No draft is totally perfect, and no draft is a total disaster (unless you’re the Packers). This list shows a grade for each team, along with the best and worst draft picks by each team. This is my prediction for when we look back at the draft 5 or 10 years from now.
Obviously, this isn’t just a list of the best and worst players taken. Instead, this takes value of the pick into account. You won’t see many 6th or 7th round picks considered the worst pick because even if they don’t make the 53 man roster, that isn’t too far off from what was expected of them. Late round picks might be the best pick however, as a future starter taken in the 5th round is a great pick.
Arizona Cardinals
Grade: A. All 6 of the Cardinals’ draft picks fell in my top 150, and everyone was a good value when drafted. They filled most of their needs and selected based on value. While they didn’t have a second round pick, they got a second round talent in Josh Jones, and continued with solid picks in the 4th, 6th, and 7th rounds.
Best: Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson (8th overall). Simmons is a potential generational talent with elite athleticism and a ton of versatility. He was not only the best overall player at the time, but he fills a need for the Cardinals as an outside linebacker. Expect him to get all around the field for Arizona and be a great player for the next decade.
Worst: None. I genuinely don’t think they had a single bad pick. Since I don’t want to cheat, the name I’ll give is Rashard Lawrence. He was the second defensive tackle taken, and is the only player who didn’t have incredible value when drafted (granted I gave him a 4th-5th round grade and he was a 4th round pick, so it’s not like it was bad). He is a great leader and one of the more underrated players for LSU, but rarely dominated the field.
Atlanta Falcons
Grade: C+. I’m not a very big fan of most of the players the Falcons brought in, but I give them a passable grade because they filled their needs well. People will give a bad grade for AJ Terrell as he was likely a reach at the time, but I trust the Falcons had a higher grade on him than most. Not every team rates players the same, and analysts need to remember that. Hofrichter has a chance to be a great 7th round punter, and Davidson should contribute immediately.
Best: Marlon Davidson, DT, Auburn (47th overall). Davidson had a chance to go at the end of the first round. He played 3-4 defensive end in college but should be a good fit at defensive tackle. He mixes power and athleticism well and has a well rounded skill set. He should have a productive career for the Falcons.
Worst: Jaylinn Hawkins, S, California (134th overall). I had Hawkins rated a hair lower than others, but most had him as a late Day 3 pick. I had him as a free agent. Mykal Walker was also a consideration here. I think both these guys will struggle to see the field.
Baltimore Ravens
Grade: A. I don’t award A+ ratings, but I’ll say that I think the Ravens may have won the draft. Not only did they get incredible value, they got guys who fit perfectly into their system. It’s hard for a 14-2 team to improve too much through the draft, but they did it. They really needed a LB or two, a guard, a receiver, and an interior defensive lineman. They got it all.
Best: Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M (71st overall). I wouldn’t have been surprised to see him go in the first round. Madubuike is an incredible athlete who was capable of making splashy plays at Texas A&M. His athleticism makes him one of the best pass rushing defensive tackles in the draft, and I expect him to turn into a pro bowler with the Ravens. Queen, Dobbins, Duvernay, Bredeson, and Harrison were all considered here as well.
Worst: Tyre Phillips, T/G, Mississippi State (106th overall). Phillips is the only player I really don’t like from this class, but I think the Ravens could get the most out of him. He was absolutely embarrassed at the Senior Bowl (the game itself, not the practices where he was fine), and probably shouldn’t be playing tackle unless you like getting sacked.
Buffalo Bills
Grade: B. The Bills wanted to add a defensive end, a big bodied receiver to compliment their current WRs, and a running back to replace Frank Gore in their 2-man system. They filled all these needs, but I’m not a huge fan of some of the players. They also got great value in Fromm even though fit is questionable.
Best: Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF (128th overall): I had a late 3rd round grade on Davis, a big downfield threat out of UCF. The junior receiver had a big year and a lot of room to improve his game even more. A little over 6’2″ and 216 pounds, Davis offers a different type of receiver than Diggs, John Brown, and Beasley. He should be a really good #3 option.
Worst: AJ Epenesa, DE, Iowa (54th overall): Some people consider this a good value pick, but I thought Epenesa needed to be in a very specific system to be effective. He is the slowest 4-3 defensive end you’ll ever find getting drafted in the 2nd round. The Bills have two good defensive ends, they’re just older. What they really could have used at defensive end was a speed rusher, not another slow power guy. Considering he was the only defensive player they took in the first 6 rounds, they sure look like they took simply based on need.
