NFC EAST

DALLAS

CB DARON BLAND, who broke out after CB TREVON DIGGS was injured, can’t wait for Diggs’ return.  Jon Machota:

@jonmachota

Cowboys CB DaRon Bland on Trevon Diggs returning from his season-ending knee injury: “I mean, a lot of people are not expecting what Tre is gonna come back with. I know what Tre is gonna come back with. It’s going to be something dangerous. Can’t wait.”

NEW YORK GIANTS

After the Giants either failed to land or opted not to pursue a QB like DRAKE MAYE in the draft, QB DEAN LOCK is said to have a shot at beating out QB DANIEL JONES for the starting job.  Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post with a tweet about info from Daniel Jeremiah:

@rydunleavy

Theres more smoke around Drew Lock being #Giants starting QB over Daniel Jones, after #Seahawks GM Jon Schneider’s comments earlier.

Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks}) said on his own podcast: ‘I believe Drew Lock has a really good shot of winning that job.’

‘They were comparing Daniel Jones and Drew Lock — emphasis on Drew Lock — to the QBs that were going to be there (in the draft) and I think the line for them was Drake Maye.’

This runs VERY contradictory to what Joe Schoen is saying publicly about Daniel Jones. They havent even opened it up to competition yet. But privately?

Remember, Daniel Jeremiah was ahead of the curve on Giants not drafting JJ McCarthy, too

PHILADELPHIA

Jeff Kerr of CBSSports.com does a forensic accounting of the tangled web of Howie Roseman deals stemming from the 2021 trade of QB CARSON WENTZ:

Trading Carson Wentz was a move that altered the Philadelphia Eagles franchise, putting the organization in a transition period as the team moved on from one of the key components of their Super Bowl LII championship roster. Moving on from a franchise quarterback isn’t easy, even if Wentz demonstrated he wasn’t the same player the Eagles drafted with the No. 2 overall pick back in 2016.

Wentz asked to be traded and the Eagles granted that request. General manager Howie Roseman wasn’t going to give Wentz away, especially with four years owed on a massive contract extension he agreed to in 2019. The contract looked to be untradeable (in terms of getting solid compensation) with Wentz having a poor 2020 season where he was one of the worst quarterbacks in football.

Roseman arguably pulled off his best-ever deal when trading Wentz — and he’s made some good ones — using that trade to facilitate a series of moves that have set the Eagles up to build a Super Bowl-contending roster.

The future of the Eagles looked bleak when they dealt Wentz in February of 2021. With second-round pick Cooper DeJean becoming one of the final pieces of the Wentz trade, here’s a look back at the Wentz deal — with all the assets that it has turned into.

The Wentz trade

Colts receive: Carson Wentz

Eagles receive: 2021 third-round pick and 2022 conditional first-round pick

The Eagles received a conditional first-round pick from the Colts in the deal, with some parameters. Philadelphia received the 2022 first-round pick from the Colts if Wentz:

Played 75% of the snaps in 2021, or

Played 70% of the snaps in 2021 and the Colts made the playoffs

Wentz reached the 75% threshold in December of that 2021 season, so the pick became a first-round selection from Indianapolis. If Wentz didn’t reach any of those parameters, the pick would have been a 2022 second-round selection. The Eagles ended up receiving the 16th overall pick from the Colts.

In short, the Eagles received a 2022 first-round pick (No. 16 overall) and a 2021 third-round pick (No. 84 overall) from the Colts for Wentz. Before the Eagles even received the 2022 first-round pick for Wentz, Roseman had parted ways with the third-round pick.

Landing DeVonta Smith

Eagles receive: 2021 first-round pick (No. 10)

Cowboys receive: 2021 first-round pick (No. 12), 2021 third-round pick (No. 84)

Roseman used that 2021 third-round pick from the Colts to help the Eagles move up in the draft and select a No. 1 wide receiver for Jalen Hurts — who earned the starting quarterback job after Wentz was dealt. The Eagles traded their 2021 first-round pick (No. 12 overall) and that Colts’ third-round pick (No. 84) to the Dallas Cowboys — moving up two spots and selecting DeVonta Smith at No. 10 overall.

Smith has 240 catches for 3,178 yards and 19 touchdowns in his three NFL seasons, two of which he’s been the No. 2 wide receiver to A.J. Brown (who has the two highest single-season receiving yards totals in franchise history). Smith is 18th in receptions, 17th in receiving yards and 21st in receiving touchdowns over the last three seasons. He’s fourth in the 2021 draft class in receptions and receiving yards and third in touchdowns.

In Eagles franchise history, Smith has the most catches and receiving yards for any player in their first three seasons in the league. He’s tied for fourth in touchdown catches, while joining DeSean Jackson and Mike Quick as the only wideouts to have two 1,000-yard seasons within their first three years in the league.

Smith is off to the greatest start for an Eagles wide receiver in franchise history. He also signed a three-year, $75 million contract extension that will keep him in Philadelphia through the 2028 season.

The Matt Pryor trade

Eagles receive: 2022 sixth-round pick

Colts receive: Matt Pryor, 2022 seventh-round pick

The Eagles made a minor trade with the Colts prior to the 53-man roster deadline in August of 2021– one that eventually would tie into the Wentz deal. Philadelphia dealt veteran guard/tackle Matt Pryor and a 2022 seventh-round pick to the Colts (No. 240) in exchange for a 2022 sixth-round pick (No. 194).

That minor trade played a major role in the Eagles landing a No. 1 wide receiver, as well as premium draft capital in 2023 and 2024.

Getting a first-round pick from the Saints

Eagles receive: 2022 first-round pick (No. 18), 2022 third-round pick (No. 101), 2022 seventh-round pick (No. 237), 2023 first-round pick, 2024 second-round pick

Saints receive: 2022 first-round pick (No. 16), 2022 first-round pick (No. 19), 2022 sixth-round pick (No. 194)

The Eagles entered the offseason with three first-round picks: No. 15 (from the Miami Dolphins), No. 16 (from the Colts in the Wentz deal) and No. 19 (their own). There were plenty of assets for Roseman to facilitate a trade if he wanted to acquire a star player or get future draft capital for 2023 and beyond.

The Saints were the dance partner Roseman was seeking, as he approached New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis about acquiring one of his first-round picks. The Eagles and Saints didn’t take long to strike a deal.

The Eagles used the first-round pick they acquired from the Colts in the Wentz deal (No. 16) and the sixth-round pick they acquired in the Pryor deal (No. 194) to get future draft capital in 2023 and 2024 from the Saints.

