Tag: nfl

2025 AFC West Draft Review

Denver Broncos

(20) Jahdae Barron CB Texas
(60) RJ Harvey RB UCF
(74) Pat Bryant WR Illinois
(101) Sai’vion Jones DL LSU
(134) Que Robinson Edge Alabama
(216) Jeremy Crawshaw P Florida
(241) Caleb Lohner TE Utah

Immediate Impact: CB Jahdae Barron, RB RJ Harvey

The Broncos took one of the best defensive backs in the draft in Barron. He can be an elite nickel corner who can switch outside depending on the matchup. They have the best CB in football in Patrick Surtain and Riley Moss played well last year. Now they complete their trio to give them a nice nickel package. Harvey is short but big at 5’8 220 lbs. He has a tough running style with burst and speed and he’ll fit this scheme quite well. He can also catch out of the backfield which is a trait Sean Payton loves.

Best Value: DL Sai’vion Jones

Jones isn’t flashy because he’s a big power end but that’s perfect for this defense. The Broncos have Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers, two big power ends who don’t have much backing them up. They are also both free agents to be so Jones is a nice hedge against that. He needs to learn a few tricks of the trade and veterans like Allen and Myers are good guys to learn from. He could be a starter for them at DE in 2026.

Sleeper: Edge Que Robinson

Robinson comes from Alabama where there were just waves of elite pass rushers around him his whole career so he never got the chance to be a full-time player. He made the most of his pass rush opportunities but he’s just not very experienced. He’s a bit undersized but that hasn’t been a problem for Denver’s defense, they seem to like those guys.

Overall Analysis

Jahdae Barron is going to be a good pro for a long time, he’s just too good of a football player not to be. RJ Harvey should thrive in Payton’s offense and this team desperately needed a top RB. WR Pat Bryant felt like a bit of a reach in round three. He’s tall but he’s not fast, he’s not particularly big, and he’s not all that athletic. He runs good routes and understands positioning but he feels like a poor man’s Courtland Sutton and I think there were better options on the board; Jalen Royals and Elic Ayomanor for example. He’ll make this roster because they don’t have much behind Sutton but I wouldn’t expect a ton of production.

The Jones and Robinson picks are very good mid-round picks who should help the Broncos defense with depth in the front seven. The defense has been good and these are solid reinforcements and investments for the future. They drafted a punter in the sixth round, the only thing I hate more than drafting a kicker is drafting a punter. They finished up by drafting a TE from Utah who barely played. He was once a basketball player who switched up to finish his college career playing football. Sean Payton may think he can turn him into Jimmy Graham, that’s not going to happen.

Nitpick or Concern: This team needed more WR help than Pat Bryant. At the very least, those last two picks could have been used on guys like Tez Johnson or Kaden Prather. Tez Johnson would have been a nice story with his connection to Bo Nix. He also would have given them a playmaker in the slot.

Kansas City Chiefs

(32) Josh Simmons OT Ohio St.
(63) Omarr Norman-Lott DT Tennessee
(66) Ashton Gillotte Edge Louisville
(85) Nohl Williams CB California
(133) Jalen Royals WR Utah St.
(156) Jeffrey Bassa LB Oregon
(228) Brashard Smith RB SMU

Immediate Impact: OT Josh Simmons, DT Omarr Norman-Lott

Simmons might not start the season as he recovers from his knee injury but he’ll eventually take over at LT. I know they signed Jaylon Moore for too much money but Simmons is the better player. Norman-Lott gives them a nice interior pass rusher and they lack depth there. Chris Jones is working alone at this point and I don’t think Mike Pennel or Jerry Tillery are going to keep Norman-Lott off the field.

Best Value: WR Jalen Royals

No way Royals should have been available in round four. I know he’s coming off an injury but he’s a very talented WR. They have Xavier Worthy and then two guys coming off injury, Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice. Royals is better than the rest of the depth chart; JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore, and Tyquan Thornton are not better than Royals. If I were those guys, I’d be worried.

Sleeper: RB Brashard Smith

At one time in his college career, Smith was a WR. He moved to RB at SMU and he excelled at it despite not being the biggest guy. One thing he is, is fast. He brings a speed element the backfield lacks and he obviously has pass catching skills. He’s basically the Jerick McKinnon starter kit and I think Andy Reid will love him.

Overall Analysis

The Chiefs are obviously a good team with solid roster but they have been good long enough that guys have started to leave as players get more expensive. They need this draft to replenish some spots and they did a solid job. Simmons fills the biggest hole and the one they have barely been papering over for several years. He and Moore give them options if they have injuries too. They lost Derrick Nnadi in free agency after losing others over the years leaving Omarr Norman-Lott a opportunity to find playing time. DE Ashton Gillotte is a powerful prospect who fits their preference and is insurance with Charles Omenihu’s recent injury history and Felix Anudike-Uzomah being undersized and underdeveloped.

CB Nohl Williams has good size and a lot of experience from his time at Cal and he fits the same mold as other CBs in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. I think WR Royals is a steal and he’s going to allow them to boot some of the dead weight off the WR depth chart. LB Jeffrey Bassa was a good fifth-round pick, he’s fast and fluid running to the ball. He needs a little more power to his game but he’s useful player. I love the Brashard Smith pick for this team, he couldn’t be a better fit for the skills they lack in the backfield.

Nitpick or Concern: As much as I like Brashard Smith they could have used an earlier pick on a guy with more upside or someone who could push Pacheco at RB. The pick where they took Nohl Williams, they could have had a guy like Dylan Sampson or even with the Jeffrey Bassa pick they could have had Devin Neal. Those guys would have been real competition for the starting RB job. Smith is a complementary piece.

