Tag: nfl

2025 NFC South Draft Review

Atlanta Falcons

(15) Jalon Walker LB Georgia
(26) James Pearce Jr. Edge Tennessee
(96) Xavier Watts S Notre Dame
(118) Billy Bowman Jr. S Oklahoma
(218) Jack Nelson OT Wisconsin

Immediate Impact: LB Jalon Walker, Edge James Pearce Jr., S Xavier Watts

The Falcons’ defense was not very good last year and they haven’t had a pass rusher in years. They got three starters with their first three picks. Walker is a hybrid LB/Edge player who can step right in as a playmaker they have desperately needed for years. The traded up for James Pearce Jr. because they really liked him and they needed more pass rush, he’s going to start. Xavier Watts was a very good pickup in round three and he will start next to Jessie Bates and form a nice safety duo.

Best Value: S Xavier Watts

Watts isn’t the most physically gifted player you’ll find at safety but he’s intelligent and instinctive. He helps the back end of the defense as much as anyone reasonably could and will hopefully allow Bates to be even better.

Sleeper: OT Jack Nelson

There’s not a lot to choose from given this was a five-player draft. LT Jake Matthews is 33 and RT Kaleb McGary hasn’t always been the picture of health so Nelson could come in handy. He’s an athletic guy who’s 6’7 314 lbs. coming out of Wisconsin where they know how to make offensive lineman. Nelson isn’t going to be some superstar but if he ends up playing for his team at some point, he can hold his own.

Overall Analysis

This draft class will be judged by the impact of James Pearce Jr. The team traded their second-round pick plus a first rounder next year to move back into the first round to take Pearce after already drafting Jalon Walker. It was a bold move and if Walker and Pearce don’t transform the defense this could really backfire. If they end up with a bad record and give up a high pick next year to the Rams, it’s going to cost GM Terry Fontenot his job.

Watts was a great pickup and they must have liked Billy Bowman Jr. enough to think he could help the defense. The safety position isn’t stacked and Bowman can also help at nickel.

Nitpick or Concern: Trading up for Pearce is a big risk. He’s not a perfect prospect and he has had some maturity issues and coachability issues. If he flames out and they gave up future first for a guy who doesn’t work out, it’s going to cost the front office. I don’t think I would have made that big of a bet on a player as suspect as Pearce. Especially when you got good value on a pass rusher in round one to begin with.

Carolina Panthers

(8) Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona
(51) Nic Scourton Edge Texas A&M
(77) Princely Umanmielen Edge Ole Miss
(114) Trevor Etienne RB Georgia
(122) Lathan Ransom S Ohio St.
(140) Cam Jackson DT Florida
(163) Mitchell Evans TE Notre Dame
(208) Jimmy Horn Jr. WR Colorado

Immediate Impact: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Edge Nic Scourton, Edge Princely Umanmielen

Xavier Legette was a solid rookie WR last year and they like Jalen Coker but they needed a true WR1 and McMillan can be that. Bryce Young needed a real weapon and McMillan is going to be the true downfield asset that could unlock the offense. The Panthers also needed to get better on defense and they chose to pick a couple of pass rushers who will really help that. Scourton and Umanmielen are two different types of edge players but they should complement each other well. They probably won’t start right away but they will both play a ton.

Best Value: S Lathan Ransom

The Panthers signed Tre’von Moehrig to be one safety but they don’t have a lot of great options at the other safety spot. Ransom has a chance to take that other safety spot. He was a very good player at Ohio St. and he can be even better if he works on tackling guys instead of trying to get the big hit. As a fourth-round pick who could take a starting job at a position of need, that’s good value.

Sleeper: TE Mitchell Evans

The Panthers have Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders at TE, not exactly murder’s row. Evans isn’t a surefire player but he is a steady player who offers a little bit of everything. He’s not the most dynamic playmaker but he’s got good hands, runs solid routes, and can block when needed. He could eventually develop into a solid contributor.

Overall Analysis

The Panthers understood the assignment here. They got a real WR1 for Bryce Young and then they started to address the defense. They hit offense here and there throughout the draft and got some solid prospects there too. McMillan was the right choice at #8 overall. Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen are going to help the defense and they should be building blocks moving forward. The choice of Trevor Etienne seems a little strange considering they have Chuba Hubbard, signed Rico Dowdle, and should be hoping Jonathan Brooks returns at some point. I didn’t think Etienne was the type of RB you should feel compelled to draft.

Lathan Ransom has starter potential and then they drafted DT Cam Jackson. They have enough depth at DT to not need Jackson anytime soon but he’s a good investment for the future. He’s big, and he can be physical when he keeps his pad level down. He needs to work on that and he has some good veterans around him t learn from. TE Mitchell Evans has potential down the road too. WR Jimmy Horn Jr. is a pretty skinny player but he may have a future as a slot receiver. For now, they have Adam Thielen but he’s an older player and Horn could stick around if he beats out Hunter Renfrow.

Nitpick or Concern: The Panthers hit almost every spot they need to with WR and edge rusher being the primary objective, but also getting a TE, S, and a DT. The one thing they didn’t address was CB. They are paying Jaycee Horn a ton of money but Mike Jackson is a replacement level player at the other outside CB spot. They better hope their pass rush is considerably improved because the secondary is still a little concerning.

New Orleans Saints

(9) Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas
(40) Tyler Shough QB Louisville
(71) Vernon Broughton DL Texas
(93) Jonas Sanker S Virginia
(112) Danny Stutsman LB Oklahoma
(131) Quincy Riley CB Louisville
(184) Devin Neal RB Kansas
(248) Moliki Matavao TE UCLA
(254) Fadil Diggs Edge Syracuse

Immediate Impact: OL Kelvin Banks Jr, QB Tyler Shough

Banks could end up the LT, the RT, or the LG depending on how they want to deploy Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning. Fuaga is naturally a RT but he played LT last year and Penning played RT. If they want to use Banks at LT, Fuaga goes to the right side, and Penning goes to the bench but then they have to find a LG. Or Fuaga and Penning stay where they are and they plug in Banks at LG. No matter what, Banks gives them the opportunity to play their best five. Tyler Shough might get baptism by fire if Derek Carr’s shoulder injury keeps him sidelined. Shough will be a 26-year-old rookie so he shouldn’t be overwhelmed. The good news is he’s basically the same player as Carr from a skill perspective so the offense doesn’t have to change.

Best Value: CB Quincy Riley

I had Riley as a boarder line second round pick and the Saints got him in round four. They have Kool-Aid McKinstry as their top CB and Alontae Taylor at nickel but Riley could beat out Isaac Yiadom for the other outside CB spot. He doesn’t have elite size but Riley is a tough player who can hold up.

Sleeper: RB Devin Neal

Obviously, the Saints have Alvin Kamara at RB and he’s an excellent player. However, it might help Kamara be even more effective if the Saints had a RB to take some of the early down work and save Kamara from some of that workload. Neal is that type of RB and could be a guy to help save Kamara’s legs for later in the season. He has starter potential from a talent standpoint.

Overall Analysis

Banks and Shough are likely to either start or get a lot of playing time this season no matter how things pan out. Shough might not be the highest ceiling QB prospect at this point but he’s ready to step in an play. DT Vernon Broughton is an underrated pickup. He was overshadowed at Texas by Alfred Collins but he’s a very effective DT too. The Saints have several veterans at that spot but not a lot of high-end players.

Broughton started a run of four defensive players who might not be starters immediately, but could certainly end up as starters. S Jonas Sanker will back up Tyrann Mathieu who is 33 and not getting any younger. Then LB Danny Stutsman who could eventually make the lineup with Demario Davis being even older the Mathieu. Finally, it’s CB Quincy Riley who will certainly play a lot for this defense even if he isn’t a starter right away. Love the Neal pick up after that too.

TE Moliki Matavao was an interesting selection. They have Foster Moreau and just re-signed Juwan Johnson plus they signed free agent Jack Stoll and still have Taysom Hill. Hill is coming off an injury and is 34 so he’s coming to the end of the line. Matavao may be stashed on the practice squad until the depth chart clears up a bit. DE Fadil Diggs may be in a similar situation given they have bodies at DE but could use some youth.