Philadelphia moved up one spot in the 2022 first-round (No. 19 to No. 18) by giving up the Colts pick (No. 16). In return for giving the Saints the No. 16 pick, the Eagles also received a 2022 third-round pick (No. 101) and the Saints’ 2023 first-round pick and 2024 second-round pick.

The Eagles ended up with two first-round draft picks in 2023 and two second-round draft picks in 2024. Not a bad haul for draft picks acquired from the Wentz and Pryor trades in 2021.

A.J. Brown deal

Eagles receive: A.J. Brown

Titans receive: 2022 first-round pick (No. 18), 2022 third-round pick (No. 101)

The Eagles traded a 2022 first-round pick (No. 18) and a 2022 third-round pick (No. 101) to acquire Brown from the Tennessee Titans — giving Philadelphia a No. 1 wide receiver for Hurts and pairing him with Smith. Philadelphia signed Brown to a four-year, $100 million extension with $57 million guaranteed.

Brown has the top two seasons in receiving yards by a player in Eagles history, also having the most receiving yards in a two-season span by any player to don an Eagles uniform. Brown has 194 catches for 2,952 yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons with the Eagles, earning second-team All-Pro honors in both seasons.

Brown is third in the NFL in receiving yards (2,952) and sixth in touchdown catches (18). Amongst players with at least 300 targets in that stretch, Brown is first in yards per catch with 15.2. He signed a three-year, $96 million extension this offseason, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in terms of average annual salary in NFL history.

The Eagles didn’t use any of their own draft picks to acquire Brown, instead using the picks they acquired from the Saints earlier in April to make the deal.

Moving up in the sixth round

Eagles receive: 2022 sixth-round pick (No. 181)

Lions receive: 2022 sixth-round pick (No. 188), 2022 seventh-round pick (No. 237)

Philadelphia later would trade that 2022 seventh-round pick it acquired from the Saints (No. 237) to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a 2022 sixth-round pick (No. 181). The Eagles also gave up a 2022 sixth-round pick they acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 188) to move up seven spots and select Kansas linebacker Kyron Johnson.

Trading up for Jalen Carter

Eagles receive: 2023 first-round pick (No. 9)

Bears receive: 2023 first-round pick (No. 10), 2024 fourth-round pick

The 2023 first-round pick the Eagles acquired from the Saints ended up being the No. 10 overall pick, which Roseman used to make another impact player in that draft class. Philadelphia traded up one spot, dealing the No. 10 pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for the No. 9 overall pick — which the Eagles used to select Carter.

Carter was dominant in his rookie season, as he finished with 33 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 9 quarterback hits, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble return for a touchdown in 16 games for the Eagles. Carter was second amongst rookie defensive tackles in sacks, tied for second in quarterback hits and tied for first in tackles for loss (8). He tied Derrick Burgess (2001) for the second-most sacks by an Eagles rookie (Corey Simon had 9.5 sacks in 2000). He had a fumble return for a touchdown in Week 14 against the Dallas Cowboys, just the second Eagles rookie defensive tackle since 1950 to return a fumble for a score (Kevin Johnson in 1995).

Carter was also the first Eagles rookie defensive tackle to record 2.0 sacks in a game since Corey Simon in 2000. He was the first rookie defensive tackle to force two forced fumbles in a game since Karl Klug in 2011. Carter finished with 49 pressures, 38 hurries and a pressure rate per dropback of 12.7% in one of the best rookie seasons for a defensive tackle in franchise history.

Trading up for Cooper DeJean

Eagles receive: 2024 second-round pick (No. 40), 2024 third-round pick (No. 78), 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 152)

Commanders receive: 2024 second-round pick (No. 50), 2024 second-round pick (No. 53), 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 161)

The 2024 second-round pick the Eagles received from the Saints ended up being No. 50 overall, which was part of the package Roseman dealt to the Commanders to move up 10 spots to No. 40 and select DeJean. DeJean played almost exclusively as a perimeter cornerback at Iowa last season.

According to Pro Football Focus, he took 630 snaps at outside cornerback, 23 in the slot, 23 in the box, 28 lined up along the defensive line, and just one at safety. He moved around a bit more in 2022, playing 553 snaps out wide, 140 in the slot, 91 in the box, and 30 along the line.

Roseman wasn’t done with the other two picks, as the Eagles made a series of trades in the 2024 draft that was only matched once in NFL history. The Eagles general manager traded No. 78 (third round) to the Texans for No. 86 (third round) and No. 123 (fourth round), then traded the No. 86 pick to the San Francisco 49ers for No. 94 (selected linebacker Jaryx Hunt) and No. 132 (fourth round). Roseman then traded No. 123 (fourth round) to the Texans for No. 127 (selected running back  Will Shipley) and a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Roseman then traded No. 132 (fourth round) and No. 210 (sixth round) to the Lions for No. 164 (fifth round), No. 201 (sixth round) and a 2025 fourth-round pick. The Eagles then traded No. 164 and No. 201 to the Colts for No. 155 (selected Jeremiah Trotter Jr.). Philadelphia still has a 2025 fourth-round pick and 2025 fifth-round pick in the bracket of the Commanders trade from draft day, which ties into the prior deals that were still stemmed from the Wentz trade.

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA

Ari Meirov found video that proves that the Falcons wanted to pick twice in the top 10:

@MySportsUpdate

This is interesting: #Jets GM Joe Douglas says the #Falcons told him they are sticking and picking at No. 8 and then would also be interested in trading for the Jets’ No. 10 pick….

So it seems like Atlanta wanted Michael Penix Jr. and then wanted to come back all the way back up likely for a defender…? Fascinating.(via @nyjets)

@wyche89

They were trying to get back into the 1st after selecting Penix to select Laiatu Latu, according to HC Raheem Morris

NEW ORLEANS

Matthew Paras at NOLA.com with the signing of CB MICHAEL HARRIS:

The New Orleans Saints dipped back into free agency Wednesday, agreeing to terms with former Detroit Lions cornerback Will Harris to a one-year deal.

Harris, a 2019 third-round pick out of Boston College, spent five seasons in Detroit, where he played a variety of positions. He spent the last two years mostly as a slot cornerback, but his playing time fluctuated from 2022 to 2023. In 2022, Harris started 10 of 15 games — but only started two of his 17 games last season. The 28-year-old also has experience at safety.

The Saints were in the market for another defensive back after failing to draft a safety this past weekend. New Orleans also arguably needed another slot cornerback after starter Alontae Taylor was inconsistent in 2023. Harris, at the very least, figures to add depth to the position and could compete for playing time next season.

