One of the most intriguing NFL draft classes I've covered in my 43 years of doing this wrapped up Saturday, and it's time for one of my favorite -- and most exhausting -- exercises every year.
Before we get into my NFL draft grades, here are a few nuggets I found interesting from this 2021 class:
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Offensive players were taken with each of the first seven picks of the draft, which is the latest the first defender has gone off the board in the common draft era (since 1967).
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Eight quarterbacks through the top three rounds were the most in the common draft era.
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And it was the first time ever that there were at least five wide receivers in each of the first three rounds.
That speaks to how the NFL is changing, and it shows that this class lacked special defenders. I don't think that will be the norm going forward, though.
So, you want the grades, I know. Same rules as always: I grade all 32 teams' classes using my own rankings as the prism to gauge how effectively each addressed key personnel holes, and how efficient each was in maneuvering the board and adding extra picks or future assets.
We'll start with the best grades and go to the worst, with teams that have identical grades listed in alphabetical order. Here we go:
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Top needs: OT, CB, OLB:
The Chargers' top two needs headed into this draft were clearly defined: a left tackle to protect Justin Herbert and a starting-caliber corner. General manager Tom Telesco hit both of those early, and he didn't have to reach.
Rashawn Slater (13) was a popular fit for mock drafts, and there were some teams that had a higher grade on him that Penei Sewell. He has the potential to be an All-Pro left tackle. Now, with the additions in free agency of Corey Linsley and Matt Feiler, this offensive line is suddenly one of the league's 10 best; Herbert was pressured a whopping 217 times last season. I said it on Thursday -- this pick is a dream come true for the Chargers. I thought cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (47) would go earlier than he did, but he could play in the slot or outside as a rookie. L.A. upgraded with both of these picks.
Wideout Josh Palmer (77) averaged 21 yards per catch in 2018, and his numbers would have been better if he had consistent quarterbacks throwing to him. Tight end Tre' McKitty (97) wasn't used much as a receiver in his lone season at Georgia, but he can block a little bit. Versatile linebacker Chris Rumph II (118) was one of my top available prospects for Day 3, and I'm curious where he'll fit in Brandon Staley's defense. Larry Rountree III (198), my eighth-ranked running back, put up 3,720 career rushing yards at Missouri.
Again, Telesco didn't reach to fill two big voids, and so this class is one of the best of the year. This team absolutely got better.
Top needs: DE, WR, OLB
The Dolphins came into this draft with an extra first- and-second-round pick (and added a valuable 2023 first-rounder) and had clear needs to fill. They had to get some receiving help for Tua Tagovailoa. They needed a young, talented pass-rusher to put into their edge-rushing rotation. And if they are going to move Robert Hunt to guard full-time, they had to draft a potential starter at offensive tackle.
That's why I like what general manager Chris Grier did. Tagovailoa struggled as a rookie last season, but there should be no way he averages 6.3 yards per attempt again in 2021. The addition of No. 5 overall pick Jaylen Waddle (and free-agent signing Will Fuller V) means he now has multiple playmakers to run after the catch and to target on deep balls. Waddle was the fifth-ranked player on my board. Jaelan Phillips (18) is a silky-smooth edge rusher with the physical traits to average 10 sacks per season. As I wrote Thursday night, he likely would have been a top-10 pick if he didn't have an injury history.
I really liked their Day 2 haul as well. Jevon Holland (36) will compete to start at free safety. Liam Eichenberg (42) has a good chance to be their Day 1 right tackle in place of Hunt; he was a three-year starter at left tackle for Notre Dame. Tight end Hunter Long (81) is an awesome player who will compete as a blocker and catch a few passes up the seam. He's one of my favorites in this class, and he's a nice complement for Mike Gesicki, who had 703 receiving yards last season.
Grier didn't have any picks in Rounds 4, 5 or 6, but seventh-round pick Larnel Coleman (231) has chance to stick on the team as a swing tackle. I thought he might go in Round 5.
Looking at this roster, I don't think it's far away from being a Super Bowl contender, and the Dolphins hit their major needs. The other major bonus is that they ended up moving down three spots from No. 3 after some maneuvering and picked up that 2023 first-round pick. This is a stellar class overall, and the AFC East is going to be a fun race in 2021.
Top needs: CB, OL, RB
The Jets are another team in the early stages of a rebuild, and with two first-round picks and an extra third-round pick, they had the capital this weekend to find a few immediate starters. Let's start with the quarterback: I've been open about how much I still believe Sam Darnold can be a good player -- I would have ranked the 23-year-old as the No. 2 quarterback in this class, ahead of new Jets pick Zach Wilson (2). Darnold got a raw deal in New York, which surrounded him with a poor offensive line and some of the worst pass-catchers in the league. That can't happen again if Wilson is to succeed.
Give general manager Joe Douglas credit for getting three picks for Darnold, and now this class is going to be defined by Wilson's career. Wilson took a monumental leap in 2020. He has a rocket for a right arm. Some of the off-platform throws he made last season were special. He also played a cupcake schedule, though, and I wouldn't throw him into the fire immediately next season. He needs some time, and I hope he's not rushed. I do think he can become a great player in time.
Douglas & Co. prioritized help for Wilson with their next two picks, taking my top-ranked guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (16) and No. 4 wide receiver Elijah Moore (34). As I noted after Day 2, that means the Jets ended up with three prospects inside my top 16 overall. That's tremendous and is part of the reason this grade is so high, though they did have to surrender a third-round pick in the Round 1 trade up to get Vera-Tucker. Wilson already has better weapons to throw to and a better offensive line than Darnold ever had in New York.
Fourth-round pick Michael Carter (107) was my best available prospect headed into Round 3, so I love that pick. The 5-foot-8 back carried the ball 514 times in four years for the Tar Heels and averaged 6.6 yards per carry. He should be in the rotation as a rookie. The Jets went with five total defensive backs on Day 3, and safeties Michael Carter II (154) and Hamsah Nasirildeen (186) are the guys that stick out for me. Get them on special teams early and see if they can carve out a role on defense. They had a nice Day 3, one of the best in the league.
Just looking at the roster again, I was surprised Douglas didn't target a corner before Round 5, but he also lost a pick moving up for Vera-Tucker, so that probably keeps this from being a solid A. Jets fans are not going to remember this class for the front office's inability to take a Day 2 corner, though, so if Wilson turns into a star, all will be forgiven. I really like what they did overall.
Top needs: OLB, C, WR
Like the Chargers, this is another team that had clear needs heading into the draft. They were rebuffed on a couple of free-agent wide receivers before signing Sammy Watkins. They let edge rushers Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue walk in free agency. And they needed an interior linemen to create competition at guard and center. The thing with filling needs is that you don't want to reach just to fill that need. You want to make sure the value lines up, too. And based on my board, Baltimore didn't reach for any of its top three picks with a wide receiver, edge rusher and guard/center.
