No draft is totally perfect, and no draft is a total disaster. This list shows the best and worst draft picks by each team. This is my prediction for when we look back at the draft 10 or 20 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.
Arizona Cardinals:
Best: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M (Round 2, Pick 15). I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the Cardinals picks, and don’t have a good feeling about Rosen in that system. Kirk should be a reliable wide receiver, and was taken as a decent value.
Worst: Chase Edmonds, RB, Fordham (Round 4, Pick 34). I’m not really sure why scouts like him so much, he struggled his senior year at an FCS school, and ran just a 4.55 at 5’9” 205 pounds. I don’t see an extended future for him.
Atlanta Falcons:
Best: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado (Round 2, Pick 26). Oliver was a lockdown corner who did a great job in press coverage against some great PAC12 offenses. Should turn into a great NFL player.
Worst: Ito Smith, RB, Southern Miss (Round 4, Pick 26). Another smaller running back who they view as a potential change of pace guy, but he really doesn’t have a spot on the team. If he’s good enough to be in the NFL, which I’m not convinced of, it will likely be with a different team.
Baltimore Ravens:
Best: DeShon Elliott, S, Texas (Round 6, Pick 16). Have it be known that I loved a lot of the Ravens picks, but I don’t know how Elliott slipped to the 6th round. He can play either safety position, and had 6 interceptions his final year at Texas, along with 9 more pass breakups. Absolute ball hock who should fit perfectly into the Ravens defense.
Worst: Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina (Round 1, Pick 25). I had Hurst as a fringe Round 2 to Round 3 talent, so 25 is a huge stretch for a position where you already have depth. To top it off, I just think Mark Andrews (3rd round pick) in better. Hurst might become a good NFL player, but he’s the 4th best TE on the Ravens right now, so it will likely be elsewhere.
Buffalo Bills:
Best: Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford (Round 3, Pick 32). Phillips is a smart, gritty d-lineman from Stanford who I had as an early 2nd round talent. Phillips and Teller were both great value choices.
Worst: Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State (Round 4, Pick 21). Johnson has a chance to be a good nickel corner, but is too small for everything else. He was a big reach despite his speed. As much as I liked some picks of the Bills, I really didn’t like Johnson, McCloud, or Proehl.
Carolina Panthers:
Best: Ian Thomas, TE, Indiana (Round 4, Pick 1). Can’t say I was a big fan of the Panthers’ draft, although their first couple choices were taken at the proper point in the draft. Thomas is a good blocker and has surprisingly soft hands. There’s a decent chance he could emerge as the heir to Greg Olsen’s position.
Worst: Rashaan Gaulden, S, Tennessee (Round 3, Pick 21). Analysts LOVE this guy, and I’ve never quite seen why. He’s got good length and makes some plays, but he’s really thin for a safety and not fast enough for a corner. Carolina better have a good idea of how to use him, or he’ll be in and out of the league quickly.
Chicago Bears:
Best: Roquan Smith, ILB, Georgia (Round 1, Pick 8). Smith is an interesting prospect because he is a safe pick, but also a can’t-miss potential. He seems to be like almost a sure deal to be a really good NFL linebacker due to his great tackling ability and athleticism.
Worst: James Daniels, C/G, Iowa (Round 2, Pick 7). Honestly, this wasn’t even a very bad pick. I think Daniels is a bit overrated, and I had him as a fringe Round 2 to Round 3 player. There were better o-linemen available, although Daniels might still have a decent career.
Cincinnati Bengals:
Best: Malik Jefferson, ILB, Texas (Round 3, Pick 14). Jefferson is a big linebacker will great athleticism and tackling ability. If he can improve in pass coverage, the sky is the limit for him.
Worst: Andrew Brown, DT, Virginia (Round 5, Pick 21). His stock rose late in the process due to a good pro day, but his stock went up just a little bit too much. None of the Bengals’ picks were too bad except a couple 7th rounders, but Brown just doesn’t seem to specialize enough in any one skill to maintain a career.
Cleveland Browns:
Best: Genard Avery, ILB, Memphis (Round 5, Pick 13). A 248 pound linebacker, Avery ran a sub-4.60 at the combine, and also totaled 22 TFLs in his final year at Memphis. He has a chance to be a very disruptive linebacker. Also he was the only player the Browns took who I had ranked higher than they were taken.
Worst: Chad Thomas, DE, Miami (FL) (Round 3, Pick 3). I was tempted to pick Simeon Thomas since I didn’t even have him in my top 1000, but that was the Brown’s last pick in the draft, so nothing was expected of him. Thomas, meanwhile, was a high 3rd round pick who I don’t expect to last long in the NFL. He isn’t quick enough to play end, and not quite big enough to play inside.
