AFC EAST
New England Patriots: A+
Round 1 (3): QB Drake Maye, UNC
Round 2 (37): WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington
Round 3 (68): OT Caedan Wallace, Penn State
Round 4 (103): OG Layden Robinson
Round 4 (110): WR Javon Baker, UCF
Round 6 (180): CB Marcellas Dial, South Carolina
Round 6 (193): QB Joe Milton, Tennessee
Round 7 (231): TE Jaheim Bell, Florida State
The Patriots needed to do two things this offseason; find a franchise QB, and set him up to succeed. They did a great job in this draft in both departments. Drake Maye is an absolute superstar of a prospect, with all the tools necessary to become a top five QB in the league. His combination of arm strength, athleticism, and playmaking give him just as high of a ceiling as Caleb Williams, and I thought made him the second best prospect in the class. He may be too aggressive at times, often having Josh Allen-like decision making, but that should be something that coaches can iron out. If they do, then the sky's the limit for him and the Pats. As for the rest of the draft, New England showcased their understanding of how important it is to set Maye up for success, and not repeat the failures they had in developing Mac Jones. Seven of their eight picks in this draft were offensive players, and although their offense still needs more help, they at least poured resources trying to fix it. Their second round pick Ja’Lynn Polk isn’t a very flashy player, and might not have a very high ceiling, but he is as safe a prospect as you will find in the second round. He is a great route runner, and will immediately be the most reliable receiver in New England. If Maye starts right away Polk’s reliability will be paramount to his development. I thought it was a smart decision to double dip at receiver, drafting the more toolsy player in Javon Baker. The Patriots also filled their biggest remaining need at tackle. Wallace projects as a player that can start right away, even if it might have been a little early to pick him at the beginning of the third round. While the Patriots definitely need to continue to find Maye weapons, I think they did a great job with the picks they had in finding enough reliable talent to not completely ruin Drake Maye. Patriots fans should be happy because they finally have a face of the franchise, and the front office that will at least try to help him succeed.
New York Jets: A-
Round 1 (11): OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
Round 3 (65): WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
Round 4 (134): RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
Round 5 (171): QB Jordan Travis, Florida State
Round 5 (173): RB Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State
Round 5 (176): CB Qwan’tez Stiggers, Toronto
Round 7 (257): DB Jaylen Key, Alabama
Received Lions 2025 3rd for 126
New York had a great draft that should help them compete this year and build for life without Aaron Rodgers. They are smart in not assuming they can rely on Tyron Smith to stay healthy, considering he hasn’t played a full season since 2015. Olu Fashanu was projected to be a top five pick after the 2022 season, and they traded down one spot and got him at 11. Fashanu might not start right away, but if Smith goes down, Rodgers needs that protection a season after only lasting 4 snaps. Corley is also a great fit in this offense. He is great with the ball in his hands, but he's likely just a slot receiver, thanks to his size at 5’ 10'' 207 pounds. Their Jordan Travis and Qwan’tez Stiggers selections also seemed like good value, as both could develop into starters down the line. Their trade for the Lions 2025 3rd round pick was also great, considering they only had to give up a late 4th round pick. They have done a great job valuing short term success without mortgaging their future.
Buffalo Bills: B
Round 2 (33): WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
Round 2 (60): S Cole Bishop, Utah
Round 3 (95): DT DeWayne Carter, Duke
Round 4 (128): RB Ray Davis, Kentucky
Round 5 (141): C Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Georgia
Round 5 (160): LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington
Round 5 (168): EDGE Javon Solomon, Troy
Round 6 (204): OT Tylan Grable, UCF
Round 6 (219): CB Daequan Hardy, Penn State
Round 7 (221): OG Travis Clayton, England
The Bills filled their biggest needs in the second round, picking a potential Stefon Diggs replacement in Coleman, and a potential Jordan Poyer replacement in Cole Bishop. Bills fans should be happy they were able to trade down twice and still come up with a top tier receiver prospect. Coleman’s size and ability to catch in traffic is such a great fit with Josh Allen, even if his lack of speed and separation make it unlikely he becomes one of the best receivers in the league. Bishop and DeWayne Carter should be building blocks on this defense that needed so much help last year. They also gained a 2025 4th round pick by trading out of the fifth round, which paired with the 2nd rounder they got back in the Diggs trade, sets them up nicely in a much deeper 2025 draft class. The Bills have needed to add youth to their roster for years now, and while this season might be a step back, this draft is a great start to their retooling.
