michigan
- Rd 2 Pk 60 – Cam Taylor-Britt CB Nebraska
- Rd 3 Pk 95 – Zachary Carter EDGE Florida
- Rd 4 Pk 136 – Cordell Volson OL North Dakota State
- Rd 5 Pk 166 – Tycen Anderson SAF Toledo
- Rd 7 Pk 252 – Jeffrey Gunter EDGE Coastal Carolina
I think Daxton Hill is overrated, so it’s not surprising I don’t love that pick. Additionally, double-dipping in the secondary with other needs throughout the roster and no secondary depth shortage seems odd. Especially with the talent still on the board at pick 60. Cordell Volson is a good dart throw in the 4th, and I like the way they used their later picks on high-end athletes. Still, the early picks are very important, and I was not impressed.
Cleveland Browns
Draft Grade – A-
- Rd 3 Pk 68 – Martin Emerson Jr. CB Mississippi State
- Rd 3 Pk 78 – Alex Wright EDGE UAB
- Rd 3 Pk 99 – David Bell WR Purdue
- Rd 4 Pk 108 – Perrion Winfrey IDL Oklahoma
- Rd 4 Pk 124 – Cade York K LSU
- Rd 5 Pk 156 – Jerome Ford RB Cincinnati
- Rd 6 Pk 202 – Mike Woods WR Oklahoma
- Rd 7 Pk 223 – Isaiah Thomas EDGE Oklahoma
- Rd 7 Pk 246 – Dawson Deaton OL Texas Tech
With no Top 64 picks, the Browns still managed to come out of this draft with loads of talent. Emerson, Wright, Bell, and Winfrey are all extremely talented prospects, and Ford is a nice depth piece at Running Back. I’m not thrilled about a Kicker in the 4th, but this is still a shockingly great draft class.
Dallas Cowboys
Draft Grade – B+
- Rd 1 Pk 24 – Tyler Smith OL Tulsa
- Rd 2 Pk 56 – Sam Williams EDGE Ole Miss
- Rd 3 Pk 88 – Jalen Tolbert WR South Alabama
- Rd 4 Pk 129 – Jake Ferguson TE Wisconsin
- Rd 5 Pk 155 – Matt Waletzko OL North Dakota
- Rd 5 Pk 167 – DaRon Bland CB Fresno State
- Rd 5 Pk 176 – Damone Clark LB LSU
- Rd 5 Pk 178 – John Ridgeway IDL Arkansas
- Rd 6 Pk 193 – Devin Harper LB Oklahoma State
Most don’t appreciate the Tyler Smith pick, but I think it’s one of the best fits of the 1st round. His high-ceiling athletic profile offers enticing potential, and while he is an extremely sloppy and erratic player, he is only 20 and isn’t a necessary starter right away. The Cowboys can groom him into a superstar without suffering the learning curve.
Tolbert was also a great selection. His twitchiness and explosiveness are worth more than a 3rd round pick, and he has the ability to handle outside WR1 work if CeeDee Lamb proves to be more of a slot star.
Waletzko and Ridgeway have their flaws, but in the 5th round, they are great value picks.
Denver Broncos
Draft Grade – C+
- Rd 2 Pk 64 – Nik Bonitto EDGE Oklahoma
- Rd 3 Pk 80 – Greg Dulcich TE UCLA
- Rd 4 Pk 115 – Damarri Mathis CB Pittsburgh
- Rd 4 Pk 116 – Eyioma Uwzurike IDL Iowa State
- Rd 5 Pk 152 – Delarrin Turner-Yell SAF Oklahoma
- Rd 5 Pk 162 – Motrell Washington WR Samford
- Rd 5 Pk 171 – Luke Wattenberg OL Washington
- Rd 6 Pk 206 – Matt Henningsen IDL Wisconsin
- Rd 7 Pk 232 – Faion Hicks CB Wisconsin
There isn’t much to get excited about with this draft class, but they did an admirable job with the little draft capital they had. Bonitto is a high-energy player who could be a great complement to Bradley Chubb. Mathis’s athleticism could make him a great depth piece to a top-heavy secondary.