Nitpick or Concern: It’s the same concern every year with the Saints, this roster is expensive, aging, and they don’t seem to have a plan to pivot from it. It all feels like half measures. Taking Tyler Shough, an older prospect who is a more athletic, maybe slight upgrade from Derek Carr isn’t exactly a great plan at QB. Are they moving off aging guys like Tyrann Mathieu, Demario Davis, and Cameron Jordan with Jonas Sanker, Danny Stutsman, and Fadil Diggs? All half measures with no real plan to get difference makers because they have put themselves in a no-win situation with their salary cap.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(19) Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio St.
(53) Benjamin Morrison CB Notre Dame
(84) Jacob Parrish CB Kansas St.
(121) David Walker Edge Central Arkansas
(157) Elijah Roberts DE SMU
(235) Tez Johnson WR Oregon

Immediate Impact: CB Benjamin Morrison

I’m struggling with the Egbuka pick because I love the player but him having an immediate impact with this WR corps seems unlikely. Morrison, on the other hand, can absolutely take a major role if not a starting one as long as his hip is healthy. He worked out late in the draft process to show teams he was recovering but still fell to round two. If he’s 100% by training camp, he’s going to give Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum everything they can handle and challenge for a starting job.

Best Value: CB Benjamin Morrison

Again, if he’s healthy, he’s got starting CB ability. Also, if he lives up to his talent level, he has legitimate CB1 ability. They stole him in round two and there are going to be teams that passed on him who are going to regret it.

Sleeper: DE Elijah Roberts

He’s not the flashy edge rusher they probably needed but he’s excellent depth at DE on their three-man line. They have Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey as starters but they have no depth. Also, they are going to have to make a call on paying Logan Hall as his rookie contract comes to an end. Roberts is the type of big, powerful edge setting DE they need and if they prefer to spend money on Kancey, they may let Hall walk in free agency. Roberts gives them that option if he plays well.

Overall Analysis

Emeka Egbuka is an excellent player and a great person to bring onto the team but his path to playing time right away is cloudy. Mike Evans is aging but hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. Chris Godwin is coming off another injury but the team just re-signed him in free agency. And Jalen McMillan looked good filling in for Godwin after he went out last season. Egbuka can fill in any of the three WR spots but I’m not sure he gets enough time this year to be an impact player. The Morrison pick is boom or bust depending on his hip and I would bet on him being awesome.

The team did a smart thing and doubled up at CB taking Jacob Parrish after taking Morrison. One caveat is that Parrish feels like a nickel more than anything and the team already has Tykee Smith at nickel and he was very good last season as a rookie there. Parrish may have to find his way to play on the outside. Edge rusher David Walker was a menace at the FBS level and has elite pass rushing instincts. The one problem is he is seriously undersized for the NFL and is going to have to find a way to make it work. Elijah Roberts was well worth the fifth-round pick they paid for him and gives them immediate depth at the DE position.

I love WR Tez Johnson and it would be an awesome story if he makes the NFL at his size but he’s fighting a tough battle on this roster. Most teams only keep five or six WRs and they have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and Emeka Egbuka who are locked in meaning there’s only one or two spots left. They have Sterling Shepard and Trey Palmer as veterans they have had for a few years and that puts Johnson behind the eight ball.

Nitpick or Concern: They probably could have done more at LB and I mean both inside and outside on the edge (David Walker isn’t enough). They certainly needed the CB help but Jacob Parrish’s pick could have been used on LB with Lavonte David aging and them having no depth. Walker is a fun prospect to watch but there were players on the board there who may have been better at helping this team right away.

2025 AFC South Draft Review

Houston Texans

(34) Jayden Higgins WR Iowa St.
(48) Aireontae Ersery OT Minnesota
(79) Jaylin Noel WR Iowa St.
(97) Jaylin Smith CB USC
(116) Woody Marks RB USC
(187) Jaylen Reed S Penn St.
(197) Graham Mertz QB Florida
(224) Kyonte Hamilton DT Rutgers
(255) Luke Lachey TE Iowa

Immediate Impact: WR Jayden Higgins, OT Aireontae Ersery

The team lost Tank Dell to a gruesome knee injury late in the year and so they really shouldn’t expect him back this next season. They drafted Higgins to be the outside WR opposite Nico Collins and he should be an excellent addition. OT Aireontae Ersery was a mid-second round pick who has a legitimate chance to start at LT. Cam Robinson is a stopgap at best and Ersery has plenty of upside. He’s a massive human being who has athleticism you wouldn’t expect out of man his size; he wins the job over Robinson in camp.

Best Value: WR Jaylin Noel

I should probably give this to Ersery and if he proves me right and wins the starting LT job it really is him. A starting LT at 48th overall is great value. However, Noel was an absolute steal in round three. I doubt the Texans had planned on drafting both Iowa St. WRs but when he was still on the board at 79, they couldn’t pass him up. The team traded for Christian Kirk so Noel won’t be an immediate starter but if he ends up playing more than Kirk, that’s not going to be surprising.

Sleeper: TE Luke Lachey

The top two TEs on the depth chart are Dalton Schultz and Brevin Jordan, neither of whom have guaranteed money on their contracts past this season. The team took Cade Stover in the 2024 draft but Lachey offers more upside as a receiver. He had a tough year at Iowa coming off an injury, adjusting to a new offense, and dealing with some bad QB play, but Lachey has talent. It won’t happen immediately unless there are some injuries but he’s a worthwhile bet in round seven.

Overall Analysis

The Texans traded out of round one to allow the Giants to move up to get QB Jaxson Dart and while they didn’t get a big haul of picks, they got some value. Both Iowa St. WRs give them help at WR even if it didn’t seem like a glaring need. They have a lot of bodies at the position but both Higgins and Noel are well positioned to get playing time. John Metchie III and Christian Kirk are penciled in as starters and neither one of them is a guarantee. Ersery was arguably the last viable starting LT option on the board and they needed a guy who can beat out Cam Robinson, Ersery will.

The next two picks were a bit odd and were probably reaches where they were taken. Jaylin Smith is an undersized CB who is likely a nickel and the Texans already have Jalen Pitre and CJ Gardner-Johnson who can play that position. Not sure Smith was so good you needed to take him in round three. RB Woody Marks is a solid back and good pass catcher but they traded up for him in round four, he wasn’t that highly regarded. S Jaylen Reed is a solid prospect but he’s going to find it hard to make this roster at safety, they’re deep there.

QB Graham Mertz was also a questionable pick. This team has CJ Stroud entrenched at QB with Davis Mills seemingly entrenched as his backup. They have Kedon Slovis, who they drafted last year, as a developmental QB and I don’t think Mertz is an upgrade there. Strange choice. DT Kyonte Hamilton may have been a late round pick but the DT spot isn’t overly impressive so he could stick around. Lachey has plenty of potential.

Nitpick or Concern: I have a few. This was an interesting draft in the fact that every pick the Texans made was traded at some point. Up or down, GM Nick Caserio didn’t sit still. The middle round picks of Jaylin Smith and Woody Marks were questionable at best. Smith will find playing time hard to come by on this roster. Marks can find a role behind Joe Mixon because Mixon isn’t a pass catcher, but there were better RBs on the board; Jarquez Hunter, Dylan Sampson, Jordan James, and Jaydon Blue were literally the next four RBs off the board. Also, while they were taking guys like Smith and Marks, there were DTs like Deone Walker, Ty Robinson, CJ West, and Jordan Farmer on the board. They had a bigger need at DT than at nickel and those guys would have helped.

Indianapolis Colts

(14) Tyler Warren TE Penn St.
(45) JT Tuimoloau DE Ohio St.
(80) Justin Walley CB Minnesota
(127) Jalen Travis OT Iowa St.
(151) DJ Giddens RB Kansas St.
(189) Riley Leonard QB Notre Dame
(190) Tim Smith DT Alabama
(232) Hunter Wohler S Wisconsin

Immediate Impact: TE Tyler Warren

The Colts have a huge need at TE and Warren is a guy who can fill it. He has the all-around game every team hopes to find at TE. He isn’t an elite blocker but he can get the job done and he’s probably an upgrade over the guys they have. If the Colts figure out the QB situation with a suitable solution, whether it’s Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones, Warren can be an additive piece to the offense.