Rashod Bateman (27) is a game-breaking receiver who can play outside or in the slot. He averaged 20.3 yards per catch in 2019. Ravens wide receivers had the fewest receptions (137) and receiving yards (1,729) in 2020, so this was a crucial pick. With the pick the Ravens got by trading away Orlando Brown Jr. to Kansas City, they took outside linebacker Odafe Oweh (31), who was only a full-time starter for one season. He has incredibly long arms and ran an incredible 4.39 40-yard dash at his pro day while weighing nearly 260 pounds. The production didn't match the tape in 2020, but he has potential. Ben Cleveland (94) is an enormous and strong lineman who could play left guard or center in Baltimore.
Elsewhere, I like Brandon Stephens (104), a former running back at UCLA who moved to corner at SMU and broke up 10 passes last season. Shaun Wade (160) did not have a good 2020 season, but he was much better in 2019, when he only had to play nickelback. If he gets back on track, he could be a starter. My top-ranked Ben Mason (184) fills a need as an H-back who can bury defenders as a blocker.
The only knock here is whether or not they have a replacement for Brown at right tackle on their roster, because if it's not Tyre Phillips, they might have a problem and they didn't address it here. Baltimore got good players on all three days, though.
Top needs: QB, WR, OL (2)
What a move by the Bears, trading up for Justin Fields. I love the kid. You can read more of my thoughts in my post-Round 1 column, but this is a young quarterback with absolute star potential. Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace are under pressure, and they needed to make a big move to get a frustrated fan base off their back. The Mitchell Trubisky pick didn't work out, but Fields is going to be an upgrade. This makes them better in 2021 and beyond. I have to give them a good grade here, even though they gave up some big-time picks (Nos. 20 and 164 this year, plus a first- and fourth-round pick in 2022) to move up.
Elsewhere, Pace & Co. got an instant right tackle starter in Teven Jenkins (39), who I had pegged to the Bears in Round 1 in a couple of my mock drafts. It was a clear need for them, and they got him in the second round. Chicago's next pick wasn't until Round 5, but Larry Borom (151) is the type of swing tackle prospect that makes sense on Day 3. Their other picks afterward were late-round grades for me.
Bears fans had to be jubilant on Thursday night, but now the work begins for Nagy, who needs to make the playoffs to keep his job. I'll bring up the stat that fans hate: a Bears quarterback has made the Pro Bowl once since the team won the Super Bowl in 1985 (Trubisky in 2018). Fields has a chance to make fans quickly forget about their quarterback woes.
Top needs: OL, LB, WR
Los Angeles took Round 1 off after using its first-round pick in the Jalen Ramsey trade. This organization is used to it; it hasn't had a first-rounder since Jared Goff in 2016 and won't have another one until 2024. The Rams' next two Round 1 picks are headed to Detroit as part of the deal that sent away Goff for Matthew Stafford.
I like nearly all of the prospects general manager Les Snead took, especially without having a pick until the end of Round 2. They their first pick on a diminutive weapon who could be an outlet for Stafford. Tutu Atwell (57) is 5-foot-7, but he knows how to get open out of the slot. He led the ACC with a school-record 1,276 receiving yards in 2019. He can learn how to avoid big hits from another small, quick receiver in DeSean Jackson, whom the Rams signed this offseason. Jackson is a better deep threat, but I think Atwell will make an early impact on short routes and jet sweeps.
Ernest Jones (103) will compete to start at middle linebacker. I thought he could have snuck into the second round, so the Rams got value. Bobby Brown (117) will get snaps at nose tackle. Robert Rochell (130) went under the radar because he played at Central Arkansas, but he had five picks in 2019. Jacob Harris (141) is a 6-foot-5 receiver who hasn't played much football -- he's a former soccer player -- but had eight touchdowns and averaged 18 yards per catch last season. Running back Jake Funk (233) is going to make this team.
This is an impressive haul for a team without a first-round pick, and it's a case of drafting for value and not reaching for needs. What keeps it from an A is the lack of an offensive linemen, however, and I was surprised they didn't try a late-round flier or two.
Top needs: OL, DE, S
One of the most underrated moves of Round 1 was the Vikings trading back to get offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw (23), who can be their starting left tackle in 2021. They could have stayed at No. 14 and taken Darrisaw and I would have liked the pick. He had tremendous tape last season, demolishing defenders in the ACC. General manager Rick Spielman picked up the Jets' two third-round picks in the move. This is how good general managers play the draft.
Armed with four Day 2 picks -- but no second-rounder because of the trade for Yannick Ngakoue that didn't work out -- the Vikings made some intriguing picks. Quarterback Kellen Mond (66) won't push Kirk Cousins immediately, but he has a tremendous skill set and was one of college football's most productive quarterbacks over the past few seasons. He's worth a shot in Round 3, particularly when Minnesota has extra picks. Chazz Surratt (78) is a converted quarterback with physical traits to play inside or outside linebacker. Wyatt Davis (86) is a bruising guard in the running game. Defensive end Patrick Jones II (90) can be a situational edge rusher. Mike Zimmer's defense has produced some good ends who weren't first-rounders.
Camryn Bynum (125) made started 42 games at Cal and is a solid zone corner. I had a late Day 3 grade on wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette (157), so that was a reach with better wideouts available. Kene Nwangwu (114) was a name I heard as a riser over the last week.
I'm a fan of the Darrisaw pick and moving back to do it, and the Vikings having 11 picks means they get more chances to find gems.
Top needs: OLB, OL, WR
The talk of this Giants draft is all about general manager Dave Gettleman -- "Trader Dave" -- trading down not once but twice, marking the first time he has traded down in his nine drafts as a general manager. It's pretty amazing. Gettleman got an extremely valuable 2022 first-rounder from the Bears in the deal that saw the Giants drop nine spots in Round 1. This team is still rebuilding and Gettleman is under pressure, so give him credit for thinking long-term and seeing the bigger picture. If the bottom falls out for Chicago in 2021 -- you never know in the NFL because of injuries -- this could be one of the deals of the draft.
I liked all of the Giants' top three picks. Kadarius Toney (20) is a speedy slot target who will make life easier for quarterback Daniel Jones, who needs to take the next step in Year 3. (Urban Meyer has already said that the Jags were going to take Toney at No. 25.) Jones has solid weapons around him now -- there's no way they will average a league-low 3.0 yards after catch again -- though the offensive line is still mediocre. Edge rusher Azeez Ojulari (50) is a perfect fit for Patrick Graham's 3-4 defense, and New York got value in taking him in the middle of Round 2. There was some first-round buzz around Ojulari leading up to the draft. Cornerback Aaron Robinson (71) began his career at Alabama and flashed last season at UCF.
