Houston Texans

(67) Davis Mills                      QB       Stanford

(89) Nico Collins                    WR      Michigan

(147) Brevin Jordan                TE       Miami

(170) Garret Wallow              LB       TCU

(195) Roy Lopez                     DT       Arizona

Immediate Impact: WR Nico Collins, TE Brevin Jordan

The Texans top WRs are Brandin Cooks, Andre Roberts, Randall Cobb and Keke Coutee, none of them are over 5’11.  Collins is 6’4 215 lbs. and brings a different element to the passing game.  I’m not completely sure who will be lining up at QB for the Texans but regardless, they might like having a bigger target outside from time to time.  TE Brevin Jordan may have been a fifth-round pick but he brings athleticism and pass catching skills to the TE position this team is seriously lacking.  He can be a playmaker over the middle and down the seam. 

Best Value:  Jordan

The best TEs on the Texans are Jordan Akins and Pharoah Brown.  Akins is a decent player and Brown is okay but neither is an elite pass catching target.  Jordan could definitely be more of a playmaker than either one and he could end up starting.  Pretty solid value for a fifth-round pick. 

Sleeper:  QB Davis Mills

It’s a little awkward to pick their first pick in this draft to be the sleeper but Mills is a pretty good QB prospect that got a little lost in the shuffle on draft weekend.  The situation with Deshaun Watson is volatile at best which is probably why the team signed steady veteran Tyrod Taylor.  Taylor can step in and stabilize things for awhile but if Watson’s legal issues or his desire to get out of Houston end his tenure with the Texans, they need a new QB moving forward.  Mills is a good talent with little experience and he needs some time to develop but he has all the tools to be a starting NFL QB down the line. 

Overall Analysis

The Texans draft was a bit strange because they had traded both their 1^st and 2^nd round picks so they didn’t pick until round three.  Those picks were traded in the Laremy Tunsil trade and the DeAndre Hopkins trade, Bill O’Brien is still screwing up things in Houston.  Then with their first pick they took a QB because no one knows what’s going to end up happening with Deshaun Watson, the Texans are still a mess and the future is really unstable. 

Mills is a solid player who could develop into a future starter.  It would be nice if the team was better equipped to develop him.  WR Nico Collins and TE Brevin Jordan are solid additions to the offense even if they aren’t high round picks.  The Texans defense isn’t great but I’m not so sure LB Garret Wallow or DT Roy Lopez are ready to contribute.  They seem like practice squad guys at best.  Sorry, that’s the whole draft, all five guys.  Unless Davis Mills and Brevin Jordan become Hall of Fame level players, this draft isn’t doing much for the franchise.   

Indianapolis Colts

(21) Kwity Paye                      DE       Michigan

(54) Dayo Odeyingbo             DE       Vanderbilt

(127) Kylen Granson              TE       SMU

(165) Shawn Davis                 S          Florida

(218) Sam Ehlinger                QB       Texas

(229) Mike Strachan               WR      Charleston

(248) Will Fries                      OL       Penn St 

Immediate Impact: DE Kwity Paye

The team lost Justin Houston and Denico Autry so they need pass rush help.  Paye is ready to step in immediately and help bring that off the edge.  He’s a talented player who played all over the line at Michigan and can pass rush from any spot.  He will fit in nicely with Matt Eberflus’ style and he should help immediately. 

Best Value:  Paye

Arguably the best pass rusher in this draft and the Colts got him at #21, that’s good value.

Sleeper:  OL Will Fries

The Colts have one of the best offensive lines in the league but they lost Anthony Costanzo and they didn’t have a plan to replace him.  Fries isn’t it (they will go with Sam Tevi and Eric Fisher once he’s healthy) but he may be a replacement for RG Mark Glowinski, eventually.  The team won’t be able to re-sign everyone (Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Braden Smith) so they need to save money somewhere.  Fries has all kinds of versatility so he can fill a number of spots. 

Overall Analysis

This draft isn’t going to bring much immediate help and that’s okay considering the Colts were pretty good last season.  Their fate is really in the hands of Carson Wentz and this draft class adds some depth to the roster more than anything.  Paye is the one guy who can really help this season.  It was a little odd to see the Colts bypass any offensive line help until their very last pick.  It was doubly strange they passed on some offensive line or even secondary help to take Dayo Odeyingbo in round two. Odeyingbo is coming off a major injury that will likely sideline him for the 2021 season and he was redundant being another DE after they took Kwity Paye in round one. 

Kylen Granson is a decent move TE prospect but he’s undersized and the Colts already have Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox so his potential to help is limited.  S Shawn Davis is a limited safety, he doesn’t cover much and that doesn’t work great in today’s NFL.  Maybe he helps on special teams.  QB Sam Ehlinger was a heck of a college QB but he isn’t really an NFL level player.  Mike Strachan is a small school WR who is huge and a good athlete, you can do worse late in the draft.  I like the Fries pick, at worst he’s a valuable backup for the next several years. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

(1) Trevor Lawrence                           QB       Clemson

(25) Travis Etienne                             RB       Clemson

(33) Tyson Campbell                          CB       Georgia

(45) Walker Little                               OT       Stanford

(65) Andre Cisco                                S          Syracuse

(106) Jay Tufele                                 DL       USC

(121) Jordan Smith                             DE       UAB

(145) Luke Farrell                              TE       Ohio St

(209) Jalen Camp                               WR      Georgia Tech

Immediate Impact:  QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne

Trevor Lawrence’s impact on the Jaguars franchise will not just be felt on the field but off it too.  He’s the best chance they have had to be relevant since the days of Mark Brunell.  Lawrence has a chance to be an all-time great, not just for the franchise but in the NFL.  They drafted his college teammate Etienne with their second first-round pick and he will certainly juice up the offense.  He’s the definition of a homerun hitter, he can take it to the house any time he touches the ball.  They will use him as a running back and a receiver to get him on the field as much as possible.  These two could make the Jaguars offense legit. 

Best Value:  DT Jay Tufele

The Taven Bryan pick in the first round a few years ago hasn’t really worked out.  They need to get some more pass rush up front and Tufele can do that.  He’s not great against the run but he can collapse the pocket from the inside.  I think he gets quite a bit of playing time for a fourth-round pick. 

Sleeper: OT Walker Little

The Jaguars probably took Little sooner than other teams would have but that’s only because he hasn’t played in two years.  Little opted out of last season after missing 2019 with a knee injury.  If he had been healthy two years ago there’s a very good chance he would have come out and been a first-round pick.  He’s going to have to knock off some rust but I think he competes with Cam Robinson for the starting LT spot and if he’s fully healthy, he wins it. 

Overall Analysis

Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne and Walker Little could all be major contributors to the Jaguars offense.  Clearly, Lawrence is a massive upgrade over Gardner Minshew and any of the hundred other QBs the team has had since Mark Brunell’s heyday.  Etienne is a different type of RB compared to James Robinson, Robinson is a grinder, Etienne is a gamebreaker.  Little could be a massive upgrade over the unreliable Cam Robinson. 

