You can build a Super Bowl team in free agency. You can build a dynasty at the NFL Draft.
The Kansas City Chiefs became a juggernaut behind home grown stars like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones. The New England Patriots may have earned a reputation for finding bargain veterans on the open market who could contribute to championship teams, but those teams would have fallen short of the Lombardi Trophy without Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Richard Seymour or Vince Wilfork.
That means acing a draft can be the difference between sustained success and years of wandering a desert of lonely Januaries and occasional Wild Card berths. While we won’t know which teams truly crushed their picks and who struck out until years later, we can make some educated guesses about which prospects are good fits, good values or both.
Here’s how all 32 franchises did, graded and ranked in snap judgments what will soonafter be immortalized for their incorrectness when, say, Michael Penix Jr. wins his third MVP. And let’s keep in mind that “worst pick” is entirely subjective and graded on a curve, so while one team’s worst draftee may be a total disaster, the other could merely be a guy who was selected a few picks too early.
Top three picks:
- WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina (Round 1, pick 32)
- RB Jonathan Brooks, Texas (Round 2, pick 46)
- LB Trevin Wallace, Kentucky (Round 3, pick 72)
Best pick: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders. Sure, it’s not a great sign the Panthers’ most valuable selection came at the top of the fourth round. But Carolina got the player many felt was 2024’s second-best tight end on Day 3, giving Bryce Young a badly needed safety net. Sanders has a beefy frame he uses to box out defenders and create space to haul in contested balls.
He also has the run-after-catch chops to make Young look a whole lot better than he did as a rookie. While he may not offer much in the run game yet, he’s a high potential player who can
Worst pick: RB Jonathon Brooks. Brooks may well be the draft’s best running back, but this was a lot of capital to spend for a team with several glaring needs. The Texas star is coming off a torn ACL that will likely delay his 2024 debut. That’s fine — this team isn’t anywhere near a win-now state — but with plenty of talented backs lingering into Day 3 and plenty of offensive line and edge rushing talent available, this was a peculiar pick.
Potential bargain pick: DT Jaden Crumedy. Consistency is his enemy, but Crumedy possesses tantalizing athleticism for a 300-plus pound tackle. At the very least he should be able to slide in as a lane-clogging tackle on running downs. At best, he’ll sharpen his pass rushing tools and find his way to crumple pockets from the inside out.
Grade: D+
Top three picks:
- DT Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State (Round 2, pick 54)
- OG Zak Zinter, Michigan (Round 3, pick 85)
- WR Jamari Thrash, Louisville (Round 5, pick 156)
Best pick: OG Zak Zinter. If the Browns want to help their quarterback who once faced more than 20 allegations of sexual misconduct in what the NFL would later characterize as “predatory behavior,” they couldn’t have done better than this pick. Zinter was one of the best interior offensive linemen in colllege football and he checks all of the boxes as an above-average NFL starter. He will make running lanes a semi truck could drive through mere weeks after he first steps onto the field.
Worst pick: The one given up for Deshaun Watson. Since arriving in Cleveland, Watson has been the league’s 34th best quarterback among 42 players with at least 400 snaps behind center.
Potential bargain pick: CB Myles Harden. The South Dakota standout is fluid chasing wideouts and plays with notable smoothness along the sideline. He can play inside and out, and while there may be a steep learning curve in his jump up from FCS play. But his trajectory of improvement suggests he can get it done.
Grade: C
Top three picks:
- QB Bo Nix, Oregon (Round 1, pick 12)
- EDGE Jonah Elliss, Utah (Round 3, pick 76)
- WR Troy Franklin, Oregon (Round 4, pick 102
Best pick: WR Troy Franklin. The Broncos have struggled to incorporate lighter wideouts in the past, but Franklin’s burner speed and familiarity with new QB Bo Nix made him a logical — and inexpensive — pickup in the fourth round.
Worst pick: QB Bo Nix. His 6.9 air yards per throw last season were sixth-lowest in the FBS, marring his sterling 45:3 touchdown:interception ratio. The 12th pick is a rich spot for a player with iffy deep ball credentials.
Potential bargain pick: RB Audric Estime. Estime is a powerful runner with the vision and quickness to play like a scat-back. He’ll join Javonte WIlliams and Samaje Perine in a suddenly rich platoon where his size and pass blocking abilities should be an immediate asset. And all he cost was a fifth-round pick — some three rounds after the first tailback went off the draft board.
Grade: C-
Top three picks:
- CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia (Round 2, pick 42)
- OT Blake Fisher, Notre Dame (Round 2, pick 59)
- S Calen Bullock, USC (Round 3, pick 78)
Best pick: TE Cade Stover. Getting a tight end to supplant Dalton Schultz that already has a rapport with C.J. Stroud is a smart move by the Texans. It’s sound depth at an underrated position on the roster.