New York only had three picks on Day 3, and Elerson Smith (116) was my favorite of the trip. He's 6-foot-6 and had 14 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss in 2019, though he's still a work in progress. The picks "Trader Dave" added -- particularly that 2022 first-roudner -- and the value he got with his top three picks makes this a solid haul.
Top needs: WR, CB, OL
With a new coach, 11 picks entering the draft -- the most in the NFL -- and a depleted roster, it's clear that this team is headed for a rebuild on the fly. I never bought that the Eagles would try to draft a quarterback in Round 1, and they're going to give Jalen Hurts the chance to win the job long-term. That means they need to put Hurts in position to succeed.
Injuries and ineffectiveness led to Eagles receivers combining for 2,082 receiving yards last season, the third-fewest in the league. Former sixth-round pick Travis Fulgham was their leading pass-catcher. So even after taking Jalen Reagor in Round 1 last year, I have no problem with Philly again targeting a first-round receiver, particularly with the top corners off the board. I was surprised Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith (12) was still on the board when the Eagles traded up above the Giants to get him. Smith is my top-ranked receiver and is No. 3 on my Big Board. He is one of the best route runners I've studied over the past 20 years. He can be a special player, and he'll make life easier for Hurts. (The Eagles did have to give up the No. 84 pick to move up with Dallas, a steep price with a divisional rival.)
Both of Philly's Day 2 picks made my list of favorite prospects. Center Landon Dickerson (37) tore his ACL in December, but he would have been a clear first-rounder if he was fully healthy. He likely will play guard with Jason Kelce still on the roster. Milton Williams (73) has some upside as a 3-technique tackle, and he plays hard. I love both of these kids.
Kenneth Gainwell (150) has some juice as a runner -- nearly 1,500 yards in 2019 -- and is my sixth-ranked running back. Defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu (189) is likely a two-down player as a nose tackle, but he could replace Javon Hargrave in 2022. JaCoby Stevens (224) is a versatile safety who was asked to play all over the field for the LSU defense.
The Eagles are positioned to make a real run in next year's draft because they own the Dolphins' first-rounder -- they moved back six spots in Round 1 this year -- and are likely to get the Colts' if Carson Wentz plays 75% of the snaps and they make the playoffs. I don't know how good they'll be this season with Hurts under center, but they're one of the most intriguing teams in the NFC. Smith could be rookie of the year.
Top needs: OL, CB, TE
Like the Bengals at No. 5, the Panthers had several interesting scenarios at No. 8. The option I didn't see happening is the one they chose, however, as they went with my top-ranked corner Jaycee Horn and made him the first defender off the board. Maybe we should have seen it coming. After all, they used all seven of their picks on defense in last year's draft, Matt Rhule's first as coach, and then the Carolina defense had just seven picks last season. Rhule and new general manager Scott Fitterer are prioritizing that side of the ball. I probably would have gone with offense tackle Rashawn Slater to cement the left tackle spot, but I can't knock the pick much. Horn is a physical, aggressive corner who could be their No. 1 corner as a rookie.
I never thought the Panthers would go with a quarterback after they traded for Sam Darnold -- the Jets will get Carolina's 2022 second-rounder as the main asset in the deal -- and they committed to Darnold for 2022 by picking up his option on Friday. They also showed a commitment to helping Darnold with three Day 2 picks on offense. Terrace Marshall Jr. (59) reunites with offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who helped scheme up one of the best offenses in college football history at LSU in 2019. Marshall had caught 23 touchdown passes from in 2019-20. The Panthers' receivers struggled with drops last season, and Marshall is a nice No. 3 option. (They also traded down twice and still got him, adding extra assets, including a 2022 fourth-round pick from Houston.)
I wasn't as high on offensive tackle Brady Christensen (70) as a few others in the league, but he should compete for the left tackle job with free-agent signing Cameron Erving. Tommy Tremble (83) is a much better blocker than receiver, so Round 3 is rich for a blocking tight end. It is a need, though, as Carolina's tight ends combined for an NFL-low 204 receiving yards last season. I'm just not sure Tremble will help much as a pass-catcher in 2021.
Chuba Hubbard (126) is a good running back who will compete for a role behind Christian McCaffrey. Defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon (158) had a stellar season at Iowa, and he could be a fifth-round steal. Guard Deonte Brown (193) is a brick wall in the run game. My guy Todd McShay really liked wideout Shi Smith (204), whose numbers were limited because of inconsistent quarterback play. He could be a steal.
This is a quality class, headed up by two players who should help immediately.
Top needs: OL, WR, TE
The Bengals were in a great spot with the No. 5 overall pick, because they have their quarterback of the future, unlike the teams that had the four picks in front of them. Joe Burrow is their guy. Would they go with Burrow's buddy Ja'Marr Chase, an elite receiver? Or maybe Penei Sewell, a tremendous linemen who could be the team's left tackle for the next 10 years? They also could have traded down to pick up more premium picks for a team trying to get one of the leftover top quarterbacks.
In the end, they went with Chase, the 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner who makes this offense must-see TV. He had 1,780 receiving yards and caught 20 touchdown passes from Burrow in 2019 before opting out of last season. Burrow now has Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon as good -- and young -- playmakers around him, though the Bengals still need to upgrade at tight end. This is a group that can grow together and should terrify defensive coordinators.
On Day 2, Cincinnati traded down and took Trevor Lawrence's college left tackle Jackson Carman (46), who coach Zac Taylor will compete for one of the starting guard spots. It was high for Carman on my board. He dealt with a back injury during the pre-draft process, and there were better linemen available on my board. I even think D'Ante Smith (139) could be better in the long-term. The organization did well in the trade, though, adding pick Nos. 122 and 139 -- the pick that yielded Smith -- for moving down eight spots.
Edge rusher Joseph Ossai (69) adds to a young defensive end rotation that was boosted in free agency by the signing of Trey Hendrickson. Ossai is a speed rusher who never quits on plays, and he should get plenty of third-down snaps as a rookie. Cameron Sample (111) is a hulking defensive end who is totally different physically than Ossai. Could he move inside to tackle? Tyler Shelvin (122) is a massive two-down nose tackle, which makes me wonder about the future of D.J. Reader in Cincinnati. The Bengals got my top-ranked kicker Evan McPherson (149) and could have a steal in my third-ranked center Trey Hill (190).
I don't see how Chase fails in the NFL, barring injury, which means this long-term grade for this class could come down to whether Carman turns into a quality starter. It's no sure thing. Osaai and Sample are solid picks.
