The Daily Briefing Friday, May 3, 2024
THE DAILY BRIEFING
| As we review the 2024 Draft and all the praise going to the hard-working personnel staffs of the 32 member clubs – this reminder as to how good a job they did in 2021. Only 18 of the 32 first rounders have been successful by the metric of the 5th-year option renewal.
@MySportsUpdate 12 players officially had their 5th-year options declined:
No. 2: Zach Wilson No. 3: Trey Lance No. 11: Justin Fields No. 15: Mac Jones No. 16: Zaven Collins No. 19: Jamin Davis No. 20: Kadarius Toney No. 22: Caleb Farley No. 24: Najee Harris No. 28: Payton Turner No. 29: Eric Stokes No. 32: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Alex Leatherwood (No. 17, cut from contract) and Rashod Bateman (No. 27, not enough accrued seasons) were not eligible. – – – Mike Sando of The Athletic has assembled his anonymous panel of insiders to dish on AFC teams and their draft foibles. Look for those comments below. He also provided a handy chart for 2025 whose first round remains intact: 2025 draft picks traded acquired Bears 4 Bills 2, 4 Buccaneers 6 Chiefs 3 Cowboys 7 Dolphins 3 Eagles 7, 7 3, 4, 5 Giants 5 Jaguars 3, 4 Jets 3 Lions 3, 4 6, 7 Panthers 2, 5 Rams 2 Steelers 7, 7 Texans 2, 5 2 Titans 3 Vikings 2, 3, 4 |
| NFC EAST |
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DALLAS QB DAK PRESCOTT has been cleared criminally of a sexual assault allegation and he may go on the offensive for the problems it caused him. Even as the alleging victim still seeks to clean out his bank accounts. Mike Florio: Earlier this week, Dak Prescott’s alleged sexual assault victim and her lawyers filed a motion to dismiss his lawsuit claiming extortion and other torts. Prescott’s lawyer attacked the motion in a statement issued to WFAA.com — and vowed to file a new claim against them.
“The Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss is total nonsense,” attorney Levi McCathern said. “They have yet again misrepresented the relevant facts and misconstrued the law as it applies to them. We are going to show, plain and simple, that this case is about the ridiculous attempt by [the victim] and her lawyers, Yoel and Bethel Zehaie, to extort Dak Prescott out of $100 million based on fabricated allegations, which could not be further from the truth. And, now that Dallas County has rightfully closed its investigation into the Defendants’ false allegations regarding Mr. Prescott, we intend on promptly filing claims against the Defendants for malicious prosecution.”
McCathern also expressed gratitude for the decision of the authorities to not pursue criminal charges against Prescott.
“I want to thank the Dallas Police Department and Dallas County District Attorney’s office for their thorough investigation of the allegations against Dak Prescott,” McCathern said. “As we knew they would, they found nothing in their extensive exploration of the facts that would support a criminal prosecution. We are confident that at the end of law enforcement’s investigation into the extortion case that they will find the accuser and her attorneys just as guilty as Dak is innocent. As I have said from the beginning, Dak is a great football player, and an even better human. He would never assault any woman. These false accusations were brought up seven years after the alleged events for one reason and one reason only — to line the pockets of the accuser and her attorneys. Their behavior is an affront to all the true survivors of sexual assault.”
Again, there’s a difference between the criminal and civil standards. Prosecutors chose not to proceed, because they concluded they couldn’t prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The alleged victim makes a claim. Prescott denies it. With no corroboration, there’s no way to avoid the cancellation of the two witnesses from ending up creating a giant pile of reasonable doubt.
The civil case will continue. The alleged victim will have a chance to prove his case, with Dak defending himself against it. Dak will have a chance to prove his case, with the alleged victim and her lawyers defending themselves. The burden of proof is much lower, if either side manages to get their respective cases to trial. |
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NEW YORK GIANTS RB SAQUON BARKLEY claims he did not abandon the Giants, it was the Giants who cut him loose. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: Eagles running back Saquon Barkley attended last night’s game between the 76ers and the Knicks in Philadelphia. When shown on the Jumbotron, he was booed by the New York fans in attendance at the game.
Barkley made an observation about the situation on social media.
“It’s been two months,” Barkley said, “lol no way ya can still be this mad! Mf can’t even go to a basketball game.”
Someone responded to Barkley, pointing out that he bailed on New York.
“Let me educate some of you fans here,” Barkley said. “I can’t bail or become a traitor if I never got an offer to come back.. so I went to the organization I felt that was the best and after already being here for a month man I’m excited to be a eagle! Go birds.”
Barkley undoubtedly is referring to 2024, because the Giants reportedly made offers to Barkley on a long-term deal in 2023.
The Giants quite possibly would have a different view of the matter. Regardless, the Giants had a full and fair chance to keep Barkley for the long haul. They could have tagged him again for 2024. They had exclusive negotiating rights until Monday, March 11.
Don’t blame the player for taking the best offer wherever he can get it. He’s trying to get compensated for his skills and abilities. The Giants had him for six years and didn’t offer enough to get him to stay. That’s on them.
Basically, if fans are mad that Barkley jumped to the Eagles, they should be mad at the Giants for letting him go. They had their chances, over and over again. From the conclusion of his third regular season (2020) through early March 2024, the Giants could have secured Barkley for the long haul. They didn’t.
They knew he could go to the Eagles, the Cowboys, the Commanders, anywhere. That’s how free agency works. Barkley, in six years of pro football, never had the ability to play wherever he wanted to play. He finally got that ability, in large part because the Giants didn’t make him an offer he would accept.
Again, if you’re mad, blame them. They made the business decision not to offer him enough to get him to stay. Barkley made the business decision to go.
That’s still easier said than done. As Jerry Seinfeld once said, we’re all just rooting for laundry.
Boooo! Different shirt! Boo!
(By the way, Unfrosted debuts on Netflix today. It’s only fair to mention Seinfeld’s new film if we’re gonna use his old bit.) |
| NFC WEST |
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LOS ANGELES RAMS GM Les Snead tries to plan a seed in Aaron Donald for a postseason return. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Before Aaron Donald announced his retirement from the NFL, the defensive tackle told Rams head coach Sean McVay that he was “full” after playing 10 seasons in the NFL but General Manager Les Snead is holding out a little hope that there may be some room left.
During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show on Thursday, Snead discussed Donald’s decision to retire and he recounted a conversation he had with Donald after he informed the team of his plans. Snead said he made a reference to safety Eric Weddle coming out of retirement to join the team’s run to a Super Bowl LVI championship while telling Donald that he might be hearing from the Rams come the end of the season.
“I did mention to Aaron that going back to our Super Bowl run, that there was a player by the name of Eric Weddle who kind of jumped into the playoffs,” Snead said. “We signed him to the practice squad and we standard elevated him for four straight games to a Super Bowl championship. So, I did mention if we happen to get to the playoffs again, maybe we’ll circle back and see if the cup’s not quite filled. But that’s just a rumor. I doubt Aaron’s going to do that. “Aaron’s one of those guys where he’s so principled, he might feel uncomfortable that, ‘You know what, I didn’t go through those other 18 with the guys, I’m not sure I can go through the playoffs with them. Not sure. We might tempt him. No breaking news here.”
Weddle didn’t have a Super Bowl ring when he decided to return to active duty with the Rams, but Donald has one to go with many other accomplishments he achieved over the course of his career. That would seem to make any comeback hopes a long shot, but it certainly won’t hurt Snead or the Rams to ask. |
| AFC WEST |
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DENVER Mike Sando: Sean Payton using a premium pick (No. 12) on the sixth quarterback in this class (Bo Nix) makes the coming years in Denver so much more compelling. Rejecting Russell Wilson risked little when there wasn’t much chance Wilson could live up to his contract. Embracing Nix — who was favored by oddsmakers to be drafted by Denver, but not in the first round — represents a big bet.
“I’m betting on it (succeeding) heavily,” an exec said. “Bo has experience, he has enough arm talent and I think he is going to do what he is coached to do. Sean Payton’s system is optimal for him. Bo is not going to go off-script as much as Russ was going to do. Look, I don’t want him to be successful, but I think he is going to be legit there.”
After picking Nix, Payton said his Saints wanted to draft Patrick Mahomes in 2017, and that he couldn’t risk letting another quarterback he loved slip away.
“That’s a stretch,” another exec said. “Remember, he also said Taysom Hill was going to be like Steve Young.”
Nix flopping in Denver would not undo the success Payton had with Drew Brees, but Bill Belichick’s struggles without Tom Brady could become a comp.