Miami Dolphins: C-
Round 1 (21): EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State
Round 2 (55): OT Patrick Paul, Houston
Round 4 (120): RB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
Round 5 (158): EDGE Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
Round 6 (184): WR Malik Washington, Virginia
Round 6 (198): S Patrick McMorris, California
Round 7 (241): WR Tahj Washington, USC
The Dolphins had a confusing draft, even if they did get some good prospects. Chop Robinson is a fantastic athlete with exceptional first-step explosiveness, but his lackluster wingspan paired with limited collegiate productivity, only having 11.5 sacks in 35 career games, make this seem a little early for Chop. They went for potential again in the second round, with Patrick Paul. Paul is an all-traits, developmental type of prospect, whose inconsistent technique might require him to redshirt his rookie season. It was probably worth the bet, though, as it’s easy to envision the 6’ 7”, 331 pound tackle becoming a great Terron Armstead replacement. My major problem with this draft is that they traded their 2025 3rd round pick for the 120th pick, in order to draft another speedy back. Wright ran a 4.38, but this is still an overpay, for a RB who might struggle to see the field behind Mostert and Achane. They are in the middle of a major retooling of their team, having lost many key starters in free agency. Their decision to give up a 3rd next year for another running back in a year where they will probably struggle was perplexing. Targeting developmental players in the first two rounds and then giving up a valuable pick in next year’s draft leaves me questioning Miami's plan for this season.
AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh Steelers: A+
Round 1 (20): OT Troy Fautanu, Washington
Round 2 (51): C Zach Frazier, West Virginia
Round 3 (84): WR Roman Wilson, Michigan
Round 3 (98): LB Payton Wilson, NC State
Round 4 (119): OG Mason McCormick, South Dakota State
Round 6 (178): DT Logan Lee, Iowa
Round 6 (195): CB Ryan Watts, Texas
The Steelers did a fantastic job of drafting great players at positions of need. The first three picks give whichever QB they start, either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, the necessary infrastructure to properly evaluate them as potential franchise QBs. They have taken this draft along with last year’s Broderick Jones pick to completely fix the offensive line. Fautanu and Frazier should both be day one starters and add some much needed physicality to a position group that hasn’t been a strength since the days of the Killers B’s. They also got starting level talents with their next three picks as well. Payton Wilson was only available because of his extensive medical history, which does include double digit surgeries since High School. If he can stay healthy, he and Patrick Queen will form one of the better linebacker duos in the league. Roman Wilson is also quite a good Diontae Johnson replacement. The Steelers absolutely nailed this draft and most importantly seem to have set Fields up in a perfect position to become the face of the franchise.
Cincinnati Bengals: B+
Round 1 (18): OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
Round 2 (49): DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan
Round 3 (80): WR Jermaine Burton, Alabama
Round 3 (97): DT McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M
Round 4 (115): TE Erick All Jr, Iowa
Round 5 (149): CB Josh Newton, TCU
Round 6 (194): TE Tanner McLachlan, Arizona
Round 6 (214): EDGE Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss
Round 7 (224): S Daijahn Anthony, Ole Miss
Round 7 (237): C Matt Lee, Miami
The Bengals continue to prioritize protecting Joe Burrow by bringing in the largest possible human beings to play offensive tackle. Amarius Mims was only available at pick 18 because of his lack of experience, only starting 8 games in college. He has the chance to be the best tackle in the class if he can stay healthy and put together the flashes he showed during his limited time at Georgia. He's going to a great landing spot, where he might not be asked to start right away, with free agent acquisition Trent Brown and four time pro bowler Orlando Brown slated to start at both tackle positions. Trent Brown is only signed to a one year deal though, so Mims addresses an area of need next season, while being a great insurance policy this season. Outside of the first round, they also did a good job in improving their DL and adding more weapons. I thought Jenkins was picked a little early, due to his lack of upside, even if he does immediately improve the DL room. Burton was my favorite non-Mims selection, being a great Tyler Boyd replacement. This draft sets Cincinnati up well for a bounce back season.
