| We think this, from Albert Breer, is a good explanation of why QB SHEDEUR SANDERS went undrafted until the 5th round: @AlbertBreerTwo realities … 1) Shedeur Sanders fell out of the first round because of talent and performance. 2) He’s still available now because of everything else. At this point of the draft, teams are looking for depth and developmental players. If you’re taken in the third round or fourth round or fifth round, you’re going to be working in the background. That would make Shedeur a backup quarterback. Backup QBs need to blend with in the furniture. It’s why Tim Tebow and Colin Kaepernick, and even guys like Jay Cutler and Cam Newton had trouble extending their careers—if those guys weren’t going to start for you, you’d probably rather just have the anonymous guy who’d support the starter and make ZERO headlines. Backup quarterback is a different job than starting quarterback, which is why the NFL’s collective two-deep isn’t just a list of the 64 best QBs on the planet. Can Shedeur be the developmental guy, who’s going to be all-in on his team, and quietly go about his business? Maybe. But he’s never had to do that, and the way his pre-draft process has been handled casts a lot of doubt on it. So I don’t know who stops his fall, but I think it’ll have to be someone who can draw hard lines with him.– – -The DB thinks it is more and more likely that the NFL will only get QBs at the very end of their college eligibility declaring for the draft. For that premise, we offer the case of Texas QB QUINN EWERS as a case in point – outlined here by Dan Zaksheske of Outkick.com: Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers was once considered a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft. However, an inefficient senior season where he led the SEC in interceptions sent him plummeting down the draft boards. Ewers didn’t hear his name called until the seventh round, when the Miami Dolphins selected the quarterback with the 231st pick in the NFL Draft, making him the 13th QB picked. A far cry from his potential as a former five-star prospect coming out of high school and the #1 quarterback prospect in 2022. Obviously, Ewers couldn’t return to Texas. The Longhorns are set to turn their offense over to another five-star prospect, Arch Manning. Manning, the nephew of NFL greats Peyton and Eli Manning and the grandson of Archie Manning, didn’t play much as a freshman but got a few more opportunities in 2024 with Ewers struggling. His time is now. However, Ewers could easily have entered the transfer portal and would have had potential suitors. And, in this modern era of college sports with NIL, Ewers could have earned quite a bit of money. Miami is rumored to have given Carson Beck, the former Georgia QB, over $4 million to transfer. That number might not be accurate, but it’s clear that Beck made some good money. Texas QB Quinn Ewers elected to declare for the NFL Draft rather than enter the college football transfer portal, which likely cost him a lot of money in the short-term.Texas QB Quinn Ewers elected to declare for the NFL Draft rather than enter the college football transfer portal, which likely cost him a lot of money in the short-term. So, what could Ewers have fetched? We don’t know the answer to that, but we do know that it would likely have exceeded $2-3 million. In other words, more than he will make in the NFL next season. As the 231st pick in the NFL Draft, Ewers will earn about $830K in his first NFL season. He will, in all likelihood, sign a four-year deal worth around $4.3 million. Plus, another season could have improved his draft stock for 2026, which could then have earned him even more money in the NFL. The benefit to going to the NFL now is that Ewers is closer to a potential second contract, which could theoretically be worth a lot of money. But that’s only if Ewers shows he can play in the league. If he can’t, then he badly miscalculated by leaving college with a year of eligibility remaining. Not only would he have missed out on the money he could have earned in 2025-26, but it could cost him an additional year of pay if he can’t secure a second NFL contract. It’s fair to wonder if future college quarterbacks might look at Ewers as a cautionary tale and elect to spend an extra year in college if they’re not certain they’re going to be picked in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOZac Keefer of The Athletic likes what the Bears are doing on offense: Give Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and new coach Ben Johnson credit: they’re not sitting back and simply hoping Caleb Williams makes a Year 2 jump. They’re exhausting the resources at their disposal to build an infrastructure around Williams that will help him become the player they need him to be. So many organizations resist thinking like this and ultimately fail their young quarterback. It’s why the hit rate for QBs selected in Round 1 is under 40 percent. The Bears, going back generations, have been among the most guilty parties. Take last season. It was an absolute circus. At least they learned from it. Johnson’s arrival has changed something in Chicago: A defense-first franchise has shifted, remaking itself on the other side of the ball. The former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator brought with him an impetus to own the line of scrimmage, and the result in free agency was two new guards (Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson) and a new center in Drew Dalman. Quarterbacks hate push from the interior. This should make Williams’ life easier. Then on the first night of the draft, Johnson pushed for Colston Loveland, the shifty tight end out of Michigan. There’s no shame in a general manager giving his offensive coach (and play caller) what he wants: The Lions used to feast in 12-personnel (with two tight ends on the field) and the Bears will pair Loveland with Cole Kmet. (For those surprised the Bears went with Loveland over Penn State’s Tyler Warren, they weren’t the only NFL team to have Loveland ranked higher on the board.) Adding a young wideout in the second round in Missouri’s Luther Burden III, who can contribute immediately from the slot, gives Williams another option. Going offense with their first two picks sent a clear message: Caleb, we’re doing everything we can to help you. More on new coach Ben Johnson wanting Loveland instead of TE TYLER WARREN or any other player in the draft – and getting his way. Jon Greenberg of The Athletic: Apparently, there was only room for one Warren at Halas Hall. As team president Kevin Warren tries (and tries) to do his job and finalize the team’s future stadium plans, former Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, the guy you thought was coming here, will be plying his trade for the Indianapolis Colts instead of the Chicago Bears. Bears GM Ryan Poles and the Bears passed up on that Warren to take a different tight end in Michigan’s Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick Thursday night. Warren went four picks later. Why Loveland over Warren? Well, if you’re wondering who’s really in charge at Halas Hall — of the stuff that truly matters — the answer is Ben Johnson. But you probably already knew that. You don’t pay a head coach $13 million a year to just give his opinion and be a “yes, boss” kind of guy. Unlike his predecessors, Johnson came in with a big reputation and a personality to match. And he knows what he wants. In the video the Bears posted, a grinning Johnson told Loveland, “We’re cooking with hot grease now, man.” “Ben was pushing for a lot of guys,” Bears senior director of player personnel Jeff King said with a grin. “Outside of the tight end specific, it didn’t come down to that. We stacked a bunch of players, he had opinions, obviously he had a high opinion of Colston as well, so we felt good about a couple of guys, ’cause you have to there, but Colston ended up being the best pick for us.” You might not be wowed by Loveland, but it’s best to look at this pick through the lens that this is a guy Johnson liked for his offense. All the late pre-draft smoke focused on the Bears either taking Warren at 10 or trading up for Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. The opportunity to get Jeanty, who could’ve been the Chicago version of Jahmyr Gibbs, was seemingly there when Cleveland traded back from No. 2 to 5, but the Browns used their pick on Loveland’s teammate at Michigan, defensive tackle Mason Graham. The Las Vegas Raiders then selected Jeanty at No. 6. So, instead of taking another Gibbs, Poles selected another Sam LaPorta in Loveland. Bears fans should be thrilled that Poles didn’t trade up. The team still has picks 39 and 41 in the second round — presumably a running back and some type of lineman — and 72 in the third, and Poles still has his second-round pick next year that he can trade for a veteran at the deadline, as is his custom. In a perfect world, I would’ve traded down from 10 to add more picks. Loveland said when he met with Johnson at Michigan’s pro day, the two chatted about LaPorta, who had 146 catches for 1,615 yards and 17 touchdowns in two seasons in Detroit. According to Loveland, Johnson said, “Yeah, you remind me a lot of him. We obviously do a lot of things with LaPorta. I can see you doing a lot of those things as well.” Loveland’s highlight reel shows what he can do in the open field. Loveland is 6-foot-6, 248 pounds and caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns in three seasons in Ann Arbor. He’s coming off January shoulder surgery but said he’ll be ready for training camp. Loveland was, of course, fired up about coming to Chicago. He praised Williams, but the guy he sounded most excited about is his new coach. “Before I even met (Johnson), just watching Detroit last year, the things they were doing — man, really smart,” Loveland said in a call with Bears reporters. “Knows what he’s doing. Knows football. Finally being able to talk with him and meet with him and pick his brain, I’m the No. 1 fan of that guy, for sure. He’s legit. He’s a stud.” – – -Charles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Chicago BearsGrade: BHere’s why: Ben Johnson’s fingerprints were all over this draft for the Bears. Adding tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden III and tackle Ozzy Trapilo were clear moves to try and improve Chicago’s offensive roster after last year’s disaster performance in Caleb Williams’ first year as the starting quarterback. Trapilo is a bit of a project and Burden might need a bit of refinement in his transition to the league, but if they hit their ceilings they could end up being strong, positive players for the Bears. Their offensive Round 2 picks are a bit risky, but not indefensible. Shemar Turner was a nice depth pick for the defensive line, but it felt early for him. Most interesting pick: Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston CollegeTrapilo will be the Bears’ project to develop at left tackle, finishing out their offensive line rebuild for the upcoming season. Trapilo is raw, but has tools to develop, and if he’s just steady enough to start, it will be a big upgrade for the Bears’ offense. |