The Tyson Campbell pick to kick off the second round was a little odd.  They must really like him because they have CJ Henderson, a first-round pick from last year and they spent a bunch of money on Shaq Griffin in free agency.  It’s nice to have three CBs but they also have Tre Herndon and a couple of other veterans, they could have spent that 33^rd pick on something else.  Andre Cisco was another pick for the secondary in round three and while he’s coming off an ACL injury, I think he’s a great pickup.  He has a chance to be a starter in the near future, like in August, if he’s fully healthy.

I love the Tufele pick, especially because it came in round four.  He can be a player.  While I would have prioritized the pass rusher over the CB in round two, they did pick one later in round four, Jordan Smith.  I like Smith, he’s long, he’s bendy and he was productive in college.  I like him better than last year’s 1^st round pick K’Lavon Chaisson.  If you told me in two years, Jordan Smith is starting for the Jaguars and Chaisson is playing for another team, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised.  The Jaguars are pretty pathetic at TE but I don’t think Luke Farrell is going to change that for Urban Meyer.  The Ohio St. connection might help Farrell stick around.  Jalen Camp is a big WR who just isn’t making this roster, too much veteran depth at WR. 

Tennessee Titans

(22) Caleb Farley                    CB       Virginia Tech

(53) Dillon Radunz                 OT       North Dakota St

(92) Monty Rice                     LB       Georgia

(100) Elijah Molden               CB       Washington

(109) Dez Fitzpatrick             WR      Louisville

(135) Rashad Weaver             DE       Pittsburgh

(205) Racey McMath              WR      LSU

(215) Brady Breeze                S          Oregon

Immediate Impact: CB Caleb Farley, OT Dillon Radunz

The Titans bought the first-round lottery ticket, Caleb Farley. If his back is healthy and he can keep it that way, he’s a star CB.  The odds of that happening seem pretty bad.  He’s had two back surgeries for the same issue and with the twisting and turning required to play CB, I’m not optimistic.  He’s a serious talent, and a major risk.  Radunz has a clear opportunity to step in at RT.  He needs to add some bulk and strength but the Titans need someone on the right side after Isaiah Wilson was a massive bust from last year’s draft.  They have a few veterans who can hold down the spot but I think Radunz eventually wins it. 

Best Value:  CB Elijah Molden

The Titans secondary needed an overhaul and while Farley will be a big part of it if he can be, they didn’t stop there in the draft. Molden is one of the better nickel corners in this draft and it just so happens the Titans need a nickel corner pretty badly.  There’s a fairly good chance Molden plays more snaps than Farley if Farley’s back gives him any problems.  Nickel corners play quite a bit in the NFL anyway and Molden should win that job without a problem.  Nice value for the 100^th pick in the draft.

Sleeper: WR Dez Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick has size at 6’2 210 lbs. and he has good deep speed and excellent hands.  The Titans lost Corey Davis and Josh Reynolds isn’t really built to replace Davis on the outside, Fitzpatrick is.  With AJ Brown being such a good intermediate threat, Fitzpatrick can threaten defenses deep and back the defense away from the line so they can’t stack up against Derrick Henry. 

Overall Analysis

Farley’s health is largely going to determine the success of this draft but it won’t be the only determining factor.  Radunz has a chance to solve the Titans hole on the right side of a line that is otherwise pretty good.  LB Monty Rice may not seem like a major need but ILB Rashaan Evans is coming up on free agency and if he proves to be too expensive to keep, Rice may step in.  I love the Molden pick, great player, great value, fills a huge need.  Dez Fitzpatrick was a very solid choice for a WR in round four. 

The last three picks are going to struggle to make the team.  Their second fourth-round pick, DE Rashad Weaver, had a pretty good chance to make the team considering their crying need for pass rushers.  However, Weaver got arrested for an assault after the draft and that’s not a good situation.  Clearly, the NFL and NFL teams have no problem forgiving guys for horrible actions but their level of forgiveness is directly proportional to your level of talent.  I’m not sure Weaver is good enough to overcome his off-the-field issues.  (I do not condone what he did or how the NFL handles these cases but this is simply stating the fact) The Titans finished off the draft in the sixth round with another WR and a safety.  WR Racey McMath has a nice size/speed combo but he’s extremely raw and I just don’t see him sticking.  S Brady Breeze is a versatile safety prospect and given the secondary overhaul this team has undertaken, maybe he makes the roster. 

Arizona Cardinals

(16) Zaven Collins                  LB       Tulsa

(49) Rondale Moore               WR      Purdue

(136) Marco Wilson               CB       Florida

(210) Victor Dimukeje           OLB    Duke

(223) Tay Gowan                    CB       UCF

(243) James Wiggins              S          Cincinnati

(247) Michael Menet              OL       Penn St

Immediate Impact: LB Zaven Collins, WR Rondale Moore

Collins is a huge LB with great athleticism and he should immediately step in as an ILB next to last year’s rookie Isaiah Simmons.  Simmons is the small, speedy guy and Collins will bring a nice balance with his size.  He can rush the passer but the Cardinals should resist the urge to make him a pass rushing OLB, that would limit his usefulness.  If Moore can stay healthy, he’s an elite playmaker and can easily take over in the slot with DeAndre Hopkins and AJ Green on the outside.  He would relegate Christian Kirk to the fourth receiver and Andy Isabella will be fighting for a roster spot.

Best Value: Moore (if he’s healthy)

I will preface every good thing I say about Rondale Moore with “IF HE’S HEALTHY”.  It’s the only thing holding him back from being the elite player he can be.  He is a dynamic presence on the field who makes any offense better and he would make Kyler Murray a better QB and take a ton of pressure off of Hopkins and Green.  If he’s healthy, the 49^th pick is an epic steal, if he’s not, he’s a giant bust for a second-round pick. 

Sleeper: CB Tay Gowan

The Cardinals spent a fourth-round pick on CB Marco Wilson from Florida and then took Gowan in the sixth.  Wilson is an elite athlete but lacks pure cover instincts, Gowan is a good athlete who looks a lot more comfortable at CB than Wilson.  Gowan opted out of the 2020 season and he fell a little, I think he can be the better player. 

Overall Analysis

The Cardinals were apparently obsessed with Collins going into the draft, I hope that means they have a better plan for him than they had for Isaiah Simmons last season.  They are two different players but the Cardinals moved Simmons around too much and it took far too much time to get him doing things he’s good at.  Collins is a multi-talented player but they need a plan for him, quickly. 

It’s all about Moore being on the field.  If he’s available to play, he’s electric, but if he’s on the sidelines, he isn’t helping anyone.  Marco Wilson is an elite athlete at CB but he needs plenty of work at playing the position.  If the Cardinals’ coaching staff can develop his athletic traits, he can be great.  I have my doubts about the Cardinals coaching staff.

OLB Victor Dimukeje is a guy who never quits but he lacks athleticism.  Arizona isn’t stacked at OLB behind starters Chandler Jones and Markus Golden so Dimukeje’s motor might earn him a spot.  Gowan is a good corner who needs some seasoning.  James Wiggins is a safety with knee issues.  The Cardinals safety depth chart leaves plenty to be desired so if Wiggins is healthy, he has a shot.  Michael Menet is an athletically limited player with lots of experience.  His biggest issue is the fact that the Cardinals actually have quite a bit of veteran experience on the interior of the offensive line.  He’s going to have to outplay some older players otherwise he ends up on the practice squad.