Las Vegas Raiders

(6) Ashton Jeanty RB Boise St.
(58) Jack Bech WR TCU
(68) Darien Porter CB Iowa St.
(98) Caleb Rogers OL Texas Tech
(99) Charles Grant OT William & Mary
(108) Dont’e Thornton Jr. WR Tennessee
(135) Tonka Hemingway DL South Carolina
(180) JJ Pegues DT Ole Miss
(213) Tommy Mellott WR Montana St.
(215) Cam Miller QB North Dakota St.
(222) Cody Lindenberg LB Minnesota

Immediate Impact: RB Ashton Jeanty, WR Jack Bech, CB Darien Porter

The Raiders RB group was looking pretty rough before they added Jeanty. He’s a truly talented player who changes the complexion of the offense. He’s a three-down back who can carry the workload for sure. He’s the playmaker they need on offense to go with Brock Bowers. WR Jack Bech is a good WR who doesn’t have great speed but just knows how to win. He’ll come down with the tough catch and he should be additive to an offense that needs guys who can make plays. Porter is walking into a CB room that needs help. He’s a big, raw CB but if anyone can get him ready to play, it’s Pete Carroll, he likes guys like this.

Best Value: CB Darien Porter

An early third round pick who has a chance to start immediately at CB is good value. Porter isn’t going to be the best CB right away but he has talent and physical skills. Carroll has taken mid to late round CBs and turned them into starters early in their careers; think Richard Sherman and Riq Woolen. Porter could be the next one.

Sleeper: OT Charles Grant

Grant has the measurables and the athleticism to be a LT in the NFL. He’s making a major step up in competition coming from William & Mary but it can be done. He may be the heir apparent to Kolton Miller if the Raiders can’t work out an extension for Miller. He may even help them out at guard this year and move outside next year.

Overall Analysis

The Raiders have a big class with 11 players so they took some chances. Jeanty is about as sure of a thing as you get with a RB. He has every skill you need to be a true three-down back. WR Jack Bech is a useful player and that makes him valuable to the Raiders, they don’t have many of those at WR. Porter gives them a good prospect at CB and they need that too. Then in round three they went back-to-back with offensive linemen. Carlos Rogers is a big guy they will move inside. Grant gives them a potential OT of the future.

In round four they took the Al Davis memorial award winner WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. He’s a 6’5 214 lbs. speedster who doesn’t catch all that well. They need a deep threat but I’m not sure Thornton will ever be that guy. They were really into doubling up at positions because after taking two offensive linemen and Thornton, they took two DTs. Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues give them two different types of DTs. Hemingway is the smaller, slasher type while Pegues is the bigger body player.

They followed that up with two FCS QBs; Montana St. QB Tommy Mellott and North Dakota St’s QB Cam Miller, clearly, they watched the FCS National Championship game. It’s a little misleading though, they plan to move Mellott to WR and try him in the slot. Miller will be the developmental QB here. LB Cody Lindenberg isn’t making the roster unless it’s as a special teamer.

Nitpick or Concern: They could have done a little more in the secondary. Porter gives them an option at CB but they could use some help at safety. They are also counting on Darnay Holmes to be the nickel back, that could be an issue.

Los Angels Chargers

(22) Omarion Hampton RB North Carolina
(55) Tre Harris WR Ole Miss
(86) Jamaree Caldwell DT Oregon
(125) Kyle Kennard Edge South Carolina
(158) KeAndre Lambert-Smith WR Auburn
(165) Oronde Gadsden II TE Syracuse
(199) Branson Taylor OT Pittsburgh
(214) RJ Mickens S Clemson
(256) Trikweze Bridges CB Florida

Immediate Impact: RB Omarion Hampton, WR Tre Harris

The Chargers signed Najee Harris in free agency but Hampton is going to be the guy for Harbaugh. Hampton is just a more explosive playmaker even if he isn’t a homerun hitter. He’s a better pass catcher than Harris and Harris will just give the Chargers a very reliable backup. WR Tre Harris can be everything the Chargers thought they were getting in Quentin Johnston and more. He’s a true deep threat with good size and ball skills down the field. He will finally give Justin Herbert a downfield playmaker.

Best Value: DT Jamaree Caldwell

The Chargers lost Poona Ford in free agency and while they brought in Teair Tart, they are very thin up front. Caldwell was a late third round pick and he could be very important to the defensive line. He’ll certainly be in the rotation and he might start. He’s a good player with great size and they are in short supply of that.

Sleeper: S RJ Mickens

Mickens is a good safety who played at Clemson and has NFL bloodlines. He dad was long-time NFL CB Ray Mickens. The Chargers have Derwin James and Alohi Gilman but their depth isn’t great and Mickens could be a starter eventually. He could certainly play safety over Tony Jefferson at this point. I think they found a long-term starter in round six.

Overall Analysis

Hampton and Harris are going to help the offense immediately and that’s impressive for a couple of rookies. Those are good draft picks when you pull that off. Caldwell gives them a good player on front line, which they need. Edge rusher Kyle Kennard is a big rush end who gives them some depth they need even if he’s not an elite pass rusher. He could still give them a little more at the position than Bud Dupree.

The next three picks were on offense with another deep threat WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, he’s sort of the poor man’s Tre Harris. He’s a solid player and with their desperate need to open up the offense he can make this team. If I were Mike Williams, Quentin Johnston, or Derius Davis I wouldn’t feel confident in place on the roster. TE Oronde Gadsden II isn’t scaring Will Dissly or Tyler Conklin but he could be the third TE. OT Branson Taylor is a big man who could be a swing tackle for them. Mickens is a real player at safety but I’m not sure Bridges makes the team, even though they need help at CB.

Nitpick or Concern: They could have done more to help the defense. They need some more depth on the line, they probably could have been more aggressive to upgrade the pass rush, and they needed CB help. They gave the offense an upgrade but I don’t think they upgraded the defense even with the guys I do like.