Baltimore Ravens: B
Round 1 (30): CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Round 2 (62): OT Roger Rosengarten, Washington
Round 3 (93): EDGE Adisa Isaac, Penn State
Round 4 (113): WR Devontez Walker, UNC
Round 4 (130): CB T.J. Tampa, Iowa State
Round 5 (165): RB Rasheen Ali, Marshall
Round 6 (218): QB Devin Leary, Kentucky
Round 7 (228): C Nick Samac, Michigan State
Round 7 (250): S Sanoussi Kane, Purdue
The Ravens continue to make smart picks with players that will immediately contribute to winning. Nate Wiggins is one of the fastest players in the draft, but his lack of size definitely scared some teams. His 4.28 40 yard dash is worth betting on, even if his slight 173 pound frame is worrisome. It will be tough for him to hold up against the run, but his talent is undeniable. Rosengarten in the second round was also a great pick, as they needed some help on the offensive line, and they got the fastest tackle in the draft, running the fastest 40 yard dash time among OL at this year's combine. I also liked their fourth round picks, as Tez Walker is a good deep threat, and TJ Tampa has the tools to be a starting cornerback, even if he is a little raw. This is once again a draft we’ll probably look back on and wonder how Baltimore got so many quality players.
Cleveland Browns: C+
Round 2 (54): DT Mike Hall Jr, Ohio State
Round 3 (85): OG Zak Zinter, Michigan
Round 5 (156): WR Jamari Thrash, Louisville
Round 6 (206): LB Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
Round 7 (227): CB Myles Harden, South Dakota
Round 7 (243): DT Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati
Browns fans should be ecstatic, simply because the disastrous Deshaun Watson trade is finally complete. As far as their actual draft, they did well with what they had to work with. Mike Hall Jr is an undersized but potentially disruptive DT, who should reap the benefits of lining up next to Myles Garrett. Hall didn’t have much production in college, but his long arms paired with exceptional short area quickness give him a chance to be a better pro. Zak Zinter was another good pick for them, as without his extensive medical history, which includes a broken wrist and last November’s broken fibula and tibia, he’d have been a surefire second round pick. Cleveland probably got two good starters in this draft, but the real win is that the nightmare of a trade is finally over.
AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis Colts: A-
Round 1 (15): EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Round 2 (52): WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
Round 3 (79): OT Matt Goncalves, Pittsburgh
Round 4 (117): C Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin
Round 5 (142): WR Anthony Gould, Oregon State
Round 5 (151): S Jaylon Carlies, Missouri
Round 5 (164): S Jaylin Simpson, Auburn
Round 6 (201): CB Micah Abraham, Marshall
Round 7 (234): DT Jonah Laulu, Oklahoma
The Colts first two picks of Laiatu Latu and AD Mitchell were two of my favorite picks in this year’s draft. Latu is the most pro-ready defender in the class, and if not for his extensive injury history, having to medically retire at one point due to a neck injury, he likely would have been a top ten pick. Latu is as well refined as pass rushers come, offering an array of moves and counters that should allow him to easily rack up double digits sacks every year. He will unlock Kwity Paye, DeForest Buckner and the rest of this defensive line, which could help the hole at cornerback not seem so glaring. I still would have liked them to draft a corner at some point before the sixth round, though. AD Mitchell at 52 was great value though. Outside of the top four receivers, he has the best chance of becoming a legit WR1, and he was the 11th WR taken. There were some character concerns going into the draft that GM Chris Ballard emphatically dismissed. If those concerns were as fraudulent as Ballard says, then the Colts got a steal. Mitchell ran a blazing 4.34 40 yard dash at 6’ 2” and 205 pounds, and has all the tools to become a top ten receiver. Indianapolis’ willingness to trade down was also impressive as it netted them two extra 5th rounders and an extra 6th. The Colts might have gotten two legitimate stars in this class, making this a great class, even if they didn’t fill a major need.
Jacksonville Jaguars: C+
Round 1 (23): WR Brian Thomas Jr, LSU
Round 2 (48): DT Maason Smith, LSU
Round 3 (96): CB Jarrian Jones, Florida State
Round 4 (114): OT Javon Foster, Missouri
Round 4 (116): DT Jordan Jefferson, LSU
Round 5 (153): CB Deantre Prince, Ole Miss
Round 5 (167): RB Keilan Robinson, Texas
Round 6 (212): K Cam Little, Arkansas
Round 7 (236): EDGE Myles Cole, Texas Tech
Jaguars GM Trent Baalke cannot help himself. If there is a player with an ACL injury in his past that has good traits, Baalke will always take him. Maason Smith is the most recent example, as he tore his ACL in the season opener of the 2022 season, and his tools make it possible he ends up as one of the best defensive lineman in the class. This was a reach for Smith who isn’t polished enough to play a ton during his rookie season. I also would have liked for them to take a cornerback before the end of the third round, as it was the most glaring weakness on the team. Jones also played in the slot at Florida State, so I’m not even sure he can help them on the outside. At least the Jags did a great job in round one, picking up 2025 3rd and 4th round picks from the Vikings to move down from 17 to 23 while still picking up the speedy Brian Thomas Jr. They couldn’t go into next year with Gabe Davis and Christian Kirk as their top targets for Trevor Lawrence. Thomas and Smith need to develop into stars in order for this class to be a success.