Los Angeles Rams

(57) Tutu Atwell                     WR      Louisville

(103) Ernest Jones                  LB       South Carolina

(117) Bobby Brown III           DL       Texas A&M

(130) Robert Rochell              CB       Central Arkansas

(141) Jacob Harris                  WR      UCF

(174) Earnest Brown IV         DL       Northwestern

(233) Jake Funk                      RB       Maryland

(249) Ben Skowronek             WR      Notre Dame

(252) Chris Garrett                 LB       Concordia-St. Paul

Immediate Impact:  Jalen Ramsey

The Rams traded their 2021 1^st round pick to the Jaguars in the Jalen Ramsey trade last season.  That’s good because they didn’t get anyone else who will make a big impact on this team.  I like Tutu Atwell at WR but this team has Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson and DeSean Jackson.  Sean McVay might find a few ways to get Atwell involved but I’m not expecting it to be that impactful. 

Best Value:  CB Robert Rochell

There was some buzz around Rochell just before the draft that he was moving up into day two and would be a late second or early third round pick.  The Rams got him in round four and I think he has a chance to contribute to this team at some point this season and beyond. 

Sleeper: Rochell

He has great height, weight, and speed for a CB prospect.  He was once a WR so he has fantastic ball skills and generates plenty of turnovers.  He’s far from a finished project and has plenty to learn but he goes to a team with Jalen Ramsey to learn from and new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is a very good defensive backs coach.  The team has Ramsey at one CB spot but there is an opening on the other side if Rochell steps up. 

Overall Analysis

I like Tutu Atwell as a gadget guy but the Rams have plenty of WRs.  Unless DeSean Jackson has just lost it and can’t hang on anymore I don’t see Atwell making a huge contribution.  LB Ernest Jones might bring some coverage ability the rest of the ILBs don’t really have but he’s not a big upgrade over Micah Kiser, Troy Reeder, or Kenny Young just yet. Bobby Brown III is a huge player who moves well inside and perhaps he can find some playing time next to Aaron Donald but he’s still raw. CB Robert Rochell might be my favorite pick from this draft class and I think he has the most upside.  I could see him becoming a starter at some point, maybe not this year but also, maybe this year. 

Jacob Harris is either a really tall WR who won’t make this roster or a really skinny TE that won’t make this roster.  DE Earnest Brown IV might earn a roster spot and if A’Shawn Robinson disappoints than Brown might get to play.  I don’t see Jake Funk making the roster as a RB unless he proves extremely valuable as a special team’s player.  Ben Skowronek doesn’t have the separation skills to be a WR and he’s not really big enough to play TE.  Chris Garrett is a small school developmental pass rusher who isn’t ready for prime time just yet.  However, for a team that really only has Leonard Floyd off the edge at OLB, he’s not a bad investment late in the draft.  He’s not making the roster but he’s worth developing on the practice squad for a couple of years. 

San Francisco 49ers

(3) Trey Lance                        QB       North Dakota St

(48) Aaron Banks                   OL       Notre Dame

(88) Trey Sermon                   RB       Ohio St

(102) Ambry Thomas             CB       Michigan

(155) Jaylon Moore                OL       Western Michigan

(172) Deommodore Lenoir     CB       Oregon

(180) Talanoa Hufanga         S          USC

(194) Elijah Mitchell              RB       Louisiana-Lafayette  

Immediate Impact:  None

Trey Lance isn’t playing until Jimmy G gets hurt but even then, I’m not sure he’s ready to make an actual impact, he needs time.  Aaron Banks is a talented guy who could start for a number of teams but he’s an odd fit in San Francisco because he’s not all that athletic.  He’s big and powerful but they have plenty of veterans inside ahead of him. 

Best Value: RB Trey Sermon

Raheem Mostert has a been a good RB for the 49ers but he only played in eight games last season and he just turned 29 years old.  He probably wants a new contract and there is not way Shanahan and company are spending money on a RB.  Sermon fits the offensive scheme; he has power and more elusiveness than he gets credit for.  He’s better than Jeff Wilson as a starter when Mostert is sent packing.  The third round is a good place to get a starting RB.

Sleeper: RB Elijah Mitchell

Even though he’s slightly smaller than Trey Sermon he’s still a power back who fits the zone blocking scheme the 49ers run.  Kyle Shanahan has the same reputation as his father did when it comes to RBs, they can turn almost anyone into a legitimate NFL RB.  I mentioned Mostert being hurt and being 29, so he could be headed out sooner rather than later.  Jeff Wilson was signed to only a one-year deal.  By 2022, the two top RBs on the 49ers could be Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell. 

Overall Analysis

The 49ers draft will be judged by the career of Trey Lance.  That’s what happens when you trade three 1^st round picks to move up and take a QB.  Lance has all kinds of potential but for now, that’s all it is.  They still have Jimmy Garoppolo and he’s expected to start this year.  If Jimmy G stays healthy and wins, things get complicated for San Francisco.  The pressure will be on Lance to become the playmaker Jimmy G isn’t and take the 49ers offense to a different level.  The future of head coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch is riding on Lance’s eventual success. 

Second-round pick Aaron Banks is a talented OG but he’s an odd fit for the 49ers zone blocking scheme, he’s not exactly agile.  Couple him with fifth-round OL Jaylon Moore out of Western Michigan and it makes me wonder if the 49ers are looking at adding some power blocking to their offensive scheme, both guys look like odd fits with the 49ers.  Like I mentioned, Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell could end up the two top backs on this team in the not-too-distant future.  They also added two CBs; Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir, they needed the help.  Thomas has a chance to play early, he has length most of the 49ers CBs lack so he can help on the outside.  I don’t think Lenoir is going to contribute at CB any time soon.  I didn’t really like that pick.  S Talanoa Hufanga is potentially a special team’s contributor but I doubt he helps much on defense.

Seattle Seahawks

(56) D’Wayne Eskridge                      WR      Western Michigan

(137) Tre Brown                                 CB       Oklahoma

(208) Stone Forsythe                          OT       Florida

Immediate Impact: Jamal Adams

The Seahawks didn’t have many picks and part of that was because they traded for Jamal Adams.  He’s their starting SS and he’s one of the better ones in the league. 

Best Value:  CB Tre Brown

I think there’s a real possibility Brown takes over as the nickel corner in Seattle very quickly.  He has the skill set to excel inside and Seahawks’ secondary needs the help.  They only had three picks and if they found a starting nickel corner in the fourth round, that’s impressive value.

Sleeper:  OT Stone Forsythe

It’s not like there is a lot to choose from here but I like the Forsythe pick in round six.  He’s huge at 6’9 but lean at just 312 lbs. He has length for days and while he certainly isn’t ready to play right now, he’s a solid investment in the future.  Starting LT Duane Brown will be 36 this year so it’s conceivable they could develop Forsythe into a starter in a year or two.

