A look at all 32 NFL teams, and how they graded out in the NFL draft:
Arizona Cardinals (A)
The Cardinals did a good job retooling some areas of need with the retirement of QB Carson Palmer and no one knowing how much longer WR Larry Fitzgerald will continue to play. They got UCLA QB Josh Rosen at No. 10 overall and Texas A&M WR Christian Kirk, good value in the second round.
Atlanta Falcons (B-plus)
Even though receiver wasn’t a particular need, the Falcons went for Alabama WR Calvin Ridley in the first round. Their second-round pick, Isaiah Oliver from Colorado, was one of the best corners in the draft, and he should help in NFC South play with the likes of Drew Brees and Cam Newton in the division.
Baltimore Ravens (A)
The Ravens revamped their offense, using four picks in the first three round on the offensive side of the ball, beginning with South Carolina’s Hayden Hurst, one of the best tight ends in the draft. The wild-card pick is Louisville QB Lamar Jackson, who many believe has the most upside of all the QBs drafted. And look out for Oklahoma tackle Orlando Brown, whose stock fell after a poor scouting combine.
Buffalo Bills (B)
The Bills’ draft hinges on whether Wyoming QB Josh Allen becomes the starter they hope he’ll be, because they aggressively traded up to get him. More of a sure thing than Allen is Virginia Tech LB Tremaine Edmunds, their second first-round pick, who has a chance to anchor the middle of their defense for years.
Carolina Panthers (C-plus)
They used their first-round pick on a new weapon for Cam Newton in Maryland WR D.J. Moore, who ran a 4.42 in the 40, has good height at 6-feet and is a good returner. Their second-round pick, DB Donte Jackson, is even faster, with a 4.32 in the 40.
Chicago Bears (A)
Their first-round pick, Georgia LB Roquan Smith, and their second-rounder, Iowa C James Daniels, were rated top at their respective positions. Memphis WR Anthony Miller was picked in the second round and serves as added talent around second-year QB Mitchell Trubisky.
Cincinnati Bengals (B)
The Bengals’ top priority was to improve their offensive line, so they landed Ohio State center Billy Price in the first round. Though Price started all 55 games in college, he’s coming off a pectoral tear and is in rehab, which may have dropped his stock. After Price, the Bengals added to their defense with Wake Forest S Jessie Bates III and Ohio State DE Sam Hubbard in the second and third rounds, respectively.
Cleveland Browns (B)
They opened some eyes with their first two picks — QB Baker Mayfield at No. 1 overall (when many believed Sam Darnold was the best of the bunch) and then Ohio State CB Denzel Ward at No. 4 overall (when many believed they would draft N.C. State DE Bradley Chubb). Later, they got a different Chubb, Georgia RB Nick Chubb — who, if able to overcome his knee injury, could be special down the road.
Dallas Cowboys (B-minus)
Interesting that Dallas didn’t go receiver in the first round to replace Dez Bryant, but the Cowboys coveted Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch and took him at No. 19. Later, they picked Colorado State WR Michael Gallup.
Denver Broncos (A)
The Broncos were stoked to land N.C. State DE Bradley Chubb, believed to be the best pass rusher in the draft, at No. 5 overall. Chubb paired with Von Miller might be a lethal combo. SMU WR Courtland Sutton, their second-round pick, was projected as first-round talent, but injuries dropped his stock. Oregon RB Royce Freeman has big-play potential.
Detroit Lions (B)
The Lions swiped Arkansas C Frank Ragnow right in front of the Bengals, who were also seeking a center. They hope to have finally found an answer to their weak running game, picking Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson in the second round. Perhaps he’ll take pressure off QB Matthew Stafford.
Green Bay Packers (A)
The Packers ranked 31st in the NFL in opposing passer rating, 23rd against the pass, 20th in interceptions and 26th in points allowed per game. So they landed Louisville CB Jaire Alexander in the first round and Iowa CB Josh Jackson in the second round. Perhaps the Packers won’t have to live on Aaron Rodgers alone anymore.
Houston Texans (C)
No picks in the first two rounds (first- and second-rounders traded to get QB Deshaun Watson last year) make this more of a crapshoot. But the Texans got some talent in the third round in Stanford S Justin Reid, known as a ball hawk, and Mississippi State C Martinas Rankin and UCF TE Jordan Akins.
Indianapolis Colts (A)
Productive first day, landing Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson, the best offensive lineman in the draft, who hopefully will be blocking for a healthy Andrew Luck. They added to the line with Auburn G Braden Smith in the second round and also got two DEs in Round 2 — Kemoko Turay from Rutgers and Ohio State’s Tyquan Lewis.
Jacksonville Jaguars (A-minus)
The Jags went all SEC with their early picks, with Florida DL Taven Bryan, LSU WR D.J. Chark and Alabama S Ronnie Harrison. Harrison and Bryan add to what already was one of the best defensive units in the league.