| DETROITCharles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Detroit LionsGrade: BHere’s why: It was a very “eat your vegetables” draft for the Lions. Four linemen and a big, athletic wide receiver to develop in Isaac TeSlaa. Tyleik Williams and Alim McNeill are going to be an incredibly imposing duo for teams to try and block on the interior and Tate Ratledge gives Detroit a potential starting guard to develop. These guys might not be the sexiest players to add, but this team has consistently shown the value of good trench play and the Lions tried to keep it strong with this draft. Most interesting pick: Isaac TeSlaa, WR, ArkansasTeSlaa was a scouting combine star, but didn’t have too much production during his time at Arkansas. Considering the Lions traded two future third-round picks to select him in the third, Detroit clearly sees him as a starter. It’ll be interesting to see what his role ends up being alongside Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown.– – -Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com gave out his lowest grade of the draft to the Lions: Detroit Lions: C-Best Pick: I love second-round guard Tate Ratledge. He will compete to start at right guard right away. He’s a nasty player, who fits their offense perfectly. Worst Pick: I think taking defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in the first round was a bit high. He plays a lot like Alim McNeil, who they have on their roster. There were better options in my book. The Skinny: This isn’t a draft that I loved, which is a departure from their recent drafts. Williams is a good player, but was that really a need? Why not an edge? Third-round receiver Isaac TeSlaa is a project who didn’t do a lot in college and they traded up to get him. Fifth-round guard Miles Frazier has starting experience. |
| GREEN BAYCharles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Green Bay PackersGrade: BHere’s why: Matthew Golden was a surprise pick for the Packers early in the draft, but for a team that needed an infusion of talent at wide receiver, Golden makes a lot of sense as a big-play threat. He doesn’t quite have the size the Packers look for in their wide receivers, but he’s not so far off that they disqualified him. Anthony Belton is a potential starter at tackle or guard and should give them more flexibility with how they get their best five starting offensive linemen on the field. The late selection of Warren Brinson was a nice way to get some nose tackle depth that they needed to add in a big way. Most interesting pick: Savion Williams, WR, TCUWilliams was the second receiver the Packers added this year in the draft and he is an interesting fit as a potential gadget-ish player. He might not be used in traditional roles early on, but Williams has explosive ability with the ball in his hands and is a different source of big plays. |
| MINNESOTACharles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Minnesota VikingsGrade: CHere’s why: The Vikings had a nice first pick with Donovan Jackson to bolster their offensive line, but they didn’t really have too much draft capital to add impact players as the draft went on. That’s OK because they got Jackson at the top of it. Perhaps Kobe King or Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins can develop and provide depth to Minnesota’s front seven. Most interesting pick: Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio StateDonovan Jackson and Will Fries is a great new guard duo for the Vikings as they begin the J.J. McCarthy era. McCarthy and the run game will benefit from the additions, and investments on the interior offensive line should make that unit a whole lot better than a season ago. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASCharles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Dallas CowboysGrade: AHere’s why: The Cowboys were able to fill some needs with players who might be able to make serious impacts as rookies. Guard Tyler Booker, pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku and cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. have a chance to be instant impact starters with long-term upside for the Cowboys. Dallas added three players whom many draft analysts had as first-round prospects without trading assets to acquire them. Good process. Hopefully good results for what Dallas was able to pull off. Most interesting pick: Tyler Booker, OG, AlabamaDallas continued its love for drafting offensive linemen in the first round with the bruising guard from Alabama. Some viewed this as a reach, but Booker is a high-floor player who can form a hellacious interior group with guard Tyler Smith and center Cooper Beebe. If Tyler Guyton (wow, a lot of Tylers here) takes the next step, Dallas could have one of the best offensive lines in the league again. |
| NEW YORK GIANTSLike the DB, Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic thinks the pick of RB CAM SKATTEBO will go over big in New York: New York Giants: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona StatePick: Round 4, No. 105 The potential for puns and wordplay with Jaxson Dart’s last name are endless, and I promise I will have fun with it over the next few years. However, I love the Skattebo pick. The running back’s collegiate journey made him a fan favorite, and I feel like we’re going to see a similar embrace in the NFL once he hits the New York market. On a more football-related front, it’s a great pick to fill out the Giants’ running back room, as Skattebo’s rugged running style offers a perfect complement to the more shifty Tyrone Tracy Jr. — Charlotte Carroll– – -Charles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: New York GiantsGrade: BHere’s why: The Jaxson Dart pick was a bit of a reach, but the Giants did grab some damn good players throughout this draft. Abdul Carter will be a threat for Defensive Rookie of the Year playing next to Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns. Darius Alexander is a quality depth addition. Cam Skattebo is a nice pairing with Tyrone Tracy in the backfield, and the Giants might have found a starter in offensive lineman Marcus Mbow. Outside of the Dart trade-up, there’s a whole lot to like here. Most interesting pick: Marcus Mbow, OT, PurdueThe Giants needed to leave the draft with offensive line help and they might have gotten it with Mbow. He is a really fluid mover who could have been drafted several rounds earlier than where he went in the fifth round. It’s a high-upside pick for a team that desperately needed offensive line help. |
| PHILADELPHIALB JIHAAD CAMPBELL graduated from high school in Florida and went to Alabama, but his selection by the Eagles in the first round was a homecoming. Eagles’ first-round pick Jihaad Campbell’s dream came true Thursday night when the team selected him with the 31st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While the dream of making it to the NFL was achieved, the cherry on top came when it was Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles making the call to Campbell. Less than 24 hours later, Campbell and his parents, Mark and Stephanie, arrived in Philadelphia on a flight from Green Bay, where they were in the green room for the draft. “When I was on the plane, I was looking like, ‘Dang, I’m really back home.’ That’s when it hit me. I was like, ‘OK. All right,” Jihaad Campbell said. “I’m really excited to be an Eagle.” “It’s been very exciting, just going on his new journey, him being drafted by his favorite team ever since he was 4 years old. Just watching the games with family – his grandfather, his father, and uncle, and now he gets to play for this special team. It’s been great,” his mother Stephanie said. The former Alabama linebacker’s love for the team started with his father and his grandfather, also named Mark, who helped him believe that he could be an Eagle. “I think when I was at my grandparents’ house – I’ve got a shout out my grandfather, Pop Pop. When I was younger and I saw all the card selections that he had. I was like, ‘All right, I know it. I could definitely play for them boys,'” Campbell said. “I mean, one of the biggest supporters in my life. He always makes sure that he texts me and say, ‘Love, Pop Pop,’ ‘Love my mom,’ ‘Make sure you just keep being a good person in life. Just keep being a great football player.'” So, how did his Pop Pop react when his grandson finally became a member of the Eagles? “I thought he was about to faint, but he was definitely lit, though. I was super happy and excited that he got to watch that moment and that I got to cherish that moment with him,” the first-round pick said. Campbell grew up in Erial, New Jersey, which is about 20 minutes from Lincoln Financial Field. He attended Timber Creek High School in New Jersey for three years before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for his senior year, where he became a five-star Top-15 overall prospect nationally. At Timber Creek, Campbell also played wide receiver and defensive end, catching 15 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns while recording 45 tackles and seven sacks. “Just a great kid. Obviously, as good as a football player as he is, the thing that resonates with me is just the person he is. Big smile on his face all the time, hardest worker in the room. One of those guys that as soon as you lay eyes on him – you know he’s the dude,” Timber Creek Head Coach Brian Wright said. “He is the hardest worker around, loves to work out, always loves to compete. Very, very versatile position-wise. He can play anywhere. He’s humble and everyone loves him. When you’re in a situation and you leave and are able to come back for your signing day and the community welcomes you back – that kind of speaks testaments to what kind of kid you are for them to open back up to you. He left such a great impression at Timber Creek. Super good man,” Former Timber Creek Head Coach and Rutgers’ Player Personnel Analyst Rob Hinson said. We apologize for leaving an “A” out of the spelling of Campbell’s first name. Won’t happen again.- – -Charles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Philadelphia EaglesGrade: BHere’s why: The Eagles had an interesting draft. Jihaad Campbell might have been a surprise, but he was projected to go higher. He has the talent to be an instant impact player for the Eagles’ front seven. Andrew Mukuba can potentially fill a big need at safety on the back end. His addition creates a really talented, young defensive back trio with Quinyon Mitchell and Super Bowl star Cooper DeJean. Drafting another linebacker in Georgia’s Smael Mondon Jr. was an interesting move. The Eagles did a lot in this draft to keep the spine of their team strong. Most interesting pick: Jihaad Campbell, LB, AlabamaCampbell gives the Eagles someone who can do a little bit of everything and is a big, fast, explosive player to play with Zack Baun. What does this mean for Nakobe Dean as he recovers from a torn patellar tendon? Campbell can rush a bit off the edge, but at his peak he can be an impact off-ball linebacker in Vic Fangio’s defense. |