Carolina Panthers
Grade: A-. The Panthers had 7 picks and took 7 defensive players. They needed to overhaul their defense, and they got some really good players with insane potential. It’s a little risky banking on the offense when there’s plenty of improvements that could be made there, but defense was the priority.
Best: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State (38th overall): Gross-Matos has a lot of potential as an edge rusher. While he’s still pretty raw, he has pro bowl potential and garnered a late 1st round grade from me. Getting him in the second round was good value, and filled a need.
Worst: None. I didn’t really like their 6th or 7th round picks, but Rhule knows Bravvion Roy better than I do, and Stantley Thomas-Oliver has enough potential to garner a 7th rounder. Kenny Robinson was insane potential too. If I had to pick one I would say Jeremy Chinn just because he didn’t fill a need, which is tough to pass off when you’re a 5-11 team with plenty of needs. That being said, I think he has the chance to turn into a really good player.
Chicago Bears
Grade: C. The Bears had very limited draft capital, and nailed their second pick of Jaylon Johnson. Outside of that, I wasn’t necessarily thrilled with any pick. Kmet offers a lot of potential but the Bears have plenty of needs, and tight end wasn’t one of them.
Best: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah (50). Johnson is a long corner who fills a big need for the Bears at outside corner, while offering great value in the late 2nd round. I was surprised to still see him around at #50, and he should be coached up to make him more feisty and add to his ball-hawking skillset. Trevis Gipson was also a consideration here.
Worst: Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame (43). I’m not sure why they picked Kmet first when they knew they only had 2 picks in the first 4 rounds. Half their roster is tight ends (exaggerating), and Kmet is the top tight end in the class but not an elite prospect by any means. I also didn’t really like the picks of Mooney or Simmons, but as late 5th and 7th round picks it was probably unfair to call them a bad pick.
Cincinnati Bengals
Grade: A-. The Bengals made some really good picks, starting with he obvious selection of Joe Burrow at #1. I avoided giving them the coveted “A” ranking because I think they could’ve done more to address the offensive line, which was moderately better last year but still among the worst in the league.
Best: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson (33rd overall). Obviously Joe Burrow was the best pick, but the “best” and “worst” are more about value, and Burrow will need to be a Hall of Famer and/or Super Bowl winner to be considered good value at #1. Higgins filled another need at WR, offering a big option that could step in and perform right away. I especially like the pick because AJ Green’s career is a major question mark, and Higgins plays a similar style to back him up. He has also worked out with Burrow in the past.
Worst: Khalid Kareem, DE, Notre Dame (147th overall). This wasn’t a bad pick by any means, but it was the only one I wasn’t a fan of. They passed on taking an offensive lineman when a couple of good interior linemen were available, and instead took a defensive end who is unlikely to ever be more than a rotational guy.
Cleveland Browns
Grade: A. I decided to give the Browns an “A” because their first three picks were stellar, all providing great value while filling needs. They were very close to dipping into A- range because I don’t like the only linebacker they took, but Wills, Delpit, Elliott, Bryant, and Peoples-Jones make up for it.
Best: Grant Delpit, S, LSU (44th overall). I firmly believe Delpit was the best safety in the draft, even though his 2019 season wasn’t as good as 2018. His size, versatility, athleticism, and instincts are top notch, and he’s a perfect fit for the modern NFL safety. He can do a little bit of everything, and I’d be shocked if he’s not a multiple time pro bowler before his career is over. The players mentioned above were all considerations here, especially Peoples-Jones.
Worst: Jacob Phillips, ILB, LSU (97th overall). Not much of a question for me here. Phillips has good instincts and gets a lot of tackles, but he also missed plenty of tackles and sometimes sells out, making silly mistakes trying to be overaggressive in getting a tackle. He offers little in coverage at this point and isn’t a phenomenal athlete. At inside linebacker where there’s always a lot of depth, I thought he’d be better as an early 5th rounder.
Dallas Cowboys
Grade: A. Remember, I don’t give out “A+” ratings, but Dallas nailed the draft almost as much as the Ravens. They got incredible value from nearly all their picks. Lamb, Diggs, Gallimore, Biadasz, and Anae were all drafted way after I had them graded. Reggie Robinson wasn’t a bad pick either. They also filled all their needs pretty well.
Best: Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin (146th overall). This was a really tough choice, and I was really split between Biadasz, Lamb, and Anae. The Cowboys just lost Travis Frederick, and replace him with a very similar center from Wisconsin. People got so caught up in Cesar Ruiz that I think they forgot that Biadasz was a 1st team All-American for a reason. I expect him to start from Day 1 and not miss a beat from the Pro Bowl level of Travis Frederick. And they got him with a late 4th round pick.