Top needs: DE, LB, WR
How does it feel, Browns fans, to not have to worry too much about an NFL draft? You've got a good, ascending team, and general manager Andrew Berry has shown that he can draft well. The one criticism I have about Berry's top three picks is that he didn't address the defensive end spot. Yes, Jadeveon Clowney was signed to a one-year deal, but there is not much young, talented depth after Clowney and Myles Garrett. They can't rely on former first-round pick Takk McKinley.
Top pick Greg Newsome II (26) had an outstanding 2020 season and then had a great pro day workout, vaulting him into the first round. Injuries decimated the Browns' secondary a year ago, but now they have an outside corner to compete with 2019 second-rounder Greedy Williams opposite Denzel Ward (they also signed fantastic slot corner Troy Hill). Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (52) could be one of the steals of the draft, as he dropped all the way into Round 2. He's a sideline-to-sideline player who is good in the run and pass game. I see him as a rookie starter for the Browns at one of the linebacker spots. Cleveland also needed a slot receiver, and it got one with elite track speed in Anthony Schwartz (91).
I thought offensive tackle James Hudson (110) would have been a good pick in Round 3, and the Browns got him a round later. Receiver Demetric Felton (211) and defensive tackle Tommy Togiai (132) are solid value picks who could eventually find playing time.
If Clowney has a breakout year, great, but the Browns will have to give him a big contract to keep him. They had a chance to get a high-ceiling edge rusher on Day 2 and didn't take it, which means I can't go too high here.
Top needs: CB, DL, OL, TE
The Dallas defense was awful last season, even before Dak Prescott was lost for the year in Week 5. This couldn't be another CeeDee Lamb situation, where they went with an offensive playmaker even with massive holes on the other side of the ball. They had to get the best defender on the board with their board, ideally a cornerback. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, though, the top two corners went in the two picks before them at No. 10, so give them credit for trading back two spots, adding an extra third-rounder and still getting the guy they say they wanted all along.
The questions now are ... where does Micah Parsons (12) fit, and what does it mean for 2018 first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch and 2016 second-rounder Jaylon Smith? I didn't peg off-ball linebacker as a need for Dallas, but the organization didn't draft Parsons to sit on the bench. So maybe it will move on from Vander Esch and plant Parsons at middle linebacker. He'll improve a porous run defense; the Cowboys allowed a woeful 1,758 rushing yards before first contact last season, by far the most in the league. With Rashawn Slater still available, I thought he would have filled a need at guard. (They added to the off-ball linebacker group on Day 3 with Jabril Cox (115), who has some coverage traits.)
The Cowboys continued their attempt to improve the defense on Day 2 and ended up using all five of their first picks on defenders. Cornerback Kelvin Joseph (44) has lock-down traits, and the team will hope that he can make the same sort of impact that second-rounder Trevon Diggs did a year ago. Defensive linemen Osa Odighizuwa (75) and Chauncey Golston (84) were lower on my board, but they'll help against the run.
I had a late-Day 3 grade on Nahshon Wright (99), but he's a big 6-foot-3 corner who fits the mold of what new coordinator Dan Quinn likes outside. He's quite confident in his skills, but I didn't see an NFL starter on tape. Israel Mukuamu (227) is another rangy corner, as Dallas showed its commitment to finding guys for Quinn. Simi Fehoko (179) has some speed for a 6-foot-4 wideout, though this team's receiver room is crowded.
In total, the Cowboys added eight defenders in this class, though they reached for a couple of them. If Quinn's corner picks work out, though, they could have a couple of steals.
Top needs: LB, CB, OLB
Denver made a draft-eve trade for Teddy Bridgewater, which means it's heading into the 2021 season with a quarterback competition between Bridgewater and Drew Lock (unless ... it can pry Aaron Rodgers from the Packers). Was it the right move to pass up a quarterback at No. 9 overall? All I'll say is that the Broncos will have the worst signal-caller in the AFC West, whether it's Bridgewater or Lock. If Justin Fields becomes a superstar in Chicago, we'll remember that new general manager George Paton passed on him and took a corner instead.
To be clear, though, I did like the player they picked -- Patrick Surtain II -- who has a chance to be a Pro Bowl-level corner. (Paton & Co. pulled off a great smokescreen.) And we know the Vic Fangio can get the best out of corners. The Broncos will now have three new corner starters this season after they signed Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby last month, and Surtain is likely to be the long-term No. 1.
I thought Javonte Williams (35) had a chance to be the first running back off the board, and I feel much better about taking a tailback in Round 2 than Round 1. He's going to break a lot of tackles in the NFL. Quinn Meinerz (98) is a D-III guard/center who had a great Senior Bowl and could push for a starting spot. Baron Browning (105) is an interesting linebacker with some coverage skills who fits in the middle of Denver's 3-4 defense. That's a nice Day 2 haul.
On Day 3, Jamar Johnson (164) is my fifth-ranked safety, and he made my top 100 ranking. He could be Denver's third safety behind Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson. Cornerback Kary Vincent Jr. (237) has elite speed, and he picked off four passes in LSU's national-title winning 2019 season.
It's fair to say that Vic Fangio needs to have a winning record in 2021 to keep his job, but the AFC West is tough, particularly with mediocre quarterback play. So I like a few of these picks, but passing up Fields could loom for years.
Top needs: QB, TE, S
The Jaguars came into the draft with five picks in the top 65. They needed starting-level players. I thought they were thinking offense with three or four of those picks, and that's exactly what they did. In fact, this is the second time the Jaguars have drafted three offensive players in the top 50 picks. The other? It was in 1995, when they were an expansion team. So think of this class as new coach Urban Meyer's chance to build his own expansion team.
The No. 1 pick has been such a foregone conclusion for so long that we probably didn't talk enough about how good Trevor Lawrence is and can be. This is a 6-foot-6 quarterback with superstar potential who is my fourth-highest graded quarterback in the 43 years I've been doing this. He's a special talent, and Meyer and general manager Trent Baalke showed their commitment to him immediately by adding Lawrence's Clemson teammate Travis Etienne (25). Etienne is a really good running back and pass-catcher, but I have to ding them a little bit for taking a first-round tailback.
With their Day 2 picks, the Jaguars reached for a corner at the top of Round 2, as Tyson Campbell (33) has first-round athletic traits but maddening tape. There were better cornerbacks available. Walker Little (45) is an offensive tackle who hasn't played in almost two full seasons, as he injured his knee in Week 1 of the 2019 season and then opted out in 2020. Based on his 2018 tape, though, I thought he might be a future first-rounder, so if he ends up as a starter at right tackle, it's a big win. (Jacksonville has gone 20 seasons without a Pro Bowl offensive lineman, which is more than twice as long as any other team.) Safety Andre Cisco (65) was a ball-hawk at Syracuse -- 13 career picks -- but he missed almost all of last season with a torn ACL.