“I’m not a Bo Nix fan, but if anybody can get something out of him, Sean could,” another exec said, voicing concerns about Nix’s accuracy and reaction to the pass rush. “He’ll program that kid to do exactly what he wants every week. It won’t be enough the first year, but Sean will buy a third year to develop the kid and see if he can get him through.”
Denver arguably had no viable short-term starting quarterback options beyond whatever QB the team drafted. Atlanta’s decision to take Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 affected the Broncos’ ability to trade back.
“They had no choice but to take Bo,” an exec said. |
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KANSAS CITY Mike Sando: The Chiefs have won back-to-back Super Bowls since trading Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins and funneling the newly available resources elsewhere on the roster, but let’s face it: Andy Reid missed what Hill’s speed brought to the offense.
“They won the Super Bowl, but they should be blowing dudes out like they used to,” an exec said. “Xavier Worthy will make it easier to do that with the tight end (Travis Kelce) getting older.”
Worthy, who set the combine record with a 4.21-second time in the 40-yard dash, can provide some of that speed in a physical package more closely resembling what DeSean Jackson brought to Reid’s offenses years ago. There would be no help early in this draft for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
“They kind of know how to build a team there,” an exec said of the Chiefs. “Andy is like, ‘Yeah, that was a pain in the ass without Tyreek Hill, so let’s go get a guy who is faster than Tyreek, see if we can take the top off.’ And ‘Spags’ is like, ‘What about corner?’ And Andy is like, ‘Yeah, figure it out, blitz more.’ That is what it seems like.”
Did Andy Reid find his next star speedster in Xavier Worthy? (Sara Diggins / USA Today) It’s a humorous spin on the Chiefs’ approach to this draft after trading cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans for a 2025 third-rounder and a swap of seventh-round picks. Spagnuolo did get reinforcements for his secondary in the fourth and sixth rounds.
“Kansas City is going to light people up with that kid,” an exec said of Worthy. “He’s a little, fast guy, and you think he’s a track guy, but he’s tough, finishes runs, fast, disciplined. He has a nice all-around game.” |
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LAS VEGAS Mike Sando: Drafting a tight end early for the second consecutive year does not qualify as textbook team-building. Brock Bowers was the pick at No. 13 this year after the Raiders selected Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer at 35 a year ago.
“I think they were stuck once Atlanta took (Michael) Penix and they were like, ‘Oh, crap, we might not get a quarterback to fall to us,’ and they scrambled and took that kid,” an exec said of the Bowers selection. “He is a good player, but a luxury item. I don’t like those kinds of picks unless you have everything else.”
While Bowers and center Graham Barton (26th to Tampa Bay) were the only players at non-premium positions to be drafted in the first 43 picks, execs agree Bowers can become a dynamic force. They think he’s worthy of the selection based on his tape. But they also think tight ends need skilled offensive coordinators to maximize their production, and that Bowers might need more scheming than most.
Are the Raiders equipped to become a dynamically schemed 12-personnel team?
“If they are willing to do that, which nobody other than New England has really leaned into since they had (Aaron) Hernandez and Gronk (Rob Gronkowski), it’s great,” an exec said. “If you go out there in base, they are going to throw the ball on you. If you play nickel or dime, they will run the ball down your throat.”
The irony is that the Raiders’ former coach, Josh McDaniels, might have been better suited to implement a 12-personnel offense, given his history in New England. Partly for that reason, execs saw tackle Taliese Fuaga, selected 14th by New Orleans, as a sounder alternative for the Raiders.
“Bowers is not like Dalton Kincaid where you can create separation in the normal flow of the offense,” an exec said. “You have to move him. He would be ideal in San Francisco or Miami. Whereas Kincaid is special at the top of the route, Bowers is one-cut, catch it, break three tackles and he’s gone. Hopefully, they have a good plan for him because he can do some really unique things with the ball.” |
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LOS ANGELES CHARGERS Mike Sando: It’s easy to see in retrospect what the Chargers saw before the draft: Finding a promising receiver after the first round is easier than finding a promising offensive tackle there.
Passing on Joe Alt at No. 5 would have gone against what new Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh is about.
“Joe Alt was a slam dunk pick,” one exec said. “People wanted to make them pick receivers, but trading back up to get Ladd McConkey, who is maybe the best route runner in the draft, was cool. I think they nailed this first draft, didn’t try to do too much, just did a nice job hitting doubles. They got good players with a path to playing.”
That included third-round pick Junior Colson, a likely first-year starter who played under Harbaugh at Michigan.
“The Chargers in the past seemed to do a pretty good job in the first round, but then would reach more in the mid to later rounds,” an exec said. “Time will tell, but I think (Tarheeb) Still is going to be a good nickel, Cam Hart has a chance to start and the running back (Kimani Vidal) has a chance to be a three-down starter.” |
| AFC NORTH |
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BALTIMORE Mike Sando: This Ravens offseason has been mostly about players and coaches leaving the team, so adding nine players had to feel good for Baltimore.
Two things about this class stood out to me: The first five picks all play premium positions, and four of those were drafted significantly later than their consensus rankings.
“When you can hit on positions of impact, it helps to be cost-controlled at positions commanding a premium on the market,” an exec said.
The run on offensive players early in the draft allowed Baltimore to select the third cornerback (Nate Wiggins) with only the 30th choice. But in targeting premium positions lower in the draft, the Ravens wound up with the 11th offensive tackle (Roger Rosengarten), the 10th edge rusher (Adisa Isaac) and the 19th receiver (Devontez Walker).
“Nate Wiggins was the best cover corner in the draft,” an exec said. “He falls a little because he did not compete as consistently as you’d like, but going into that Baltimore culture, they have to feel good. They are not a team you really question.”
Wiggins was No. 22 on The Athletic’s consensus board and went No. 30. T.J. Tampa was No. 57 (and the eighth-ranked corner) but went in the fourth round at No. 130, the sixteenth corner off the board. Isaac ranked 68th but went 93rd in Round 3, and Walker ranked 86th and went 113th in Round 4.
“Rosengarten is an underrated pick,” another exec said. “He is going to be similar to like Spencer Brown in Buffalo, a starting tackle. They have done a good job developing rushers, too, so I like them taking the Penn State kid (Isaac). Tampa ran in the 4.5s and might have gotten the benefit of the doubt from some because he has length.” |
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CINCINNATI Mike Sando: Execs singled out the selection of defensive tackle Kris Jenkins in the second round as the one they were most willing to bet on succeeding.
“I do think there is a heightened risk aspect to their picks,” an exec said. “Jenkins offsets the risk some. He is going to be really solid. Amarius Mims is talented, and when he plays, he’s good, but eight career starts?”
There had to be some tradeoff when the fifth tackle selected in the draft stands 6-foot-8, weighs 340 pounds and, by all accounts, does have elite potential (as The Athletic’s Nate Taylor reported, the Chiefs were interested in trading up for Mims).
“It’s a calculated risk because he is talented,” another exec said. “You have to bank on the talent to shine. And while we want the first-round picks to play right away, if Orlando Brown and Trent Brown play to their standard, they will not need Mims to be ready right now. He can redshirt to a degree, but be ready as needed and take over next year.”
The third-round picks address positions of intrigue for Cincinnati. Jermaine Burton adds a receiving option, with Tee Higgins having requested a trade. McKinnley Jackson could help offset D.J. Reader’s departure.
“Burton is going to be a sneaky good player,” an exec said. “He’s fast, he’s strong after the catch, he has a little dog to him. They do a good job getting those types of players established.” |
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CLEVELAND Mike Sando: The Browns’ first-round pick (No. 23) traveled from Cleveland to Houston to Minnesota to Jacksonville before the Jaguars used it on receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
If that wasn’t exciting enough for Browns fans, how about having only two picks in the first 155 choices, and using them on interior linemen, including one coming off of a broken leg?
“Their first pick (Mike Hall Jr.) is a prototype who fits Jim Schwartz’s defense as a twitchy, upfield penetrator,” an exec said. “If they can motivate him and get him playing down in and down out, he will fit well for Schwartz’s defense. The Michigan guard (Zak Zinter) is good for where they got him if you are comfortable with the medical.”
Zinter suffered a broken tibia and fibula in November.
“They were a playoff team, so they are adding players you can win with, not win because of,” another exec said. |
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PITTSBURGH RB JAYLEN WARREN praises his new QBs, while throwing subtle shade at QBs KENNY PICKETT, MITCH TRUBISKY and MASON RUDOLPH. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: Anything said about the new set of quarterbacks in Pittsburgh can be regarded as a comment on the last set of quarterbacks in Pittsburgh, especially since the Steelers opted to completely blow up the position.
