Round 1, Pick 4 (4): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Round 1, Pick 27 (27): Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
Round 2, Pick 11 (43): Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
Round 3, Pick 2 (66): Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
Round 3, Pick 7 (71): Isaiah Adams, OG, Illinois
Round 3, Pick 18 (82): Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois
Round 3, Pick 27 (90): Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
Round 4, Pick 4 (104): Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Texas Tech
Round 5, Pick 3 (138): Xavier Thomas, EDGE, Clemson
Round 5, Pick 27 (162): Christian Jones, OT, Texas
Round 6, Pick 15 (191):Tejhaun Palmer, WR, UAB
Round 7, Pick 6 (226): Jaden Davis, CB, Miami

The Cardinals came into this draft with a roster as bereft of top-line talent as any in the NFL, and general manager Monti Ossenfort did his level best to reverse that curse. The pick of Marvin Harrison Jr. is obvious, and he reminds me of Larry Fitzgerald — another highly-drafted Cardinals receiver. Seems to me that worked out pretty well. Ossenfort also loaded up on My Guys with Darius Robinson (a multi-gap terror), Trey Benson (who reminds me of Isiah Pacheco), Max Melton (a great man/match cornerback), Elijah Jones (maybe the best pure island cornerback in this class), and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (my favorite safety overall).

A sleeper to watch is Clemson’s Xavier Thomas, who had 43 quarterback pressures last season, and foiled blockers on the edge, and when he kicked inside in passing situations.

Just hit after hit for Ossenfort and his staff. Right now, this looks like the best haul in the 2024 draft.

Round 1, Pick 8 (8): Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Round 2, Pick 3 (35): Ruke Orhorhoro, DI, Clemson
Round 3, Pick 10 (74): Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
Round 4, Pick 9 (109): Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon
Round 5, Pick 8 (143): JD Bertrand, LB, Notre Dame
Round 6, Pick 10 (186): Jase McClellan, RB, Alabama
Round 6, Pick 11 (187): Casey Washington, WR, Illinois
Round 2, Pick 21 (197): Zion Logue, OT, Georgia

Well. There’s really no way to excuse the pick of Michael Penix Jr. this high with Kirk Cousins having signed a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed in March, and with all the needs on defense here. We don’t have enough space here to detail the ways in which the Falcons blew this pick, but it is what it is. Way to potentially erase the first 2-3 years of Penix’s NFL career, guys.

As if that wasn’t YOLO enough, the Falcons traded UP to select Ruke Orhorhoro, a pretty good defensive lineman, with Illinois’ Johnny Newton and a whole lot of other defensive talent still on the board. I do like the addition of Washington Bralen Trice here — he’s a highly productive edge-rusher with some upside. And Brandon Dorlus was one of my favorite multi-gap pass-rushers. The sleeper here is Illinois receiver Casey Washington, a big-framed target with some unlocked ability as a deep receiver.

The grade is all about those first two picks, and the Falcons getting cute in a draft that could have made them contenders.

Round 1, Pick 30 (30): Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Round 2, Pick 30 (62): Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
Round 3, Pick 30 (93): Adisa Isaac, EDGE, Penn State
Round 4, Pick 13 (113): Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
Round 4, Pick 30 (130): T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State
Round 5, Pick 30 (165): Rasheen Ali, RB, Marshall
Round 6, Pick 42 (218): Devin Leary, QB, Kentucky
Round 7, Pick 8 (228): Nick Samac, C, Michigan State
Round 7, Pick 30 (250): Sanoussi Kane, S, Purdue

The Ravens are more consistent in the draft than most teams because they have a type, and they stick with it. They want guys who hit the field with aggressiveness and technical refinement, and it’s hard to argue with the approach. Wiggins is one of the stickiest and most aggressive pass defenders in this class. Rosengarten may have slipped in the minds of some because he’s a right tackle, but remember that Michael Penix Jr. is a lefty, so Rosengarten protected the blind side of a quarterback who attempted 117 passes of 20 or more air yards last season, by far the most in the NCAA. And as much as Chop Robinson shows freaky athletic potential, I preferred Adisa Issac among the Penn State edge-defenders, because Isaac can do more from more gaps.

The Ravens absolutely stole T.J. Tampa in the fourth round (how did the Buccaneers not take this guy?), and in terms of locking receivers down, that might be the sleeper pick. Tampa allowed an opponent passer rating of 54.8 last season.

So, the Ravens didn’t get weird, they took their kinds of guys, and it all looks great. What else would you ever expect?

Round 2, Pick 1 (33): Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Round 2, Pick 28 (60): Cole Bishop, S, Utah
Round 3, Pick 32 (95): DeWayne Carter, DI, Duke
Round 4, Pick 28 (128): Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky
Round 5, Pick 6 (141): Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, OG, Georgia
Round 5, Pick 25 (160): Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington
Round 5, Pick 33 (168): Javon Solomon, EDGE, Troy
Round 6, Pick 28 (204): Tylan Grable, OT, UCF
Round 6, Pick 43 (219): Daequan Hardy, CB, Penn State
Round 7, Pick 1 (221): Travis Clayton, OT, Basingstoke, England

The Bills were pilloried for trading down with the Chiefs, as if the Patrick Mahomes trade was happening all over again. But this is a team that has gone from Super Bowl contenders to rebuilding franchise sooner than it would have liked, so getting the extra picks was important. And general manager Brandon Beane got impact potential starters at key positions.

Keon Coleman isn’t the fastest receiver on any field, but he’s a jump-ball master and contested-catch monster who can turn 50/50 balls to 80/20 balls in his favor. Cole Bishop makes Buffalo’s safety issues a lot less pertinent with his awareness and athleticism, and DeWayne Carter was one of the more underrated interior defensive linemen in his group. I also love Ray Davis, who runs like a Mack truck and has overcome all kinds of personal tragedy to get here. Whatever the NFL throws at him, Davis will throw it right back.