Overall Analysis

This draft isn’t going to change the fortunes of the Seahawks with only three picks but they found help.  The Seahawks have DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, a pretty fantastic pair of starters at WR.  However, they really don’t have much else in the passing game.  Eskridge can play in the slot or be a gadget guy in the offense.  He offers Russell Wilson another playmaker and he can take advantage underneath while Metcalf takes the top off the defense.  Brown has potential to start as a slot corner.  Forsythe could become a player in time.  Not bad for only a three-man draft class.   

Atlanta Falcons

(4) Kyle Pitts                          TE       Florida

(40) Richie Grant                    S          UCF

(68) Jalen Mayfield                OL       Michigan

(108) Darren Hall                   CB       San Diego St

(114) Drew Dalman                C         Stanford

(148) Ta’Quon Graham          DT       Texas

(182) Adetokunbo Ogundeji   DE       Notre Dame

(183) Avery Williams            CB       Boise St

(187) Frank Darby                  WR      Arizona St

Immediate Impact: TE Kyle Pitts, S Richie Grant

Pitts would have an immediate impact on any team but with Atlanta he steps into an offense that is uniquely set up to take advantage of his talents.  He has a veteran QB, he’s not the only option in the offense, meaning teams can’t focus on him, and his new head coach likes using TEs.  Pitts is a mismatch for everyone and he should dominate for the Falcons.  The Falcons are pretty weak at the safety position after losing three free agents in the off season.  Grant is probably the most talented safety on the roster now and I expect him to start from day one. 

Best Value: OL Jalen Mayfield

I really like Mayfield’s potential and it’s possible he steps in at LG this year.  He also has the potential to end up at OT in the future and LT Jake Matthews is pushing 30.  Mayfield can be the swing tackle for now as they develop him into what he can become.  He’s a pretty good player for a third-round pick. 

Sleeper:  WR Frank Darby

The team has Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage at WR but doesn’t have much beyond them.  They signed Cordarrelle Patterson but he’s more of a special teams signing than anything.  Darby is a talented guy who played in a less than productive offense last season.  With a QB like Matt Ryan, he could put his talents to good use.  Darby has the size to play outside but might be best used in the slot.

Overall Analysis

Pitts might be the best player from this draft in five years.  S Richie Grant was a pretty solid choice too.  The Falcons aren’t exactly stacked at safety after losing Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee and Ricardo Allen in free agency.  The only decision the staff may have to make on Grant is whether to start him at free safety or strong safety, he’s the best player at both positions.  I like Jalen Mayfield and I think he plays sooner than people think. 

The Falcons needed help at CB too and they drafted an outside CB in Darren Hall and a nickel corner Avery Williams.  The team probably needed better help than those two but they do add competition to the position.  C Drew Dalman was also added for interior depth on the line.  He should back up Matt Hennessy at center and also offers depth a guard.  The team needed help on the defensive line but I don’t think fifth round picks Ta’Quon Graham and Adetokunbo Ogundeji are going to offer much help.  Darby is my sleeper for this team, he can be a more productive pro than he was in college because he’ll have better QB play. 

Carolina Panthers

(8) Jaycee Horn                       CB       South Carolina

(59) Terrace Marshall Jr.        WR      LSU

(70) Brady Christensen           OT       BYU

(83) Tommy Tremble             TE       Notre Dame

(126) Chuba Hubbard             RB       Oklahoma St

(158) Daviyon Nixon              DT       Iowa

(166) Keith Taylor                  CB       Washington

(193) Deonte Brown               OG      Alabama

(204) Shi Smith                      WR      South Carolina

(222) Thomas Fletcher           LS        Alabama

(232) Phil Hoskins                  DT       Kentucky

Immediate Impact: CB Jaycee Horn, OT Brady Christensen

The Panthers signed veterans like AJ Bouye and Rashaan Melvin at CB but both of them are past their primes.  Horn can still get better as he gets more experience at CB but he’s got plenty of talent for now.  He has size and skill that make him a better matchup against the bigger WRs the Panthers will face in their division.  Christensen may have been a third-round pick but he’s good enough to compete for and I think he wins the LT job.  Greg Little is penciled in there right now but he’s going to lose that battle.  Christensen isn’t flashy but he’s reliable and that’s all they need at LT. 

Best Value:  Christensen (if he wins the job at LT), Daviyon Nixon

If Christensen wins the LT job it’s hard to say he’s not the best value considering he was a third-round pick.  If he’s the backup than Nixon becomes the best value.  Nixon has a chance to not only play a lot but he could steal a starting spot next to Derrick Brown.  Bravvion Roy took over as the starter next to Brown for the last half of last year and he might stay the starter because he’s bigger and stronger on running downs.  However, he doesn’t bring much punch as a pass rusher and that’s where Nixon excels.  The team needs someone to push the pocket and if they can get Nixon to become more consistent against the run, he can become the starter. 

Sleeper:  OG Deonte Brown

For now, Dennis Daley and Pat Elflein seem like the top options to start at the OG spots.  That’s not a great duo.  Brown is a gigantic man who moves better than you would think for a guy that’s 6’4 350 lbs.  He is exactly as hard to move as a guy who 6’4 350 lbs. which is why he can take a starting job despite being a sixth-round pick.  I won’t be shocked if the starting left side of the offensive line is Christensen at LT with Brown at LG.  The Panthers have done worse. 

Overall Analysis

Horn was a necessary piece to the defense that lacked an elite cover corner.  He has size and skill that will come in handy against WRs like Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Michael Thomas and even Kyle Pitts (a guy he faced in college). WR Terrace Marshall Jr. gives Sam Darnold another top receiving target to go with Robby Anderson and DJ Moore.  If Christian McCaffrey is healthy, the Panthers offense should be pretty good.  The team added Brady Christensen and Deonte Brown to the offensive line, reinforcements they certainly needed. 

They continued to add to the offense with TE Tommy Tremble and RB Chuba Hubbard.  Tremble was mainly used as a blocker at Notre Dame but he has the athleticism to become a pass catcher with some development. I don’t like Hubbard, he’s too much of a one-trick pony, but McCaffrey doesn’t have a legitimate backup so it’s his job to lose.  In round six the Panthers took WR Shi Smith, he’s a small slot receiver that I normally wouldn’t give much of a chance to make the team.  However, the Panthers don’t have a pure slot receiver at the moment so he could stick around. 

After going all defense in last year’s draft and starting off with Horn in this draft the Panthers went offense with four straight picks in rounds 2-4.  Then they went back to defense with DT Daviyon Nixon and CB Keith Taylor in round five.  Nixon was a steal.  Taylor was a solid choice and gives them another big CB to run out against their division, he’s 6’3.  They finished off the draft with a long snapper, Thomas Fletcher, and DT Phil Hoskins.  Hoskins is a very large man who is more likely to end up on the practice squad due to his inconsistency.  Fletcher is a long snapper, he was supposedly very good at Alabama, isn’t everyone? 

New Orleans Saints

(28) Payton Turner                 DE       Houston

(60) Pete Werner                    LB       Ohio St

(76) Paulson Adebo                CB       Stanford

(133) Ian Book                        QB       Notre Dame

(206) Landon Young              OT       Kentucky

(255) Kawaan Baker               WR      South Alabama

Immediate Impact: LB Pete Werner, CB Paulson Adebo

The Saints needed help on defense, especially at LB and CB.  Werner wasn’t a top-rated guy but he’s a good athlete with some coverage skills and he’s a great tackler.  The Saints need all the help they can get and Werner should start pretty quickly.  Adebo was a top prospect a few years ago, then he had an injury and then he opted out of last season.  It’s been two years since we saw him at his best but he has all the tools to be good.  The Saints need a starter opposite Marshon Lattimore and Adebo will get every opportunity to take the job.  He’s long and skilled and I fully expect him to step up.