| WASHINGTONThe Commanders are putting the “Washington” back in Washington. John Keim ofESPN.com: The Commanders are going home. The organization agreed to a deal with the District of Columbia to build a stadium at the site where the team had its greatest success. Washington struck a deal to play where RFK Stadium — the team’s home from 1961 to 1996 — still stands. An announcement is expected Monday by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Commanders owner Josh Harris. Terms of the deal have not been announced, though multiple outlets reported earlier this month that the cost would exceed $3 billion. Harris has said he would like to open a new stadium in 2030. Washington has a contract with Maryland to play at Northwest Stadium in Landover until early in the 2027 season, but the team can continue playing there until a new stadium is built. Bowser’s plan has long included a stadium, housing, parking facility, hotels and retail space on the 174-acre site, and she has indicated she wants to include a recreational facility. Bowser has said often she’d like to attract more big-time events such as the Super Bowl or a Final Four, in addition to major concerts. The D.C. Council must approve any taxpayer money that is used for the project; the group has been split on the topic in the past. “My position has been that there should not be public dollars — the D.C. treasury should not be paying toward a stadium,” D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) told the Washington Post earlier this month. He told the newspaper that he had been briefed by the mayor on details about a potential deal nearly two weeks ago. The agreement completes a yearslong search by the organization that gained serious momentum once Harris purchased the Commanders from Dan Snyder. Harris, who grew up in Maryland, made it clear on the day he bought the team in July 2023 how much going to games at RFK Stadium meant to him.– – -Charles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Washington CommandersGrade: B+Here’s why: Washington didn’t have much draft capital, but it found two potential long-term starters with its first two picks in offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and cornerback Trey Amos. Both have high upside at positions of need, and they created some necessary depth that will help them sustain their success from a season ago. Most interesting pick: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, OregonThe Commanders decided that they needed to revamp their offensive tackles this offseason and did just that with the trade for Laremy Tunsil and drafting Conerly. It’s a good plan for a team with a young quarterback who takes a lot of hits, and it should provide a boost in the run game. Conerly could eventually be Washington’s long-term left tackle as well. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTAThe national media, rallying around QB SHEDEUR SANDERS, and the NFL Office found nothing funny about a prank phone call to the quarterback as he tumbled through the draft. So when it was discovered the primary perpetrator was the son of an NFL coach, NFL Justice may want to take the whole family down. Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com: The Falcons won’t be taking action against defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in connection with his son’s prank call to Shedeur Sanders during the second night of the draft. The NFL still could. “We have been in contact with the Falcons and we are reviewing the matter,” a league spokesman told PFT via email. On Sunday afternoon, the Falcons issued a statement explaining that Ulbrich’s 21-year-old son, Jax, “unintentionally came across the draft contact phone number” for Sanders, which he found in an “open iPad” while visiting his parents’ home. PFT has obtained a pair of communications that were sent to the NFL’s teams regarding the contact information for the draft prospects generally, and for Sanders specifically. The first, a formal memo dated April 23, 2025 to all “General Managers, Head Coaches, Player Personnel Directors, Club IT Directors” from the NFL Player Personnel department listed the contact numbers for the 16 players who attended the draft (cell phone number and green room number) and the 24 players who were participating virtually (including Sanders). The memo also contained the WhatsApp numbers for the five players who participated in the 2025 International Player Pathway Program, and who were attending the draft in Green Bay. Later, an email was sent on April 23 to “All Waivers [NFL League],” and it contained only the “new cell phone number beginning today” for Shedeur Sanders. As one source explained it, the “All Waivers [NFL League]” is widely distributed to all coaches and personnel executives. Ulbrich would have been on the recipient list. It’s reasonable to conclude that Jax Ulbrich saw the second email, which had only Sanders’s updated number — especially since that’s the number that was called during the draft. The question is how and when he saw it. Did it happen the way the Falcons explained it?. The team’s statement shifts all blame from Jeff Ulbrich, insulating him from any potential knowledge that he was aware that his son saw the number and wrote it down specifically with the intention of pranking Sanders. It also eliminates the possibility that Jeff Ulbrich was in any way involved in the prank. It will be interesting to see whether the league accepts Atlanta’s explanation or digs deepers. It also will be interesting to see whether the league imposes any discipline on the Falcons or Ulbrich. If nothing happens, it will cause some to conclude that the lack of action represents another benefit to the Falcons from having Rich McKay serve as chairman of the Competition Committee. For now, we’ll see what happens. And we’ll see whether the league gets to the bottom of the question of: (1) who pranked Colts tight end Tyler Warren on the first night of the draft; and (2) who called a player roughly 30 minutes after he was drafted and told him he had been traded. Regardless of how it plays out, it’s safe to say that this was one of the most uncommon drafts of the common draft era.– – -Charles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Atlanta FalconsGrade: C–Here’s why: In a vacuum, Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. are two players the Falcons needed to add for their defense, but giving up a future first-round pick for Pearce was asinine. Unless the Falcons unexpectedly go on a deep playoff run, that pick could be fairly high in the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, they’ve at least attempted to fix their pass rush in a serious manner, which is something they desperately needed to do. Drafting two safeties instead of addressing their interior depth was an interesting move, but Jessie Bates III, Billy Bowman Jr. and Xavier Watts are all ballhawks. Most interesting pick: Jalon Walker, LB, GeorgiaFiguring out where Walker plays his best ball for the Falcons will be fascinating because he doesn’t really fit cleanly at edge rusher or off-ball linebacker yet, but he has the athleticism to figure out how to be productive somewhere. This is a playmaker the Falcons needed to add regardless, even if his role in the puzzle still needs to be figured out. |
| CAROLINAA pair of notable, albeit late, additions to the Panthers receivers room. First, Muhsin Muhammad II, the son of the former Panthers great, was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M: Then WR HUNTER RENFROW was added. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: Renfrow, 29, did not play in 2024 after the Raiders released him in March of that year. While he’s dealt with injuries, he did appear in all 17 games with three starts for Las Vegas in 2023, catching 25 passes for 255 yards. A fifth-round pick in 2019, Renfrow’s most productive season was 2021, when he helped the Raiders reach the postseason by catching 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. He was a Pro Bowler that year. In 73 career games with 23 starts, Renfrow has 269 career receptions for 2,884 yards with 17 TDs. A South Carolina native, Renfrow won two CFP National Championships with Clemson and will now be back in the South.– – -Charles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Carolina PanthersGrade: AHere’s why: Bryce Young should be thrilled with this draft. The Panthers, who already had a strong offensive line and running game last season, added a potential No. 1 wide receiver in Tetairoa McMillan, and then added speed and depth to their running back room with Trevor Etienne in the fourth round. They also took some very nice swings at edge rusher in the second round with the additions of Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen. Grabbing tight end Mitchell Evans and wideout Jimmy Horn Jr. in the fifth and sixth rounds provided nice value in their pursuit of offensive pieces. Most interesting pick: Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&MScourton is one of the most interesting players in the whole draft. When he was at Purdue, he looked like a first-round player. After transferring to Texas A&M, he ended up playing a style of football that didn’t quite fit his body type and his production dropped. If he can get back to his 2023 play, this could be a major steal for the Panthers. |