Your sleeper here is Penn State cornerback Daequan Hardy, who has been a lockdown defender in each of the last three seasons. I also LOVE Troy’s Javon Solomon — his pass-rushing tape really stands out.

Travis Clayton is a former rugby player who came through the International Pathway Program, and the Bills are clearly hoping for a Jordan Mailata story.

Anyway, throw the performative outrage away. The Bills need a lot of picks. The Chiefs don’t. It’s as simple as that.

Round 2, Pick 32 (32): Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Round 2, Pick 14 (46): Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
Round 3, Pick 8 (72): Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky
Round 4, Pick 1 (101): Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
Round 5, Pick 22 (157): Chau Smith-Wade, CB, Washington State
Round 6, Pick 24 (200): Jaden Crumedy, OT, Mississippi State
Round 7, Pick 20 (240): Michael Barrett. LB, Michigan

When your needs are everywhere, as they are with the Panthers, just about everything is on the table. New GM Dan Morgan came into a situation in which the primary needs were playmakers and protection for Bryce Young, and the Panthers did a lot to check off the playmaker boxes. At his ultimate potential, Xavier Legette could be a combination of A.J. Brown and Deebo Samuel. Johnathon Brooks, my favorite back in this class, is a powerful, explosive weapon. And J’Tavion Sanders was my TE2 in this class behind only Brock Bowers.

Chau Smith-Wade is an interesting guy who played everywhere from the box to split safety for the Cougars, and showed lockdown potential. He’ll be a primary slot defender at 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, but I really like his press abilities and recovery speed in zone.

The Panthers did the best they could with a team that is rebuilding from the studs, and was hamstrung by the Bryce Young trade. Maybe I would have liked more at tackle further up the draft, because I don’t think Young can survive another season of Ikem Ekwonu blocking for him.

Round 1, Pick 1 (1): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Round 1, Pick 9 (9): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Round 3, Pick 11 (75): Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
Round 4, Pick 22 (172): Tory Taylor, P, Iowa
Round 5, Pick 9 (144): Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas

And now, the Chicago Bears will once again look to end their 75-year quarterback curse — this franchise hasn’t had a league-dominant quarterback since World War II. Caleb Williams will have to rein in some of his rogue tendencies, and I would have selected Jayden Daniels there, but ultimately, Williams has Aaron Rodgers upside without the tinfoil hat nonsense. And Rome Odunze might be the most immediately NFL-ready receiver in this class. Kiran Amegadjie is an athletic marvel with a bit of refinement work to do.

Obviously, Chicago’s best pick was Iowa punter Tory Taylor, who may have been the NCAA’s most valuable player regardless of position, given the vagaries of the Hawkeyes’ offense. The Bears also traded into the fifth round and picked up Austin Booker, an explosive pass disruptor off the edge who will succeed with some schematic help. You’d like more picks here, but the value of this haul is obvious.

Round 1, Pick 18 (18): Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Round 2, Pick 17 (49): Kris Jenkins, DI, Michigan
Round 3, Pick 16 (80): Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
Round 3, Pick 34 (97): McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
Round 4, Pick 15 (115): Erick All, TE, Iowa
Round 5, Pick 14 (149): Josh Newton, CB, TCU
Round 6, Pick 18 (194): Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona
Round 6, Pick 38 (214): Cedric Johnson, EDGE, Mississippi
Round 7, Pick 4 (224): Daijahn Anthony, S, Mississippi
Round 7, Pick 17 (237): Matt Lee, C, Miami

The 2024 Cincinnati Bengals have made it abundantly clear — they want to get in the mud and cut off your oxygen if you’re playing them. This is a physically powerful group. Amarius Mims is one of the most freakazoid offensive line prospects in the history of pro football, but between inexperience and his injury history, it may be a year or so before he’s ready to acquit himself. Last season, Cincinnati’s offensive tackles combined to allow 15 sacks and 100 total pressures, and though there were changes in free agency, perhaps Cincy would have been better off with a more immediate successor.

Kris Jenkins was a gap-plugging tackle in college who has more disruptive potential than he was allowed to show at Michigan. Jermaine Burton is a ready-made downfield target who could replace Tee Higgins if that contractual situation continues to be a problem.

The third-day guy I really like here is Josh Newton, who was a real problem for receivers in his two seasons with TCU after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe. And Cedric Johnson, who had four sacks and 32 total pressures for Ole Miss last season, might get early action in the NFL with the Trey Hendrickson contract situation. The downgrade here is based on taking a guy in Mims up top when he’s nothing but upside at this point.

Round 2, Pick 22 (54): Michael Hall Jr., DI, Ohio State
Round 3, Pick 21 (85): Zak Zinter, OG, Michigan
Round 5, Pick 21 (156): Jamari Thrash, WR, Louisville
Round 6, Pick 30 (206): Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State
Round 7, Pick 7 (227): Myles Harden, CB, South Dakota
Round 7, Pick 23 (243): Jowon Briggs, DT, Cincinnati

There’s nothing Browns general manager Andrew Berry can do about the Deshaun Watson disaster; all he can do is to build around that debacle as best he can, and he’s done that estimably. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz should have fun with Michael Hall Jr, an undersized disruptor who played a ton of nose tackle for the Buckeyes last season. My sense is that Hall could be a revelation as a full-time three-tech. Zak Zinter is a textbook power guard who should fit in nicely with some developmental work.

While I think Jamari Thrash as a second or third receiver, I’m not sure the Browns got any true alpha difference-makers in this class. It’s less of a concern when you’re as loaded outside of the quarterback position at the Browns are, but were Berry and his staff playing with their food here a bit?