Best Value: RB DJ Giddens

The RB room is getting a little crowed after the team signed Khalil Herbert and drafted DJ Giddens to join starter Jonathan Taylor and backup Tyler Goodson. They probably didn’t need Giddens but he was too good to pass up in round five. He’s a good RB who brings value in the passing game and he might make Goodson expendable.

Sleeper: OT Jalen Travis

RT Braden Smith is in the last year of his contract and is 29 years old. LT Bernhard Raimann is an emerging talent that they are going to want to secure into the future with a new deal. They probably won’t want to pay to keep Smith and Travis has starter potential. He needs some development but he’s 6’8 339 lbs. and you can’t teach that kind of size. He can be the swing tackle this year with the upside to be the starting RT next year.

Overall Analysis

TE Tyler Warren going to the Colts was one of the most mocked picks leading up to the draft and it came true for a reason. The Colts needed a real TE and they got one. DE JT Tuimoloau is such a Colts type of DE I can’t believe more people didn’t put it together. They collect big, physical DEs with high floors but low pass rush ceilings like it’s their job. Tuimoloau isn’t going to blow anyone away with his pass rush but he is going to be a very reliable defender on the edge. CB Justin Walley felt a little early in round three.

OT Jalen Travis and RB DJ Giddens were good value picks who can contribute to this team, it just might not be this year unless injuries strike. QB Riley Leonard is a nice idea if you think a team would put together a package to use his running ability but this team has Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones at QB, those guys are already runners. You could assume they just wanted a QB with a similar skill set as the QB3 but that’s giving Leonard a lot of credit, he’s not that good of a passer.

DT Tim Smith is a solid interior defensive lineman from Alabama who isn’t going to blow you away physically but is going to be solid. The DT group isn’t deep so he could stick on this roster. S Hunter Wohler is a size, speed guy that is a Chris Ballard special, maybe he sticks on special teams.

Nitpick or Concern: It’s not that I don’t like JT Tuimoloau but they could have had an edge rusher with more juice like Mike Green or Nic Scourton at that pick. Couple that with the underwhelming Justin Walley in round three and those picks could have had more impact. They also passed on CB Will Johnson in round two and that could come back to haunt them.

Jacksonville Jaguars

(2) Travis Hunter CB/WR Colorado
(88) Caleb Ransaw CB Tulane
(89) Wyatt Milum OT West Virginia
(104) Bhayshul Tuten RB Virginia Tech
(107) Jack Kiser LB Notre Dame
(194) Jalen McLeod LB Auburn
(200) Rayuan Lane III S Navy
(221) Jonah Monheim OL USC
(236) LeQuint Allen RB Syracuse

Immediate Impact: CB/WR Travis Hunter, CB Caleb Ransaw

The Jaguars have spoken about Hunter playing both ways and he fits well on offense where they need a complement to Brian Thomas Jr. Hunter gives them more dynamic playmaking than free agent Dyami Brown or last year’s free agent bust Gabe Davis. On defense they have Tyson Campbell as their CB1 but Hunter will rotate in with Jarrian Jones at the other outside spot. Caleb Ransaw is quietly a pretty good nickel prospect. The Jaguars signed Jourdan Lewis to a big deal to come over from the Cowboys but Lewis is past his prime. I think Ransaw gives them someone who can play that spot even better.

Best Value: RB Bhayshul Tuten

Tuten has a lot of burst coming out of the backfield and can be a real playmaker for this team. Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby haven’t exactly been lighting it up and Tuten gives them a more dynamic player. As a fourth-round pick he was good value because he very well could unseat Etienne as the starter at some point, maybe even early in the season.

Sleeper: OL Jonah Monheim

The Jags have Robert Hainsey and Luke Fortner at center right now and they could use an upgrade. Monheim played OT at USC but has some positional flexibility and might end up the best center of the three. He’s going to get a chance to develop at the position and he may become the long-term solution there.

Overall Analysis

The Jaguars made the big trade early in round one to move up and take Travis Hunter second overall. They gave up the fifth pick, their second-round pick, and a first next year. That may seem like a lot to only move up three picks but Hunter might be two players, he’s at least one and half. They needed someone to give them some playmaking at WR opposite Thomas, Hunter does that. They also need another outside CB opposite Tyson Campbell, Hunter does that too. He also just simply ups the excitement level about the Jaguars overall. It’s a strong move by first time GM James Gladstone.

Not having a second-round pick would normally hurt the overall haul but if Hunter plays two positions well, that’s moot. CB Caleb Ransaw is a solid pick to also help them at the nickel. OL Wyatt Milum has some position versatility because he was an OT in college who likely moves to guard. He could be an OT in a pinch and they need depth. Tuten was a good pick and the only issue they may have with him is that he fumbles too much.

Jack Kiser and Jalen McLeod are depth pieces at LB for now. I don’t see either of them competing except on special teams. The same can be said for S Rayuan Lane III. Monheim is a long-term play at center if he can pick up the position. LeQuint Allen is a pass catching back who will be buried on the depth chart for the time being.

Nitpick or Concern: Everyone had the Jaguars picking Mason Graham fifth overall in their mock drafts because we didn’t see this trade coming but also because this team needs help at DT. They didn’t draft a single one. Getting Hunter was a coup but they had other chances to help the DT rotation. They took Caleb Ransaw 88th and Wyatt Milum 89th, they could have waited to address the nickel spot or the guard spot at that point and taken any one of Deone Walker, Ty Robinson, CJ West, or Jordan Farmer and they would have helped the defensive line.

Tennessee Titans

(1) Cam Ward QB Miami
(52) Oluwafemi Oladejo Edge UCLA
(82) Kevin Winston Jr. S Penn St.
(103) Chimere Dike WR Florida
(120) Gunnar Helm TE Texas
(136) Elic Ayomanor WR Stanford
(167) Jackson Slater OL Sacramento St.
(183) Marcus Harris S California
(188) Kalel Mullings RB Michigan

Immediate Impact: QB Cam Ward, Edge Oluwafemi Oladejo

The Titans took the guy they hope is their franchise QB and they will give him every opportunity to prove he is. They spent money on the offensive line to keep Ward safe and they hope he makes the most of his opportunity. The team also got Oladejo in round two which is helpful for a team that doesn’t have great options at pass rusher. Dre’Mont Jones isn’t a speed rusher and Arden Key isn’t a full-time player. Oladejo still has a lot to learn as he’s only been an edge rusher for a year but he should get better.

Best Value: WR Elic Ayomanor

Ayomanor was generally considered a second-round pick by most people and the Titans got him in round four. Considering how barren the WR group is in Tennessee Ayomanor is going to be a guy who plays for this team next year. He’s not a perfect prospect; he can be a bit stiff and his hands will fail him from time to time but he’s an upgrade over most of their group.

Sleeper: TE Gunnar Helm

Helm isn’t going to wow you with his athleticism, even though he’s a better athlete than he gets credit for. He’s not the pass catcher Chig Okonkwo is or the blocker Josh Whylie is but he’s a better blocker than Okonkwo and a better pass catcher than Whylie. In short, he’s solid at most aspects of the job but not great at any one in particular. Helm is a very reliable pass catcher as he doesn’t drop anything. He will be an affective player for Cam Ward in the future.

Overall Analysis

It’s almost as if no one really noticed that the Titans drafted a new franchise QB #1 overall in this draft. It became obvious about six weeks before the draft that the Titans had settled on Ward so there wasn’t a lot of talk about him, then the Travis Hunter trade happened at #2 overall and everyone moved on. Ward is not a sure thing for a #1 QB pick but he’s a very talented player and the Titans have done some things to help him out. They rebuilt the o-line and have given him some help at WR and TE.

The team didn’t forget about their defensive needs either, they took Oladejo in round two and then S Kevin Winston Jr. in the next round. Oladejo will get every chance to prove he can rush the passer. Winston is a solid bet at safety. They signed Xavier Woods to pair with Amani Hooker there but Woods is an aging veteran and Hooker is going into a contract year. Winston helps now and is a nod to the future.