Dallas Cowboys:
Best: Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise State (Round 1, Pick 19). Vander Esch was possibly my favorite player in the draft. He’s really big for the position, athletic, strong, hardworking, and has a high football IQ. This spot was a tossup between him, Dalton Schultz, and Connor Williams, but LVE has all-pro potential.
Worst: Dorance Armstrong Jr. (Round 4, Pick 16). This wasn’t too bad of a pick. Armstrong is a great football player, but he’s undersized in he plays defensive end and doesn’t fit in too well with the Cowboys defensive style.
Denver Broncos:
Best: DaeSean Hamilton (Round 4, Pick 13). DaeSean is an incredible route runner and has great hands. He was on the radar for a long time at Penn State, but much like his quarterbacks, didn’t progress much beyond his freshman season success. I’m guessing he’ll change that and exceed some of the great receivers in Denver.
Worst: Isaac Yiadom (Round 3, Pick 35). A physical corner from Boston College, Yiadom has some potential, but is really raw. Raw cornerbacks often times get pushed aside after getting burned one too many times, and I don’t think Yiadom progresses too much before leaving the Broncos.
Detroit Lions:
Best: Tyrell Crosby, OT, Oregon (Round 5, Pick 16). Crosby’s stock fell because he’s a bit of a tweener. Not so physical to excel at guard, but not so athletic to excel at tackle. Even still, this guy didn’t allow a single sack his final season at Oregon. He has really good footwork, a high football IQ, and I think he’ll be one of the absolute biggest steals of the draft.
Worst: Tracy Walker, S, UL-Lafayette (Round 3, Pick 18). I thought Walker was a 6th round talent, and I wasn’t the only one. Definitely a big reach here for the Lions when there were a lot of good safeties left. He’s one of the lighter strong safeties in the draft, and not extremely athletic either.
Green Bay Packers:
Best: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa (Round 2, Pick 13). If I was the one making the picks, I would’ve taken Jackson before their first round pick, Jaire Alexander, and that’s not a knock on Jaire. Josh Jackson is somewhat inexperienced and slim, but he has a lot of potential, great instincts, and great hands. Certainly has all-pro potential.
Worst: J’Mon Moore, WR, Missouri (Round 4, Pick 33). The Packers took three wide receivers, and Moore was the first of the three. Ironically, he was the worst of the three. I had him as a 7th round to priority free agent caliber due to some poor route running, and I think he’ll be overshadowed by the other rookies.
Houston Texas:
Best: Justin Reid, S, Stanford (Round 3, Pick 4). I love my Stanford defensive players. Justin Reid is a dream to coach due to his high football IQ, work ethic, and athleticism. He ran an even 4.40, and had five interceptions last year. I had him as my second best safety, and late first round caliber.
Worst: Jordan Akins, TE, UCF (Round 3, Pick 34). Akins entered the draft early after UCF’s incredible season, and it clearly paid off. Despite being a day 2 pick, I don’t expect him to get much playing time. He can’t block big bodies, and isn’t very refined as a pass catcher. He isn’t extremely big nor athletic for a tight end.
Indianapolis Colts:
Best: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame (Round 1, Pick 2). Q is a can’t-miss prospect. He’s big, aggressive, smart, and tough. Everything you want in a guard, and he should be a good one for a very long time.
Worst: Kemoko Turay, OLB, Rutgers (Round 2, Pick 20). Despite being a big linebacker, Turay was far from dominant at Rutgers. He vanished at times despite being the only decent player on an otherwise horrendous defense. The Colts took four linebackers and I’m not a fan of any of them, although Leonard will probably do well in their system. Turay was drafted the same round as Leonard, and plays the same spot.
Jacksonville Jaguars:
Best: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida (Round 1, Pick 29). All of the Jaguars picks were just decent. None were great, none were awful. Bryan has a chance to be a pro bowl d-lineman, and while he might take some time to find a starting role in that defense, he’ll be great once he gets a shot.
Worst: Tanner Lee, QB, Nebraska (Round 6, Pick 29). Tanner Lee is a poor man’s version of Blake Bortles. The only problem is… why would you want a worse version of Blake Bortles? Lee has size and a strong arm, but inconsistent accuracy. I don’t expect him to ever be an NFL QB.
Kansas City Chiefs:
Best: Armani Watts, S, Texas A&M (Round 4, Pick 24). The all-SEC 1st team safety lacks the size of a prototypical NFL safety, and doesn’t have phenomenal athleticism to make up for it. But he was incredible instincts at safety, and really knows how to play. He has experience as a leader, and should maintain a good NFL career.