Here’s what running back Jaylen Warren recently said about Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
“It’s a night and day difference with their leadership,” Warren said on Cameron Heyward’s podcast, via ESPN.com. “They bring a lot. They help out. They tell us how to run the route. They’re really on it when you don’t run it a certain way. They’re big on details, kind of what we preach, and it helps a lot.”
The clear implication is that the prior trio of quarterbacks — Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph — weren’t doing that.
The quarterback needs to be a great leader, obviously. In Pittsburgh, that apparently wasn’t the case. Otherwise, to a player like Warren, it wouldn’t be regarded as a night and day difference.
How much of a difference will it make when it’s time to play games? It obviously can’t hurt. – – – Mike Sando: Injury concerns sprung up around the Steelers’ first-round pick (Troy Fautanu) and their second of two third-rounders (Payton Wilson), but the overall vibe was positive.
“Fautanu was one of my favorite players in the entire draft,” an exec said. “Personality, work ethic, skill set, versatility — he has it all. The second-round pick (Zach Frazier) fits their brand for toughness — four-time state wrestling champ. And then they got the best off-ball coverage linebacker in the draft if Payton Wilson can stay healthy.”
Some execs see Fautanu as more guard than tackle, though Mike Tomlin has said Fautanu will play tackle. All agreed this class looked like a Steelers class should look: tough across the board, with Frazier already acclimated to the area, having played a short drive down I-79 in Morgantown.
But the injury tradeoff on Wilson is real. He’s had multiple knee surgeries and multiple shoulder surgeries and just turned 24, although he played every game this past season.
“Payton Wilson is an awesome, awesome player and a great pick at 98,” another exec said. “He just had injuries. Do you pass him or not?” |
| AFC SOUTH |
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HOUSTON Mike Sando: Unrelated to the Texans, and speaking in general terms, an exec from a team picking inside the top 20 made a comment we regularly hear this time of year.
“Call it pick 20 to pick 40, shake them up and throw them out, they are all similar players,” he said.
Whether or not that is true, execs agreed the 2025 draft should be deeper than the current one, so that acquiring picks next year carried additional value.
These are interesting considerations for the Texans, who traded the 23rd pick with a seventh-rounder to Minnesota for the 42nd pick and a sixth-rounder, plus the Vikings’ second-round pick next year. Houston previously traded its own 2025 second to Buffalo for Stefon Diggs.
The net effect was acquiring Diggs for the short term, moving up in the 2025 second round unless Minnesota outperforms Houston this season, and then living with whatever downgrade comes with drafting Kamari Lassiter at 42 relative to the corners available in the 23rd slot; Philadelphia made Quinyon Mitchell the first corner chosen at 22, before Detriot traded up to take Terrion Arnold at 24, before Baltimore took Nate Wiggins at 30.
“The only issue there is, I would have gone Max Melton (chosen 43rd by Arizona) over Lassiter for his speed and ability to cover,” an exec said.
That could simply be a matter of personal preference.
“Lassiter ran slow, but his tape is really good,” another exec said. “He was one of my favorite corners in the draft. Houston did a really good job overall of adding character with talent. Cade Stover was a good example of that, and so was Lassiter.” |
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INDIANAPOLIS Mike Sando: The Colts had reason to become Falcons fans during this draft.
“I don’t think the run on offensive players would have lasted as long if Atlanta had not taken (Michael) Penix,” an exec said. “They basically gave Indianapolis and some of those other teams really good defensive players.”
Execs generally expected Atlanta to bolster its defense with the No. 8 pick. The Penix selection contributed to Denver taking a quarterback at 12, and to this draft setting a record with 14 consecutive offensive players selected from the start.
Latu was the consensus best pass rusher in the draft but also a risky selection following neck fusion surgery that led him to quit football for a time.
“Indy has a pretty solid roster but needed more difference makers, so this year they went away from what they’ve done in the past,” an exec said. “They took risks with big upside. Latu has Joey Bosa-like hand usage and the best tape of any edge rusher in the draft, but the neck is a concern. AD Mitchell is as gifted as the top three wideouts even, but there were some concerns. On paper, Indy got tremendously better.”
GM Chris Ballard’s post-draft rant against anonymously sourced character criticisms on Mitchell seemed to reflect an edge. Another exec suggested Indy had erred on the side of caution in the past and now appeared willing to make calculated risks, perhaps after realizing there were missed opportunities.
“It looks like they are thinking, ‘We have the coach, we have the quarterback, we are out of excuses,’” a different exec said. |
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JACKSONVILLE Mike Sando: Moving back from No. 17 to No. 23 without missing out on a receiver and while pocketing 2025 third- and fourth-round picks from Minnesota seems like a dream scenario.
The question now becomes whether Brian Thomas Jr. can finally give the Jaguars a long-term No. 1 receiver.
“Thomas can be that guy in two years,” an exec said. “I don’t think he’s going to be required to be that right away. They’ve got some guys.”
Allen Robinson, Christian Kirk, Allen Hurns, Calvin Ridley and D.J. Chark are the Jaguars’ only 1,000-yard receivers over the past 18 seasons. Each reached the mark only once with Jacksonville.
“There is going to have to be some development with him,” another exec said of Thomas. “He is not walking in there and transforming what they do. He has the physical traits to develop. Does he have the other stuff? That remains to be seen.”
Pro Football Focus listed Jaguars second-round choice Maason Smith as one of its biggest Day 2 reaches, albeit one with huge upside.
“Smith is a traits guy, and maybe you hit on him, maybe he is just kind of average,” an exec said, “but I don’t think he will be a bust. He’s tall, he plays with high pad level, but he’s big, he’s long, he’s in that mold of a DeForest Buckner, but he doesn’t have that kind of twitch.”
Jaguars GM Trent Baalke drafted Buckner in San Francisco.
“I think (third-round pick) Jarrian Jones is someone who we could look back on and wonder why he was available that long,” another exec said. “He is a good, good player. Tough, tackles well, covers well, can play in the nickel, can play outside.” |
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TENNESSEE Mike Sando: The Titans gambled on a talented defensive tackle in 2019, taking Jeffery Simmons — who pleaded no contest to simple assault in 2016 — in the first round. This year, their second-round bet on Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat came less than three weeks after authorities in Austin charged him with driving while intoxicated.
Execs had no concerns about Sweat’s talent.
“Oh God, if they get him going, it’s gonna be a helluva combo,” one said.
One year after drafting Simmons, the Titans took Georgia offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson in Round 1 despite teams having concerns about his maturity. He was arrested twice during his first season in Tennessee and was traded for a swap of seventh-round picks after playing one regular-season game.
“They have more willingness to take risk,” another exec said. “Simmons has been a great pick. We’ll see on Sweat.”
Sweat’s weight was a popular topic after he declined to weigh in at the Senior Bowl. He weighed 366 pounds at the combine. Scouts told The Athletic’s Dane Brugler that Sweat played around 380 last season.
“The guy is going to break your heart,” a third exec said.
“At his worst, he will control the A-gaps, which is valuable,” a fourth exec said. “There is real value in that. It’s just, where do you take that pick?”
JC Latham’s selection with the seventh pick was more straightforward. The Titans badly needed help on their line. They will entrust Latham to Bill Callahan, an acclaimed line coach.
“You can argue that Latham is the most talented tackle in the draft,” one exec said. |
| AFC EAST |
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BUFFALO Mike Sando’s panel of insiders don’t share the thought of others that Buffalo shouldn’t have helped Kansas City re-load at WR: The Bills were interesting for the trades they made from the 28th slot to the 32nd slot to the 33rd slot, and for the type of receiver they selected when they took 6-foot-3 Keon Coleman atop the second round. Was trading with heated AFC rival Kansas City — enabling the Chiefs to select the speed receiver they coveted in Buffalo’s original slot — some sort of crime?
“No, you can’t worry about that,” one exec said. “What are we getting? If that’s the best deal, we don’t give a s— who it is.”
Coleman’s impact on the Bills will be measured against Xavier Worthy’s impact on the Chiefs regardless.
“If your biggest rival wants to do something, you can’t control it,” another exec said. “But if you were willing all along to trade out of the first round, you should call all the other teams in that range. Maybe then you don’t let them do what they wanted to do, if you can help it.”
As for Coleman, he joins 2023 first-round tight end Dalton Kincaid as another big target for quarterback Josh Allen.
“It looks like they didn’t want a little guy in cold weather — ‘We’re a tough run team now,’” another exec said. “The risk is that Coleman is going to be covered. Those guys are making contested catches, and that is hard to do over and over again unless you are DeAndre Hopkins.”
The selection of inside runner Ray Davis in the fourth round could further signal a shift toward being more of a power team.