Kansas City Chiefs (C-plus)
Like the Texans, the Chiefs traded away their first-round pick to get a QB last year (Patrick Mahomes II), so Ole Miss DE Breeland Speaks was their first pick, in the second round. They went defense in the third as well, with FSU DT Derrick Nnadi and Clemson LB Dorian O’Daniel. This should help a defense that ranked just 24th in sacks last season.
Los Angeles Chargers (B-plus)
The Chargers bolstered their needy defense, picking FSU safety Derwin James, a terrific ball-hawking DB, in the first round, then adding USC LB Uchenna Nwosu in the second and N.C. State DT Justin Jones, who will team with Joey Bosa.
Los Angeles Rams (C)
Had only one pick in the first three rounds, TCU T Joseph Noteboom in the third. This pick could be a sign that the end is near for veteran tackle Andrew Whitworth.
Miami Dolphins (B)
Got a terrific playmaker in Alabama S Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was probably top-five talent selected at No. 11 overall. Tight end Mike Gesicki from Penn State has great size (6-6, 247 pounds) to be a potential big target for Ryan Tannehill. He’s more of a receiving TE than a blocker.
Minnesota Vikings (B)
The top pick, UCF Mike Hughes, is a physical and speedy corner who has a chance to be a star in the Minnesota defensive backfield. Pittsburgh OT Brian O’Neill is a key addition to an offense that must protect the Vikings’ expensive new QB, Kirk Cousins.
New England Patriots (B)
Instead of taking a potential QB of the future, the Patriots opted to protect Tom Brady now by taking Georgia OT Isaiah Wynn, a 6-3, 313-pounder they hope will replace Nate Solder, signed by the Giants as a free agent. Then, after not having drafted a running back in the first round in more than 10 years, they took Georgia RB Sony Michel with the 31st overall pick. More help for Brady now.
New Orleans Saints (C)
Already pretty good on offense with Drew Brees at the helm, the Saints took UTSA DE Marcus Davenport with their first-round pick. Davenport was one of the best pass rushers in the draft. Hopefully he’ll be good, since the Saints moved up 13 spots to get him and gave up next year’s first-round pick in the process.
New York Giants (A)
Penn State RB Saquon Barkley was a no-brainer in the first round, because he instantly makes the Giants better in the running game than they’ve been in years and adds a significant weapon for Eli Manning. The addition of UTEP G Will Hernandez in the second round further bolsters what was a weak OL the last few seasons.
New York Jets (A-minus)
They got exactly what they hoped for in the first round after trading up to No. 3 overall, as USC QB Sam Darnold dropped to them. In Darnold, the Jets hope they’ve found their franchise QB. The next two picks, DT Nathan Shepherd from tiny Fort Hays State and TE Chris Herndon, are both projects in places of need.
Oakland Raiders (D-plus)
They hope to help protect QB Derek Carr with their first-round pick, UCLA OT Kolton Miller, and N.C. A&T OT Brandon Parker. But LSU DE Arden Key, a third-round pick, might be the key to the draft for them. He’s a playmaker but has had off-the-field issues that dropped his stock. If he works out, teamed with Khalil Mack, he could be a terror.
Philadelphia Eagles (C)
They traded out of the first round and Bogarted the Cowboys in the second round for South Dakota State TE Dallas Goedert, whom Dallas had an eye on to replace the retiring Jason Witten.
Pittsburgh Steelers (B)
Most interesting pick was Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph in the third round. Some believed he was first-round worthy. The 6-5, 235-pounder has the look of a guy who could eventually replace Ben Roethlisberger, who talks retirement after every season now. The Steelers also addressed receiver after trading Martavis Bryant, when they took James Washington out of Oklahoma State, where he caught passes from Rudolph.
San Francisco 49ers (B)
They got immediate protection for QB Jimmy Garoppolo, taking Notre Dame OT Mike McGlinchey in the first round. Then they got a weapon for their star QB when they picked Washington WR Dante Pettis, who also returned an NCAA-record nine punts for touchdowns.
Seattle Seahawks (C-minus)
Coolest thing they did was pick Central Florida’s Shaquem Griffin in the fifth round, uniting the one-handed LB with his brother Shaquill, a Seahawks CB. In the first round, they addressed their fluctuating rushing game with San Diego State RB Rashaad Penny at No. 27 — and they got him after trading out of the 18th pick, despite reports that they were prepared to take Penny at No. 18.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (B-plus)
Traded up to get 6-4, 347-pound Washington DT Vita Vea, who will team up with Gerald McCoy as a tough tandem to deal with. The Bucs addressed their running game in the second round with USC RB Ronald Jones II, who’s a big-play runner with little skill as a pass catcher.
Tennessee Titans (B)
They went right after needs, landing Alabama LB Rashaan Evans in the first round and Boston College DE Harold Landry in the second.
Washington Redskins (B)
The high-reward, high-risk pick is LSU RB Derrius Guice, whose stock dropped with off-field issues. He is, however, highly talented, and the Redskins got him in the second round. They picked Alabama DT Da’Ron Payne in the first round with hopes of bolstering their run defense. Payne was the co-MVP of both the 2018 Sugar Bowl and the 2018 College Football Playoff title game.
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