Worst pick: LB Jamal Hill. It’s tough to be too upset about a sixth round pick. But Hill looked destined to be a priority undrafted free agent before the Texans picked him up. The former safety only has one season at linebacker under his belt and, understandably, a thin college resume on which to fall back.
Potential bargain pick: S Calen Bullock. Bullock ranked toward the top of an uneven crop of safeties, and that uncertainty pushed him to the middle of Round 3. He’s athletic and long (and thin, which is a problem) and capable of providing vital support over-the-top on deep throws.
Grade: C
Top three picks:
- OT J.C. Latham, Alabama (Round 1, pick seven)
- DT T’Vondre Sweat, Texas (Round 2, pick 38)
- LB Cedric Gray, North Carolina (Round 4, pick 106)
Best pick: T J.C. Latham. The Titans couldn’t afford to come out of the 2024 NFL Draft without a left tackle, and they got one in Latham. He might not have quite the hype that Joe Alt had, but he’s a very promising player that could protect quarterbacks in Nashville for the next decade-plus.
Worst pick: DT T’Vondre Sweat. Sweat is massive, but tested poorly at the combine and may not be more than a space-eater in the pros. He was expected to be a third round pick or later, but the Titans snapped him up early in the second. And he carried a DWI charge with him through the pre-draft process, leading to character questions to boot.
Potential bargain pick: LB Cedric Gray. No linebacker did more than Gray the last two seasons, thanks to a ridiculous 279 tackles. Middling straight line speed helped him slip to Day 3, but he’s a tenacious player with a nose for the ball and the aggression and attitude to help overcome his jack-of-all-trades/master-of-none skillset.
Grade: C
Top three picks:
- OT Amarius Mims, Georgia (Round 1, pick 18)
- DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan (Round 2, pick 49)
- WR Jermaine Burton, Alabama (Round 3, pick 80)
Best pick: T Amarius Mims. The Bengals prioritizing the long-term stability of its offensive line is vital for Joe Burrow’s success. Mims probably won’t play this year, but he’s got the tantalizing potential to protect Burrow on the line for years to come.
Worst pick: WR Jermaine Burton. Getting insurance in case Tee Higgins leaves is smart, but Burton was selected before higher rated wideout prospects like Roman Wilson or Troy Franklin. He’s got more potential than his college numbers suggest and there’s no better way to bring that to the surface than pairing him with Joe Burrow. Still, Cincinnati may wish they’d looked elsewhere at wideout in Round 3.
Potential bargain pick: TE Tanner McLachan. Cincinnati took Erick All where McLachan was expected to be drafted and McLachan where it seemed All would end up .The Bengals’ efforts to revamp their tight end group will rely on two Day 3 selections. That makes sense, given All’s injury concerns, and McLachlan has the chops to emerge as a Joe Burrow favorite. It may take a while as he rounds out his game, but there’s a path to the starting lineup waiting for the former Southern Utah TE.
Grade: C
Top three picks:
- OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma (Round 1, pick 29)
- EDGE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan (Round 2, pick 56)
- OG Cooper Beebe, Kansas State (Round 3, pick 73)
Best pick: OG Cooper Beebe. Beebe is this draft’s most accomplished blocker, but concerns about his arm size dropped him to Day 2. Now he landed with a franchise known for turning modestly regarded offensive line prospects into All-Pros.
Worst pick: LB Marist Liufau. There’s nothing wrong with plucking an off-ball linebacker in the third round — especially given Leighton Vander Esch’s retirement. But Liufau was generally considered a mid-Day 3 talent thanks to the holes in his game.
He’s an aggressive tackler with a non-stop motor that approaches each play like there’s a bomb strapped to his back. But that leads to bad angles, missed tackles and underwhelming production. With safer prospects like Payton Wilson and Cedric Gray available, Dallas opted for a higher ceiling but may be stuck with a lower floor.
Potential bargain pick: CB Caelen Carson. The Wake Forest cornerback is a four-year starter with injury concerns, but he has the football IQ and tenacity to thrive in Dallas’s boom-or-bust secondary. He doesn’t have elite speed but does have fluid hips that keep him from getting lost in coverage.
Grade: C+
Top three picks:
- QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan (Round 1, pick 10)
- EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama (Round 1, pick 17)
- CB Khyree Jackson, Oregon (Round 4, pick 108)
Best pick: EDGE Dallas Turner. It wasn’t cheap, but Minnesota was able to add arguably the top pass rusher in this year’s class with its second first round pick. Turner has a long-limbed frame and explosive speed (4.46-second 40 time) to consistently create havoc on the edge. That’s exactly what the Vikings need after personnel concerns forced Brian Flores to blitz nearly 52 percent of the time in 2023.