“There is now a big difference in the speed around Patrick Mahomes compared to the speed around Josh Allen,” another exec said. “Buffalo is saying, ‘Josh, it is up to you to raise the level of the skill around you,’ which is great, but we’ll see if he is able to do that.” |
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MIAMI Mike Sando: The Dolphins found themselves in a predicament when Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright remained available in the fourth round.
The NFL had confiscated the Dolphins’ third-round pick in the Tom Brady tampering case. Miami had traded its own fourth to Denver in the Bradley Chubb deal.
What’s a team to do when there’s a player its offensive play-calling head coach wants, but no pick with which to take him?
The Dolphins reached for their credit card. They traded their 2025 third to Philadelphia for a fourth this year, despite general league thinking that NIL implementation at the college level thinned the current crop after the first couple of rounds. As one exec put it, “If you traded this year’s fourth for next year’s third, that’s a huge win because of the nature of the class.”
A huge win for the Eagles on paper won’t bother the Dolphins if they’re right on Wright.
“It’s great Mike McDaniel has a plan for a running back you trade up for, but now we are into niche guys,” an exec said. “Where is the player that is going to beat Buffalo? You can say it is the pass rusher, Chop Robinson.”
The Dolphins, heavily invested in injured veteran pass rushers, made Robinson the fourth edge rusher selected in the class, with all four chosen in a seven-pick span.
“Robinson has great speed off the edge,” an exec said. “Not super physical, doesn’t play through people, but he can fly. If you are Miami and you are playing with a lead, he’s perfect.” |
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NEW ENGLAND Mike Sando: The Patriots’ decision to stay in the third slot to draft Drake Maye is fascinating amid reports New England could have traded down with the Giants (for a package including the sixth pick and a 2025 first-rounder) or Vikings (for a package including the 11th and 23rd picks and a 2025 first).
If it’s true that the Giants and Vikings were that eager to land Maye, and that the Patriots were determined to select him anyway, then the consensus feeling on Maye as a top-flight prospect might be strong.
“They seemed happy at hell with Maye, so that was their guy and you just stay and take him,” an exec said.
There’s still plenty to discuss.
“New England had an opportunity to pick up an extra first (in 2025) and pick up additional draft capital and ride this season out with a version of Jacoby Brissett, Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe, and they chose not to do it in exchange for the third quarterback of the group,” another exec said. “The Giants’ offer looked strong. I don’t know why they didn’t pull the trigger on that.”
Would you rather have Maye or another building-block player, plus the Giants’ first-round pick next year? What about J.J. McCarthy or Michael Penix Jr. at No. 6, plus a first-rounder next year?
“If Drake Maye goes to Washington at 2, New England is taking Jayden Daniels — point being, New England was taking whoever was left,” a third exec said. “No different than Houston last year after Carolina selected. It worked out for Houston. It very well could work out for New England. I just think the team New England has around its QB more closely resembles Carolina than Houston.”
The Patriots plan to play Brissett in the short term.
“When (owner Robert) Kraft needs to sell tickets, how does that work?” the third exec added.
Last year, the Panthers had Andy Dalton but couldn’t resist playing Bryce Young.
However it unfolds, projecting quarterback success remains the first wonder of the NFL world.
“Historically speaking, you have to operate under the assumption that you are wrong,” another exec said. “At some point, you have to pick, but you are better off collecting more and especially future assets than just taking a quarterback early because you have never been in position to do it. You are taking the third quarterback out of six, and we know half are going to fail. Which one did I just get?” |
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NEW YORK JETS Mike Sando: The Jets’ short-term maneuvering to maximize whatever time Aaron Rodgers has left convinced some that the team would use its first-round pick (No. 10) for tight end Brock Bowers. The team became one of the draft’s pleasant surprises after trading back and drafting tackle Olu Fashanu instead.
“When you are picking in the top 10 and you need offensive line help and you take a tight end, that is malpractice,” an exec said in early March at the scouting combine. “You can’t do that.”
The Jets apparently agreed.
Olu Fashanu might not play right away for the Jets, but was he a more responsible choice than Brock Bowers? (Scott Taetsch / Getty Images) “They are in win-now mode, which is why I thought they would go Bowers all the way or any player that would help them win this year,” an exec said. “Instead, they drafted a tackle who might not play for them this year, and might not be well-suited to kick inside and play guard. It certainly is good long-term process, but where they are as an organization, they gotta win this year.”
It’s a difficult spot to be in, no matter which player the Jets selected.
“O-line made so much sense there,” another exec said. “I don’t know how you go any other way.” |
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THIS AND THAT |
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2024 DRAFT GRADES Our correspondent in Orinda was not impressed with the rigor of yesterday’s Draft Grades from Ryan Wilson of CBSSports.com: Grading appears to be Stanford like (cannot get a C because all are so smart). He gives 14 out of 32 teams an A+ or A(44%). Top 18 teams averaged a 4.0. I went in order from your report and assuming your numeric presentation went from high grades to low for all 32-might have been typos in your report today).
Average grade for all 32 teams was a 3.49. Get real. I have used typical scale A+ 4.3, A 4.0, A- 3.7 etc.
Are these graders afraid of offending teams? Obviously yes. At first glance, there is a bit more diversity to today’s grades from Charles McDonald of YahooSports.com:
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys Overall grade: C+ This draft went about how most people expected. The Cowboys got a potential Tyron Smith replacement in the first round, added front seven help and got depth on the offensive line. This draft might not have huge immediate returns for the Cowboys, but they made some strong dice rolls on future starters. The team sits in limbo as Jerry Jones decides what he wants to do next with his franchise, making this an important draft for the Cowboys to nail.
Favorite pick: Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State (73rd overall) Beebe did it all for Kansas State. He flipped between guard and tackle — sometimes in the same game. He doesn’t have the best balance, but he has the athleticism to get to the second level and generally has good eyes in pass protection. Beebe has starter potential, which is great to find in the third round.
Least favorite pick: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma (29th overall) Guyton has infinite upside at offensive tackle, but he’s pretty raw as things stand now. He might have a lower floor than some other offensive tackles on the board, but the Cowboys needed to spend this pick on a tackle. It might not be pretty in 2024. Guyton can be special in this league. He’s just going to need a bit of a long leash.
New York Giants Overall Grade: B+ The Giants wanted a quarterback, but they still came away with a solid group of players despite not taking one. Malik Nabers is the receiver they’ve needed for quite some time and they found a solid replacement for Xavier McKinney in Tyler Nubin. Theo Johnson is a smart draft pick in response to Darren Waller being unsure about his playing future. The Giants might not have been able to make the splash they wanted but they should feel good about where they stand.
Favorite pick: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU (6th overall) Nabers has unlimited upside in the NFL. He’s already a game-breaking threat and has plenty of areas of his game he can improve on. The Giants have been lacking consistent wide receiver talent for a few years. Nabers has a chance to buck that trend. This will help all of the other WRs on the Giants’ roster because now they can move into roles that are more appropriate for them. The plane was built out of WR3s. Now a real No. 1 target is here.
Least favorite pick: Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky (70th overall) Nitpicking. This isn’t a bad selection by any means as it was the appropriate range for Phillips. Maybe the Giants could have picked T.J. Tampa? Regardless, this isn’t actually a bad pick.
Philadelphia Eagles Overall grade: A- The Eagles played the draft so well. They let Quinyon Mitchell fall right into their lap with the 22nd overall pick and he has all the tools necessary to be a CB1 in the NFL. Then, they jumped back up in Round 2 to grab the falling Cooper DeJean. Taking swings on Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson on the third day of the draft might work for them and they made the feel-good selection of Jeremiah Trotter Jr. They also added a couple picks in 2025, including a future third-round selection from the Dolphins. Well played, Howie Roseman.
Favorite pick: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa (40th overall) DeJean should have been a first-round pick, full stop. He is a stud who can play every position in the secondary. With Quinyon Mitchell also being selected, DeJean might have to play safety or slot early in his career, but he’s well-equipped for that role too. He also has great ability in the return game. He’s a special player all-around.
Least favorite pick: Will Shipley, RB, Clemson (127th overall) Weird pick. Shipley doesn’t profile as a dynamic NFL back, but he was a solid player in college. If this is the worst this class has to offer, not so bad. At least the Eagles picked up a future fifth-round selection in the process of getting Shipley.
Washington Commanders Overall Grade: B It’s a new day for the Commanders. They have a new franchise quarterback, a couple impact defenders and even a freak athlete on the offensive line to develop. The Jayden Daniels pick is risky based on his prospect profile, but he still should be a drastic upgrade over what they had in Sam Howell last season. This class hinges on Daniels being a top-tier starter, but they did grab some solid players in the draft. This draft class should make fans feel more hopeful after a shaky free agency period.