2025 AFC East Draft Review

Buffalo Bills

(30) Maxwell Hairston CB Kentucky
(41) TJ Sanders DT South Carolina
(72) Landon Jackson DE Arkansas
(109) Deone Walker DT Kentucky
(170) Jordan Hancock CB Ohio St.
(173) Jackson Hawes TE Georgia Tech
(177) Dorian Strong CB Virginia Tech
(206) Chase Lundt OT UConn
(240) Kaden Prather WR Maryland

Immediate Impact: CB Maxwell Hairston

When your roster is as good as the Bills roster, you don’t get a lot of rookies who crack the lineup. Unless your CB depth chart looks this one than Maxwell Hairston has a chance to start. Christian Benford is coming off an injury and they needed help so much they brought back Tre’Davious White, who is coming off a pretty rough year. Hairston wasn’t my favorite CB in this class but he’s a major upgrade for the Bills opposite Benford.

Best Value: DE Landon Jackson

Somehow a 6’6 264 lbs. DE fell all the way to round three for the Bills. Jackson had a good year at Arkansas and while he’s a little stiff, he’s still a productive pass rusher. He’ll be a part of the rotation with Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, and Joey Bosa and if I were a betting man, I would bet he plays in more games than Bosa.

Sleeper: CB Dorian Strong

Christian Benford was a sixth-round pick in 2022 and he turned out to be an excellent CB. The Bills may have pulled it off again. While Hairston gets the name recognition as the first-round pick, Strong could also develop into a good CB. He has more size and plays physical. While he doesn’t have Hairston’s elite speed, he was plenty fast for a CB with a 4.5 40.

Overall Analysis

This team knows it’s offense will be fine as long as Josh Allen is running it so they went defense with the first five picks. Hairston fills a major need while the next three picks focused on the defensive line. They traded up to get DT TJ Sanders in round two. He will give them a nice rotational piece inside. Jackson gives them another DE for the rotation. DT Deone Walker is a lottery ticket. He’s 6’7 331 lbs. and yet he’s not a great run stopper. He probably needs a redshirt type of year. He could learn a lot from DaQuan Jones, he’s a similar type of big man who has been around a long time. Jones is the run stuffer next to Ed Oliver, they need Walker to pick up his game.

The Bills then took CB Jordan Hancock from Ohio St. because they really understood the assignment, fix the secondary. Between Hairston, Hancock, and Strong, one of them should be good. They got some depth pieces on offense with TE Jackson Hawes, OT Chase Lundt, and WR Kaden Prather. I wouldn’t necessarily expect any of those three to make the roster but Hawes could be their blocking TE. Prather has been compared to a poor man’s Keon Coleman but I’m not sure that was a compliment.

Nitpick or Concern: The Deone Walker pick in round four. They definitely needed some interior defensive line help and I can understand thinking a man of his stature is worth the risk, but this team is trying to win now. Walker didn’t have a good year last year and he needs work. There were DTs on the board who could help now. If you wanted a interior pass rusher, Ty Robinson or Cam Jackson were available. A run stuffer? CJ West and Yahya Black were on the board.

Miami Dolphins

(13) Kenneth Grant DT Michigan
(37) Jonah Savaiinaea OG Arizona
(143) Jordan Phillips DL Maryland
(150) Jason Marshall Jr. CB Florida
(155) Dante Trader Jr. S Maryland
(179) Ollie Gordon II RB Oklahoma St.
(231) Quinn Ewers QB Texas
(253) Zeek Biggers DL Georgia Tech

Immediate Impact: DT Kenneth Grant, G Jonah Savaiinaea, DL Jordan Phillips

Give the Dolphins credit, they understood their assignment too. They needed help on the lines, especially the defensive line, and they attacked it. DT Kenneth Grant becomes an immediate starter at NT and he’s a major upgrade. Then they traded up in round two and took Savaiinaea who will start at guard. I’m not sure spending draft capital to move up was the smartest decision but getting a new starting guard was smart. Usually a fifth-round DT wouldn’t be an immediate impact guy but they need bodies on the defensive line and Phillips can play. He will get into the rotation and could play a lot given his skill set.

Best Value: QB Quinn Ewers

Ewers was clearly not for everyone but he’s still a talented QB. He’s also good enough to beat out Zach Wilson for the backup job and being the backup QB in Miami means you may have to play. Getting a QB with Ewers talent in round seven is good value.

Sleeper: RB Ollie Gordon II

The Dolphins have De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright, both are lean, speed backs and they signed Alexander Mattison to be a bigger body. Mattison has never been all that good but Gordon was very good two years ago. He had a rough year last year like everyone at Oklahoma St. but he’s got great size and power. He would be a great compliment to the Achane and Wright.

Overall Analysis

The Dolphins did a good job of addressing their most pressing needs, both lines. Grant, Savaiinaea, and Phillips are all going to get plenty of playing time, but they aren’t the only ones. CB Jason Marshall Jr. was taken in round five but they are in desperate need of CB help and that’s before they have even traded Jalen Ramsey. Marshall looks the part of an NFL CB, now he has to play like one. S Dante Trader Jr. will also have a chance at playing time. The safety room isn’t much better than the CB one. Gordon and Ewers are talented players who might be guys who develop into useful guys. DT Zeek Biggers is big enough to help at DT, he just needs to work on his development too.

Nitpick or Concern: Trading up to get Jonah Savaiinaea cost them some early draft capital and while they needed a guard, they could have used the extra pick to get a better CB prospect too. I’m not Savaiinaea is so much better at guard than the next guy that it was worth hurting your chances at CB. They need CB help badly.

