Which teams fared the best this past weekend in Detroit and which teams missed an opportunity to get better? Here are my draft grades for 2024:
AFC WEST
Denver
Grade: B+
Draft picks: Round 1 (12 overall) Bo Nix, QB, Oregon; 3 (76) Jonah Elliss, Edge, Utah; 4 (102) Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon; 5 (145) Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri; 5 (147) Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame; 7 (235) Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah; 7 (256) Nick Gargiulo, OL, South Carolina.
Notable undrafted free agents: Blake Watson, RB, Memphis; Frank Crum, T, Wyoming; Omar Brown, S, Nebraska.
The lowdown: Reuniting Oregon’s Nix and Franklin is nice, and the speedy receiver is a great value toward the top of Day 3. I would’ve preferred the Broncos trade down in the first if they were targeting the Heisman finalist, but this group becomes an A+ if he pans out. Abrams-Draine and Estime are both potential impact starters in 5th.
Kansas City
Grade: A
Draft picks: 1 (28) Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas; 2 (63) Kingsley Suamataia, T, BYU; 4 (131) Jared Wiley, TE, TCU; 4 (133) Jaden Hicks, S, Washington St.; 5 (159) Hunter Nourzad, C, Penn St.; 6 (211) Kamal Hadden, CB, Tennessee; 7 (248) C.J. Hanson, G, Holy Cross.
Notable undrafted free agents: Fabien Lovett, DL, Florida St., Curtis Jacobs, LB, Penn St.
The lowdown: The Bills being complicit in allowing GM Brett Veach to draft Texas’ Worthy is reminiscent of a scene in “Jason X,” where the famous last words of a science officer before being decapitated by Jason Voorhees is “Guys, it’s OK! He just wanted his machete back!”
L.A. Chargers
Grade: A
Draft picks: 1 (5) Joe Alt, T, Notre Dame; 2 (34) Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia; 3 (69) Junior Colson, LB, Michigan; 4 (105) Justin Eboigbe, DL, Alabama; 5 (137) Tarheeb Still, CB, Maryland; 5 (140) Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame; 6 (181) Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy; 7 (225) Brenden Rice, WR, USC; 7 (253) Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan.
Notable undrafted free agents: None.
The lowdown: This draft felt like the perfect amalgamation of new coach Jim Harbaugh’s and new GM Joe Hortiz’s philosophies. There’s physicality and pedigree up and down this list. Harbaugh landed a few Wolverines, Hortiz grabbed himself an Alabama player (that’s his Ravens background showing), and Rice could end up being one of the steals of Day 3.
Las Vegas
Grade: B+
Draft picks: 1 (13) Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia; 2 (44) Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon; 3 (77) Delmar Glaze, T, Maryland; 4 (112) Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi St.; 5 (148) Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio St.; 6 (208) Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire; 7 (223) Trey Taylor, S, Air Force; 7 (229) MJ Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh.
Notable undrafted free agents: None.
The lowdown: I truly appreciate new GM Tom Telesco staying true to his draft board by drafting Bowers (the No. 4 prospect on my Big Board), even if it wasn’t a need. Picking Glaze in the third feels like a reach, especially with Christian Mahogany still available.
AFC EAST
Buffalo
Grade: B+
Draft picks: 2 (33) Keon Coleman, WR, Florida St.; 2 (60) Cole Bishop, S, Utah; 3 (95) DeWayne Carter, DL, Duke; 4 (128) Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky; 5 (141) Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, C, Georgia; 5 (160) Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington; 5 (168) Javon Solomon, Edge, Troy; 6 (204) Tylan Grable, T, UCF; 6 (219) Daequan Hardy, CB, Penn St.; 7 (221) Travis Clayton, G, International Pathway Program.
Notable undrafted free agents: Frank Gore Jr., RB, Southern Miss; Xavier Johnson, WR, Ohio St.; Jack Browning, P, San Diego St.
The lowdown: GM Brandon Beane traded down twice to begin the draft, finally ending up with the first pick of Day 2, where he still landed my No. 4 receiver (Coleman) in this draft class. This is a good haul, but I wish Beane would’ve added a second receiver (the class was so good this year).