| NEW ORLEANSCharles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: New Orleans SaintsGrade: B-Here’s why: Kelvin Banks Jr. was a really solid player to add to New Orleans’ offensive line at the top of the draft. Banks has tackle and guard versatility, but the rest of the Saints’ draft felt just OK from a value perspective. Tyler Shough has good film, but a profile that makes him a fairly big risk at the top of the draft. Vernon Broughton, Jonas Sanker and Danny Stutsman should all bring quality depth at the very least. Solid, but unspectacular draft for the Saints. Most interesting pick: Tyler Shough, QB, LouisvilleShough is going to be 26 years old by the fall, making him one of the oldest drafted rookie quarterbacks in league history. Shough will have a chance to compete for the starting job, which makes sense for someone on his timeline. Shough has starter traits, but his age and injury history make him a tough prospect to try and figure out. |
| TAMPA BAYCharles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Tampa Bay BuccaneersGrade: BHere’s why: The Emeka Egbuka pick is interesting in terms of his fit with Chris Godwin for the immediate future. There’s a lot to like about what the Buccaneers did. Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish are a fun, playmaking cornerback duo to add to the Bucs’ secondary, and David Walker has a chance to be a gem as a pass rusher. It’s a really nice collection of players, even if Egbuka will be an interesting case to track. Most interesting pick: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio StateEgbuka profiles as a slot wide receiver in the NFL, but is slated to play in the same offense as Chris Godwin — who just signed an extension with the Buccaneers. Mike Evans, Godwin and Egbuka are a talented trio of wide receivers, but it’s unclear how they’ll all be deployed at this time.– – -Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com only gave out one “A” in the NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: ABest Pick: Third-round corner Jacob Parrish should be able to push for time as the nickel corner right away. He played outside in college, but he has the look of a good nickel on the next level. Worst Pick: I think receiver Emeka Egbuka is a heck of a player. But I might have gone corner or edge in the first. Having said that, I understand the pick because of the age of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin’s injury. The Skinny: It’s time Bucs general manager Jason Licht gets the due for being a good drafter. He continues to nail his picks. This draft was no different. Egbuka going in the first was a little odd — even if he is a good player — but Licht made up for it the rest of the draft. He got two corners in Benjamin Morrison and Parrish, which they needed. I like seventh-round receiver Tez Johnson. He plays faster than he ran at the combine. |
| NFC WEST |
| ARIZONACharles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Arizona CardinalsGrade: AHere’s why: I love this draft class. The Cardinals had a clear plan to upgrade their defense and took some big swings on talented players in Walter Nolen and Will Johnson to start their draft class. They doubled down on the defensive line with the selection of do-it-all defensive lineman Jordan Burch from Oregon and took an upside pick with Denzel Burke on Day 3. They must feel pretty good about where they are on offense because they didn’t get a pick there until the sixth round with guard Hayden Conner. Most interesting pick: Will Johnson, CB, MichiganJohnson fell down the board due to injury concerns that have plagued him for the past year, but if he can reach his ceiling, this is a home run pick for the Cardinals. Johnson has legitimate CB1 upside and in the second round it was a more than fine enough risk to take him there. |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSCharles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Los Angeles RamsGrade: AHere’s why: Picking up the Falcons’ 2026 first-round pick for this year’s 26th overall pick makes this an A by itself. Getting Terrance Ferguson in the second round was a nice way to kick off the draft with a quality starter who has the upside to be a weapon at tight end for Matthew Stafford this season. The Rams added some good depth on the edge of their defense with Josaiah Stewart, who should fit in cleanly with their other young edge rushers. Overall, it was a really different approach for the Rams in the draft this year that gives them a lot of firepower in terms of draft capital for the 2026 NFL Draft. Most interesting pick: Jarquez Hunter, RB, AuburnThe Rams have spent a lot of draft picks on running backs over the past few years, and Hunter joins a somewhat crowded backfield with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. Obviously, it’s not unusual for RBs on the third day of the draft to make an impact as rookies so it’ll be fascinating to see how head coach Sean McVay sees Hunter, who is a talented runner, fitting into the offense. |
| SAN FRANCISCOCharles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: San Francisco 49ersGrade: C+Here’s why: Mykel Williams in the first round and Alfred Collins in the second round were fine selections for the range they went in. However, the Niners made some big reaches in the third round with linebacker Nick Martin and cornerback Upton Stout. Martin and Stout were projected to go late Day 3 and are probably closer to depth pieces than starters. Still, the 49ers beefed up their run defense, which they desperately needed to do this year. Most interesting pick: Upton Stout, CB, Western KentuckyStout is a very undersized cornerback at 5-foot-8. He made plays on the ball and in space at Western Kentucky, but his size makes him a bit of a head-scratcher in the top 100 picks. Perhaps his tackling ability will make him a weapon in the slot, but Stout and Nick Martin are two undersized players to add to this defense. |
| SEATTLECharles McDonald of YahooSports.com graded all the NFC drafts: Seattle SeahawksGrade: B+Here’s why: The Seahawks chased athleticism in this draft in a big way. Grey Zabel, Nick Emmanwori, Jalen Milroe, Elijah Arroyo and Tory Horton are some of the most athletic players from this draft. Zabel will help the Seahawks patch up their offensive line immediately in a big way and Emmanwori is at least a developmental athlete for head coach Mike Macdonald to try and turn into a better player than he is right now. For a team that’s resetting and looking for upside, this draft made a bit more sense than some of their free-agent signings. Most interesting pick: Jalen Milroe, QB, AlabamaDraft picks: Milroe is going to be the Seahawks’ developmental quarterback prospect behind Sam Darnold. He has incredible traits, but the consistency wasn’t good enough for him to go much higher than this. It’ll be fascinating to see what role the Seahawks find for Milroe in Year 1 because his ability to be a gamebreaker with the ball in his hands will be too valuable to keep on the bench for 100% of the year. In Mel Kiper’s eyes, the Seahawks had the only full “A” draft other than the team that took QB SHEDEUR SANDERS: Seattle Seahawks: ATop needs entering the draft: Guard, center, defensive tackle and wide receiverSeattle made one of the biggest roster changes of the offseason, swapping out quarterback Geno Smith for Sam Darnold. But is it actually better because of the decision? I’m not so sure. If Darnold is better than Smith, it’s only by a small amount. Yes, this is a team coming off a 10-7 season, but it has major holes, including at wide receiver, where DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are out and Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are in. The good thing? General manager John Schneider had the capital entering this draft to add quality starters and solid depth. With three picks in the first two rounds — Nos. 18, 50 and 52 — he had a chance to come away with multiple starters. I’m a big fan of how Schneider approached every day of the draft, but especially the first two. Grey Zabel will be an instant starter at guard. Nick Emmanwori is one of the best athletes in this class, and he should help solidify the defensive backfield. The Seahawks traded up to get him, but he’s a great fit and it was a value on my board. Elijah Arroyo is my third-ranked tight end — they got him at No. 50. Quarterback Jalen Milroe isn’t ready to start, but he has unbelievable traits and could help the running game in 2025. I thought he had a chance to go at the top of Round 2. Seattle did a stellar job addressing holes but also looking to the future. Damien Martinez is a Day 3 player to watch. Last season, he averaged 4.5 yards after contact per rush, which ranked fourth in the FBS. I wouldn’t be surprised if he found a role as a rookie. I’m a fan of the versatile Rylie Mills, who can play in any defense. He had 7.5 sacks when lined up as a defensive tackle last season and is powerful at the point of attack. Wideout Ricky White III and offensive tackle Mason Richman are good players. All in all, Schneider had a tremendous weekend, improving his roster in several areas. This class gets high marks. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVEROft-injured with the 49ers, LB DRE GREENLAW is making a stunning recovery with Denver. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: The reports of the demise of Dre Greenlaw’s season have been greatly exaggerated. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Greenlaw will be ready to go in eight weeks. As another source explained it, Green did not suffered a torn quadriceps. It’s only a strain. However it plays out, he’ll be ready to go for the start of training camp. That’s great news for him, and for the Broncos. He was one of Denver’s big-ticket free-agent signings in March, after spending the first six seasons of his career with the 49ers. |
