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. 

Dallas Cowboys

(12) Micah Parsons                 LB       Penn St

(44) Kelvin Joseph                  CB       Kentucky

(75) Osa Odighizuwa              DL       UCLA

(84) Chauncey Golston           DE       Iowa

(99) Nahshon Wright              CB       Oregon St

(115) Jabril Cox                      LB       LSU

(138) Josh Ball                       OT       Marshall

(179) Simi Fehoko                  WR      Stanford

(192) Quinton Bohanna          DT       Kentucky

(227) Israel Mukuamu                        CB       South Carolina

(238) Matt Farniok                 OG      Nebraska

Immediate Impact:  LB Micah Parsons, CB Kelvin Joseph

Sean Lee finally retired and the Cowboys passed on Leighton Vander Esch’s fifth-year option signaling they don’t intend to keep him long-term.  Parsons might be the best defender in this draft and he can step in immediately for the Cowboys and start.  He’ll be an impact defender due to his speed and playmaking ability.  New defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will love the way Parsons plays.  Joseph isn’t Patrick Surtain II but he’s a pretty good CB.  He’s long and athletic which fits Quinn’s preferred type.  The Cowboys’ secondary leaves a lot to be desired so Joseph has a chance to steal a starting spot. 

Best Value:  LB Jabril Cox

Cox has a good chance to be a starter down the line.  He’s an excellent coverage LB and he just needs to play with a little more physicality against the run.  If you told me two years from now the Cowboys starting LBs would be Jaylon Smith, Micah Parsons and Jabril Cox, I would completely believe it.  They got Cox in round four and for now he’s a great sub-package LB against the pass and a potential starter. 

Sleeper:  OT Josh Ball

Ball has a rough past, in 2017 he was accused of multiple domestic violence charges while playing at Florida St.  Deals were made and he moved on to junior college and then eventually to Marshall.  He seemingly hasn’t had any issues since then and the Cowboys have never had a problem giving players second chances (along with third chances, fourth chances and so on if you’re talented enough).  Assuming Ball stays out of trouble he’s a very solid OT prospect with the size and athleticism to be a starter at LT in the future.  He needs some development but the team has Tyron Smith for now.  Smith is getting older; he’s played a lot of football and he’s coming off an injury so Ball was a solid future investment. 

Overall Analysis

I didn’t agree with every pick the Cowboys made but I certainly agree with their strategy to attack their weaknesses through the draft.  The team needed help in the secondary, they took three guys.  They needed help along the defensive line, they took three guys.  They drafted two potential starters at LB, a position that was actually a bit of a sneaky need.  And they took two developmental offensive linemen.  Oh, and a WR.  They traded down in round one because the CB they wanted was gone, they picked up a pick and still got the best defender in the draft, well done.  I love both the Micah Parsons pick and the Jabril Cox pick.

At CB, Joseph is a good choice for Dan Quinn’s defense.  I do think they reached a lot on Nahshon Wright; he wasn’t a third-round pick.  His size, he’s 6’4, was enticing but his skill isn’t there.  They doubled down on the 6’4 CB with Israel Mukuamu in round six, he’s a developmental guy but at least they waited until round six.  They badly needed help on the defensive line and in round three they got two guys to help.  Osa Odighizuwa can play both inside and outside.  He isn’t very big but he uses leverage well.  Chauncey Golston is long and lean at DE and while he isn’t a twitchy athlete, he wins with great hand usage and great technique.  He will contribute.  They also drafted DT Quinton Bohanna in round six and while I would usually think he would have a hard time making the roster, he’s a gigantic human which they really don’t have inside. 

WR Simi Fehoko is a tall WR from Stanford and the only offensive skill position player they drafted.  He will have a hard time making this roster with the Cowboys pretty set at WR.  Usually a developmental seventh-round offensive lineman would be headed for practice squad but Matt Farniok offers positional flexibility all over the line and the Cowboys don’t have much depth.  Farniok could play himself into a backup spot because he covers so many spots on the line.

New York Giants

(20) Kadarius Toney               WR      Florida

(50) Azeez Ojulari                  OLB    Georgia

(71) Aaron Robinson              CB       UCF

(116) Elerson G. Smith           OLB    Northern Iowa

(196) Gary Brightwell            RB       Arizona

(201) Rodarius Williams        CB       Oklahoma St.