Miami
Grade: C+
Draft picks: 1 (21) Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn St.; 2 (55) Patrick Paul, T, Houston; 4 (120) Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee; 5 (158) Mohamed Kamara, Edge, Colorado St.; 6 (184) Malik Washington, WR, Virginia; 6 (198) Patrick McMorris, S, California; 7 (241) Tahj Washington, WR, USC.
Notable undrafted free agents: Matthew Jones, OL, Ohio St.
The lowdown: The Dolphins are just hoarding speed now. I like the two edge rushers, and Houston’s Paul is a good value in the second, but GM Chris Grier needed to address the offensive line in a more robust way if they plan on giving QB Tua Tagovailoa a $200-plus million extension.
New England
Grade: B
Draft picks: 1 (3) Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina; 2 (37) Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington; 3 (68) Caedan Wallace, T, Penn St.; 4 (103) Layden Robinson, G, Texas A&M; 4 (110) Javon Baker, WR, UCF; 6 (180) Marcellas Dial, CB, South Carolina; 6 (193) Joe Milton, QB, Tennessee; 7 (231) Jaheim Bell, TE, Florida St.
Notable undrafted free agents: None.
The lowdown: The Patriots made the right choice to stick and pick Maye, and utilize their next four picks on offense in support of him. However, I felt both O-linemen were reaches in the third and fourth, especially Wallace with the 68th overall pick.
N.Y. Jets
Grade: B+
Draft picks: 1 (11) Olu Fashanu, T, Penn St.; 3 (65) Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky; 4 (134) Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin; 5 (171) Jordan Travis, QB, Florida St.; 5 (173) Isaiah Davis, RB, South Dakota State; 5 (176) Qwan’tez Stiggers, CB, Toronto Argonauts; 7 (257) Jaylen Key, S, Alabama.
Notable undrafted free agents: Brady Latham, OL, Arkansas; Leonard Taylor, DL, Miami.
The lowdown: Prioritizing Aaron Rodgers’ protection in the first shows GM Joe Douglas is still in charge here, and Corley is a superstar in the making, but the Jets needed to address the safety position long before Mr. Irrelevant.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore
Grade: B+
Draft picks: 1 (30) Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson; 2 (62) Roger Rosengarten, T, Washington; 3 (93) Adisa Isaac, Edge, Penn St.; 4 (113) Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina; 4 (130) TJ Tampa, CB, Iowa St.; 5 (165) Rasheen Ali, RB, Marshall; 6 (218) Devin Leary, QB, Kentucky; 7 (228) Nick Samac, C, Michigan St.; 7 (250) Sanoussi Kane, S, Purdue.
Notable undrafted free agents: Beau Brade, S, Maryland.
The lowdown: GM Eric DeCosta continues to stockpile textbook draft performances. My only critique of this group is Rosengarten is the only bite of the O-line apple before the 7th round, after three-fifths of last year’s starting offensive line departed.
Cincinnati
Grade: A
Draft picks: 1 (18) Amarius Mims, T, Georgia; 2 (49) Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan; 3 (80) Jermain Burton, WR, Alabama; 3 (96) McKinnley Jackson, DL, Texas A&M; 4 (115) Erick All, TE, Iowa; 5 (149) Josh Newton, CB, TCU; 6 (194) Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona; 6 (214) Cedric Johnson, Edge, Ole Miss; 7 (224) Daijahn Anthony, S, Ole Miss; 7 (237) Matt Lee, C, Miami.
Notable undrafted free agents: Cole Burgess, WR, SUNY Cortland; Aaron Casey, LB, Indiana.
The lowdown: Mims’ potential is as massive as he is. D-linemen Jenkins (one of my favorites) and Jackson will help alleviate the loss of DJ Reader. Iowa’s All is a potential steal at tight end if he can stay healthy, but Arizona’s McLachlan is an equally impressive prospect at the position.
Cleveland
Grade: C+
Draft picks: 2 (54) Michael Hall Jr., DL, Ohio St.; 3 (85) Zak Zinter, G, Michigan; 5 (157) Jamari Thrash, WR, Louisville; 6 (206) Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi St.; 7 (227) Myles Harden, South Dakota; 7 (243) Jowon Briggs, DL, Cincinnnati.
Notable undrafted free agents: Jalen Sundell, OL, North Dakota St.; Javion Cohen, G, Miami; Winston Reid, LB, Weber St.