The next three picks were made to support Cam Ward at QB. WR Chimere Dike, TE Gunnar Helm, and WR Elic Ayomanor are all guy who can earn playing time. I’m not a huge Dike fan but this team needs WRs and Dike has the speed the rest of the group lacks. Ayomanor has a size and playmaking that will fit well next to Calvin Ridley and he’s a better option at this point than Van Jefferson. Gunnar Helm gives them a better all-around player at TE than others on the roster. OL Jackson Slater is depth, S Marcus Harris is depth, and RB Kalel Mullings is at best a depth piece.

Nitpick or Concern: When you combine their free agent haul of some solid veteran additions with the draft class, there’s not a real nit to pick or a concern. They don’t have as much high-end talent as others but they won’t be terrible at any position. There are two moves that deserve attention. First, I usually don’t mention undrafted free agents but this team signed Cam Ward’s favorite college target, Xavier Restrepo. Restrepo was incredibly production as a slot receiver for Miami but he ran a ridiculously slow 4.82 40 and fell off everyone’s radar. The Titans signed Tyler Lockett recently to be the slot receiver but he’s going to be 33 and he’s not as affective as he once was. Restrepo understands how to play with Ward and that can help him make the team.
The other move they need to make is trading QB Will Levis. They signed Brandon Allen to be their veteran backup and they need to ship Levis somewhere so Ward has a clear path to leading this team. Levis should still have value to someone. The Steelers still have a need at QB until they sign Aaron Rodgers. The Rams should be a team looking for a young developmental guy, Levis has more upside than Stetson Bennett. The Jets only have Justin Fields for two years. Liam Coen coached Levis at Kentucky and the only backup he has to Trevor Lawrence is Nick Mullins. And finally, I hate to say it, but the Patriots Mike Vrabel was the coach that drafted Levis and they could use a new #3 QB after trading Joe Milton III.

2025 NFC West Draft Review

Arizona Cardinal

(16) Walter Nolen DT Ole Miss
(47) Will Johnson CB Michigan
(78) Jordan Burch DE Oregon
(115) Cody Simon LB Ohio St.
(174) Denzel Burke CB Ohio St.
(211) Hayden Conner OL Texas
(225) Kitan Crawford S Nevada

Immediate Impact: DT Walter Nolen, CB Will Johnson

Walter Nolen shouldn’t have to start given the veterans they signed for the defensive line; Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson, plus Darius Robinson being healthy. That’s probably best because Nolen needs to mature into being a pro and having Campbell and Tomlinson around should help him do that. He will bring an attacking style of play to their front and that will be helpful. Will Johnson should absolutely start right away. He pushes Sean Murphy-Bunting into a backup role and gives the Cardinals a legit CB1. He also allows Max Melton to settle in to his CB2 spot and takes the pressure off him.

Best Value: CB Will Johnson

He may have a knee injury that could affect the longevity of his career. So what? If he’s healthy right now, he has CB1 skills and abilities. His size and play style are a great fit in Arizona and Sean Murphy-Bunting is not going to keep Johnson out of the lineup. He isn’t the fastest player but his game isn’t predicated on speed and getting a guy who can be a true #1 CB in the middle of round two is excellent value.

Sleeper: LB Cody Simon

Simon isn’t particularly good at any one thing but he was the glue that kept the Ohio St. defense together. Given the other two ILB for the Cardinals are Mack Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither there’s playing time available. Simon can be an additive piece to a defense that’s still looking for leaders.

Overall Analysis

Clearly, the priority of this draft class was to improve the defense. Nolen gives them a penetrating DT they really didn’t have last year and he’s a talented player. Will Johnson was just way too valuable to pass on in round two and might be the top CB they have been missing since the Patrick Peterson days. DE Jordan Burch is great fit as a bit DE with some power and some push. They need to get to the QB better and he can help that. All three of those guys can help this defense this year for sure.

LB Cody Simon went to a place where he can compete for playing time. Wilson and Davis-Gaither aren’t exactly entrenched starters. CB Denzel Burke is a guy who looked like a top prospect a couple of years ago but never seemed to put it together. He’s a little undersized and struggles at times but he does have talent and he was worth taking a shot on in the fifth round. This secondary needs all the help it can get. OG Hayden Connor is a big dude who brings a lot of power with him but I’m not sure he’s good enough to unseat Evan Brown, even if that’s not a high bar to clear. S Kitan Crawford is a longshot for the roster but given it is Arizona’s secondary; I won’t rule him out.

Nitpick or Concern: Zero help on the offense? Really? This team wasn’t bad on offense but they could have used some help. Interior offensive line needed more than Hayden Connor and they needed some WR help too.

Los Angeles Rams

(46) Terrance Ferguson TE Oregon
(90) Josaiah Stewart Edge Michigan
(117) Jarquez Hunter RB Auburn
(148) Ty Hamilton DL Ohio St.
(172) Chris Paul Jr. LB Ole Miss
(242) Konata Mumpfield WR Pittsburgh

Immediate Impact: TE Terrance Ferguson

Tyler Higbee is getting older and the Rams have been looking for a TE for a couple of years. When one of the top two didn’t fall far enough for them to get them, they traded out of round one and ended up taking Ferguson in round two. Sean McVay will use him plenty and Ferguson has all-around TE skills, he’ll be a good player.

Best Value: DT Ty Hamilton

Hamilton isn’t a big body on the inside but he has the play strength to be a NT for this team. The Rams have never cared about body type, they used Aaron Donald for years as an undersized DT and they just signed Poona Ford. Ford is a 6’0 300 lbs. player who plays much bigger, Hamilton can play bigger than his size.

Sleeper: LB Chris Paul Jr.

This is what the Rams do at LB, they take guys late in the draft, or after the draft, and turn them into eventual starters. Last year it was undrafted free agent Omar Speights and this year it will be Paul. He may not start this year but when the team decides to move on from Troy Reeder, don’t be shocked if Paul is the guy replacing him.

Overall Analysis

The Rams traded out of the first round after not being able to move up to get the TE they wanted, also because they fleeced the Falcons. This wasn’t one of their “F* them picks” moves. The Falcons gave them a first-round pick next year for the 26th pick in round one this year to move up and take James Pearce Jr. You make that trade 100 out of 100 times. The Rams were good last year but they have some aging players, including QB Matt Stafford, so an extra first next year is good business.

They did well to get Terrance Ferguson in round two, he’s a useful player who can replace Tyler Higbee at TE. Higbee is aging and gets hurt a lot, Ferguson is a terrific athlete and a good TE. Edge Josaiah Stewart is a very undersized pass rusher but like I said, the Rams really don’t care about body type. Stewart will be a terror off the edge as a designated pass rusher, opponents are going to hate him. RB Jarquez Hunter was an interesting pick after they took Blake Corum last year. Corum was supposed to be the next Kyren Williams but Hunter is more Williams than even Corum. Sean McVay will ride Williams into the ground but now he has two future options to pick from.

DT Ty Hamilton and LB Chris Paul Jr. are going to be depth pieces this year and then probably starters in a year or two. They are very good picks late in the draft. Konata Mumpfield is a skinny WR who isn’t all that fast but you know who else wasn’t fast, Puca Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Mumpfield isn’t those guys but if anyone can figure out how to use him at some point, it’s Sean McVay.

Nitpick or Concern: The Rams seem to never care about the secondary. They didn’t care in free agency or in the draft and it’s not like it’s a stacked unit. They are still counting on Ahkello Witherspoon as one outside CB and I assume Quentin Lake at nickel. They should really consider upgrading the CB spot, maybe trade for Jalen Ramsey again.

San Francisco 49ers

(11) Mykel Williams DE Georgia
(43) Alfred Collins DT Texas
(75) Nick Martin LB Oklahoma St.
(100) Upton Stout CB Western Kentucky
(113) CJ West DT Indiana
(138) Jordan Watkins WR Ole Miss
(147) Jordan James RB Oregon
(160) Marques Sigle S Kansas St.
(227) Kurtis Rourke QB Indiana
(249) Connor Colby OG Iowa
(252) Junior Bergen WR Montana

Immediate Impact: DE Mykel Williams, DT Alfred Collins, DT CJ West

The 49ers’ run defense was atrocious last year and they drafted three defensive linemen to fix it. Williams is an athletic freak who needs some work as a pass rusher but the one thing he already does well at DE is play the run. Alfred Collins is a gigantic man at 6’6 332 lbs. and he’ll eat space in the middle and occupy blockers to help keep Fred Warner clean at LB. CJ West doesn’t have quite the size of Collins but he’s plenty big and he’s an anchor on the interior. Williams will start immediately at DE and I think Collins wins a spot early. West may have to show he’s ready to play over some veterans before he gets to start, but I think he can do that.