Best Value:  Adebo

A third-round pick who is going to end up a starter a CB, that’s value.  A few years ago, Adebo was a likely first-round pick so he’s a bargain.

Sleeper: OT Landon Young

Young is 6’7 321 lbs., you can’t teach that kind of size.  He’s also pretty quick for a guy that big and he’s a good run blocker.  He needs coaching to get better at pass protection because his technique needs work.  Luckily, he’s going to a team with a great offensive line where he won’t have to play anytime soon and he can learn from guys like Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, and even backup James Hurst. 

Overall Analysis

I didn’t like the Patrick Turner pick in round one.  He is still too much of a project to be a first round pick and the team is still trying to develop the last first round DE they picked, Marcus Davenport.  The fact that Davenport is still trying to figure it out doesn’t make me feel confident in Turner’s future.  Turner has plenty of athletic ability but after three years as a starter at Houston he still relies too much on one pass rushing move and he still plays too high.  Those are pretty typical issues for a guy who’s 6’6 and a guy who’s usually a better athlete than those he’s going up against, but why isn’t he a little better already?  He has loads of potential but the Saints could have used a better player out of round one. 

Werner and Adebo are more polished at their positions and will step in immediately.  Luckily, those two can really help the defense but the Saints need to hope Turner figures it out quickly or he’s going to end up like Davenport, still a project going into year four.  The last three picks were all on offense and with the exception of Young being a potential sleeper, I’m not impressed.  Ian Book was a great leader at Notre Dame but he lacks the arm strength to ever be anything more than a third-stringer at the NFL level.  The idea he could become like Taysom Hill is a little far-fetched, Book is considerably smaller than Hill, he won’t hold up long as a gadget guy.  The Saints definitely could use a WR but Kawaan Baker isn’t likely to be that guy.  He’s pretty raw and not better than what they already have on the roster. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(32) Joe Tryon                        OLB          Washington

(64) Kyle Trask                      QB                   Florida

(95) Robert Hainsey               OL                   Notre Dame

(129) Jaelon Darden               WR                  North Texas

(176) KJ Britt                         LB                   Auburn

(251) Chris Wilcox                 CB                   BYU

(259) Grant Stuard                  LB                   Houston

Immediate Impact:  None

The Buccaneers return every starter from their Super Bowl winning team so a rookie having an impact would surprise me.  Joe Tryon might help the pass rush a bit but I doubt he makes a major impact. 

Best Value:  None

None of the picks the Bucs made were above their value or offer a great value overall.  They may only be one future starter in this entire draft, Joe Tryon, and he was the last pick of round one. 

Sleepers: OL Robert Hainsey, CB Chris Wilcox

Hainsey offers versatility and for now he can backup all three spots on the interior and could potentially play OT if needed.  I do think he has a shot to take one of the interior spots in the future if the team moves on from Ryan Jensen or Alex Cappa. Wilcox looks the part of an NFL CB but he needs some work.  Luckily for him, he got drafted to a defense coached by Todd Bowles, arguably the best defensive backs coach in the NFL.  If anyone can turn Wilcox into a legitimate NFL corner, it’s Bowles. 

Overall Analysis

Joe Tryon is an investment in the future of the defense.  Jason Pierre-Paul is 32 and isn’t going to be around forever.  Tryon needs to work on his game and learn to be a standup OLB instead of a DE.  He has talent but I do think there were better pass rushers available when the Bucs drafted him.  I understand the Kyle Trask pick given the depth chart behind Tom Brady and the fact that despite all evidence to the contrary, some day Brady will retire.  I’m not a big Trask fan, he’s a bit of a statue and he doesn’t have the strongest arm.  Those are some of the same things said about guys like Brady and Brees so it can be overcome.  Bruce Arians is a pretty good coach and knows a thing or two about QBs, good place for Trask to learn.

Hainsey is a solid investment for the interior of the offensive line.  They drafted WR Jaelen Darden and while he has electric speed, he’s going to find it really difficult to make this roster with the WR group ahead of him.  The last three picks were LB KJ Britt, CB Chris Wilcox and LB Grant Stuard, saying it’s an uphill climb to make the roster for those three is putting it mildly. 

Buffalo Bills

(30) Gregory Rousseau                       DE       Miami

(61) Carlos Basham Jr                        DE       Wake Forest

(93) Spencer Brown                            OT       Northern Iowa

(161) Tommy Doyle                           OT       Miami (OH)

(203) Marques Stevenson                 WR      Houston

(212) Damar Hamlin                          S          Pittsburgh

(213) Rachad Wildgoose                    CB       Wisconsin

(236) Jack Anderson                           OL       Texas Tech

Immediate Impact:  DE Gregory Rousseau, DE Carlos Basham Jr

The Bills don’t need much help from their rookie class but Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison aren’t providing the pass rush they need.  The rookies were drafted to juice up the pass rush so they need to have an impact.  Rousseau and Basham are both big and strong and have proven they can get to the QB.  Not sure if it will be just one or both that will help out but they may make Hughes or Addison expendable pretty quickly. 

Best Value:  Basham

Basham was a highly effective pass rusher at Wake Forest and yet he was a late second round pick.  The Bills had already grabbed a pass rusher in round one but Basham was way too good of a value pick to pass up. 

Sleepers:  OT Spencer Brown, OT Tommy Doyle

Clearly the Bills had a thing in this draft for really tall OTs.  Brown is 6’9 and Doyle is 6’8.  Both guys are long and lean, well as lean as guys who weigh over 320 lbs. can be.  Neither is ready to start in the NFL tomorrow but the team has Dion Dawkins and Daryl Williams so there is no need to start tomorrow.  These are long-term developmental players who both could pay off down the road. 

Overall Analysis

The Bills biggest need was to find pass rushing and they did that with gusto.  Rousseau and Basham are guys who can help right now and should be good for quite some time.  Added to last year’s second round pick AJ Epenesa, the Bills DE position looks strong.  The back-to-back developmental OTs was a bit strange, they just signed Daryl Williams to a 3-year contract and Dion Dawkins is only 26, they could have used at least one of those picks on a guy that might help them sooner at CB or S or somewhere else.  WR Marques Stevenson is going to have to earn a spot on special teams.  He’s a return man so he has a shot but the WR corps will be tough to crack.  S Damar Hamlin and CB Rachad Wildgoose are not exactly guys who are going to help right now.  Hamlin gives a little bit of depth at safety but Wildgoose isn’t better than some of the other options deep on the depth chart.  The Bills really could have used a little earlier help in the secondary, especially at CB.  OL Jack Anderson probably doesn’t make the roster this year, he’s a potential practice squad guy. 