Harris’ deal marks the Saints’ third post-draft signing this week, not counting the wave of undrafted free agents. The team also added a pair of offensive linemen in guard Shane Lemieux and tackle Justin Herron.

Harris has appeared in 81 games with 40 starts, 246 tackles, 14 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY

TE TRAVIS KELCE likes what he’s seen from first round rookie WR XAVIER WORTHY.  Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com:

With or without Rashee Rice, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce should have more help this season than he had last season and maybe even the previous season.

The Chiefs won back-to-back Super Bowls after trading Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins before the 2022 season. They have made do at the wide receiver position with JuJu Smith Schuster leading the wideouts in 2022 with 78 receptions for 933 yards and Rice doing the same last season with 79 catches for 938 yards.

Rice’s status is unknown after he was charged with eight felony counts for starting a multi-car crash while speeding on a Dallas highway in March.

But after adding Marquise Hollywood Brown in free agency, the Chiefs drafted Xavier Worthy in the first round Thursday.

As fast as Brown is, Worthy is faster.

He set the NFL Scouting Combine record with a 4.21 in the 40-yard dash.

“It’s looking like Pat [Mahomes] has another extremely fast man to throw the ball deep to — or just get the ball to in his hands, because a lot of his highlights, you see, he catches the ball and he’s splitting defenders and making guys miss,” Kelce said on his New Heights podcast, which was released Wednesday. “He’s an all-around football guy. He’s not just track speed.”

– – –

Mike Florio on Kelce’s new contract, which is not an extension:

It’s rare for teams to rip up the remaining years on a player’s contract and replace them with more. It’s so rare that there was widespread confusion that Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s new two-year deal was an extension to the two years on his existing deal.

The reality is that, like the Rams did with Aaron Donald two yers ago, the Chiefs ripped up the two years that were left and put two new years in. The Chiefs gave Kelce a $4 million raise for 2024, no strings attached, pushing his salary to $17 million. For 2025, the $17.5 million he’s due to make becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2025 league year.

The seeds for the contract fix were planted during the season, we’re told. Kelce’s representatives communicated their feelings to the Chiefs during the 2023 season.

Those feelings trace to comments made by Kelce to Vanity Fair last summer.

“My managers and agents love to tell me how underpaid I am,” Kelce said at the time. “Any time I talk about wanting more money, they’re just like, ‘Why don’t you go to the Chiefs and ask them?’ . . . You see how much more money you could be making and, yeah, it hits you in the gut a little bit. It makes you think you’re being taken advantage of. I don’t know if I really pressed the gas if I would get what I’m quote-unquote worth.”

He didn’t have to press the gas with a holdout. He said on the New Heights podcast that holding out isn’t his style.

And while there was never any serious talk that he’d retire, the notion that Kelce could graduate to his post-football life had to at least cross the team’s mind. He’s already making a shitload of money away from the field. For $13 million, he could have decided it’s not worth it. For $17 million, he has decided it is.

Although Kelce made a point to emphasize he’ll be with the Chiefs for two years, 2025 falls squarely in the “to be determined” category, on both sides. For Kelce, if he gets offered (for instance) $30 million to star in an action movie that shoots in Bora Bora from August to November of 2025, he’d tap out. For the Chiefs, the three-day window before the 2025 salary becomes guaranteed gives them a window to make a fair assessment as to whether significant slippage has started for Kelce, who turns 35 on October 5.

If the Chiefs didn’t want to at least preserve the option, the 2025 salary would be fully-guaranteed from the get-go. And if this was just a funding issue for next year, the guarantee could have vested immediately after the next Super Bowl.

It’s a clear opportunity for the Chiefs to make an assessment and a decision after the season. Kelce will be doing it, too.

Given the way things have been going for him off the field, opportunity might knock loudly enough within the next nine months for him to answer. And open the door. And exit, stage football.

AFC EAST

BUFFALO

A slight change of Bills ownership in the Pegula family.  Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com:

Bills owner Terry Pegula has apparently commenced succession planning by transferring a “small percentage” of the team to his daughter, Laura.

Tim Graham of TheAthletic.com reports on the development.

The move comes in the aftermath of co-owner Kim Pegula’s heart attack that has left her incapacitated. Terry and Kim had owned the team on a 50-50 basis. In March 2023, Terry became her guardian, with many of her assets placed in a trust.

Not long thereafter, Terry “transferred a small percentage of the Bills to Laura to satisfy a league policy that aids in succession planning,” per the report.

Given the league’s requirement that every controlling owner submit an annual succession plan that names the person who would take over if the controlling owes dies or becomes legally incapacitated, this implies that Laura is the named successor to Terry. While that can change, it points to Terry eventually assigning the team to Laura.

Laura is Terry Pegula’s daughter from a prior marriage. Jessica, the daughter of Terry and Kim, also has expressed a desire to become involved in management of the team.

At this point, the big decisions will apparently be made by Terry. It’s important that he have a clear and firm succession plan in place. Pat Bowlen, the late owner of the Broncos, divided the team among his seven children but put none of them in charge. That eventually resulted in the sale of the team. Similarly, Titans founder Bud Adams divided the equity in his team among the three branches of his family tree without putting any of them in charge, creating years of uncertainty and understated acrimony with the league over the question of control.

Whatever Terry Pegula does, it’s important for him to have a clear plan in place before he dies or becomes unable to make such decisions.

MIAMI

They are saying that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross turned down $10 billion for the Dolphins – but a closer look shows there are other assets involved including his F1 race.  Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com:

Imagine being in a position to turn down $10 billion.

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross reportedly did just that. An unnamed buyer offered Ross $10 billion for controlling interest in the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium and Miami’s Formula One race, and he said no thanks. The offer was reported by USA Today and confirmed by the Miami Herald.

While it’s hard to determine just from that report how much the NFL team itself would be worth in the sale, the record for a franchise sale is $6.05 billion. That’s what the Washington Commanders went for in 2023. This sale would have blown that away.

It shows that we still haven’t hit the ceiling on professional sports team valuations, and that F1 is American sports’ new cash cow.

Stephen Ross doesn’t sell Dolphins

USA Today reported that Ross wants to keep the assets in the family, so he declined the offer. While that’s hard to put a monetary value on, Ross is also a successful businessman, and if he thought $10 billion was a ridiculous offer, maybe there would have been a sale.

But $10 billion might not have been enough for the team, stadium and race.

F1 has been booming. Las Vegas practically shut down the city for weeks and put the locals out with traffic issues to host a race last year, and the race had an estimated economic impact of $1.5 billion, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The area inside and outside of Hard Rock Stadium has been built up to host the Miami Grand Prix, which is in its third year, on Sunday.