Worst: None. Ben DiNucci didn’t really deserve to be drafted, but it’s a 7th round pick and he has some potential given his unique arm angles. Reggie Robinson would probably be the top choice here since he was the second corner they took and wasn’t a big need. But I had him as an early 4th round caliber at they got him in the mid 4th, so there was even good value here.
Denver Broncos
Grade: B+. The Broncos got some really good players, and will have so much speed for Drew Lock to throw to. I dropped them to a B+ because I don’t think they really needed a second receiver at #46 when Ezra Cleveland was around to take over for Bolles who makes me avert my eyes when watching the Broncos. I also didn’t like how they failed to improve their defensive backfield.
Best: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri (118th overall). Albert O is a freak athlete who I had as a 2nd-3rd round grade. He is a lot like Noah Fant as an extremely fast receiver who doesn’t block much, but has the size to turn into a really good blocker. He has the potential to turn into an All-Pro tight end, and you don’t normally find that in a 4th round pick. Cushenberry, Jeudy, and Muti were also really good picks.
Worst: Michael Ojemudia, CB, Iowa (77th overall). No doubt in my mind here. I’m not a fan of Ojemudia, who was boosted on the Broncos draft board due to his solid athletic measurables. I see someone with really sloppy form who isn’t nearly ready to step in and contribute. Since he was the only defensive back they took, I feel like they didn’t address that need in the slightest.
Detroit Lions
Grade: C+. Most of the “good” players on the Lions really aren’t that good, and that’s why they only had 3 wins last year. They should be taking the absolute best available, not reaching for an edge rusher and guards to fill the biggest of needs in the 4th round. Need filling is what teams who are “one player away” should be. The first 2 rounds were really good, getting a star in Okudah and an interesting piece in Swift. After that, the Lions did what the Lions like to do. Nothing good.
Best: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State (3rd overall). A superstar corner with size, length, athleticism, talent, leadership, and technique. I shouldn’t have to explain why he’s the 3rd best player in the draft class, and the Lions didn’t mess it up. He should be a good one for a long time.
Worst: Logan Stenberg, G, Kentucky (121st overall). I thought Okwara was a reach, along with Jackson, but then they followed it up with yet another guard. Stenberg is a run blocker who I don’t like pass blocking, and the Lions opted to take another guard instead of trying to improve at linebacker, safety, or any other spot where they have mediocre players. Stenberg will be a career backup at best.
Green Bay Packers
Grade: F. It’s hard to imagine a draft that would get an F, but the Packers have done it. They made it to the NFC championship game, and their first round pick could put them in the driver’s seat as a Super Bowl favorite. They were maybe one good receiver or one good defensive player away. In the best receiver class ever, they decided to not take a single receiver. In a class with great DBs, they banked on their subpar pass defense, only taking a 7th round pick who wasn’t ranked in my top 500. After downgrading at tackle and having upcoming free agents, they waited to address offensive line until the 6th round. The only need the filled was at tight end, and they did it with a player who they could have picked 100 picks later. Jordan Love has some superstar potential, and maybe the pick will look great 10 years from now. But Rodgers has a huge ego, so the only thing their first round pick did was hurt their locker room.
Best: Kamal Martin, OLB, Minnesota (175th overall). Martin is a big and athletic linebacker who is really good in coverage. As an inside linebacker in the Packers’ 3-4 system, he should be a perfect fit as a guy who can do a little bit of everything. While AJ Dillon will likely make the biggest impact on the team, he doesn’t really fit into today’s NFL, and Martin is more likely in my eyes to have a long career. Not to mention they got him in the late 5th round.
Worst: Josiah Deguara, TE, Cincinnati (94th overall). While the circumstances surrounding Jordan Love may garner the selection here, I can see the temptation from the Packers. Deguara was my 14th ranked tight end, but the 3rd off the board. I understand that everyone ranks players differently based on system fit, but I see absolutely no scenario in which he;s better than Keene, Trautman, Bryant, Okwuegbunam, or Hopkins. He isn’t very fast, he is undersized, his route running needs work, and his hands are only average. The only plus ratings he has are productivity and team history, as Cincinnati is known to produce some good tight ends. But this was one of the absolute worst value picks in the entire draft. I wouldn’t have considered him until the 7th round.
Houston Texans
Grade: C. The Texans didn’t have many picks to work with, and they didn’t really make a splash with any of their picks. They got help they desperately needed along the defensive line, but didn’t get anyone else who can help them right away, which isn’t ideal for a playoff team.
Best: Jonathan Greenard, DE, Florida (90th overall). I’m a big Greenard fan, and I actually consider him the 3rd best defensive end in the class assuming he’s healthy. Getting him in the late 3rd round was good value, and he’ll be a menace as a rotational defensive end with potential to be a starter in a year or two.