Houston Texans: C
Round 2 (42): CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
Round 2 (59): OT Blake Fisher, Notre Dame
Round 3 (78): S Calen Bullock, USC
Round 4 (123): TE Cade Stover, Ohio State
Round 6 (188): LB Jamal Hill, Oregon
Round 6 (205): RB Jawhar Jordan, Louisville
Round 7 (238): EDGE Solomon Byrd, USC
Round 7 (247): DT Marcus Harris, Auburn
Round 7 (249): OG LaDarius Henderson, Michigan
The Texans are going to be a great team next year, but some of their decisions in this draft were questionable to say the least. Lassiter is probably a slot only type of corner due to his lack of speed (ran a 4.62 40 yard dash) and size (5’ 11”, 187 pounds). I thought they might have been better off looking for help on the outside at corner, which makes this pick seem a little rich at 42, even if his instincts and competitiveness are a good fit in DeMeco Ryans’ defense. The Fisher and Bullock picks were good as they should be solid injury protection for starters Tytus Howard and Jimmie Ward. Their trade ups in this draft were my main problem. Sacrificing a 2025 5th round pick in order to move up four spots, from pick 127 to pick 123 is horrible value. They also originally gave up that pick (123) when they moved up from 86 to 78. I thought these were terrible decisions, but at least they got quality players that should help them compete in case they are as injured a team as they were last year.
Tennessee Titans: D+
Round 1 (7): OT JC Latham, Alabama
Round 2 (38): DT T’Vondre Sweat, Texas
Round 4 (106): LB Cedric Gray, UNC
Round 5 (146): CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr, Louisville
Round 6 (182): WR Jha’Quan Jackson, Tulane
Round 7 (242): S James Williams, Miami
Round 7 (252): EDGE Jaylen Harrell, Michigan
I am not a fan of the Titans draft class. JC Latham might be the strongest player in the class, but I thought this was a slight reach necessitated by the gaping hole the Titans had on their offensive line. Latham is a fine pick though, as he will be an immediate starter and his strength should allow him to be a great run blocker early on. The more puzzling pick was T’Vondre Sweat in the second round. He had major off-the-field concerns, specifically after he was arrested and charged with a DWI less than a month before the NFL Draft. Sweat was projected to fall to the third round after this, but the Titans decided to pick him right around the pick he was originally projected to be selected. I do like Sweat on the field as he is an anchor in the run game who boasts exceptional strength and size. At 6’ 4” and 366 pounds, he reminds me of Jordan Davis, but Sweat is plagued by the same problems that have kept Davis from living up to his potential. Sweat averaged just 35.9 snaps per game, so I have real concerns over whether he’ll be able to stay on the field for long enough to make this early selection worth it. If the Titans had traded down from 38 and selected Sweat in the 50’s I would have been on board. Hopefully he can fix his off-the-field problems, because he can be a game wrecker on the field.
AFC WEST
Los Angeles Chargers: A
Round 1 (5): OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Round 2 (34): WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
Round 3 (69): LB Junior Colson, Michigan
Round 4 (105): DT Justin Eboigbe, Alabama
Round 5 (137): CB Tarheeb Still, Maryland
Round 5 (140): CB Cam Hart, Notre Dame
Round 6 (181): RB Kimani Vidal, Troy
Round 7 (225): WR Brenden Rice, USC
Round 7 (253): WR Cornelius Johnson, Michigan
Jim Harbaugh’s LA tenure is off to a good start. Joe Alt is easily the best tackle prospect in the class, and is a monster of a man. He stands at almost 6’ 9” and weighs 321 pounds. Herbert has to be happy to have Alt and Rashawn Slater as bookend tackles for the next decade. The next two picks also addressed major needs with great players. It’s hard not to like Ladd McConkey’s game, and he should immediately be their WR1. If he can stay healthy, he’ll be an absolute star. Colson also represents a great start to the rebuild of their disastrous defense. He was the leader of Harbaugh's vaunted Michigan defense, and possesses the tools necessary to be a great middle linebacker. Brenden Rice in round seven is also an insane value, as I thought his mix of height and speed should have made him an early day 3 pick. The Chargers absolutely nailed this draft.
