Dallas Cowboys: A+
The Cowboys were already fairly loaded at receiver with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, but Jerry Jones decided to make Dak Prescott’s life even better with the first-round selection of Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, the best overall receiver in this draft class. Yes, Jerry Jeudy is a slightly better route-runner, and Henry Ruggs III is faster, but nobody in class brings the complete package at the position like Lamb does. He’ll be a force multiplier outside and in the slot.
Then, Dallas took Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs in the second round — a natural press-man cornerback who has some elements of early Richard Sherman in his game. He’s a very different kind of player than Byron Jones, who went to Miami in free agency, but he gives Mike Nolan lockdown ability to one side.
The Cowboys went with great players throughout their draft. I love the pick of Utah edge-rusher Bradlee Anae in the fifth round — he’s a smaller, twitched-up guy who can make bad things happen for quarterbacks. And defensive tackle Neville Gallimore from Oklahoma, their third-round pick, is a perfect one-gap interior disruptor. Add in Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz, and Tulsa press cornerback Reggie Robinson II, and the Cowboys not only got a great haul, but they also established a clear paradigm for their cornerbacks,
Denver Broncos: B
Perhaps inspired by facing the Chiefs twice a year, the Broncos went hard at the idea that their passing game should look more like a track meet. First-round pick Jerry Jeudy is the most practiced route-runner I’ve seen come out of college in a long time, and he brings peak Antonio Brown to mind without any of the off-field stuff. Second-round pick K.J. Hamler out of Penn State is another speed target, and quarterback Drew Lock now had the downfield targets he needs to complement Courtland Sutton. Denver also took tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, who played at Missouri with Lock.
On defense, Denver took Iowa cornerback Michael Ojemudia in the third round, and he projects well as an off-coverage defender with the athleticism to play press and match as well. Arkansas defensive tackle McTelvin Agim is a pass-rusher on the rise.
But the picks that may pay as many dividends as any are the ones Denver made for its offensive line. LSU Center Lloyd Cushenberry and Fresno State guard Netane Muti add serious power to an interior line in need.
Detroit Lions: B
Only the Patriots played a higher percentage of man coverage snaps than the Lions last season, so it made all the sense in the world that Detroit would go with Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah with the third overall pick. The best pure cornerback in this class, Okudah is a plug-and-play aggressor with impeccable technique. Second-round pick D’Andre Swift out of Georgia should provide immediate juice as a rusher and receiver, and he’s an underrated run-blocker. Two good guards came in the middle rounds with Ohio State’s Jonah Jackson in the third and Kentucky’s Logan Stenberg, but the guy to watch here is Notre Dame edge-rusher Julian Okwara, who has the speed and athleticism you’d expect from a tight end, and he brings it against offensive tackles. A little refinement in his game, and Okawra could prove to be one of the steals in this class.
Green Bay Packers: D-
This grade is based less on the quality of the players the Packers picked up than it is an indictment of the overall philosophy. Last season, Green Bay went 13-3 with a receiver group that had very little going for it beyond Davante Adams, and general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t take a single receiver in what was one of the deepest drafts at that position in NFL history. Moreover, Green Bay took Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick, despite the fact that Love is a serious developmental prospect. This is a team in the last years of the Aaron Rodgers era, and Rodgers still has a lot on the ball. Not only did the Packers not do anything to help him, they seemed to go out of their way to antagonize their best player. It’s difficult to understand the logic here.
Houston Texans: D
The Texans now have holes all over their roster as Bill O’Brien continues to do whatever the heck it is that Bill O’Brien does, and with all the awful trades and deals, the Texans were going to have to nail this draft on all levels to make up for it. This, they did not do. Second-round defensive lineman Ross Blacklock is a great athlete in need of technical proficiency who could have Javon Hargrave-level upside over time, and Florida edge-rusher Jonathan Greenard is an interesting project, but nobody else really pops off the tape as a serious force in the near term. Once again, we have to wonder what exactly the Texans are trying to accomplish.
Indianapolis Colts: B
Giving their first-round pick to the 49ers for DeForest Buckner was a worthy move, and the Colts turned around in the second round and gave Philip Rivers an estimable target in Michael Pittman. The USC alum is a big, physical target, and one of the more overlooked deep receivers in this class. Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor adds to Indy’s highly productive rushing attack as a high-rep guy. Over time, third-round pick Julian Blackmon, a cornerback conversion to safety, could be a top-tier defender. However, unless head coach Frank Reich is able to take his quarterback-developing skills to the next level, Washington’s Jacob Eason seems like a wasted pick in the fourth round. Yes, Eason fits the NFL’s preferred “Big Guy/Big Arm” paradigm, but from reading defenses to consistent accuracy, to questions about his work ethic, it’s tough to view Eason as a draftable prospect.
Jacksonville Jaguars: A-
With two first-round picks in 2020, and a front office seemingly fixated on a rebuilding plan that has nearly every important player on the roster out the door in one way or another, the Jaguars had to nail their 2020 draft. And for the most part, they did. With Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye gone, Jacksonville needed cornerback talent, and Florida’s C.J. Henderson was worth it at the ninth pick — outside of Jeff Okudah, nobody else in this class has better pure coverage skills. I’m less convicted that LSU edge-rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, taken with the 20th pick, will be a top-level quarterback disruptor in the NFL, but he’ll be okay if he works on his moves and finds ways to avoid getting nuked by power tackles.
Perhaps the most immediately exciting player in Jacksonville’s draft class is second-round receiver Laviska Shenault. The Colorado alum doesn’t yet have a full command of an NFL route tree, but he’s electric as an after-catch receiver and deep threat.
Kansas City Chiefs: A
Good luck dealing with this offense now. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase were the explosive parts of LSU’s offense in 2019, but Edwards-Helaire was the glue. He gained 1,867 yards from scrimmage and scored 17 touchdowns last season. He’s also been working on his pass protection with LSU assistant coach (and former Patriots stalwart back) Kevin Faulk. Since his days in Philadelphia, Andy Reid has always wanted versatile backs. Edwards-Helaire has some aspects of Darren Sproles in his playing style, but he looks even more like peak Ray Rice, but a bit more powerful, and without any of the off-field stuff. A great player and a great fit.
Second-round linebacker Willie Gay Jr. from Mississippi State has the physical tools to upgrade the athleticism of Kansas City’s linebacker corps, and that was a major issue in 2019, Lombardi Trophy aside. Third-round tackle Lucas Niang from TCU didn’t allow a single sack in three collegiate seasons despite a very odd duck-walking pass set. The sleeper here could be Louisiana Tech defensive back L’Jarius Sneed, who’s exactly the kind of corner/safety hybrid Steve Spagnuolo likes to develop.