Immediate Impact:  WR Kadarius Toney, OLB Azeez Ojulari

The Giants wanted DeVonta Smith but the Eagles traded up a head of them so they moved down, picked up a 1^st round pick from Chicago (who came up to get Justin Fields) and then drafted Toney at 20^th overall, fantastic move by Dave Gettleman.  That’s how you adjust in the draft and make the best of a situation.  Toney will drop a few more easy catches than you would like but he’s an electric playmaker when he gets the ball.  He only has to outplay John Ross and Sterling Shepard for playing time as the slot receiver, that’s easy competition for him.  Toney is also a gadget guy who can add a lot of different plays to the offense, assuming Jason Garrett can come up with some inventive plays. 

Azeez Ojulari was my favorite pass rusher in the draft and apparently a previous knee injury scared some teams off.  He fell to the second round and Gettleman made another nice move taking advantage.  The Giants need pass rush help and Ojulari will start at OLB and bring a lot of speed off the edge.  He’s just what the Giants defense needs to get a lot better. 

Best Value:  Ojulari

Ojulari might be the steal of the draft. I might say that about a few prospects but I really mean it with him.  The knee injury scared teams off but if he’s healthy he’s a force off the edge.  He can get to the QB and he can actually be an all-around player. 

Sleeper:  CB Aaron Robinson

The Giants have James Bradberry as their #1 CB and Darnay Holmes is locked in as the slot guy.  They signed Adoree’ Jackson to be their #2, and while they gave him a three-year deal, I’m skeptical of Jackson.  He has had injury issues over the last two seasons and in four year in Tennessee he has two total interceptions.  If Jackson flames out, I could see Robinson stepping in.  He has the size and skill to play outside, which would allow Holmes to stay inside.  I think Robinson is good enough now to push Isaac Yiadom and/or Quincy Wilson right off the roster.  Most see Robinson as a nickel back, I think he can play both inside and out.   

Overall Analysis

Dave Gettleman really surprised me with this draft.  He moved down, a move he has never actually done, and he did it quite well.  He picked up a 1^st round pick next year, still got a playmaking WR he needs to help his hand-picked QB and he ended up with a steal in round two.  Toney and Ojulari will determine the success of this draft but the rest can help too.  Robinson is a very good CB who can become a starter.  Between Robinson and sixth rounder Rodarius Williams the Giants added depth and competition to the secondary, that’s a good thing.  Elerson Smith is a solid developmental edge rusher and the Giants need all the help they can get at getting to the QB.  If Ojulari and Smith are the starting OLBs for the Giants in three years, that won’t be surprising at all.  The Gary Brightwell pick is a little peculiar considering the team has Saquon Barkley coming back from injury, the signed Devontae Booker to be the backup, and Brightwell wasn’t really seen as a draftable prospect.  He’s really raw and I’m pretty sure there were better backs available who could help more right now.

Philadelphia Eagles

(10) DeVonta Smith               WR      Alabama

(37) Landon Dickerson           C/G     Alabama

(73) Milton Williams              DT       Louisiana Tech

(123) Zech McPherson           CB       Texas Tech

(150) Kenneth Gainwell         RB       Memphis

(189) Marlon Tuipulotu          DT       USC

(191) Tarron Jackson              DE       Coastal Carolina

(224) JaCoby Stevens             S/LB    LSU

(234) Patrick Johnson             DE       Tulane

Immediate Impact: WR DeVonta Smith

The Eagles made a trade with the Cowboys to move up two spots so they could beat the Giants to the punch and take DeVonta Smith.  He’s an elite technician at WR with great speed, he’s only lacking bulk.  He will make life easier for Jalen Hurts because he knows how to get open and that makes him better than every other WR on the Eagles roster.  If he can hold up physically, he’s a star. 