New England Patriots

(4) Will Campbell OT LSU
(38) TreVeyon Henderson RB Ohio St.
(69) Kyle Williams WR Washington St.
(95) Jared Wilson C Georgia
(106) Craig Woodson S California
(137) Joshua Farmer DT Florida St.
(146) Bradyn Swinson Edge LSU
(182) Andres Borregales K Miami
(220) Marcus Bryant OT Missouri
(251) Julian Ashby LS Vanderbilt
(257) Kobee Minor CB Memphis

Immediate Impact: LT Will Campbell, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Kyle Williams, K Andres Borregales

Yes, Will Campbell is the LT, he will be the immediate starter there and Drake Maye can feel confident his blindside is well protected. Henderson is going to be the juiced-up version of James White in Josh McDaniels’s offense. He’s an electric runner who gives this offense some actual playmaking in the backfield. Rhamondre Stevenson is still going to be the primary back for now because Henderson isn’t an every down guy, but Henderson is going to play a lot.

WR Kyle Williams is a welcome addition to a WR group devoid of playmakers. He’s a little undersized but he knows how to get separation better than almost every receiver on the Patriots roster. He also has downfield ability they lack and should make for a great target for Drake Maye.

Borregales was a necessary pick, they have been wandering in the kicker wasteland since the end of the Stephen Gostkowski era about five years ago. Normally I don’t like taking kickers and this has backfired on the Patriots before, hello Chad Ryland, but this was a sixth-round pick not a fourth and it was their eighth pick out of 11 overall picks. This team isn’t going to be great this year but they are going to be competitive and having a good kicker is going to keep them in games.

Best Value: C Jared Wilson

The Patriots traded down in round three with the second pick they had and ended up taking Wilson with the 95th pick. Wilson was the best pure center in the draft with Grey Zabel being the only prospect ranked a head of him at the position and Zabel didn’t play the position in college. Wilson was only a one-year starter at Georgia but he was pretty good and he will give Garrett Bradbury a run for the money to start at center. My money would be on Bradbury for this year because Vrabel will likely stick with the veteran, but Wilson could make it a tough choice.

Sleeper: Edge Bradyn Swinson

I had the Patriots taking Swinson in the third round of my mock draft and they ended up with him in round five. He isn’t an elite edge player because he doesn’t play the run all that well but he has elite pass rushing potential. The Patriots won’t ask him to play on run downs so they can mitigate his weaknesses while adding his pass rush ability to their defense. They need pass rush juice and Swinson has it.

Overall Analysis

I’m not the only one saying this but the Patriots had a terrific draft. The first four picks; Campbell, Henderson, Williams, and Wilson, were all guys taken to support Drake Maye, good strategy. The team spent free agent money on defense and draft capital on offense. When you have a good young QB, you want an offense that will grow with him. These guys could be long-term players around Maye as he grows into the QB he’s going to be over the next five years.

The next three picks were on defense and address areas of need. S Craig Woodson is a hybrid player who could be used as a nickel back and a safety. The Patriots starting safeties are Kyle Duggar, coming off a rough year, and Jabrill Peppers, guy got arrested last year. Both those players are aging and expensive. Woodson gives them a different skill set and some youth. He also gives them a bigger body and probably a healthier one at nickel than Marcus Jones. Farmer give them another penetrating DT to play in the rotation with Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. He fits the attacking interior DT type they want on defense. Edge Bradyn Swinson I already covered, well worth the pick.

I’m not usually a fan of drafting a kicker but like I mentioned the team had 11 picks, it’s hard for that many rookies to make any roster. Using one on a really good kicker when you don’t have a kicker isn’t a bad move. OT Marcus Bryant is a bet on a guy who has all the measurables you want at OT (namely the length Campbell doesn’t have) but isn’t nearly that good. He’s a project.

Nitpick or Concern: As universally loved as this draft was, I am going to nitpick the last two picks. They took a long snapper four picks before TE Luke Lachey was picked in round seven by the Texans. The Patriots ha Joe Cardona at LS (they have now released him), they need a developmental TE, and long snappers generally don’t get drafted, they get signed after the draft. The Patriots also had the last pick in the draft and took CB Kobbe Minor, a guy who has virtually no chance of making this roster. They could have drafted Lachey and then taken a long snapper with Mr. Irrelevant. It’s a tiny nitpick but if Lachey actually becomes a decent TE in the NFL, I’m going to remember this.

New York Jets

(7) Armand Membou OT Missouri
(42) Mason Taylor TE LSU
(73) Azareye’h Thomas CB Florida St.
(110) Arian Smith WR Georgia
(130) Malachi Moore DB Alabama
(162) Francisco Mauigoa LB Miami
(176) Tyler Baron Edge Miami

Immediate Impact: RT Armand Membou, TE Mason Taylor

The Jets got off to a good start getting two immediate starters in Membou and Taylor. Membou slides right in to the RT spot vacated by Morgan Moses and he and Olu Fashanu make nice bookend OTs for the at least the next few years. Taylor is the type of TE who does everything well and nothing at an elite level. On this team, that means he starts. He’s better than every TE they have, and it’s not particularly close.

Best Value: CB Azareye’h Thomas

Thomas was a good player at Florida St. and was rising on draft boards until he went out and ran a slow 40 time and his rise immediately stopped. He’s not fast, but he’s got good height and length and he’s tough. He was a steal in the third round and with Aaron Glenn as his coach, I would bet he reaches his ceiling as a player. If I were Brandon Stephens, their free agent CB signing, I’d be looking over my shoulder.

Sleeper: DB Malachi Moore

Moore was at one time a freshman starter on Nick Saban’s Alabama defense, that usually means good things. He never lived up to that high standard but he was a good player for Alabama. He’s played some in the nickel but he’s best at safety. The Jets’ starting safeties right now are Tony Adams and Andre Cisco, if you tell me Moore is starting by week six, I’ll believe it. He’s another guy who will benefit from playing for Aaron Glenn.