On Day 3, Jay Tufele (106) is a two-down nose tackle who is going to plug the middle. I thought tight end Luke Farrell (145) was more of a seventh-rounder or priority free agent, but they do need a tight end. I probably would have taken Hunter Long with the 65th pick because he is a more pro-ready player.
All in all, this a team with a long ways to go. There's a reason they had the No. 1 pick and have a new front office and coaching staff. But no class with a quarterback like Lawrence can get graded too poorly.
Top needs: LB, WR, OL
I really could have listed five more needs above. The Lions need everything. This is not going to be a quick rebuild for new general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell. They already made one big move this offseason, sending quarterback Matthew Stafford to L.A. for Jared Goff and two future first-round picks, but the only part of that trade that will affect the grade here is a third-round choice they added. I'll factor that deal more into my grades for their 2022 and 2023 classes.
So, with the No. 7 overall pick, I really thought the best thing for Detroit was to trade down to pick up more assets. That didn't happen, but it does take two sides to make a trade. Penei Sewell is a stellar alternative, a franchise tackle who is great as both a pass protector and run blocker. The Lions are going to use him on the right side opposite Taylor Decker for now, and that gives them two great bookends to build around.
With three Day 2 picks, I was surprised they went with two defensive tackles, but it's clear they see the interior as a massive hole. Levi Onwuzurike (41) and Alim McNeill (72) complement each other well -- Onwuzurike has pass-rush upside, and McNeill is strong against the run as a nose tackle. Still, it was a little high, and the Lions' wide receiver depth chart is one of the league's worst. They could have gotten a good wideout in either round.
Ifeatu Melifonwu (101) is a 6-foot-2 corner with potential. Amon-Ra St. Brown (112) went nearly 30 spots lower than I had him on my Big Board, so that's a nice pick and some redemption for passing on wideouts in Round 3. Derrick Barnes (113) should compete for one of the off-ball linebacker spots.
This is a decent start for the new Detroit regime, which has a long ways to go to put its imprint on the roster. We could be looking at quarterback for the Lions at this time next year.
Top needs: C, DE, WR
Give credit to Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, who took big steps to try to turn Kansas City's weakness along the offensive line -- Patrick Mahomes was running for his life in the Super Bowl LV loss -- into a strength. Veach & Co. signed Joe Thuney, Kyle Long, and Austin Blythe in free agency and then traded for a left tackle in Orlando Brown Jr., who is likely to get a monster contract extension. The Chiefs also get back Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who opted out of last season, and re-signed Mike Remmers.
The Chiefs' creative trade with the Ravens cost them their first-round pick, but they added an extra second-rounder, and one of those was again put toward the O-line. Creed Humphrey (63) could be a rookie starter at center. He didn't allow a single sack over the past two seasons. Patrick Mahomes will love him. Kansas City also took local linebacker Nick Bolton (58), a run-and-hit inside linebacker who racked up tackles at Missouri. He's another rookie who could play a lot of snaps, setting the tempo in the middle of the defense.
Noah Gray (162) is an undersized tight end -- 6-foot-3 -- who caught 80 passes over the past two seasons. Joshua Kaindoh (144) is my 24th-ranked defensive end and went too high. Guard Trey Smith (226) fell into Round 6 because of some medical concerns.
Factoring in the Brown trade and getting a potential starting center in Humphrey means this grade bumps up a little bit, but with only six picks, the Chiefs can't afford to have many misses. They also weren't able to get an impact edge rusher or receiver.
Top needs: QB, WR, CB
So many of the Patriots' moves in free agency were tailored around winning now. They spent a ton of cash on Matthew Judon, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith and others. But could they really win now with mediocre quarterback play? Cam Newton struggled down the stretch last season, the first year post-Tom Brady. Though the team gave him another one-year deal this offseason, he hasn't shown that he was their guy long-term. So would Bill Belichick & Co. go with a quarterback in the draft? We all wanted to see Belichick make a dramatic trade up for one of the top five, but that's just not his style. He trades down, not up, because he knows that's how to add the most value -- and that more picks means more opportunities to get good players.
And yet, Belichick ended up with a potential new starting quarterback in Mac Jones (15) and didn't have to give up any capital to do it. As I wrote on Thursday night, I really like this pick. If any team knows how to win with a pocket passer, it's the Patriots and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Jones is not going to scramble and out-run defenders, but he can maneuver the pocket, and he has elite accuracy when he finds a target. Can Jones beat out Newton in Year 1? Yes, but it won't be easy. New England's ceiling as an offense is higher with Jones under center -- now.
Christian Barmore (38) could be a second-round steal. He's the best pass-rushing defensive tackle in this class. I also like Ronnie Perkins (96), whom went more than 50 spots lower than he is in my rankings. He's a fit for the multiple defense that New England plays, and he can rush the passer as a defensive end or standing up at outside linebacker. The Patriots' 24 sacks last season were the fewest for any Belichick team in his 46 seasons coaching in the NFL (as head coach or assistant), but this D will be much better in 2021.
Rhamondre Stevenson (120) is a big, bruising running back in the mold of LeGarrette Blount. Inside linebacker Cameron McGrone (177) is No. 174 in my rankings, and he went almost exactly where I had him. He's another versatile 'backer.
And so Belichick takes a first-round quarterback for the first time, and Patriots fans have to be excited. I think this is a great fit for Jones; I expect him to start a handful of games as a rookie. Barmore will have a role in Year 1 as well. My issue with this class: no receiving help for Jones until Round 7, and no corner at all. That's a missed opportunity, particularly in a deep class of cornerbacks.
Top needs: DL, RB, QB
What a difference a year makes for the Bucs, huh? They crushed free agency and the draft last year -- offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. were home runs with their first two choices -- and won Super Bowl LV. They brought back essentially everyone from their title-winning team, and they entered this draft with no immediate needs. They aren't likely to have any rookie starters, barring injury. Sure, they're aging in a few spots -- definitely not at quarterback, though -- but they could afford to stick to their board and pick the best guy available.
I'm kidding about quarterback, of course, because Bruce Arians will hope that his second-round pick becomes the future -- in the future. It was a little early for Kyle Trask (64) based on my rankings, but quarterback evaluations are always difficult, because coaches like what they like and no two evaluation is the same. It depends on scheme and fit. Arians must see starting potential in Trask. He had a tremendous 2020 season, but he needs to speed up his processing after the snap, and he's limited physically in the pocket.