Best Value:  RB Kenneth Gainwell

I really like Gainwell’s skill set in today’s NFL.  He can be a RB but he’s more of a weapon all over the field.  He can play the slot, he can be in the backfield, and he’s just going to get yards.  The Eagles have Miles Sanders who is a very good starting RB.  Boston Scott is a decent backup but they also just claimed Kerryon Johnson off waivers and they signed Jordan Howard as a free agent.  Johnson has trouble staying healthy and Howard has become a one-dimensional back, he’s a power guy.  The Eagles need playmakers on offense and they somehow found Gainwell in round five. 

Sleeper:  DE Patrick Johnson

Patrick Johnson is an undersized DE prospect but that doesn’t scare the Eagles.  They have Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, and Josh Sweat, they specialize in undersized DEs.  Johnson has a motor that never shuts off and it’s hard to bet against a guy like that, even if he was a seventh-round pick. 

Overall Analysis

The paid a high price (a third-round pick) to move up just two spots and get DeVonta Smith but they felt it was necessary.  With their WR corps, I can’t blame them for feeling that way.  Smith has legitimate #1 WR ability.  C/G Landon Dickerson is talented enough to warrant his selection in the second round but I have serious concerns about his ability to stay healthy.  For now, he’s the backup at every interior spot and he’s probably C Jason Kelce’s eventual replacement, assuming he stays on the field.  DL Milton Williams was a solid third round choice.  He’s a bit of a tweener, he’s undersized for DT and not really fast or twitchy enough for DE.  The Eagles will have to find the best way to deploy him. 

They definitely should have addressed their secondary with a bit more urgency but if you’re going to take a flyer on a fourth-rounder you can do worse than a fast, solidly built corner like Zech McPhearson.  He’s not solving the problem today but he brings competition to the roster.  In the sixth round they took two developmental defensive linemen, DT Marlon Tuipulotu and DE Tarron Jackson, I don’t expect them to make the roster but they are some training camp competition.  They also drafted JaCoby Stevens, a very large safety from LSU who will likely move to LB and maybe end up on the practice squad.  I like seventh round DE Patrick Johnson.

Washington Football Team

(19) Jamin Davis                     LB       Kentucky

(51) Sam Cosmi                      OT       Texas

(74) Benjamin St-Juste           CB       Minnesota

(82) Dyami Brown                  WR      North Carolina

(124) John Bates                     TE       Boise St

(163) Darrick Forrest              S          Cincinnati

(225) Camaron Cheeseman    LS        Michigan

(240) Will Bradley-King        DE       Baylor

(246) Shaka Toney                 DE       Penn St

(258) Dax Milne                     WR      BYU

Immediate Impact: LB Jamin Davis, LT Sam Cosmi

Washington had a good defense last season built around their fantastic front four.  The LB corps left something to be desired but Jamin Davis is going to help a lot.  He should take over the weakside and add speed and tackling ability to the second level.  Cosmi didn’t get a lot of attention as a prospect but he started a lot of games for Texas and he has experience at LT.  Right now, Geron Christian and Cornelius Lucas are the potential starting LTs, Cosmi is a better option than those two. 

Best Value:  WR Dyami Brown

They got Terry McLaurin a running partner at WR.  Brown is a dynamic, down-the-field option who will help Washington take their offense vertical.  Ryan Fitzpatrick throws a nice deep ball and now he has two guys who can go deep.  Brown will help open up the underneath part of the field for RB Antonio Gibson and WR Curtis Samuel.  Brown was a really good choice late in round three. 

Sleeper: WR Dax Milne

This is a bit of a deep sleeper.  Milne was a highly productive WR for Zach Wilson at BYU.  He doesn’t possess elite speed or quickness but he knows how to get open.  The team has Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel with Dyami Brown as a potential big play guy, they need someone reliable over the middle. They are counting on either Kelvin Harmon to come back from injury or Adam Humphries to get back to being productive but Milne might be a better bet.  He’s not strictly a slot receiver but if he works on his footwork, he might be a solid inside receiver.  

Overall Analysis

Jamin Davis and Sam Cosmi fill two major holes on the roster.  Davis is the playmaker they need at LB while Cosmi is an upgrade to the options at LT.  He’s not the best LT prospect but he will get the job done.  Benjamin St-Juste is an interesting CB prospect because he brings incredible size, he’s 6’3, and Washington needs some depth there. Kendall Fuller and William Jackson are a solid starting duo but there isn’t much depth beyond them.  St-Juste will get plenty of playing time.  They added depth at WR with Dyami Brown and Dax Milne and considering Kelvin Harmon and Adam Humphries are question marks, that’s a good thing.  John Bates is a developmental TE who could stick because they don’t have much at TE on this team.