Overall Analysis

Membou, Taylor, and Thomas are great picks and they are going to make the Jets better this season. They aren’t turning the whole thing around but they are some foundational pieces moving forward. The team needed to get better at WR but they pick Arian Smith instead. Smith is a speed demon but he’s not a good receiver. Mauigoa and Baron are back of the depth chart dart throws trying to find some developmental pieces in the front seven. Athletic guys the Jets are taking a chance on.

Nitpick or Concern: The WR depth chart is rough behind Garrett Wilson so Smith could make the team but I wouldn’t be surprised if they get him on the practice field and decide he needs the year on the practice squad, at minimum. The next three WRs off the board were Jaylin Lane, Jalen Royals, and Elic Ayomanor, all three of those guys are better prospects and would help this team sooner. I also think guys like Tory Horton and KeAndre Lambert-Smith offer more upside than Smith.

2025 NFC North Draft Review

Chicago Bears

(10) Colston Loveland TE Michigan
(39) Luther Burden III WR Missouri
(56) Ozzy Trapilo OT Boston College
(62) Shemar Turner DL Texas A&M
(132) Ruben Hyppolite II LB Maryland
(169) Zah Frazier CB UTSA
(195) Luke Newman OL Michigan St.
(233) Kyle Monangai RB Rutgers

Immediate Impact: TE Colston Loveland, WR Luther Burden III

The Bears have Cole Kmet at TE but Loveland brings a different skill set. He can open up the passing game deep over the middle and he’s a better athlete and pass catcher overall. If they can get Caleb Williams to just run the offense, Loveland will be one of his favorite targets over the middle. Sorry to Olamide Zaccheus but you just got benched before you ever played a down. Burden will primarily work out of the slot and when he doesn’t it will be because they switch him around with DJ Moore. Burden and Moore have overlapping skill sets but if there is any coach who will figure out the best way to get the most out of that pairing, it’s Ben Johnson.

Best Value: DT Shemar Turner

Turner isn’t going to start but he’s going to give them plenty of snaps because he can play inside or outside on the defensive line. He gives them a different body type and skill set on the interior because he’s long and lean. He can play next to Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dextor, or Andrew Billings and do the job. He can also flip outside to give them a backup on the edge. He’s a defensive line piece Dennis Allen will appreciate having at his disposal.

Sleeper: RB Kyle Monangai

This draft was loaded at RB and the fact that Monangai was taken in round seven proves it. He isn’t the biggest guy and he’s not a speedy back but he will run through anyone. He’s also remarkably reliable. He never fumbled in college and he played for four years. He is the type of RB that makes the defense just hate playing football because he runs so hard every down. When Ben Johnson tires of D’Andre Swift’s unreliability, Monangai will be there to save the day. He has a chance to be starting by the midpoint of the season.

Overall Analysis

Last year everyone said Caleb Williams was walking into the best group of skill position players any rookie had ever had, and that was true. What was also true was the coaching staff had no idea how to get the best out of that group and it just so happened the interior of the offensive line was awful so it didn’t matter. This year, they fixed the interior of the o-line, upgraded that group of skill position players, and hired one of the best offensive minds in football. Loveland, Burden, and Monangai are excellent additions at the skill positions. OT Ozzy Trapilo is an upgrade at swing tackle if for no other reason than he should be healthier than Larry Borom was at times. Trapilo has the upside that he may become a starter at some point. LB Ruben Hyppolite II feels like a reach. He has excellent straight-line speed but I wouldn’t expect him out there on defense, maybe he’s a special teams ace. CB Zah Frazier gives them a tall corner with some upside who can be a backup. The Newman pick is a solid choice trying to find some late interior offensive line depth.

Nitpick or Concern: The Hyppolite pick was a too early and while it’s understandable they wanted LB depth, there were better LBs on the board. Other than that, they hit their needs quite well and found some good players who should fit right in.

Detroit Lions

(28) Tyleik Williams DT Ohio St.
(57) Tate Ratledge OG Georgia
(70) Isaac TeSlaa WR Arkansas
(171) Miles Frazier OG LSU
(196) Ahmed Hassanein Edge Boise St.
(230) Dan Jackson S Georgia
(244) Dominic Lovett WR Georgia

Immediate Impact: DT Tyliek Williams, G Tate Ratledge

The Lions’s need at DT isn’t as clear as other issues but it exists. DJ Reader will be 31 this year and Alim McNeill is coming off a knee injury. Levi Onwuzurike was re-signed but he’s a different type of DT. Williams gives them the powerful interior run stuffer, much like Reader but he also has some pocket pushing ability, like McNeill. Ratledge is a Dan Campbell player if there ever was one. I think he starts at one of the guard spots. It’s up to Graham Glasgow and Christian Mahogany to decide who gets the other spot.

Best Value: Ratledge

They got a good starting OG with a late second round pick. That’s about where you should be drafting a starting OG but still, good value. None of their picks were great value, they pretty much got them where they should have. Except TeSlaa, he was reach.

Sleeper: OG Miles Frazier

I have the utmost confidence Ratledge wins a starting spot and that’s as much about his competition as it is about him. Graham Glasgow is an aging player who did not have a good year last year. The fact that Mahagony couldn’t beat Glasgow out last year makes me question him, although he was a rookie sixth round pick so it’s understandable. Frazier comes in round five this year and it wouldn’t completely surprise me if he wins a starting job and the team has two rookie starting guards.