Not to pass up Tampa's first-rounder, but Joe Tryon (32) is a productive edge rusher who forced 15 incompletion in 2019 (he opted out last season). He even played a few snaps at defensive tackle. The Bucs could use him as a third-down pass-rusher as a rookie while he gets his feet underneath him. Robert Hainsey (95) was the third Notre Dame linemen off the board, and he'll challenge for snaps at guard. He played tackle in college but is likely to move inside. Jaelon Darden (129) is an electric 5-foot-8 slot player. Linebacker Grant Stuard (259) might be the most entertaining Mr. Irrelevant in league history; he levels players when he hits them.
This is a solid if unspectacular group of picks, made more interesting by the quarterback in Round 2. If Trask develops into a starter, this grade obviously will be much different. But for now, with the Bucs not needing any rookies to play massive roles, this is a middle-of-the-pack class.
Top needs: QB, OT, WR
Washington won the NFC East last season -- at 7-9 -- but it was because of a great defense (and poor division). It got poor quarterback play from a combination of Alex Smith, Dwayne Haskins Jr., Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen. And the quarterback issue has loomed over its offseason. The team signed veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who can be fine in 2021, but would Washington try to trade up for one of the top five prospects in this class?
No, as it turns out, as the Bears, who were a pick behind Washington, were the team to trade up. Washington instead went defense again in Round 1, taking linebacker Jamin Davis (19), a tackling machine with range in coverage. He's a great player, but I didn't see linebacker as an immediate need. Did the organization try to move up for Justin Fields or Mac Jones? We could remember this pick as the one that got away.
Second-round pick Samuel Cosmi (51) could play tackle or guard, and Washington got good value there. Benjamin St-Juste is a long, 6-foot-3 press corner who gets a little handsy at times, but he could play a role as a rookie. I'm a big fan of Dyami Brown (82), who I thought might sneak into the top 40 picks. He can get down the field in a hurry on vertical routes and will make contested catches in traffic. Fitzpatrick will love him. Washington probably took tight end John Bates (124) a round too early, but he could find a role. I was surprised edge rusher Shaka Toney (246) lasted deep into Round 7. He's worth the flier there.
This is one of the few teams in the league that has no idea who its long-term quarterback is, and that is something that lingers in the back of my mind as I grade this class. But I do like the players Washington chose the first two days.
Top needs: TE, WR, CB
The Cardinals were without third- and fourth-round picks in this draft, but I don't think they'll have too many regrets. The fourth-rounder was part of the package for superstar wideout DeAndre Hopkins, while the third-rounder went to the Raiders for new starting center Rodney Hudson. So how did they fare with the two picks that they will hope make the biggest impact next season?
Zaven Collins (16) went about 12 picks higher than I thought, but it seems like the organization has a plan for him, putting him in the linebacker role that saw a breakout season from Haason Reddick a year ago. Collins is extremely versatile -- he was the only FBS player with at least four sacks and four interceptions last season -- and he joins rangy linebacker/safety hybrid Isaiah Simmons, who flashed as a rookie but needs a more consistent role going forward. Rondale Moore (49) is a 5-foot-7 dynamo who will likely be Kyler Murray's favorite slot target in 2021. The thing to note here is that Kliff Kingsbury puts four wide receivers on the field far more than any other team, so Moore will have a big role.
The downside I see is that the Cardinals didn't address cornerback with one of these two picks, and Greg Newsome II could have been an instant starter. I also would have thought about Caleb Farley. With no Patrick Peterson, this position group is still a weakness. They did go cornerback with two picks Saturday, drafting Marco Wilson (136) and Tay Gowan (223). I like Gowan's tape more, but Wilson ran in the 4.3s at his pro day. It's tough to rely on Day 3 corners as rookies, though, so this group has a ways to go.
Arizona's 2020 draft class didn't produce many impact players, and so general manager Steve Keim has to get something out of Collins and Moore to get this team over the hump. The NFC West is going to extremely tough again. This class gets downgraded a little bit because Keim didn't add to the tight end or running back depth chart, but the Hopkins and Hudson trades keep it from C territory.
Top needs: QB, DE, RB
Going into this draft, I thought the Falcons either needed to get an heir apparent for quarterback Matt Ryan with the No. 4 overall pick -- or get him some immediate help. The organization probably tipped their choice in March when new general manager Terry Fontenot restructured Ryan's contract in a move that likely guarantees him to be on the roster for the next two seasons. Atlanta is going to have to figure out its long-term quarterback plan soon, but for now that involves the 35-year-old Ryan, who is still playing at a high level.
With Justin Fields right there on the board, I probably would have gone quarterback at No. 4 and planned for the next 15 years. Maybe the Falcons think they are NFC South contenders right now, but I think they have a ways to go, particularly on defense.
Kyle Pitts (4) has the highest grade of any tight end I've studied, and he'll be a difference-maker for Ryan. He's a weapon for new coach Arthur Smith. The Falcons have never had a tight end put up a double-digit touchdown season. On Day 2, the Falcons landed safety Richie Grant (40) and offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield (68), and both were good value picks. Grant will make plays on the ball and improve their pass defense, while the 20-year-old Mayfield is the type of high-upside pick that teams should target in Round 3. He might not be an immediate starter, but he has all the tools to be a good player.
Center Drew Dalman (114) allowed just one sack 1,318 snaps over the past three seasons. Adetokunbo Ogundeji (182) had seven sacks last season. They're solid Day 3 picks. I had a late-round grade on cornerback Darren Hall (108), and he went in the fourth round. Wideout Frank Darby (187) is a good sixth-round value.
Pitts has all the tools to be a superstar, but the Falcons didn't address their pass rush until late on Day 3, and they also didn't take a running back, which I thought was a must. Their Day 2 haul -- and Pitts being an incredible prospect -- saves them from a C, though.
Top needs: DE, RB, CB
The two spots I thought the Bills could upgrade in Round were at running back and edge rusher. Their top defensive ends are all over the age of 30, and I still think 2020 second-round pick AJ Epenesa could end up at tackle. So I wasn't surprised to see them go with Gregory Rousseau (30), even though I thought his pro day testing numbers might see him drop to the second round. At 6-foot-7, 270 pounds, Rousseau had 15.5 sacks in 2019, but some of those sacks were due to great coverage, and he doesn't have an elite get-off at the snap. Rousseau, who opted out of last season, has a ways to go to be a complete player.
I was surprised to see Buffalo go right back to the edge, taking Carlos Basham Jr. (61) in Round 2. This is more of a pick about taking the best available prospect, in my opinion, and he is a more polished pass-rusher than Rousseau. The Bills had 16 sacks when they used a standard pass rush last season, which ranked 25th in the NFL, and so Rousseau and Basham will help them get younger.
