Tag: draft grades

Steelers land third-most athletic class in 2024 NFL draft

The Steelers last two drafts have been among the best in the NFL thanks to keying on the most athletic prospects.

Last year, with General Manager Omar Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl in charge of the Pittsburgh Steelers NFL draft, we saw a huge shift in the Steelers draft philosophy. We saw a huge emphasis on overall athleticism and it really paid off.

2024 was a repeat performance as the Steelers front office landed the third-most athletic draft class in the NFL based On RAS. RAS stands for Relative Athletic Score and is an objective system set up by Kent Lee Platte to compare prospects based on hard data.

We project that offensive tackle Troy Fautanu and center Zach Frazier will both be in the Steelers starting lineup on opening weekend. We also expect wide receiver Roman Wilson and linebacker Payton Wilson will both be in heavy rotation from the beginning as well as they find their fit in the system.

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Pro Football Focus grades Saints draft class with an impressive A+

You don’t see this too often. Pro Football Focus graded the New Orleans Saints’ 2024 draft class with an impressive A+

Take a bow, Mickey Loomis. And Jeff Ireland. You too, Dave Ziegler and Randy Mueller — the four different general managers (past and present) who crowded into the New Orleans Saints’ war room for the 2024 NFL draft.

You don’t see this too often. Pro Football Focus draft analyst Trevor Sikkema awarded the Saints with an elusive A-plus grade for their haul in the 2024 draft. Not just for getting the most out of their early-round picks in right tackle Taliese Fuaga and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, but for getting great value later on with picks like quarterback Spencer Rattler and offensive tackle Josiah Ezirim, who Sikkema noted as a possible “hidden gem.”

This was a very different approach to the draft than Saints fans have grown used to. The team only traded up once and for the most part let the board come to them, selecting players at great value spots as opposed to forcing a pick at a position just because they needed it. Hopefully this more patient approach yields good results.

Just three other teams received an A-plus in PFF’s final draft grades. Six others were given a solid A, and four more made the cut with an A-minus. So it’s not like all 32 teams were given high marks. But winning the draft is one thing. Winning games in the regular season, so you can even get to the playoffs (which has eluded the Saints for three years in a row) is a whole other challenge. Let’s see Loomis pull that off next.

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Grading 49ers second round pick: Florida State CB Renardo Green

Grading the 49ers selection of Florida State CB Renardo Green in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

After there was a flurry of trades to start the second round, the San Francisco 49ers got involved with a trade at the end of the second round on Friday night. The 49ers traded the No. 63 overall selection to the Kansas City Chiefs to move back just one spot in the second round.

When they officially came on the clock in the second round, the 49ers addressed the defensive side of the ball for the first time in the draft. With the No. 64 overall pick, the 49ers selected Florida State defensive back Renardo Green.

The 6-foot-0, 186 lbs cornerback played five seasons with Florida State. In his final season with the Seminoles, Green tallied 43 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. Green also recorded 13 pass deflections and one interception.

Following the 49ers latest addition, the Niners Wire team dished out grades and their initial reactions to the pick in the second round.

Kyle Madson – Managing Editor: 

This is a head-scratcher. Green doesn’t have a ton of high-end traits, but his compete level is really high which surely endeared him to the 49ers. The bottom line is this club has too many long-term needs to throw away picks, so they can’t afford to have Green waste away as a reserve. Green is probably best suited as a press-man corner which will help his case in working into a starting job, but he’s far from a sure thing to line up across from Charvarius Ward on Day 1.”

Grade: B

Tommy Call – Contributing Writer: 

With the 49ers additions in free agency, their roster looked relatively set in the secondary. However, most of their defensive back depth chart is band-aided together with veterans. Renardo Green provided a mix of youth and potential while also having some traits that should be able to play right away.

Playing corner, Green is a willing tackler who can play on the boundary, recording over 148 tackles in his career at Florida State, including seven tackles for loss. With Green should be able to get reps as an outside corner right away as a press guy with some physicality.

While I like the potential of Green, I don’t think the 49ers addressed a need in the second round. Now, heading into round three, the offensive line feels like it needs some attention.

Grade: B-

Commanders NFL Draft grades: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan 50th overall

Commanders NFL Draft grade for selecting Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan 50th overall

The Commanders add their missing piece to the Dan Quinn defense with the addition of their potential nickel with Michigan defensive back Mike Sainristil at the 50th overall selection.