Detroit Lions
Draft Grade – B+
- Rd 1 Pk 2 – Aidan Hutchinson EDGE Michigan
- Rd 1 Pk 12 – Jameson Williams WR Alabama
- Rd 2 Pk 46 – Josh Paschal EDGE Kentucky
- Rd 3 Pk 97 – Kerby Joseph SAF Illinois
- Rd 5 Pk 177 – James Mitchell TE Virginia Tech
- Rd 6 Pk 188 – Malcolm Rodriguez LB Oklahoma State
- Rd 6 Pk 217 – James Houston EDGE Jackson State
- Rd 7 Pk 237 – Chase Lucas CB Arizona State
The Lions’ 1st round was one to remember for Lions fans. Hutchinson is staying home, and they gave practically nothing to move up 20 spots in the draft and snag the pre-injury WR1. Even their 2nd and 3rd round picks were high-potential players with great projectable traits. To round out the draft, they took players with elite physical traits.
My only problem with this draft, and it’s a big one, is the Quarterback plan. They were in a prime position to get Hutchinson, along with a starting Quarterback of the future, especially in hindsight seeing how late they all went. They won’t be in contention for a top Quarterback next year, so it seems they may have to build around Goff. That doesn’t sound like a Superbowl team to me, no matter how many players they can realistically add over the next few years.
Green Bay Packers
Draft Grade – A-
- Rd 1 Pk 22 – Quay Walker LB Georgia
- Rd 1 Pk 28 – Devonte Wyatt IDL Georgia
- Rd 2 Pk 34 – Christian Watson WR North Dakota State
- Rd 3 Pk 92 – Sean Rhyan OL UCLA
- Rd 4 Pk 132 – Romeo Doubs WR Nevada
- Rd 4 Pk 140 – Zach Tom OL Wake Forest
- Rd 5 Pk 179 – Kingsley Enagbare EDGE South Carolina
- Rd 7 Pk 228 – Tariq Carpenter LB Georgia Tech
- Rd 7 Pk 234 – Jonathan Ford IDL Miami
- Rd 7 Pk 249 – Rasheed Walker OL Penn State
- Rd 7 Pk 258 – Samori Toure WR Nebraska
I’ll scream this from the mountaintops, THE QUAY WALKER PICK WASN’T A BAD PICK. He is a top 20 player in this class, and a perfect scheme fit. Additionally, there were no Wide Receivers available worth the 22nd overall pick. The next best one was Watson, who isn’t a 1st-round talent, and who they managed to snag anyway in the 2nd. Getting 2 defensive studs and a big Wide Receiver in the Top 34 picks is a great haul. They even followed that up by taking 3 exciting O-Line talents – Rhyan, Tom, Walker – who all fell down the draft for various reasons. Enagbare could provide value as well in their scheme.
I wish they would have traded up to get a Top Tier Wide Receiver, but aside from that this is a great draft. Don’t sleep on Samori Toure to come out of this class as a star.
Houston Texans
Draft Grade – A-
- Rd 1 Pk 3 – Derek Stingley Jr. CB LSU
- Rd 1 Pk 15 – Kenyon Green OL Texas A&M
- Rd 2 Pk 37 – Jalen Pitre SAF Baylor
- Rd 2 Pk 44 – John Metchie III WR Alabama
- Rd 3 Pk 75 – Christian Harris LB Alabama
- Rd 4 Pk 107 – Dameon Pierce RB Florida
- Rd 5 Pk 150 – Thomas Booker IDL Stanford
- Rd 5 Pk 170 – Teagan Quitoriano TE Oregon State
- Rd 6 Pk 205 – Austin Deculus OL LSU
The Texans loaded up with talent, all over the roster. Stingley is a bona fide stud, Green is a versatile blocking machine, Pitre is a defensive weapon in the right scheme, and Metchie, Harris, and Pierce are all well-rounded polished players that could elevate this roster. Even Booker is a great sleeper in this draft, with elite athleticism for his position. Watch out for this Texans draft class to turn some heads.