F1 was a big part of that massive offer to Ross, but the NFL aspect is still growing, too.

NFL team values increase

The sale of the Commanders skipped the $5 billion threshold for NFL teams. The record before the Commanders sale was $4.65 billion for the Denver Broncos in 2022. Then it jumped to more than $6 billion.

Considering the real estate in South Florida in which the stadium is on, the race component and the rising value of all sports franchises, it’s not that outrageous for Ross to turn down an 11-figure deal. USA Today said Ross has already invested $1 billion into an overhaul of the stadium and to turn the Hard Rock Stadium parking lot into a race track.

Seems funny to the DB that there isn’t even so much as a word of speculation as to who might have the $10 billion in spare change to make the bid.

Although back in March, a chap named Ken Griffin tried to buy a minority stake.  Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post wrote this about a month ago:

One letter can make a huge difference in the world of sports business these days.

That was a major takeaway from multiple reports about billionaire Ken Griffin’s failed bid to purchase a stake in the Dolphins from Stephen Ross. Business journals ran the numbers and calculated that the deal would have put the value of the Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium at $7.5 billion.

Here’s the kicker: When Joe Robbie put together an ownership group to found the Dolphins, the 1966 expansion fee to the AFL was $7.5 million — yes, that’s with an “m” — and, even more stunning today, Robbie put up just $100,000 of his own money to make it happen. Comedian Danny Thomas was among his major investors.

If you want further evidence of how much the value of NFL franchises is skyrocketing, consider that Ross paid “only” $1 billion to purchase the Dolphins in 2009.

Of course, the $7.5 billion figure applies only if someone is willing to pay it. Thus far, the record price for an NFL team is around $6 billion recently paid for the Washington Commanders.

As for Griffin?

Multiple reports say he wanted the deal to include an option to buy the team, not just a stake. Ross wants to pass along the Dolphins to his daughters.

Griffin is a hedge fund manager and the largest holder of real estate in Palm Beach. He graduated from Boca Raton High.

A source told The Post late last year that Ross was interested in selling a share to raise capital for other real estate and sports ventures.

But the USA TODAY story says:

A source said that Griffin “did not propose” the $10B controlling offer.

THIS AND THAT

FAVORITE PICKS

Field Yates of ESPN.com offers his five favorite picks from each round.  Below are his choices in Rounds 1 and 2:

Round 1

Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears (No. 9)

Coming out of the first round with the Williams-Odunze duo is a dream scenario for Chicago. Odunze was my sixth-ranked prospect, and I firmly believe that no matter how talented a young quarterback is — and Williams is plenty talented — a team should do everything in its power to surround him with the best possible supporting cast. The Bears furthered that effort with the addition of Odunze to a now-stacked receiver room. He’s an exceptional route runner, and Williams will love his contested catch ability.

Laiatu Latu, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts (No. 15)

There was no debate for me throughout this process that Latu had the best tape of the defensive players in this class, and he was 12th in my rankings. Medical concerns were the only issue that had to be closely examined — he medically retired with neck issues in 2020 while at Washington before returning and transferring to UCLA — but Indianapolis clearly had the assurance it needed to make a justifiable investment in him. Latu has a refined pass-rush skill set, and he had 23.5 sacks over the past two seasons.

Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 22)

Mitchell had a dominant college career at Toledo that included 39 pass breakups over his last two seasons, and he followed it up with stellar showings at the Senior Bowl and combine. He was on the short list of the cleanest prospects in the class, and he filled Philadelphia’s biggest need. Darius Slay and James Bradberry are both over 30 years old, and GM Howie Roseman was able to land my CB1 way down at No. 22 without trading up.

Graham Barton, C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 26)

The Buccaneers’ most pressing need entering the draft was fortifying the interior offensive line. Barton began his Duke career at center in 2020 before playing three seasons at left tackle. He’ll likely play along the interior in Tampa Bay, but that versatility is huge for this team. He brings elite mobility and run blocking.

Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers (No. 32)

Legette was the 28th player on my board, as one of the most explosive players in the draft class. Get the football in his hands and good things are bound to happen, thanks to his power and acceleration as a ball carrier. His combine measurables and testing results (6-foot-1, 221 pounds, 4.39-second 40-yard dash and 40-inch vertical jump) jumped out to me because they aligned with the tape. This pick continues a really strong offseason for the Panthers, who have poured countless resources into improving the environment around Bryce Young. I expect a major turnaround for Young this season, and Legette can help.

Round 2

Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, New England Patriots (No. 37)

Loyal listeners of our “First Draft” podcast have heard me wax poetic about Polk as the leader of the “my guys” list for this class. Polk finished 43rd on my board, and I love his excellent hands, route running, toughness and body control. He is a substance-over-sizzle player who just always finds a way to move the chains. He averaged 16.9 yards per catch over the past two seasons with Washington, and Drake Maye will look his way often.

Braden Fiske, DT, Los Angeles Rams (No. 39)

The Rams doubled up on Florida State defensive players with their first two picks of the draft (they took edge rusher Jared Verse in Round 1) and will have a vastly improved front seven as a result. Fiske finished his college career with a scorching stretch of six sacks in his last five games, as his first-step quickness and overall explosion proved unblockable. He more than makes up for his modest size (297 pounds) with his burst and ability to get underneath bigger offensive linemen to out-leverage them.

Cooper DeJean, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 40)

I’m enough of a fan of DeJean that if he had gone No. 22 overall to the Eagles, he would have made my list of favorite first-round picks. But at No. 40? Steal. The Eagles’ need for speed this offseason has now been met with the additions of Mitchell and DeJean, the latter of whom offers positional versatility to boot. DeJean is a springy, confident man-to-man coverage player with elite ball skills — he picked off seven passes in college.

Cole Bishop, S, Buffalo Bills (No. 60)

Bishop was my top-ranked safety in the class, showing great speed that allows him to play with range as a deep middle-of-the-field defender. He excels in man coverage and as a blitzer, as well. In short, Bishop is a movable DB who helps fill a significant need for Buffalo; Jordan Poyer left in free agency, and Micah Hyde is presently unsigned.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Detroit Lions (No. 61)

Rakestraw was one of the best value picks relative to my board in the first three rounds of the draft, as my 32nd-ranked player landed at No. 61. Rakestraw is a fearless, tone-setting corner who brings a ton of physicality to the field, is a factor against the run and makes plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. I love how Detroit has remade its cornerback room, signing Carlton Davis III and drafting both Terrion Arnold and Rakestraw in the first two rounds.