Round 1, Pick 29 (29): Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Round 2, Pick 24 (56): Marshawn Kneeland, DL, Western Michigan
Round 3, Pick 9 (73): Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
Round 3, Pick 24 (87): Marist Liufau, LB, Notre Dame
Round 5, Pick 39 (174): Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
Round 6, Pick 40 (216): Ryan Flournoy, WR, Southeast Missouri State
Round 7, Pick 13 (233): Nathan Thomas, OT, Louisiana-Lafayette
Round 7, Pick 24 (244): Justin Rogers, DT, Auburn

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! If your only experience with the Cowboys’ thought process is Jerry Jones’ weird pressers, you’re sleeping on Dallas’ scouting department, led by Will McClay, and you really shouldn’t.

Guyton is one of my favorite pass-blocking tackles, though he’ll need a few protein shakes and Metallica workouts to get up to speed in the run game. Marshawn Kneeland is one of my favorite prospects in this class; a ready-made quarterback disruptor who can win from every gap. Woe to the offensive linemen who have to deal with Kneeland and Micah Parsons on stunts this season.

Cooper Beebe is a phone-booth mauler who might kick inside from guard to center. I also really like Caelen Carson as a hyper-smart cornerback who will have the hang of the playbook as quickly as possible. Would I have appreciated more done at receiver outside of Ryan Flournoy? Absolutely, and the Cowboys dithering at receiver and running back remains a problem.

Round 1, Pick 12 (12): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Round 3, Pick 12 (76): Jonah Elliss, EDGE, Utah
Round 4, Pick 2 (102): Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Round 5, Pick 10 (145): Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri
Round 5, Pick 12 (147): Audric Estimé, RB, Notre Dame
Round 7, Pick 15 (235): Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah
Round 7, Pick 36 (256): Nick Gargiulo, C, South Carolina

Say what you want about Bo Nix’s upside, but he’s a highly intelligent coach’s son, he’s a much better fit for what Sean Payton wants to do than Russell Wilson ever was, and I find it hilarious that the Broncos are getting bashed for this pick when Nix has much more potential than J.J. McCarthy. In any event, the Broncos also grabbed Troy Franklin Jr., Nix’s most reliable receiver at Oregon.

Jonah Elliss is an underrated quarterback disruptor, Kris Abrams-Draine is a productive, aggressive pass defender, and Notre Dame’s Audric Estimé is a nice Plan B if Javonte Williams’ hell-bent style continues to cause availability issues.

If there’s a sleeper here, I like Utah’s Devaughn Vele, a height/weight/speed guy who can win contested catches all over the field. The important thing is that Payton got his guy at the game’s most important position, and Nix is good for explosive plays more than you may think.

Round 1, Pick 24 (24): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Round 2, Pick 29 (61): Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Round 4, Pick 26 (126): Giovanni Manu, OT, University of British Columbia
Round 4, Pick 32 (132): Sione Vaki, RB/S, Utah
Round 6, Pick 13 (189): Mekhi Wingo, DI, LSU
Round 6, Pick 34 (210): Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College

The Lions were one of two teams — the Eagles were the other — who went after their shortfalls in the secondary in a very smart fashion. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has had to call more zone than he would prefer because of the personnel he had. That is no longer an issue, because Detroit now had two new dawgs in Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Arnold is the more athletic and technically impressive prospect, but both of these guys want to take your lunch money on the field.

The fourth-round pick of Giovanni Manu is an obvious nod to the Eagles’ Jordan Mailata plan — Manu is built like a brick outhouse and runs like a track star, so now it’s about the development. Sione Vaki is an interesting hybrid in that he may have more potential as a running back. but he can do both credibly. And getting Christian Mahogany in the sixth round is one of the steals of this draft.

The Manu pick is a little frivolous that high, but other than that… we might be looking at Super Bowl or Bust here. This is an entirely different defense now.

Round 1, Pick 25 (25): Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Round 2, Pick 13 (45): Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Round 2, Pick 26 (58): Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
Round 3, Pick 25 (88): MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC
Round 3, Pick 28 (91): Ty’Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri
Round 4, Pick 11 (111): Evan Williams, Safety, Oregon
Round 5, Pick 28 (163): Jacob Monk, C, Duke
Round 5, Pick 34 (169): Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State
Round 6, Pick 26 (202): Travis Glover, OT, Georgia State
Round 7, Pick 25 (245): Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
Round 7, Pick 35 (255): Kalen King, CB, Penn State

If Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was concerned about his team’s screen game, the Packers did a lot to address that with the additions of Jordan Morgan (a great screen blocker) and MarShawn Lloyd (who is outstanding on the move). And new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley should absolutely love Javon Bullard, because Javon Bullard can do everything. Kirby Smart asked him to move from 80% box/slot in 2022 to 80% free safety in 2023, and Bullard handled it all with aplomb.

The two new safeties from the state of Oregon are also interesting, and I especially like Oregon State’s Kitan Oladapo as a guy who can also get it done just about everywhere on the field. When you factor in the outstanding addition of Xavier McKinney in free agency, there isn’t much Hafley won’t be able to do with his secondary. And Edgerrin Cooper was my LB1 in this class; that guy is a guided missile ready to deploy all over the field. Folks, the Joe Barry era is officially over!

Michael Pratt gives the Packers a savvy backup quarterback, and the downfall of Kalen King continues to mystify — a couple years ago, he was thought to be a second-round pick. Overall, the Packers needed to create a new defensive identity, and that’s what they did here.