Worst pick: K Will Reichard. Reichard is a very nice kicker. It’s just that drafting kickers rarely works out. And if it doesn’t, oh well, all it cost was a sixth rounder.
Potential bargain pick: OT Walter Rouse. Rouse isn’t a flashy prospect, but he’s spent the last five years as a starter at left tackle for either Stanford or Oklahoma. He’s a high floor blocker who can immediately serve in an important role for an underappreciated offensive line.
Grade: C+
Top three picks:
- QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington (Round 1, pick eight)
- DL Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson (Round 2, pick 35)
- EDGE Bralen Trice, Washington (Round 3, pick 74)
Best pick: EDGE Bralen Trice. The Falcons needed a pass rusher, and they got a very productive one in Trice. It’s not quite the first-round talent we all expected, but they chose to address quarterback for the future with Trice’s old Washington teammate, Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons crave leadership and motor, and Trice was a team captain who was lauded for his energy on the field. Atlanta choosing to focus on the future with its first-overall pick is much more palatable (if still polarizing) with landing a pro-ready pass-rusher like Trice.
Worst pick: QB Michael Penix Jr. Phew. The Falcons sure went for … something, here. Instead of taking a badly needed edge rusher in the first round they reached for Penix over J.J. McCarthy — a quarterback with a checkered injury history. He’ll also be 27 years old by the time Atlanta can get out from under Kirk Cousins’ $180 million contract… signed just months ago.
Potential bargain pick: DL Brandon Dorlus, Oregon. Dorlus is a bit of a tweener, but he has the strength and explosiveness to be the kind of impact player Falcons fans may have hoped they were getting in the first round.
Grade: C+
Top three picks:
- OL Graham Barton, Duke (Round 1, pick 26)
- EDGE Chris Braswell, Alabama (Round 2, pick 57)
- S Tykee Smith, Georgia (Round 3, pick 89)
Best pick: C Graham Barton. The Buccaneers adding perhaps the best center in the NFL Draft in a blue-chip prospect like Barton is smart drafting by the Bucs. Barton will instantly start at center for Tampa Bay and help Baker Mayfield out immensely.
Worst pick: G Elijah Klein. Klein has a boatload of starting experience at a position of need. But major questions linger about his athleticism and ability to hang at the next level.
Potential bargain pick: WR Jalen McMillan. McMillan works well in a support role and now gets to take a spot in the slot with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin drawing attention elsewhere. He could have a sneaky good rookie campaign.
Grade: C+
Top three picks:
- DT Byron Murphy II, Texas (Round 1, pick 16)
- G Christian Haynes, Connecticut (Round 3, pick 82)
- LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP (Round 4, pick 118)
Best pick: G Christian Haynes. The Seahawks needed offensive line help, and drafting a possible starter in the third round in Haynes is such great value. He might walk right in and staff one of the team’s guard spots as a rookie.
Worst pick: OT Michael Jerrell, Findlay. There’s always a risk involved when taking an offensive lineman outside the Division I ranks. Jerrell was rated outside the top 300 prospects by ESPN and as a priority free agent by The Athletic. But if those skills translate up three levels, the Seahawks will look brilliant.
Potential bargain pick: G Sataoa Laumea, Utah. Seattle already got badly needed interior blocking, but the allure of Laumea was too great to prevent a double-dip. The Seahawks got one of the draft’s top 10 guards all the way in the sixth round.
Grade: B-
Top three picks:
- WR Keon Coleman, Florida State (Round 2, pick 33)
- S Cole Bishop, Utah (Round 2, pick 60)
- DT DeWayne Carter, Duke (Round 3, pick 95)
Best pick: WR Keon Coleman. It was dicey for a bit; Buffalo kept trading backward and other teams kept selecting wideouts. But the Bills still found a first round(ish) talent in Round 2, picking up Coleman’s separation skills and game speed and giving Josh Allen a reliable target on big downs to fill in for Stefon Diggs. Coleman may never match Diggs’ prolific numbers, but he’s the kind of wideout who can keep the chains moving and lessen the mounting pressure on an overtaxed and understand receiving corps.
Worst pick: RB Ray Davis. This is nitpicking, as I like Davis quite a bit. But the fact remains he’s an older running back with lots of mileage while fresher, more explosive backs like Isaac Guerendo, Braelon Allen and even some guys who didn’t play for Wisconsin were still available.
Potential bargain pick: C Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. Van Pran-Granger spent three seasons clearing running lanes for the Georgia Bulldogs. While his draft stock tanked thanks to short arms, this failed to derail his college career. He’s a tenacious blocker with circus sideshow strength who clamps on to defenders and doesn’t relent until they’re on the turf. He can be an immediate replacement for Mitch Morse in Buffalo’s mini-rebuild.