You see his favorites for Rounds 3-7 here.

2024 DRAFT GRADES

Ryan Wilson of CBSSports.com doesn’t seem to be operating off the same board as some other draft experts with his grades (Howie Roseman and the Eagles at #19), but he too joins the crowd with the Falcons at #32.

The 2024 Draft is a wrap. And, like most drafts, it’s really hard not to like what almost all of the teams did. Because as long as those teams filled their biggest needs, and didn’t grossly overreach to do so, it’s difficult — and silly — to announce one group as obvious losers without any of the 257 players drafted having yet stepped foot on a field during an NFL game.

Knowing that, I used three categories to break down the team-by-team drafts: “Drafts I loved,” “Drafts I liked,” and “Drafts that left me wanting more.” Within those categories I also assigned team grades (but no grade was lower than “C” because, again, unless you’re repeatedly selecting long snappers in Rounds 1-7, it’s hard to flunk the draft).

Basically: I would advise you not to get hung up on the labels or grades, but to focus on which picks stood out, which provided the best value, and which were most surprising. Of course, I know many of you reading this won’t do that — you’ll just fire off some angry tweets and how your favorite team has been disrespected — and that’s OK, too.

OK, let’s get to it.

Drafts I loved

1. Bears: A+

Favorite pick: I’m going chalk here because if Caleb Williams turns out to be the answer in Chicago, the Bears are going to be in the playoff conversation for the next decade. And if Williams is, say, 70% of what CJ Stroud was as a rookie, the success is coming next season, which explains why the Bears over-under win total as of this writing is 9.0. And I like the over.

Best value: I graded Austin Booker as a late fourth-rounder and he ended coming off the board nine picks into Round 5, so not great value but the Bears needed an edge rusher to bookend Montez Sweat and Booker, who will need to add pass-rush moves to his arsenal — and he could stand to gain 10-15 pounds — is probably a year away from being a consistent contributor. (We talked to Booker at the combine on With the First Pick, check that out here.

Most surprising pick: Like a lot of folks, I figured the Bears would target an edge rusher with the No. 9 pick, but when Rome Odunze was still sitting there, it made too much sense not to take him. As a playmaker, he made huge strides from 2022 to 2023, is a locker-room culture guy from Day 1, and it’s easy to envision him and Williams tormenting NFC defenses for the foreseeable future.

2. Commanders: A+

Favorite pick: We talked to Ben Sinnott at the combine, a few weeks after a standout performance at the Senior Bowl, and when he was asked in team interviews who he compared himself to, he said Sam LaPorta. And if he truly does want to make teams pay for passing on him, that’s great news for Jayden Daniels.

Best value: Maybe Johnny Newton fell to Round 2 because of a foot injury that sidelined him for much of the pre-draft process but he has first-round tape. And, yes, there’s serious depth along the defensive line, but a) Newton’s ability makes him hard to pass up early in Round 2, and b) Jonathan Allen and Phil Mathis’ contracts are set to expire after the 2025 season.

Most surprising pick: Luke McCaffrey is the easy answer. And while the Commanders took him with names like Troy Franklin, Jha’Quan Jackson and Malik Washington still on the board, McCaffrey is still learning the position. He’s a converted QB who flashed the ability to make contested-catch and run through arm tackles in space, and he’d embrace doing the dirty work on an offense that includes Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.

3. Steelers: A+

Favorite pick: It’s hard not to love Troy Fautanu, in part because of the way he plays, in part because he grew up a huge Troy Polamalu fan. He was a dominant left tackle for the Huskies but he has four (and maybe five) position

versatility along the offensive line.

Best value: If Payton Wilson didn’t have an extensive injury history he’s a likely first-round pick. He patterns his game after Luke Kuechly and Kuechly has described Payton as a longer, faster version of himself. It’s going to be a lot of fun

watching him and Patrick Queen on the field together.

Most surprising pick: The Steelers had to fix the offensive line and they did that with their first two picks, but to circle back in Round 4 and get Mason McCormick, the interior offensive lineman from South Dakota State who dominated the Shrine Bowl, it almost felt like a luxury pick (it wasn’t). New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is going to run the ball and this draft class will have a lot to do with how successful they are in that endeavor.

4. Cardinals: A+

Favorite pick: GM Monti Ossenfort has crushed the draft since arriving in Arizona and this 2024 group is so loaded with talent, I could have four or five names for my favorite pick. I’ll settle on Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, the Shrine Bowl standout from Texas Tech who can play deep safety or in the slot, plays with controlled rage in the run game, and consistently takes good angles in both run support and coverage. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had found his way into Day 2.

Best value: I thought Texas right tackle Christian Jones was a late-second/early-third talent, so to get him late in Round 5 is great value. Arizona’s No. 6 overall pick last year, Paris Johnson Jr., played right tackle as a rookie but if Jones finds his way into the starting lineup, Johnson Jr. can move to the left side.

Most surprising pick: Tip Reiman was the third TE off the board, behind Brock Bowers and Ben Sinnott. I graded Rieman as a fifth-round pick but even with Ja’Tavion Sanders, Theo Johnson and Jared Wiley on the board, the Cardinals opted for the Illinois tight end, who can run through arm tackles in space, and at 271, has the size to match the want-to as a blocker.

5. Ravens: A

Favorite pick: The Ravens have a type at edge rusher and Adisa Isaac fits the mold; previously, it was Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, and Isaac is similarly twitched up with plenty of room to grow.

Best value: I thought TJ Tampa had a chance to go in the first two rounds and lasts until the end of Round 4. My co-host on the “With the First Pick” podcast described Tampa as a poor man’s Joey Porter in that he’s long, can be a little stiff, but is consistently around the ball.

Most surprising pick: Every single selection felt like a Eric DeCosta draft but I’ll go with Roger Rosengarten, who got pinged for essentially two bad reps during the national title game. The rest of his tape was really good, and while I had him graded as a late third-rounder, he fills an obvious need in Baltimore and will have a chance to win the starting job.

6. Chiefs: A

Favorite pick: There was some talk that Kingsley Suamataia would be a first-rounder. I didn’t see it when I watched him; in fact, I had him graded as a mid-Day 2 pick, he has RT/LT versatility, and it feels like he’ll be a better pro than college player.

Best value: My colleague Pete Prisco loves him some Jaden Hicks, and remains convinced that he should’ve been a first-round pick. I also talked to some teams that thought Hicks was more than a box safety and for the Chiefs to get a player I had as a second-round talent late in the fourth round was too good to pass up.