Round 2, Pick 10 (42): Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Round 2, Pick 27 (59): Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame
Round 3, Pick 14 (78): Calen Bullock, S, USC
Round 4, Pick 23 (123): Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State
Round 6, Pick 12 (188): Jamal Hill, LB, Oregon
Round 6, Pick 29 (205): Jawhar Jordan, RB, Louisville
Round 7, Pick 18 (238): Solomon Byrd, EDGE, USC
Round 7, Pick 27 (247): Marcus Harris, DI, Auburn
Round 7, Pick 29 (249): LaDarius Henderson, OG, Michigan

The Texans are just a few players from being able to call themselves a legit Super Bowl contender, and maybe these are the guys. Kamari Lassiter is a highly aggressive defender, especially closer to the line of scrimmage, and he constricted most of the receivers he faced for the Bulldogs in 2023. And Blake Fisher gives offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and his staff the ability to keep Tytus Howard on the inside as Shaq Mason’s guard bookend. Ohio State’s Cade Stover is a nice addition who should fit well in the multiple tight end sets Slowik would like to run, and he obviously has experience with C.J. Stroud.

There are no real home runs here as there were last year when the Texans selected the Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the year in Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., but it’s also indicative of how a team’s priorities change when you go from outhouse to penthouse this quickly.

Round 1, Pick 15 (15): Laiatu Latu, EDGE, USC
Round 2, Pick 50 (52): Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Round 3, Pick 15 (79): Matt Goncalves, OT, Pittsburgh
Round 4, Pick 17 (117): Tanor Bortolini, C, Wisconsin
Round 5, Pick 7 (142): Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon State
Round 5, Pick 16 (151): Jaylon Carlies, S, Missouri
Round 5, Pick 29 (164): Jaylin Simpson, S, Auburn
Round 6, Pick 25 (201): Micah Abraham, CB, Marshall
Round 7, Pick 14 (234): Jonah Laulu, DT, Oklahoma

General manager Chris Ballard’s NSFW rant against anonymous scouts after the second day of the draft wound down should be placed in the Louvre. Put your name on it, or shut the bleep up.

Anyway, the Colts didn’t have much else to complain about here. They got the best pass-rusher in this class in Laiatu Latu, who probably would have been a Top 10 pick without the medical concerns. And Adonai Mitchell — the prospect Ballard was defending — can be the X receiver the Colts need if he can keep his head in the game when he’s not the target. That’s me saying that, and it’s based on tape study.

Another receiver to watch out for is Oregon State’s Anthony Gould, who projects as a speed slot receiver who can win in the NFL right away. Combine star Tanor Bortolini is a highly athletic center, and maybe head coach Shane Steichen had Jason Kelce flashbacks from his days as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator. Not to compare Bortolini to Kelce at his Hall of Fame best, but in 2011, Kelce was a sixth-round afterthought. You just never know.

Selecting two safeties picked on the third day when the Colts already have Julian Blackmon and have been known for single-high looks may presage more two-deep stuff from Gus Bradley. If that’s the case, I especially like Auburn’s Jaylin Simpson in that role.

Round 1, Pick 15 (15): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Round 2, Pick 16 (48): Maason Smith, DI, LSU
Round 3, Pick 33 (96): Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State
Round 4, Pick 14 (114): Javon Foster, OT, Missouri
Round 4, Pick 16 (116): Jordan Jefferson, DT, LSU
Round 5, Pick 18 (153): Deantre Prince, CB, Mississippi
Round 5, Pick 32 (167): Keilan Robinson, RB, Texas
Round 6, Pick 36 (212): Cam Little, K, Arkansas
Round 7, Pick 16 (236): Myles Cole, EDGE, Texas Tech

Well, I guess we can stop bashing Jaguars GM Trent Baalke for letting his receiver corps atrophy with the loss of Calvin Ridley in free agency. Brian Thomas Jr. was LSU’s second-best receiver last season, but that’s only because Malik Nabers is the best receiver in this class. From there, we get into Baalke’s usual preference for toolsy players who are still putting it together. That’s Maason Smith and Jarrian Jones, though Jones allowed a preposterous opponent passer rating of 25.3 for the Crimson Tide last season.

A sneaky guy to watch from the third day is Texas Tech’s Myles Cole, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound pterodactyl who will need some technical refinement (especially with his hands), but can generate pressure from all over the defensive line.

This was your typical Baalke draft — safe picks at positions of need, and spinning the Wheel of Fortune elsewhere.

Round 1, Pick 28 (28): Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Round 2, Pick 31 (63): Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Round 4, Pick 31 (131): Jared Wiley, TE, TCU
Round 4, Pick 33 (133): Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
Round 5, Pick 24 (159): Hunter Nourzad, IOL, Penn State
Round 6, Pick 35 (211): Kamal Hadden, CB, Tennessee
Round 7, Pick 28 (248): C.J. Hanson, OG, Holy Cross

I mean, really.

We tried to warn you, NFL. We told you that if Xavier Worthy was there for the Chiefs, that was going to happen. And then, the Bills facilitated it with the trade that brought the champs up to 28th overall, and there was your nightmare fuel for the rest of the league. Think of Worthy as less a Tyreek Hill and more of a DeVonta Smith — or DeSean Jackson, who Andy Reid once used brilliantly in his West Coast Spread concepts. Worthy went to Texas because he wanted Steve Sarkisian to prepare him for the NFL as he had prepared Smith as Alabama’s offensive coordinator, and now, all those defenses that got too comfortable playing the Chiefs with shallow two-deep are about to need a Plan B.

Kingsley Suamataia is the perfect Andy Reid tackle — efficient, athletic, a bit of power, and he allowed just two sacks over three seasons at BYU. Patrick Mahomes managed to outstrip Kansas City’s outside protection issues to a degree last season, but they were obviously there. Jared Wiley isn’t going to steal targets from Travis Kelce, but as the Chiefs have led the NFL in 13 personnel over the last two seasons, they need more guys who can catch the ball and get downfield.