Overall Analysis

Williams, Ratledge, and Frazier are players right up Detroit’s alley. They’re trench players who will upgrade the toughness and strength of the lines. All three will either start of at least contribute in a rotation. The TeSlaa pick was a headscratcher. He wasn’t all that productive at Arkansas and while Arkansas wasn’t some high-flying offense, a guy with his physical gifts should have been better. It’s also a little strange because his selling point is his physical gifts, he’s a big 6’4 219 lbs. target who can jump out of the gym. One problem, his best plays come as a power slot and they use Amon-Ra St. Brown in the slot. There’s a chance they turn him into a Josh Reynolds type of WR but they traded two third round picks to move up to get him. I’m not convinced they needed to trade up at all to get him. There were better WRs on the board at the time and they could have used that pick on a DE to give them some edge help, Landon Jackson, the DE from Arkansas would have made more sense. Instead, they waited until round six to take Ahmed Hassanein from Memphis on the edge, I don’t think he’s as helpful. S Dan Jackson might develop into a real player at some point but WR Dominic Lovett faces an uphill climb to make the roster.

Nitpick or Concern: The trade up for TeSlaa is the screaming question mark of this draft class. The other issue was waiting until 196th pick to address edge rusher. This team needs edge rush help even if Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport come back healthy.

Green Bay Packers

(23) Matthew Golden WR Texas
(54) Anthony Belton OT NC State
(87) Savion Williams WR/RB TCU
(124) Barryn Sorrell DE Texas
(159) Collin Oliver LB Oklahoma St.
(198) Warren Brinson DL Georgia
(237) Micah Robinson CB Tulane
(250) John Williams OT Cincinnati

Immediate Impact: WR Matthew Golden

The Packers roster is going to be one that is tough for any rookie to make an impact on. Even Golden is going to have to earn his playing time but I think it will be easier for him. WR Chrisitan Watson is supposed to be the Packers deep threat but he’s generally inconsistent and he’s recovering from an injury. Dontayvion Wicks is a guy they like except when he’s dropping passes. Golden makes a nice trio with Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs and becomes Jordan Love’s favorite deep threat.

Best Value: DE Barryn Sorrell

The Packers have Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, and Kingsley Enagbare at DE but Van Ness and Enagbare are not proven players. Sorrell isn’t either but he adds to the rotation and he’ll be a good addition. Getting a guy who can contribute to your pass rush in round four is good value.

Sleeper: WR/RB Savion Williams

Williams is an enigma. He’s 6’4 222 lbs., he’s excellent in contested catch situations but he’s not good at WR otherwise. He’s better as a runner and that makes him a man without a position. If the Packers can figure out a way to use him, he could be a playmaker. There’s a world where he’s a Cordarrelle Patterson type of RB or maybe he’s a Taysom Hill type, minus the QB snaps. There’s also a world where he’s out of the league in two years.

Overall Analysis

This draft was more about getting depth and planning for the future than helping this team now. Certainly, Golden helps the team next season. However, OT Anthony Belton is a hedge against not wanting to pay Rasheed Walker in free agency next year at LT. Sorrell was a pick to guard against Van Ness and Enagbare never putting it together at DE. Williams was a dart throw…in the dark…with a blindfold on…backwards. LB Collin Oliver could be a depth piece. DT Warren Brinson is a big body they hope can give them some of the snaps they lost when TJ Slaton left. CB Micah Robinson and OT John Williams are developmental guys who will have to fight hard to make the roster.

Nitpick or Concern: Where’s the help in the secondary? One late pick on Micah Robinson isn’t solving any issues at CB. They must be planning on Jaire Alexander coming back and being his old self. I’m not sure Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs are guys I want to count on at CB in a division that has guys like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Jameson Williams, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Minnesota Vikings

(24) Donovan Jackson OG Ohio St.
(102) Tai Felton WR Maryland
(139) Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins DL Georgia
(201) Kobe King LB Penn St.
(202) Gavin Bartholomew TE Pittsburgh

Immediate Impact: LG Donovan Jackson

This is a small draft class joining a pretty solid roster so there’s not a lot of places a rookie can help. LG is the biggest hole and Jackson should be an immediate starter. The team signed veterans C Ryan Kelly and RG Will Fries so Jackson completes the overhaul of the interior of the offensive line. Blake Brandel is not going to keep Jackson out of the lineup.

Best Value: None

This wasn’t a value draft. Jackson may have been worth the 24th pick but not by a lot. The other four guys were taken where they should have been taken at best.

Sleeper: WR Tai Felton

The Vikings have the best WR in football in Justin Jefferson and a pretty high-end WR2 in Jordan Addison. After those two it’s a mixed bag of guys like Jalen Nailor or Rondale Moore. Felton gives the team a guy with legitimate downfield speed and while he’s pretty thin, he is fairly tall at 6’1. He adds an element to the offense they don’t have if he can prove he can play at this level.

Overall Analysis

The Vikings aren’t counting on this draft class to do too much. They need Donovan Jackson to solidify the offensive line and that’s about it. The improved offensive line is key to the running game which is key to JJ McCarthy’s success at QB. WR Tai Felton might make a play here or there that would help but that’s just icing on the cake. The last three guys might be depth players if they make the roster but I’m not betting on any of them at this point.

Nitpick or Concern: Where’s the help at CB? Signing Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah isn’t really fixing much. They could have had a guy like Quincy Riley when they took Felton and then grabbed a WR later. As much as LG was a need and I like Donovan Jackson, they should have traded down for more picks. The next two picks off the board both got traded including the Rams getting the Falcons first round pick next season for 26 overall. Also, perhaps taking a CB with their first pick and then coming back at 102 where they took Felton for a guard would make more sense. It’s easier to find a starting guard later in the draft. Marcus Mbow, Miles Frazier, and some others were still available at 102.