The lowdown: Hall’s upside is sky-high, but there’s risk taking him in the second. I really like the Zinter selection. He’s a potential first-round talent who was only available in the third because he suffered a broken leg late last season, but where’s the running back?
Pittsburgh
Grade: A
Draft picks: 1 (20) Troy Fautanu, T, Washington; 2 (51) Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia; 3 (84) Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan; 3 (97) Payton Wilson, LB, NC State; 4 (119) Mason McCormick, G, South Dakota St.; 6 (178) Logan Lee, DL, Iowa; 6 (195) Ryan Watts, CB, Texas.
Notable undrafted free agents: None.
The lowdown: The offensive line is officially fixed. Fautanu, Frazier and McCormick are one of the best trios of O-linemen I’ve seen a team draft as an analyst. Michigan’s Wilson has the potential to be a better pro, and if his body cooperates, NC State’s Wilson could propel the Steelers’ defense to another level, which is a scary thought.
AFC SOUTH
Houston
Grade: B+
Draft picks: 2 (42) Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia; 2 (59) Blake Fisher, T, Notre Dame; 3 (78) Calen Bullock, S, USC; 4 (123) Cade Stover, TE, Ohio St.; 6 (188) Jamal Hill, LB, Oregon; 6 (205) Jawhar Jordan, RB, Louisville; 7 (238) Solomon Byrd, Edge, USC; 7 (247) Marcus Harris, DL, Auburn; 7 (249) LaDarius Henderson, T, Michigan.
Notable undrafted free agents: None.
The lowdown: The Texans’ big move this draft season was trading their first-rounder to Minnesota and then flipping a 2025 second-rounder they received in the deal to Buffalo for All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs.
Indianapolis
Grade: B
Draft picks: 1 (15) Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA; 2 (52) Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas; 3 (79) Matt Goncalves, T, Pittsburgh; 4 (117) Tanor Bortolini, C, Wisconsin; 5 (142) Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon St.; 5 (151) Jaylon Carlies, S, Missouri; 5 (164) Jaylin Simpson, S, Auburn; 6 (201) Micah Abraham, CB, Marshall; 7 (234) Jonah Laulu, DL, Oklahoma.
Notable undrafted free agents: Kedon Slovis, QB, BYU.
The lowdown: UCLA’s Latu is the best pure pass rusher in this class if he stays healthy and Mitchell had first-round traits but inconsistent production, so it made sense for him to slip into Day 2. I like a lot of GM Chris Ballard’s class, but I would’ve liked to see a corner drafted higher.
Jacksonville
Grade: B+
Draft picks: 1 (23) Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU; 2 (48) Maason Smith, DL, LSU; 3 (96) Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida St.; 4 (114) Javon Foster, T, Missouri; 4 (116) Jordan Jefferson, DL, LSU; 5 (153) Deantre Prince, CB, Ole Miss; 5 (167) Keilan Robinson, RB, Texas; 6 (212) Cam Little, K, Arkansas; 7 (236) Myles Cole, Edge, Texas Tech.
Notable undrafted free agents: None.
The lowdown: Kudos to GM Trent Baalke for trading down and still landing the player we thought he’d target at No. 17. Baalke also continues to stockpile premium traits (LSU’s Smith, FSU’s Jones and Texas Tech’s Cole).
Tennessee
Grade: B
Draft picks: 1 (7) JC Latham, T, Alabama; 2 (38) T’Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas; 4 (106) Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina; 5 (146) Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB, Louisville; 6 (182) Jha’Quan Jackson, WR, Tulane; 7 (242) James Williams, S, Miami; 7 (252) Jaylen Harrell, Edge, Michigan.
Notable undrafted free agents: Dillon Johnson, RB, Washington.
The lowdown: Upgrading the offensive line was priority No. 1 for GM Ran Carthon and he accomplished that. Would Sweat have been available in the third or even the top of the fourth, considering his DWI and conditioning concerns? The 38th pick in the draft is quite the premium to pay for someone with so many questions that still need to be answered.