Grade: B-
Top three picks:
- WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU (Round 1, pick 23)
- DT Maason Smith, LSU (Round 2, pick 48)
- CB Jarrian Jones, Florida State (Round 3, pick 96)
Best pick: WR Brian Thomas Jr. The Jaguars played stupid games with Calvin Ridley and won a stupid prize when he jumped ship to the rival Titans. They recovered VERY well by nabbing Thomas, a complete playmaker who should be Trevor Lawrence’s BFF. If not for his more highly-touted teammate, we’d likely be talking about Thomas as a veritable, surefire future Pro Bowler. Heck, we kind of already are.
Worst pick: CB Jarrian Jones. Jones’ physical traits are tempting. A 4.38-second 40 time out of the slot is tough to ignore. But he struggled to turn potential into production in college and was labeled a sixth round talent by The Athletic and a seventh round talent by ESPN. If the Jags need him to play outside, well, that’s a problem.
Potential bargain pick: OT Javon Foster. Foster’s three seasons of starting experience at Mizzou lend him the credibility to settle into an immediate swing role for the Jags and potentially more. He looks the part of an NFL blindside protector with long arms and solid functional strength. His footwork is still coming along and he’s not incredibly athletic for his size, but he could still be an important contributor as Jacksonville attempts to right its ship.
Grade: B-
Top three picks:
- OL Jordan Morgan, Arizona (Round 1, pick 25)
- LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M (Round 2, 45)
- S Javon Bullard, Georgia (Round 2, 58)
Best pick: LB Edgerrin Cooper. DeVondre Campbell’s release left a hole in the middle of the defense. Cooper can pair with Quay Walker to give the Packers one of the most athletic and imposing off-ball linebacker corps in the league.
Worst pick: OT Jordan Morgan. Morgan may be perfectly fine or even great in Green Bay. But he was pegged as a second round pick and the Packers took him over guys like Graham Barton (if they were looking for an interior lineman) and Tyler Guyton (if they were looking for a tackle). It’s not a bad selection, just a surprise that ups the pressure on Morgan to succeed immediately in Wisconsin.
Potential bargain pick: S Kitan Oladapo. Let no one suggest the Packers didn’t work to upgrade the safety position this spring. Oladapo was one of three safeties the team selected between rounds two and five — and the second from the state of Oregon. The former Beaver lacks elite speed, but he’s big (6-foot-2), long-armed and smart with his angles to help mitigate any disadvantage that creates.
Grade: B-
Top three picks:
- QB Drake Maye, North Carolina (Round 1, pick three)
- WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington (Round 2, pick 37)
- OT Caedan Wallace, Penn State (Round 3, pick 68)
Best pick: QB Drake Maye. We are in the 24th year of the 21st century and the Patriots are somehow still capitalizing on other teams’ harebrained mistakes. (Insert Jesse Pinkman GIF here.)
The gap between Maye and Caleb Williams is not nearly as large as some might have you believe. He’s a terrific, almost robotic processor, he creates more magic than Merlin for Arthur, and he can make every throw in the book. Full stop. The Patriots might have watched a bona fide young star quarterback fall to them because a relatively new owner couldn’t resist silly season media hype. Sigh. Go figure.
Worst pick: WR Ja’Lynn Polk. It’s possible this all looks very stupid in hindsight and Polk becomes the WR1 New England desperately needs. But Polk thrived as a second option as a Husky. His separation skills are merely average and his route tree needs to grow. We know what happens to Patriots receivers who look great in the Pac-12 and then can’t get away from cornerbacks in the NFL. They become N’Keal Harry.
Potential bargain pick: WR Javon Baker. Baker could be the real playmaker in the Patriots offense, a run-after-catch dymamo who can make Drake Maye’s life easier. He’s got strong hands and useful separation skills, though New England will have to find a way to maximize his above average, but not elite, athleticism.
Grade: B/
Top three picks:
- QB Jayden Daniels, LSU (Round 1, pick two)
- DL Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois (Round 2, pick 36)
- CB Mike Sainristil, Michigan (Round 2, pick 50)
Best pick: DT Johnny Newton. Already armed with two planet-eaters in Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, the Commanders didn’t need another interior defensive lineman. But Newton is simply way too good to pass up if he falls to you in the second round. The former Illinois product had a first round grade for many scouts and analysts, and instead drops into the lap of a rebuilding Washington team. Imagine trying to block Allen and Payne, only for Newton to be the situational No. 3. Imagine trying to block all three at the same time. (Shudders.)