Darrick Forrest is a safety prospect who’s most likely path to the roster is through special teams.  They spent a draft pick on Camaron Cheeseman, he was arguably the best long snapper available but he’s a long snapper, don’t draft one.  They are taking a shot on two undersized pass rushers, Will Bradley-King and Shaka Toney.  One of them might make it as a designated pass rusher but I find it hard to see the Football Team keeping two undersized DEs to rush the passer when they have no intention of taking Chase Young or Montez Sweat off the field unless absolutely necessary.  Solid draft by Washington, it could keep them on top of the division if Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn’t implode.  Except he always implodes.   

Denver Broncos

(9) Patrick Surtain II               CB       Alabama

(35) Javonte Williams            RB       North Carolina

(98) Quinn Meinerz               G/C     Wisconsin-Whitewater

(105) Baron Browning            LB       Ohio St

(152) Caden Sterns                S          Texas

(164) Jamar Johnson              S          Indiana

(219) Seth Williams               WR      Auburn

(237) Kary Vincent Jr.            CB       LSU

(253) Marquiss Spencer         DL       Mississippi St.

(239) Jonathan Cooper          DE       Ohio St

Immediate Impact:  CB Patrick Surtain II, RB Javonte Williams

The Broncos signed Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller in the off season but Surtain will start anyway.  The Broncos know what those two veterans give them and they know Surtain’s ceiling is higher, he’s a legit #1 CB.  Also, in a division that has Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr, it’s good to be able to cover.  Williams was my favorite RB in the draft and Melvin Gordon is going to hate him because he makes him expendable.  Williams fits the offense perfectly and he has fresh legs, he could be the offensive rookie of the year. 

Best Value:  S Jamar Johnson

I like both safeties the Broncos drafted but I like Johnson a little more.  I think he’s a future starter and he could replace Kareem Jackson who is aging.  Johnson has all around skills and while he needs to work on his tackling efficiency, he gets the job done when he’s there.  He also can cover and in today’s NFL, every safety has to cover. 

Sleepers:  LB Baron Browning, OLB Jonathan Cooper

I really hate putting two Buckeyes here but these are two good picks.  The Broncos have contract decisions to make on both Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell over the next couple of seasons and Browning is a guy who could develop into a replacement for one of them.  Cooper is a pure pass rush specialist for now but with Von Miller aging the team might need someone to give them some important snaps soon.  Cooper isn’t flashy but he’s effective. 

Overall Analysis

I don’t know if I’ve seen a secondary overhaul quite like the one happening in Denver.  The team signed two veteran free agent CBs and then drafted Patrick Surtain II in round one and took another CB later, Kary Vincent Jr.  Vincent Jr. has a chance to stick as a nickel guy if they just want to clear the decks.  They also drafted two new safeties.  I love the Jamar Johnson pick; he’s underrated.  They also took Texas S Caden Sterns a dozen picks before Johnson.  Sterns is a deep safety but he’s not as good all-around as Johnson.  Williams is one of my favorite picks in this draft and he’s going to be a monster in the Denver running game.  C/G Quinn Meinerz is a great story, google him, you’ll love it.  He’s going to have to sit for now because he’s strictly and interior offensive line guy and the Broncos seem content there unless they don’t like Graham Glasgow any more.  He’s a nice backup to have at center or guard.  Browning, Sterns and Johnson could all grow into starters at some point in the future.  WR Seth Williams is going to find it hard to crack the WR corps in Denver, they are at least five deep.  Vincent and Cooper could fill specific roles early.  I would say DL Marquiss Spencer won’t make the roster but the Broncos have a bunch of late-round and non-descript guys up front so who knows, maybe someday he’s one of them.  He probably makes the practice squad for now. 