Favorite pick: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois (36th overall) This is risky because of the foot injury Newton has been fighting through. If he’s healthy, he’s going to be a force for the Commanders. Newton was the most polished interior pass rusher in this year’s class and now gets to play for head coach Dan Quinn and next to Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. If he can stay on the field, Newton is in a spot to have an impactful rookie year. This is a fun pick for the Commanders.
Least favorite pick: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU (2nd overall) Daniels is not a bad quarterback prospect, but taking him over Drake Maye feels risky. Daniels, like Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix, is leading a new wave of highly drafted first-round quarterbacks who played a ton in college before they were finally deemed elite NFL prospects. This could work as Daniels’ rushing ability and deep ball accuracy give him a high floor. However his frame and lack of elite traits as a passer gives some pause for concern. There’s a path for success for Daniels, but his upside might not be as high as Maye’s.
NFC North
Chicago Bears Overall grade: A You made it, Bears fans. A quarterback prospect who has real deal superstar upside is here. Caleb Williams has all the talent in the world to finally be the dynamic passer the Bears have been waiting for — and he is set up well for success. They drafted Rome Odunze with their second top-10 pick and a developmental tackle in the third round with Kiran Amegadjie. Even their fifth-round selection of Austin Booker was quality! This draft class can be so impactful that it gets an A even with picking a punter in the fourth round.
Favorite pick: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington (9th overall) Caleb Williams is too easy, so let’s go with Odunze. It’ll be interesting to see how Odunze carves out a role as a rookie with Keenan Allen and DJ Moore already on the roster. For the long term, this is a brilliant pick for Chicago. Odunze has the ability to be a No. 1 NFL wideout and will form a strong duo with Moore. This might not be the setup for a gaudy rookie season, but the Bears are playing a smart long game with this pick.
Least favorite pick: Tory Taylor, P, Iowa (122nd overall) Taylor is a great punter, good enough for a highlight tape, but just on principle this has to be the pick that goes here. A punter in Round 4? What happened to this great nation?
Detroit Lions Overall grade: B Detroit made some great picks in the first two rounds of the draft and some risky ones to kick off Day 3. They accomplished their goal of getting better at cornerback this offseason, now featuring a completely revamped room as Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. will join Carlton Davis in Detroit. The Lions even got a couple sixth-rounders with potential to close out their day. It’s really just the selections in the fourth round that are giving a bit of pause here.
Favorite pick: Mekhi Wingo, DL, LSU (189th overall) Wingo should have been drafted over 100 selections higher than this. He checks off so many boxes from technique to production to versatility to age. It’s baffling how he was on the board in the sixth round. This could be a Grady Jarrett-level steal for the Lions if he continues to develop on the right path. Steal, steal, steal.
Least favorite pick: Giovanni Manu, OT, British Columbia (126th overall) It’s hard to know what to make of this because we just don’t have many players straight from Canada getting drafted this high. Manu is, luckily, in a situation where he’s not a threat to either of the Lions’ starters at tackle, so maybe he’ll get a fair chance to develop without fear of hurting the team. This will be a fascinating player to track.
Green Bay Packers Overall grade: B The Packers made a ton of draft picks and came out looking pretty good. Their linebacker picks were questionable (although the entire linebacker class was down this year), but they found a potential franchise left tackle in Jordan Morgan at the end of the first round. They took three safeties as well and might have a tough, versatile duo now between Javon Bullard and Xavier McKinney. MarShawn Lloyd is a quality addition at running back while they test Josh Jacobs for at least a season.
Favorite pick: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona (25th overall) This is a good range for Morgan. He needs to add some strength for the NFL, but he’s a classic, pure pass-blocking left tackle who will always have a place in the league. He’s going to face a learning curve getting used to NFL pass rushers and the speed and strength of the game, but this is a quality bet for the Packers to take at the end of the first round.
Least favorite pick: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M (45th overall) Cooper being here is more of a problem with where college football is right now on defense more than anything Cooper did. He is a fast, rangy linebacker prospect who wasn’t always asked to do traditional NFL linebacker tasks — like many LBs in college. He has work to do in terms of playing downhill and sifting through traffic in the box. His speed will give him a chance to be a playmaker from the jump.
Minnesota Vikings Overall grade: C+ The Vikings went all in and got their quarterback and edge rusher of the future. Whew. As a result, they barely have any 2025 picks. They do have some talented prospects at key positions to build around. J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner can be solid NFL players, but the Vikings paid a high price to attain them. Right now, the only top-100 pick they’re slated to have in 2025 is their first-round pick (with at least one third-round compensatory pick coming their way for Kirk Cousins). This better work!
Favorite pick: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama (17th overall) Turner is a great dice roll for an edge rusher prospect. He produced at Alabama, is 21 years old and ran in the 4.4s at the NFL scouting combine. He’s going to be right at home in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ scheme that will cut him loose up the field and allow him to be a playmaker. He’s a dark horse for a 10-sack rookie campaign.
Least favorite pick: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan (10th overall) This is not a bad pick exactly, but McCarthy needs to show more before we can have full confidence that the Vikings got their guy. He has some nice arm talent and had real highs at Michigan, but generally wasn’t asked to be the driver of the offense. McCarthy is going to need seasoning and head coach Kevin O’Connell might be the guy to pull whatever latent potential is sitting there.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons Overall grade: D- Baffling. Pretty baffling use of the eighth overall pick. After signing Kirk Cousins, it was a bit of a shocker for the Falcons to use the pick on a backup quarterback rather than take someone who can play this year. Unless the Cousins signing is a total disaster, it will be years before the Falcons see Michael Penix Jr. on the field. This team is not ready for a resource allocation like that. The Falcons also failed to grab a cornerback in this draft, but they made some very solid picks along the defensive line that should help them finally stabilize that position group. The defensive line picks are the only thing keeping this from being an F grade.
Favorite pick: Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon (109th overall) Dorlus might be a steal for the Falcons, giving them pass rush versatility on the inside. He can play all over the defensive line and many projections had him going much higher than this. Dorlus is an explosive athlete who might be able to play a big role in the Falcons’ new defense as a rookie. Great pick up for the Falcons that may have saved their draft class.
Least favorite pick: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington (8th overall) Beyond the resource allocation that will have a 7-10 team sitting a top-10 pick on the bench for multiple seasons, it’s fair to question if Penix was really worth this pick. He played six seasons in college with multiple season-ending injuries, but caught fire for Washington over the past two seasons. Penix was also fortunate enough to play on an offense that put two tackles and three wide receivers into the draft, including two first-rounders (Rome Odunze and Troy Fautanu). Penix is going to have to become more consistently accurate to be worth this pick and become a more dynamic playmaker when things break down around him. He has some nice traits like a strong arm and accuracy down the sidelines, but it’s fair to be wary of a prospect profile that doesn’t have a huge track record of NFL success.
Carolina Panthers Overall grade: C The Panthers took some risks in this draft class. It’s hard to say whether it’s bad or good because making risky draft picks is not inherently a bad thing. Carolina decided to spend its picks taking home-run swings that have low floors and big upside. The gambles are fun, but the Panthers’ early draft picks have shaky profiles in one way or another. Even though they’re getting a C, it’s hard not to be caught by the allure of the unknown here. It’s a really interesting class.
Favorite pick: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina (32nd overall) Legette has a very unusual production profile. Prior to his final collegiate season, he didn’t do much of anything. Going into 2023, Legette’s career high for receiving yards in a season was 167 yards. Then, he exploded for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns kind of out of nowhere. Fifth-year breakouts don’t have a great track record of success in the NFL. Legette has the size and speed to potentially buck that trend. He’s the kind of athlete Carolina desperately needed on its offense and if he continues to play at the level he did last season, Bryce Young might have a chance.
Least favorite pick: Jonathan Brooks, RB, Texas (46th overall) Brooks is coming off of a torn ACL that will impact the start of his rookie year. He had fans during the draft cycle, but wasn’t the most dynamic back prior to the knee injury. He’s a solid, all-around RB who does a bit of everything well. Trading up to grab him is certainly a risk. Brooks should be a solid starter once he gets back to full strength. He’s maybe not the every-down back the Panthers drafted him to be.
New Orleans Saints Overall grade: B- All those trades in the past left the Saints with only two picks in the top 100 of the draft and they went over 100 selections in between their own picks at one point. Still, the Saints grabbed an immediate starter at guard or tackle in Taliese Fuaga. He is another member of an extremely talented offensive line class that should have success in the NFL. The Saints grabbed a starting-caliber cornerback in Kool-Aid McKinstry and a developmental option at quarterback in Spencer Rattler. For as few draft assets as they came into the draft with, the Saints fared pretty well.