Worst pick: TE Ben Sinnott. Sinnott may well be a good tight end, but the Commanders taking that position so high in a lackluster class will either pay off in the long term or show a neglect for more pressing needs on the roster. In a good draft, this isn’t a bad pick to be your weakest.
Potential bargain pick: CB Mike Sainristil. Slot corner is a position of increased value in the NFL. Washington got the 2024 Draft’s best one in the middle of the second round — exactly what the Commanders need after fielding 2023’s worst passing defense.
Grade: B/B-
Top three picks:
- OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State (Round 1, 11th pick)
- WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky (Round 3, 65th pick)
- RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin (Round 4, 134th pick)
Best pick: OT Olu Fashanu. Any time you have a chance to draft a blue-chip tackle prospect just outside of the top 10, you should be sprinting to submit that selection card at the table. Fashanu has all the tools to become a future First-Team All-Pro and he’s still just 21. In other words, there are a lot of valid shades to Penei Sewell with this pick. What’s even funnier is that Aaron Rodgers likely won’t get to enjoy the real fruits of the Jets’ labor with Fashanu.
Worst pick: RB Isaiah Davis. Not because he’s a bad prospect — he’s great! Just because he and Braelon Allen share very similar profiles as powerfully built running backs behind Breece Hall in the pecking order.
Potential bargain pick: CB Qwan’tez Swiggers. There is no college football film for Stiggers’ only Fan Controlled Football clips and shots of his CFL defensive rookie of the year campaign. That gives him 2024’s wildest path to the draft, but set him apart as a high ceiling, well built cornerback who still has lots to learn.
Grade: B
Top three picks:
- OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State (Round 1, pick 14)
- CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama (Round 2, pick 41)
- QB Spencer Rattler, South Carolina (Round 5, pick 150)
Best pick: OT Taliese Fuaga. The Saints needed insurance up front — both for Ryan Ramczyk’s injury concerns and Trevor Penning’s lack of development. They got a high-floor brawler in Fuaga, who can kick inside or stay at tackle to maximize New Orleans’ value as an immediate starter.
Worst pick: WR Bub Means. You know what? Means is a fine enough late round flier, but his speed and play style may not translate to the next level. But he was a fifth round pick, which makes this very difficult to complain about.
Potential bargain pick: LB Jaylan Ford. Questions abound about Ford’s speed and athleticism, but there’s no denying his production or leadership. He had six interceptions and 220 tackles the last two seasons for the Texas Longhorns. If nothing else, he’ll be a rising tide on the practice field.
Grade: B
Top three picks:
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State (Round 1, pick four)
- EDGE Darius Robinson, Missouri (Round 1, pick 27)
- CB Max Melton, Rutgers (Round 2, pick 43)
Best pick: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Need meets talent, as one of the league’s weakest receiving corps added 2024’s best wideout. Harrison can be the guy to help Kyler Murray live up to his $230 million contract.
Worst pick: G/T Isaiah Adams. Unless Adams turns out to be a solid starter, there were better options at guard on the board for the Cardinals at this point, at least to us.
Potential bargain pick: TE Tip Reiman.Taking a tight end with 41 career catches in the third round feels illogical, but have you SEEN Reiman? He’s built like a combine harvester and runs a 4.6-second 40. He could be lightning.
Grade: B
Top three picks:
- TE Brock Bowers, Georgia (Round 1, pick 13)
- C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon (Round 2, pick 44)
- OT Delmar Glaze, Maryland (Round 3, pick 77)
Best pick: TE Brock Bowers. Bowers is a stud, and he embodies everything gritty and fun about what the Raiders will aim to be under Antonio Pierce. No matter who plays quarterback for Las Vegas this fall, they’ll have a dynamic young weapon in Bowers to throw to. That’s exactly what you want out of a first-round pick when you don’t have a clear answer behind center.
Worst pick: OT Delmar Glaze. As per tradition, the Raiders graced us with at least one baffling pick. Glaze was rated a seventh rounder by ESPN and the 11th-best interior line prospect by The Athletic. Las Vegas selected him over blockers like Christian Haynes, Zak Zinter and Dominick Puni.
Potential bargain pick: C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon. It will be a genuine surprise is Powers-Johnson doesn’t emerge as a high level starter. He’s the perfect bouncer to keep defensive tackles out of the club — or to carve a path for the Raiders’ running backs for the next decade.
Grade: B+
Top three picks:
- WR Malik Nabers, LSU (Round 1, pick six)
- S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota (Round 2, pick 47)
- CB Andru Phillips, Kentucky (Round 3, pick 70)
Best pick: WR Malik Nabers. Daniel Jones has one year left to prove he’s a franchise quarterback and has never had a true alpha dog wideout. Nabers can be that guy and, importantly, can draw the defensive focus to allow Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson to thrive in the supporting roles for which they’re best suited.