Worst: John Reid, CB, Penn State (141st overall). No pick for the Texans was particularly bad, but Reid seemed like a reach in a talented cornerback class. Reid never dominated the field for Penn State, and is limited by his size. He plays upright and could struggle to match up in the NFL.
Indianapolis Colts
Grade: B+. The Colts got some solid players to add to a deep team that’s ready to make a run. I loved their draft through the first 4 rounds, but was extremely unimpressed with their five late round picks. I don’t think any of them were great value, and a few of them will likely get cut.
Best: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington (122nd overall). I loved the pick of Taylor, liked the fit of Pittman, and think Blackmon is very underrated. But Eason gets the nod here because he was drafted into the perfect situation. He’ll be able to learn behind Phillip Rivers, who will hopefully instill him with better work ethic and improve his football IQ. He was a 2nd round talent that they got in the 4th round, with the potential to develop into a franchise QB.
Worst: Jordan Glasgow, S, Michigan (213th overall). It’s hard to tab a late 6th round pick as a bad pick, because a lot of these guys won’t even make the team. But I’ve never understood the interest in Glasgow. Players who are a hybrid safety/linebacker are in hot demand, but not guys like Glasgow who are the athleticism of a linebacker in the size of a safety. You want it the other way around. He has no NFL traits in my eyes.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Grade: A-. Jacksonville didn’t have as flashy of a draft as some other teams, but they made good choices at almost every selection and added a lot of talent to a team with plenty of needs. Henderson, Chaisson, and Shenault all have potential to be pro bowl caliber players in their career. Round 4 was their big undoing when there were plenty of good players on the board, but I feel like they misfired on several picks.
Best: K’Lavon Chaisson, LB/DE, LSU (20th overall). I didn’t expect Chaisson to be available for the Jaguars unless the reached for him at 9. He was the 2nd best pure edge rusher in the draft behind Chase Young, offering elite athleticism around the edge. The Jags lost a lot of talent at the position, and he’ll fill an immediate need with the potential to become an All-Pro in the future.
Worst: Ben Bartch, OT, St. John’s (MN) (116th overall). A lot of people wouldn’t consider this a bad pick, but Bartch still worries me. I went to a MIAC school. Most of the defensive ends he was blocking were 220 pounds soaking wet. He held his own at the senior bowl which is most important since you can’t fault him for his competition, but the rigors of playing a complete game against strong competition is what worries me. He has some potential, but the odds of him working out are very low. All in all it wasn’t a horrible pick, don’t get me wrong. It was definitely my least favorite though.
Kansas City Chiefs
Grade: C+. The Super Bowl champs got a great fit with their first pick, but I didn’t like the rest of their draft. The reason I didn’t rank them lower is because they were going after a specific type of player: The boom or bust. Their roster is so stellar that they don’t need traditional 3rd round caliber players. They need guys who will be pro bowl caliber, and won’t lose any sleep if they need to cut them. When you keep that in mind, guys who I consider reaches like Willie Gay, Lucas Niang, or L’Jarius Sneed make sense. They have red flags, but they also have insane potential. I still rate them low because I think there’s a chance only one guy from this draft has a good career, but there’s also a chance that they just drafted several stars. It’s all about how they’re developed.
Best: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU (32nd overall). I’m not the biggest fan of Edwards-Helaire, but there’s now a good chance he’ll wind up as the best RB in the class because this fit is absolutely perfect. I consider him on-par with Swift as a receiver, and he’s definitely a better blocker than Swift. I think his running ability is overrated, but he’ll have a similar offense to the one he thrived in at LSU.
Worst: Lucas Niang, OT, TCU (96th overall). While I considered Willie Gay a bigger reach, part of that is because I dropped him for character issues. His athleticism is undeniable. Niang meanwhile doesn’t have as much upside as some of the other reaches mentioned above. He doesn’t have the athleticism for left tackle, and has had some injury issues. I think he’s much more likely to be a bust than a “boom.”
Las Vegas Raiders
Grade: C-. I wasn’t a big fan of any of the Raiders’ selections. All 7 of their picks were in the first 4 rounds, including 5 picks in the first 3 rounds. Yet they only had three players that I gave a 3rd round grade or better. The draft started with a surprise of Ruggs over Jeudy or Lamb, which I disagree with but won’t fault them for. Ruggs offers game breaking speed. But Arnette was a flat out reach, and all of their third round picks were bad in my eyes. The John Simpson pick may have saved them.