Favorite pick: Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina (150th overall) Rattler might not be the future, but he has a chance. He is a former big-time recruit who had his struggles in college, going from Oklahoma to South Carolina. He wasn’t playing in the best of circumstances, but still showed off some serious arm talent and the ability to play under pressure. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, he was dinged for his demeanor in the “QB1: Beyond the Lights” documentary, which was filmed when he was a high schooler. If the glowing reviews from people at South Carolina are accurate, Rattler might be a steal for the Saints. He can play.
Least favorite Pick: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama (41st overall) There’s not much reason to feel negatively about this pick, but it feels silly to call anything after Round 4a bad pick — and the Saints only had two picks in the top 100. McKinstry is a solid cornerback that won’t need to be a true shutdown guy with Marshon Lattimore on the roster. It’s just kind of funny that the Saints traded up to get him despite having such little draft capital this year. Still, it didn’t take them much to get McKinstry and he does fit well.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Overall grade: B+ Really solid draft for the Buccaneers. Offensive lineman Graham Barton is one of the cleanest prospects in the draft and can play all five positions up front. This is a terrific player to pair with Tristan Wirfs. The Bucs also grabbed a solid wide receiver prospect in Jalen McMillan and a quality running back in Bucky Irving. How linebacker Chris Braswell and defensive back Tykee Smith develop will be important for the overall impact of this draft class. This is a nice haul for the Buccaneers.
Favorite pick: Graham Barton, OL, Duke (26th overall) Barton is a stud. He checks off every box a team could want in a versatile offensive line prospect and comes ready to start Day 1. It’s a home run prospect at a position of need. It’s never a bad idea to bolster your offensive line!
Least favorite pick: Chris Braswell, Edge, Alabama (57th overall) Braswell is solid, but this felt early for him to be picked in the draft. He is a jack-of-all-trades edge defender who projects more as a rotational player than a core piece of a pass rush group. Even then, it can’t hurt to add a well-rounded player like this to your edge group. He offers solid run support and has some experience in coverage.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals Overall grade: B+ Shoutout to Arizona for not overthinking it. Grab the best player in the draft and keep it moving. They took some chances with the selections of Max Melton, Trey Benson and Xavier Thomas, giving them more credible prospects to continue this rebuild. The Cardinals might not win the division this season, but this draft class should help them get to competing for the playoffs soon, especially if Kyler Murray can build on his late-season resurgence.
Favorite pick: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State (4th overall) No-brainer. The Cardinals needed a wide receiver and they got the best WR prospect in the draft — and possibly, the flat-out best player in the draft. Harrison should be a No. 1 wide receiver immediately in the NFL and he now gives the Cardinals a threat they can rely upon. Harrison going along with Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride is a fun, young pass-catching trio to develop.
Least favorite pick: Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri (27th overall) Robinson feels a bit rich at the end of the first round. He’s a heavy-handed defensive linemen who definitely has a role in the NFL, but he’s not the most dynamic athlete out there and he wasn’t really productive until his fifth season in college. This kind of feels like the Seahawks’ selection of L.J. Collier a few years ago.
Los Angeles Rams Overall grade: B- This was a safe, logical draft for the Rams, which makes sense for where they are now. They beefed up their defensive line, added a quality back and also a much-needed safety within the top 100 picks. There isn’t a lot of big upside here, but most of these players should have high floors for the NFL. It’s hard to see this draft class failing for the Rams, but they might not have true star power here.
Favorite pick: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State (19th overall) Great pickup for the Rams. They needed to continue to add talent to their defensive line and get a proven, productive pass rusher in Verse who has a lot of experience.
Least favorite pick: Braden Fiske, DL, Florida State (39th overall) It’s hard to project how so many of these older prospects will fare in the NFL, but Fiske feels risky — especially for a trade-up. Fiske transferred to Florida State for his fifth year in college, where he was productive for the Seminoles. With his 4.7 40-yard dash, it’s not difficult to see why teams wanted to draft Fiske. Still, this is uncharted territory in terms of the age of these players and how they project. Fiske could stand to gain more weight, but there’s no doubting his movement skills.
San Francisco 49ers Overall grade: C- Weird draft class for the 49ers, but it might not matter. They’ve turned a former “Mr. Irrelevant” into one of the most productive quarterbacks in the NFL. Ricky Pearsall was a surprise and head coach Kyle Shanahan made his patented mid-round running back pick. Yet it’s hard to look at a draft class that has Pearsall as a first-round selection and feel super great about it. Dominick Puni is a name to watch for them as a long-term developmental offensive guard. He’s has the movement skills Shanahan likes in his linemen.
Favorite pick: Malik Mustapha, DB, Wake Forest (124th overall) Mustapha might be the best safety in the draft. He’s a strong hitter, a sure tackler and has some underrated chops in coverage. Mustapha, Ji’Ayir Brown and Talanoa Hufanga are a rugged safety trio for the 49ers. This is a great pickup for San Francisco.
Least favorite pick: Isaac Guerendo, RB, Louisville (129th overall) This one is funny. It’s like Shanahan can’t help himself but to burn a mid-round pick on a running back every year. Maybe Guerendo bucks the recent trend. This pick has to go in this slot just for the meme.
Seattle Seahawks Overall grade: C+ Mixed feelings is the best way to describe the Seahawks’ draft. They grabbed a potentially disruptive defensive lineman in Byron Murphy II — a piece they desperately needed. They also found someone who can compete for a starting role on the offensive line with Christian Haynes in the third round. Still, their Day 3 picks leave a bit to be desired, especially with no second-round pick this year due to the Leonard Williams trade.
Favorite pick: Christian Haynes, G, UConn (81st overall) Hard not to love this selection. Haynes is talented enough to start right away, which is imperative for a team that needs starters at guards. This is a pick that can pay immediate dividends and we might be looking back at this selection in December wondering why Haynes didn’t go a whole lot higher.
Least favorite pick: Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP (118th overall) This linebacker class was very shaky overall, but the Seahawks still drafted someone who’s not close to being ready to play in the NFL. Perhaps head coach Mike Macdonald is the guru to unlock a starting linebacker in Knight, but he’s probably going to wind up a special teams player.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills Overall grade: C+ The Bills played this draft safe and took home 10 players, although only one wide receiver in Keon Coleman. Even though Coleman didn’t have the cleanest end to his season and a slow 40-yard dash time at the scouting combine, he still has shown serious talent in college football. Coleman will start right away for the Bills and will immediately have a chance to prove whether he can separate from NFL cornerbacks. The Bills had another solid pickup in Ray Davis, but other than that this draft class was just fine. Probably not too many movers and shakers, but some quality players at positions of need. It will be interesting to see what happens with Travis Clayton, a developmental offensive line prospect from England.
Favorite pick: Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky (128th overall) Davis is an older prospect, but man, he is the perfect player to pair with James Cook in the backfield. Davis is a punishing runner who doesn’t fear contact and has some wiggle to get away from defenders. He won’t be out-touching Cook as a rookie, but he should prove to be a valuable member of this offense.
Least favorite pick: DeWayne Carter, DL, Duke (95th overall) Nitpicking here because this is a fine pick who fits Buffalo’s style of play up front. Maybe they could have gotten someone more disruptive, like Brandon Dorlus, with this pick. Still, it’s hard to complain here. Carter has the speed and explosion to be a disruptive presence up front — and the versatility on the interior to allow his new teammate Ed Oliver to be the best version of himself.
Miami Dolphins Overall grade: B+ It’s a strong draft haul for the Dolphins. They found a potential 10-sack edge rusher with Chop Robinson in the first round and grabbed a future starter at offensive tackle with Patrick Paul. Their trade-up for Jaylen Wright in the fourth was perplexing. Overall this is still a good group of players. Malik Washington and Tahj Washington are two wide receivers who had a lot of buzz in college and could compete for reps behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Favorite pick: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston (55th overall) Loved this one. Paul is scratching the surface of how good he can be and comes with supreme athleticism in a 6-7, 330-pound body. He’s raw, but being a consistent NFL tackle is certainly within reach for him and he’ll make some incredible highlight-reel blocks in head coach Mike McDaniel’s offense. This is one of those prospect-to-team matches that seems destined to work out.
Least Favorite pick: Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee (120th overall) Head coach Mike McDaniel is always going to place a premium on speed, but this might not be the back they’re looking for to spell De’Von Achane once Raheem Mostert eventually moves on. Wright is a blazer with inconsistent vision and ability to run between the tackles. Perhaps that’s less of a concern with McDaniel, but they may learn that not all fast backs are created equal.