| KANSAS CITYPete Prisco of CBSSports.com gives the team that picked last in the first round an “A”: Kansas City Chiefs: ABest Pick: First-round tackle Josh Simmons is the best offensive lineman in this draft. If not for a torn meniscus suffered early last season, he would have been a top-10 pick. The Chiefs can be patient with him, but he’s their long-term left tackle. Worst Pick: Second-round defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott has talent, but there were questions about his attitude leading into the draft. Some teams were turned off by him. The second seems a little high for him. The Skinny: I really liked their draft. Simmons will be a star. Norman-Lott can be really good. Third-round edge Ashton Gillotte was one of my favorite players in this draft and was on my Better-Than team. Third-round corner Nohl Williams and fourth-round receiver Jalen Royals will be nice additions and I liked seventh-round back Brashard Smith. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDWe’re not sure why the Browns drafted both QB DILLON GABRIEL and QB SHEDEUR SANDERS. Browns fans had their suspicions that owner Jimmy Haslam was involved in the Sanders pick. J.R. DeGroote of Athlon Sports: The Cleveland Browns ended the long wait for Shedeur Sanders, selecting him in the fifth round of the NFL draft with pick No. 144 overall. Sanders’ dramatic fall became one of the biggest storylines of the draft weekend. Once seen as a lock for the first round — and even floated as an early contender for the No. 1 overall pick — Sanders watched his stock plummet as the draft unfolded. Five other quarterbacks went off the board before Sanders, including Dillion Gabriel, who was selected by the Browns in the third round. Sanders joins a Browns quarterback room that includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Gabriel. The Browns had done extensive homework on Sanders and there was considerable value by selecting him in the fifth round. However, the reaction inside the draft war room was noticeably muted. General manager Andrew Berry offered a slow, unenthusiastic clap, while head coach Kevin Stefanski appeared equally reserved. Some believe it was owner Jimmy Haslam — not Berry or Stefanski — who ultimately pushed for the selection. “Lol, this was a Jimmy Haslam pick. None of those guys are happy,” one fan said. “With those faces I think the owner forced them to take him,” another added. The Browns are attempting put a disastrous Deshaun Watson trade behind them. Haslam called the 2022 trade for Watson a “swing and miss” and also said that he wouldn’t force a quarterback move to try to replace him. “It would be great if we could get the quarterback, but we’re not going to force it,” Haslam said in March. “We’re going to be patient, and we’re going to try to accumulate as many really good football players as we can.” But perhaps in the fifth round, Haslam had seen enough and put in the order to snag Sanders. “You know (expletive) well the owner made that pick,” a fan said. The wait is over for Sanders but the intrigue stemming from the Browns’ now crowded quarterback room is just starting. Mike Florio: After the Browns ended quarterback Shedeur Sanders’s 144-pick free fall, the image from the draft room suggested they were feeling something other than euphoric. G.M. Andrew Berry, frankly, looked not happy. Not necessarily upset. But not happy. Coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t seem much happier. They both addressed their less-than-exuberant reaction during a press conference conducted after the pick was made. “Yeah, I think we’re probably just tired from the weekend,” Berry told reporters. “Those clips, it’s not timed up to exactly the right time so I wouldn’t — don’t read too much into that,” Stefanski said. That won’t keep people from reading into that. Regardless of whether the ESPN feed was synced up to the making of the selection or the announcement of the selection or later (they all were clapping, after all), true enthusiasm over the pick wouldn’t have ended so quickly. Moving forward, that doesn’t matter. They’ve got two rookie quarterbacks (Sanders and Dillon Gabriel) to go along with veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Decisions will have to be made. For now, it’s clear that the Browns picked Sanders because of the value they obtained at pick No. 144. How things play out remains to be seen. And it could be something to see. Something that would make the Browns a great choice for Hard Knocks. Here is what Berry said after drafting Gabriel: “We really felt strongly about Dillon throughout this process,” the General Manager addressed the media after being asked why the team chose Gabriel over Sanders. “Think he’s a really strong, really, really good prospect. That’s not to say that we didn’t meet with other quarterbacks that we thought were really talented players and good people, but we felt strong about Dillon and felt he was the best quarterback to pick.” Zak Keefer of The Athletic approves: WinnersThe Browns’ interesting QB gambleI panned Cleveland’s thinking Thursday night after the Browns passed on a player, Travis Hunter, who could turn out to be one of the league’s most electric talents. That trade won’t age well for the Browns if Hunter becomes the star the Jaguars believe he will. And outside of Myles Garrett, little about the Browns’ 2025 looks promising, especially the quarterback room, which suddenly is the most confounding in the league. Take a look: an injured Deshaun Watson, a 40-year-old Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. But taking a flier on Sanders at No. 144 was much different than taking Sanders at No. 2. Or No. 33. Or No. 36. Or No. 67. This is an opportunity for Sanders to arrive with a different set of expectations; no one in Cleveland will be counting on him to be the starter in 2025. Instead, he’ll start where every fifth-round pick starts his career: fighting for a spot on the roster post-Labor Day. Nothing will be guaranteed. Nothing will be given. Heck, Sanders wasn’t even the first quarterback the Browns drafted — they took Gabriel 50 spots higher. Thus, Sanders’ first real test in the pros won’t be the Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens defense; it’ll be making sure he’s higher than Gabriel on the Browns’ depth chart. If he disappoints in camp, the Browns can cut him. Another fifth-round whiff. Happens all the time. If he excels, Sanders can climb the depth chart; it’s not implausible to see him start some games in 2025. It looks like the Browns will stage a competition in training camp between Flacco and Pickett, who’s on his third team in three years, as well as Gabriel and Sanders, though the rookies don’t figure to get many first-team reps early on. Watson’s status remains a question mark, though he’s unlikely to return to the field in 2025 and may never take another snap for the team. But more significant is the long game the Browns are playing. Without outwardly saying it, they’re effectively punting their QB search to 2026, when the draft is expected to have a much deeper class, with Texas’ Arch Manning potentially at the top. Taking Sanders doesn’t preclude the Browns from anything next spring. Remember, Cleveland netted an extra first-round pick in the trade with Jacksonville. That’s valuable. This team, due in large part to the uncertainty at quarterback, is likely to struggle this fall. And the pain of 2025 could pay off in a big way come April 2026. General manager Andrew Berry added some punch to his roster this weekend: Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger, Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins and Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. were the Browns’ first four picks. All look like future starters. Land a top-tier quarterback in 2026 and the Browns could suddenly have a formidable nucleus. Cleveland won’t be married to Sanders’ success — if he excels, it’ll turn out to be a gem of a fifth-round pick. If not, the Browns can still go big at quarterback next spring. If you watched the draft coverage, you might not be surprised to learn that only one team got an A+ for their draft from Mel Kiper, Jr.: Cleveland Browns: A+Top needs entering the draft: Quarterback, wide receiver, edge rusher and running backThe Browns made a splash return to the first round after sitting out Day 1 for three straight years. That, of course, aligns with the Deshaun Watson era. The Browns traded their 2022, 2023 and 2024 first-rounders to Houston in March 2022 to sign Watson to an enormous $230 million fully guaranteed deal and subsequently got 19 touchdown passes out of him over 19 games. Watson is currently injured, too, after retearing his Achilles. So all eyes were on Cleveland at No. 2. Everyone expected Travis Hunter to be the pick. Instead, we got a shocker. Cleveland traded back to No. 5 in a deal with the Jaguars. Hunter is clearly the best player in the class in my eyes, but defensive tackle Mason Graham was third on my board. He’s strong and moves really well, and he will rush the passer from the interior. Maliek Collins, Shelby Harris and Graham form a good defensive tackle rotation. But the Browns also added a lot of draft capital here, including a 2026 first-rounder. This is a massive part of why they earned my top grade. Jacksonville isn’t exactly a playoff lock, so that could be a high pick next April. The other main reason I gave the Browns an A+ shouldn’t be a surprise. They got quarterback Shedeur Sanders at No. 144 to finish their seven-pick draft. He was my No. 5 overall prospect in the class and clear QB1. He brings excellent accuracy, completing 74% of his throws last season. He brings toughness in the pocket. I think he will be an outstanding pro QB, and I believe we will look back on this pick in a few years and question what the rest of the NFL was doing. Cleveland also took Dillon Gabriel, though. I like him as a sleeper, though I was skeptical when the Browns made the pick. Going with 40-year-old Joe Flacco, twice-traded Kenny Pickett and Gabriel isn’t in anyone’s best interest. But pairing Sanders and Gabriel gives the Browns options as they try to sort through the post-Watson era. Gabriel throws with terrific ball placement and makes quick, smart decisions with the football. Beyond the quarterback dealings, the Browns added some really good players. One of the other picks coming to Cleveland in the Jaguars trade was No. 36, which meant it kicked off Day 2 with a pair of quick selections. Carson Schwesinger was getting legitimate Round 1 buzz, and he will factor into the pass coverage, run defense and even the pass rush. He had 115 tackles, two interceptions and four sacks last season. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is dealing with a neck injury, so Schwesinger was a smart addition after Cleveland also signed Jordan Hicks and re-signed Devin Bush. Then, Quinshon Judkins — who stays in-state from Ohio State — will power the Browns’ ground game to another level. He has a nose for the end zone with 50 scrimmage TDs since 2022. They got Dylan Sampson in Round 4, too. When he finds daylight, he’s gone. The Browns averaged 94.6 rush yards per game last season (fourth fewest in the NFL), so they had to address this. They got two good running backs. Tight end/H-back Harold Fannin Jr. was the other Cleveland pick — he led the nation with 117 catches last season, and the pairing of Fannin and David Njoku is intriguing. |