Worst: Dorian O’Daniel, OLB, Clemson (Round 3, Pick 36). Teams were hoping he could be one of those small hydrid linebackers who can matchup with running backs. He looks the part given his size and athleticism, the problem is that he lacks great instincts and misses easy tackles. Could’ve also gone to Breeland Speaks or Reginald McKenzie.
Los Angeles Chargers:
Best: Derwin James (Round 1, Pick 17). Derwin James is a potentially elite safety, and they got him with pretty good value. Filled a position of need with the best safety in the draft, so there’s no reason to argue against the number 1 pick.
Worst: Scott Quessenberry, C, UCLA (Round 5, Pick 18). Quessenberry is a decent athlete and has solid size for center, but he has only played center throughout his career, and has been inconsistent against big defensive linemen while in college.
Los Angeles Rams:
Best: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB, Oklahoma (Round 5, Pick 23). A big linebacker from a power five school who put up 17 TFLs the season prior will always be in good shape to contribute in the NFL. Although Okoronkwo isn’t extremely athletic, he should have a long career as a tough linebacker.
Worst: Joseph Noteboom, OT, TCU (Round 3, Pick 25). While Noteboom wasn’t a terrible choice by a team who made few good choices, he was the first pick by the Rams, which means greater expectations than expected for a 3rd round selection. He isn’t particularly athletic, wasn’t too consistent at TCU, and likely won’t find a solution to those problems now that he’s the Rams’ top pick.
Miami Dolphins:
Best: Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS/CB, Alabama (Round 1, Pick 11). Fitzpatrick is my 6th ranked prospect overall, and getting him at 11 was great value. He’s a good fit with the Dolphins and is a dream to coach.
Worst: Cornell Armstrong, CB, Southern Miss (Round 6, Pick 35). Despite being a late sixth round pick, Armstrong will still be the worst pick here because I don’t expect him to make the team even though he’s at a position of need.
Minnesota Vikings:
Best: Colby Gossett, G, Appalachian State (Round 6, Pick 39). Gossett is a better athlete than he’s given credit for, but most importantly he’s a hardnosed player who can play RT or either guard position. He’s got good size and footwork, and will play great once he gets his shot in a game.
Worst: Daniel Carlson, K, Auburn (Round 5, Pick 30). I think Carlson will be a good kicker in the NFL, but it won’t be with the Vikings. Minnesota is going all out to win a super bowl this year, and having a rookie at a position requiring mental toughness is very risky. Kai Forbath hasn’t been bad, and I think he keeps the job.
New England Patriots:
Best: Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia (Round 1, Pick 23). Wynn has incredible versatility and athleticism. He played left tackle for Georgia so he clearly has great athleticism, although his height will likely push him to guard in the NFL. He’s basically a better version of Shaq Mason, who was been a solid player for the Patriots for several years now.
Worst: Duke Dawson, CB, Florida (Round 2, Pick 24). Dawson measured smaller than expected, and isn’t particularly quick laterally. He definitely has a chance to be good in New England, but he was certainly a stretch at 56 overall.
New Orleans Saints:
Best: Will Clapp, C, LSU (Round 7, Pick 27). I had Will Clapp ranked 100 spots higher than he was chosen. He’s really big for the center position, and was very consistent at LSU. I see no reason for that to change in the NFL.
Worst: Rick Leonard, OT, Florida State (Round 4, Pick 27). Leonard has great height, but not great athleticism. He does not have consistent form and will get beaten badly in the NFL. Even though there are lots of 4th round picks in the “worst” category for a team, Leonard is one of the few that I think won’t make the 53 man roster this season.
New York Giants:
Best: Will Hernandez, G, UTEP (Round 2, Pick 2). He will be a starter from day 1. Very tough, and an excellent run blocker, Hernandez will do great in the Giants’ system. He was my 18th overall prospect, taken at pick 34. Barkley will be a day 1 starter as well.
Worst: RJ McIntosh, DT, Miami (FL) (Round 5, Pick 2). ALL SIX of the Giants’ selections were ranked better than their draft position, meaning I really liked all of their picks. McIntosh was their final selection, and I just really think the first five will be really good players. McIntosh I’m less sure of, so I reluctantly pick him here.
New York Jets:
Best: Sam Darnold, QB, USC (Round 1, Pick 3). Darnold will be a franchise QB if given enough time to get past his growing pains. He was the top QB in the draft and they got him #3, so no complaints.
Worst: Chris Herndon IV, TE, Miami (FL) (Round 4, Pick 7). He’s got solid hands but he’s not a great route runner and not a good blocker. He has some potential, but doesn’t stick out enough in any phase of the game.