Las Vegas Raiders: B+
Round 1 (13): TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
Round 2 (44): C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
Round 3 (77): OT Delmar Glaze, Maryland
Round 4 (112): CB Decamerion Richardson, Mississippi St.
Round 5 (148): LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
Round 6 (208): RB Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
Round 7 (223): S Trey Taylor, Air Force
Round 7 (229): CB MJ Devonshire, Pittsburgh
Brock Bowers and Jackson Powers-Johnson are both likely to outplay where they were drafted, only falling because of positional value. I’m not sure there’s a single draft analyst who didn’t love Bowers as a prospect. He is a top five player in this class, and his athleticism, hands, and playmaking ability make him a potential superstar tight end. Powers-Johnson is also a great player, who I was surprised was available in the middle of the second round. He might have been the best player at the senior bowl and should immediately start on the interior of the Raiders OL. While these were both surprising picks, it’s a good sign that the Raiders are valuing the best player available rather than reaching for need. After 6 quarterbacks went in the first 12 picks, I’m glad they decided not to reach for the 7th best QB, even if Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew form one of the most underwhelming QB rooms in the league.
Kansas City Chiefs: B+
Round 1 (28): WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
Round 2 (63): OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
Round 4 (131): TE Jared Wiley, TCU
Round 4 (133): S Jaden Hicks, Washington State
Round 5 (159): C Hunter Nourzad, Penn State
Round 6 (211): CB Kamal Hadden, Tennessee
Round 7 (248): OG C.J. Hanson, Holy Cross
Why did the rest of the NFL let Mahomes get the fastest player ever? Xavier Worthy to the Chiefs should terrify teams, as he broke the record for fastest 40 yard dash time in combine history, running a 4.21. I do worry about Worthy’s size, as he weighed in at just 165 pounds at the combine. His lack of strength and size might limit him from ever being a true number one receiver, but with Travis Kelce already on the team, an outside threat like Worthy is a perfect fit. I also thought the Hicks and Suamataia picks were great. Suamataia has such a high ceiling thanks in large part due to his massive size and speed, but he might require a redshirt rookie season, as he is still very raw. Hicks was also a steal, as there’s no way a player with his athletic traits should have slipped to the fourth round. He does struggle with tackling at times, likely being the reason he fell, but he is a great coverage safety. In all, the Chiefs got three players that could end up being high quality starters, and the Worthy pick filled their biggest need. His all-world speed will open up the entire offense.
Denver Broncos: D-
Round 1 (12): QB Bo Nix, Oregon
Round 3 (76): EDGE Jonah Elliss, Utah
Round 4 (102): WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
Round 5 (145): CB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
Round 5 (147): RB Audric Estime, Notre Dame
Round 7 (235): WR Davaughn Vele, Utah
Round 7 (256): C Nick Gargiulo, South Carolina
Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick?? If not for the Falcons Michael Penix Jr curveball, this would be the most surprising pick of the draft. The Broncos were forced to reach for a QB after they released Russell Wilson and replaced him with only Zach Wilson?? I viewed Bo Nix as a late second round pick, not a top 15 pick. I am just not a Bo Nix believer. The 24 year old seems to lack the high end traits that the best QBs in the league possess. He isn’t a dynamic playmaker, and doesn't have elite arm strength. Even though his completion percentage was very high (77.4% in his final season), Oregon’s offense was constantly throwing short. 66.2% of Nix’s throws came within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. I guess Sean Payton saw Drew Brees in Bo Nix, but I sure didn’t. Outside of Nix, I liked the Elliss and Estime picks. Audric Estime could develop into a three down starter at RB, a position they’ve dealt with many injuries at. Elliss should be a good pass rushing option right away, and if he becomes better against the run, could be a great value at 76. Outside of the first round, I think they did a good job, but making Nix the 12th player selected feels like a massive mistake. The Broncos should never have put themselves in such a desperate position.
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