New England Patriots Overall grade: A- New England had a tough decision to make on how it wanted to start its rebuild and it ultimately turned down a boatload of draft picks to stay at the top of the draft and pick Drake Maye. Maye has ridiculous upside and gives the Patriots a playmaking option while they fill out the rest of their roster. Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker should compete for starting reps in one of the weaker wide receiver rooms in the league. Joe Milton III is an intriguing pick in the sixth round and it’ll at least be fun to track his development. If just one of their offensive line picks hit, this could be the foundation for a new run of excellence in New England.
Favorite pick: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina (3rd overall) Home run. The Patriots didn’t overthink it and took the quarterback prospect who fell into their laps. Maye has all the same tools as the elite quarterbacks in the game today, with a much higher floor than people give him credit for. Most likely it’s going to be a difficult rookie year for him because the Patriots’ roster is so far away, but Jerod Mayo has his quarterback to work with to start his reign as the Patriots’ head coach.
Least favorite Pick: Layden Robinson, OL, Texas A&M (103rd overall) The Patriots had to address their offensive line a couple times in this draft, but Robinson felt like a reach where he was taken. There were a few quality linemen on the board, but clearly their evaluation of Robinson had him ahead of the rest.
New York Jets Overall grade: B- The Jets didn’t have a ton of draft capital to work with, but they still found some quality players, including a potential franchise tackle in Olu Fashanu from Penn State. He’ll be a fixture up front for a long, long time if the injury issues from last season don’t reappear. Wideout Malachi Corley will make fans happy early with his ability to run after the catch and Braelon Allen is a talented running back to develop behind Breece Hall. The trade up for QB Jordan Travis was baffling, but that was in the fifth round so no need to ding too much in the grand scheme of things.
Favorite pick: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State (11th overall) Awesome pick for the Jets here. Fashanu was viewed as an elite prospect in last year’s class and would have been drafted higher than this if he wasn’t a little banged up during his senior season. He should start at right tackle this year across from Tyron Smith before eventually moving over to the left side. This also creates incredible depth for the Jets by allowing Morgan Moses to become one of the better swing tackles in the league.
Least favorite pick: Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State (171st overall) I normally don’t bother focusing on a pick this low, but this is an exception. Trading up for Travis didn’t make much sense. He’s coming off a brutal leg injury and was mostly viewed as a fringe NFL player. Trading up for Travis is confusing, but maybe he is the NFL-caliber player the Jets think he is.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens Overall grade: B+ Once again, the Ravens walked away with a strong draft class after letting players fall right into their laps. They started things off with Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins and doubled back at the position with a potential huge steal by grabbing Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa in the fourth round. Tampa was projected to go much higher. The Ravens should also have a Day 1 starter at right tackle in Roger Rosengarten from Washington. They even found some quality depth they can develop on the edge with Penn State’s Adisa Isaac. The Ravens, as usual, didn’t overthink it and it looks like a great new crop of rookies.
Favorite pick: Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington (62nd overall) The Ravens needed a starter at offensive tackle after trading Morgan Moses to the Jets and they might have gotten one with Rosengarten. He is a fantastic athlete and should hold steady in pass protection even as a rookie. He needs to add some strength to deal with NFL defensive linemen, but it’s hard not to see the immediate skills as well as long-term upside.
Least favorite pick: Devontez Walker, WR, UNC (113th overall) Baltimore needed depth at wide receiver, but Walker has a long way to go before he can contribute in the NFL. He has the speed to make big plays downfield, but everything else is a work in progress. For a team that will probably need a WR to produce as a rookie, the Ravens picked one who is not quite there yet. Playing with two time-MVP Lamar Jackson should allow for Walker to make some things happen as a rookie.
Cincinnati Bengals Overall grade: B+ The Bengals should be happy with how they played the first two days of the draft. Amarius Mims has the ability to be a decade-long starter at either tackle spot — if he can stay on the field. Kris Jenkins is a quality body on the defensive line and Jermaine Burton is an explosive playmaker who gives the Bengals flexibility at wide receiver. McKinnley Jackson might have been a reach to close the third round but the Bengals walked away with immediate impact and long-term potential at key spots.
Favorite pick: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia (18th overall) Mims did not play a ton of football in college, but man, was he good when he was on the field. He has everything you want in a starting tackle from size, wingspan, athleticism and technique. Availability is going to be the only thing that can stop him from being a bulldozer up front for the Bengals. This was a foundational pick for the Bengals, shoring up their offensive line with a player who has elite upside.
Least favorite pick: McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M (97th overall) The Bengals needed to add depth to the interior of their defense, but they could’ve squeezed more out of this pick. Jackson isn’t the most explosive guy. At the very least he’s steady and will help the Bengals stay fresh up front. He’ll probably be only a run-down player, which felt a bit rich for this point in the draft.
Cleveland Browns Overall grade: B The Browns didn’t make their first pick until nearly the end of the second round, taking ultra-athletic defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. from Ohio State. They added offensive line depth, picked a wide receiver and found some dart throws on defense in the sixth and seventh rounds. You can’t be too mad given the amount of capital they held walking into the draft.
Favorite Pick: Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State (54th overall) Upside, upside, upside. Hall didn’t light up the stat sheet at Ohio State, but he has freakish athleticism to develop. It’s hard to find 300-pounders who run in the 4.7s and those guys usually end up being quality players.
Least favorite pick: Zak Zinter, OL, Michigan (85th overall) This isn’t a bad pick. This is just the only other high pick that the Browns had. Zinter should come in and provide quality depth for now with future starting potential once they get to a crossroads with Joel Bitonio or Wyatt Teller. Zinter is coming off a serious leg injury suffered in the Wolverines’ win over Ohio State, giving pause on how much of an impact he’ll have early. It won’t matter if Teller and Bitonio stay healthy. This is really a pick for the future.
Pittsburgh Steelers Overall grade: A The Steelers looked at their offensive line from last year and emphatically said “never again!” Their two first draft picks were on the o-line and then they came back for a third time to kick off the fourth round. Payton Wilson has his concerns in terms of injury, but he was a great playmaker for NC State. Getting him with the 98th overall pick is a great spot for Pittsburgh. Quarterback will be the ultimate decider in how the Steelers’ season turns out, but they may have found two impact starters on the offensive line in Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier.Mik
Favorite pick: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington (20th overall) Fautanu played a massive role in Washington’s high-flying offense last season. He was a shutdown pass protector as left tackle while also moving people with ease in the run game. He projects as a guard for the Steelers, but he is skilled enough to be an NFL tackle. He’ll slide in next to Broderick Jones, last year’s first-round pick at tackle, and help the Steelers rediscover their offensive identity.
Least favorite pick: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan (84th overall) Pittsburgh certainly needed a wide receiver in this draft and they got one in Wilson. He is solid but profiles more as a third WR option than a bona fide No. 2 across from George Pickens (who is probably a No. 2 wideout himself). Beggars can’t be choosers, which is certainly the position the Steelers were in. The immediate target vacuum Wilson is stepping into might be too much for where he is as a player. Even then, the Steelers had no choice but to spend a top-100 pick on a wide receiver given the state of their room.
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars Overall grade: C The Jaguars’ offseason has been just OK and the draft followed suit. They did a great job moving down from their original spot in Round 1 of the draft while still landing a big-time wide receiver prospect, which they needed after clumsily letting Calvin Ridley walk to a divisional rival in free agency. Beyond that, it doesn’t seem like they got too much positive impact, but if Thomas is the final key that allows the Jaguars’ passing game to be consistent in the future, it’s fine. Getting Trevor Lawrence another receiver was priority No. 1 and they might have gotten the best of the second wave of wide receivers.
Favorite pick: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU (23rd overall) Thomas has the ability to be a star deep threat in the NFL. He has the tools — size, speed, tracking ability — to scare defenses if he develops well. In Year 1, his skills might be a bit overlapped with the newly signed Gabe Davis, but Thomas is going to walk into the NFL as one of the best athletes in the league. That’s valuable.
Least favorite Pick: Maason Smith, DL, LSU (48th overall) Smith has upside, but it’s been a long time since he’s played productive football. He had just 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss last year. The frame is something NFL teams will always fall in love with. Yet it’s tough to see his profile becoming something that hits in the NFL, even though he has the physical tools and traits to become a long-term starting defensive tackle. He could be Chris Jones or Ra’Shede Hageman, but has a long way to go to reach his peak.
Houston Texans Overall grade: B The Texans didn’t have a first-round pick, but they still grabbed a few quality players, including a starting nickel corner and developmental offensive tackle. Their first four picks have a chance to be immediate contributors, which is all you can ask for without a pick on the first day. It’s not the sexy draft that the Texans had last year when they nabbed C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., but it’s a draft that will help strengthen the team’s foundation.