Indianapolis Colts
Draft Grade – B+
- Rd 2 Pk 53 – Alec Pierce WR Cincinnati
- Rd 3 Pk 73 – Jelani Woods TE Virginia
- Rd 3 Pk 77 – Bernhard Raimann OL Central Michigan
- Rd 3 Pk 96 – Nick Cross SAF Maryland
- Rd 5 Pk 159 – Eric Johnson IDL Missouri State
- Rd 6 Pk 192 – Andrew Ogletree TE Youngstown State
- Rd 6 Pk 216 – Curtis Brooks IDL Cincinnati
- Rd 7 Pk 239 – Rodney Thomas DB Yale
Pierce is an overrated prospect in my opinion, but he fills a very specific role, one which is necessary in a Matt Ryan offense. Additionally, the 3rd round was a home-run for the Colts, getting the most athletic Tight End in draft history, along with a sliding star in Raimann and an underrated explosive Cross. The Colts always find a way to get talent in the middle rounds, and they might’ve done it again.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Draft Grade – F
- Rd 1 Pk 1 – Travon Walker EDGE Georgia
- Rd 1 Pk 27 – Devin Lloyd LB Utah
- Rd 3 Pk 65 – Luke Fortner OL Kentucky
- Rd 3 Pk 70 – Chad Muma LB Wyoming
- Rd 5 Pk 154 – Snoop Conner RB Ole Miss
- Rd 6 Pk 197 – Gregory Junior CB Ouachita Baptist
- Rd 7 Pk 222 – Montaric Brown CB Arkansas
Insert face-plant emoji here. I’m not sure what I expected to follow the horrendous offseason that we just witnessed, but it was surely better than this. I’ve never seen a team have so much to work with, and come out of the offseason with no guaranteed stars to show for it. With so many talented and sure-fire players available, Walker was the last one they should have taken. He may eventually be great, but Jacksonville needs an immediate infusion of talent and culture changers. Hutchinson is that, Walker isn’t. To make matter worse, they traded back into the 1st for an off-ball Linebacker. No, not a blocker to block for Trevor Lawrence, or a Wide Receiver to catch his passes. An off-ball Linebacker, after investing a ton of money on Foye Oluokun.
Kansas City Chiefs
Draft Grade – B
- Rd 1 Pk 21 – Trent McDuffie CB Washington
- Rd 1 Pk 30 – George Karlaftis EDGE Purdue
- Rd 2 Pk 54 – Skyy Moore WR Western Michigan
- Rd 2 Pk 62 – Bryan Cook SAF Cincinnati
- Rd 3 Pk 103 – Leo Chenal LB Wisconsin
- Rd 4 Pk 135 – Joshua Williams CB Fayetteville State
- Rd 5 Pk 145 – Darian Kinnard OL Kentucky
- Rd 7 Pk 243 – Jaylen Watson CB Washington State
- Rd 7 Pk 251 – Isaih Pacheco RB Rutgers
- Rd 7 Pk 259 – Nazeeh Johnson CB Marshall
The Chiefs had a great draft. They got ridiculous value with every Top 105 pick. Still, I have questions about all of them, thus lowering their grade by a tad.
McDuffie is better than 21st overall, but the Chiefs play a lot of press-man coverage. That isn’t what McDuffie excels at.
Karlaftis is a stud, but I have my doubts about his abilities on the NFL Edge.
Skyy Moore is electric, that is undeniable. Of all these picks, he is the best fit.
Bryan Cook is overrated, and is Chenal going to be a full-time pass-rusher in their scheme? Because he sure as heck can’t be an off-ball Linebacker full-time.
Great players all around, but the scheme fits raise too many questions.