NFC WEST
Arizona
Grade: A
Draft picks: 1 (4) Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio St.; 1 (27) Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri; 2 (43) Max Melton, CB, Rutgers; 3 (66) Trey Benson, RB, Florida St.; 3 (71) Isaiah Adams, T, Illinois; 3 (82) Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois; 3 (90) Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College; 4 (104) Taylor Dadrion-Demerson, S, Texas Tec; 5 (138) Xavier Thomas, Edge, Clemson; 5 (162) Christian Jones, T, Texas; 5 (191) Tejhaun Palmer, WR, UAB; 7 (226) Jaden Davis, CB, Miami.
Notable undrafted free agents: None.
The lowdown: The Cardinals are the first team to make seven of the first 90 picks since the Cowboys in their iconic 1991 draft class that included Russell Maryland, Alvin Harper, Erik Williams and Leon Lett. GM Monti Ossenfort secured my No. 1 overall player (Harrison) and potentially four or five other starters.
L.A. Rams
Grade: A-
Draft picks: 1 (19) Jared Verse, Edge, Florida St.; 2 (39) Braden Fiske, DL, Florida St.; 3 (83) Blake Corum, RB, Michigan; 3 (99) Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami; 5 (154) Brennan Jackson, Edge, Washington St.; 6 (196) Tyler Davis, DL, Clemson; 6 (209) Joshua Karty, K, Stanford; 6 (213) Jordan Whittington, WR, Texas; 6 (217) Beaux Limmer, C, Arkansas; 7 (254) KT Leveston, OL, Kansas St.
Notable undrafted free agents: None.
The lowdown: Clearly the focus was on filling the Hall of Fame-sized hole on the D-line, and I’m a fan of most of these players, but I wish they would’ve addressed linebacker and corner as well.
San Francisco
Grade: B
Draft picks: 1 (31) Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida; 2 (64) Renardo Green, CB, Florida St.; 3 (86) Dominick Puni, T, Kansas; 4 (124) Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest; 4 (129) Isaac Guerendo, RB, Louisville; 4 (135) Jacob Cowing, WR, Arizona; 6 (215) Jarrett Kingston, G, USC; 7 (251) Tatum Bethune, LB, Florida St.
Notable undrafted free agents: Cody Schrader, RB, Missouri; Terique Owens, WR, Missouri St., Mason Pline, TE, Furman.
The lowdown: This is what GM John Lynch, coach Kyle Shanahan and their scouts do. They identify players with a certain skill set and mentality who have potential to thrive in their system and within the culture they’ve established. Pearsall, Guerendo and Cowing should infuse elite athleticism into an already top-tier offense, while the selections of O-linemen Puni and Kingston were sneaky good selections. My one true problem here was them passing on Cooper DeJean and Jer’Zhan Newton for Pearsall with the 31st pick.
Seattle
Grade: A
Draft picks: 1 (16) Byron Murphy, DL, Texas; 3 (81) Christian Haynes, G, Connecticut; 4 (118) Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP; 4 (121) AJ Barner, TE, Michigan; 5 (136) Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn; 6 (179) Sataoa Laumea, T, Utah; 6 (192) DJ James, CB, Auburn; 6 (207) Mike Jerell, T, Findlay.
Notable undrafted free agents: George Holani, RB, Boise St.; Nelson Ceaser, Edge, Houston; Easton Gibbs, LB, Wyoming.
The lowdown: GM John Schneider continued to upgrade the trenches in a major way with his first two picks — the Seahawks also traded their second-round pick in October for D-lineman Leonard Williams. Also, Michigan’s Barner could end up being one of the better tight ends in this class.
NFC EAST
Dallas
Grade: C
Draft picks: 1 (29) Tyler Guyton, T, Oklahoma; 2 (56) Marshawn Kneeland, Edge, Western Michigan; 3 (73) Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas St.; 3 (87) Marist Liufau, LB, Notre Dame; 5 (174) Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest; 6 (216) Ryan Flournoy, WR, SE Missouri St.; 7 (233) Nathan Thomas, T, Louisiana; 7 (244) Justin Rogers, DL, Auburn.
Notable undrafted free agents: Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE, Minnesota.
The lowdown: I like the offensive linemen and Kneeland will help take pressure off of Micah Parsons, but Notre Dame’s Liufau went about two rounds too early and the Cowboys failed to secure a running back. Even though it was an underwhelming class for ball-carriers, many of them would’ve been an upgrade over their current depth chart and Ezekiel Elliott (a potential free agent signing).