Worst pick: LB Darius Muasau. Muasau is an ultra productive tackler. He’s also undersized at under 6-feet tall and may not have the athleticism to overcome that lack of length on Sundays. Still, he’s a worthy wager for a sixth round pick.
Potential bargain pick: RB Tyrone Tracy. Tracy has only been a running back for two years, but he’s really, really good at it. He’s an explosive runner who can plant and torch defenders en route to big gains (6.6 yards per carry at Purdue). He’s also a plus-plus target from the backfield owing to his years as a wide receiver at Iowa. While he’ll have some growing pains as someone relatively new to the position, he can be an immediate playmaker in New York’s revamped offense.
Grade: A-
Top three picks:
- OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame (Round 1, pick five)
- WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia (Round 2, pick 34)
- LB Junior Colson, Michigan (Round 3, pick 69)
Best pick: WR Ladd McConkey. Jim Harbaugh is right. Offensive linemen are the tip of the spear for any good offense. But after releasing Mike Williams and trading Keenan Allen, the Chargers’ receiver room was somehow more barren than the desert in any Mad Max movie.
McConkey, arguably the most dependable receiver in college football over the last few years, is a slam dunk from this perspective. Justin Herbert will go to McConkey early and often and it’s hard to see him disappointing. If you’re a betting person, the former Georgia product is a solid and sneaky Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.
Worst pick: DT Justin Eboigbe. Los Angeles’ draft is filled with common sense picks that represent solid value. The one minor outlier is Eboigbe, who has noted back problems and only one year of meaningful production at Alabama. That’s an acceptable risk to take early in the fourth round, even if we look back and think some higher floor players should have been the pick years from now.
Potential bargain pick: CB Cam Hart. The fifth round is the right place to gamble on a 6-foot-3 corner who can reach elite top speeds. Hart failed to turn his length and athleticism into major production at Notre Dame, knocking down only eight passes the last two seasons and notching just two interceptions in his five year career. But he allowed just a 67.1 passer rating in coverage and has the potential to be a stud under Jim Harbaugh’s guidance.
Grade: B+
Top three picks:
- WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida (Round 1, pick 31)
- CB Renardo Green, Florida State (Round 2, pick 64)
- OT Dominick Puni, Kansas (Round 3, pick 86)
Best pick: CB Renardo Green. The best way to endorse is to watch his tape against LSU. The corner had the unenviable task of covering Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. and more than held his water. (Note: It is hard to say about anyone who tried to cover that duo last college football season.) The 49ers might have a super underrated young defensive back on their hands and for just a second-round pick!
Worst pick: CB Renardo Green. Look, the rest of the Niners draft was loaded with common sense picks. But Green, for all his upside, may have lingered to the third round. San Francisco may not have maximized its value here, but it got the player it wanted.
Potential bargain pick: OT Dominick Puni. Puni made the leap from Division II to the Big 12 with aplomb, starting at multiple positions for the Jayhawks. Now he can be the balm to the charred right side of the San Francisco offensive line either at guard or tackle with a disciplined, violent approach.
Grade: B+
Top three picks:
- WR Xavier Worthy, Texas (Round 1, pick 28)
- OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU (Round 2, pick 63)
- TE Jared Wiley, TCU (Round 4, pick 131)
Best pick: WR Xavier Worthy. Kansas City has been lacking a deep threat since trading Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins. Then they got the fastest player in NFL combine history. Worthy’s deep game didn’t really develop at Texas, but that can be tied to Quinn Ewers’ struggles to get the ball to him downfield. That won’t be an issue for Patrick Mahomes.
Worst pick: CB Kamal Hadden. The Chiefs drafted well enough to force some nitpicking with a sixth round selection. Hadden is a very talented cornerback who has been unable to stay on the field. He’s missed at least four games due to injury in each of his three seasons as a Volunteer.
Potential bargain pick: TE Jared Wiley. You won’t mistake Wiley for Travis Kelce, but he’s a massive target who can carve out space and keep defenders at bay while he hauls in tough catches. He’s built similar to Mark Andrews (6-foot-6, 250-plus pounds) and has the hands (one drop in his college career) to be an immediate red zone threat for a team that was already pretty scary inside the 20s.
Grade: B+
Top three picks:
- EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State (Round 1, pick 21)
- OT Patrick Paul, Houston (Round 2, pick 55)
- RB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee (Round 4, pick 120)
Best pick: RB Jaylen Wright. The Dolphins adding yet another explosive weapon capable of breaking free for a touchdown with his blazing speed is classic Mike McDaniel. Wright’s 4.38 40-yard dash time is proof enough that he’s a perfect fit for the Dolphins offense.