Las Vegas Raiders
Draft Grade – C
- Rd 3 Pk 90 – Dylan Parham OL Memphis
- Rd 4 Pk 122 – Zamir White RB Georgia
- Rd 4 Pk 126 – Neil Farrell IDL LSU
- Rd 5 Pk 175 – Matthew Butler IDL Tennessee
- Rd 7 Pk 238 – Thayer Munford Jr. OL Ohio State
- Rd 7 Pk 250 – Brittain Brown RB UCLA
There isn’t much to focus on here. With practically no real assets in this draft, I didn’t expect much. White is an interesting player, and Parham should provide solid production, but neither is exciting. Additionally, Farrell was a reach after his dreadful Combine.
Los Angeles Chargers
Draft Grade – B+
- Rd 1 Pk 17 – Zion Johnson OL Boston College
- Rd 3 Pk 15 – JT Woods SAF Baylor
- Rd 4 Pk 123 – Isaiah Spiller RB Texas A&M
- Rd 5 Pk 160 – Otito Ogbonnia IDL UCLA
- Rd 6 Pk 195 – Jamaree Salyer OL Georgia
- Rd 6 Pk 214 – Ja’Sir Taylor DB Wake Forest
- Rd 7 Pk 236 – Deane Leonard DB Ole Miss
- Rd 7 Pk 260 – Zander Horvath FB Purdue
Zion Johnson is one of the most pro-ready players in this draft, and he could take this offense to the next level. Spiller is a good all-around back who could pair well with Austin Ekeler, and Salyer was an absolute steal. That could possibly end up being the steal of the draft.
Los Angeles Rams
Draft Grades – C-
- Rd 3 Pk 104 – Logan Bruss OL Wisconsin
- Rd 4 Pk 142 – Decobie Durant CB South Carolina State
- Rd 5 Pk 164 – Kyren Williams RB Notre Dame
- Rd 6 Pk 211 – Quentin Lake SAF UCLA
- Rd 6 Pk 212 – Derion Kendrick CB Georgia
- Rd 7 Pk 235 – Daniel Hardy EDGE Montana State
- Rd 7 Pk 253 – Russ Yeast SAF Kansas State
The Rams’ feelings on draft picks are well-documented. Regardless of who they draft, I have no expectation of any of them being real contributors, with the way this team is built.
They managed to get good value late in the draft, but this class still lacks any flare, despite having exciting players still available at all of those spots.
Miami Dolphins
Draft Grade – B-
- Rd 3 Pk 102 – Channing Tindall LB Georgia
- Rd 4 Pk 125 – Erik Ezukanma WR Texas Tech
- Rd 7 Pk 224 – Cameron Goode EDGE California
- Rd 7 Pk 247 – Skylar Thompson QB Kansas State
The Dolphins took the perfect players with each of their picks. Tindall is a screaming value. Ezukanma will provide good depth and possibly even a contested-catch aspect to the offense that Waddle and Hill can’t. Thompson is a reliable Quarterback who can be an average backup, in case Tua reaggravates his previous injuries.
There aren’t enough picks to give this class a higher grade, but they got a nice haul.
Minnesota Vikings
Draft Grade – B
- Rd 1 Pk 32 – Lewis Cine SAF Georgia
- Rd 2 Pk 42 – Andrew Booth Jr. CB Clemson
- Rd 2 Pk 59 – Ed Ingram OL LSU
- Rd 3 Pk 66 – Brian Asamoah LB Oklahoma
- Rd 4 Pk 118 – Akayleb Evans CB Missouri
- Rd 5 Pk 165 – Esezi Otomewo EDGE Minnesota
- Rd 5 Pk 169 – Ty Chandler RB North Carolina
- Rd 6 Pk 184 – Vederian Lowe OL Illinois
- Rd 6 Pk 191 – Jalen Nailor WR Michigan State
- Rd 7 Pk 227 – Nick Muse TE South Carolina
The Vikings addressed their needs perfectly, hitting secondary early and hard, followed by Interior O-Line depth. They even managed to get sleepers and value later in the draft.
I would have loved for them to get a Quarterback to either put pressure on Cousins or move on, but they upgraded in key positions, so I can’t fault them too much.