Most surprising pick: The Chiefs landing Xavier Worthy isn’t surprising at all. That the Bills would trade down and let the Chiefs take Worthy was one of the biggest Day 1 surprises outside of what happened in Atlanta. The Bills and GM Billy Beane still crushed the draft, but I was certainly caught off guard when this trade was announced.

7. Colts: A

Favorite pick: I spent a lot of time over the last few months talking up Anthony Gould, so I obviously like that pick, but I’m going with offensive linemen Matt Goncalves and Tanor Bortolini; both of whom are starter-capable. Goncalves played in just four games because of injury but he was a Day 2 selection all day long based, and Bortolini, who tested through the roof at the combine, also had an impressive Senior Bowl. Protect the franchise QB at all cost and the Colts did it without overdrafting.

Best value: From December until the final pick in the first round, I was convinced that AD Mitchell would be among the first 32 names off the board. He slipped to the 20th pick in Round 2, the Colts pounced, and Anthony Richardson has another weapon. Why did Mitchell fall? There was a report about some off-field concerns, and Colts GM Chris Ballard spoke in no uncertain terms about it all after Mitchell was selected.

Most surprising pick: I had spoken to several teams that had cleared Laitu Latu medically and

considered him a top-15 pick. So, in that sense, it’s not surprising that Latu went … 15th overall. What was surprising was that not only was he the first edge rusher taken, he was the first defensive player taken. But there is no more technically sound pass rusher than Latu and if he is healthy, watch out. (We talked to Latu at the combine and good luck finding someone who loves football more than this man).

8. Seahawks: A

Favorite pick: Here’s all you need to know about Christian Haynes: video of Braden Fiske saying Christian Haynes was his best opponent at the Senior Bowl.

And Haynes will have a chance to win the starting job in Seattle and the O-line will be better for it.

Best value: I thought both DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett had a chance to be late Day 2 guys, but both lasted until the middle of Day 3. James ran a 4.42 but weighs only 172 pounds. And Pritchett, who plays primarily outside, ran a 4.36 but will need to improve his play strength.

Most surprising pick: I thought Byron Murphy II had a real chance to be the top defensive player

selected and not at No. 16 but as early as No. 8. But the run on offensive players was a recurring theme

through pick No. 14 and the Colts took Laitu Latu at No. 15, paving the way for the Seahawks to land

arguably the most disruptive player in this class.

9. Rams: A

Favorite pick: Good luck not loving everything about Braden Fiske. The Western Michigan transfer was dominant for the Seminoles, where he lined up alongside Jared Verse (the Rams first-round pick), and now he’ll join a young defensive line that includes Kobie Turner and Byron Young from the 2023 draft class.

Best value: I thought Beaux Limmer had a chance to go early on Day 3 so for the Rams to get him at the end of Round 6 is great value; he has played center and both guard positions in college and fits what Sean McVay likes to do with the power run game.

Most surprising pick: Kam Kinchens was getting Top 50 buzz before the 2023 season and his flashes on tape confirmed as much. But then he ran 4.65 at the combine and his stock took a hit. But the Rams have proven that 40-times aren’t the be-all, end-all — Puka Nacua ran in the 4.5s a year ago but he played fast. Kinchens plays fast and I love that L.A. didn’t get a slow 40 time affect their decision to take him on Day 2.

10. Bills: A-

Favorite pick: We didn’t hear much Edefuan Ulofoshio buzz from the media during the pre-draft process but I graded him as an early fourth-rounder and not only did the Bills get him Round 5, they’re getting a linebacker with 4.5 speed who has a nose for the football, takes good angles, is a wrap-up tackler, and shows the ability to cover in space.

Best value: Like Ulofoshio, I thought Daequan Hardy had a chance to go in the fourth round; instead, he was on the board at the end of Round 6, presumably because he’s only 5-foot-9, 179 lbs. But he also ran a 4.39 40 at the combine, has return ability, and plays way bigger than his size.

Most surprising pick: I admit it, I didn’t understand what the Bills were doing when they traded down, and allowed the Chiefs to move up for Xavier Worthy. But they still landed Keon Coleman, who feels like an upgrade over Gabe Davis, and added some much-need draft picks too. Coleman only ran a 4.61 at the combine, but his play speed is legit.

Drafts I liked

11. Buccaneers: A

Favorite pick: The talk throughout the draft process was about Dallas Turner but Chris Braswellconsistently flashed some juice throughout the 2023 season. I thought he might go a little higher but he certainly feels like a Todd Bowles pick.

Best value: He battled injuries for much of the season, but Jalen McMillan is a long strider who can stack defensive backs, has contested-catch ability, and is a willing blocker.

Most surprising pick: Graham Barton was a first-round pick all day long but I was surprised the Cowboys traded out of the 24th pick, passing on Barton in the process, and having him fall into the Bucs’ lap. With Ryan Jensen’s retirement, Barton feels like a Day 1 starter on the inside.

12. Vikings: A

Favorite pick: It’s incredibly hard not to love J.J. McCarthy when you talk to him, and there are few better landing spots for a young QB than the Vikings and Kevin O’Connell. Plus, the team only had to trade up one spot to get him.

Best value: Walter Rouse, the Stanford transfer had a solid 2023 season for the Sooners and I had him as an early Day 3 pick. That didn’t hear his name called until two rounds later is great value for Minnesota.

Most surprising pick: It was no surprise that the Vikings took Dallas Turner, who very easily could’ve been EDGE1 in this class, it’s that it cost so much to get him when they moved up from No. 23 to No. 17 — specifically, picks No. 23 and No. 167 in the ’24 draft, but also a third- and fourth-rounder in next year’s draft. If it works out like, say, it did for the Texans a year ago when they traded up for Will Anderson Jr., then no one will care. If the Vikings don’t have a big season, they’ll head into the ’25 draft with no second-, third- or fourth-round selections (though they will get a third-round compensatory pick for Kirk Cousins).

13. Saints: A

Favorite pick: The Saints needed to upgrade the offensive line and that they didn’t have to trade up to get one of the best players in this class is a win-win. Taliese Fuaga was dominant during the season, dominant at the Senior Bowl, and feels like a Day 1 starter.

Best value: I had Spencer Rattler as a third-round prospect and, of course, he lasted until Round 5. The Saints now have five QBs on the roster so it’ll be interesting to see how they sort this out, good luck finding a tougher player in this draft class.

Most surprising pick: Kool-Aid McKinstry entered last fall as CB1 but was outplayed by teammate Terrion Arnold. He suffered a foot injury that kept him from competing at the combine but later ran a 4.47 40 at his pro day, which I thought was enough to propel him into the first round. To get him nine picks into Round 2 is great value for New Orleans.