N.Y. Giants
Grade: B+
Draft picks: 1 (6) Malik Nabers, WR, LSU; 2 (47) Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota; 3 (70) Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky; 4 (107) Theo Johnson, TE, Penn St.; 5 (166) Tyrone Tracy, RB, Purdue; 6 (183) Darius Muasau, LB, UCLA.
Notable undrafted free agents: Jon Jiles, WR, West Florida.
The lowdown: Every player in this group has the potential to start for the G-Men early in their career.
Philadelphia
Grade: A+
Draft picks: 1 (22) Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo; 2 (40) Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa; 3 (94) Jalyx Hunt, Edge, Houston Christian; 4 (127) Will Shipley, RB, Clemson; 5 (152) Ainias Smith, WR, Texas A&M; 5 (155) Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson; 5 (172) Trevor Keegan, G, Michigan; 6 (185) Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida St.; 6 (190) Dylan McMahom, C, NC State.
Notable undrafted free agents: Kendall Milton, RB, Georgia; Anim Dankwah, T, Howard.
The lowdown: GM Howie Roseman showed he can draft good players outside of Athens, Ga., while also teaching a masterclass on how to maneuver around a draft board. The Eagles tied an NFL record for most trades in a seven-round draft with eight, tying the 2023 Texans and 2018 Patriots. Roseman also added three picks in 2025, including a third-rounder from the Dolphins, while securing two of the four best cornerbacks (Mitchell and DeJean) in this draft, addressing their biggest need.
Washington
Grade: A
Draft picks: 1 (2) Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU; 2 (36) Jer’Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois; 2 (50) Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan; 2 (53) Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas St.; 3 (67) Brandon Coleman, T, TCU; 3 (100) Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice; 5 (139) Jordan Magee, LB, Temple; 5 (161) Dominique Hampton, S, Washington; 7 (222) Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Edge, Notre Dame.
Notable undrafted free agents: Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame; Michael Wiley, RB, Arizona; Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, WR, Georgia; Tyler Owens, S, Texas Tech.
The lowdown: New GM Adam Peters followed up his selection of a potential franchise QB (Daniels) with three of my favorite players, Newton, Sainristil and Sinnott. Newton was No. 9 on my final Big Board of the season.
NFC NORTH
Chicago
Grade: A
Draft picks: 1 (1) Caleb Williams, QB, USC; 1 (9) Rome Odunze, WR, Washington; 3 (75) Kiran Amegadjie, T, Yale; 4 (121) Tory Taylor, P, Iowa; 5 (144) Austin Booker, Edge, Kansas.
Notable undrafted free agents: Austin Reed, QB, Western Kentucky.
The lowdown: GM Ryan Poles made up for a lack of quantity with exceptional quality. Frankly, if Williams is the QB we think he is, it won’t matter if any of the other picks hit. However, all four could end up paying huge dividends at positions of significance.
Detroit
Grade: B
Draft picks: 1 (24) Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama; 2 (61) Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri; 4 (126) Giovannia Manu, T, University of British Columbia; 4 (132) Sione Vaki, RB, Utah; 6 (189) Mekhi Wingo, DL, LSU; 6 (210) Christian Mahogany, G, Boston College.
Notable undrafted free agents: Isaiah Williams, WR, Illinois.
The lowdown: Arnold easily could have been a top-15 pick, but the 14 straight offensive players at the start pushed him down. Mahogany lasting until the sixth round remains one of the biggest surprises of the draft for me. He’s a potential steal for GM Brad Holmes.
Green Bay
Grade: B
Draft picks: 1 (25) Jordan Morgan, T, Arizona; 2 (45) Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M; 2 (58) Javon Bullard, S, Georgia; 3 (88) MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC; 3 (91) Ty’Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri; 4 (111) Evan Williams, S, Oregon; 5 (163) Jacob Monk, OL, Duke; 5 (169) Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon St.; 6 (202) Travis Glover, T, Georgia St.; 7 (245) Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane; 7 (255) Kalen King, CB, Penn St.
Notable undrafted free agents: None.
The lowdown: Arizona’s Morgan isn’t a first-round draft pick in my opinion. Graham Barton, whom the Buccaneers drafted the following pick, is a better prospect due to his versatility and durability and would have made a lot of sense for the Packers. Cooper and Bullard are Day 1 starters, and if GM Brian Gutekunst’s final pick (King) can reach his potential, this grade boosts to an “A.”