Best: John Simpson, G, Clemson (109th overall). John Simpson was the #2 guard on my board but very well could have been #1. The big left guard is great in pass pro and ready to start right away. With all the new offensive weapons, Derek Carr has no excuses anymore.
Worst: Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State (19th overall). Arnette is a good player, but shouldn’t have gone anywhere near the middle of the first round. He is ready to contribute at the NFL level but lacks the athleticism of a premier outside corner. Tanner Muse was also a consideration here.
Los Angeles Chargers
Grade: B+. The Chargers picked up Justin Herbert who they hope will be their franchise QB. Kenneth Murray improves an already solid defense, and they got a couple fun offensive weapons. The Chargers didn’t have any 2nd or 3rd round picks, so the draft was a little lackluster outside of the first round. But they nailed the first round, and are trending up after the draft.
Best: KJ Hill, WR, Ohio State (220th overall). The Buckeye’s all-time leader in career receptions fell to the 7th round. KJ Hill is a very skilled route runner who mostly works from the slot and has incredible hands. His athleticism is nothing special, but he is as reliable as anyone you could find outside the first couple rounds. I had him with a late 4th round grade.
Worst: Sam Sloman, K, Miami-OH (248th overall). I liked every pick other than Gilman and Sloman, neither of who I expect to make the team. Even though this is a late 7th round pick, I think there is a 0% chance he beats out Badgley, and was therefore as bad as throwing the pick away. You might as well have tried to draft KJ Hill again just to see what happens, at least then you’d have some comedy. Sloman had a good year but isn’t a legitimate NFL kicker, and he wasn’t even the best kicker available in a weak class. You have other needs, address them.
Los Angeles Rams
Grade: B-. The Rams needed to replace Clay Matthews, Cory Littleton, Todd Gurley, and prepare a replacement for Whitworth. I’m considering free agent Floyd a replacement for Fowler. The first 4 rounds saw 5 solid players join the team, but I’m not sure the team is much better because of it. Akers is a good player who can start right away and replace Gurley, but they didn’t help their old offensive line, and the only linebacker help comes in the form of Terrell Lewis who probably needs a doctor to take the field with him due to all the injuries.
Best: Cam Akers, RB, Florida State (52nd overall). While Brycen Hopkins was the best value pick, Cam Akers was solid value and an important need filled. Akers was incredible at the combine, and flashed a lot at Florida State despite a bad offensive line. He can do a little bit of everything and fits very well in the Rams offensive scheme. I think he’s a much better receiver than he gets credit for.
Worst: Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama (84th overall). The value wasn’t terrible in the 3rd round, but reports before the draft were that over half the teams in the NFL gave him a medically failing grade. He was expected to slide far in the draft because of all the injuries, and odds are he won’t be able to see the field very much. For a team who has a big hole at OLB, it would have been better to fill it with a consistent presence than a boom-or-bust player.
Miami Dolphins
Grade: B. The Dolphins know they’re in the midst of a long rebuild, and the players they took reflect that. A lot of these guys are boom-or-bust prospects that were reaches on my board, but make sense given their strategy. When you’re planning on losing in the upcoming season, grabbing a lot of players with a high ceiling and hoping a couple are hits is not a bad strategy. That being said, it’s a pretty big gamble on most of these picks. Tua is great but injuries are scary, Jackson and Igbinoghene are raw, Hunt was a flat out reach, and Davis doesn’t play with a winning motor. But all those guys could be really good.
Best: Curtis Weaver, LB/DE, Boise State (164th overall). I had a 3rd round grade on Weaver, who fell to the mid 5th. He doesn’t have great athleticism for an OLB, but he is a flat out football player with good size and power. He garnered All-American recognition as a defensive end at Boise State, and plays well against the run and pass.
Worst: Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn (30th overall). I understand some of the hype with him since both his parents are Olympians, but I saw nothing on tape that garnered 1st round attention, or anything close to it. I gave him a 3rd round grade because of his athletic traits, but I saw him get burned by nearly every NFL receiver he faced. He has potential down the road like mentioned above, but he’s not ready to contribute.
Minnesota Vikings
Grade: B+. The Vikings had an absurd 15 draft picks, but almost all of them came on Day 3. They took that many despite exchanging two for 2021 picks. Their draft was the classic example of taking good players that don’t necessarily fit their system, and trying to mold them into a new shape. This is perfectly emphasized by Justin Jefferson and James Lynch, who are talented players with questionable fits. Jefferson was a first round talent based on his 2019 tape which came in the slot, but he’ll have to play outside for the Vikings. He did that more in 2018, when he was likely a 3rd round caliber receiver. The Vikings addressed most needs but completely disregarded a dire need at Guard.