Miami Dolphins

(6) Jaylen Waddle                   WR      Alabama

(18) Jaelen Phillips                 DE       Miami

(36) Jevon Holland                 S          Oregon

(42) Liam Eichenberg            OT       Notre Dame

(81) Hunter Long                    TE       Boston College

(231) Larnel Coleman            OL       UMass

(244) Gerrid Doaks                 RB       Cincinnati

Immediate Impact:  WR Jaylen Waddle, DE Jaelen Phillips, OT Liam Eichenberg

I hope DeVante Parker and Will Fuller don’t take offense but Jaylen Waddle is the best WR on the Dolphins’ roster.  His ceiling is Tyreek Hill and if Tua is healthy and Waddle is healthy, he’s catching 80 balls and winning offensive rookie of the year.  Again, no offense to the pass rushers on the Dolphins but they all suck and Jaelen Phillips is better than all of them.  Emmanuel Ogbah had nine sacks last season and that was his career high, I think Phillips breaks double digits.  Eichenberg has a chance to step in at RT.  The Dolphins traded Ereck Flowers, Robert Hunt should move inside to LG and Eichenberg can slide into the RT spot. 

Best Value: Phillips

I think he’s a double-digit sack guy and they got him at 18.  The only question is his past health issues and that’s the reason he didn’t go higher.  I would have given it to Eichenberg, he’s a potential starting OT at 42 overall but they actually traded up to get him. 

Sleeper: TE Hunter Long

Long isn’t an uber athlete like Kyle Pitts but he was amazingly productive at Boston College.  Mike Gesicki is going to be the “pass catching” TE now while Long does the dirty work but don’t sleep on Long.  He may not be flashy but he is an all-around TE that will draw plenty of single coverage because of Waddle, Parker, Fuller and Gesicki and he may become an easy target for Tua to find. 

Overall Analysis

Waddle has a chance to be one of the best WRs in the league, that’s not an exaggeration.  Phillips could be a special pass rusher.  I didn’t love the Jevon Holland pick.  They needed help at safety but they took Holland as the first safety off the board.  I would have taken Trevon Moehrig.  Holland isn’t bad but Moehrig brings more skills.  Eichenberg and Long are not the flashy players but they are foundational pieces to a team.  The Dolphins draft was top heavy with all of those picks in the first three rounds and then two picks in round seven.  A developmental OL Larnel Coleman and a RB from Cincinnati Gerrid Doaks.  Those two aren’t making this roster. 

New England Patriots

(15) Mac Jones                       QB       Alabama

(38) Christian Barmore           DT       Alabama

(96) Ronnie Perkins                DE       Oklahoma

(120) Rhamondre Stevenson  RB       Oklahoma

(177) Cameron McGrone       LB       Michigan

(188) Joshuah Bledsoe            S          Missouri

(197) William Sherman          OL       Colorado

(242) Tre Nixon                      WR      UCF

Immediate Impact:  QB Mac Jones

The Patriots didn’t make a move and yet they ended up with the QB that best fits their team.  Mac Jones isn’t the most athletic guy and he doesn’t have the strongest arm but he is highly intelligent and incredibly accurate.  Josh McDaniels’ offense is built for a QB like Jones.  The Patriots have Cam Newton under contract for next season but I think his inaccuracy is going to lead to Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels turning to Jones early on.  The Patriots didn’t spend all that free agent money on TEs and WRs to have a QB who can’t get them the ball. 

Best Value: DT Christian Barmore

Barmore was only a one-year starter at Alabama and he wasn’t dominant every play but he turned it on at the end of the season when it counted the most and they were playing against the best competition.  It’s hard to fault Barmore for only being a one-year starter considering Alabama is almost always stacked on the defensive line.  He did play for Nick Saban so I trust Bill Belichick has a keen understanding of Barmore given their friendship.  He is the exact type of d-lineman Belichick loves and he had 1^st round potential so getting him in round two was great. 

Sleeper:  LB Cameron McGrone

McGrone is a young player without a lot of experience and he injured his knee towards the end of the season.  It’s completely possible McGrone takes a “redshirt” year his rookie season to rehab from his knee injury.  The Patriots have plenty of ILBs with the return of Dont’a Hightower, the signing of Raekwon McMillan and still having Ja’Whaun Bentley around. McGrone does have a ton of talent and Hightower is getting older so McGrone is a solid investment in the future. 

Overall Analysis

For the first time in a while, I actually like the Patriots draft.  I didn’t think Mac Jones was worth the 49ers trading three first round draft picks to move up to #3 to get him but he was well worth the 15^th pick.  The Patriots didn’t trade down, they made the right move and got a competent QB.  I think Jones starts by week 4 at the latest.  Barmore was a steal and while he may not start this season, he will be a contributor and a future starter.  DE Ronnie Perkins doesn’t look like your conventional pass rusher but neither did Rob Ninkovich, Trey Flowers or a number of other guys Belichick has used over the years.  RB Rhamondre Stevenson doesn’t seem like a need but that’s only if you believe in the health of Sony Michel and Damien Harris, I don’t.  I like Harris as a RB but he gets banged up and the Patriots are trying to rebuild their offense to have a power running game.  Stevenson fits that mold and he would team well with Harris to share the load.  Michel is coming towards the end of his rookie contract and I doubt the Patriots plan to keep him.  McGrone is a nice investment in the future of the ILB group.  Joshuah Bledsoe was Bill Belichick taking his obligatory safety he thinks he can turn into a player.  It works about once every ten years; this will be one of the other nine.  William Sherman is a practice squad player at best.  The only WR they took was Tre Nixon in round seven.  The Patriots WR corps isn’t great but it’s deeper than it was a year ago and Nixon isn’t making the roster.

New York Jets

(2) Zach Wilson                      QB       BYU

(14) Alijah Vera-Tucker         OG      USC

(34) Elijah Moore                   WR      Mississippi

(107) Michael Carter              RB       North Carolina

(146) Jamien Sherwood          S          Auburn

(154) Michael Carter II           S          Duke

(175) Jason Pinnock               CB       Pittsburgh

(186) Hamsah Nasirildeen      S          Florida St

(200) Brandin Echols              CB       Kentucky

(207) Jonathan Marshall         DL       Arkansas

Immediate Impact: QB Zach Wilson, OG Alijah Vera-Tucker, WR Elijah Moore

Clearly, they think Wilson can be the franchise.  The Jets are doing as much as they can to give him the coaching and talent around him to succeed.  Mike LaFleur is bringing the Kyle Shanahan offense to New York and they are building up the offense around Wilson.  One of the pieces to the offensive puzzle is Alijah Vera-Tucker.  Vera-Tucker is a fantastic player and while the Jets are getting kudos from so many for trading up to get him, I have an issue with it.  I’ll get to that later.  WR Elijah Moore is another piece of the puzzle.  He’s a master in the slot and he can be a dominant player with his speed, his shiftiness and his ability to get open. 

Best Value:  RB Michael Carter

The RB from North Carolina is a great player in space and he brings a lot to the offense.  He can catch out of the backfield and he adds a dimension to the Jets offense they don’t really have at the moment.  Considering they got him in round four, he’s a steal. 

