Here’s my initial thoughts on the first round of the draft. This is just after it finished so they are early thoughts and basically gut reactions. Not every pick warranted an actual reaction so if you want to know what I thought of your favorite team’s pick and it’s not here, well, you’ll just have to return for my team-by-team draft analysis that comes after the draft.
- The Titans took QB Cam Ward first overall, we have known this was happening since around mid-February so it wasn’t surprising. They needed a QB and he was the only one worth taking.
- The real fun begins at pick #2 with the Jacksonville Jaguars making a bold move up from #5 to take CB/WR Travis Hunter. No one is going to call new Jaguars GM James Gladstone shy. Hunter fits the Jaguars better than the Browns in my opinion. He’s an instant starter at CB and he’s an awesome addition as a part-time WR. It cost them their second round pick this year, a swap of fourth round picks, and a first round pick next year. That’s an expensive trade but Hunter fills two needs. It was also a bold move for Cleveland but it’s an admission that Travis Hunter isn’t fixing this team and turning them around, they need more help than that. Now they have two of the first four picks in round two, that should be fun.
- The Giants took edge Abdul Carter at three. Smart move passing on the QB here and taking the best player available. The Giants followed this up later in the draft moving back into the end of round one at pick 25 to take the QB the wanted. We could argue about the choice of Jaxson Dart but they need a plan at QB that isn’t Russell Wilson and Dart has some skills to like. The trade only cost them their second-round pick, a late third round pick this year, and a third next year, that’s not a high price to pay.
- The Patriots solved their LT problem with Will Campbell at four. I love Will Campbell and clearly Mike Vrabel agreed. Drake Maye will love him to if for no other reason than he’s not Vederian Lowe. Great pick.
- The Browns took Mason Graham at five after the trade. Graham fills a need at DT for them but this was as much about getting Jacksonville’s first round pick next year. It gives them ammunition to go after a QB in 2026.
- Ashton Jeanty went to the Raiders at six. I didn’t think the Raiders would do it but I can’t fault them for it. He’s a massive upgrade at RB for them and he’s a top ten RB in the league if their o-line is healthy (and they get the Kolton Miller contract worked out). That offense is going to be a lot of Jeanty and Brock Bowers unless they unearth a good WR on day two.
- Armand Membou went to the Jets at seven. I had that one pegged for a while. LT Olu Fashanu and Membou at RT are an excellent duo.
- The Panthers pick WR Tetairoa McMillan at eight. They really do want Bryce Young to succeed. It’s a step in the right direction.
- The Saints took Kelvin Banks Jr. ninth overall. After all the ups and downs on Banks’ stock over the season and then the off season, he was a top ten pick anyway. Not sure what the Saints o-line lineup looks like just yet, but Banks makes it better.
- The Bears came up with a bit of a surprise with the Colston Loveland pick. They took him over Tyler Warren and that was a little surprising. However, Loveland fits Ben Johnson’s offense a little better and once Jeanty was off the board, all bets were off. He’ll be a good player for that offense if Caleb Williams learns to use him.
- The 49ers decided not to hang Nick Bosa out to dry all by himself this season. They took DE Mykel Williams eleventh overall. He’s a great athlete with incredible physical ability and stature and he’s already a high-level run defender. If Bosa can show him how to pass rush, the sky’s the limit.
- Just when I think the Cowboys are going to do the dumb, unreasonable, flashy thing, they draft the least flashy player they could. They took RG Tyler Booker, the least athletic player in the first round but a guy who steps in day one to take over for future Hall of Famer Zack Martin. It also means they will be starting three Tylers on the offensive line; LT Tyler Guyton, LG Tyler Smith, and now RB Tyler Booker.
- I called Kenneth Grant to the Dolphins in one of my earlier mock drafts and they actually did it. The Dolphins need bodies at DT and they got one of the bigger ones they could get. Day one starter.
- The Colts got TE Tyler Warren and they didn’t even have to move up. They needed him. WRs Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, Alex Pierce, and AD Mitchell, with RB Jonathan Taylor and now TE Tyler Warren. There are no real excuses for Anthony Richardson to continue to suck.
- The Falcons have been desperate for a pass rusher for years so they took Jalon Walker, a good pass rusher at times but a little undersized for a Jeff Ulbrich defense. He’s a good player so perhaps they plan to use him like a designated pass rusher. I was okay with that until they traded back into round one at 26 overall from the Rams to then draft James Pearce Jr. Pearce also feels like a designated pass rusher. When they hired Ulbrich to come in at defensive coordinator it felt like they were going to settle on being a 4-3 defensive team. Walker and Pearce feel like 3-4 pass rushers. Again, I don’t know what Atlanta’s defense is going to do.
- The Cardinals took DT Walter Nolan. Bruce Feldman of the Athletic was on the Athletic Football Show’s draft show and he thought Nolan going to a team with veteran defensive linemen like Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson, two new Cardinals, was good thing because those guys are mature professionals. I couldn’t agree more. If Nolan can’t get it together with those guys around, he never will.
- The Bengals took Shemar Stewart…have they learned nothing from the Myles Murphy pick? Maybe new DC Al Golden will have better luck.
- The Seahawks took OG/C Grey Zabel, he’s perfect for that system, he’s going to be good.