| PITTSBURGHThis on the passing of the mother of first round draft pick DT DERRICK HARMON. Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com: The past two days have likely been a wave of emotions for Derrick Harmon. Less than 24 hours after the Steelers selected him with the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Harmon’s mother, Tiffany Saine, died, the team confirmed to KDKA-TV on Friday. After he was drafted, Harmon told several members of the Pittsburgh media that his mother was on life support and that he was headed straight to the hospital to tell her that he had just been drafted. She died shortly after Harmon had shared the news with her. “On behalf of the entire Pittsburgh Steelers organization, I extend our deepest condolences to Derrick Harmon and his family during this difficult time,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement released by the team. “Though we are excited to select Derrick in the first round of the NFL Draft, our hearts are heavy as we mourn the death of his mother, Tiffany Saine. We will support Derrick and his family however we can as he navigates this period of grief. In times like this, we hope Derrick finds comfort in the love and support from the organization and Steelers fans around the world. “Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with Derrick’s entire family.” Harmon had previously shared that his mother had suffered a stroke during his freshman year at Michigan State which left her paralyzed on her left side. He said that she had undergone over a half-dozen brain surgeries prior to suffering her stroke. In January, leading up to Oregon’s Rose Bowl matchup with Ohio State, Harmon revealed that he used his NIL money to purchase an accessible van for his mom. His mother’s condition left Harmon with a difficult decision when it came to transferring from Michigan State (which was roughly 45 minutes from his home) to Oregon after the 2023 season. But a conversation with his mother convinced him to do so. “I sat down with my mom and we had a discussion,” he said. “She told me that every decision I made up to this point was for her, and it was time to make a decision for myself. I carried that throughout the whole process of going the whole 2,000 miles all the way to Oregon. “She’s the reason why I’m here. She’s the one that did everything for me to get to this point. … I’m forever grateful.” Instead of talking about himself, Harmon spent a considerable portion of Thursday night discussing his mother and the role she played in his journey. “Man, how resilient she was,” Harmon said when he was asked about how she inspired him. “Just growing up, from my standpoint, my situation, I grew up with her having probably seven, eight brain surgeries. And after all those brain surgeries, she did not give up. She still took me to practice, still went to work. And I always, always got in the back of my head, from the beginning of my college career, was, why can I keep going if I’m tired, I’m injured, whatever it is, why can I keep going. If she can get up and she can keep going after brain surgery. So, just her resilience, and hard work. “She was my inspiration.” – – -Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com on the Steelers QB situation after the drafting of Ohio State QB WILL HOWARD: — One more quarterback down. One to go? The Pittsburgh Steelers finally added to the quarterback room by selecting Ohio State’s Will Howard in the sixth round (185th overall), joining him in a position group with former Kansas State teammate Skylar Thompson and Mason Rudolph. Howard is the first quarterback selected by the Steelers since the team drafted Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick and Chris Oladokun in the seventh round in 2022. The Steelers have been clear that they plan on taking four quarterbacks to training camp, meaning there’s one spot remaining as the team awaits Aaron Rodgers’ prolonged decision. Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II said Friday the team “may get word soon” on Rodgers, who is a free agent for the first time after being released by the New York Jets earlier this offseason. “That’s certainly a possibility,” coach Mike Tomlin told NFL Network on Saturday of adding Rodgers. “I’m not going to forecast the ifs and whens regarding not only him, but any other potential free agent. We’ve had really productive talks with him, and I’ve enjoyed having productive talks with him and getting to know him.” In Howard, the Steelers landed a quarterback with national championship-winning pedigree after he helped the Buckeyes to a title in his lone year with the school. That experience — and his elevated play during the playoffs where he threw for 630 yards, five touchdowns and completed 74% of his pass attempts — impressed the Steelers brass. “You see him in the big moments of critical possession downs, even in the national championship game, momentum plays to kind of end the game,” Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said. “Extremely excited to work with Will.” For the season, Howard completed 73% of his attempts, second to only Shedeur Sanders in completion percentage among FBS quarterbacks in 2024. He also threw for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as he helped the Buckeyes go 14-2. Howard is also the second Ohio State player drafted by the Steelers this year after the team took outside linebacker Jack Sawyer in the fourth round. “Jack and I are about as close as two guys could be,” Howard said. “I always said throughout this process — one of these Ohio State guys, I’m going to end up with one of them. And man, I’m so glad that Captain Jack and I are going to Pittsburgh together.” In his career, including four seasons at Kansas State, Howard passed for 9,795 yards, 83 touchdowns and 35 interceptions and completed 63.8% of his pass attempts. Rooney told Steelers Nation Radio on Friday that any quarterback added to the roster through the draft would likely be a developmental project. That’s a challenge Howard said he’s embracing. “It’s not a matter of what happens out on the field or if I play right away, it’s about getting better and it’s about learning,” Howard said after being selected. “And whoever is in the room with me, whoever is there competing with us, I just cannot wait to delve into this situation and to really give my all to this team, because that’s how I do things, man. I don’t do things half in, I go all in, and I have every expectation that this next step with the Pittsburgh Steelers is going to be amazing for me.” Though the team didn’t host Howard on a predraft visit, the Steelers had a formal interview with Howard at the NFL scouting combine and had dinner with him the night before his pro day in Columbus. “When you get to spend time with somebody, you get to learn what they’re about and really how they interact with their teammates, what other people think about ’em at the facility,” Smith said of what he learned of Howard. “I came away, all of us did, just extremely impressed with Will.” |
| AFC SOUTH |
| JACKSONVILLEPeter Prisco gives an “A” to his hometown team for the totality of their draft: Jacksonville Jaguars: ABest Pick: It was making the bold move to go up and get Travis Hunter with the second overall pick. Yes, they gave up a lot to do so, but he’s the best player in this draft. They needed to be bold — and they were. Worst Pick: I like fourth-round linebacker Jack Kiser as a player, but they had more-pressing needs when he was taken. This was a pick true to their board. He will be good on special teams right away. The Skinny: In his first draft running things, new general manager James Gladstone had a great draft. The trade to get Hunter was big, and gives them another playmaker, but they added a bunch of good players. I love guard Wyatt Milan in the third and running back Bhshul Tuten in the fourth. This once-slow team can now fly. Seventh-round center Jonah Monheim is a good player. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDChad Graff of The Athletic says WR KYLE WILLIAMS is a name to know from New England’s draft: New England Patriots: Kyle Williams, WR, Washington StatePick: Round 3, No. 69 The Patriots have had the worst receiver play in the NFL over the last two years. They were stuck with a group that couldn’t separate or create after the catch. No one could win deep. Enter Williams. He gets off the line of scrimmage extremely well, excels at creating separation and has a track record of winning deep. Those are all great traits for Drake Maye, who should be thrilled with this pick. — Chad Graff |
| NEW YORK JETSZack Rosenblatt of The Athletic says TE MASON TAYLOR was the right pick at the right spot for the Jets: New York Jets: Mason Taylor, TE, LSUPick: Round 2, No. 42 Taylor brings great bloodlines: He’s the son of Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor and the nephew of Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas. The Jets’ tight end room before the draft was probably the worst on the roster and Taylor has the ability to step in right away and become the No. 2 or 3 target in the passing game, behind Garrett Wilson and in the range of running back Breece Hall. He was the most productive tight end in LSU history and widely considered the third-best tight end in this class; the Jets were nervous that he wouldn’t make it to their pick in the second round. And to top it off: He’s only 20 years old. He might just be the one to break the team’s poor run of drafting tight ends. — Zack Rosenblatt |