Sleeper: DL Jonathan Marshall

Marshall is a big nose tackle who offers size the Jets could really use inside against the run game.  They don’t have a lot of depth at DT, Quinnen Williams is good but they signed Sheldon Rankins to start next to him inside and Rankins has an injury history that doesn’t inspire confidence.  After those two there isn’t much depth as the team is likely switching over to a 4-3 defense.  Marshall’s size and run stuffing ability might come in handy. 

Overall Analysis

I like Wilson as a prospect and there is plenty to love about his game.  He is taking a major life step after spending his life in Utah and now moving to New York City but the Jets are doing everything they can to make sure he succeeds, must drive Sam Darnold crazy.  The Jets traded up for Alijah Vera-Tucker and I like him as a player but I question the wisdom of the trade.  The Jets gave up pick #23 and two third-round picks to the Vikings to move up to 14^th overall to take Vera-Tucker.  The Vikings took LT Christian Darrisaw with the 23^rd pick and with the two third-round picks they took QB Kellen Mond and RG Wyatt Davis.  Obviously, if the Jets had kept those picks, they don’t take Mond but if they had stayed put and taken Darrisaw to play RT for them, taken Wyatt Davis in round three and taken another offensive lineman, cornerback or wide receiver with the Mond pick, that’s a lot.  If Vera-Tucker turns into the next Larry Allen at LG that’s still not worth three potential starters.  There were a lot of good players in round three and the Jets could have had a couple of them. 

WR Elijah Moore is a star in the making and he probably makes Jamison Crowder expendable.  RB Michael Carter will be a great gadget guy and playmaker out of the backfield.  Starting in round five the Jets took five straight defensive backs but I’m not sure any of them make a huge difference.  Hamsah Nasirildeen is a big safety out of Florida St. who could move to LB and that might help them with some speed there.  Michael Carter II (the Jets did draft two different players named Michael Carter and luckily one of them already was Michael Carter II) may have been taken a little early, or a lot early depending on who you believe.  None of the secondary guys stand out but the Jets secondary isn’t exactly stacked so these guys could end up winning jobs and sticking on the roster.  I think DT Jonathan Marshall has a solid chance to stick around and maybe actually play.      

Baltimore Ravens

(27) Rashod Bateman                         WR      Minnesota

(31) Odafe Oweh                                OLB    Penn St

(94) Ben Cleveland                            OG      Georgia

(104) Brandon Stephens                     CB       SMU

(131) Tylan Wallace                           WR      Oklahoma St

(160) Shaun Wade                              DB       Ohio St

(171) Daelin Hayes                             OLB    Notre Dame

(184) Ben Mason                                FB       Michigan

Immediate Impact:  WR Rashod Bateman, OLB Odafe Oweh

The Ravens signed Sammy Watkins to address their need at WR but there is little chance he stays healthy all season so Bateman will get his chance.  He is probably good enough to relegate Watkins to the third receiver role anyway but the Ravens will give Watkins first dibs.  Oweh is a special athlete who just isn’t quite there yet as a pass rusher but he has all the tools.  If there is one team that can develop those tools it’s the Ravens.  Oweh will probably be a designated pass rusher this season but I think he really contributes from that spot. 

Best Value: Bateman

He may have been a first-round pick but he is still great value because he deserved to be and he can be a starter.  Bateman gives Lamar Jackson a legitimate big, outside receiver.  He will make Jackson better and he should help free up Marquise Brown. 

Sleepers: WR Tylan Wallace, DB Shaun Wade

Wallace doesn’t really look the part of a top WR.  He’s not big, he’s not overly fast and he’s not real physical but somehow, he finds a way to get open down field.  He’s a good deep-ball tracker and even though he doesn’t have elite timed speed, he has great field speed.  He can make this team as the fourth or fifth WR for now and he could become a much bigger part of the offense in the future.  Wade was a highly thought of CB prospect a year ago and then had a rough year at Ohio St.  I don’t think he’s coming into the NFL as a CB I think the Ravens will move him to safety.  He could be a hell of a safety prospect and bring some solid coverage skills and his hard-hitting tackling to the position.  He’s a much better safety prospect than he is a CB prospect. 

Overall Analysis

The Ravens never seem to have a bad draft.  They understand value, they understand talent and they know how to balance getting immediate help and getting developmental prospects.  Just look at this draft, they get Bateman, a nearly finished product to help right now at WR and Tylan Wallace, a guy who will help in a year or two.  Oweh is a guy just about to figure it out as a pass rusher, they can get him through the final steps.  Daelin Hayes is another prospect that needs development but he might help in a few years.  Ben Cleveland is an interior offensive line prospect who is a giant of a man and he could end up playing this year depending on what the Ravens do at center.  If they move LG Bradley Boseman to center it’s possible Cleveland could win the spot at LG.  The Ravens have a pretty good secondary right now but they do have a few players aging and getting expensive which is why they invested in Brandon Stephens and Shaun Wade.  Stephens was a RB a few years ago and he’s just scratching the surface of his abilities at CB but he has the athletic skills to be very good.  Wade can make the transition to safety and end up a starter in a few years.  The Ravens are one of the few teams to even employ a fullback and while Patrick Ricard is still young, fullbacks take a beating so drafting Ben Mason was a solid investment. 

Cincinnati Bengals

(5) Ja’Marr Chase                   WR      LSU

(46) Jackson Carman              OL       Clemson

(69) Joseph Ossai                    DE       Texas

(111) Cameron Sample           DE       Tulane

(122) Tyler Shelvin                DT       LSU

(139) D’Ante Smith                OL       East Carolina

(149) Evan McPherson           K         Florida

(190) Trey Hill                        OL       Georgia

(202) Chris Evans                   RB       Michigan

(235) Wyatt Hubert                DE       Kansas St

Immediate Impact:  WR Ja’Marr Chase, OL Jackson Carman

The Bengals chose to go with the WR instead of the OT in round one and while I might have taken Penei Sewell instead, I completely understand taking Chase.  He has all the makings of being the next Davante Adams and his connection to Joe Burrow should pay off immediately.  If they can keep Burrow upright, he and Chase can be a deadly combination.  Speaking of keeping him upright, Jackson Carman needs to step up.  Carman was a LT at Clemson but he should slide into guard for the Bengals with Jonah Williams at LT and Riley Reiff at RT.  Carman is a big dude who should work well inside and the Bengals interior linemen aren’t great.  I think he takes a starting job early. 

Best Value:  DE Joseph Ossai

Ossai was a highly productive pass rusher at Texas last year after the Longhorns stopped moving him around and he settled in at DE.  He’s a bit undersized for a traditional 4-3 DE but he has great pass rushing instincts and skills.  The Bengals signed Trey Hendrickson from New Orleans to join Sam Hubbard at DE but Hendrickson has never been a full-time starter.  Ossai gives them another DE who is actually a better pass rusher than Hubbard and they got him in the third round. 

Sleeper: DT Tyler Shelvin

If he doesn’t eat himself out of the league, he has starter written all over him.  The Bengals have DJ Reader, Larry Ogunjobi and Mike Daniels at DT so it might take some time for Shelvin to play but he’s got the talent to do it.  He is a gigantic and athletic, that’s a good combination for a DT. 