Worst pick: OT Patrick Paul. Paul could develop into a proper NFL starting tackle — he has the potential. The question is whether he’ll be a better pro than Blake Fisher, Roger Rosengarten or Kingsley Suamataia. All three of those tackles were rated higher on our big board but selected later in the second round.
Potential bargain pick: WR Malik Washington. Okay, the Dolphins outrunning everyone in the NFL next season is going to be a delight (unless you’re on the receiving end of it). Washington is the perfect slot option in McDaniels’ offense, and getting him in the sixth round is just unreal.
Grade: B+
Top three picks:
- EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA (Round 1, pick 15)
- WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas (Round 2, pick 52)
- OT Matt Goncalves, Pittsburgh (Round 3, pick 79)
Best pick: EDGE Laiatu Latu. Edge rusher wasn’t Indianapolis’s biggest need, but Latu’s slide gave the Colts the chance to take 2024’s top defensive prospect in the middle of the first round. The UCLA star has the chops to make an immediate impact for a team with legit playoff aspirations this fall.
Worst pick: OT Matt Goncalves. Goncalves spent five years at Pitt but only made 24 starts, leaving him with a thin resume and the specter of an injury-marred senior season. He’s big and strong but may lack the lateral quickness to be effective at tackle. He’s a talented blocker at the point of attack, but he carries enough risk that he may have been better suited as a Day 3 selection.
Potential bargain pick: C Tanor Bortolini. Bortolini carries the pedigree of a Wisconsin lineman and showed out as one of the most athletic blockers at this year’s combine. He’s a wrecking ball who gets to clear a path for fellow Badger Jonathan Taylor.
Grade: A-
Top three picks:
- EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State (Round 1, pick 19)
- DT Braden Fiske, Florida State (Round 2, pick 39)
- RB Blake Corum, Michigan (Round 3, pick 83)
Best pick: S Kamren Kinchens. Leave it to the Rams to lose arguably the greatest defensive player of all time and only then properly reload on that side of the ball. Jokes aside, Kinchens is a takeaway machine who is somehow always in the right place at the right time. Getting him in the late third round is a terrific value. He’s tough, he’s so smart, and he should shine for a Rams defense that really needs a new leader and tone-setter.
Worst pick: RB Blake Corum. This is nothing against Corum, who was a solid third round selection who deserves his draft spot. I’m just not sure he’s so fundamentally different from Kyren Williams the Rams had to spend a Day 2 pick on him.
Potential bargain pick: EDGE Jared Verse. It’s tough for a first round pick to be a bargain, but Verse fits the bill. He may not have fully capitalized on his 2022 breakout last fall, but he’s an electric player at a premium position who can emerge from the ether and turn up with a three-sack afternoon on any given day.
Grade: A-
Top three picks:
- CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama (Round 1, pick 24)
- CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri (Round 2, pick 61)
- OT Giovanni Manu, British Columbia (Round 4, pick 126)
Best pick: CB Terrion Arnold. If the NFC semifinalists had ONE glaring weakness, it was a woeful secondary. Try as Dan Campbell to project an air of confidence in his players, but there’s simply no way he believed in a back end that featured No. 1 cornerback Cameron Sutton (gross).
Arnold is an immediate impact talent who should thrive in a CB2 role alongside the recently acquired Carlton Davis. With this duo and safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, on paper, Detroit’s secondary is actually something to write home about now.
Worst pick: N/A. I mean, maybe you can fit Manu in here? Otherwise, the Lions took versatile players with draft ranks much lower than where they were actually selected — Arnold, Christian Mahogany, Ennis Rakestraw, Mekhi Wingo. That’s tough to complain about.
Potential bargain pick: S Sione Vaki. While there’s plenty to like about a lottery ticket like Manu, Vaki is a guy who could pay dividends in the Lions’ needy secondary. He’s a missile running downhill, crashing into running backs to snuff out plays before they can become problems. While his coverage skills need to improve, the fact he’s only played two years of college ball suggests he can make leaps in the right environment. And he was happy to fill in at running back for Utah last year, giving the kind of “whatever it takes” attitude that will absolutely play on Dan Campbell’s practice field
Grade: A-
Top three picks:
- CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson (Round 1, pick 30)
- OT Roger Rosengarten, Washington (Round 2, pick 62)
- EDGE Adisa Isaac, Penn State (Round 3, pick 93)
Best pick: EDGE Adisa Isaac. The Ravens getting a likely starter at outside linebacker with a late third-round pick is the most Ravens thing possible. We’re very excited for Baltimore to usurp the draft process yet again to get a starting player on defense that may have an impact for years to come.
We promise we’re not being sarcastic. We promise.