New England Patriots
Draft Grade – D-
- Rd 1 Pk 29 – Cole Strange OL Chattanooga
- Rd 2 Pk 50 – Tyquan Thornton WR Baylor
- Rd 3 Pk 85 – Marcus Jones CB Houston
- Rd 4 Pk 121 – Jack Jones CB Arizona State
- Rd 4 Pk 127 – Pierre Strong Jr. RB South Dakota State
- Rd 4 Pk 137 – Bailey Zappe QB Western Kentucky
- Rd 6 Pk 183 – Kevin Harris RB South Carolina
- Rd 6 Pk 200 – Sam Roberts IDL NW Missouri State
- Rd 6 Pk 210 – Chasen Hines OL LSU
- Rd 7 Pk 245 – Andrew Stueber OL Michigan
I am a Cole Strange defender, and he is one of my favorite sleepers in this draft. Still, 29 was too early. The laughing and mocking reaction to the pick from other NFL GMs should say it all.
Thornton was also a bad pick, as his profile is riddled with red flags, and there were many better options available.
Getting any Running Back in this draft would be foolish, with their loaded RB room, let alone getting two. I have the same issue with the Zappe pick, as he won’t even be their QB2.
The only thing keeping this pick from an F grade is that Strange is a good player who fills a need, and I get the sense that Belichick will turn him into a stone wall.
New Orleans Saints
Draft Grade – C-
- Rd 1 Pk 11 – Chris Olave WR Ohio State
- Rd 1 Pk 19 – Trevor Penning OL Northern Iowa
- Rd 2 Pk 49 – Alontae Taylor CB Tennessee
- Rd 5 Pk 161 – D’Marco Jackson LB Appalachian State
- Rd 6 Pk 194 – Jordan Jackson IDL Air Force
If the Saints traded their future 1st for a 2022 1st because they feel that they are only a Wide Receiver and Offensive Tackle away, then taking a Tackle who is a complete project doesn’t seem wise at all. I love the Olave pick, and even the trade up, but the Penning pick is a terrible pick for many reasons.
Alontae Taylor is an intriguing player with great traits, but 2nd round may have been too rich.
Additionally, especially with the Quarterbacks dropping, the Saints should have taken one. Missing out on that opportunity was a big mistake, one I think they will regret next year.
New York Giants
Draft Grade – C
- Rd 1 Pk 5 – Kayvon Thibodeaux EDGE Oregon
- Rd 1 Pk 7 – Evan Neal OL Alabama
- Rd 2 Pk 43 – Wan’Dale Robinson WR Kentucky
- Rd 3 Pk 67 – Joshua Ezeudu OL North Carolina
- Rd 3 Pk 81 – Cordale Flott CB LSU
- Rd 4 Pk 112 – Daniel Bellinger TE San Diego State
- Rd 4 Pk 114 – Dane Belton SAF Iowa
- Rd 5 Pk 146 – Micah McFadden LB Indiana
- Rd 5 Pk 147 – DJ Davidson IDL Arizona State
- Rd 5 Pk 173 – Marcus McKethan OL North Carolina
- Rd 6 Pk 182 – Darrian Beavers LB Cincinnati
I love Thibodeaux as much as the next guy, but I have countless issues with this draft.
For starters, the Giants should have taken Ekwonu at 5, since they could have almost surely gotten KT at 7. Additionally, I’m not a big believer in Evan Neal. He may be a better fit at Right Tackle, but he has some wrinkles to iron out of his game.
After the 1st round, which was encouraging, the Giants botched the rest of the draft. They reached on nearly every pick and didn’t draft any great values. I like Robinson’s potential, but he has major red flags and isn’t worth an early 2nd.
Darrian Beavers is the only pick of theirs I like outside the 1st. With the amount of capital they had, I expected much more.
New York Jets
Draft Grade – A+
- Rd 1 Pk 4 – Ahmad Gardner CB Cincinnati
- Rd 1 Pk 10 – Garrett Wilson WR Ohio State
- Rd 1 Pk 26 – Jermaine Johnson II EDGE Florida State
- Rd 2 Pk 36 – Breece Hall RB Iowa State
- Rd 3 Pk 101 – Jeremy Ruckert TE Ohio State
- Rd 4 Pk 111 – Max Mitchell OL Louisiana
- Rd 4 Pk 117 – Michael Clemons EDGE Texas A&M
The Jets likely got 3 players atop their position this draft in Wilson, Gardner, and Hall. Trading up to select Johnson was also a superb move, getting a sliding talent and filling a massive need.