14. Packers: A

Favorite pick: Man, the Packers killed this draft. I’m going with Javon Bullard as my favorite pick, but it just as easily could’ve been Ty’Ron Hopper or Evan Williams. Bullard might be an undersized slot but he plays bigger, stronger and faster than he measured.

Best value: Kitan Oladapo is a heat-seeking missile coming downhill, and as long as the play is in front of him, he’s making a play on the ball.

Most surprising pick: I’m not surprised the Packers took a QB but I am surprised Michael Pratt lasted until the end of the seventh round. I thought he’d be off the board early on Day 3, especially after a strong week at the Senior Bowl.

15. Dolphins: A-

Favorite pick: It’s impossible not to love the Jaylen Wright selection because few things are more enjoyable than watching this Dolphins offense when it’s hitting on all cylinders.

Best value: The Dolphins needed edge rush depth and they added two of the twitchiest pass rushers in the class in Chop Robinson in Round 1, then Mo Kamara in Round 5. Kamara will be a designated pass rusher early in his career but, man, can he get after it.

Most surprising pick: I love Malik Washington so the only real surprise is that a) he lasted until the sixth round, and b) the Dolphins took him because he managed a 4.47 40 time. That’s a joke – he’s a terror out of the slot and gives Miami and Tua yet another weapon.

16. Chargers: A-

Favorite pick: Ladd McConkey is the best route runner in this class and I wonder if the Patriots will wish they hadn’t traded out of this pick.

Best value: I thought Brendan Rice was an early Day 3 talent so to get him in the seventh round is great news for the Chargers and Justin Herbert. He’s a big target with contested-catch ability.

Most surprising pick: There were some rumblings that JC Latham could be the first offensive tackle off the board, and it made sense here (even though I like Olu Fashanu and Joe Alt more). I have no problem with Joe Alt being OT1, I just wonder how difficult it will be to move him from LT to RT at the next level. He’s an insane athlete, so maybe it’s not a huge deal, but it’s something I’ll be monitoring in ’24.

17. Giants: A-

Favorite pick: The Giants reportedly tried to trade up to No. 3 to get Drake Maye. Staying put for Malik Nabers feels like the right move. In part because first-round QBs work out about half the time, in part because Nabers fills a huge need in New York where he could put up OBJ rookie numbers in Year 1.

Best value: Theo Johnson was my TE3 and I thought he could go in Round 2. He’s enormous, ran in the 4.5s and while he didn’t have much production at Penn State, his best football could be ahead of him.

Most surprising pick: Teams were higher on Andru Phillips than I was, and I don’t have any real issue with taking him here, even if I thought he might not go off the board until Round 4. He’s a physical corner who excels in man coverage, though he can get too handsy at times downfield.

18. Lions: A-

Favorite pick: The Lions had real needs at cornerback and to have Terrion Arnold fall to 24 is a gift from the football gods. He’s one of the most motivated players we’ve ever talked to.

Best value: I loved Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the first round, but I know teams had concerns about his size injury history, and long speed. His physicality reminded me of Devon Witherspoon.

Most surprising pick: The Lions gave up a 2025 third-rounder to get Giovanni Manu in the fourth round. He’s incredibly raw, and will need to redshirt — almost certainly on the active roster — so it’ll be interesting to see how soon he develops in Detroit.

19. Eagles: B+

Favorite pick: I love the first two picks because Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean fill huge needs in the secondary, but I’ll lean to DeJean because a) he’s such great value, b) has position flexibility, and c) offers something in the return game.

Best value: I thought Jeremiah Trotter Jr. would be a late Day 2 pick but the Eagles got him midway through Round 5.

Most surprising pick: Few players tougher than Will Shipley but at Clemson, I thought he was good — not great — in space, and was a good — but not elite — athlete. And any athletic advantages he had at the college level might be neutralized in the NFL. We’ll see, and it’s hard to fault anything Howie Roseman does on draft weekend.

20. Bengals: B+

Favorite pick: Yes, Amarius Mims made just eight starts in college but if you told me in three years, he was one of the best players from the 2024 class, I would have very little trouble believing you.

Best value: I tweeted this out days before the draft about Tanner McLachlan:

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah reported on Saturday that McLachlan had a core muscle injury that likely affected his draft stock but he’s going to be a perfect fit in Cincinnati with Joe Burrow and Co.

Most surprising pick: Jermaine Burton had top 40 talent but off-field issues saw him fall — and maybe he falls farther than the middle of Round 3 if not for the Bengals. If he can focus on football, this could be a great pick.

21. Panthers: B+

Favorite pick: There was no worse offense at creating separation than the 2023 Panthers. Xavier Legette solves that problem with both size and speed.

Best value: You don’t draft Ja’Tavion Sanders for his blocking, you draft him to stress defenses, both near the line of scrimmage and downfield.

Most surprising pick: This is only mildly surprising, and I love the pick, but Jonathon Brooks is coming off an ACL injury so I thought he might not be the first RB drafted. That said, like Legette and Sanders, in Carolina he’ll infuse some juice into a previously juiceless offense.

22. 49ers: B

Favorite pick: Ricky Pearsall could also quality for “most surprising pick,” but this is San Francisco, where Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have a pretty good sense for what makes this team go. Even though I thought he was a mid-to-late second-rounder, Pearsall is going to excel in this offense.

Best value: It’s interesting, because the 49ers didn’t draft a single player after where I had them

projected (they were the only team to do that) but I thought Dominick Puni would likely be a late third-round selection. He played tackle at Kansas (his future is most likely inside), is a good athlete who moves well laterally, and played in a zone scheme that required him to get into space — something he did consistently and efficiently.

Most surprising pick: I graded Malik Mustapha as a late Day 3 selection but clearly the 49ers felt differently. I will say, Mustapha on tape explodes downhill with his hair on fire but can be out of control at times, and looked a little stiff in his lateral movements. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him have success in San Francisco’s system.

23. Cowboys: B

Favorite pick: It’s hard not to love a player who idolized Troy Polamalu growing up and Marshawn Kneeland is just scratching the surface of what he can become as an edge rusher.

Best value: Justin Rogers has the size and power to play two gaps in the run game and while he doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher, he’s a run stopper all day long with a surprising first step.

Most surprising pick: Marist Liufau plays at one speed, he’s a good athlete who moves well in space and he’s a wrap-up tackler. And this is only a mild concern because he went just a few picks before where I thought he might — but I had higher grades on Payton Wilson (who does have an extensive injury history), and Ty’Ron Hopper, who were both still on the board.