Worst pick: CB Nate Wiggins. Look, it will probably work out for the Ravens. Wiggins was great value at the end of the first round if graded by his accomplishments (25 passes defensed the last two seasons) and athletic traits (4.28-second 40 speed). But he’s also a risk thanks to a slight, 173-pound frame (per his combine measurement) at 6-foot-1.
His ability to outslug big wideouts or shake blocks to make tackles is going to remain a massive question mark until he can prove otherise. The Clemson star was a proper risk to take, but that doesn’t mean he’ll pay off.
Potential bargain pick: WR Devontez Walker. Walker wound up in the middle of a very stupid eligibility battle with the NCAA, but still had nearly 700 receiving yards and seven touchdowns at UNC last fall in only eight games. He’s lean but long with burner speed and the chops to be the home run hitter the Ravens’ receiving corps needs.
Grade: A-
Top three picks:
- OL Troy Fautanu, Washington (Round 1, pick 20)
- C Zach Frazier, West Virginia (Round 2, pick 51)
- WR Roman Wilson, Michigan (Round 3, pick 84)
Best pick: OT Troy Fautanu. The Steelers offensive line was mediocre at best last season as it quarterbacks got pressured 126 times and had an average pocket time of 2.4 seconds. Pittsburgh also ranked 25th in rushing. In the first round, they invested in the O-Line by picking an athletic freak in Washington’s Fautanu — who grew up idolizing Steelers’ legend Troy Polomalu.
In Arthur Smith’s wide zone rushing scheme, Pittsburgh will need athletic players on the outside of the offensive line and Fautanu fits the bill. He’ll also be 24 this year and a lot of so-called experts deem him pro-ready.
Worst pick: CB Ryan Watts. Yes, the Steelers needed to add some bodies to the defensive backfield, but why did they wait to do it with their final pick of the draft? If depth at corner or safety was so important, why not address it earlier? Watts is a fine player, but this felt like the spot where Pittsburgh could’ve taken a swing at a young quarterback like Michael Pratt or Sam Hartman, considering the third string option at the moment is Kyle Allen.
Potential bargain pick: LB Payton Wilson. The Steelers didn’t exactly have a glaring need at linebacker, but they just bolstered their depth there in a big way by adding one of the most talented players at the position. Wilson’s injury history is why he slidall the way to the end of the third round, but he stayed healthy in 2023 and was the nucleus of an N.C. State unit that was 25th in the nation in defense.
Wilson was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and the winner of the Bednarik and the Nagurski awards. He’s another defender added to Pittsburgh’s arsenal that plays with wild athleticism and sharp instincts.
Grade: A
Top three picks:
- CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo (Round 1, pick 22)
- CB/S Cooper DeJean, Iowa (Round 2, pick 40)
- EDGE Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian (Round 3, pick 94)
Best pick: CB Quinyon Mitchell. Philadelphia had a glaring need at cornerback and got the draft’s top prospect without having to move up.
Worst pick: RB Will Shipley. Honestly, Shipley is fine. The question is whether he’ll be better than the other running backs he edged out to be selected in the fourth round. Even if Braelon Allen turns out to be better, this was a reasonable risk.
Potential bargain pick: CB/S Cooper DeJean DeJean was supposed to be a first rounder, but a leg injury derailed his hype train. Instead he gets to be the super-versatile and athletic addition Philly needs, capable of handling work at cornerback or safety.
Grade: A
Top three picks:
- QB Caleb Williams, USC (Round 1, pick one)
- WR Rome Odunze, Washington (Round 1, pick nine)
- OT Kiran Amegadjie, Yale (Round 3, pick 75)
Best pick: WR Rome Odunze. Even with D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen in the fold, the Bears really needed a young receiver to grow up simultaneously with Caleb Williams. They couldn’t have done better than Odunze, who can win and dominate as a pass-catcher all three levels. An incredibly polished and savvy receiver, it’s likely only a matter of time before Odunze has impeccable chemistry with Williams. All of a sudden, Chicago has a case for owning the league’s best receiver trio on paper.
Worst pick: P Tory Taylor. OK, let’s not quibble about fourth-round picks too much — these guys seldom become meaningful contributors anyway — but hoo boy, what a heat check by Chicago general manager Ryan Poles. Taylor was a two-time Punter of the Year, and was Iowa’s best offensive weapon but… you don’t just take punters this early. If ever. Plus, if everything works out for the Bears, he won’t have to do his job much in the NFL. It’s a bizarre and unnecessary but alright (?) pick, if that makes sense.
Potential bargain pick: EDGE Austin Booker. Booker was a rotational edge rusher who only made one start as a Jayhawk, but that didn’t stop him from earning a Day 2 grade from draft pundits. He’s significantly more hype than production, but when he’s on he looks damn near unstoppable. If the Bears can harness that power, hooooo buddy.
Grade: A