They even got enticing value in Ruckert, Mitchell, and Clemons later in the draft. This was a beautiful draft for Gang Green, now it’s time to turn that into wins.
Philadelphia Eagles
Draft Grade – B-
- Rd 1 Pk 13 – Jordan Davis IDL Georgia
- Rd 2 Pk 51 – Cam Jurgens OL Nebraska
- Rd 3 Pk 83 – Nakobe Dean LB Georgia
- Rd 6 Pk 181 – Kyron Johnson LB Kansas
- Rd 6 Pk 198 – Grant Calcaterra TE SMU
Trading ahead of the Ravens to get Jordan Davis was a pro move, but nothing beats the selection of Nakobe Dean in the 3rd. Yes, he had medical questions come up pre-draft. Yes, he isn’t as tall or long as most Linebackers. Still, he is an undeniable dominator on the field and is a true game-changer on defense.
Cam Jurgens isn’t a bad pick either, providing good depth and potential to an improving O-Line.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Draft Grade – D
- Rd 1 Pk 20 – Kenny Pickett QB Pittsburgh
- Rd 2 Pk 52 – George Pickens WR Georgia
- Rd 3 Pk 84 – DeMarvin Leal IDL Texas A&M
- Rd 4 Pk 138 – Calvin Austin III WR Memphis
- Rd 6 Pk 208 – Connor Heyward TE Michigan State
- Rd 7 Pk 225 – Mark Robinson LB Ole Miss
- Rd 7 Pk 241 – Chris Oladokun QB South Dakota State
All of their first 3 picks are guys on my “NOT” list. Pickett will never be an above-average NFL starter, and even if they didn’t have a Quarterback, he would be a wasted 1st round pick. With Trubisky on the roster, I doubt Pickett ever surpasses him in talent. Essentially, the Steelers drafted their backup Quarterback in the 1st round. I’m more excited about their Oladokun pick. They paid much less for him, and he has elite traits that Pickett doesn’t have. I’m not saying Oladokun>Pickett, but for the price they paid, I would choose the bigger and more mobile player in Oladokun.
Pickens and Leal are also players I am low on, and so is the consensus. Calvin Austin III was an interesting pick, but his size makes his NFL role limited.
The only thing keeping this from an F grade is the fact that they did address their needs, so I can’t let my personal Board affect this grade too much.
San Francisco 49ers
Draft Grade – D+
- Rd 2 Pk 29 – Drake Jackson EDGE USC
- Rd 3 Pk 93 – Tyrion Davis-Price RB LSU
- Rd 3 Pk 105 – Danny Gray WR SMU
- Rd 4 Pk 134 – Spencer Burford OL UTSA
- Rd 5 Pk 172 – Samuel Womack CB Toledo
- Rd 6 Pk 187 – Nick Zakelj OL Fordham
- Rd 6 Pk 220 – Kalia Davis IDL UCF
- Rd 6 Pk 221 – Tariq Castro-Fields CB Penn State
- Rd 7 Pk 262 – Brock Purdy QB Iowa State
The Niners got no one that excites me. Castro-Fields and Purdy are nice dart-throws at the end of the draft, but they might not make the team. Drake Jackson is likely the player most analysts will get excited about, but he lacks the strength or size to be a consistent NFL producer.