Best: Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State (58th overall). Cleveland, my #5 offensive tackle, somehow fell into the Vikings’ lap at 58. Incredible value for a freakish athlete and a true left tackle who will likely sit a year and get stronger before taking over for Riley Reiff and being the left tackle of the future. The Vikings have had o-line problems for a while, but Cleveland could be exactly what they’ve been looking for.
Worst: Harrison Hand, CB, Temple (169th overall). The Vikings didn’t have any horrible picks despite taking 15 players, but this spot was between Hand and Brandel, who has almost no chance to make the team. The Vikings only had one solid corner on their roster entering the draft, as Holton Hill was played less often than Nate Meadors down the stretch, which isn’t a good sign since Meadors shouldn’t be in the NFL. So taking Hand in the 5th round despite having already drafted 2 corners wasn’t all that crazy. But he struggled in coverage a bit at Temple, and doesn’t have extremely quick feet despite having explosive burst. The pick would have been much better suited at Guard.
New England Patriots
Grade: C-. I really don’t like the Patriots’ draft class, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s that I shouldn’t question Bill Belichick. Nevertheless, Stidham is not a starting caliber QB. The Patriots had plenty of opportunities to take a quarterback but didn’t, instead opting for linebackers, tight ends (which was much needed), and guards.
Best: Anfernee Jennings, OLB, Alabama (89th overall). Jennings went late 3rd round as I had him graded, and he’s a good fit for the Patriots. He doesn’t always take the right angles to the tackle, but he’s productive, has really good athleticism, and extremely long arms which I love. The Patriots can use him creatively, and he now has a chance to be a high quality NFL starter for a long time.
Worst: Justin Rohrwasser, K, Marshall (159th overall). A couple of my friends asked me if I knew who this guy was. Of course I did, he was my #9 kicker out of 60 that I scouted. I knew a lot about him. That being said, I have no clue why he was the first kicker off the board. To make matters worse, Jake Fromm was still available, and instead they take a player I didn’t have rated in my top 1000. To be fair, I didn’t want Rohrwasser at his pro day, but he was one of the lucky few who was able to have one. He must have made quite the impression on the Patriots. His 2019 season was really good, but in 2018 he was just 1-for-5 from beyond 40 yards. I didn’t think he was a legitimate NFL kicker, and there’s literally 0 chance he was a better pick than Jake Fromm or another QB. Cassh Maluia was also bad, and a couple of the offensive linemen were subpar.
New Orleans Saints
Grade: C-. The Saints started the draft with limited capital, and only finished with 4 selections. To be fair the Saints don’t have many needs on their team so they didn’t really need a lot of picks. But of the four selections, they only took one player I particularly liked in Zack Baun. They didn’t exactly help themselves in the future since they didn’t add much young talent.
Best: Zack Baun, OLB, Wisconsin (74th overall). Baun is a versatile linebacker who exploded onto the scene as a senior. He is one of the best linebackers in the draft, and fills the one big need the Saints have. I gave him a second round grade and some even had him a little earlier, so getting him in the early 3rd was a good deal.
Worst: Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton (105th overall). A lot of media scouts loved this pick, and I think that’s hilarious. People who watch the FCS know that the Pioneer league is by far the worst conference. The stats mean nothing because he’s facing D2-level competition, not even traditional FCS competition. Scouts say he plays more athletic than the numbers at the combine, but that’s because he was facing players that were worse than scouts thought. Same with blocking on film. Trautman isn’t a bad prospect and I had a 4th ground grade on him, so taking him in the 3rd round isn’t bad value even based on my evaluation. But the real problem is that they traded up to get here, giving up a 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th round pick. In my eyes, they just gave up 4 picks for one of the most overrated players in the draft. Of course they are good at using backup tight ends, so it’s a good fit for Trautman to reach his potential as a solid #2 option.
New York Giants
Grade: B. The Giants had a couple of questionable picks and a couple of solid picks. They invested heavily in the offensive line with 4 players in the first 5 rounds, hoping to sure up that group once and for all. Xavier McKinney provided good second round value and Darnay Holmes should be an early contributor. I thought they could have done a lot more to help Daniel Jones with some playmakers, though.
Best: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama (36th overall). A versatile safety who was a leader for the Tide, McKinney was considered by most to be the top safety in the draft and a definite first round pick. He fell to the second round, and the Giants got great value for him. He should start right away.
Worst: Solomon Kindley, G, Georgia (111th overall). Kindley was the third offensive lineman they took, and he’s basically a worse version of Shane Lemieux who they took 39 picks later. He was a 7th-UFA grade taken in the 4th round.