The third-day player to watch is Tennessee’s Kamal Hadden, who allowed just 12 catches on 33 targets last season with no touchdowns, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of… 7.0. He’s a bigger defender who played a ton of off coverage in college, but I can’t wait to see what Steve Spagnuolo does with him in more aggressive coverage concepts.

Round 1, Pick 13 (13): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Round 2, Pick 12 (44): Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon
Round 3, Pick 13 (77): Delmar Glaze, OT, Maryland
Round 4, Pick 12 (112): Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State
Round 5, Pick 13 (148): Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State
Round 6, Pick 32 (208): Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire
Round 7, Pick 3 (223): Trey Taylor, S, Air Force
Round 7, Pick 9 (229): M.J. Devonshire, CB, Pitt

Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy preferred two-tight end sets when he was the Bears’ OC, and now Las Vegas has two first-round tight ends in Michael Mayer and Brock Bowers. Bowers is more potentially explosive downfield than he was at Georgia, and I’ll be fascinated to see how he works in a more vertical passing game.

Jackson Powers-Johnson, my favorite interior offensive lineman in this class, may move to guard, and he’s got a killer combination of size, power, and agility. He’ll make that line better right away, as will Delmar Glaze, who has experience at left and right tackle.

The Raiders got themselves two potential sleepers here — Dylan Laube forced 75 missed tackles on 245 rushing attempts last season, and he had 21 runs of 15 or more yards. M.J. Devonshire has a lot of snaps of great man/match coverage where he’s just velcroing himself to receivers all over the field. I’d like more at cornerback here than Decamerion Richardson, who’s hit-and-miss, but not a bad draft overall.

Round 1, Pick 5 (5): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Round 2, Pick 2 (34): Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Round 3, Pick 5 (69): Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
Round 4, Pick 5 (105): Justin Eboigbe, DL, Alabama
Round 5, Pick 2 (137): Tarheeb Still, CB, Maryland
Round 5 , Pick 5 (140): Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame
Round 6, Pick 5 (181): Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy
Round 7, Pick 5 (225): Brenden Rice, WR, USC
Round 7, Pick 33 (253): Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan

Leading up to his first draft as the Chargers’ head coach, Jim Harbaugh said over and over how important it was to make sure Justin Herbert was protected. That’s never been a problem when Rashawn Slater has been healthy, but the right tackle stuff has been brutal. I understand the selection of Joe Alt fifth overall though he wasn’t my favorite tackle in this class, but who plays where?

Obviously, the Chargers needed more receivers, and while Ladd McConkey isn’t anybody’s X Iso receiver, the guy just knows how to get open over and over. Last time we checked, that’s an important skill. And Brenden Rice isn’t dad Jerry, but he’s a bigger contested catch target who can make things happen downfield. As to the Junior Colson pick, this is about where I thought he should have gone, and he’ll be a good roleplayer.

I’m interested in the two fifth-round cornerbacks as well. Tarheeb Still is an aggressive match cornerback, as is Cam Hart. These guys both want to get in your face in press coverage and go from there. Also, while Justin Eboigbe isn’t your traditional run-stuffing defensive tackle — he played more on the edge than he did outside — he can help those Chargers run defense issues as a strong-side end who can kick inside.

The sleeper here, and he won’t be a sleeper for long, is Troy’s Kimani Vidal. At 5-foot-8 and 218 pounds, Vidal is a fire hydrant with speed who fits right in with all those former Ravens running backs the Chargers picked up to make OC Greg Roman happy.

Round 1, Pick 19 (19): Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Round 2, Pick 7 (39): Braden Fiske, DI, Florida State
Round 3, Pick 19 (83): Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Round 3, Pick 36 (99): Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
Round 5, Pick 19 (154): Brennan Jackson, EDGE, Washington State
Round 6, Pick 20 (196): Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
Round 6, Pick 33 (209): Joshua Karty, K, Stanford
Round 6, Pick 37 (213): Jordan Whittington, WR, Texas
Round 6, Pick 41 (217): Beaux Limmer, C, Arkansas
Round 7, Pick 34 (254): KT Leveston, OG, Kansas State

The Rams made their first first-round pick since 2016, but they did pretty well for being out of practice. Jared Verse might be my favorite edge defender in this class, his power profile is very much like Houston’s Will Anderson Jr., the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Now, Verse will do his thing on the same line as Kobie Turner, who had my vote for that award. Pair him with the productive and underrated Brennan Jackson, and the Rams are cooking with gas all of a sudden with their pass rush plan, bereft of Aaron Donald as it may be. Safety Kamren Kinchens had an off-year in 2023 after two much better seasons before, and he’s got al the tools to succeed.

As GM Les Snead and his crew have been so good with their later-round picks, it’s important to mention Jordan Whittington, who isn’t afraid to the dirty work, and Clemson’s Tyler Davis, who could help complete that defensive line in a rotational sense.

Round 1, Pick 21 (21): Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Round 2, Pick 23 (55): Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Round 4, Pick 20 (120): Jalen Wright, RB, Tennessee
Round 5, Pick 23 (158): Mohamed Kamara, EDGE, Colorado State
Round 6, Pick 8 (184): Malik Washington, WR, Virginia
Round 6, Pick 22 (198): Patrick McMorris, S, Cal
Round 7, Pick 21 (241): Tahj Washington, WR, USC

The Miami Dolphins are the football answer to the conceptual question: What if they built the entire plane out of the black box? There is no mystery at all to what Mike McDaniel wants to do on offense — he wants to put a track team on the field to terrify your defense with the home-run play every single time.