Kansas City Chiefs

(58) Nick Bolton                     LB       Missouri

(63) Creed Humphrey             C         Oklahoma

(144) Joshua Kaindoh             DE       Florida St

(162) Noah Gray                     TE       Duke

(181) Cornell Powell              WR      Clemson 

(226) Trey Smith                    OL       Tennessee

Immediate Impact: Orlando Brown Jr.

This is a team that has gone to two straight Super Bowls, it’s hard for a rookie to come in and have an impact.  That’s why the Chiefs traded their 1^st round pick to Baltimore to fill their biggest need at LT.  Orlando Brown Jr. stepped in at LT for Ravens last year and wanted to stay there but Ronnie Stanley is coming back.  The solution was to send Brown out in a trade and now he gets to play LT for the Chiefs, and they desperately needed him. 

Best Value:  OC Creed Humphrey

I might like Humphrey better than most but I think he’s a long-term starting center in the NFL and the Chiefs got him late in round two.  That’s excellent value even if he isn’t an immediate starter (they brought in plenty of veterans on the interior of the line). 

Sleeper:  OL Trey Smith

The Chiefs overhauled their offensive line with LT Orlando Brown Jr, LG Joe Thuney, and C Austin Blythe all coming in and with RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif returning from his opt out.  Even though Trey Smith was a sixth-round pick don’t count him out from becoming a staring RG in the future.  He overcame blood clots in his lungs in college only to return and be pretty good on a really crappy Tennessee team.  He could have called it quits; he could have transferred to somewhere that had a better football team but he fought through it all.  If I’m going to bet on a late round guy to make it, I’m betting on Trey Smith.

Overall Analysis

The Orlando Brown trade is the biggest piece of this draft for this year.  However, LB Nick Bolton, C Creed Humphrey and potentially Trey Smith and Cornell Powell could find roles on this team in the not to distant future.  Bolton is an undersized inside LB but he’s smart and he knows how to play the position.  He will likely push Anthony Hitchens off the roster next year.  Creed Humphrey is the future starting center and while the Chiefs signed free agent Austin Blythe to fill that role, he’s only on a one-year deal.  The job might go to Humphrey this year but even if it doesn’t, I can’t see the Chiefs spending money to bring Blythe back next year with Humphrey on the roster.  DE Joshua Kaindoh was underwhelming at Florida St, just like everyone else at Florida St, I expect the same from him in Kansas City. The Chiefs have a lot of bodies at TE behind Travis Kelce, Noah Gray will fit right in.  Cornell Powell took five years to find his stride at Clemson and then had a good last year.  He fits the profile of Demarcus Robinson or former Chief Sammy Watkins and if he gets a chance, Patrick Mahomes can make him look good.  If you want to bet against Trey Smith, go ahead, I won’t be joining you. 

Las Vegas Raiders

(17) Alex Leatherwood                      OL       Alabama

(43) Trevon Moehrig                          S          TCU

(79) Malcolm Koonce                        DE       Buffalo

(80) Divine Deablo                             S          Virginia Tech

(143) Tyree Gillespie                         S          Missouri

(167) Nate Hobbs                             CB       Illinois

(230) Jimmy Morrissey                     OL       Pittsburgh

Immediate Impact:  OT Alex Leatherwood, S Trevon Moehrig

The Raiders offensive line has undergone a massive change and while I vehemently disagree with the Raiders taking Leatherwood in the first round, he will absolutely start at RT.  He will have an impact; they just have to hope it’s a positive one.  The Raiders have some obsession with getting safeties that can’t cover so the Moehrig pick was a big change.  He should start at FS because they really don’t have a safety that can cover the deep middle, except Moehrig.  He’s a damn good player and they need his skill set. 

Best Value:  S Trevon Moehrig

He was a first round talent and they got him in round two.  He’s a starter and a huge upgrade, that’s great value at #43 overall. 

Sleeper: S/LB Divine Deablo

I’m listing Deablo as a S/LB because he played safety in college but I think they move him to LB and play him there exclusively.  He is 6’3 226 lbs. and he could easily move.  They drafted three safeties counting Deablo and two of them aren’t good in deep coverage including Deablo.  I think he’s a better matchup as a LB covering TEs and RBs than trying to cover slot receivers. 