Favorite pick: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia (42nd overall) Lassiter is going to feel right at home playing for DeMeco Ryans and the Texans. Lassiter is a physical corner with elite short-area quickness and strong tackling ability. His lack of long speed will probably leave him to the slot in the NFL, but that’s OK given the emergence of Derek Stingley Jr. as a premier cornerback. Lassiter gives the Texans another young, talented defensive back and is an unusually physical force for a cornerback.
Least favorite pick: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame (59th overall) This pick has a chance to pay off in a massive way down the line but Fisher faces a steep learning curve early in his career. He turned 21 in March and is still physically growing into the type of player he can be down the road. Calling this a bad pick doesn’t feel right, but the floor is a bit lower on Fisher than some other tackles. However, he has the talent to be a huge boom pick for the Texans, even if it’s not right away.
Tennessee Titans Overall grade: C+ The Titans nailed their first pick, but could have done better the rest of the way. JC Latham is a “set it and forget it” type of offensive tackle who is already penciled in as a starter. It’ll be interesting to see how Latham handles being a left tackle in the NFL. He has enough talent to be successful. Getting Cedric Gray in the fourth round could be a long-term steal for the Titans, but overall it wasn’t a draft class to get excited about unless T’Vondre Sweat develops into a pass rusher.
Favorite pick: JC Latham, OT, Alabama (7th overall) Latham was in contention for the fifth overall pick with the Chargers, so the Titans had to be thrilled to land their man with the seventh pick. Latham is a destructive force in the run game and will give Will Levis the time he needs to find Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins downfield. Easy pick. Great prospect at a position of need, not too complicated.
Least favorite pick: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas (38th overall) Sweat is a big man at 366 pounds and his game is pretty much exactly what you would think. He’s a massive, early down run stuffer who doesn’t offer much by the way of pass rush for the NFL game. Even though he moved well at the NFL scouting combine, he would need to lose significant weight to be a three-down player in the NFL. It’s hard to see how the Titans felt like this was a valuable pick so early in the second round.
Indianapolis Colts Overall grade: B+ This was a productive draft class for the Colts. They found the edge rusher they needed in Laiatu Latu and may have gotten a steal with the Adonai Mitchell pick in the second round. Depth along the offensive line was a need they filled as well and Anthony Gould in the fifth round may be a steal at wide receiver. If Anthony Richardson can stay healthy and build on what he accomplished as a rookie, the Colts might be able to actually get into the playoffs with the additions in this draft class.
Favorite pick: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas (52nd overall) The Colts had Mitchell fall right into their lap after many people had him projected for the first round. Mitchell is a dynamic talent when the ball is in the air and should pair well with Michael Pittman Jr. at wide receiver. This is the kind of depth the Colts needed at wideout, where a bunch of young players are now competing for playing time.
Least favorite pick: Tanor Bortolini, C, Wisconsin (117th overall) Bortolini is a talented athlete, but he’s very far away from being a reliable NFL offensive lineman due to his lack of strength. If he can get significantly stronger without losing speed, he can be a starter for the Colts. He’s not ready for that now. Going against Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner in practice will put some hair on his chest.
AFC West
Denver Broncos Overall grade: D Sorry, Broncos fans. There’s no other way to slice this. The Broncos made some fantastic selections on the second and third days of the draft, but taking Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick is a head-scratcher. Nix wasn’t a prospect who was highly in demand and his ceiling appears limited in the NFL. Nix should win the starting job over Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, but Nix will need to develop a level of playmaking that wasn’t really there on his college tape. Maybe head coach Sean Payton is right and he can make Nix the next Drew Brees, but that’s selling the peak of Brees’ play awfully short. It’s a strange start for the Broncos as they kick off their rebuild. Outside of Nix, they may have found immediate, quality contributors with Utah edge rusher Jonah Elliss, Oregon WR Troy Franklin and Notre Dame RB Audric Estime. Franklin and Estime are younger prospects with legitimate upside.
Favorite pick: Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame (147th overall) Huge upside swing for the Broncos in the fifth round. Estime didn’t have the draft workouts he would have hoped for, but turn on the tape of him running away from players in college. He has some nice juice and long speed for a powerful runner and has starter potential in the NFL. At the very least, he has the talent to take some RB2 reps from Samaje Perine as a rookie.
Least favorite pick: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon (12th overall) Nix is an NFL-quality quarterback without a doubt, and probably the best option on the Broncos’ roster. That didn’t mean the Broncos had to spend their first pick on him. Nix was extremely productive in his final year at Oregon, throwing 45 touchdowns to just three interceptions but he doesn’t have the top-end physical traits that the great quarterbacks possess nowadays. Perhaps head coach Sean Payton thinks he’ll build a quick passing game around Nix. He remains a questionable pick so early in the draft.
Kansas City Chiefs Overall grade: A Hell of a draft for the back-to-back defending champs. They added elite, gamebreaking speed with their selection of Xavier Worthy in the first round and might have found a franchise left tackle in the second. Jared Wiley and Jaden Hicks were quality pickups in Round 4 and they took a couple dart throws on the offensive line later on. Wiley has the potential to be the Chiefs’ starting tight end after Travis Kelce moves on, showing off rare movement ability for a 6-foot-6 player. Worthy, Kingsley Suamataia and Wiley may be cornerstones for the Chiefs’ offense when this is all said and done.
Favorite pick: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU (63rd overall) This was one of the best picks in the entire draft. The Chiefs were slated to start Wanya Morris at left tackle, prompting them to trade up for the immensely talented Suamataia. The BYU product is raw, but he’s stout, incredibly strong and has an NFL-ready body to keep pass rushers away from Patrick Mahomes while he works on his technique. Suamataia has attainable All-Pro upside. This pick was awesome.
Least favorite pick: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas (28th overall) Worthy is not a bad pick for the Chiefs here, but his size is concerning for the NFL, even though he will be one of the fastest players in the league. Worthy’s 4.21 speed comes with a 165-pound frame. He might not have the size to be a true No. 1 receiver in the NFL, but with Mahomes throwing him the ball for the next few years, anything is possible. Worthy’s frame and weight are the biggest concerns here.
Las Vegas Raiders Overall grade: B The Raiders got a couple of impact players on offense, even if the fit isn’t immediately clear. Brock Bowers has superstar potential in the NFL. Figuring out how he’ll mesh with Michael Mayer and where their skills can be used simultaneously will be an interesting challenge for the Raiders’ coaching staff. Jackson Powers-Johnson should be a good fixture on the offensive line for the next few years and Delmar Glaze may wind up being a starter too. Solid first Raiders draft for general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce. Now it’s time to figure out how the pieces fit together.
Favorite pick: Jackson Powers-Johnson, G, Oregon (44th overall) Powers-Johnson played center at Oregon, but will be sliding over to guard in the NFL. That will probably be a fine transition for him as he already has the baseline traits to be an immediate starter along the interior of the line. Good, clean pick for the Raiders in a spot where they needed to upgrade.
Least favorite pick: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia (13th overall) This has nothing to do with the prospect. Bowers was one of the best players in this year’s draft class. However, the Raiders have a promising tight end on the roster already in Michael Mayer, and there will be some overlap in their responsibilities. Bowers is a far more dynamic threat than Mayer, so he may just run to the slot and own that area of the field. This is going to need to be worked out in training camp. Ideally, the Raiders will find a way to get both of them working while also feeding targets to Davante Adams.
Los Angeles Chargers Overall grade: B+ People might not like the Chargers taking an offensive tackle over a wide receiver with the fifth overall pick, but this is not a team that was a player away from getting to the top. They went 5-12 last season for a reason, mainly because they weren’t that good. The Chargers needed help everywhere, including offensive tackle, and got a franchise player in Joe Alt. He and Rashawn Slater will form a tremendously talented tackle duo to protect Justin Herbert and help head coach Jim Harbaugh get his offense off the ground in Los Angeles. They still grabbed an explosive wide receiver at the top of the second and a speedy linebacker from Michigan in the third round. The Chargers will need time to restock their roster with talent.
Favorite pick: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia (34th overall) The Chargers’ wide receiver room was a little bare before they added a good prospect in McConkey. There are injury concerns for McConkey, but he has excellent route-running ability and the speed to be dangerous with the ball in his hands. Herbert to McConkey should be a fun duo right away in Los Angeles.
Least favorite Pick: Justin Eboigbe, DL, Alabama (105th overall) A rotational defensive lineman in the fourth round is fine, but L.A.’s first three picks were too good to place here. Sorry, Justin. If there was an area to be concerned, he’s not the best athlete despite being under 300 pounds and he’s not projected to be a pass rusher. This is nitpicking. McDonald gave out only 5 grades of A or A-.
The 32 grades average out to a 2.84 GPA. |