To that end, they got Jalen Wright, one of the most explosive backs in this class, who can also get grimy yards to a degree. And I don’t know how they stole Malik Washington in the sixth round, but adding his house-call speed to this thing could be ridiculous. And I really like Patrick Paul as a plus pass-blocker.

But what Miami did on defense is just as interesting — they went with speed here, as well. Both Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara are guys you don’t put on the field to stop the run — they’re going from zero to 100 from the first step. Good moves for a team that struggled to keep their best pass-rushers on the field, especially late in the season. I’d like to see more interior offensive line help here, but I have to admire the Dolphins’ commitment to the bit.

Round 1, Pick 10 (10): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Round 1, Pick 17 (17): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Round 4, Pick 8 (108): Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
Round 6, Pick 1 (177): Walter Rouse, OT. Oklahoma
Round 6, Pick 27 (203): Will Reichard, K, Alabama
Round 7, Pick 10 (230): Michael Jurgens, C, Wake Forest
Round 7, Pick 12 (232): Levi Drake Rodriguez, DT, Texas A&M-Commerce

Trading up for a quarterback in McCarthy whose skill set most closely resembles Alex Smith in a league that covets explosive plays and the prevention of explosive plays most of all is certainly… a decision.

But trading up again for an edge-rusher in Dallas Turner who can scald off the edge and adds his name to a group that already includes Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel? Well, defensive coordinator Brian Flores is going to have some serious guys to execute his insane blitz packages. I’m a big fan of Khyree Jackson as a scheme-transcendent cornerback, and Walter Rouse has interesting potential as a power tackle.

But man… this draft all hinges on McCarthy and a defense that didn’t get as much help as it needed, and that’s kind of scary.

Round 1, Pick 3 (3): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Round 2, Pick 5 (37): Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Round 3, Pick 4 (68): Caedan Wallace, OT, Penn State
Round 4, Pick 3 (103): Layden Robinson, OG, Texas A&M
Round 4, Pick 10 (110): Javon Baker, WR, UCF
Round 6, Pick 4 (180): Marcellas Dial, CB, South Carolina
Round 6, Pick 17 (193): Joe Milton III, QB, Tennessee
Round 7, Pick 11 (231): Jaheim Bell, TE, Florida State

The Mac Jones experiment is officially over, and now, the Patriots’ new regime has a quarterback type they really haven’t had since Steve Grogan — a big athletic dude who can zing the ball downfield and run the ball more than defenses would like. That’s what Drake Maye is, and if he can work out the mechanical issues that have him spraying the ball all over the place at times, there’s a lot to like here.

(Go look it up. In the late 1970s, Steve Grogan was the definition of “sneaky athletic.”)

The other thing the Patriots needed on offense? Receivers who can make big plays, and they got two of them in Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Both are big guys with good speed, and between them and Maye at quarterback, the Patriots will have an offensive identity you’re not used to. Which is a good thing, given how that offense has looked since Tom Brady took his talents to middle Florida.

I also love the addition of Florida State tight end Jaheim Bell, who can turn third-and-4 to first-and-10, and will occasionally throw in a house call. I’m not sure what the Joe Milton strategy is, but it’ll be fun in the preseason to watch Milton throw the ball 80 yards downfield. Good luck knowing where the ball is going, though.

Round 1, Pick 14 (14): Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Round 2, Pick 9 (41): Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Round 5, Pick 15 (150): Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
Round 5, Pick 35 (170): Bub Means, WR, Pittsburgh
Round 5, Pick 40 (175): Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas
Round 6, Pick 23 (199): Khristian Boyd, DT, Northern Iowa
Round 7, Pick 19 (239): Josiah Ezirim, OT, Eastern Kentucky

We always love drafts in which prospects go later than we think they should, and the Saints have three guys who fit that bill. Kool-Aid McKinstry gives Dennis Allen and his staff all kinds of options with Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo. And there is no way Spencer Rattler should have lasted until the fifth round. Ignoring the fact that Rattler was good behind the NCAA’s worst offensive line, and with one functional receiver in Xavier Legette, and overcooking Rattler’s maturity issues from half a decade ago, proves that sometimes, football guys don’t know football.

I also love the addition of Bub Means as a speed receiver. Each of those guys should have gone a round earlier than they did, and in Rattler’s case, you can double or triple that.

As to the first overall pick, Taliese Fuaga is an ideal ass-kicking tackle who will start right away. Ryan Ramczyk might miss the entire 2024 season due to injury, and Trevor Penning is… well, Trevor Penning.

Round 1, Pick 6 (6): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Round 2, Pick 15 (47): Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Round 3, Pick 6 (70): Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
Round 4, Pick 7 (107): Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
Round 5, Pick 31 (166): Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, Purdue
Round 6, Pick 7 (183): Darius Muasau, LB, UCLA

When your quarterbacks are Daniel Jones and Drew Lock, does it matter what else you do in the draft? We’re about to find out. At least the Giants gave their middling quarterbacks the best receiver in this class in Malik Nabers, who’s kind of a faster Steve Smith in his playing personality. Penn State tight end Theo Johnson will also help.

And while I’m not as high on Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips as others are, he’s a competent slot defender. Getting Tyler Nubin in the second round should ease the pain of losing Xavier McKinney in free agency.

The sleeper here — and one of my favorite running backs in this class — is Tyrone Tracy Jr., the former Iowa receiver who may have had the most insane run in the NCAA last season. The Giants got a lot of talent in this draft, but again… how much will it matter?