Best Value: DT CJ West

He won’t get the notice right away as he will literally be overshadowed by his new linemates Williams and Collins. However, he’s a rock on the inside and will be the run stuffer then need and could end up starting at DT next to Collins. As a fourth-round pick, that’s excellent value.

Sleeper: OG Connor Colby

Call me a homer, I don’t care. This team needs offensive line help and they did nothing in free agency and only took Colby in the draft. They lost LG Aaron Banks in free agency and for now they have Ben Bartch penciled in there. I could see them sliding Dominick Puni, their excellent rookie last year from RG to LG and Colby getting a shot at RG. He already knows the run scheme because it’s the same one Iowa is running. Kyle Shanahan has a penchant for taking later round offensive linemen and turning them into starters, Colby could be next.

Overall Analysis

The 49ers intentions were clear early in the draft, get better on the defensive front. Williams can learn some pass rushing secrets from Nick Bosa but for now he can stuff the run. Alfred Collins gives them a run stuffer they haven’t had in quite some time. DT CJ West was a day three pick that does the same thing and was too good to pass up.

I didn’t like the Nick Martin pick at LB that early, they could have gotten him later. He fits their mold of small, speedy LBs but round three was early. You could say the same thing about CB Upton Stout, way too early. One other thing about Stout, he’s an undersized guy who needs to play the slot and that’s Deommodore Lenoir’s best spot. They needed an outside CB. They also took two WRs that I’m not sure help them. Jordan Watkins in round four and then a seventh-round pick on Junior Bergen, they could have done better.

RB Jordan James was a solid pickup and you know Kyle Shanahan will get the absolute best out of him for the next few years. S Marques Sigle is an undersized safety, not sure where he fits. QB Kurtis Rourke has some talent to work with but he played last year with a torn ACL and had it fixed after the season. This should be a redshirt year for him. Love the Colby pick, he can play in this offense.

Nitpick or Concern: It’s the Nick Martin/Upton Stout part of the draft that I don’t get. Shavon Revel Jr. literally was the next pick after Martin. Maybe he isn’t a perfect scheme fit in their eyes but he’s a better player than Martin and he’s an outside CB. There were also some speedy LBs left in round four where they took Stout. I would rather have Revel at CB and then a LB like Danny Stutsman, Jack Kiser, Cody Simon, or Barrett Carter where they took Stout.

Seattle Seahawks

(18) Grey Zabel G/C North Dakota St.
(35) Nick Emmanwori S South Carolina
(50) Elijah Arroyo TE Miami
(92) Jalen Milroe QB Alabama
(142) Rylie Mills DL Notre Dame
(166) Tory Horton WR Colorado St.
(175) Robbie Ouzts TE Alabama
(192) Bryce Cabeldue OT Kansas
(223) Damien Martinez RB Miami
(234) Mason Richman OL Iowa
(238) Ricky White III WR UNLV

Immediate Impact: G/C Grey Zabel, S Nick Emmanwori, TE Elijah Arroyo

The Seahawks offensive line was awful inside last season and Grey Zabel is going to start at one spot. He’s probably the LG but he could end up the center if they find other guards. He’s an upgrade at any spot. S Nick Emmanwori should be the starter opposite Julian Love but he needs to prove he’s reliable. They have Coby Bryant but Emmanwori has a higher ceiling. TE Elijah Arroyo has the chance to be a real playmaker for this team. He’s a better pass catcher than AJ Barner and maybe better all-around than Noah Fant.

Best Value: WR Tory Horton

If Horton’s knee is ready to go this year he’s going to play for this team. They aren’t exactly stacked at WR with an aging Cooper Kupp and a middling Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He can be a better deep threat than MVS almost immediately. I’m a fan of Horton and he’s going to be a good WR in the league.

Sleeper: RB Damien Martinez

Martinez isn’t going to take Kenneth Walker’s job but if I were Zach Charbonnet, I would be a little worried. Martinez is a big power back who can do all the things Charbonnet is supposed to do. Martinez was one of my favorite backs in the draft and having him available in round seven was a steal.

Overall Analysis

Zabel was a no-brainer pick for the Seahawks with their needs on the interior of the offensive line. He’s a day one starter and he gives them options on the interior. They traded up to get S Nick Emmanwori in round two and he’s a guy who has the type of skills Mike Macdonald can use on his defense. Arroyo is a really good investment at TE long term and brings skills this year.
While the team signed Sam Darnold at QB it’s only a three-year deal for now so the team took Jalen Milroe as a developmental QB. He won’t be pressed into service with Darnold and Drew Lock around but he’s well worth the draft pick. DL Rylie Mills gives them some depth on the defensive line. WR Tory Horton was one of my favorite picks in the draft, the Seahawks got a good one.

They also took a second TE Robbie Ouzts who is more of a blocker. Not sure how he fits considering they took AJ Barner last year and that’s pretty much his role. They sandwiched a couple of more offensive linemen around the Martinez pick; Bryce Cabeldue and Mason Richman. Both guys offer positional flexibility as they were OTs in college but are expected to be guards in the pros. They should be guys who can compete to at least be depth considering how bad the offensive line was last year. They took another WR in round seven, they can use the depth.

Nitpick or Concern: As much as I like Horton at WR, they could have invested an earlier pick at the position. Cooper Kupp isn’t a long-term answer and Marquez Valdes-Scantling isn’t an answer at all.

2025 NFC East Draft Review

Dallas Cowboys

(12) Tyler Booker OG Alabama
(44) Donovan Ezeiruaku Edge Boston College
(76) Shavon Revel Jr. CB East Carolina
(149) Jaydon Blue RB Texas
(152) Shemar James LB Florida
(204) Ajani Cornelius OL Oregon
(217) Jay Toia DT UCLA
(239) Phil Mafah RB Clemson
(247) Tommy Akingbesote DT Maryland

Immediate Impact: RG Tyler Booker, CB Shavon Revel Jr.

The Cowboys lost Zack Martin to retirement and immediately drafted his replacement in Booker. Booker isn’t an impressive athlete but he’s a very good guard. He will maul people to death in the interior and while he may never be what Martin was at his peak, he may be an upgrade over what the aging Martin has been recently. Revel is coming off an ACL tear so maybe this is ambitious but he’s easily one of three best CBs on this team immediately. With DaRon Bland’s ability to play inside or outside, Revel could get on the field quickly.

Best Value: CB Shavon Revel Jr.

If Revel is healthy, he has starter quality ability right now and his ceiling is being a CB1 in the league. The team has Bland and Trevon Diggs so they won’t ask him to be that now but the potential is there. Getting him in round three is highway robbery.

Sleeper: DT Jay Toia

Toia was a seventh-round pick but he can be everything Mazi Smith isn’t, namely, a run stuffing DT who actually stops the run. Smith has been a disappointment and has never been a run stuffer. Toia doesn’t bring much else in terms of pocket pressure, but he doesn’t get moved in run defense. It’s strange to think a seventh-round pick could put a former first-round pick on notice but Smith should be looking over his shoulder.

Overall Analysis

Jerry Jones talks a big game when it comes to being the GM of the Cowboys but everyone knows Will McClay runs the draft for Dallas and he’s excellent at it. He could have gone for the shiny toy in WR Matthew Golden but he made sure the offensive line was taken care of first. Booker is not a sexy pick, he’s downright boring, but he’s an above average starter for the next decade with the possibility of being a Pro Bowler.

The next two picks were excellent value picks they couldn’t pass up. DE Donovan Ezeiruaku got some first round buzz but he was always more of a second-round guy. He’s an affective pass rusher even if he’s a little undersized. The Cowboys have bodies at the position after signing veterans like Dante Fowler Jr and Payton Turner to go with Sam Williams. They have their star in Micah Parsons but Ezeiruaku gives them another guy with a higher ceiling than those veterans. CB Shavon Revel Jr. is coming off an ACL tear but that shouldn’t stop him from reaching his potential, which is immense. He was a steal in round three.