| THIS AND THAT |
| DRAFT GRADES – NATE DAVISNate Davis of USA TODAY ranks the 32 draft classes: 1. New England Patriots (A)A team that had to get a transfusion of offensive talent – regardless of circumstances, but especially to give QB Drake Maye a fighting chance in his second NFL season – wisely spent its first four picks on that side of the ball. First-round OT Will Campbell, second-round RB TreVeyon Henderson, third-round WR Kyle Williams and third-round C Jared Wilson will likely not only play significant snaps as rookies – even if they’re not all necessarily starters – but could all have exceptional impacts. Henderson’s could be the most noticeable given his ability to thrive on every down – though the large chunks he rips off as a runner and the protection he provides on passing downs should most benefit Maye. 2. New York Giants (A-)They might have gotten the draft’s best player in OLB Abdul Carter, who could be a reasonable facsimile of fellow Penn Stater Micah Parsons … even if Carter doesn’t understand he’s not worthy of wearing GOAT OLB Lawrence Taylor’s No. 56. But to get back into the first round for QB Jaxson Dart, essentially at the cost of two third-rounders and with no reason to play him prematurely with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston round, might be the move that truly gets this franchise back on course … while keeping HC Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen in their posts. All that aside, good odds that bulldozing fourth-round RB Cam Skattebo winds up as the favorite pick of Big Blue’s starved fans. 3. Las Vegas Raiders (A-)No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty was one of this draft’s few apparent blue-chippers and should instantly catalyze what was the league’s worst ground game in 2024. Aside from being inspirational, second-rounder Jack Bech might immediately emerge as new QB Geno Smith’s top wide receiver. Third-rounders Darien Porter, a corner, and Charles Grant, an offensive tackle, could wind up as high-quality starters at mid-range draft cost. Seemingly nice debut by rookie GM John Spytek. 4. New York Jets (A-)Notable that they hired a defensive-minded coach – and one of the best corners in franchise history – in Aaron Glenn only to opt for an offensive-centric draft, and one that seemed modeled on the Lions blueprint Glenn saw work so well as their defensive coordinator. First-round RT Armand Membou and second-round TE Mason Taylor, son of former Jets OLB Jason Taylor, should either provide immediate help to new QB Justin Fields … or whomever replaces him in a year or two. Third-round CB Azareye’h Thomas will be tested opposite Sauce Gardner but represents good value. Fourth-round WR Arian Smith is pure speed, which could open the field for Mason and WR Garrett Wilson. Glenn and rookie GM Darren Mougey nicely drove the fairway on their first tee shot. 5. Pittsburgh Steelers (B+)Let’s call this a progress report grade – at least until they officially have Rodgers in the building (though worth noting that HC Mike Tomlin didn’t seem too worried about it during an NFL Network interview Saturday). But assuming Rodgers ultimately arrives, he should walk into a locker room that’s more talented than the version that qualified for the playoffs last season. First-round DL Derrick Harmon could be the next Cam Heyward, even as he plays alongside the perennial All-Pro in the short run. Fourth-round OLB Jack Sawyer should juice a pass rush that already had plenty of it beyond T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. But the real delta here could be third-round RB Kaleb Johnson, perhaps a substantial upgrade from departed Najee Harris and who ought to really thrive if a heavily resourced offensive line fully jells in 2025. And getting Ohio State QB Will Howard in Round 6 at least indicates something of a developmental plan for a team that’s spun its wheels behind center since Ben Roethlisberger retired. 6. Dallas Cowboys (B+)It might not have been exactly what the fan base was hoping for – Jeanty – but owner Jerry Jones and his front office generally do a pretty solid job this time of year. Aside from being a bully on the field, first-round G Tyler Booker not only fills a need but could provide fresh leadership in the locker room in time. Second-round DE Donovan Ezeiruaku and third-round CB Shavon Revel Jr. were certainly worthy of being taken a round earlier than they were. Fifth-round RB Jaydon Blue brings sub-4.4 speed if not the background to suggest he can shoulder the load on the ground. Receiving depth behind WR CeeDee Lamb still looms as a significant question. 7. Philadelphia Eagles (B+)EVP/GM Howie Roseman isn’t satisfied unless he’s made a few trades, added blockers … and reeled in a University of Georgia defender. Check, check and check, ex-Bulldogs LB Smael Mondon Jr. arriving in Round 5. Nearer the top, it’s also very Roseman to get a sublime talent such as multi-dimensional LB Jihaad Campbell, who could fill multiple needs in Philly once his shoulder is sound, at the end of Round 1. Same goes for second-round S Andrew Mukuba. Sixth-round QB Kyle McCord could blossom into a quality backup in time. And, yes, Roseman added three O-linemen. 8. Green Bay Packers (B+)Nice to see them break their 23-year streak of not taking a wideout in Round 1, especially considering what Matthew Golden can bring to this offense in terms of game-changing speed and clutch plays. GM Brian Gutekunst stuck with the TLC theme for the offense, adding OT Anthony Belton in the second round and a nice toy in the third with plus-sized WR Savion Williams (6-4, 220) – the classic “find a way to get the ball into his hands” guy. 9. Houston Texans (B+)Already set up nicely in 2026 with extra picks in Rounds 2, 3 and 4 – two courtesy of the Laremy Tunsil trade to Washington – GM Nick Caserio did a nice job working the board this year, too. And the focus was helping QB C.J. Stroud after a slight sophomore slump largely beyond his control. Moving forward, he’ll operate behind a promising blocker – second-rounder Aireontae Ersery – on a new-look line and will be throwing to talented former Iowa State WRs Jayden Higgins (Round 2) and Jaylin Noel (Round 3), who round out a receiver group that was wiped out at times in 2024. 10. Jacksonville Jaguars (B+)Mid-rounders like CB Caleb Ransaw, OL Wyatt Milum and RB Bhayshul Tuten all have nice upside, lightning fast and powerful Tuten in particular. But rookie GM James Gladstone’s first draft will be completely defined by the bold move to trade up three spots for WR/CB Travis Hunter with the second overall pick – a gambit that also cost the Jags their second-rounder and a first in 2026. Yet Hunter just might be the generational prospect worth the price – especially if he can become a security blanket for QB Trevor Lawrence while Brian Thomas Jr. hits the home runs. And maybe Hunter provides situational reps at corner. 11. Denver Broncos (B+)They got a “joker” … on defense. DB Jahdae Barron might turn out to be a steal with the 20th pick and could elevate an already formidable D to the elite tier. Second-round RB RJ Harvey will give the ground game needed horsepower, though it remains to be seen who primarily shares the load since he wouldn’t seem well suited at his size (5-8, 205) to take 20 touches a game in the NFL. Third-round WR Pat Bryant has a chance to chip in early. 12. Seattle Seahawks (B+)GM John Schneider and HC Mike Macdonald sure have been busy transforming the roster during a frenetic offseason. That continued in a draft that should be a boon to the present and possibly the longer-range future. First-round OL Grey Zabel addresses a clear and present need at guard. Second-round S Nick Emmanwori, whom Schneider moved up for, could be the next coming of Kam Chancellor. Second-round TE Elijah Arroyo will also have a chance to be a significant presence in a new-look passing attack. But the obvious wild card is third-round QB Jalen Milroe, a tantalizing prospect whom the Seahawks should have the luxury of developing on a reasonable timeline … especially if new QB1 Sam Darnold retains his newly found Pro Bowl form. 13. Tennessee Titans (B)This haul will rise or fall depending on the success, or lack thereof, realized by No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. And while there’s not a ton of doubt the Titans got this year’s best quarterback – and filled a glaring need in doing so – what’s less clear is how good Ward actually is. After pulling out of the 2024 draft – when he likely would have been no better than the sixth quarterback selected – he truly blossomed at the University of Miami. Whether that success and his alpha personality translate to Nashville is TBD, but rookie GM Mike Borgonzi was confident enough in Ward to resist the significant trade overtures he received. As for the rest of Borgonzi’s first crop? Meh? 14. Kansas City Chiefs (B)After watching their defense and blocking collapse in Super Bowl 59, HC Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach targeted fortifications – first-round LT Josh Simmons the most intriguing, particularly if he’s available ahead of schedule coming off the torn patellar tendon he suffered last October. Reid expressed confidence in Simmons’ progress, so the Chiefs might have committed quite the heist. Second-round DT Omarr Norman-Lott, third-round DE Ashton Gillotte and third-round CB Nohl Williams could all provide valuable reps immediately, the latter potentially allowing All-Pro Trent McDuffie to revert to slot duties. 15. New Orleans Saints (B)There’s a reason underrated GM Mickey Loomis has been on the job for a quarter century. Good chance he just about perfectly married value to need with his first three selections, who might all be starters in 2025: First-round OT Kelvin Banks Jr., second-round QB Tyler Shough and third-round DL Vernon Broughton. Third-round S Jonas Sanker and fourth-round LB Danny Stutsman could find themselves in prominent roles – and making an impact – soon enough. 