Minnesota
Grade: B
Draft picks: 1 (10) J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan; 1 (17) Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama; 4 (108) Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon; 6 (177) Walter Rouse, T, Oklahoma; 6 (203) Will Reichard, K, Alabama; 7 (230) Michael Jurgens, C, Wake Forest; 7 (232) Levi Drake Rodriguez, DL, Texas A&M-Commerce.
Notable undrafted free agents: Gabriel Murphy, Edge, UCLA; Bo Richter, LB, Air Force; Dwight McGlothern, CB, Arkansas.
The lowdown: Kudos to GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah for not overspending in order to trade up for McCarthy. This allowed them to also land Turner in the first, a premium prospect in his own right. Jackson and Rouse are solid gets on Day 3, but a lack of Day 2 selections lowers the grade.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta
Grade: D+
Draft picks: 1 (8) Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington; 2 (35) Ruke Orhorhoro, DL, Clemson; 3 (74) Bralen Trice, Edge, Washington; 4 (109) Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon; 5 (143) JD Bertrand, LB, Notre Dame; 6 (186) Jase McClellan, RB, Alabama; 6 (187) Casey Washington, WR, Illinois; 6 (197) Zion Logue, DL, Georgia.
Notable undrafted free agents: None.
The lowdown: I’m a huge fan of Penix. He’s the best pure passer with the best pocket presence in this class of quarterbacks. He almost certainly would’ve been a top-10 pick without the injury history. I still don’t understand why the Falcons drafted him, and believe it could end up a lose-lose situation for him and the team. If Kirk Cousins, who GM Terry Fontenot gave a $180 million deal last month, handles his business, then Penix won’t be needed and may not get an opportunity to start, in Atlanta or elsewhere, until his late 20s. Which means the only way the pick of Penix makes sense is if Cousins fails miserably. Also, taking Clemson’s Orhorhoro over Jer’Zhan Newton (a Grady Jarrett clone) with the 35th pick has the potential to look very bad in the near future.
Carolina
Grade: B+
Draft picks: 1 (32) Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina; 2 (46) Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas; 3 (72) Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky; 4 (101) Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas; 5 (157) Chau Smith-Wade, CB, Washington St.; 6 (200) Jaden Crumedy, DL, Mississippi St.; 7 (240) Michael Barrett, LB, Michigan.
Notable undrafted free agents: Jalen Coker, WR, Holy Cross; Andrew Raym, OL, Oklahoma; Demani Richardson, S, Texas A&M.
The lowdown: New GM Dan Morgan’s goal had to be to surround last year’s No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young with better playmakers. South Carolina’s Legette, and Texas’ Brooks and Sanders all fit the bill.
New Orleans
Grade: B-
Draft picks: 1 (14) Taliese Fuaga, T, Oregon St.; 2 (41) Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama; 5 (150) Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina; 5 (170) Bub Means, WR, Pittsburgh; 5 (175) Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas; 6 (199) Khristian Boyd, DL, Northern Iowa; 7 (239) Josiah Ezirim, T, Eastern Kentucky.
Notable undrafted free agents: Dallin Holker, TE, Colorado St.
The lowdown: The mauler Fuaga checks off the Saints’ biggest need at offensive tackle and McKinstry is an amazing value in the second (he only fell due to a Jones fracture in his foot). GM Mickey Loomis only had two picks inside the top-100 to play with because of previous trades, so there’s a drop-off after McKinstry. Rattler, Boyd and Ezirim are solid fliers on Day 3, but not having enough draft capital kept Loomis from addressing the D-line or wide receiver in a significant way.
Tampa Bay
Grade: B-
Draft picks: 1 (26) Graham Barton, OL, Duke; 2 (57) Chris Braswell, Edge, Alabama; 3 (89) Tykee Smith, S, Georgia; 3 (92) Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington; 4 (125) Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon; 6 (220) Elijah Klein, G, UTEP; 7 (246) Devin Culp, TE, Washington.
Notable undrafted free agents: Kalen DeLoach, LB, Florida St.; Tyrek Funderburk, CB, Appalachian St.
The lowdown: The Buccaneers needed to address the center position after former Pro Bowler Ryan Jensen retired and they did (Barton). The rest of the group is solid, but unspectacular.