Spencer Brown (93) is a giant of a man who is still raw. He made 32 starts at right tackle for Northern Iowa, but the NFL is a different speed. Damar Hamlin (212) is a good safety and potential long-term starter if he keeps developing.
This is a class of boom-or-bust guys at the top, though, with Rousseau, Brown and Basham all having a ways to go to reach their ceiling. And the lack of a running back is a head-scratcher. I thought that was a definite Day 2 or Day 3 priority.
Top needs: WR, CB, OL
It's incredibly difficult to grade this Packers class not knowing what will happen with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who wants out of Green Bay. This is the reigning MVP of the league. If he's on the roster in 2021, the Packers are Super Bowl contenders. If he's not ... what are they? And is 2020 first-rounder Jordan Love the quarterback? There are layers here, so let's just look at the picks based on what we know so far.
I wrote on Thursday night that I thought Green Bay reached for Eric Stokes (29) and could have had better corners there. Same with Josh Myers (62) in the second round. He is my fourth-ranked center, and the team took him over Creed Humphrey, who I think is clearly better. All-Pro center Corey Linsley left in free agency, so this is definitely a need, but it's a reach on my board.
Now, Amari Rodgers (85) is a great slot receiver, and he's going to help whomever is playing quarterback, running all sorts of routes and getting open. Last season, Davante Adams had 82 more receptions than any other Packers wide receiver. Rodgers can gobble up targets out of the slot. This pick also guarantees at least one A. Rodgers on the team.
That Rodgers pick likely saves this class from a C, because nearly all of Green Bay's Day 3 picks went higher than I ranked them on my board. Again, though, with the uncertainty around Rodgers' situation, this is a tough team to gauge.
Top needs: QB, WR, CB
Like the Packers' class, this is another one that is tough to grade. The Texans didn't have a first- or second-round pick because of the 2019 trade for star left tackle Laremy Tunsil, but they did have several Day 3 picks. They have a new coach (David Culley) and general manager (Nick Caserio) who are rebuilding in a unique way, signing a whole bunch of veterans in free agency and essentially starting from scratch at many positions. I also have to mention quarterback Deshaun Watson, who requested a trade out of Houston and is now facing serious sexual-assault allegations that put his future into question. This is a franchise in limbo.
That's why it wasn't surprising to see the Texans take quarterback Davis Mills (67) with their first pick. As Adam Schefter reported, they don't know if Watson will play this season. Mills was a highly rated recruit out of high school who only made 11 starts at Stanford and had some knee injuries. But he also flashed a first-round arm and accuracy at times, including throwing for 428 yards in his final college game. For a rebuilding team, this is a pick I understand because if he reaches his ceiling he could be a top-15 NFL starter.
Caserio & Co. got a 6-foot-4 wide receiver in Nico Collins (89), who averaged 19.7 yards per catch in 2019. He high-points the ball to make contested catches and could be a red zone target. (They did have to give up a 2022 fourth-rounder and more in the trade to get him.) Brevin Jordan (147) is an undersized tight end who was extremely productive at Miami. Linebacker Garret Wallow (170) had more than 250 tackles over the past three seasons. He'll be decent on special teams.
A class with only five picks -- none in Round 1 -- can't get too high of a grade, but the Texans did OK with what they had.
Top needs: OL (2), LB, S
Under coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock, the Raiders have been tough to predict ahead of the draft. The Clelin Ferrell pick at No. 4 overall two years ago came out of nowhere. They traded 2020 third-round pick Lynn Bowden Jr. before he even played a game. They have struggled to build a playoff contender, even after starting 6-3 a year ago.
So they surprised me again on Thursday, taking Alex Leatherwood (17) a full round ahead where I had graded him. I'm not sold on him being able to hold up as the run tackle, where the Raiders want to play him (he played left tackle and right guard at Bama). I thought maybe he'd have to move to guard. If there's one thing I know about Gruden after working with him on the draft for several years, it's that he likes football guys. Players who eat, sleep and breathe football, and tough players who will set the tone. Leatherwood eliminates defenders in the run game, but he needs to move his feet better as a pass protector. There were better offensive linemen on the board, and Teven Jenkins had experience at right tackle.
On Day 2, though? I liked the top picks! Trevon Moehrig (43) should start over Jeff Heath at free safety. He's a ballhawk. I'm really high on the upside of edge rusher Malcolm Koonce (79), though he'll need to put on some weight to play defensive end in the Raiders' 4-3. He is relentless. Both of these picks were stellar values on my board.
Mayock and Gruden took two more safeties -- Divine Deablo (80) and Tyree Gillespie (143) -- and both were reaches on my board, but it's clear they're trying to upgrade what was a porous secondary a year ago.
The Raiders parted ways with Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson and Trent Brown, so O-line was a need, but Leatherwood has to be above-average as a rookie to make the pick worth it. I don't see it.
Top needs: QB, WR, CB
Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch can keep a secret, huh? After the 49ers went all-in on a quarterback -- trading up nine spots to No. 3 overall and giving up the No. 12 pick, plus next year's first- and third-rounders and their 2023 first-rounder -- I really thought they were targeting Mac Jones. Nearly everyone I talked to in the league over the past few weeks thought the same. Instead, they went with the high ceiling of 20-year-old Trey Lance, who might need some time to adapt to the speed of the NFL but has superstar potential. Here's an interesting list Lance now joins: Since the 2006 draft, six quarterbacks have been taken in the first round with fewer than 20 college starts: Mitchell Trubisky (13), Cam Newton (14), Dwayne Haskins Jr. (14), Mark Sanchez (16), Kyler Murray (17) and Ryan Tannehill (19).
Lance made all 17 of his starts against FCS opponents. Shanahan and Lynch are betting on the upside of Lance, who takes care of the football, knows when to pull the ball and run and can make every throw, but he is my fifth-ranked quarterback in this class. This is the definition of a boom-or-bust prospect, and now the Niners don't have first-round picks in 2022 or 2023. For this to be declared a surefire win, Lance needs to play well -- early. I don't know if that will happen, and Jimmy Garoppolo might have to stick on the roster as the bridge. (Props to Jimmy G for showing class as San Francisco drafted his replacement.)
I wasn't high on the 49ers' Day 2 haul, as Aaron Banks (48), Trey Sermon (88) and Ambry Thomas (102) all were reaches on my board. I watched all of Banks' snaps at Notre Dame, and I'm not sure if he is definite rookie starter. Sermon is a patient runner without top-tier suddenness, and I was surprised he went here and this high based on Shanahan's past getting production out of undrafted backs. Talanoa Hufanga (180) doesn't have great measurables, but he could find a role on the defense. Running back Elijah Mitchell (194) ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at his pro day.