16. Baltimore Ravens (B)From a football perspective, they got two standouts in the first two rounds with S Malaki Starks and OLB Mike Green, respectively – each addressing what are among the few needs for one of the league’s powerhouses, Starks likely to start from Day 1. Green led FBS with 17 sacks in 2024 and could make an immediate splash, too. Still, as much as GM Eric DeCosta defended Green’s selection, it’s a pretty bad organizational look. The Ravens have significant issues here currently with K Justin Tucker (who they are apparently in the process of replacing with sixth-rounder Tyler Loop) and in their past – yet chose a guy with multiple sexual assault allegations in his past (Green has denied both). Baltimore is a more talented football team today than it was a week ago, but at what cost? 17. Indianapolis Colts (B)First-round TE Tyler Warren fell into their lap at No. 14 – and could be ideal for a team that ought to be running the ball while providing help to its muddled quarterback situation … which has a new ingredient in sixth-rounder Riley Leonard, most recently of Notre Dame. Second-round DE JT Tuimoloau arrives at the intersection of value and need. 18. Detroit Lions (B)It’s gotten to a point where GM Brad Holmes and HC Dan Campbell are almost above reproach as it pertains to their roster-building acumen. Did DT Tyleik Williams seem like a bit of a reach at the end of Round 1? Maybe … but you tell Holmes and Campbell they’re wrong. Second-round G Tate Ratledge seems made to order for this culture while patching a hole. 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (B)GM Jason Licht is another guy – one who doesn’t seem to get deserved credit – who does a heckuva job in the draft-and-develop space. A bit surprising the Bucs went with a wideout – Emeka Egbuka – in Round 1, but he’s among this draft’s safest players … and Mike Evans isn’t getting any younger (though Egbuka’s game more closely resembles Chris Godwin’s). The team needed reinforcements at corner, and second-rounder Benjamin Morrison and third-rounder Jacob Parrish should check that box nicely. Might have been nice to see NT Vita Vea get some help on the D-line, though. 20. Los Angeles Rams (B)Not especially sexy, but second-round TE Terrance Ferguson, third-round OLB Josaiah Stewart and fourth-round RB Jarquez Hunter should all be able to claim instant roles on a team that could be the biggest threat to the Eagles in the NFC next season. But the big win was GM Les Snead obtaining the Falcons’ first-rounder in 2026, which he might need for QB Matthew Stafford’s successor. 21. Atlanta Falcons (B)They’re not afraid, that’s for sure – and the decision to take QB Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 a year ago has aged well despite all the handwringing at the time. This year, GM Terry Fontenot snagged OLB Jalon Walker at No. 15, potentially one of this draft’s best selections – particularly given the Falcons’ years-long inability to rush the quarterback. Yet dealing back up to No. 26 for OLB James Pearce – generally nothing wrong with doubling down – will likely render as the tipping point. Pearce’s talent is undeniable, so there was a reason he was still available at that juncture. Also, Fontenot mortgaged that 2026 first-rounder to get him – quite a risk since this team doesn’t exactly appear ready to win the Super Bowl given it still hasn’t managed to win the NFC South since 2016. Safeties Xavier Watts (Round 3) and Billy Bowman Jr. (Round 4) will add juice to a secondary that shed Justin Simmons. 22. San Francisco 49ers (B)This defense badly needed attention, so credit GM John Lynch for earmarking his first five picks on it. First-round DE Mykel Williams and second-round DT Alfred Collins could help Nick Bosa get back to being the dominant player he should be. Third-round LB Nick Martin ought to flourish alongside All-Pro Fred Warner. 23. Washington Commanders (B-)It was a lighter class in part because veteran CB Marshon Lattimore came at the price of a third- and fourth-rounder at last year’s trade deadline, a transaction that has yet to bear sufficient fruit. Still, GM Adam Peters did a nice job while picking OT Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round and CB Trey Amos in the second. Fourth-round WR Jaylin Lane could capably take over for departed Dyami Brown as the deep threat. 24. Buffalo Bills (B-)A team that seems oh-so-close to its first Super Bowl win didn’t seem to come out of this draft with that player or two who seem capable of putting it over the top. We’ll see how the trade up for DT T.J. Sanders in the second round plays out, but going heavy on defense – including Round 1 CB Maxwell Hairston and Round 3 DE Landon Jackson – seems sensible given how the AFC East champs faltered on that side of the ball down the stretch in 2024. 25. Chicago Bears (B-)GM Ryan Poles, who’s known for his aggressive maneuvers, continues to build out the support system for second-year QB Caleb Williams. But did Poles hit the optimal notes? Time will tell if first-round TE Colston Loveland was the correct choice over Warren. Poles also stood pat at No. 39 and wound up with WR Luther Burden III, who loosely compares to Deebo Samuel, but Chicago missed out on what appeared to be this draft’s top running back prospects. Poles did wind up with three stabs in Round 2, and DT Shemar Turner might have been the best of the trio (OT Ozzy Trapilo being the other). 26. Arizona Cardinals (B-)Could be an especially wide variance of outcomes with their first two picks, first-round DT Walter Nolen and CB Will Johnson – the latter’s knee likely to determine if he was a steal or a player with diminishing returns. Third-rounder Jordan Burch joins a D-line that may be morphing from weakness to strength. 27. Los Angeles Chargers (C+)Nothing wrong with amassing quality depth. But what if it’s overly redundant? First-round RB Omarion Hampton might not need long to displace fellow banger Najee Harris, but would a back like Henderson have provided a better change-of-pace option? Second-round WR Tre Harris is a nice player but not the deep threat this passing game seemingly needs. Outside corner and tight end remain open questions. 28. Cincinnati Bengals (C)From a macro perspective, they resourced their draft properly by investing heavily in the defense and offensive line – this team’s major issues in 2024 giving up too many points and its ongoing penchant for getting QB Joe Burrow sacked three times a week. But first-round DE Shemar Stewart is your classic boom-or-bust prospect – how often does that work out in Cincinnati? – and going for a pair of linebackers afterward seemed a bit … odd. The best thing that arguably “happened” was retaining 2024 Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Trey Hendrickson on the roster, though it’s past time to address his woefully underfunded contract. 29. Carolina Panthers (C)They might have overspent on WR Tetairoa McMillan at No. 8. And they might have struck gold on OLB Nic Scourton at No. 51. Fourth-round RB Trevor Etienne is a nice player, though it’s worth wondering if GM Dan Morgan should have attacked other parts of the roster given the presence of recently extended RB Chuba Hubbard and newly signed Rico Dowdle in the backfield. 30. Minnesota Vikings (C)Previous deals left them with one pick in the top 100, though taking G Donovan Jackson was prudent with QB J.J. McCarthy coming back from his knee injury … even if Jackson is a Buckeye protecting a Wolverine. Otherwise, a team that spent freely in free agency seemed largely relegated to targeting depth, including backup QB Sam Howell via a pick swap. 31. Miami Dolphins (C-)They absolutely needed to get tougher in the trenches – on both sides of the ball. So from that standpoint, spending their only picks ahead of the fifth round on DT Kenneth Grant (Round 1) and G Jonah Savaiinaea (Round 2) made sense. Conversely, were they both slight reaches relative to their draft position or even the best available options at their respective positions? The team’s spotty track record, especially on the O-line, makes one wonder. ?. Cleveland Browns (I – for incomplete)Think this assessment is a copout? Fine. But there’s no legitimate way to know what to make of this until the bigger picture comes into focus – at least a year from now. It’s tough to even know where to begin. But let’s start with Thursday, when the Browns stunningly vacated the No. 2 spot and opportunity to take Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner quite possibly a generational prospect – not to mention one who seemingly would have fit well onto this roster and was glowingly praised by GM Andrew Berry the week before the draft. But Berry punched out and wound up with DT Mason Graham (No. 5 pick) and battering ram RB Quinshon Judkins (No. 36 pick) as part of the compensation – both very good football players and doubtless Week 1 starters. Second-round LB Carson Schwesinger should also be instantly productive, while electric fourth-round RB Dylan Sampson could be a fantastic foil to Judkins, who paired so well with Henderson at Ohio State. But what to make of the quarterback situation, which was the scintillating tandem of Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett a week ago? By obtaining Jacksonville’s 2026 first-rounder, the Browns seemed well positioned to draft a passer next year, which is expected to have far better options as it pertains to the slingers likely inbound from NIL land. Taking former college star Dillon Gabriel, most recently of Oregon, in Round 3 added intrigue to the mix – which, sure, fine. But by taking Sanders in the fifth round, the quarterback situation is now as muddled as ever (and this is a team that’s been paying Deshaun Watson a fully guaranteed $230 million to be horrible), the body language of Berry and HC Kevin Stefanski after taking Sanders leading many to wonder if owner Jimmy Haslam had mandated the pick. Put such speculation aside, and Berry and Stefanski tried to downplay it afterward. Stefanski is a two-time Coach of the Year who’s gotten a ton out of this roster – when Watson isn’t on the field, and he won’t be in 2025 after multiple Achilles surgeries. Yet the worse the Browns are next season – and, just maybe, the worse Sanders is (and after all the NFL has already put him through) – the better the shot Cleveland will have to get a 2026 rookie quarterback who could quite reasonably be clearly better than anyone currently on this depth chart. So, yeah … get back to me in a year. |