2025 NFL Draft Day Two Thoughts and Quick Hitters

Day two of the NFL Draft is always a fun one for me.  This is where you see what teams really think about their team.  You get to see what their priorities are and who they like. Case in point, the biggest story of day two, Shadeur Sanders didn’t get drafted.  We have now had three rounds consisting of 102 picks and Sanders wasn’t one of them.  The pre-draft narrative of Sanders having less than stellar interviews is proving to be true because while he’s not a great prospect, he was worth a third-round pick in this QB class.  Cam Ward was clearly the top QB and it wasn’t all that surprising Jaxson Dart went ahead of Sanders but it didn’t stop there.  Tyler Shough and Jalen Milroe were also picked already.  Both those guys have superior physical skills over Sanders so the case is easy to make to take them too.  The one that really has to hurt is the Browns taking Dillon Gabriel instead of Shadeur late in round three.  Gabriel is shorter, doesn’t have an elite arm, and is older than Sanders.  The one thing that stands out that Gabriel gets a better grade on than Shadeur, teams like his makeup.  He’s a guy they want to work with and the type of player they want in the building.  As Dane Brugler pointed out on the Athletic Football Show’s draft show, Sanders’s talent kept him out of round one, it was his interviews and attitude that kept him from getting drafted on day two. 

I’m just going to point out some teams that did some good things, or at least some interesting things.  Day two is about getting players who can help your team but maybe guys that won’t be superstars.  Let’s take a look.

New England Patriots – After taking Will Campbell in round one, day two gave them a couple of playmakers on offense for Drake Maye and another guy to protect him long-term.  After spending most of their free agent money on defense, this draft has been about offense.  RB TreVeyon Henderson is a big play waiting to happen and he’s the type of guy they need in the running game.  Then they drafted WR Kyle Williams from Washington St., he’s not the biggest WR but he’s dynamic.  He’s essentially the younger, faster version of Stefon Diggs.  Finally, they grabbed C Jared Wilson from Georgia.  He was only a one-year starter but he’s going to compete with Garrett Bradbury at center from day one and he’s the guy who will be Drake Maye’s center for the next decade.  As far as I’m concerned, the Patriots are 4-for-4 in this draft. 

Chicago Bears – The Bears followed up the Colston Loveland pick with some interesting picks themselves.  They got WR Luther Burden III, he was a high-level prospect coming into the year who then struggled a bit.  He’s still an extremely talented player with great after-the-catch ability.  There is a little redundancy to his game compared to DJ Moore but Ben Johnson is a smart offensive mind, he should find ways to use both.  The pick of OT Ozzy Trapilo was really nice. Trapilo is a very large OT at 6’8 and needs some technique work but he can play.  He may be the LT of the future or he’s insurance for Darnell Wright at RT in case he struggles.  Finally, Shemar Turner is a slightly undersized DT with great versatility who will be very good in a Dennis Allen led defense.

Houston Texans – Houston traded out of the first round so their first pick was WR Jayden Higgins at 34 overall, nice pickup.  He’s a big-bodied WR who gives them some options.  They followed that up by drafting Minnesota LT Aireontae Ersery.  I’ll be shocked if Ersery doesn’t beat out Cam Robinson for the starting LT job in Houston.  The Texans then doubled up on Iowa St. WRs by taking Jaylin Noel in round three.  They probably didn’t need to take him but he was way too good to pass up.  All three of those picks will pay dividends immediately. 

Cleveland Browns – They had the first pick of day two and they took LB Carson Schwesinger from UCLA.  He gives them a fast, run and chase LB they may need if Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah isn’t healthy.  Taking him after trading back in round one and taking Mason Graham gives them two good defenders to start off with.  Then they went offense.  RB Quinshon Judkins was next and he’s a true work horse for this team and he’ll be great.  Next, they grabbed TE Harold Fannin Jr., he’s a unique player.  A high-volume pass catcher at Bowling Green who looks a bit stiff and awkward but just makes plays.  Finally, they took QB Dillon Gabriel.  Gabriel doesn’t profile as an NFL starter given his size and lack of arm strength but this team has Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett at QB, nothing is off the table. 

Seattle Seahawks – The Grey Zabel pick in round one addresses a huge need at OG, but they didn’t stop there.  S Nick Emmanwori is a freak athlete who should be a nice fit in Mike McDonald’s defense and they needed help at safety.  TE Elijah Arroyo gives them a nice weapon to go with Noah Fant and AJ Barner at the position.  Arroyo could be Fant’s eventual replacement in a year.  They topped it off by taking a shot on QB Jalen Milroe.  Milroe is an excellent athlete with elite speed and a rocket for an arm.  He lacks nuance as a QB but the team has Sam Darnold so for now, Milroe is just a developmental project. 

Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys draft way better than they get credit for.  First round OG Tyler Booker isn’t sexy but he’s an important piece to the offense.  They followed him up with two great value picks on defense.  Edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku somehow fell to the middle of round two and they snagged him.  They have some other bodies after Micah Parsons but Ezeiruaku is going to be one of the better pass rushers they have.  Then in round three CB Shavon Revel Jr. was still there for the taking.  He’s coming off a torn ACL but all reports are that he should be ready for the season.  If he hadn’t been injured he was heading towards being a first-round pick.  He’s excellent value and well worth taking the risk on a pretty common injury in round three. 

Carolina Panthers – They gave Bryce Young his WR with Tetairoa McMillan in round one, then they went to fix the defense.  The Panthers don’t have any elite pass rushers on their team and they probably didn’t get one with their two day two picks. However, Nic Scourton from Texas A&M and Princely Umanmielen both have potential.  Scourton should lose a little weight and get back to being the guy he was at Purdue; he’d be a better pass rusher.  Umanmielen is a pure pass rusher who is probably only that.  The Panthers won’t have an elite pass rusher but they will have waves of them after adding these two. 