New York Jets
Grade: A-. The Jets had a really good draft, filling most of their big needs. The entered the draft in desperate need of a WR1, LT, edge rusher, CB, and RB. They got them all in my eyes. Mims was a steal in the late second round, and could definitely be a WR1 in the NFL. Becton was a bit of a reach in my eyes at 11, but he fits what they want to do. I’m worried about conditioning though. Zuniga was as good as they could get at edge rusher, and Bryce Hall is an absolute steal in the 5th round. I think they wasted most of their 4th round picks with guys who won’t do much. Ashtyn Davis was a good player but questionable fit.
Best: Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia (158th overall): Hall was one of my sleepers, and I genuinely view him as a 2nd round talent taken in the 5th round. He’ll have to rehab from a notable leg injury which is why he fell so far, but assuming the medical situation checks out, the talent is that of a starting caliber outside corner. He’s 6’1″ 205 pounds with a strong frame and tackling ability, and he’s shown good instincts and a knack for breaking up passes. If he is able to fully recover from his injury, he’ll be the steal of the draft. Denzel Mims is also an option here.
Worst: Cameron Clark, OT, Charlotte (129th overall): I thought there were much better options than Clark, who doesn’t have a great position fit at the NFL level. I considered him a 7th round talent as a less-athletic tackle who may need to kick in to guard.
Philadelphia Eagles
Grade: C. The Eagles had an unusual draft, and I’m not surprised that people are so torn about it. Reagor was a good system fit, and Hurts was a surprise. Those were the only two picks in the top 100. I personally like the pick of Jalen Hurts, who was my 5th ranked QB and has insane potential. Wentz is always hurt, and having a big time backup is helpful. Hopefully Philly fans won’t turn on Wentz, though. The rest of the draft was filled with questionable players who I personally wasn’t a big fan of, but I can see how they’d be the best available for a different scout. It’s hard to drop them too much for a player like Davion Taylor or K’Von Wallace who I personally don’t like, but others might. They almost completely ignored DB, which could be a big problem.
Best: Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn (210th overall). The late 6th round pick is a really good athlete with a lot of potential as a true offensive tackle. Athletes of his caliber don’t normally fall that far in the draft, and he has a chance to be used effectively by the Eagles.
Worst: Jack Driscoll, T/G, Auburn (145th overall). Odd that I have both Auburn tackles here. I don’t like Driscoll and I would be very surprised if he sustains an NFL career. He plays like a tackle but doesn’t have anywhere near enough length to excel there. His best fit is as a career backup guard and swing tackle in emergencies. They could’ve taken Prince here an Driscoll in the 6th and no one would have bat an eye.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Grade: C. It’s hard to fault the Steelers too much for their lack luster class since they didn’t have a 1st round pick, which they used to draft Minkah Fitzpatrick. Still, this group of players isn’t too exciting. Claypool might have to move to tight end and won’t be ready to contribute at a high level right away, Highsmith is a designated pass rusher who will only see the field in a specific sets, their 4th round picks were reaches, and that just leaves a 6th and 7th rounder. The class might look okay 5 years down the road, but it won’t help them at all for the upcoming season.
Best: Carlos Davis, DT, Nebraska (232nd overall). Davis hasn’t put it all together yet, but he’s an elite athlete at the defensive tackle position who shows both power and athleticism. That kind of athleticism is incredibly rare, especially for the 7th round!
Worst: Anthony McFarland Jr., RB, Maryland (124th overall). None of their 6 picks were horrible, but I don’t think McFarland will be a great player in the NFL. He’s a fast one-cut back who has something to offer as a backup, but I question his ability as a receiver which is vital for a change of pace back.
Seattle Seahawks
Grade: D+. I don’t like a single guy they drafted. Alton Robinson was the only notable player with a better rank than draft position, and he’s questionable due to character red flags. The Seahawks get the most out of their players so maybe a guy or two will work out, but I’m not impressed. They had 3 picks in the top 70, but took none of my top 70 prospects.
Best: Alton Robinson, DE, Syracuse (148th overall). Robinson was an early 5th round pick with a mid 4th round grade. In terms of talent he’s a little better than that grade, but was dropped a bit for character issues. The Seahawks have ironed that out in the past with players, so Robinson fell in a perfect spot for him.
Worst: Damien Lewis, G, LSU (69th overall). There were several options here, because I think Jordyn Brooks is the most overrated player in the draft due to inept coverage ability, and Darrell Taylor was taken way too early. But I’ll go with Lewis because Taylor seems like a Seahawk defensive end, and Brooks at least has potential due to his elite speed. Damien Lewis doesn’t have elite NFL traits, and was a massive reach for a team who just wanted to take an interior lineman. He has limited upside and I viewed him as a 4th-5th round prospect in a weak guard class.