Round 1, Pick 11 (11): Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Round 3, Pick 1 (65): Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
Round 4, Pick 34 (134): Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
Round 5, Pick 36 (171): Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State
Round 5, Pick 38 (173): Isiah Davis, RB, South Carolina State
Round 5, Pick 41 (176): Qwan’tez Stiggers, CB, CFL
Round 7, Pick 37 (257): Jaylen Key, S, Alabama

The Jets needed pass protection above all out of this draft, and GM Joe Douglas made the right choice in the person of Olumuyiwa Fashanu. This draft class was stuffed with more powerful guys who didn’t have Fashanu’s obvious athletic skills, which makes Fashanu the most obvious left tackle-looking guy.

And while it seems like every NFL team is looking for the next Deebo Samuel, Gang Green may have gotten the closest approximation in Malachi Corley, who can twist defenders in knots at the short and intermediate levels. And I really like Jordan Travis as Aaron Rodgers’ backup — had Travis not suffered a brutal leg injury last November, he could have made the second-tier quarterback discussion a lot more interesting.

The New York media will be all over the story of sixth-round cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers, who dropped out of college and made his way through 7-on-7 football, and wound up with five interceptions in the Canadian Football League last season.

Round 1, Pick 22 (22): Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Round 2, Pick 8 (40): Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
Round 3, Pick 31 (94): Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian
Round 4, Pick 27 (127): Will Shipley, RB, Clemson
Round 5, Pick 17 (152): Ainias Smith, WR, Texas A&M
Round 5, Pick 20 (155): Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Round 5, Pick 37 (172): Trevor Keegan, OT, Michigan
Round 6, Pick 9 (185): Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
Round 6, Pick 14 (190): Dylan McMahon, C, North Carolina State

Darius Slay is still a good player, but he turned 33 on New Year’s Day. James Bradberry led the NFL with 10 touchdowns allowed in coverage. Guess where the Eagles went with the top of their draft? Yup. Quinyon Mitchell wasn’t just my favorite cornerback in this draft class; he was my favorite defensive player. His athletic, hyper-aggressive playing style brings Slay at his peak to mind.

And while I’m not sure how defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will deploy Cooper DeJean, he’s an ideal Fangio DB with his quickness and recognition skills, and he could have a similar effect on this defense that 2023 rookie Brian Branch did for the Lions. Jalyx Hunt, who Fangio reportedly pounded the table for, is a hyper-athletic pass rusher with a lot of upside, added to a group in need of youth and athleticism.

But the third-day steal might be the most interesting. Florida State’s Johnny Wilson has resisted the thought that he should move to tight end, because there aren’t a lot of 6′ 6⅜’, 231-pound receivers out there. OC Kellen Moore could use Wilson’s attributes credibly in some move TE situations (just don’t tell him), and Wilson can also scald cornerbacks downfield with some speed.

Round 1, Pick 20 (20): Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Round 2, Pick 19 (51): Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Round 3, Pick 20 (84): Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Round 3, Pick 35 (98): Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State
Round 4, Pick 19 (119): Mason McCormick, OG, South Dakota State
Round 6, Pick 2 (178): Logan Lee, DT, Iowa
Round 6, Pick 19 (195): Ryan Watts, CB, Texas

Last year, the Steelers selected Joey Porter Jr. in the second round and Cory Trice Jr. in the seventh round because Mike Tomlin wanted more cornerbacks who could play aggressive press coverage. This season, Tomlin and his staff clearly are interested in not only filling out the offensive line with talent, but talent with violent intentions on the field. Troy Fautanu might be the most complete tackle in this class, and if his measurables were more in line with the NFL’s preferences, he certainly would have been a Top 10 pick. Then, the Steelers doubled down with Zach Frazier, a glass-eating force of nature who will redefine the interior of that formerly broken line. Add in Mason McCormick from South Dakota State and his ability to pull and bull defenders right off the screen — not to mention last year’s first-round pick Broderick Jones — and the Steelers’ offensive line could be one of the NFL’s dominant surprises this season.

Payton Wilson gives the defense the potential of the most aware and versatile linebacker since Ryan Shazier retired. The only reason he lasted this long was that his medicals are not great at all. Factor in Roman Wilson as a dynamic target from all over the formation, and it’s easy to imagine Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan doing cartwheels right now.

Round 1, Pick 31 (31): Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Round 2, Pick 32 (64): Renardo Green, CB, Florida State
Round 3, Pick 23 (86): Dominick Puni, OG, Kansas
Round 4, Pick 24 (124): Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest
Round 4, Pick 29 (129): Isaac Guerendo, RB, Louisville
Round 4, Pick 35 (135): Jacob Cowing, WR, Arizona
Round 6, Pick 39 (215): Jarrett Kingston, OG, USC
Round 7, Pick 31 (251): Tatum Bethune, LB, Florida State

Whether the selection of Ricky Pearsall is supposed to keep the 49ers’ offense straight after the potential trades of Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel is now a moot point, at least in the near term. Really, Pearsall is more of a slot/outside hybrid guy who knows how to get open in the Amon-Ra St. Brown mold, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Perhaps the best pick in this draft for San Francisco is Renardo Green, who locked Pearsall down last season, and he also made Malik Nabers’ life quite frustrating. Green didn’t get a lot of love as a first-round talent, but the tape does not lie. Dominick Puni didn’t allow a single sack in two years as Kansas’ left tackle, though he’s likely to kick inside to guard unless Kyle Shanahan sees him as the right tackle solution this offense desperately needs. Isaac Guerendo, who blew up the combine with his testing numbers, is a natural outside zone runner (thus fitting his new offense perfectly), and he’ll be a valuable part of that running back rotation.

I also like Malik Mustapha as a frenetic downhill closer in the Talanoa Hufanga mold, and the 49ers found out last season that their defense doesn’t work as well when Hufanga isn’t in there.

As far as sleepers go, watch out for Arizona receiver Jacob Cowing, who is a smaller slot target with nice explosive play potential on go, seam, and over routes. The lack of a top-tier offensive tackle might sting a bit, and maybe more linebacker depth would be nice, but not a bad haul at all.