I'm really curious to see how early Lance gets thrown into the fire, because teams rarely wait to play first-round quarterbacks these days. The careers of this quarterback class will be linked for years to come, and Niners fans obviously trust Shanahan to groom Lance. Potential isn't the issue with Lance, so let's see if Shanahan can get him to his ceiling.
Top needs: OL, DE, CB
Well, the Seahawks entered this draft with only three picks. Jamal Adams is essentially their biggest prize from this class, as they traded their first- and third-round pick for him. They also dealt their fifth-rounder for guard Gabe Jackson and their seventh-rounder for Carlos Dunlap. So there's no way I can grade this class too highly, but I'm not going too low, either, because I like who they got with their top two picks.
D'Wayne Eskridge (56) is an impact returner and skilled slot specialist who will rack up yards after the catch from Russell Wilson. He averaged 213 all-purpose yards per game last season, which ranked second in the FBS. Tre Brown (137) is another slot player, this time on defense, as he could contribute as a nickel corner. At 5-foot-10, he's not the biggest corner, but he battles in coverage and he has great speed. Stone Forsythe's (208) ceiling is probably as a swing tackle.
I like two of Seattle's three picks, and so I don't really know how to grade such a tiny class. I do think Adams is an impact player and that Jackson will help the running game, so I'm bumping this up a little bit.
Top needs: WR, CB, TE
The Titans parted ways this offseason with cornerbacks Adoree' Jackson, Desmond King II and Malcolm Butler, all of whom played a lot of snaps for them last season. They brought in Janoris Jenkins, but cornerback was still their biggest need. They got a great one in Caleb Farley (22), who is the best man-to-man cover guy in this class but dropped out of the top 20 because of a couple back injuries. Tennessee clearly felt OK with his medical re-checks, and he has a chance to be elite if he can stay healthy. But his career will make or break this class. I also liked the team taking Elijah Molden (100) in Round 3 because the 5-foot-9 corner could play as the nickelback early. He had five interceptions in 2019.
Credit general manager Jon Robinson for moving on quickly from the disastrous first-round pick of offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson a year ago, getting one of my favorite tackles in Round 2. Dillon Radunz (53) protected Trey Lance's blindside at North Dakota State, but he'll move over to right tackle in Tennessee. Linebacker Monty Rice (92) has some limitations in coverage, but he's a thumper in the run game.
The need this team didn't fill? Finding a competent slot receiver to give Ryan Tannehill an easy outlet. Maybe the Titans can find a veteran after the draft, but A.J. Brown is the only game-breaking pass-catcher on this roster. That's a problem. I don't see any impact players in their four-pick haul on Day 3, either. Farley's ceiling and Radunz's steady play help put this grade above a C+.
Top needs: OT, DE, CB
With the big offseason acquisition of Carson Wentz, the Colts addressed their quarterback situation with the guy they hope will be there for years to come. The spot they haven't replaced, though, is the one left by retired left tackle Anthony Castonzo, and so I thought they'd certainly take a tackle with one of their first two picks. It's a deep class of tackles, and there were good players on the board in Round 2.
Instead, general manager Chris Ballard went defensive end for his first two picks. Does this mean All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson is going to kick out to tackle? It wouldn't surprise me. As for who they did take, Kwity Paye (21) has tremendous upside if he can turn his traits into production. He created pressure at Michigan, but he only had 11.5 sacks in four seasons. Dayo Odeyingbo (54) went a little high based on my rankings, simply because he tore his Achilles in January and almost certainly won't make a major impact as a rookie. I might look silly when we do re-grades in a few years, but I don't think teams should take redshirt players in Round 2.
I also question Indy's Day 3 haul. Tight end Kylen Granson (127) was a reach in Round 4, while Sam Ehlinger (218) is my 11th-ranked quarterback, and the Colts took him one year after taking Jacob Eason in Round 4. So I don't love this class, because of the risk with Paye and Odeyingbo, both of whom have big question marks, and because of the lack of Day 3 values.
Top needs: WR, CB, LB
New Orleans went 12-4 last season but lost a slew of free agents because of salary-cap issues, including Trey Hendrickson, Jared Cook, Emmanuel Sanders and Sheldon Rankins. Oh, and future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees retired. So this is a team in a different situation that it has been in the last few years, with Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston going to battle it out to replace Brees and some significant depth issues on its roster.
I like Payton Turner (28), but I would have liked him more in Round 2. There were wide receivers and corners on the board who could have made a bigger Year 1 impact than Turner, who is better against the run and is still developing as a pass-rusher. I don't see him as a starter over Cam Jordan or Marcus Davenport.
Linebacker Pete Werner (60), though, has a chance to be the starting middle linebacker in New Orleans. He locked down Penn State's Pat Freiermuth in coverage, and he has some range. Paulson Adebo (76) is a 6-foot-1 corner who opted out of last season. He has an inconsistent 2019 season, but he has top-50 traits. Sean Payton & Co. took quarterback Ian Book (133) on Day 3, and I had a seventh-round grade on him. I would have taken Jamie Newman. Book's ceiling is as a backup.
That's a lot of reaches on my board and not much value, from Rounds 1-7. And they didn't take a receiver until late on Day 3. Sorry, Saints fans -- I don't love this class.
Top needs: RB, OL (2), QB
This one is tough for me because I'm a big fan of Najee Harris (24) but am almost always against taking a running back in the first round. Round 1 is too valuable, and we've seen over the past decade that good running backs can be found in any round -- or even as undrafted free agents. And when I look at this Pittsburgh roster, I see bigger holes. Offensive line, corner, edge rusher -- could the team have gotten better value at another position?
Yes, Steelers fans, you're probably going to say that they started 11-0 last season. I get it. But they also lost five of their last six games, and they were so up against the salary cap this offseason that they couldn't make roster improvements. That's why I have to question this pick, even if I love the player. Harris needs to be a superstar, every-down back for this to work out.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth (55) won't give them much as a blocker, but he has good hands and can be a red zone threat. Eric Ebron had six drops last season, tied for second-most among all tight ends. Kendrick Green (87) has played both guard and center, but I don't think he'll be an upgrade at either spot as a rookie. Outside linebacker Quincy Roche (216) is the only Day 3 pick I really like, as the Steelers reached for a few guys by my board.
I just don't see much value in Pittsburgh's class, and the offensive linemen they did take were picked too high. I haven't even mentioned that the Steelers still don't have a plan for life after Ben Roethlisberger. This class gets a grade in the C range.
Grades for all 32 NFL draft classes: Kiper picks his top teams, sleeper picks and more - ESPN
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