24. Texans: B

Favorite pick: Cade Stover moved from the defensive side of the ball and his best football is in front of him, both as a blocker and a receiver. This is great value.

Best value: I loved Marcus Harris’ tape and thought he had a chance to go 2-3 rounds higher. He had an average Senior Bowl week, and maybe that affected his draft stock, but this feels like stealing.

Most surprising pick: This is “surprising” in a good way because I was talking about Kamari Lassister as a first-round pick back in the fall. Then he ran the 4.64 at his pro day. Thing is, he looks bigger and plays faster than he measured or timed. Credit to the Texans for trusting the tape.

25. Jets: B

Favorite pick: Olu Fashanu went from playing with Caleb Williams in high school to playing with the man Williams patterns his game after: Aaron Rodgers. I love this pick because the Jets were able to bolster the O-line and still get a playmaker at wide receiver (see below).

Best value: Malachi Corley is basically a running back in a wide receiver’s body. He’ll complement Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams nicely, and he’s basically a souped-up version of the tight end many Jets fans thought they might end up with at No. 10.

Most surprising pick: I love that GM Joe Douglas added both Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis to the running backs room; they bring different styles than Breece Hall and Israel Abanikanda but that’s the point — make the offense as diverse and hard to defend as possible.

Drafts that left me wanting more

26. Broncos: B-

Favorite pick: I know he’s 15-20 lbs lighter but this was the first note I made when watching Jonah Ellis at Utah: “He looks like LaMarr Woodley getting off the bus.” He’ll be a designated pass rusher early in his NFL career but he can play both the run and get after the QB, and he does it with a consistently high motor.

Best value: I liked Kris Abrams-Draine as a late Day 2 pick but the Broncos got him nearly three rounds later. He’s undersized (he weighed just 179 at the combine) and while he played primarily outside at Missouri his NFL future will likely be in the slot.

Most surprising pick: The least surprising thing is that Bo Nix is the most surprising pick. Not because the Broncos drafted him, but that they drafted him 12th overall. I heard Thursday morning before the draft that it was likely going to happen. I thought of Nix more as a second-rounder but if anyone can get the most out of a young QB it’s Sean Payton.

27. Jaguars: B-

Favorite pick: Brian Thomas Jr. is the best deep threat in the draft class. Every time you turned on the tape it felt like he was running inside fades in the red zone that inevitably ended up as a touchdown.

Best value: Deantre Prince may not be a thumper as a tackler but he has good hands, showed the ability to stay in phase vs. SEC receivers on vertical routes and is consistently in position for PBUs.

Most surprising pick: I get the need at cornerback, but I didn’t love Jarrian Jones in Round 3. He struggled as a tackler in space, and while he ran a 4.38 at the combine, that speed didn’t always show up on tape.

28. Raiders: B-

Favorite pick: For the longest time, it looked like Jackson Powers-Johnson would be a first-round pick. But as I talked to teams late in the process, many didn’t view him that way and he lasted until the 12th pick of Round 2. In Las Vegas, he should be a Day 1 starter.

Best value: Dylan Laube played at New Hampshire but fit right in vs. Power 5 opponents at the Senior Bowl. He’s an undersized running back who is willing to run between the tackles but is at his most effective on the edges, either as a runner or as a receiver (he can line up in the slot if you need him to). Bonus: Laube is a threat as a kick and punt returner, too.

Most surprising pick: Brock Bowers was one of the 10 best players in this draft, I was just surprised that the Raiders took him at No. 13 with so many other needs. That said, new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy runs a good amount of 12 personnel and Bowers and Mayer give the Raiders two of the most athletic TEs in the league.

29. Browns: B-

Favorite pick: Michael Hall Jr. is a twitched up defensive lineman who is consistently disruptive. And if he learns to play with lower pad level, good luck stopping him.

Best value: Jowon Briggs plays with a non-stop motor, is stout at the point, moves well laterally and he complements Michael Hall Jr.’s style.

Most surprising pick: The Browns had just six picks, none in the first round, and I thought they took Zak Zinter a little early but I get it: When he’s healthy, he’s a starter. And taking him in the middle of the third round instead of the fourth is worth it if you love the player.

30. Patriots: B-

Favorite pick: I really liked Caeden Wallace’s tape at Penn State and hopefully the plan is to play him at right tackle in New England. Michael Onwenu played there last season, but he prefers guard.

Best value: Had Jaheim Bell played with more consistency at Florida State he may have found his way into Day 2. He’ll be fighting for a roster spot in New England, but he has the athleticism to be a difference-maker as an NFL tight end.

Most surprising pick: I loved Ja’Lynn Polk’s tape at Washington and this is less about him than about the Patriots decision to trade down with Ladd McConkey still on the board. We’ll find out together if it was the right decision.

31. Titans: C+

Favorite pick: JC Latham’s nickname is Trench — that should tell you all you need to know about his mindset. He was a right tackle and right guard at Alabama so I do wonder what the transition to left tackle will be like for him. But the Titans offensive line coach is also Bill Callahan, perhaps the best to ever do it.

Best value: After the success of Tank Dell, and to a lesser extent, Tre Turner last season, I thought we might see smaller receivers go earlier in this draft. Jha’Quan Jackson felt like a perfect candidate — it’s why I pegged him for late Day 2 — but he lasted until the sixth round. He’ll give Will Levis some much needed juice out of the slot.

Most surprising pick: Disregarding the off-field incident several weeks before the draft, T’Vondre Sweat is 360 pounds, and the question is whether he’s a three-down player (and if not, why take him so high). That said, we saw how effective he was at Texas alongside Byron Murphy II and maybe the Titans envision him having similar success next to Jeffery Simmons.

32. Falcons: C

Favorite pick: Bralen Trice didn’t get the pub in the run up to the draft like Dallas Turner, Jared Verse or Laitu Latu, but he can set the edge against the run, is quick off the snap, can win with power as a pass rusher and plays with a relentless motor. I feel like this pick got obscured by the Falcons’ first two selections.

Best value: I liked Brandon Dorlus early in Round 3 and the Falcons were able to get him a round later. He’s powerfully built, uses his hands well to win early in the rep and is something of a tweener in that he can line up at several positions along the offensive line.

Most surprising pick: Michael Penix Jr. was my QB4, ahead of J.J. McCarthy, and I considered him a first-round pick throughout the process. I just didn’t understand why the Falcons took him at No. 8 given that they just signed Kirk Cousins, had needs on defense, and could have positioned themselves as the favorites in the NFC South with a first-round pick with a chance to contribute before the 2026 season.