Round 1, Pick 16 (16): Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas
Round 3, Pick 17 (81): Christian Haynes, OG, Connecticut
Round 4, Pick 18 (118): Tyrice Knight, LB, Texas El-Paso
Round 4, Pick 21 (121): AJ Barner, TE, Michigan
Round 5, Pick 1 (136): Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn
Round 6, Pick 3 (179): Sataoa Laumea, OT, Utah
Round 6, Pick 16 (192): DJ James, CB, Auburn
Round 6, Pick 31 (207): Michael Jerrell, OT, Findlay

After the second day of the draft, new Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that he wants to build a team whose style of play is one that opponents will just hate dealing with. Murphy and Haynes will be tasked with redefining Seattle’s lines, and that defensive line was especially vulnerable over the last few seasons. Both are capable, though I would have preferred Johnny Newton to Murphy. Seattle needs linebackers who can diagnose the play and flow to the ball accurately, and Tyrice Knight fits that profile. He’s also a capable pass-rusher who had five sacks last season, and can hang in slot coverage.

The Auburn duo of cornerbacks are especially interesting. Both are athletic marvels who tested very well. Pritchett is more of an outside route-jumping guy, while James plays low, quick, and to the ball. These aren’t old-school Seahawks cornerbacks in the Pete Carroll mold; they better match what Macdonald wants in his defenders.

The lack of a pure edge defender is a bit disappointing, but this is a draft in which the Seahawks must redefine their defense around their new head coach’s paradigms, and this is Step 1.

Round 1, Pick 26 (26): Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
Round 2, Pick 25 (57): Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
Round 3, Pick 26 (89): Tykee Smith, S, Georgia
Round 3, Pick 29 (92): Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
Round 4, Pick 25 (125): Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon
Round 6, Pick 44 (220): Elijah Klein, OG, Texas El-Paso
Round 7, Pick 26 (246): Devin Culp, TE, Washington

The extent to which you like the Buccaneers’ draft starts with how much you love Graham Barton. General manager Jason Licht has compared Barton to Ali Marpet, which I don’t get at all. Marpet had a physical dominance to his playing demeanor that I don’t see from Barton. I could be completely off base, but when I watched Barton’s tape, I saw a high-floor guy with a very low ceiling. Taking an interior offensive lineman with middling attributes at the 26th overall pick is pretty iffy.

That said, it got a lot better from there. Chris Braswell never got the praise he deserved in those stacked Alabama defensive lines, but he’ll be a force multiplier from Day 1. And I’m quite fond of Bucky Irving’s ability to make an impact as a Devon Singletary-style back. Irving is a smaller back, but he broke 69 tackles (nice) on 186 carries last season for the Ducks, and he adds value as a receiver. Speaking of receivers, I like Jalen McMillan as a vertical speed receiver once he gets the hang of the nuances of the position. My issue here is the Barton pick, and how it might be a major reach for a team with a lot of other needs.

Round 1, Pick 7 (7): JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Round 2, Pick 6 (38): T’Vondre Sweat, DI, Texas
Round 4, Pick 6 (106): Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
Round 5, Pick 11 (146): Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB, Louisville
Round 6, Pick 6 (182): Jha’Quan Jackson, WR, Tulane
Round 7, Pick 22 (242): James Williams, S, Miami
Round 7, Pick 32 (252): Jaylen Harrell, EDGE, Michigan

Titans GM Ran Carthon was certainly effectively active in the pre-draft process, stealing Calvin Ridley away from the Jaguars at the last minute, and trading for Chiefs star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. This allowed the Titans to focus on their most glaring need, which was offensive tackle. JC Latham isn’t the best pass protector right now, and he’ll take some lumps in that department, but he’s a nightmare in power situations, and that’s how the Titans like to roll. I’m not in love with the T’Vondre Sweat pick this high only because of the off-field stuff — at his best, he has Vita Vea potential. The later-round guy with the chance to surprise might be Jaylen Harrell, who put up six sacks and 31 total pressures for the Wolverines last season. He’s a smaller, twitched-up speed end with some inside counter juice, and the abiliy to turn that speed into power.

I would have taken Olumuyiwa Fashanu or Troy Fautanu before Latham with the seventh pick, and I don’t know whether Sweat will be able to keep it together off the field, so that’s where this class leaves me wanting just a bit.

Round 1, Pick 2 (2): Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Round 2, Pick 4 (36): Johnny Newton, DI, Illinois
Round 2, Pick 18 (50): Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
Round 2, Pick 21 (53): Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
Round 3, Pick 3 (67): Brandon Coleman, OG, TCU
Round 3, Pick 37 (100): Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
Round 5, Pick 4 (139): Jordan Magee, LB, Temple
Round 5, Pick 26 (161): Dominique Hampton, S, Washington
Round 7, Pick 2 (222): Javontae Jean-Baptiste, EDGE, Notre Dame

If I’m grading a draft on the number of My Guys a team selected (and really, what else am I supposed to do this early in the process), only the Cardinals can rival the number of Farrar favorites selected. Start with Jayden Daniels, who was my top quarterback and No. 1 overall player in this class. I had Johnny Newton ranked as highly as any defensive player not named Quinyon Mitchell. Ben Sinnott started playing hockey at age 3, and in high school, he led his team in both points and penalty minutes. That’s a perfect summary of his football playing style. Mike Sainristil is a first-day green dot guy who reminds me of Tyrann Mathieu and Jalen Pitre. And Luke McCaffrey is one of the slipperiest receivers in this class. First-year general manager Adam Peters came into an organization trying to put all kinds of bad decisions behind it, and this draft class couldn’t have gone much better in that regard.