RB Jaydon Blue is nice addition as he gives the team a big play threat at the position. Javonte Williams should be the main back but he doesn’t have the speed Blue brings. LB Shemar James is a small LB with speed. For a team that has gone through its fair share of LB injuries over the years, James isn’t a bad investment. He probably has to be a special team’s ace to make the roster.

OL Ajani Cornelius is a solid bet on a late prospect. He isn’t nearly the prospect his teammate Josh Conerly Jr. was but he’s a good backup for now. He did play RT at Oregon so if Terence Steele doesn’t bounce back, he may be an option there. I wrote about Toia; he has a chance to be a guy for this team. RB Phil Mafah is the big body that Blue isn’t, if Mafah is good, Miles Sanders may not make this roster. The last pick is another DT but Tommy Akingbesote is probably just a practice squad guy.

Nitpick or Concern: Where’s the help at WR? I completely understand taking Booker over Golden, I wasn’t Golden’s biggest fan. Even Ezeiruaku and Revel were too good of value to pass on for WRs but this team had nine picks and not one WR was taken. The pick at 152 where they took Shemar James, there were still a couple of WRs I liked there, Tory Horton and KeAndre Lambert-Smith for example. I know Jerry Jones talked about getting a veteran but is planning to trade for George Pickens, that won’t be cheap, he’s up for a new contract soon. Maybe he can trade for Kendrick Bourne from the Patriots.

New York Giants

(3) Abdul Carter Edge Penn St.
(25) Jaxson Dart QB Ole Miss
(65) Darius Alexander DT Toledo
(105) Cam Skattebo RB Arizona St.
(154) Marcus Mbow OL Purdue
(219) Thomas Fidone II TE Nebraska
(246) Korie Black CB Oklahoma St.

Immediate Impact: Edge Abdul Carter, DT Darius Alexander

The defensive front has some good pieces to start with but Abdul Carter is going to be too good to keep off the field. There’s a legitimate chance he supplants Kayvon Thibodeaux as a starter early in the year. Darius Alexander is a small school guy coming from Toledo but he showed at the Senior Bowl, he can hang with the big boys. The Giants don’t have a lot of great options next to Dexter Lawrence inside, Alexander has a pretty clear path to playing time.

Best Value: DT Darius Alexander

He has a legitimate shot to be the starting DT in week one and they got him with the first pick of round three, that’s a steal.

Sleeper: OL Marcus Mbow

Mbow was an OT in college who most have moving to OG in the NFL and I can see that. There has also been some talk he could end up a center, either way, he’s a good player to get in round five. I think he could give you solid snaps at RT in a pinch and all that versatility makes him a valuable asset. He could also just end up taking the RG job from Greg Van Roten immediately.

Overall Analysis

The Giants did the right thing by taking Abdul Carter with the third pick even though pass rusher wasn’t a big need for them. Carter could be a special player at a premium position and you can’t pass that up. Then they made their big move later in round one coming up from their early second round pick to take QB Jaxson Dart. They are going to take some heat as not everyone is a Dart fan, and I’m not his biggest fan either. However, they only traded two third round picks to move up nine spots to get a QB. That’s a pretty modest trade price to get a potential future QB. Dart isn’t going to play right away with Russell Wilson and Jamies Winston on the roster but it will push him to be his best. If he can earn some playing time it will be because he deserves it, not because he was a first-round pick.

The Darius Alexander pick was fantastic value and fills a big need. I’m admittedly not a Cam Skattebo guy but he’s a good fit here. They have Tyrone Tracy who had a good year last year and Skattebo is the perfect complement to him. Tracy is a slasher who likes to get outside and use his speed, Skattebo will pound it inside and get the tough yards between the tackles. Love the Mbow selection in round five, truly great value. TE Thomas Fidone II looks the part of a top TE but wasn’t usually healthy enough to play like it. Maybe he has better luck in the NFL. For a team that probably needed a little more help in the secondary, I’m not sure seventh rounder Korie Black is all I would have done there.

Nitpick or Concern: Where is the help for the offense? This team wasn’t exactly a juggernaut last season and the only change to the starting offense is swapping in QB Russell Wilson, presumably until Dart is ready. Malik Nabers was great as a rookie and Tracy was very good at RB but you didn’t add any playmakers at all. They maybe got a new RG if Mbow beats our Greg Van Roten but that’s not a sure thing. They needed more offensive help.

Philadelphia Eagles

(31) Jihaad Campbell LB Alabama
(64) Andrew Mukuba S Texas
(111) Ty Robinson DT Nebraska
(145) Mac McWilliams CB UCF
(161) Smael Mondon Jr. LB Georgia
(168) Drew Kendall OL Boston College
(181) Kyle McCord QB Syracuse
(191) Myles Hinton OT Michigan
(207) Cameron Williams OT Texas
(209) Antwaun Powell-Ryland Edge Virginia Tech

Immediate Impact: LB Jihaad Campbell

The Eagles just won the Super Bowl so finding any rookie to make an immediate impact is tough. They drafted Campbell in round one and he was only available because he is dealing with a shoulder injury and some other ailments. The team is also dealing with MLB Nakobe Dean coming off an injury last season so Campbell’s shoulder injury might be healed faster than Dean’s issues. Campbell can also get on the field as a pass rusher so he’s going to play somewhere.

Best Value: DT Ty Robinson

They lost a lot of players in the front seven like Milton Williams, Brandon Graham, and Josh Sweat so they were looking to replenish the depth. Robinson is a tough player with good athletic traits who should fit the scheme well. Getting a guy of his caliber in the fourth round is impressive.

Sleeper: OT Cameron Williams

I could probably pick any of the three offensive linemen they took because they have the best o-line coach in football and he’s going to turn these guys into real players. I’m going with Williams because he feels like a Jeff Stoutland special. Williams is huge and powerful but he needs to smooth out the edges. No one smooths edges like Stoutland. This team is eventually going to need a RT replacement for Lane Johnson, my money would be on this guy.

Overall Analysis

Howie Roseman is one of the better GMs at drafting, he understands the most fundamental thing to remember…take good players. Jihaad Campbell could be a lot of things for this defense, most importantly he’ll be a playmaker. S Andrew Mukuba is a guy who plays like a guy 25 lbs. heavier than he is. He’s a good safety who loves to hit but he’s only 187 lbs. and he’s a little spindly. He goes for the big hit too much and misses some tackles, he needs to stop doing that and he would be more reliable. Robinson was a great pick where they got him and fills a need.

CB Mac McWilliams helps this team replenish the depth at CB as they let Darius Slay and James Bradbury leave. He’s a solid addition but they are counting on Kelee Ringo to become a starter or they may have to try McWilliams. Smael Mondon is the requisite Georgia defender Howie Roseman is apparently contractually obligated to draft every year. He adds some speed and coverage ability at LB. Then they took three offensive linemen in their next four picks. C Drew Kendall, OT Myles Hinton, and OT Cameron Williams are all guys Jeff Stoutland could turn into eventual starters. QB Kyle McCord is a good bet to be a solid QB. I think he wins the third string job over Dorian Thompson-Robinson. They did sign a number of veterans at edge rusher so the last pick Antwaun Powell-Ryland could find it hard to make the roster.

Nitpick or Concern: The one area they avoided that they could have helped themselves is WR. Sure, they have AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith and they are an excellent duo but their third WR is Jahan Dotson and he hasn’t been great. They keep signing middling free agents like Terrace Marshall (this year) or Paris Campbell (previously) but they don’t draft well to find a solution. They took Andrew Mukuba at 64 and there were guys like Kyle Williams and Jaylin Noel still on the board. They could have taken Jalen Royals or Elic Ayomanor when they took Ty Robinson so they had options.