Overall Analysis

Ja’Marr Chase has a chance to be an All-Pro and he’ll be the #1 WR for the Bengals on day one.  He makes the WR corps even better by making Tee Higgins the #2 outside receiver which leaves Tyler Boyd to man the slot, his best position.  Chase doesn’t just give Burrow a #1 WR, he completes an impressive starting trio.  Carman fills a position of need; the Bengals have to get better up front if they want Burrow to survive and thrive.  I love the Ossai pick, he was a steal in the third round, I thought he had late first/early second round potential.  The team drafted two more DEs, Cameron Sample and Wyatt Hubert, those two guys are developmental players, not sure either makes much of an impact now.  The team also added two other players on the offensive line in D’Ante Smith and Trey Hill.  They are polar opposites of each other as Smith is a light-on-his-feet OT prospect who needs to gain weight and strength.  Hill is an interior player who is big and thick but needs to also get stronger.  Developmental offensive linemen are a good idea for this team, they need more help up front.  They drafted a kicker, Evan McPherson, he’s good but he’s a kicker.  RB Chris Evans had a very weird college career and I’m not sure he makes the team.  I actually think the college free agent RB Pooka Williams that they signed after the draft has a better shot at making the roster, at least he looks like a possible Gio Bernard replacement. 

Cleveland Browns

(26) Greg Newsome II                        CB       Northwestern

(52) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah    LB       Notre Dame

(91) Anthony Schwartz                      WR      Auburn

(110) James Hudson                         OL       Cincinnati

(132) Tommy Togiai                          DL       Ohio St

(153) Tony Fields II                            LB       West Virginia

(169) Richard LeCounte                     S          Georgia

(211) Demetric Felton                        RB       UCLA

Immediate Impact:  CB Greg Newsome II, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

The Browns have Denzel Ward at one CB spot and they signed Troy Hill to be the nickel but Greedy Williams is their other option outside and he’s coming off a nerve injury in his shoulder that kept him out all last year.  Newsome offers the same size advantage Williams had and while he wasn’t the picture of health at Northwestern, he is a talented guy.  Newsome could take the starting job.  Owusu-Koramoah was a steal in the second round and I think he starts on the weakside.  He adds an element of speed at the LB spot, I think he really helps the defense. 

Best Value: Owusu-Koramoah

The 52^nd pick?  How did the NFL teams let that happen?  There was supposedly some medical issue but then it was supposed to be cleared up so I have no idea what happened with him.  He isn’t the biggest guy but there are plenty of smaller LBs playing great in the NFL and Owusu-Koramoah is going to be the next one. 

Sleeper:  RB/WR Demetric Felton

The Browns drafted WR Anthony Schwartz in round three to inject some speed into their offense.  He’s fast but I actually think Felton could be a more valuable offensive piece.  Schwartz is a raw prospect while Felton played WR at UCLA and was drafted as a RB.  He has a variety of skills that would make him valuable in the slot and as an air back.  They have D’Ernest Johnson but I like what Felton can do for them too. 

Overall Analysis

The Browns had a pretty solid defense last season and they added Newsome and Owusu-Koramoah, if that is all they get out of this draft they will still be doing just fine.  The took Schwartz in the third round and while he does bring speed, he is pretty unrefined.  I’m not sure he helps much right away unless they really coach him up.  He’s a track guy that needs to become more of a football player.  The Browns have a very good offensive line and I really like the investment in James Hudson, he’s not ready right now but they don’t need him right now.  If he can develop, he’s a really nice piece moving forward.  DT Tommy Togiai is basically a one-trick pony, he’s a run stopper, he doesn’t do much else.  (The Browns outbid many other teams to sign undrafted free agent DT Marvin Wilson from Florida St, he could be an incredible player for them going forward).  Tony Fields II is another small LB, apparently the Browns have a type, he has a tougher path to playing time.  Maybe a special team’s guy.  Richard LeCounte is a safety who plays faster than he worked out.  The Browns have been trying to find competent safeties for years and LeCounte may end up being one they can actually use.  He shouldn’t start right now but he can be the third safety for sure.  Love the Felton pick, he can do some things. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

(24) Najee Harris                    RB       Alabama

(55) Pat Freiermuth                TE       Penn St

(87) Kendrick Green               C/G     Illinois

(128) Dan Moore Jr.               OL       Texas A&M

(140) Buddy Johnson              LB       Texas A&M

(156) Isaiahh Loudermilk       DL       Wisconsin

(216) Quincy Roche               OLB    Miami

(245) Tre Norwood                 CB       Oklahoma

(254) Pressley Harvin III        P          Georgia Tech

Immediate Impact: RB Najee Harris, TE Pat Freiermuth, C Kendrick Green

The Steelers running game was horrible last season and Najee Harris is a very talented back.  He will immediately step in as the starter and he should improve the running game overall.  However, his impact may be slightly blunted by the fact that Pittsburgh’s offensive line is still pretty weak.  They don’t need Freiermuth as much as they need Harris because they have Eric Ebron but Freiermuth improves the offense.  He may be asked to stay in and block more than anyone hopes but he can do some of that too.  Green has a pretty clear path to a starting job at center with the Maurkice Pouncey retirement.  The Steelers have a couple of big holes to fill on the line and it seems nearly impossible to think Green won’t take the center job.  He’s big, athletic and still learning the position, it’s a strange combination of potential and production needed. 

Best Value: Green

He was a third-round pick, #87 overall, and he’s likely to start at center.  That’s real value.  They needed more value on the offensive line. 

Sleeper:  OLB Quincy Roche

The Steelers are counting on Alex Highsmith to replace Bud Dupree who left in free agency.  Highsmith is a nice player but he lacks explosion.  Roche is a dynamic pass rusher off the edge and he fits the Steelers defensive scheme perfectly.  He will give Highsmith a run for his money at the OLB position opposite TJ Watt.  I really like Roche and while he isn’t the biggest guy at the position, he knows how to get to the QB. 

Overall Analysis

I understand the Najee Harris pick, no one wants to go into a season with Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland Jr. as your top backs.  However, I would have liked it more if they would have addressed the offensive line a little more thoroughly.  Harris doesn’t solve the running game’s issues by himself.  TE Pat Freiermuth is a good player and he might be a better pro than he was a college player but they should have taken a lineman at that pick.  Kendrick Green is a center that hasn’t always been an offensive lineman and given how good he has become over just a few short years; he has a bright future.  They took OT Dan Moore Jr. after Green, he’s a nice developmental project but I’m afraid by the time he’s ready to go the team will be passed its current window of contention.  LB Buddy Johnson is nothing special, he doesn’t do anything great.  Basically, he’s Vince Williams part two, he’s the ILB the Steelers have been trying to upgrade for years but he’s just good enough to never get replaced.  Now they drafted a guy just like him, just good enough not to get rid of.  Isaiahh Loudermilk (no, I don’t know why there are two h’s at the end of his first name) is 6’7 293 lbs. and is the quintessential 3-4 DE, he fits Pittsburgh’s DE type exactly.  Love Roche, he could have a nice career playing in Pittsburgh’s defense.  The Tre Norwood pick was just taking a shot on a guy, they need CB help but I don’t think Norwood is ready for primetime just yet.  Hey, they drafted a punter, good for them.  Punters are people (and I’m told prospects) too.