New York Jets – After taking RT Armand Membou in round one, they went with TE Mason Taylor in round two and CB Azareye’h Thomas in round three.  Taylor doesn’t have one particular elite skill but he’s a very talented TE.  He should start quickly in New York.  Thomas is a good CB prospect who ran a slow 40 time and that’s why he lasted until round three.  In New York, he should compete with Brandon Stephens to start opposite Sauce Gardner. 

A few Quick Hitters on Day 2

The Saints made Tyler Shough the third QB off the board after Ward and Dart.  He went 40th overall.  He’s big, tall, and more athletic than you would think.  He’s going to start games in New Orleans this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts the majority of the games.

The Cardinals ended CB Will Johnson’s slide with the 47th pick in the draft.  Clearly, teams were concerned with his knee issue because I don’t care how slow you think he might be, he’s definitely talented enough to go higher than this. If the knee isn’t a problem, Johnson will be one for his opponents.

The Bengals may have come up with the first real reach in the draft when they took LB Demetrius Knight in round two.  Knight is a fine player but he was the third LB off the board and that seems high.  I had Knight in some previous mock drafts but there were other LBs rated ahead of him.  I know I said the Bengals should just keep taking defensive players but there were better defensive players on the board. 

The Packers took LT Anthony Belton in round two.  After taking Jordan Morgan in round one last year and signing LG Aaron Banks in free agency, expect to see some shuffling on that offensive line this year. 

The Ravens again got a steal when edge rusher Mike Green slid all the way to them in round two.  If his off the field issues are behind him, he could win Defensive Rookie of the Year.  Oh, and they took LSU OL Emery Jones Jr. in round three, he’s going to be a future Pro Bowl guard for that team.  Those damn Ravens, every time.

The Lions drafted Georgia OG Tate Ratledge, there was no bigger Dan Campbell player in this draft than Ratledge.  I will push back on them trading up for WR Isaac TeSlaa.  I know he’s big but they paid extra to get him in round three and there were better WRs on the board. 

Other picks I liked; Raiders took WR Jack Bech, Washington took CB Trey Amos, and Giants took Darius Alexander to start round three.  All three of those guys can start next season. 

The other WR pick I didn’t like; Denver taking Pat Bryant.  There were better WRs on the board. 

Speaking of Players Still on the Board

Obviously Shadeur Sanders.  I’ve certainly not been a Shadeur fan but there are definitely worse QBs on rosters in the NFL right now.

Most surprising guy still left on the board for me is Ohio St. DE Jack Sawyer.  I get he’s not the flashiest guy but his motor never stops and he’ll be a contributor to an edge rush rotation next season. 

Two offensive linemen I like on the board.  Texas OT Cam Williams, he’s a bit lumbering with heavy feet but he’s hard to move.  And Purdue OL Marcus Mbow.  Good player with versatility to play OG or OT. 

There are some good WRs left too.  Utah St. WR Jalen Royals, Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor, and a personal favorite, Colorado St. WR Tory Holton.  Royals and Horton have injury concerns and Ayomanor had some drops but all three can help a team next year. 

Finally, the RBs still on the board.  Damien Martinez, Cam Skattebo, Dylan Sampson, Jordan James, and Devin Neal, of those guys, one of them is starting for his team next season.  Then there are guys who will contribute for sure to their teams’ backfields; Jaydon Blue, Bhayshul Tuten, Jarquez Hunter, DJ Giddens, Ollie Gordan, Kyle Monangai and Trevor Etienne.

It’s going to be an interesting Day Three.  Here we come!

2025 NFL Draft 1st round Quick Hitters

Here’s my initial thoughts on the first round of the draft.  This is just after it finished so they are early thoughts and basically gut reactions.  Not every pick warranted an actual reaction so if you want to know what I thought of your favorite team’s pick and it’s not here, well, you’ll just have to return for my team-by-team draft analysis that comes after the draft. 

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

Second Round Thoughts

There are three players who almost everyone thought would be a first-round picks who fell to day two; QB Shadeur Sanders, CB Will Johnson, and edge rusher Mike Green.  These guys fell for three different reasons. 

  • Sanders fell because he simply isn’t a first-round talent at QB.  He lacks the physical skills to impress and doesn’t have any elite traits.  He’s not a bad player but he just isn’t a guy you can reasonably think is a guaranteed QB of the future for you. 
  • Will Johnson fell because apparently there are some issues with a knee injury and the lingering effects teams are worried about. 
  • Mike Green is still on the board because he had some off the field issues when he was originally at Virginia and those issues were the reason he transferred to Marshall.  Teams must not have been comfortable enough to take him over other edge rushers.  As a football player, he was first-round talent. 

Some of my favorited players still on the board for day two, besides Will Johnson and Mike Green, I think those guys are really good football players. 

WR Luther Burden III – He’s a very talented WR who had tough circumstances at Missouri last season. Given where he’s likely to go now, I think he can outplay his draft slot. 

DE Donovan Ezeiruaku – He doesn’t hit all the measurables you want from an edge rusher but he just knows how to get to the QB. 

CB Trey Amos – I think he has starter quality traits and he’s a tough CB.  He won’t be for everyone but I think he’ll be good. 

OT Aireontae Ersery – He’s a mountain of a man and while you wouldn’t think it by looking at him, he’s pretty athletically gifted and can move.  He has a chance to start at LT for the right team. 

OT Charles Grant – If you need a developmental LT, take this guy.  He has the size and the measurables you want, he just played at Williams & Mary.  Small school guys deserve a chance too. 

WR Tory Holton – I hope the Patriots get this guy in round three.  He’s going to be good.

RB Kaleb Johnson – I’ll end on the best Hawkeye in the draft.  Johnson is going to be a stud when the right team takes him and just lets him go.