Oakland Raiders:
Best: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan (Round 5, Pick 3). Before being diagnosed with a heart condition, Hurst was considered a possible first round pick. The fact that the Raiders took him in the middle rounds means they believe he’s healthy enough to compete. If that’s the case, they just got incredible value.
Worst: Brandon Parker, OT, North Carolina A&T (Round 3, Pick 1). This dude is tall and has long arms, so naturally scouts loved his potential. When I watched him, he didn’t have good balance or footwork. He benefitted from poor competition and a speedy, talented QB. He doesn’t bend his knees well and was a big stretch.
Philadelphia Eagles:
Best: Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State (Round 4, Pick 30). Measuring 6’5” and 251 pounds, Josh Sweat ran the 40 yard dash a hair faster than running back Sony Michel and many others (4.53). His athleticism isn’t limited to straight line speed, either, as he led all defensive ends with a 39.5 inch vertical. He is a little raw, but has incredible potential and time to learn while playing with a deep Eagles defense.
Worst: Matt Pryor, G, TCU (Round 6, Pick 32). This wasn’t a bad pick. Value wise, it was actually pretty solid. But the Eagles like athletic offensive linemen, and Pryor is not that. I don’t think he sticks around here too long.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
Best: Jaylen Samuels, RB/FB, NC State (Round 5, Pick 28). Samuels was a 5th round pick despite being listed as a fullback by most people. I think he is much better than that, though. NC State used him as a tight end, fullback, running back, special teamer, and more, and an opportunistic team could use him the same way. He’s athletic, smart, a willing blocker, and a good pass catcher.
Worst: James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State (Round 2, Pick 28). Although I like Washington, sometimes wide receivers fade into oblivion. He’ll be behind Antonio Brown and JuJu in the depth chart, meaning he won’t always be on the field. Since he’s best as a deep threat, if he isn’t on the field to have numerous chances for the big play, he could sort of disappear.
Seattle Seahawks:
Best: Rasheem Green, DE, USC (Round 3, Pick 15). Green is a phenomenal athlete who impressed with 10 sacks in his junior (final) season. He still has some room to put on healthy weight, and can play in multiple spots on the defensive line.
Worst: Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State (Round 1, Pick 27). If you take a running back in the first round, he better be your starter. Running backs have short careers in the NFL, and it won’t help Penny by going to a crowded backfield where he could get lost in the mix a bit. This was also a pretty big reach for round 1.
San Francisco 49ers:
Best: Fred Warner, OLB, BYU (Round 3, Pick 6). While writing this article, I’m realizing that Warner was underrated. His coverage skills were great, especially compared to most other outside linebackers around him in the draft, and he also has good athleticism and size. He doesn’t have all-pro potential, but should be starting caliber right away.
Worst: Tarvarius Moore, S, Southern Miss (Round 3, Pick 31). He is fast and had a great senior season, but he is very thin for a safety, and will be unable to tackle any NFL tight ends. I had him as a 7th round safety for his athleticism, but speed is all he has going for him.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Best: Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn (Round 2, Pick 31). Carlton Davis is one of those big, physical corners with the potential to be a star in press coverage. His type of talent is highly sought after, and getting him late in the second round was great value.
Worst: Alex Cappa, OT, Humboldt State (Round 3, Pick 30). I’m sure the casual fan was surprised to hear someone from Humboldt get called on day 2. Analysts knew of him, but were surprised nonetheless. He has size and is a decent athlete, but has never played against NFL caliber players and will need to refine his footwork quite a bit.
Tennessee Titans:
Best: Luke Falk, QB, Washington State (Round 6, Pick 25). Falk has a big arm and is pretty accurate. He played in a QB friendly system which helped pad his stats, but he has NFL size and arm talent.
Worst: Rashaan Evans, OLB, Alabama (Round 1, Pick 22). This wasn’t too bad of a pick, but their second round pick, Harold Landry, is a better player. That makes this pick seem a little unnecessary.
Washington Redskins:
Best: Trey Quinn, WR, SMU (Round 7, Pick 38). Quinn was incredibly efficient in college. Although he was outshined by teammates Courtland Sutton, Quinn was a very effective number two option. He is a crafty route runner, has good hands, and was one of the most highly rated receivers in the draft by Pro Football Focus.
Worst: Troy Apke, S, Penn State (Round 4, Pick 9). Apke saw his stock rise after putting up incredible numbers at the combine. But Apke wasn’t even an all-conference performer at Penn State. He is thin for his preferred safety position, doesn’t have good instincts, and doesn’t make many plays.