Overall Analysis

This was a weird draft.  Alex Leatherwood was drafted too high at 17 but then they got Moehrig at 43, flip those two around and it makes far more sense.  They drafted an offensive lineman first and last, sandwiched around five defensive players.  Leatherwood is a bit limited as a player and there were better offensive linemen on the board at that spot.  Their secondary needed a ton of help but they need help in coverage and only Moehrig helps there.  Adding two more safeties who are essentially just like Jonathan Abram doesn’t seem all that helpful.  They should have gotten another coverage safety and just moved Abram to LB.  Nate Hobbs is also not the help they need at CB, he’s not really better than what they already have.  I suppose DE Malcolm Koonce could help as a pass rusher but they just signed Yannick Ngakoue to a two-year deal and Koonce is essentially a carbon copy.  When your defense is bad, I’m not sure drafting guys who are exactly like the guys you already have is a great way to get better.  Ngakoue is new and he should help the pass rush but since you just signed an undersized DE maybe you don’t need to draft one too.  Getting a DE to replace Clelin Ferrell would be nice but with Ngakoue and Maxx Crosby around you need a big DE, not a small one. 

Los Angeles Chargers

(13) Rashawn Slater               OT       Northwestern

(47) Asante Samuel Jr.           CB       Florida St

(77) Josh Palmer                    WR      Tennessee

(97) Tre’ McKitty                   TE       Georgia

(118) Chris Rumph II             OLB    Duke

(159) Brendan Jaimes             OL       Nebraska

(185) Nick Niemann               LB       Iowa

(198) Larry Roundtree III       RB       Missouri

(241) Mark Webb                   S          Georgia

Immediate Impact:  OT Rashawn Slater, CB Asante Samuel Jr.

Slater was an absolute gift at pick 13.  The Chargers just stayed put and a starting LT fell into their laps.  They had one major hole left on the offensive line and Slater fills it quite well.  I wasn’t his biggest fan but as the 13 pick and playing in the Chargers offense, he should be just fine at LT.  Samuel is a personal favorite of mine.  Some guys are just born to be great cover guys and Samuel is that guy.  He isn’t the biggest or the fastest CB but good luck getting away from him.  He starts day one. 

Best Value:  Slater and Samuel

Strange to say it but Slater at 13 and Samuel at 47 were great value.  Two rounds and two starters at two of the toughest positions to fill in the game. 

Sleeper:  WR Josh Palmer

Palmer probably went a round sooner than I would have thought but the kid has talent.  He played at Tennessee and to say the Vols had a some rough QB play over the last several years is a major understatement.  Palmer has a great size/speed combo and the Chargers have virtually nothing at WR outside of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.  Palmer is going to play…a lot. 

Overall Analysis

One of the better drafts overall, probably top 3.  Slater and Samuel start now and Palmer can be WR3 pretty quickly.  Also, the Chargers are going to have to make a long-term decision on Mike Williams soon and if Palmer plays well, they might decide not to spent the money to keep Williams.  Tre’ McKitty didn’t catch a lot of passes in college but he can block.  The team doesn’t have much outside of Jared Cook at TE and he doesn’t really do the blocking thing.  I considered Chris Rumph II as my sleeper because the team lost Melvin Ingram as a pass rusher and they are counting on Uchenna Nwosu to pick up the slack.  Rumph may be called on to help him out, he has lots of natural pass rushing moves.  He needs to get bigger but he can be a designated pass rusher.  OL Brendan Jaimes can go on the same workout routine as Rumph because he needs to get bigger and stronger too.  He has some skill but he’s a bit light at this point.  I love the Niemann pick and not just because he’s a Hawkeye.  The Chargers have Kenneth Murray at one ILB spot but for now they have either Kyzir White or Drue Tranquill for the other spot and both guys are coming off injuries.  Niemann is cross trained to play pretty much any LB spot you need him to play.  He was always the jack-of-all trades guy at Iowa.  He didn’t always flash because he was too busy being dependable.  Larry Roundtree is a nice RB but the Chargers have Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley, good luck breaking into that group.  Mark Webb looks like the guy you want getting off the bus first, he’s ripped.  Unfortunately, he isn’t the guy you want on the field first.  Special teamer if he’s lucky.