San Francisco 49ers
Grade: B+. The 49ers only had five selections, including just two in the first 150 selections. Nevertheless, I liked their first four picks. Kinlaw and Aiyuk weren’t tremendous value picks in my opinion but they each fit the system very well and have the NFL traits to excel in San Fran. Both of them could become pro bowlers in this system. Woerner had some George Kittle potential in my eyes, as a guy who could be a mid-to-late round pick who excels. He also found a perfect fit.
Best: Charlie Woerner, TE, Georgia (190th overall). While others may not have been enamored by this pick, I loved it. Woerner is one of the better blocking tight ends in the class, has decent size and athleticism, and showed incredible hands and route running at the NFLPA collegiate bowl. Tight ends can be hard to scout because they don’t always get opportunities to catch the ball in college, and that’s the case for Woerner. Had he gotten more opportunities, he would’ve been ranked much higher. In this system he should become a really good #2 option behind Kittle and I think will be a starter somewhere one day.
Worst: None. The first 4 picks were really good, so I guess if I had to choose I’d select Jauan Jennings. He doesn’t have NFL speed, and I doubt he’ll make the team as a 7th rounder. But he’s a different kind of receiver than they have in San Fran, and variety could be good.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Grade: A. The Bucs filled all their biggest needs, including right tackle, power running back, DT depth, and safety. They only missed on a rotational pass rusher. Despite only having 3 picks in the first 3 rounds, the Bucs finished with 5 of my top 100 players. They got a perfect fit at right tackle who they probably didn’t expect to fall to them in Tristan Wirfs, got a stud in Antoine Winfield, and Tyler Johnson was the top rated receiver in the entire country by Pro Football Focus. Plus more.
Best: Khalil Davis, DT, Nebraska (194th overall). The most athletic defensive tackle prospect in years at the combine, and he fell to the 6th round. I had him as a late 3rd round pick due to his athletic traits and flashes of pass rushing ability. He needs some refining for sure, but he can do things that not many guys can. He has pro bowl potential as a 6th rounder which is incredibly rare.
Worst: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt (76th overall). This wasn’t a bad pick, I like Vaughn. But I thought it was a little bit of a reach. Compared to the other 4 picks that weren’t 7th rounders (who I don’t like to put here), he’s the only guy that wasn’t phenomenal value. Nevertheless he fits the system well and is probably an instant upgrade over Peyton Barber who was nothing special.
Tennessee Titans
Grade: B-. The Titans draft had some good and some bad, with only 6 total picks including two in the 7th round. I loved the Fulton selection, and Wilson filled a desperate need despite being a reach. The rest of the picks were either not flashy or just not very good. Evans is a good fit as the backup running back despite the value not looking great on my draft board.
Best: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU (61st overall). Fulton is a first round talent in my eyes, but character concerns could have loomed large for him. He allowed as low of a completion percentage as anyone in college football, and was consistently avoided despite an all around scary LSU defense. He breaks up a lot of passes and should be a starter at some point for the Titans.
Worst: Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State (93rd overall). This is a tough one because I think Evans is a good fit for the backup running back spot, and he has a chance to be pretty good in the system. It was just a pretty long reach based on positional need. I think the same could be said for Wilson, but he has a higher ceiling and will be a day 1 start at RT. Evans has a lot of speed but needs to develop more of an all around game including improving his blocking.
Washington Redskins
Grade: C+. Most importantly, Washington got a generational talent in Chase Young. They didn’t mess it up. Most of the players in this class are a little lack luster, with few reaches but few players of great value. The Redskins have a lot of needs but didn’t really address them, as they didn’t have a 2nd round pick and used their lone 3rd round pick on a running back with little experience. After trading Trent Williams, they have a massive hole at left tackle that I don’t think Saahdiq Charles is quite ready for.
Best: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State (2nd overall). Living up to the expectations of being a #2 overall pick is tough, but I think Young is a future Hall of Famer. Considering I’m not a huge fan of other pieces in this class, he gets the nod as the best.
Worst: Antonio Gibson, RB, Memphis (66th overall). Instead of addressing a big need like the inevitable replacement at LT, a good corner, or a receiver/tight end to help Haskins, the Redskins went for a young and fast athlete out of Memphis. Gibson has a lot of potential, but it was still a big reach on my board given his massive inexperience at running back and inability to help block at this point. I don’t think this did Haskins any favors.
If you have any opinions on your draft class, leave a comment below! We’ll reevaluate the 2020 NFL Draft Class in the near future.