- The Buccaneers taking Emeka Egbuka feels weird. They have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan. I love Egbuka but they had way bigger needs on defense. Plus, Godwin and McMillan are best in the slot, that’s Egbuka’s best spot too.
- I love DB Jahdae Barron and he makes the Broncos secondary a lot better. He gives them a lot of flexibility. He’s an upgrade at nickel over Ja’Quan McMillan.
- DT Derrick Harmon going to the Steelers…I can’t believe I didn’t see that coming. He’s the heir apparent to Cameron Heyward and it makes perfect sense.
- Jim Harbaugh is going to run the ball come hell or high water with the Chargers. They signed Najee Harris as a free agent at RB and then went the upgrade with Omarion Hampton in the draft. With the Chargers retooled offensive line, Hampton will be in the Offensive Rookie of the Year running for sure.
- Speaking of an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. I was not fond of the idea of WR Matthew Golden being a top 15 pick, but going 23 overall to Green Bay, sign me up. The Packers don’t have an Alpha at WR, they have good guys but not a truly legit guy. Golden can be that guy for Jordan Love, he’s the perfect fit in that offense. Sorry to Christian Watson but don’t hurry back from your knee injury.
- I don’t love the Vikings taking LG Donovan Jackson at 24. They only have four picks in this draft and while Jackson fills a need and I really like him as a player, how did they not get a trade up. The next two picks were teams that traded back up into the first round. The Vikings could have dropped down to 34 overall and picked up a third rounder this year and a third rounder next year (that’s what the Giants gave up for the next pick). Then the Falcons traded multiple picks, including a first rounder next year for pick 26. Someone in Minnesota dropped the ball, they could have gotten a starting LG somewhere in round two.
- I already talked about the next two picks, QB Jaxson Dart and Edge James Pearce Jr.
- Of course, the Ravens took S Malaki Starks at 27. Starks is going to be fantastic for them, you just know it’s happening.
- The Lions march to the beat of their own drummer. DE’s Donovan Ezeiruaku and Mike Green are still on the board and they take run stuffing DT Tyleik Williams. He’ll be good but the edge rushers would have filled a bigger need.
- The Commanders are really looking to revamp their offensive line and OT Josh Conerly Jr. gives them options. Laremy Tunsil is the LT and Tyler Biadasz is the center, the other three spots are up for grabs and Conerly will be in the mix at RT and probably LG. Also, Tunsil is no spring chicken, Conerly could be on deck there.
- The Bills took CB Maxwell Hairston. He’s not my favorite CB but it’s nice to know the Bills were paying attention last year when Christian Benford got hurt in the playoffs and the Bills CBs didn’t have any speed to speak of. I may not love Hairston but that dude brings speed to the table.
- The Eagles traded a fifth-round pick to swap places with the Chiefs so they could take LB Jihaad Campbell. Intriguing because that must mean they were afraid the Chiefs were looking at trading out of that pick at 31 to someone else who wanted Campbell. Not sure who that was but okay. Campbell could be a special player and it wasn’t a lot to give up so it’s understandable.
- The Chiefs took the Eagles deal because while they presumably could have gotten more than a fifth-round pick to drop lower and into round two, they may have missed out on LT Josh Simmons if they did. They clearly didn’t want that to happen. Simmons is starting at LT by week 6 next year assuming his knee is healthy. He also gives them options at RT if Jaylon Moore is fine at LT and Jawaan Taylor continues to be a walking yellow flag.
Second Round Thoughts
There are three players who almost everyone thought would be a first-round picks who fell to day two; QB Shadeur Sanders, CB Will Johnson, and edge rusher Mike Green. These guys fell for three different reasons.
- Sanders fell because he simply isn’t a first-round talent at QB. He lacks the physical skills to impress and doesn’t have any elite traits. He’s not a bad player but he just isn’t a guy you can reasonably think is a guaranteed QB of the future for you.
- Will Johnson fell because apparently there are some issues with a knee injury and the lingering effects teams are worried about.
- Mike Green is still on the board because he had some off the field issues when he was originally at Virginia and those issues were the reason he transferred to Marshall. Teams must not have been comfortable enough to take him over other edge rushers. As a football player, he was first-round talent.
Some of my favorited players still on the board for day two, besides Will Johnson and Mike Green, I think those guys are really good football players.
WR Luther Burden III – He’s a very talented WR who had tough circumstances at Missouri last season. Given where he’s likely to go now, I think he can outplay his draft slot.
DE Donovan Ezeiruaku – He doesn’t hit all the measurables you want from an edge rusher but he just knows how to get to the QB.
CB Trey Amos – I think he has starter quality traits and he’s a tough CB. He won’t be for everyone but I think he’ll be good.
OT Aireontae Ersery – He’s a mountain of a man and while you wouldn’t think it by looking at him, he’s pretty athletically gifted and can move. He has a chance to start at LT for the right team.
OT Charles Grant – If you need a developmental LT, take this guy. He has the size and the measurables you want, he just played at Williams & Mary. Small school guys deserve a chance too.
WR Tory Holton – I hope the Patriots get this guy in round three. He’s going to be good.
RB Kaleb Johnson – I’ll end on the best Hawkeye in the draft. Johnson is going to be a stud when the right team takes him and just lets him go.
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