Washington Commanders

(29) Josh Conerly Jr. OT Oregon
(61) Trey Amos CB Ole Miss
(128) Jaylin Lane WR Virginia Tech
(205) Kain Medrano LB UCLA
(245) Jacory Croskey-Merritt RB Arizona

Immediate Impact: OT Josh Conerly Jr., CB Trey Amos

Josh Conerly Jr. is a bit raw but he has more potential at OT than Brandon Coleman so there’s a good chance he takes the RT job from Andrew Wylie and Coleman ends up at LG. Perhaps eventually, Conerly is the long-term answer at LT but for now Laremy Tunsil holds that spot down. Amos is an excellent outside CB. His presence opposite Marshon Lattimore will allow the team to move Mike Sanristil back to the nickel spot and give them a solid trio at CB.

Best Value: CB Trey Amos

He was an absolute steal at 61 overall. He can be an immediate starter at CB and he has the upside to be a very good CB in the league.

Sleeper: RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt

The Commanders have Brian Robinson going into his fourth year so he’s in a contract year and Austin Ekeler who’s going to be 30 this season. They need some help at RB and Croskey-Merritt is a guy with some juice. He has the speed they don’t currently have in the backfield and he could be a valuable find.

Overall Analysis

This is a small class the Commanders did about as well as can be expected with a five-player draft class. Conerly and Amos have immediate starter ability and long-term upside. WR Jaylin Lane is a little undersized but he’s got electric speed and when Deebo Samuel inevitably gets hurt, Lane might come in handy. LB Kain Medrano is a fast LB who needs some discipline to be effective. Croskey-Merritt is a fun piece if they find the right way to use him.

Nitpick or Concern: When they took Medrano there were still a safety on the board, RJ Mickens who could have helped them. It’s a small and specific nitpick but it’s all I got unless you want me to dive into the trade for Deebo Samuel. I’ll save that for another time.

2025 AFC North Draft Review

Baltimore Ravens

(27) Malaki Starks S Georgia
(59) Mike Green Edge Marshall
(91) Emery Jones Jr. OL LSU
(129) Teddye Buchanan LB California
(141) Carson Vinson OT Alabama A&M
(176) Bilhal Kone CB Western Michigan
(186) Tyler Loop K Arizona
(203) LaJohntay Wester WR Colorado
(210) Aeneas Peebles DL Virginia Tech
(212) Robert Longerbeam CB Rutgers
(243) Garrett Dellinger OL LSU

Immediate Impact: S Malaki Starks, Edge Mike Green, K Tyler Loop

Malaki Starks is a starting safety in the NFL on pretty much any team and the Ravens got him at 27. He steps into the role which allows Kyle Hamilton to move back to nickel back where he becomes the ultimate chess piece who can do everything on defense. It’s a brilliant move by the Ravens. Mike Green had some off the field red flags due to sexual assault allegations from years ago and it caused him to slip. He’s a talented pass rusher and his value late in round two was too great to pass up. He gives the Ravens a real edge threat and he’s Kyle Van Noy’s eventual replacement. K Tyler Loop makes this group because Justin Tucker is facing some serious allegations of sexual misconduct himself and the Ravens drafted Loop so they can move on from Tucker.

Best Value: Edge Mike Green

The sexual assault allegations were from high school and his early years at Virginia, so they aren’t recent. If it never comes up again and Green just plays football without incident in the future, he’s a steal late in round two. He’s arguably the best pass rusher on the team from day one and they need him on the edge.

Sleepers: CBs Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam

The Ravens have Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey at CB but Humphrey gets banged up from time to time. They signed Chidobe Awuzie in free agency, he also gets hurt often. TJ Tampa is the only depth they have and he’s unproven. Kone has some fans as he’s a good-sized CB with some skills. Longerbeam is an undersized player who is a nickel back. These are guy who could develop into long-term pieces and given the Ravens track record, I’d bet on them being useful defensive backs at some point.

Overall Analysis

The Ravens do this every year so it’s not surprising they had a good draft. Malakie Starks is the type of excellent football player that seems to always fall into Baltimore’s lap every year. His presence unlocks Kyle Hamilton, the best player on the defense. Mike Green falling to the Ravens’s pick late in round two is unbelievable. He fills such a need for them with a very high ceiling. OL Emery Jones Jr. is also an amazing pick for them. He played RT at LSU but everyone thinks he’s a guard and he’s going to be a good one. The Ravens need some help there and while he may not start immediately, if he’s a starting guard in two years for this team, that’s a completely believable outcome. And he could be very good there. He can also be a solid backup OT in the meantime.

In the middle rounds the Ravens got LB Teddye Buchanan, OT Carson Vinson, and CB Bilhal Kone, all very good developmental prospects at their respective positions. The Ravens have done this for years in the middle rounds and it’s why they always have a solid roster and every once in a while, they unearth a middle round gem. At least one of these players will be a starter for them in two years. Then they drafted K Tyler Loop who will replace Justin Tucker so the team can move on from that particularly bad story they don’t want to be a part of.

WR LaJohntay Wester was a peculiar pick, he’s undersized and was maybe the third best WR at Colorado last season. I’m assuming they are hoping he’s just a cheap replacement for Tylan Wallace at some point. DT Aeneas Peebles was also a little strange but only because the Ravens tend to draft very large defensive linemen and Peebles is smaller, they must have just liked him that much. CB Robert Longerbeam has nickel potential so he’s an acceptable flyer in round six. They also took another interior OL Garrett Dellinger from LSU. He actually played interior o-line at LSU and they will probably stash him on the practice squad and then he’ll be a backup OG in the future.

Nitpick or Concern: For a team that only has Zay Flowers as a truly impressive starting WR they didn’t do much to help the WR group. Signing DeAndre Hopkins and drafting LaJohntay Wester to add to Rashod Bateman, Tez Walker, and Tylan Wallace isn’t really helping the passing game. I would have invested more than the Wester pick given the depth chart. They have to hope Tez Walker takes a step forward because Hopkins looked pretty cooked at the end of last season.

Cincinnati Bengals

(17) Shemar Stewart DE Texas A&M
(49) Demetrius Knight Jr. LB South Carolina
(81) Dylan Fairchild OG Georgia
(119) Barrett Carter LB Clemson
(153) Jalen Rivers OG Miami
(193) Tahj Brooks RB Texas Tech

Immediate Impact: DE Shemar Stewart

Well, they better hope he makes an impact right away. They need pass rush help and while Stewart looks the part, he rarely made the play on the QB in college. Having Trey Hendrickson opposite him would help, assuming they hold on to Hendrickson. Stewart is a big bet on a high upside player, they need him to have an impact, now.

Best Value: OG Dylan Fairchild

I’m of the opinion that the team should have continued to go defense but it’s completely possible they found a starting LG here in round three. Fairchild has the ability to beat out Cordell Volson for the LG job and if he does that and Lucas Patrick can take the RG spot, the offensive line will be much better.

Sleeper: LB Barrett Carter

Taking another LB two rounds after reaching a bit for Demetrius Knight Jr. seems strange. However, if you told me two years from now Carter is a starting LB for the Bengals and Knight isn’t, I wouldn’t be overly shocked. Carter is a better athlete than his testing but he’s a bit undersized so he fell a little. What is does do well is play with instincts and understanding of his position.

Overall Analysis

This was a small draft class and they took a big swing in round one on Shemar Stewart. They are counting on new defensive coordinator Al Golden to be better at developing young, athletic freaks than his predecessor Lou Anarumo was. Stewart’s ceiling is very high but they need him to reach it quickly. They needed help on defense but mostly they needed it on the line and in the secondary, so of course, they took two LBs. Demetrius Knight Jr. is a great athlete but they took him a little too early and unless they trade Germaine Pratt, he’s not playing a ton next season. Pratt asked for a trade so it could happen but he and Logan Wilson are the best part of the defense not named Trey Hendrickson, when they’re healthy.

The Fairchild pick was a solid move to help solidify their offensive line. Protecting Joe Burrow is a worthwhile endeavor so that was a solid pick. Picking LB Barrett Carter to double up at the one position on defense you didn’t truly need to address was just mind boggling. OL Jalen Rivers is a giant OT prospect who they can develop behind Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims and hope he becomes something. RB Tahj Brooks is a solid prospect but a bit of a luxury pick for a team that has Chase Brown, Zack Moss, and just brought back Semaje Perine.