Sainristil projects as a potential immediate starter as the Commanders third corner in nickel packages. He will join last year’s first-round pick, Emmanuel Forbes, in a young and juiced-up secondary that could make a quick turnaround from a shaky year last season.

Tough, explosive, instinctive, and physical, Sainristil was an anchor on the college national champion defense. Sainristil should be productive early and be a tempo sitter with big hits and confident toughness.

Grade: B+

Giants NFL Draft grade: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

Giants NFL Draft grade for selecting Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin in the second round

The New York Giants add to what is already a top tier defense by helping out on the deep end of the field with the selection of Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin with the 47th overall selection.

Nubin projects to be locked in a camp battle with veteran safety Jalen Mills for the safety spot opposite Jason Pinnock. Nubin should help out a lacking secondary and provide some extra time for an absolutely loaded defensive line.

With excellent size, length, aggressiveness, and instincts, Nubin should be productive as an in-box safety should he see the field early on. Expect Nubin to snag a couple of balls early in his career as an aggressive ball hawk.

Grade: B

Panthers NFL Draft grades: Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas 46th overall

Panthers NFL Draft grade for selecting Texas RB Jonathon Brooks in the second round

The Carolina Panthers continue to stack talent around their young quarterback after addressing receiver in the first round. Now they find some help in the running attack after a trade down with Texas running back Jonathon Brooks at 46th overall.

Brooks projects as the immediate starter in Carolina; though the Panthers have the likes of Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders on the roster, Brooks is clearly the most talented back the moment he walks into that building. Carolina will have plenty of talent to lean on in the running attack between the three.

Explosive, quick, powerful, and possessing excellent balance, Brooks will be productive early on for Carolina as they look to ease more pressure off of Bryce Young. Expect to see Brooks as a potential every down back in Charlotte. Though it begs the question if running back was the right fit for Carolina given the talent on the board.

Grade: C+

Raiders NFL Draft grades: Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon 44th overall

Raiders NFL Draft grade for selecting Oregon IOL Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round

The Las Vegas Raiders continue to add young studs along their offense by taking maybe the best interior offensive lineman in this class in Oregon interior offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson with the 44th overall selection.

Powers-Johnson projects as an immediate starter along a talented Raiders offensive line and could play either at the guard or center spot for the Silver and Black. Johnson should be productive right away as one of the more refined rookies in this class.

Strong, athletic, confident, and refined in both the pass and run-blocking game, Powers-Johnson will help bring an immediate boost to the Las Vegas offense and could even see Pro Bowl talk early on.

Grade: A+

Cardinals NFL Draft grades: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers 43rd overall

Cardinals NFL Draft grade for selecting Rutgers CB Max Melton in the second round

The Arizona Cardinals continue to add to their young defense and address their secondary by selecting Rutgers defensive back Max Melton with the 43rd overall selection.

Melton projects as a potential starter on a Cardinals team that is desperate for secondary help opposite Sean Murphy-Bunting. Melton is a bit raw and will need some development, so there is a question if he will be able to force his away onto the field right away.

An athletic marvel who was highly productive in college with getting his hands on the ball, Melton has the potential to turn into a number one corner in this league if he can clean up some of his game. Melton will need to develop some, and risks not being the starter day one in the desert.

Grade: C

Texans NFL Draft grade: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia 42nd overall

Texans NFL Draft grade for selecting Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter

The Houston Texans continue to stack talent into their young secondary and add a highly productive piece in Georgia defensive back Kamari Lassiter with the 42nd overall selection.

Lassiter projects as a potential immediate starter on the boundary opposite of their young star in Derek Stingley Jr. Lassiter was a lock down corner on a top Georgia defense and should slide right into his role on a Texans’ defense that continues to get better as they make another playoff push.

Smooth, refined, instinctive, and reliable, Lassiter is a proven commodity who will fit right into the DeMeco Ryans defense that values aggressiveness and confidence which Lassiter has plenty of as one of the best corners in all of college football.

Grade: A+

Saints NFL Draft grade: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama 41st overall

Grading the New Orleans Saints NFL draft selection of Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

The New Orleans Saints move up to make one of the steals in the draft and juice up their secondary by selecting Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry with the 41st overall selection.

McKinstry projects as an immediate starter in the Saints secondary, opposite of Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore. New Orleans finds itseld with two physical and aggressive corners on the outside with a secondary unit that could rank among the best next season.

Physical, confident, and solid in his technique, McKinstry should have little problem plugging right into this New Orleans defense and taking some pressure off of their defensive line with smothering coverage.

Grade: A