Seattle Seahawks
Draft Grade – A
- Rd 1 Pk 9 – Charles Cross OL Mississippi State
- Rd 2 Pk 40 – Boye Mafe EDGE Minnesota
- Rd 2 Pk 41 – Kenneth Walker III RB Michigan State
- Rd 3 Pk 72 – Abraham Lucas OL Washington State
- Rd 4 Pk 109 – Coby Bryant CB Cincinnati
- Rd 5 Pk 153 – Tariq Woolen CB UTSA
- Rd 5 Pk 158 – Tyreke Smith EDGE Ohio State
- Rd 7 Pk 229 – Bo Melton WR Rutgers
- Rd 7 Pk 233 – Dareke Young WR Lenoir Rhyne
This is a great start to the rebuild. Not to get ahead of myself, but it’s possible the Seahawks are turned around as early as next year post-draft. They snagged their franchise Left Tackle as late as 9th overall, and followed that up by getting elite high-potential talents with the next 5 picks. Mafe, Walker, Lucas, Bryant, and Woolen could all potentially be high-end starters.
With no QB, the Seahawks will likely finish with one of the worst records next year, and be in the market for a top QB. They now have the building blocks to bring one in and help him flourish.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Draft Grade – A-
- Rd 2 Pk 33 – Logan Hall IDL Houston
- Rd 2 Pk 57 – Luke Goedeke OL Central Michigan
- Rd 3 Pk 91 – Rachaad White RB Arizona State
- Rd 4 Pk 106 – Cade Otton TE Washington
- Rd 4 Pk 133 – Jake Camarda P Georgia
- Rd 5 Pk 157 – Zyon McCollum CB Sam Houston State
- Rd 6 Pk 218 – Ko Kieft TE Minnesota
- Rd 7 Pk 248 – Andre Anthony LB LSU
Trading back and still getting the player they would have likely selected must be a masterful feeling. Hall is a stud, and will immediately improve this defense back to its immovable glory.
Goedeke is not only a great prospect, but he fills a big need, while White and Otton should be impactful role-players on this offense. If Brady’s still got it, this team can go far.
Tennessee Titans
Draft Grade – B
- Rd 1 Pk 18 – Treylon Burks WR Arkansas
- Rd 2 Pk 35 – Roger McCreary CB Auburn
- Rd 3 Pk 69 – Nicholas Petit-Frere OL Ohio State
- Rd 3 Pk 86 – Malik Willis QB Liberty
- Rd 4 Pk 131 – Hassan Haskins RB Michigan
- Rd 4 Pk 143 – Chigoziem Okonkwo TE Maryland
- Rd 5 Pk 163 – Kyle Philips WR UCLA
- Rd 6 Pk 204 – Theo Jackson CB Tennessee
- Rd 6 Pk 219 – Chance Campbell LB Ole Miss
The AJ Brown trade is all the rage in the NFL world, but it’s not as bad a trade as everyone might think. As it seems, the Titans didn’t have much of a choice, since they couldn’t pay Brown what he wanted to be paid, given their cap situation. Getting Treylon Burks is as great a compensation as they could realistically get.
There is good value in the rest of this class as well, with McCreary, Petit-Frere, and Haskins all being capable contributors.
Malik Willis is a curious pick. Ryan Tannehill has been exceptionally efficient, and although last year was a down year, they didn’t have Derrick Henry. While Willis pairs very well with Henry, he won’t be ready to play before Henry is aged out of the NFL. Still, the upside he provides is a necessary factor for this team.
Washington Commanders
Draft Grade – B-
- Rd 1 Pk 16 – Jahan Dotson WR Penn State
- Rd 2 Pk 47 – Phidarian Mathis IDL Alabama
- Rd 3 Pk 98 – Brian Robinson Jr. RB Alabama
- Rd 4 Pk 113 – Percy Butler SAF Louisiana
- Rd 5 Pk 144 – Sam Howell QB North Carolina
- Rd 5 Pk 149 – Cole Turner TE Nevada
- Rd 7 Pk 230 – Chris Paul OL Tulsa
- Rd 7 Pk 240 – Christian Holmes CB Oklahoma State
Many will trash the Jahan Dotson pick, and while I agree he isn’t nearly a Top 16 talent, the pick makes sense. The run on Wide Receivers was running rampant, and Dotson’s skillset complements McLaurin’s perfectly. They would make a great 1A 1B combo.
Beyond that pick, the Commanders managed to find good talent and great value late in the draft, especially with the Chris Paul pick.
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