Nitpick or Concern: When they picked LB Demetrius Knight Jr at 49 in round two here are some of the defensive players still on the board; Edge Nic Scourton, CB Benjamin Morrison, Edge Mike Green, CB Trey Amos, DT Shemar Turner, S Andrew Mukuba, DT Darius Alexander, CB Darien Porter. That’s eight guys within the next 20 picks that would have been more impactful for the Bengals defense that desperately needs impact players. Also, they didn’t draft a single player in the secondary or at DT and they needed help at both spots way more than they needed two LBs.

Cleveland Browns

(5) Mason Graham DL Michigan
(33) Carson Schwesinger LB UCLA
(36) Quinshon Judkins RB Ohio St.
(67) Harold Fannin Jr. TE Bowling Green
(94) Dillon Gabriel QB Oregon
(126) Dylan Sampson RB Tennessee
(144) Shadeur Sanders QB Colorado

Immediate Impact: DT Mason Graham, RB Quinshon Judkins

There’s an option here on LB Carson Schwesinger depending on the prognosis for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s neck injury. Also, Shadeur Sanders could be the starter if the owner is deciding the starting QB again this year. I’ll get back to this. Mason Graham immediately becomes the most impactful DT Myles Garrett has ever played with. He may seem slightly small and he has short arms but Graham is a handful on the interior and Garrett is going to love him. Judkins takes over for Nick Chubb, who the team didn’t bring back in free agency. Judkins is the workhorse they need to allow Jerome Ford to do his thing, assuming Ford holds off Dylan Sampson, I’m not assuming that though.

Best Value: RB Dylan Sampson

Don’t give me the Sanders bullshit. Sampson lasting until the fourth round was just too good for the Browns to pass up. He could be an every down back for someone but here he’s the change of pace guy for Judkins. This is going to be an elite backfield if they can find anyone to block for them up front.

Sleeper: QB Dillon Gabriel

You can’t call Sanders a sleeper, people know him and expect him to become the starter here. Gabriel was a reach in round three, he just doesn’t profile like an NFL starter because he doesn’t have the size or the arm strength. However, this is a guy players will go to war for on the field. He’s tough, has elite accuracy, and he will run the offense with supreme efficiency.

Overall Analysis

The Browns made the biggest move of the draft trading down from second and the chance to take Travis Hunter to fifth and taking Mason Graham. They picked up some picks including a first round pick next year and I think they made the wise choice. They cashed in a lottery ticket for some money and another lottery ticket next year. Hunter wasn’t turning around the fortunes of the Browns, Graham is a building block and that first rounder next year gives them options.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Carson Schwesinger pick as I think he’s a little overrated but if Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah can’t come back from is injury, Schwesinger is a better starting option than Devin Bush. I love the Judkins pick, he’s exactly what they need to replace Nick Chubb. Judkins got overshadowed at times by TreVeyon Henderson’s flashiness at Ohio St. but he is an NFL starting RB. TE Harold Fannin Jr. is a fun idea of a player but Kevin Stefanski is going to have to figure out creative ways to use him. Luckily, they have David Njoku, who is a real TE so they can experiment with Fannin. I explained the Sampson pick; it was far too great of a value to pass up and everybody needs two RBs. Anyone who had Jerome Ford on their fantasy team last year knows he’s not a consistent player. Ok, now I’ll get to the Gabriel/Sanders thing.

Nitpick or Concern: Shadeur Sanders’s precipitous fall down the draft board has been talked about in great length. The short version is teams didn’t see his talent as being worthy of a first-round pick, and his attitude during the pre-draft process rubbed teams the wrong way. The pre-draft process is a job interview and apparently Shadeur thought teams were supposed to be pitching him on why he should play for them like it was college recruiting. Dillon Gabriel is essentially the exact opposite guy, he was willing to work out for anyone, anytime, anywhere and everybody loves him. He may only ever be a career backup but he will stick around the league for a decade because he’s willing to be a backup, he’ll always be prepared to play if you need him, and he’ll be a locker room leader even if he never takes a snap.

My biggest nitpick about the Sanders pick is that it feels very much like the owner got involved and made the team take him in round five. The team had passed him over six times on the board, including taking a different QB and then they took him in round five, seems strange. The owner, Jimmy Haslam, has interfered before with the QB, he’s the one who wanted the Deshaun Watson trade and signed off on the ridiculous contract Watson got. Then there have been reports he was the one keeping Watson as the starter even when it was clear he wasn’t good. The Achilles tear may be the only thing that has saved the Browns from continuing to endure the Watson saga, except now, the Sanders saga begins. This is not great process and it could end very badly.

Pittsburgh Steelers

(21) Derrick Harmon DT Oregon
(83) Kaleb Johnson RB Iowa
(123) Jack Sawyer Edge Ohio St.
(164) Yahya Black DT Iowa
(185) Will Howard QB Ohio St.
(226) Carson Bruener LB Washington
(229) Donte Kent CB Central Michigan

Immediate Impact: DT Derrick Harmon, RB Kaleb Johnson

There’s a world in which Aaron Rodgers retires instead of signing with the Steelers and all the sudden Will Howard has a way bigger impact if that happens. For now, Harmon steps in as the third starter on the defensive line with Cam Heyward and Keanu Benton and that group is very tough up front. RB Kaleb Johnson is Najee Harris with the same power but far better deep speed to take the ball the distance. For everyone who has Jaylen Warren penciled in as the starter, get out your erasers because Johnson is taking that job.

Best Value: RB Kaleb Johnson

A late round three pick on a starting RB who’s going to go for 1300 yards rushing next year and break off a half dozen big runs and will be in the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year, that’s amazing value. Johnson is a perfect scheme fit for Arthur Smith’s offense and he’s everything they wanted Najee Harris to be and never was.

Sleepers: NT Yahya Black, QB Will Howard

You can call me a homer on the back-to-back Johnson and Black picks here but Yahya Black is the perfect Steelers NT. He’s huge at 6’6 336 lbs., he’s immovable in the middle of the line, and he doesn’t care at all about getting credit. He spent the last few years at Iowa just eating up blocks so Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson could fly around and tackle everything in sight. Those are two undersized LBs who would not have been nearly as effective without Black keeping them clean. QB Will Howard only gets a chance to shine if Rodgers isn’t here or if he gets hurt. We know Mason Rudolph is a backup QB; Howard still has some upside that could turn out to be something.

Overall Analysis

Not a huge draft class but they did well with all their picks. Harmon is the heir apparent on this line to Cam Heyward and he’s a worthy successor. Kaleb Johnson couldn’t be a more perfect fit for the offense and he’s basically just an upgraded version of Najee Harris who fits the scheme even better. Edge Jack Sawyer is an athletically limited pass rusher but he just feels like a Steeler. He’s hard-nosed, never quits coming, and they are going to love him in Pittsburgh. It’s a hardhat and lunchpail type of city and he’s a hardhat and lunchpail type of player.

Yahya Black is also going to fit perfectly because he’s coming to work, not saying a thing, and just doing the job. He will never get credit for what he does because they don’t keep stats on those things but he’s going to play in the NFL for a decade as a run stuffing NT. I like the Will Howard pick, if there were two QBs I could have late on day three who could become starters at some point, I think it’s Howard and Kyle McCord. Unfortunately for McCord, he has good QBs in front of him, Howard doesn’t have that problem. LB Carson Bruener is a great story, his dad Mark Bruener played TE for the Steelers for a long time and now he’s a scout for the team. Bruener can be a solid backup and a special team’s ace for now.

Nitpick or Concern: I have to mention the last player as my nitpick and it’s nothing against Donte Kent. I don’t know if he can make the team or not, they aren’t stacked at CB but he’s a small school guy, that’s not my nitpick. They could have taken any number of players from any of the 18 Big Ten schools and completed an All-Big Ten draft class. They went Oregon, Iowa, Ohio St., Iowa, Ohio St., Washington and then screwed it up taking a kid from Central Michigan. If you needed a CB there you could have taken Jermari Harris from Iowa, or Jabbar Muhammed from Oregon, or even DB Sebastian Castro from Iowa who they signed as an undrafted free agent anyway. Sorry Donte Kent, it just would have been cooler if it was an All-Big Ten group.